Deep

by Leesa Birch

  “Maybe you should sit down, Ivy.” I knew that tone. Oh God, was he going to dump me? I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t take this, not from him and certainly not while he was naked. I thought I’d got it right this time. Then memories of my recent rescues and mayhem sprung to mind. I couldn’t blame him; I only wished he’d done it sooner.

  Kane reached for my hand. I panicked. “Ivy, what’s wrong?” I grabbed my blouse from the couch and started to get dressed.

  “I have to talk to Glory about something. I need to go.” I tried not to look him in the face. I was barely holding myself together.

  “Right now? Ivy, I need to tell you something.”

  I was already out of the cabin before he finished his sentence. I stumbled along the trail illuminated by fairy lights. My heels in the soft ground were doing me no favours. I finished doing up my blouse as I reached the lake side. I quickly checked behind me to make sure Kane hadn’t followed. He hadn’t. Maybe I should have stayed and got it over with.

  As it was late I walked past the meeting lodge and carried on round to where The Elders had their cabins. I hadn’t been round this part before. I never really had a reason to get an Elder out of bed. It was this or go back and face Kane. My stomach turned at the thought.

  As they came into view, I was a little shocked. I wouldn’t exactly call the Elders’ cabins small. They made mine look like a shed. The lights were still on in the first lodge I came to. Glory’s name was on the post leading up to her door. I wasn’t sure how long I stood by her door, plucking up the courage to knock. I almost turned back.

  After my hand stopped shaking enough to knock, Glory answered the door.

  “Ivy, I was expecting you a short while ago. Please come in.” She was expecting me? I guess I was in trouble for not healing Ty at the fight. Glory gestured for me to enter, so I did. The lodge was huge.

  There were a lot of throws and low-lit lamps around the room. A large, open fireplace was the focal point.

  “Would you care for some tea. Ivy?” I shook my head. I wasn’t here for pleasantries. “In that case, how can I help you this evening?” I stood tall as I faced her. Her name really did suit her. Standing there in a floor length red dress, she was intimidating. I was reluctant to say what I needed to, but I felt my back twinge a little.

  “Why was I sent into a dangerous situation with no back up? And why would you even think I would cheat at a cage fighting match?” She smiled politely.

  “I needed to test your morals. You weren’t in any real danger, Gary and Barrett were outside.” No real danger? I turned and lifted my blouse.

  “What would you call this then? Gary and Barrett wouldn’t have reached me in time if anything had gone wrong.”

  Glory made her way over to me and inspected my bruise.

  “I’m sorry, Ivy. I never thought he would react this way. Here.” I felt her hands press firmly either side of my latest bruise as she healed me. “Besides, you’re one of the most resourceful Lake Dwellers I know. Somehow, no matter what kind of trouble you get into, you always manage to get yourself out of situations like these. I trust you more than you know, Ivy.” Glory ushered me towards the door. “Here, let me walk you back to the lake. You feel like you need to cleanse a little.”

  I was still a bit confused about what just happened. I walked with her nonetheless.

  “You didn’t need to walk me back, Elder Glory.” She always made me feel like I was in trouble about something.

  “It’s fine, Ivy. I needed to meet with one of the Elders anyway.” She said goodnight and left me by the lake alone.

  There was no one else out in the lake this evening. Sometimes it was nice to have the lake to myself. I removed my heels, leaving them on the embankment and walked into the lake. The water felt oddly cooler than usual; even for autumn the water felt a little cold. Our lakes weren’t exactly normal; the magic stopped them from freezing over in the winter. We couldn’t forego our cleansing and rejuvenating until spring.

  I had trouble trying to relax tonight, worrying about Kane. I shook off the feeling of dread and wiggled my fingers in the water. I felt a slight pull from beneath me. Any pain residue I had dissipated slowly through my arms and into the lake. I took a deep breath and relaxed as the lake rejuvenated me. When it was over, I tried to leave; I couldn’t move! I couldn’t lift my arms out of the water or get to the embankment.

  “Help!” A passing Lake Dweller stopped to see what was happening. “Could you go and fetch an Elder for me?” I felt stupid for asking but I wasn’t spending the night in there. I struggled but the lake held me firmly.

  Other Lake Dwellers had come out to use the lake. They didn’t see me and headed towards the water’s edge. As they touched the water, the lake retaliated and threw them back, far over the embankment. I felt it. The water squeezed me harder. The pressure was crushing.

  Glory arrived on the scene. “Ivy! What’s happening?” She was looking at the floored and stunned couple that had tried to enter the lake.

  “I can’t get out. The lake won’t let me leave. What do I do?” I tried not to sound too scared. Glory, very gracefully, knelt down beside the lake and gently touched the water. I saw the static shock from where I was standing.

  My head started to feel heavy. “Elder Glory, something’s wrong. I feel…” With my words slurring, I didn’t get to finish my question. My heartrate quickened and my temperature rose.

  “Ivy, try to relax. The lake won’t hurt you.” She should tell that to the people on the floor.

