Light Speed by Arkadie, L. (accelerated reader books .TXT) 📕

She’s staring at my cheek, rotating her headfrom one side to the other to view my mark at different angles.

I run a finger down the depression. I alwaysforget it’s there until someone points it out.

“I underestimated my opponent,” I mutter,remembering the fight.

It was a bastillon, a creature of theMoksoar Sea. Its body is long and scaly, mouth wide, teeth sharpbecause it’s from the dragon family. What sets it apart from othersof its species is that it has twenty sharp claws lining the fins onboth sides of its body. Going against my father’s wishes, Telmanand I took it upon ourselves to pilfer the only pearl link from theblack caves the bastillon guards. Needless to say, we failed. I’mfast but it somehow caught me in its claws and nearly tore me toshreds. I had more gashes than the one on my face. This was not thefirst time that we chose to defy the great Felix Benel, nor thelast. However he picked this opportunity to teach me a lesson. Inever knew I was vain until I woke up with the mark on my face. Ibegged him to make it go away, but he refused. He said, “It willheal Na’ta when it’s ready to heal.” That was four hundred Earthyears ago. I don’t really mind it being there anymore. There comesa time when we accept what we can’t figure out how to change.

The Ugu Mag situated around the pod lookconfused by what I just said. It is almost as if they are waitingfor me to explain further. At the end of the very moment of pause,the girl with the freckles narrows her eyes at my chest.

“Your breasts are unique,” she says. “Theyslope above the sprig. It’s attractive.”

“Oh,” I sing, staggered by her comment. Iinstinctively look down at them. Yes, I see the difference betweenour breasts. Mine are cone-shaped and plump and hers are round andplump.

“I agree,” Telman says, smirking at me.

She whips her head around to face him. “Youare attracted to her?” she asks.

“You have no idea,” he says in English,narrowing his eyes at me. Then he flippantly says something intheir language equivalent to, “But she’s not attracted to me.”

“What tongue did you speak?” the male besideme asks Telman.

“English,” he answers.

They get that confused look on their faceagain.

“It’s an ancient language,” I chime in.

“There are no ancient languages. We have onelanguage,” the female with the freckled shoulders says.

“You are not Ugu Mag, are you?” asks a girlwith hair as red as Fawn’s.

Usually it is now that Telman and I scrambecause we have just exposed ourselves. When he spoke English hepoked the dragon. However, like me, he doesn’t believe the Ugu Magare capable of breathing fire.

He and I make eye contact. We are inagreement. “I’m from Enu; he’s from Earth,” I reveal.

I already anticipate where the questionswill lead. They will ask what we are and if I am to remain honestwith them, I’ll have to admit that Telman is a Selell. Mostuniverses are at least a little knowledgeable of vampires. As onthe Earth, legends of blood-sucking, night-crawling transmogrifiedhumans exist in other worlds. After hearing there’s a vampirewading in their pond, they’ll probably scatter like frighteneddolphins do when a great white shark races into their midst.

“Listen?” The male with the long bushy hairsays, inclining his ear toward the sky. “The harmony is spinningpast infinity!” He’s very excited.

“It has arrived!” Another exclaims.

At once, every single one of them emergesfrom the water and hops onto the sprig. The leaf easily bears theweight of them dancing on it. Flabbergasted, Telman and I watchtheir wet, naked figures. There’s something appealing about the waythey are moving. Their arms glide up and high above their heads.That’s where their hands lock with the nearest person. Then theyhike up one leg to link it with their neighbor’s and then lower itwhile simultaneously doing the same with the other leg. It is themost fascinating scene. The ballad chimes one long harmonious noteand suddenly they all bend over and crouch low, waiting for themelody to change. Telman and I lock eyes. We speak without havingto say a word. I can read his mind.

And now he’s right in front of me. Togetherwe stop holding on to the sturdy leaf and let ourselves sink to thebottom of the pond. It’s deep and although we can’t hear thebeautiful song, he’s dancing me along the floor of the lake. Myunromantic vampire has been inspired by the music. He shuffles meagainst the pressure of the water, moving past dangling legs and afew startled deep-water swimmers. This shuffle we’re doing doesn’tfeel corny as it would’ve a while ago. His eyes hold me captive. Ihear his voice in my head say I love you and I say it backto him. Finally, we’re dripping wet as our feet sink into thespongy grass. We haven’t pulled apart. After a moment he lets go ofme to cup his hands over my breasts.

“I’ve been wanting to do this ever since thesmart Mag chick took notice of how magnificent they are.” Hesmirks.

I sniff, chuckling.

He suggestively lifts an eyebrow. “Maybe weshould go back and join Adore and Vestop in the trees.”

I’m very tempted. My nipples want to feelthe wetness and warmth of his mouth. I want him to take me andravish me in the way only Telman can. He’ll shove me against one ofthose tree trunks. We’ll break it in half. He’ll thrust himself sofar up inside of me that it will feel like he’ll bust throughme.

“They’re dancing the wey’lo’lol!”Adore exclaims.

Telman and I break eye contact and turn tosee Adore and Chex standing at the edge of the lake, watching theUgu Mag continue their strange dance. Her hair is all tossed uponher head. She smells and glows like sex.

“Finally,” I grumble, but she’s not payingme any attention.

“Do you mind?” she asks. Her face is full oflight and she’s unable to look away from the Ugu Mag.

Before any of us can reply, she dives intothe water. We are all gripped by suspense. Neither Telman, Chex orI can take our eyes off how her long, lean limbs