Seth continued his furtive trek behind Tobi and the herd; the silence in the cavern corridors oppressive and the vaguely organic tang in the air contributing to his unease. After almost two hours and numerous warring decisions to turn back or go on, Seth came to a large boulder. Dead end. No herd.
Creeping cautiously behind the boulder, he came upon an opening large enough for Tobi. Peering into the dimly lit unknown beyond the boulder, he surmised the herd had gone in and disappeared. Approaching the opening with great trepidation , his eyes adjusted to the dusk.
Creeping in slowly, a split trail revealed itself. Choosing the one to the right, he felt the trail rise. Before long he had reached the zenith.
“Holy shit!” Seth’s eyes bugged out as he took in the grandeur before him. The trail fell off a cliff with the ceiling continuing to rise. The cathedral must have been another twenty stories high with the far wall at least two football fields long.
Peering over the edge, he was struck with a case of vertigo. The drop to the floor was unfathomable. Enormous boulders and stalagmites appeared as child’s toys. Seth noticed that the wall and distant floor shimmered with a faint golden material not easily detected in the low light. As he concentrated on it, he thought he sensed movement. Dismissing the effect as a trick of the poor lighting, he moved back from the edge and sat down on the hard rock ground.
Slowly, he panned the cavern, scouting for a trace of Tobi and her herd. From his position on the floor, he almost missed the evidence of the trail that had gone to the left as it rose higher in the cavern, looking down at him. Hmm, that must be where they went. Focusing back on his immediate surroundings, he had an epiphany. The cavern would play beautifully into his plan for Clyde. Just can’t keep me down. He giggled manically; a familiar, telltale warmth suffusing his loins. Rising, he stuffed his hands in his tunic pockets, stole a last satisfied gander at his new discovery, and began the long walk back to his sleeping room, a tuneless hum on his lips and a gleam of insanity in his eyes.
*
Preoccupied with his exciting plans, Seth failed to notice the huge, ghostly gray shadow that flitted quickly down the trail, a wise unblinking eye keeping him within sight.
Chapter 10
Emma sat morosely at the edge of the warm pool in the bathing cave. Tendrils of fog floated on the surface, rising with the warm air, failing to obscure the sight of Chloe, Scotty, Kane and Kenya as they entered the water. In the other direction some of the keepers, Johno and Crystal, Cobby and Karen and Billy and Gloria washed up and socialized in the volcanic water, serving to make her even more miserable, hating the happy couples.
Caesar, the imposing tiger, paced near the water’s edge, Echo riding his back as if she sat on a personal chariot. Barney romped at Caesar’s huge feet. It was clear Caesar wanted to join the fun in the pool, but he wasn’t allowed. Everyone had decided his massive size could inadvertently hurt someone during the horseplay. So he paced at the water’s edge, laser eyes following Scotty’s every move as he frolicked with Chloe.
Barely a week had passed since Scotty’s birthday and Emma’s aborted attempt to speak to Kane about their relationship. Trying to combine her ultimatum with a chance to show Kane how much she loved him would always fail. She couldn’t help it. She just lost track of her senses when she was alone with him.
Thinking of him inside her made her dizzy with longing and resentment. She speared Kenya with a withering look. Not much good that would do with the foursome bathing, their backs to her.
She couldn’t help but compare herself to Kenya, who was only a year or so younger. She watched as Kane helped her to steady herself as she stood in the knee-deep water, her long perfect legs and her slender frame belying the fact that she was almost fifteen months pregnant. She gritted her teeth as Kane casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders and suddenly lifted her off her feet amid her shrieks of laughter, setting her down again, cradling her on his lap, and allowing the water to support her weight. Her lush walnut hair floated down her back, spreading wide in the water and showcasing her natural curls.
“Don’t you dare drop me, chickey boy,” Kenya squealed. Emma cringed as Kenya tipped her still-sculptured caramel face and mouthwatering lips to receive a smooch from—My man, goddamn it. My man!
It didn’t help matters for Emma that Chloe was giving her the cold shoulder. That’s what she got for sticking up for Scotty.
