Fire - Betrayal

by Amelia Grace

  “Depends on what?” he asked.

  “On whether you kiss me or not,” I said.

  Ben took in a quiet breath and closed his eyes. And that was what I was waiting for – his inattention. Quickly, I slid down the wall and took off again, enjoying outwitting him. I turned around to tease him at my escape. But I found him still at the wall of the house, his forehead against the wall, his hands up and around the back of his head.

  Suddenly, I felt his pain. My smile disappeared from my face, and I walked slowly back to him at the house wall. I gently ran my hands up his back to his shoulders, wanting to reach out to him.

  He did not move. He stood very still. I tilted my head towards him until it rested between his shoulder blades.

  Then he slowly stood more upright, bringing his arms down beside him and then carefully turned around to face me. He looked at me without smiling. His face was deadly serious.

  Then all of a sudden, he bent down and grabbed me in a fireman’s hold and ran off with me. He had outwitted me!

  He took me to the soft grass and placed me gently down onto it. He crouched over me, so that I had absolutely no chance of escape.

  “And now, do you forgive me?” he asked, with humour in his voice.

  “Maybe!” I whispered.

  “Torture by tickling it shall be then,“ he declared, and then started to tickle me.

  “Stop! Stop! “ I yelled out while doubling up with laughter. I pushed my hands towards him. He stopped tickling me and looked at me seriously.

  The silence between us was electric, and his cerulean eyes were smoldering. He slowly brought his face closer to mine.

  I ran my hands up behind his neck and put my fingers into his hair. He hesitated slightly before he tenderly brought his lips to mine. Then he moaned in pleasure as he kissed me. I pulled him closer, thoroughly enjoying the kiss, and then, I pushed him gently away.

  “Thank-you,” he whispered to me, “thank-you.”

  He rolled off me and lay on his back on the soft grass, his eyes closed, his hand over his heart. I left him there while I went to prepare breakfast.

  For the remainder of the morning, we decided to catch a movie together. We couldn’t remember the last time that we sat side by side, holding hands in a movie, so it was sort of a novelty for them both, one that we thoroughly enjoyed. Was it because of the movie, or was it because we could just sit together closely, holding hands, enjoying the electricity flowing between us?

  Mid afternoon was spent lazing around at my house. I fussed around in the kitchen while Ben relaxed upstairs for an afternoon nap. He had not slept a wink last night, after he had left me abruptly after our intimate dinner together.

  I was enjoying the silence of the house when there was a knocking on the front door. I looked out of the view finder to discover it was the visitors from Une Autre Terre.

  I opened the door, and invited them in after seeing the distress on their faces. I led them to the kitchen where I made them a pot of hot tea, and served up some cup cakes that had been freshly made. We sat around the wooden table together.

  While I poured the hot tea, the eldest male spoke. His name was Jack.

  “Cate, we have been trying to get some work, but people seem to be scared of us because of our eye colour. And then, when we wear our sunglasses to cover our eyes, we are not trusted. We do not know what to do. Would you have any ideas for us?”

  I considered my answer carefully before delivering it.

  “Well, you certainly dress as we do now, so that’s good. Your communication is much better, and I do have a solution for your eye colour. You can buy coloured lenses to cover up your eye colour – it’s simple, but you will need to put them in every day. Just wait here while I go and get some of mine to show you.”

  I quickly raced upstairs to my bedroom and found my coloured contact lenses, being extremely quiet not to awaken Ben. I left quickly and returned back to my special visitors.

  I showed them the lenses and how to put them in. They were fascinated and excited about the extraordinary change in my eye colour from the coloured lenses. They were sure that the contact lenses would solve their problem with their cerulean eye colour that people tended to shy away from when they were in a group together.

  I was about to go to the optometrist to buy some coloured lenses for the Terreans, when Ben appeared at the table.

  “Cate, are you going to introduce me to your visitors?” he asked.

