The way she moved slightly as she breathed.
The way the skin glistened, even now, when she was untransformed. Yes, there was a light coating of sparkling, crystallised salt, of shimmering drops of swiftly drying water; but her skin always shone, as if it were the finest velvet.
Raising his head slightly, silently, he looked past the shreds of what remained of her t-shirt towards her back.
It was a back like any other girl’s – any other beautiful girl’s.
The flowing smoothness, broken only by the hillocks of her shoulder blades.
There was no sign of where the wings came from, where they vanished into.
Perhaps he was at the wrong angle to see clearly.
He rose up a bit more on his elbow.
No; he’d been right.
The skin was flawless. Like the wings somehow came from the skin itself.
How was that possible?
Delicately, he brought his hand up from his waist, running it lightly across the skin of her lower back.
He shivered at the excitement of his own touch.
So so so beautiful…
God, she was gorgeous!
Wonderful!
Unbelievable!
How he loved her! How he wanted to tell her that–
‘That tickles!’ Celly giggled, trembled.
Embarrassed, Jake quickly withdrew his hand, let the rest of his body fall back towards the sand.
‘Sorry, Celly! I…I…just couldn’t resist touching you!’ he blurted out, deciding he couldn’t lie to her. ‘Sorry, sorry. I know it’s ridiculous, but–’
‘What was ridiculous about it? I enjoyed it.’
‘You did?’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’
Celly smiled lazily, the curves of her lips curling more invitingly than ever. Her eyes were looking directly into his, like there was a connection between them, a link between the darkness of her eyes and the darkness of his.
Drawing them in, drawing them closer.
Instinctively, as if working together as one, knowing what the other wanted, knowing what the other was about to do, they tilted their heads ever so slightly, so that their lips met, entwined perfectly, the curves of one complementing the curves of the other.
So soft.
So warm.
So strangely but wonderfully moist.
Jake could feel Celly’s breath making her lips quiver. Making his lips quiver.
He ran his hand against the skin of her back once more.
She trembled.
He trembled.
He…he had never experienced anything so wonderful. So incredible!
Oh how he loved her. How he wanted her, needed her.
Smoothly, he slipped his other arm beneath her body, bringing both his hands up now along the indents, the arcs, of her back, to bring her closer, tighter towards him.
Celly’s hands slipped around his own back, deftly, softly, caressing his own skin, discovering his own curves, his own areas of softness, of firmness.
Kissing her still, continuously, Jake ran his lips across her cheek, beneath her chin, down to her neck, her throat.
Celly sighed, arced her head back, offering him more of her neck, her throat, for Jake to kiss, taste, almost bite hungrily.
Yes, yes; he was hungry for her.
He had never wanted anything more in his life than he wanted to taste every part of Celly.
To caress every part.
To revel in everything about her.
And the sparkling light reflected from the waves danced about them, playing across their bodies, uniting them, making them appear as one.
*
They lay on their backs in the sand, an arm of Jake’s cradling Celly’s head, an arm of Celly’s curling around behind him.
‘So,’ he said, half-jokingly, ‘everything about you seems human – ouch!’
Reaching over with her free arm, Celly impishly jabbed him in his side.
‘Seems human? Was all that just some sort of test, then, to find out who’s human and who’s not?’
‘Well, you look human, feel human, taste – ouch!’
Chuckling mischievously, Celly jabbed him again.
‘Who’s coming on like an animal now, eh?’ she laughed. ‘Taste?’
Jake rose up slightly on his elbow, looking down on her, running a hand across the indent of her stomach so that she trembled and giggled with delight.
‘You taste – delicious!’
He bent down to kiss her once more.
Yes, yes; she was delicious!
At last he pulled back, smiling, happy. He glanced down at his hand as he continued to caress and tickle her smooth stomach.
‘But if everything outside seems human, what’s the difference? Is it all inside? Is that where you’re different.’
‘Mainly, I suppose. We’ve got a pretty complex system of lungs in there, according to Dr Frobisher.’