Chloe had been bitching for days about the inconvenience of having Echo and Barney around when they slept. All of the other dogs, including Chloe’s own Teddy, along with Chance, the pig that everyone spoiled, had been firmly relegated to Netty’s kitchen to sleep in an assortment of beds near the fireplace. The dogs didn’t object. They enjoyed being together with the pitties, King and Queenie. God knew Teddy followed wherever Penny the springer went. He liked to keep his tiny, beady eyes on those ears of hers, guarding them jealously from imagined rivals.
When it had been Emma’s turn to deliver lunch to the growing fields, she’d walked in on a heated Chloe whining to Scotty as he tried to play with Echo and Barney on his break. I don’t know what he sees in her. Sticking up for her almost-brother, she pointedly remarked, “For Pete’s sake, can you please just get off his back with this?”
Scotty shot her a wink while they waited for the bomb to drop. Chloe opened her mouth to speak then promptly turned away, walking down to the row of plants she’d been weeding . . . with the help of Baby, no less. And she hadn’t spoken to her since. Emma sighed, wondering if things could get any worse.
Suddenly, a running figure splashed by her with a frightful shallow dive into the deeper water. A cunning smile curved her lips as she realized it was Seth. And he sure looked good. Netty’s stellar meals had put important weight back on his weakened frame. His hair had come in completely dark brown, thick and curly, making his blue eyes pop, transforming a somewhat mild presence into a seductive charmer when he smiled that big wide smile.
Hmm, too bad that missing tooth on the side hasn’t come back in. She recalled Lorna’s teeth were mostly missing so Seth was ahead of the game. Maybe when he was healed completely it would come back just like his ear had. Time would tell.
“Emma . . . hey, Emma.” Seth’s voice floated over the water causing the foursome to glance her way.
Spying Kane watching her, she stood and removed her robe to expose the tiny triangles of cloth she tried to call a bathing suit, revealing her firm, lush curves.
Taking off at a seductive lunge, she forged into the water and paddled out to meet Seth. Breathing heavily when she arrived, her chest heaved.
“Here, let me help while you catch your breath.” Seth held out his arms. She glanced behind, trying to make out the outlines of the foursome in the wisps of mist. Hoping Kane could see, she glided slowly toward Seth’s outstretched arms.
He pulled her close, easing them further from shore until they were obscured from sight by a stalagmite. Shadows danced like lovers, casting an intimate beauty enhanced by the glimmer of the many iridescent mineral and rough jeweled stones embedded in the age-old fossilized rock.
“Wow, this is beautiful back here.” She felt dizzy from the effects of the minerals, holding tighter to Seth and boldly wrapping her legs around his waist to steady herself. Turning to him, she met his blue eyes which stared deeply into hers as if he were reading her soul.
“You deserve all of this. You’re even more gorgeous than this natural beauty.”
Seth’s thumb began to stroke her back as he slipped his arms around to support her. She gave him her sweetest smile. His right hand moved slowly down her back pressing her into him where she could feel his erection.
Ignoring Seth’s soft groan, she distractedly craned her neck to see if Kane was watching. She could feel Seth’s hand crawl toward her breast as she realized there was no way Kane could possibly see her. She must direct Seth closer to shore and out of some of this damn mist.
Unwrapping her legs from around his waist, she felt him c
atch her foot.
“Where you going, Emma?”
She threw him a tight smile as she squinted through the mist.
“Let’s move to a better spot, Seth.”
His face fell, all expression gone. His voice raised an octave, demanding her attention. She searched his face trying to figure out what was wrong.
“I like this spot.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t see the shoreline and we shouldn’t be out this far.”
“I like this spot.” At his monotone repetition, she felt an eerie warning in her stomach. Like a small evil snake waking and uncurling. She hadn’t felt that way since the night they’d run to the woods from their old house on Lily Pond Road. The very night they’d entered the Hive, the second bomb yapping at their heels.
“Eh, Seth, I’m going to head back now and join my friends.”
