Genesis 2.0 (Monster Apocalypse Survival) Sci-Fi/DarkFan/Horror

Chapter Fourteen

His gaze bore into mine, those blue eyes sparkling like sapphires in the sunlight and I frowned when I realized I hadn't noticed his eye color earlier. They were the purest blue I'd ever seen, a sharp hue that almost reminded me of my favorite childhood cartoon - the Smurfs.

His expression told me that he wasn't reading my mind as much as looking into my soul. Once again, he lowered his eyes to my lips and I pulled my lower one in to nibble on it, surprised when his penetrating eyes widened; in shock or excitement, I didn't know. All I knew was that my body suffered at the absence of his touch.

And just when I mentally berated myself for reading too many trashy novels that one night I'd holed up in a library, his eyes zeroed back to mine and he dipped his head and his lips headed for mine.

Half closing my eyes in anticipation, my heart beat galloped at breakneck speed. I'd never been officially kissed before, I had no idea what I was supposed to do besides purse my lips and close my eyes. The warm, arid air around us cooled significantly as his face closed in on mine, his massive body blocking my petite one from the searing sun. I gasped when I felt the warmth of his breath on my cheeks.

This was it; the moment I'd secretly fantasized about since our introduction.

He was going to kiss me.

An insanely gorgeous Angel was about to kiss me - like a man kisses the woman he desires. Emotions so thick they nearly deflated my lungs filled my chest.

First there was excitement; not only over the kiss itself, but at the thought of doing something so forbidden, then embarrassment over not knowing my part, so that I could participate enough to elicit a reaction from the stoic warrior. Finally, need; a strong feeling I'd not experienced in forever. Not just need over person-to-person contact, but yearning at being seen as something more than a bratty girl-child street-urchin.

Before my wayward mind had the chance to conjure any more degrading emotions, I felt the butterfly flutter of lips on my closed eyelids followed by a low moan.

Are you kidding me? My inner sixteen-year-old self screamed in frustration.

"This cannot be," Daniel whispered with his lips still mere inches from my eyes. "These types of unions are forbidden," he added and retreated, dropping his hands to his sides. "I wish things were different, I'm sorry," he murmured and turned to follow Aeriel.

Frozen in mortification and frustration, I stared after him, desperately wishing he'd change his mind and come back. I even tried mentally calling his name. I knew he heard me by the way his shoulders tensed, his back muscles rippling under the plain white t-shirt.

However, he kept walking. My cheeks stung, but I blamed it on the sun. Tears pooled in my eyes, and again, I blamed the sun. I refused to let him know that his gentle rebuff stung me more than anything else ever had.

Ducking my head to camouflage wiping my face on my own dirty shirt, I inhaled and steeled myself. Once again I'd learned a lesson the hard way. I was alone in the God-forsaken world. Even the Angels didn't like me.
So, I made a decision. I'd tag along, find this crappy tree for the angels and then I'd demand recompense. If I was destined to a life alone, it would damn well be on my own terms.

Steeling myself, rebuilding the walls I'd lowered for halo-head, I followed after them and only barely limped when my feet protested the friction of sand on skin.

By my estimation, we'd only made it another mile when a sense of déjà-vu washed over me. My body suddenly felt lighter than air and a hazy film coated my eyes. I couldn't focus on anything surrounding me and was just about to drop to my knees to reorient myself when I felt someone at my side, a warm hand cupping my elbow.

A quick sniff and I knew it was Daniel.

"What is it?" Aeriel demanded from somewhere in front of me. "What's wrong with her?" she added, her voice edging on annoyed.

"Andrea?" Daniel's concerned voice almost soothed the raw ache he'd left earlier, but I nipped that shit in the ass and jerked my arm from his grasp.
"I just feel funny," I snapped and pushed my shoulders back, shaking my head in hopes of clearing my eyes. Instead of accomplishing what I'd hoped, strange images flicked before me. The flat desert ground faded into a beautiful oasis. A massive garden covered the area as far as I could see, the landscape filled with flourishing plant-life and crystal clear streams bubbling and gurgling.

"It's beautiful," I breathed in awe.

Boots crunching on gravel echoed and suddenly something tapped my forehead.

"Recall the vision," Aeriel ordered. My eyes cleared and I frowned when I saw the angel standing before me, her finger poking into the skin on my forehead.

My first instinct was to tell her to shove it where the sun don't shine, but instead I pulled the glorious vista back into my mind.

"We have arrived," Aeriel announced after a few seconds. "But this is not the original Garden," she added and closed her own eyes, lifting her face to the sun without severing contact with me. "This garden was built centuries later in homeage." She pulled her hand away from me and stared down at her pointer finger like she'd just dipped it in acid.

Apparently Tweedle-bitch didn't like touching me. I smiled happily and shoved my hands in my jeans pocket, tucking that little nugget of information away for later.

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