Avatar: Nova Blanchard's Story

Chapter 19

That single night was probably one of the happiest and saddest nights of my entire life. Finally having him to myself had my heart soaring. When his lips were on mine, his hands stroked my body, his eyes bore into mine own I felt like I was on top of the world. But as I lay beside him when he fell asleep my soaring heart suddenly crashed. This was a one time thing. It would probably never happen again.

We kept things simple and sweet. Deep kisses were shared and longing embraces were held, but we both knew we couldnt go farther. Neither of crossed that invisible line that was radiating temptation.

I had waited till Kai'to fell asleep under the tree before unlinking. Wanting to cherish as much of this moment as I could. The second I heard his deep snores. I allowed the familar colors to grace my vision.

When I climbed out the link bed I found everyone standing around arguing.

"Jake. I can't allow you to do that! The spirit walk could kill you." Grace argued.

Jake was at a table drinking. He refused to look at her.

"I have to Grace. I have to finish what I started. Go all the way. Become one of the people!" Jake replied defiantly.

"God Dammit Jake you will never be one of the people!!"

With Grace's words the room went silent. Her next words hit home.

"You can never really be with her. It takes millions of Dollars to sustain any life out there. That world is temporary. You visit. Then you leave."

My heart broke as she voiced what I already knew. An I could tell by the way Jake was looking. He was thinking along the same lines.

He gritted his teeth and glared at her. "You wanna know why Im here Grace?"

She looked at him confused as did the rest of us.

"Im here because Quarich sent me."

As soon as he said this. I felt betrayed. An saddened by what my friend had done.

"Your lieing."

Jake looked at me guilt flashing across his eyes. Then anger. Anger at himself.

"No. Its the truth. He sent me to embed myself with the tribe. Find out how to screw them out of there home. Either by deciet or force. He didnt care. An if by force? How best to do it."

I covered my mouth in shock. Grace stared him down seeming eerily calm.

"An what about now Jake?" She asked.

Jake clenched his fist and then relaxed his hand. "Im not that guy anymore."

Grace nodded. "I know. "

Jake sighed. "If I tell Quarich the truth. He yanks me out. If I tell her the truth....the clan with rip my heart out."

Jake sighed in defeat looking completely lost. I walked up and squeezed his shoulder.

Norm leaned against a near by table and crossed his arms. "They won't understand what you've done."

He was right. That was not the Omiyticaya way. None of this was.

Jake gave a harsh laugh. "They don't even have a word for "lie". They had to learn it from us."

"I know...I taught them." Grace whispered.

After a moment Jake looked at Grace.

"You gotta let me finish this Doc. There waiting for me."

Grace moved forward to go with him. I stood frozen. Everything felt wrong. Like something bad was coming. Just like the day I got the letters and Tom didnt show up.