‘Ah, so I was right; the doctor is one of you too, right?’
‘One of us?’ Celly said, a little peeved once more. ‘We’re not going back to monsters and humans again, are we?’
Jake laughed.
‘No, no; sorry! I meant – well, he had to know about you, about you being different, if he treated you, wouldn’t he?’
Celly nodded.
‘We’d have been discovered ages ago if we didn’t have our own doctors, surgeons–’
‘Wait a minute! Just how many of you are there?’
‘We’ve lived peacefully amongst you for ages Jake! We are like you in most ways; in fact, we’ve never taken part in any of your wars. We’ve been conscientious objectors, refusing conscription.’
‘Hmn, was that really because you’re more peaceful? Or because any medical check-up or wound would soon reveal that you weren’t really human? That you were really aliens, living amongst us?’
‘Aliens?’ Celly laughed. ‘Is that what you think we are? We’ve been around on this earth longer than you have, Jake! Earlier humans mistook us for gods. The Babylonians believed their empire had been found by Dagon who – for some weird reason – was always pictured as half man, half fish.’
Having seen Celly flying over the jungle, her immense wings glowing metallically in the sun, Jake could well believe that others like her had been taken to be gods or goddesses. Had other awed humans believed they were seeing angels?
‘So,’ he said, ‘if you’re not aliens, then what are you exactly?’
‘You won’t believe it.’
‘After what I’ve seen, I’ll believe it.’
‘Well, you, you’re descended from apes, right?’
‘Huh huh,’ Jake agreed doubtfully, seeing already where this was leading yet unable to think of any animal Celly’s species could have evolved from.
‘Well,’ Celly continued, ‘the creatures we evolved from are no longer around, as you humans wiped out the very last of them.’
‘Dodos?’ Jake said with an amused smirk. ‘Ouch!’
‘Dodos!’ Celly gave a satisfied smile as she nudged him hard then playfully rolled on top of him. ‘Are you saying I look like I’m descended from a dodo?’
They chuckled and giggled as they mock wrestled amongst the sand.
‘Ouch! Oww!’ Jake cried out. ‘I’m kidding, I’m kidding!’
From his position beneath Celly, looking directly up into the sky, Jake suddenly saw the sparkle of spread, flapping wings passing above him. And suddenly, Jake knew the answer he’d been seeking.
‘I get it, I get it,’ he chuckled as Celly continued to pretend to punch and jab at his chest. ‘You’re the human equivalent of a dragon, right?’
Celly drew back, grinning, impressed.
‘Got it,’ she said. ‘So, how did you guess?’
Jake pointed over her shoulder, up into the sky.
‘When I saw them flying towards us in the distance.’
He could now see that there were two of them, not one as he’d first suppose
d. They were coming in from across the sea, moving quickly.
Celly turned to look. Frowning anxiously, she rose to her feet.
‘It’s dad,’ she said, ‘and he’s got someone else with him.’
*
Chapter 7
By the time that Celly and Jake had run back to the camp, everyone else was already there. Erdwin was well into explaining what had happened on his trip.
‘…he says the police suspect something isn’t quite right, and he’s worried they might be thinking of taking him in…’
Even though everyone had gathered in the rather cramped shade offered by one of the camp’s makeshift gazebos, the only person Jake really noticed was the newcomer. He was a boy of about his own age, Jake reckoned, although he had the self-assurance and presence of someone a few years older. He was tall, athletically slim (he was still bared above the waist, his shirt tied by its sleeves around him), blond and classically handsome. Like Celly, he had skin that glistened as if permanently lightly tanned.
In summation, the boy was everything that Jake thought he wasn’t.
All at once, Jake felt envious, jealous, threatened.
Particularly when the boy glanced Celly’s way and, instead of instantly averting his gaze – as many boys would, fearing being caught staring at a pretty girl – he kept on looking until his eyes locked with hers.
The boy grinned confidently.
Celly smiled back shyly, yet obviously flattered by his attention.
‘Celly!’ Erdwin cried, turning towards them on hearing their entrance.