She felt him place her foot between his legs, wedging it in tight. His finger began to move back to her breast as he remarked, “They aren’t your friends, Emma. You don’t have any friends. Just me. You have me. I’m all you need . . . let me show you.”
She felt paralyzed as his lips landed on her neck, sucking and licking as they traveled down to the breast his hand had managed to liberate.
She felt a sobering shock course through her body as his lips found the taut nipple on her breast. Taut from fear.
With all her might, she shoved him away from her, accomplishing nothing as her foot remained trapped between his legs. Pulling back the flat of her hand she shot it forward, landing on his nose as she screamed, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Her face drained of color as she watched the blood stream from his nose, while Seth acted as if nothing had happened.
“I know you want this, Emma. I’ve known for a long time.” He pulled her roughly back against his erection. “Feel how I want you? This is what you want, don’t you?”
Emma went limp with shock as he ground his erection into her pelvis, his fingers busy trying to remove her bathing suit.
“I’m going to give it to you like a man does.” His lips crushed down on hers, his fingers grabbing her wisp of a suit. “Not like that boy you taunt. Have you fucked him yet?” His lips bore down again, robbing her of all breath or thought. “Have you? Have you fucked him?”
Gasping for air, she realized Seth was going to rape her. He pursed his lips and whispered in her ear. “You can’t fool me, babe. You want it as much as I do.” He pawed at her exposed breast, holding her locked between his legs, blood leaking over her chest as she felt her bathing suit give. His hand trapped her arms behind her back, thrusting her breast at him. Inflamed, he licked her ear as he fumbled with his other hand under the water to free his bulging erection.
“Tell me you want it, Emma. Tell me now!” He groaned pitifully as his erection pressed into her. With all her strength, she screamed, freeing a hand that swung around in a fist to land again on his injured nose. She heard a crunch. Seth recoiled in pain, holding his nose and releasing her.
She could hear scattered voices from the shore. Scotty called her name.
“Well, my little bitch. You’re going to be damn sorry you did that. I’m going to have to teach you a lesson now.” His hand shot out like a whip, catching her by the hair. He slapped her hard across the face, stars and pain unable to block the sound of Scotty’s voice getting closer. As she blinked, Seth drew her near, his voice calm again, a frightening contrast to his depraved pronouncement.
“You better keep your trap shut, little girl. I might just have to tell your mommy what a tramp you are. Then I’m going to come find you and slice off those little titties you’re so proud of. Hear me?”
She could feel the blood drain from her face as she watched the sickness surface in the blue eyes she had found so attractive. Then he sank quietly under the water, disappearing as Scotty’s voice and splashing warned her of his approach.
Panic had a reverse effect on her. She calmed. Gathering her wits, she knew she could never face anyone again if they discovered what had happened. She splashed at the blood on her chest, washing it away. Grasping her suit that dangled from one leg, she hurriedly struggled to get her other foot inside, the water a hindrance. Oh, my God, oh my God. Did he really say that? Her heart tripped faster as she wondered at the ramifications of a nutjob loose in the Hive. All her plans with Kane would go up in smoke. Will anyone believe me? Will they feel sorry for me? Will they blame me? Her head began to spin with the possible fallout. She remembered the talk her mama had with her months ago after the Elias incident.
“No,” she moaned. She couldn’t bring this shame and disappointment down on her mama. Not when she was just learning to deal with her own disappointment over Clyde and his wife. She let out a sob as she felt the swelling on the side of her face where Seth had clocked her.
“Emma, can you please answer me?” Scotty shouted.
She finished fumbling with her suit, took a deep breath as she stifled a sob and called out numbly, “Here, Scotty. I’m over here.” The splashing got closer as Scotty came into focus, his wings dripping wet and weighing him down.
“For gosh sakes, Emma. Didn’t you hear me? What’s wrong?” He swam over to her, concern on his familiar and dear face. She threw herself into his big arms, the sudden comfort bringing on uncontrollable shakes.
“Hey, hey there. What’s wrong, Emma?” He looked around the water. “Where’s Seth?”