  At that moment they all looked up at him, and were stunned to see that Ben was an Une Autre Terrean as well.

  He looked down at them, and caught his breath as he realized who they were and where they were from. He did not talk, but looked to the floor, before pulling up a seat and joining us at the table. I know that he would have had a million and one questions for them. I also knew that he wouldn’t ask them the questions out in the open, but he would use his mind communication with them.

  I watched Ben carefully, and realized that he was mind communicating with them, as I had predicted. I could see them nodding at each other occasionally, and I felt totally left out of the conversation, but it didn’t matter to me. Ben’s eyes continually glanced over at me, reading my emotions.

  Then suddenly, he was shaking his head from side to side vehemently, indicating a strong no to the Terreans. Then Jack looked at me, to explain the conversation.

  “Cate, we only partially told you the truth the other time that we visited you. We have come to experience pain and suffering of the Earth people, but, we have also come to claim the Warrior. He is the only one who can help us in our mission to gain control of the opening and closing of the seven important portals. Once we have control of the portals, Une Autre Terre will finally be safe from accidental, or even planned intrusions from the Earth humans.“

  Then Ben spoke, “He has just asked me if I was the Warrior. I said that it was not me, and I explained that I was the Messenger, and had successfully completed my mission. I have also explained to our friends, that our conversations must be spoken to include you, so that you also have understanding Cate.”

  “Thank-you Ben, but it is not necessary for you all to speak your conversations. Really, I am not offended if you use mind communication,” I stated.

  Then Ben turned to Jack.

  “When you find the Warrior, what is it that he will do to the portals?”

  “Ben, I do not know. We have only been told that the Warrior will know what he has to do when the time comes. Our mission here is to find and support the Warrior, because the task will not be easy, and he will require some help. Again, even we do not know what we are to do to help the Warrior.”

  As they spoke, I sat back and observed glances, expressions, and non-verbal language, intrigued. I also noticed that when the Terreans were all together, there were seven of them. Seven seemed to be a significant number in Une Autre Terre. I wondered if Ben was indeed the Warrior that they searched for.

  “Jack, how will you know it is the Warrior when you find him?” asked Ben.

  “Again, Ben, we must wait for events to unfold. The Warrior will become obvious to us as he successfully completes challenges as they come to him.”

  “How did you end up here Jack? What attracted you to this house, and, how did you come to meet Cate?” enquired Ben.

  Then, the woman named Jade spoke.

  “As we walked around the streets, after we came out of the portal not far from here, we heard whisperings from the homeless people about the amazing free fruits that they had access too. And as we became extremely hungry, and had no money, we simply followed them one day purely to feed our extreme hunger. When we got here, we were taken aback to discover that they were the seven fruits of The Magnificent Tree. And then, again, we were astonished to see the seven jewels on Cate’s ring. After Jazz dropped her sunglasses, Cate invited us in to see if she could help us. She was so very kind.”

  Then Jared continued.

  “We returned today, because we are having a lot
of trouble getting a job to earn some money to buy a house and food, because of our eye colour. Cate has informed us of the coloured eye contact lenses. She was just about to go to the eye place to buy some for us. And then you came in!”

  “Right, yes, Cate is correct in recommending the coloured contact lenses. Because there are six of you together with our cerulean eye colour, I can see how people would be suspicious and untrusting of you. They are scared of what they do not understand. I think that it would be a great help to your job prospects, if your eyes were of a different colour, a colour of the Earth human eye spectrum.”

  Then Ben turned to me. “Cate, go to the optometrist now, and purchase the lenses. Then we can help my people get on with their mission.”

  I nodded in acknowledgement, and left them all at the table, mind communicating together.

  When I returned however, they no longer sat at the wooden table. They were gathered around The Magnificent Tree, mind communicating there.

  No wonder Une Autre Terre is such a peaceful place. They don’t have the constant chatter of voices going on all the time, I thought.