  My eyes shifted and my vision changed. I was no longer seeing what was in front of me. I was looking at the bottom of the lake. Something was down here - something that shouldn’t have been. The water was heavy and thick. The feeling of suffering and despair was all around. Those weren’t my feelings. I began to hyperventilate. The pressure of the lake was too much; breathing was becoming more and more difficult.

  The temperature of the water around my hands had become so hot the pain brought me back to my senses. The lake relinquished its hold and I fell to my knees with exhaustion. Glory tested the water again.

  Seeing that the lake didn’t refuse her, she waded in towards me.

  “Ivy, are you okay? What happened?” She tucked her arm under my waist and helped me out of the water. My legs were like jelly. How was I going to explain what I had seen? It was more a feeling than anything else.

  Glory sat quietly by my side while I tried to brush the lake bed from me. She assured the other Lake Dwellers that it was safe to go back into the lake. I don’t think they believed her but they obeyed anyway.

  “Let’s get you back home. I’m sure that Kane of yours is worried where you are.” My stomach turned. I had momentarily forgotten what was about to happen.

  “Okay,” I offered and she helped me stand. Glory insisted that she walk me back. I wasn’t about to argue with an Elder. I tried to tell her what I saw and felt in the lake. She listened carefully, not interrupting once.

  Kane opened the cabin door as we drew near.

  “What happened? Ivy - are you okay?” I managed a small smile as we reached him. At least he was dressed this time. Glory handed me over and placed her hand on my shoulder.

  “You really should get some rest, Ivy. Goodnight.” She nodded to Kane, handing him my shoes and walked away.

  Kane helped me inside, shutting the door behind us. “I was worried when you took off like that, Ivy.”

  I didn’t feel too good. I wasn’t sure if it was being pulverised by the lake or what was about to happen, but either way I didn’t feel well.

  I sat on the edge of the filling bath tub as Kane helped me out of my ruined suit. Every touch felt like it would be the last. I didn’t even ask him to leave. He lowered me down into the soothing water and sat on the laundry box, waiting. I leant my weary head on my knees as I sat in the bath.

  “I know what you were going to say, Kane. I don’t blame you, I really don’t. There’s no reason you should feel bad abo
ut it. I take full blame on this one. I’ll stay in here until you’ve gone. I just can’t watch you leave.”

  Kane shifted off the box and sat on the floor next to the bath. He immersed his arm into the water and interlaced his fingers with mine.

  “Ivy, what are you talking about? Will you at least look at me?” I didn’t want to. I knew I would crumble if I looked into his eyes. “Hey,” he whispered. He stroked my hair and turned my face towards him.

  “Why are you making this so painful? Just tell me it’s over and leave,” I said.

  I decided to take one last look at those beautiful blue eyes. He was smiling. Why was he smiling at me?

  “You thought I was dumping you? Is that why you ran out of here earlier?” He laughed. I was confused. He squeezed my hand. “I told you a while back, Ivy. I’m not going anywhere. Ivy, when you get it wrong you really get it wrong. You’re so cute right now.” I frowned at him.

  “Well, what were you going to tell me?” He thought for a moment.

  “It doesn’t matter. We can talk about it some other time,” he said in a low voice.

  He grabbed some soap and the sponge from the side. My senses immediately heightened and I struggled against my shifting eyes. Pleasure was imminent. He suggestively sponged the lake bed from my calves and slowly moved up my thighs. He didn’t stop there. I gripped the sides of the bath as I tensed beneath his touch. The water rippled as I shuddered without control.

  He paused, simmering with intensity. Pulling me up, as I reached out for him, he held my soft trembling flesh against his uncompromising desire. His belt buckle dug in me as he pushed me against the sink. I gasped as the cold ceramic touched my back. The sound excited him. He leant in, as if to kiss me. His soft brown hair brushed my cheek. He waited for what seemed like an eternity; tormenting me, teasing me. His lips were so close. Holding my head in place, he lightly brushed his mouth along my bottom lip. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted him so bad. So I took him. Pushing us both onto the bathroom floor, he didn’t stand a chance.

  Later that night I lay in bed, holding on to Kane’s sleeping body. With my eyes still black, I lightly stroked my fingers up and down the soft hairs on his stomach, healing any bruising or tenderness that I may have been party to in the bathroom. Completely satisfied, I lay with my head against his beating chest. Feeling it rise and fall beneath me, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

  “Ivy! You need to wake up now.” Someone was shaking me. I opened my eyes but I couldn’t see clearly. The hands let go of me. “Ivy!” I looked around and panicked.

  “Are we on fire?” I felt a draught coming from the other side of the room. I started to cough. This wasn’t smoke, it was wet. The room began to clear as I struggled to unwrap myself from the quilt.

  “Kane! What’s happening?” The door to the cabin was just visible now. Kane grabbed my wrist, pulled me off the bed and outside.

  “Another nightmare, Ivy?” I looked at him, confused. “Ivy, our cabin is full of fog! What were you dreaming about?” I looked at the fog-engulfed room.

  “It wasn’t a nightmare, it was…” I stopped and thought about the dream I was having. I blushed. Even after what I did in the bathroom last night, I wasn’t going to embarrass myself further.