Emma scrunched her eyes tight, still clinging to Scotty and forcing her tremors to abate with prayers. Oh Lord, I promise to be a good girl. I can do it. I’ll leave Kane alone and stay away from sex until I’m twenty one. Please, please . . . I promise.
Scotty held her in the water, silently waiting for her to calm down and speak. Emma opened her eyes.
“Ahem . . . a . . . Seth . . . yes. Well, he’s not here,” she said as brightly as she could to mask the tears that threatened to undo her.
“What do you mean, he’s not here? We saw you swim out here after him.” He touched the side of her face. She winced, unable to cover her reaction to the pain.
“Did you hurt yourself?”
“Yes, yes. Eh, I tried to climb the stalagmite. I know . . . stupid, huh?”
Scotty studied her face, touching the tender skin as she flinched. “But it’s not scraped. Just a bad bruise. I can’t imagine how you managed to do this.” He shook his head. “When are you going to start taking things seriously?” He took her arm as he guided her towards the shore. “You need to get a cold compress on that. You’re going to look like hell for a few days.”
Emma gritted her teeth and remained silent, fighting the urge to bare all. Seth’s unbelievable words rang in her ears. As she exited the water, Kane and Kenya drew near with Chloe. I can’t face them right now. Bending down to pick up her things, she reeled from the rush of blood to her head, feeling a massive headache coming on.
“Scotty, I just want to go lie down for a while.” She backed away, calling over her shoulder, “Tell Mama for me?” Holding in her trembling, she hurried to the privacy of the room she shared with Bonnie, whom she was positive would be flitting around Tobi and Chance somewhere.
Curling up on her stone dais, she lay there with her head spinning and throbbing with pain. All she could think about was how lonely she was, with no one to confide in. Vowing to reform her ways and spend more time with Bonnie, her mama and the animals, her consciousness deserted her, finally called by the siren of slumber.
*
Ginger Mae entered Netty’s kitchen, clipboard in hand, finding it quiet with only a few survivors still in attendance after breakfast. She glanced over to the fireplace where Emma sat on the floor slowly stroking the elegant coat of Queenie the pit bull, her face stoic and drawn as her flat eyes focused on a spot in front of her lap. Now what’s got that child in such a mood?
Reaching behind her back, she pulled her now shoulder-length russet hair securely to the top of her head. Only a few more months to go and she could shear the rest of the b
lond tips right off, although why she bothered to put her hair up was beyond her. She wondered how long it would take before Tobi or one of the other elephants tugged it down with their playful trunks. Or the camels. They loved to sneak up behind her and chew on her hair. She couldn’t be sure if it was play, boredom, or just a fascination with her hair; their big eyes and ebony lips always reflecting a fixed expression of contentment.
Sweeping her eyes around the comfortable room, she spotted Gloria with a colorful rag rug on her lap doing a repair, as Billy and Tucker discussed the morning distribution of food to the creatures of the Hive.
Nodding to a busy but quiet Salina, she guessed the worried, sick expression on her dour face had something to do with either Emma or Clyde. Poor Salina. Can’t she ever catch a break?
Hurrying over to a table in the back of the room where Abby and Netty awaited their meeting with her, she wondered what could be up. Maybe a change in her duties? She prayed it wasn’t that. Her days were full of joy and laughter as she continued to develop an abiding love for the creatures she counted daily. She honestly felt she could survive anything as long as she could share their company.
As her love for the creatures deepened, she began to understand why the Womb was fed up with the human race. The guileless innocence of her counted creatures never failed to charm and astonish her. She cringed with the memory of the many that had been abused, eaten and discarded like rubbish by the very people who should have known better. Man preaches humanity while practicing the inhumane.
As she approached the table of the glowing Elder women, she studied the elderly primate that was sitting cuddled in Abby’s lap. The white-faced monkey now wore diapers fashioned from cloth supplied by Netty. The monkeys had the freedom to roam as they pleased and spent most of their time in the growing fields. But this female had become attached to the attention and affection she desperately hungered for and rarely received, having spent most of her entire life in a small iron cage. She could usually be found near an Elder, begging for affection, Jose being her favorite.