  Eagerly, the Terreans assembled around me, learning the fine art of placing a contact lens onto their eyes. They were very fast learners, and then hurriedly said their thank-yous and goodbyes, and left to continue on their money making, house buying part of their mission.

  Ben stood at the front door after seeing them off. He looked baffled by their presence, and his body language showed that he felt very uneasy about the whole situation. He was not the Warrior that they were looking for, and wanted no part of involvement with the Warrior.

  I placed my hand lightly on his shoulder, and he turned to look at me. I could see the concern in his eyes, and wanted to make him feel at ease again.

  By now, the afternoon sun was on its journey to set in about two hours time.

  “Cate, we had planned to have seafood on the beach and watch the sunset today, remember? We had better get going if we still want to do that. Do you?” he asked, unsure of what my answer would be after the afternoon session with the visitors.

  “More than anything,” I replied enthusiastically, and looked into his eyes.

  We drove in silence for the hour long trip to the golden beaches. I was feeling anxious because Ben’s mood had changed. He was somber.

  I frequently looked over at him during the journey, wondering if he was thinking the same thing as me – was he in fact the Warrior that they were waiting for? I pushed that aggravating idea out of my head. We were just starting to be together again, I didn’t want our lives interrupted again, and put on hold. We had to be together, forever.

  Ben took my hand as he helped me out of his car, and we strolled along the boulevard to the takeout seafood shop to buy our dinner and some drinks.

  The beach was stunning with the clear blue water washing up onto the off white fine sand, which was tinged with the orange glow of the sunset. The sky was cloudless, radiating the beauty of the solar star as it set.

  We walked until we found a peaceful, serene part of the beach to sit at and enjoy each other and all of nature that was on offer.

  Before we started eating, Ben leaned over to me and kissed me lightly on the lips, and then my forehead.

  “Ben, what does it all mean, with the invasion of the Js in our lives? Do you think I need to worry? I mean, you would understand everything much more clearly than me because of all of the mind conversations that you had with them,” I said.

  Ben looked out over the ocean and thought before he spoke.

  Then he laughed out loud. I did not expect this type of reaction to my question.

  I smiled at him with a puzzled expression on my face. “What are you laughing at?”

  “The invasion of the Js,” he quoted.

  “Well it is true isn’t it? Everyone’s name starts with a J – except yours. Why is that?” I queried.

  Ben looked at the sand.

  “I don’t know Cate. When I went to Une Autre Terre at first, I felt like an outcast, because my name didn’t fit in with the Js. But then, I liked it, and I was glad I was Benjamin.” His eyes remained on the sand.

  “Ben, you didn’t answer my other questions. What does it all mean, and should I be worried?” I asked again.

  This time Ben looked at me seriously.

  “I don’t know. I wish I could answer your questions better, but the fact of the truth is that I do not know. When it does become clear to me though, I will explain it to you,” reassured Ben keeping his eyes on me, reading my emotions.

  We remained on the beach long after the sun had set and long after we had eaten, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves on the sand, and the occasional breaking wave crashing down onto the beach. I sat very closely to Ben, with my head resting on his shoulder. Ben rested his head on mine. We were lulled and calmed and soothed by the sounds of nature.

  I looked up at Ben. His face was magnificent, lit up only by the light of the full moon, casting shadows on it defining the beautiful angular shape of his jaw line and chin. I caught my breath, after it had been momentarily been taken away by his splendor.

  His cerulean eyes were serious as they looked deeply into mine.

  I brought my hand up to his face, and then traced over his lovely lips. I could not stop myself from leaning into him, seeking the feeling of his lips on mine, and at once we were kissing, deeply and sensuously.

  I whispered his name, and at once wished that I had not done so. It only made him want me all the more. Then, reaching deep inside of myself, I found the strength to pull away from him. I didn’t want to, but I had to. When I looked at him, he had a single tear falling down his cheek. I wiped it away tenderly, and then kissed him gently, but briefly.

