The House of Grey- Volume 4

by Earl, Collin

  Monson interrupted. “Gemstones? Have you seen any gemstones?”

  Taris shook her head, then said teasingly, “Look up, idiot.”

  Monson glanced skyward to see a glittering ceiling. How had he missed that?

  He turned to Taris. She nodded before she continued. “The Spanish miner from Cali found a gem deposit; a deposit with the oddest gems in existence, truly unlike anything ever found before. A handful of them were tested with the best technology available at the time as the miner and his backers attempted to figure what the heck the stone was.”

  Monson tried to stop himself. “So what was it?”

  Taris giggled. “You are seriously so cute, do you know that?”

  Monson flushed red. Taris touched his face fondly. “To answer your question, they never figured it out. They did report that the gem held a strange sort of low-energy field.”

  Monson’s eyes narrowed and his mind raced. “Like radiation?”

  Taris shrugged. “No idea.”

  “So what happened?”

  Taris smiled in only the way that she could. “Before you knew it, this town was booming with people coming in from all over the place. Actually, many of the older buildings you see around here are left over from when that settlement was thriving, and they were the ones who developed the pass where the highway is now. Everything was going well until the late 1800s, right around the time when Washington entered the Union in 1889. For the second time in this valley’s history, the occupants disappeared.”

  Monson’s disbelief came spilling out. “No. They disappeared without a trace?”

  “Yep,” said Taris with a tone of finality. “And the rest is history, as they say.”

  Monson ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never heard anything remotely resembling this. How is that possible?”

  Taris laughed. “Well, Mr. Horum Vir, you’re well-versed in the ancient history. Maybe this will force you to look a little closer to home.”

  “Yeah,” conceded Monson. “I’ll have to do some reading. So let me ask you this, after the people disappeared, right? Did anyone actually look for them?”

  Taris’ tongue dabbed at her lips. “Of course. The governor of Washington had a relative who lived out here at the time. There was a manhunt like you would not believe. There were hundreds of people living here at the time and in the space of a day—a single day—they just vanished.”

  “Amazing,” said Monson, truly intrigued. It was like walking into one of those murder mysteries you see all the time on TV. What could have happened to hundreds of people to make them get up and leave their homes without a trace? Monson gazed up to the glittering ceiling and walls, taking a breath as he meditated on Taris and her story.

  “That’s not even the half of it,” said Taris quietly, interrupting Monson’s contemplation. “The most interesting thing is what happened after.”

  “You’re baiting me again.” Monson grinned at Taris’ love for dramatic effects. Taris, however, was not listening to him but looking at the clock on her phone.

  “Of course I’m baiting you. How else am I supposed to get you alone?”

  She watched Monson fidget before she continued.

  “That story is truly going to have to be saved for another time. It’s getting late. We’d better go.”

  Taken aback by the sudden end to the conversation, Monson wanted to talk more but controlled himself, feeling that she was probably right. They needed to get going.

  With the light in the once-brightly illuminated cavern now very dim and pale, Monson quickly gathered up the various items they had brought with them, as Taris made no move to do so. . He switched on the flashlight and grimaced with the realization that it did not work. He groaned. Walking in the dark was not going to be fun.

  “Something wrong, Monson?” came Taris’ voice from seemingly far away.

  Monson held up the flashlight. “I hope you don’t mind my company, because we aren’t going anywhere soon.”

  Taris cocked her head, tossing back her bound hair. “Hand it here. That thing can be a bit on the temperamental side.”

  Monson shrugged and handed it over. She gave the light a tap on the side before she went for her pocket. She hesitated. “Monson, I can’t seem to find my lip gloss. I think I dropped it over there. Would you be a doll and look for it for me?”

  Monson raised his eyebrow as she smacked her cell phone against his chest. He surveyed Taris wryly before turning around. He touched some of the buttons to illuminate the screen and started his search for the lip gloss. How on earth was he going—

  “Found it.”

  Monson whipped around. Taris held up a tube of gloss in her hand and a flashlight shining brightly in the other.

  He studied her, bemused. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded but remained seated. A resounding click and the loss of most of their light surprised him. He moved closer to Taris.

  He tossed his head in confusion. Why was she not getting up? Hadn’t it been her suggestion that they leave?

  His eyes took a few moments to adjust again. Taris watched him as the gem-light sparkled in the gloom like dusky twilight.

  “Help me up?” murmured Taris under her breath.

  What a simple phrase, casual and carefree. He returned her innocent gaze and felt his heart skip a beat.

  He moved towards her, resolute; he could feel his wit diminishing after all the day’s excitement. Monson offered his hands and she took hold of them with a delicate grip. Unfortunately, as she started to stand, something went awry with her footing, causing her to slip back to the ground. Monson, in an awkward position, was not able to keep her from falling, so he did the only thing he could: He fell with her, wrapping her head in his arms.

  Monson Grey now found himself lying on top of Taris Green.

  They held that position for longer than he might have expected, neither making a move or sound, or even breathing. He really did have terrible luck with girls. What kind of guy falls on a member of the opposite sex not once, but twice? Granted this was a much different situation than what happened with Kylie…but still.