  “Oh! I’ll open the windows. Ivy, you see if you can move some of the fog out of here.” He smiled at me as he wandered back into the mist. Could this be any more embarrassing?

  I walked to the centre of the room. At least I thought it was the centre, I still couldn’t see. I waited for my eyes to shift and concentrated on the fog. It felt like the steam in the shower, only cold. I held out my hands and mentally pushed the fog towards the door. It started to work. It was a lot harder to move than the shower steam. Maybe I was just tired. After seven or eight minutes the fog had cleared the room. Kane closed the windows and put the heating on full. The room felt a little damp.

  “Can’t wait to hear what Grogan’s gonna say about this.” Kane put on some coffee. It was still early. I’m glad he was amused. There was no way I was going to tell Grogan about this. He’d have to be satisfied with what happened in the lake last night. Hopefully, Glory had already spoken to him about it.

  I sat back on the bed and Kane handed me some coffee. “Did you heal me in the night, Ivy?” I looked at him as he sat next to me.

  “Are you mad at me? I know I should have asked, but you felt a little sore and I didn’t want to wake you.” Careful not to spill any hot liquid, he pulled the quilt around us.

  “I don’t mind. Besides you were rather…” he paused, as if searching for the least offensive word, “Vigorous.” I choked on my coffee. That was his least offensive? Kane rubbed my back until I stopped coughing. I lay back into his arms carefully, trying not to feel too embarrassed.

  4

  I’d had training with Grogan so I thought I should try and get out of bed. Stiff muscles fought against my every move. I carefully slid off the bed, trying not to disturb Kane. It was so much easier to leave the cabin whilst he was unconscious. No piercing blue eyes or warm lips to persuade me otherwise.

  The cabin had sufficiently dried out since my early morning fog bank. I could only hope that it would never happen in public. I put the mugs by the sink and took a look around. The cabin seemed bigger with two people in it. Odd I know, but sometimes when I was on my own the walls tended to close in on me.

  A quick and careful shower later, I was ready to go. I got halfway across the lounge before Kane spoke.

  “What, no goodbye kiss?” I turned to look at him - a big mistake. I must remember not look him in the eyes.

  “No goodbye kiss. There are new rules about the goodbye kisses. They’re not allowed. No kissing on the mouth, neck or shoulders. And absolutely no kissing on the inside of my wrists. All off limits when I need to go somewhere,” I stated.

  Kane looked amused as he slid his legs off the bed. I slowly backed away towards the door. He stood tall and stretched in his entirety. I felt the doorknob in my hand behind me and was outside before I caved.

  Grogan wasn’t expecting me for a while which gave me time to visit Sylvia. My thighs were a little wobbly after last night. It didn’t help that the ground underfoot was slightly slippery with damp, autumn leaves.

  A few evergreens stood proud above all others. Everywhere else, gold and reds covered the scene.

  As the lake came into view, I saw Sylvia by the embankment. She was playing with some reeds by the water’s edge.

  “Morning Sylvia, I was just on my way to see you. No Blake today?” Smiling she lifted her head and wiped her hands on a towel.

  “Blake’s busy elsewhere, Ivy. Come and look at this.” I crouched down beside her on the embankment letting out an involuntary whimper. “You look tired, Ivy - trouble sleeping?” I couldn’t help but look embarrassed. She giggled. “Ache much?” Sylvia pointed at my obvious pain.

  “I’m slightly sore in places, not that I’ll admit to anything. Anyway, what did you want to show me?” She stared at me, then at the reeds in her hand.

  “Some of the plant life is dying around the lake’s edge. I can’t seem to fix it. I haven’t lost any of my healing power since…you know. I just can’t work it out.” She placed the reeds in a small basket to take with her.

  Struggling to stand, I followed her around the lake. She inspected plants and shrubs as we went along.

  “You know you can’t let Grogan touch you today. Or any other Lake Dweller for that matter.” I didn’t understand what she was trying to get at.

  “Why? I can’t train without Grogan touching me at some point.” Sylvia looked around to make sure no one was in ear shot.

  “I keep forgetting that Kane’s your first Lake Dweller. Look, people here will be able to feel that you’re in some discomfort. But if one of them touches you, they’ll know just what parts of you Kane fully worked over last night. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” Sudden shock set in. I didn’t think. My disastrous dating usually happened
far from the Lake. And to think I covered up his injuries.

  I needed to get out of training, or find someone who’d be discreet about this. This was just great. Neither my best friend nor my live-in, horny Texan could heal me. I didn’t want to ask an Elder, although I think Glory would probably be slightly more discreet than Agatha.

  “Sorry, Sylvia, I’m going to have to go and sort this out,” I apologised.

  She put her arm through mine. “I’ll walk with you. I need to talk to the council about this anyway. Plus, I could run interference if anyone gets too close.”

  We spoke as we walked. She asked me how Kane was. I told her about how I thought he was trying to dump me and also what had happened in the lake. She seemed more interested in what Kane was trying to tell me. Maybe she knew? Blake did tell her everything, and Kane didn’t keep anything from him. If it was bad, I’m sure she would say.