  He reached for my hand, and found my promise ring. He brought it to his lips and kissed it on my finger, and I knew that he understood.

  Then he held my hand as we walked back along the beach. It was time to go.

  We walked silently, I had a heightened sense of him, and enjoyed every millisecond of being with him.

  Then he stopped and faced me. He kissed me lightly on my lips, and then dropped to one knee there on the sand, on the beach, with the waves and the moon as our witnesses.

  “Cate, I want you to be my wife, I need you to be my wife. My life is nothing without you. Will you marry me?” he asked, looking deeply into my eyes with intensity.

  I lowered myself slowly and silently to the sand and placed my hands on his chest, and then gently moved them up to around the back of his neck.

  “Ben, you know there is nothing more that would make me happier. Yes, I will marry you. I love you,” I replied emotionally, tears falling from my eyes.

  He kissed me tenderly, lingering. I could feel his deep passion for me building. He pulled away and then held me close.

  “I love you forever,” he whispered with a rough voice.

  As we walked along the remainder of the beach to the car, Ben insisted that we marry very soon. He was hoping to set the wedding date for two weeks away.

  I stopped walking and looked at him, shaking my head. But then I leapt with joy at the shortness of our engagement. He lowered his head and smiled shyly.

  But then, I saw him lift his head up and look to the sky, and briefly close his eyes. His emotions were not of joy, but of worry as if he harbored some emotional pain. I wondered what he knew. I wondered about what the rush was to become man and wife. Was he keeping some secret from me that would affect our lives?

  Chapter 13

  Pursuit

  He parked the car quietly outside my house. He took my hand in his and lightly traced over my fingers. I knew that he was trying to decide whether to go into the house with me tonight or not. I watched him carefully.

  He traced his fingers lightly up my arm and to my neck, placing his hand gently in my hair. Then he brought his face close to mine and kissed me tenderly before pulling away. I took a deep breath, and then I closed my eyes. He was too delic
ious.

  I slowly opened my eyes to look at him.

  “Stay with me tonight Ben,” I whispered.

  He looked deeply into my eyes. He did not speak. He kissed me lightly on the lips, and then opened his door and got out.

  He walked around to my door, opening it for me, taking my hand as I got out of the car. Together, we walked to the front door.

  I leisurely unlocked the front door of the house. I was unsure whether Ben would stay. He was leaning at the side of the front door, his face serious, brooding.

  I lifted my hand to the side of his face and whispered, “Stay!”

  Again, he did not speak. He hesitated, closing his eyes, and then he followed me through the front door. I turned on the light, and Ben turned to close the door, facing the front garden.

  It was then that he suddenly took off, jumping the fence, as if chasing something.

  He was gone for several minutes, but then he returned to the house, walking back casually, although, he was breathing in deeply, and then blowing his breath out through his lips as if breathing out anger.

  By the time that he reached Katie’s Gate, I was standing on the porch waiting for him, worried.

  “Ben?” my single word was infused with one hundred questions.

  “I thought I saw something Cate, and so I took off to confront it. I jumped the fence and ran in the direction that I thought it went. The street is well lit, and I could not see what I thought that I saw, but I kept running for a bit just to be sure. Once I was satisfied, I turned around to come back. The only thing that I saw was a black cat. Maybe that’s what I had seen out of the corner of my eye as I closed the door,” he said.

  I looked at him for a moment, searching his face. He certainly was calm, and he continued to look me in the eye. I knew that he was reading my mind to see if I believed him.

  We went inside, and again Ben closed the door. This time, I sensed that he wasn’t fighting his strong emotions for me, he seemed more….protective of me.

  I sat on the sofa and turned on the television, flicking through the guide to find something interesting. I thought that if we did something together that would take our minds off our attraction to each other, it would make it easier for Ben to stay. I did not want Ben to go home tonight. I wanted him by my side.