He rushed towards his daughter, almost lifting her off of her feet he hugged her so hard in greeting.
‘I’ve missed you so much, missed you all so much!’ he exclaimed happily, even turning to Jake with a wide, welcoming smile. ‘And Jake, as I promised, I dropped off your letter. According to Harry – Dr Frobisher – they’d accepted his explanation that you’d seemed a willing temporary hostage; sorry, but he’d explained that by saying you and Celly obviously had eyes for each other.’
He said it with a chuckle, implying it was the most ridiculous thing, such that Jake wondered if he were about to add ‘complete nonsense, of course!’ Fortunately, Erdwin didn’t notice Jake and Celly’s exchange of nervous, embarrassed glances. He was too intent on excitedly introducing the boy to Celly.
‘And this, Celly,’ he continued, pretty much breathlessly, ‘is Harry’s boy; Leon. You remember Leon, surely? From when you used to play with him? When you were both much younger?’
Jake picked up an intonation in Erdwin’s voice that seemed to imply that, now they were older, it was only natural that Celly and Leon should be looking at being something more than friends.
‘You’ve changed a lot since then,’ Leon said to Celly with an assured grin, his eyes twinkling warmly.
Celly smiled back bashfully, obviously flattered rather than unnerved by Leon’s appreciative, lingering gaze.
Jake felt sharp, stabbing pangs of pain in chest. His throat was abruptly dry and sore, as if it had somehow become twisted.
And, almost as if he could sense Jake’s discomfort, Leon glanced his way. It was a fleeting glance, but in that brief stare Jake sensed disgust, even hate.
Only a moment ago he had felt so wonderful, so light headed with joy, that he could have almost believed that he was also capable of flying. Now, suddenly, Jake was experiencing something akin to an addict’s withdrawal symptoms; a ponderousness, a dullness, to his actions and thoughts that weakened and shamed him, leaving him feeling useless and inferior.
Leon wasn’t looking Jake’s way anymore. His charming grin had returned.
‘My father believes he’s safe for now,’ Leon explained. ‘But, just in case, he wanted me to come out here until it all definitely blows over.’
‘And your mother? How’s she taking all this?’ Celly’s mum asked anxiously.
‘She’s fine, thanks, Mrs Volance,’ Leon reassured her. ‘Like dad, she’s worried about the way the police are continuing to probe around – which, considering it’s their own people who’ve been lost, is only to be expected. But also like dad, she can’t see that they’ll find anything that will make them begin to even consider the truth. Of course, the other reason why they’re putting so much of their resources into this case is standing right here before us.’
As he nodded in Jake’s direction, he lowered his eyes menacingly.
‘I know it’s an awful thing to say,’ he added casually, ‘but they would have put less effort into solving his murder than they’re putting into solving his kidnapping, hoping to find him alive. It might be safer for everyone if–’
At last noticing Leon’s simmering antagonism towards Jake, Erdwin broke in urgently.
‘We can’t return him just yet, Leon. We’ve let George and Fiona – Jake’s parents – know that he’s fine. That might take the heat off the police investigations.’
Leon frowned bemusedly.
‘Wow! That’s what I call loving parents, Jake!’ He glanced Jake’s way again, this time with what could have been interpreted as either a pitying smile or a smirk, depending on your opinion of Leon. ‘According to all the papers, you’ve been abducted by a bunch of callous killers; and your parents treat it all like it’s just some elongated sleepover?’
‘They know the Volances would never hurt me,’ Jake snapped back.
‘We knew Jake’s parents, Leon.’ Celly’s mum was embarrassed, defensive. ‘They know we’re not like…well, however the papers are describing us! They know we’re not like that!’
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Volance; I didn’t mean to upset you, I just meant that with all those photos of those police officers appearing in th–’
‘Yes, yes; thank you Leon,’ Erdwin interrupted. ‘We do have an idea what the papers will be saying and showing. But Jake’s an old friend of Celly’s – his parents do know he’ll be safe with us; and the letter from Jake will reassure them even further.’