  Taris’ breathing quickened, and she spoke.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, her lips right next to his ear. “I’m so clumsy sometimes.”

  What…?That wasn’t right…what was she saying?

  “No you’re not.” Monson’s head shook his disagreement. He was having a hard time answering as her breath was tickling his left ear. He found it very distracting. “There aren’t many people I know who are as graceful as you.”

  “Yeah...I guess you’re right.”

  He heard the smile in her voice as slowly her face inched towards his.

  “Taris…I—”

  “Shut up, Grey. You talk too much.”

  Monson felt his body move almost of its own accord, forcing him closer and closer to the young lady he held in his arms. His eyes were playing tricks on him now, as even through the darkness he could see the shimmer of glossy lips and the tint of warm, blushed skin. Something was wrong here, he knew it, but her aroma, her touch, and her…everything was encircling him. A finger slid up the base of Monson’s neck, running around his ear. She kneaded his hair and neck, drawing him closer to her. Monson closed his eyes as he felt…as he felt…felt….

  Pain?

  He stopped a finger’s breadth from her, trying not to move or even breathe. Their lips were now so close to touching that the hypersensitive skin in that area was responding to the heat in the negligible distance between them. He was not sure what to do at this point. So, he did the only thing he could think to do. He picked her up.

  If Taris was startled, she did not show it. Her body was ferociously limp as he set her on her feet. So limp that he thought for the briefest of moments that she might crash back to the ground. After a few long seconds, she reanimated, strength coming back to her limbs. They gathered their belongings in silence, as talking to one another felt disrespectful somehow. This unnatural silenc
e continued for most of the return trip. Taris did not even ask for help as she struggled up the steep footpath of the ravine. Monson offered her his hand but she either ignored it or just did not notice. She did not even take it after she stumbled on the muddy pathway. They forged their way along the path back towards the concealed chest on the edge of the southern campus. Replacing the items, they continued to maneuver back towards The Barracks and their beds. The awkward tension that had accompanied them on their return trip forced Monson to consider, to focus on his failure. The overwhelming intensity that traveled hand-in-hand with that tension lessened to some degree as he walked, but not much. They walked to the threshold of the Atrium and Monson knew he could not leave it like this.

  “Thank you Taris,” he said in a quiet voice. “Tonight was really amazing.”

  Taris gave him a gentle smile, simply studying his face.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Her voice reflected her resolve.

  “I don’t see why not,” answered Monson, a little uneasy. He hoped she did not start crying again.

  “No...” Taris’ voice and expression reflected an intensity and severity. No trace of a smile could be found on her lips and no hint of the playful banter that he had become so used to was evident in her tone. Taris was serious, very serious.

  “I want you to answer something for me and I want you to be totally honest. Can you do that?”

  Monson watched her as she waited for his answer.

  “Yes, you may ask whatever question you wish and I will do my best to answer you with the utmost honesty.”

  “Good.” Her eyes never left his face. She exhaled deeply and wasting no time said, “Is all fair in love and war?”

  Monson’s eyebrow soared so high that he was in danger of having it caught on something. He gaped at her.

  “Well, Monson Grey?” Her voice broke. “They say that you are wise and practical, so answer my question. Is all fair in love and war?”

  Monson turned his back to her and pondered her question. He could feel her gaze on him. It made his hairs prickle. Why ask such a question? What was the point? Monson had hoped that he would grow to understand Taris at some point in their courtship… relationship…whatever it was they had. Possibly see things the way she did, know a bit more about what she was thinking and feeling. How wrong he was. His own inconsistencies had sabotaged that plan; the plan to know and understand Taris Green. And now he was like a fish out of water, drowning in a foreign habitat created of his own inability to adapt to new surroundings. He sighed, and upon doing so, saw a strange exotic flower a few feet from where they were standing. Monson formed his answer.

  “Yes, and I don’t know.” He picked the flower then sidled back towards Taris. “The answer to the first part of your question is yes, I do think that all is fair in true love because something like that comes along so rarely we should do everything in our power to hold onto it. I will reserve judgment on the second part of your question; I hope that I will never have to answer it.” He pushed back a strand of her hair and placed the flower smoothly behind her ear.

  Neither Taris’ face nor countenance changed as he touched her, causing Monson to wonder if he had gone too far – been too bold. Relief followed as he continued to look at her and felt the warmth of her face. He saw a flicker of a smile in the expanse of her green eyes. In that instant, Monson knew that Taris agreed with him.

  “Goodnight Taris,” he said. He bent over and kissed her on the cheek, smiling as he did. Monson Grey turned on his heel and headed back to his room.

  Thanks for reading! Join Monson and the crew in The House of Grey: Volume 5.

  Tell your friends, your teachers, your family members,

  and your hair stylist-this is one you won’t want to miss.

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  Join Sam on her discovery as the future reveals itself in Harmonics: Revelations

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  Connect with the author on twitter @collinearl and facebook.com/author.CollinEarl