‘Still,’ Leon persisted, ‘I would feel a lot happier about my parents coming out of all this undiscovered if only we could somehow, say, return Jake safe and sound back to his parents – ensuring, of course, we can trust him not to reveal what we are. Oh; but I don’t suppose that would be possible, would it?’
Jake simmered with fury. Leon had managed to sound throughout as if he were both concerned and considerate, but there was an unmistakable barb at the end – that Jake was a threat to them all.
What made the accusation so strong, however, was that it was correct. Jake had realised this himself just a few days ago. How could the Volances return him when he knew that they weren’t human, but an entirely different species? He had hoped, of course, that he could be returned as soon as the police worked this out for themselves. But what if they didn’t work it out? Why should they even consider such a seemingly unlikely possibility?
And even if the police did discover the truth, what then? Would the Volances still hold him here to prevent him revealing their island hideaway? Yes, he had lost all sense of direction when they had flown out here; even over land, they had been far too high for him to obtain any idea of where they were heading. Yet just by describing the island – its vegetation, the curve of its beaches, the climate – he could provide more than enough clues for someone to figure out its general position.
‘It’s true, isn’t it?’ he said bitterly. ‘You can’t let me go back, can you?’
Erdwin and Perisa smiled wryly at each other, a sign, Jake presumed, that they had been caught out, that now they would have to tell the truth.
‘The truth is,’ Erdwin said sadly, turning to Jake, ‘that, yes – we can and will let you go back.’
‘What?’
Jake and Leon spoke at the same time, Jake in amazement, Leon in anger.
Erdwin now turned to Leon.
‘Your father, Leon; he knows the police don’t believe his version of events. How could they, when there isn’t any story he could make up that reasonabl
y covers everything that happened that day? Our lawyers – Kubrick and Stanhope – are fighting a losing battle in preventing the police from holding him. As soon as he has settled his affairs, your father and mother are intending on flying out here, possibly as early as tonight. But I fear that our presence amongst humanity can’t remain a secret much longer. Modern forensics are far too sophisticated for us to be able to control events like this, as we have in the past.’
‘But the island; he can still let them know where we’ve come!’ Leon spat, glaring hatefully at Jake.
‘Jake wouldn’t tell them!’ Celly insisted.
‘We know that, darling,’ her mother said. ‘But the police would pester him for descriptions of the island, and even Jake would find it hard to keep on refusing.’
‘We’d move anyway,’ Erdwin said, smiling reassuringly at Jake. ‘So yes, as I was saying earlier, you can be returned soon Jake.’
‘If we’re about to be discovered,’ asked Hincheley, who had remained resolutely quiet until now, ‘what’s going to happen to those who haven’t had the chance to escape, like we have? Shouldn’t we get word to them?’
‘Kubrick and Stanhope are warning everyone they know, and asking them to pass on the message as quickly as possible. That’s why Harry has stayed so long, despite being under increasing pressure from the police; he doesn’t want to alarm the authorities with his disappearance until it’s absolutely necessary, giving everyone as much chance as possible to spread the warning.’
‘Then why haven’t we seen or heard of more people flying to safety?’ Mary asked.
‘For the same reason that Harry’s staying put for as long as he can; the longer everyone remains calm, the longer we have to prepare everyone for what’s about to happen. Besides, Harry says that everyone he’s warned has been pretty sanguine about it; they’re both grateful and amazed we’ve remained undiscovered for so long. We’ve always been aware that we couldn’t remain hidden for ever. They’re hoping that humanity’s progressed enough to accept our presence, much as there’s now far more understanding amongst the different races.’
‘The difference between the human races is pretty minimal,’ Hincheley growled ominously. ‘They might not be so understanding when they feel threatened by a species stronger and – yes, let’s be honest about this – superior to them.’
Erdwin shrugged, an anxiety in his grin that he couldn’t hide. It was as if, Jake thought, he’d already considered this point and didn’t want to accept the assumptions he’d made regarding any possible consequences.