A Wicked Beginning Read online

  “Know them from the climbing gym,” Jayze responded. “Hey, you two…” She nodded in our direction.

  “Hey…” said Cam.

  “Hi…Jayze, right?” I wanted to make sure I’d heard Mano correctly. I’d never actually met her before.

  “Right,” she said, settling onto a chair at the table, her plate heaped full. “Damn, Mano, you cook a mean meal.”

  He looked over at her and smiled. Walking back over to the table he assumed his laid back chair lean, toothpick between his teeth.

  I looked over at her…there was something familiar about her. She was super cute, slender…kind of wiry, in a Terrier sort of way…like a bundle of energy. She had striking, yet curious, green eyes the color of oxidized copper, and short blond hair, cut in a severe line at the jaw. I stared at her, trying to jog my brain as to how I knew her…besides the climbing gym.

  “Aren’t you being a little rude, babe?” Cam uttered to me.

  Jayze looked over at us and laughed. “I should be the one staring at you, Chérie. I saw you two on the floor of the gym last fall. You gave everyone quite a show.”

  “Oh…we did indeed.” I blushed and looked away. “Sorry…you just reminded me of something, that’s all. You look familiar.”

  “Climbing wall, no doubt,” she said, munching on her meal. “Or maybe you’ve seen me around town.” She turned to Manoko. “Damn, damn, damn, Mano…can I be your bitch slave for free food?”

  Mano laughed. “You get rid of Marilyn, and we’ll deal.”

  Jayze grimaced. “Yeah, she’s a bit intense, huh? Sex is good though…”

  “Yeah, but she’s like a cobra, girl.” Mano unfolded his arms and let his chair fall back to all fours. He made his hand appear like it was the head of a snake and made a striking motion with it. “What do you see in her, Jayze, honestly?”

  “I don’t know…security…drama…security in knowing that there will be drama every day.” She guffawed. “Haven’t figured it out yet…I’ll let you know.”

  “I don’t know, Jayze. I usually mind my own biz, but Marilyn’s kind of a freak. I think you can do better.”

  “Well, daddy,” Jayze muttered. “When you find the woman of my dreams, do let me know.” She reached out to punch Manoko’s arm. “So, hey,” she said, turning to me. “Figure anything out during that little interlude? About you and me, I mean.”

  “Hmmm...” I studied her for a moment before understanding dawned. My face flamed, and I stared furiously at my hands.

  Cam started laughing. “It’s your dream girl, isn’t it?” He hooted with laughter.

  “Cam…” I protested with a dark look.

  “What dream?” Jayze asked, full of curiosity. “Do tell.”

  “It was nothing…” I glared at Cam, giving him a “you’re going to pay for this, big time” expression. That made him laugh even harder.

  “Tell her…” he said when he’d finished having fun at my expense.

  “Yeah, this sounds good,” Manoko added, leaning back in his chair once more.

  All eyes were on me now. Cam and Manoko were sitting back in their chairs, arms folded. Jayze studied me with suspicious countenance. I imagined that my entire body was the color of a burnt lobster. My mouth was dry. My stomach was clenched in a knot. I could channel the force of the universe, but I still embarrassed easily. “It was nothing.” No one said anything. They all sat waiting. “Okay,” I blurted out. “You came out of an alley, grabbed me and kissed me, and told me to finish what I started.” Completely mortified, I felt like I was going to burn to a crisp.

  “Is that it?” said Manoko. “What’s the big deal?”

  Jayze frowned at me, her face all lines and angles. “Do you think I’m like…you know, all lesbians want to convert hetero chicks?”

  “No…it wasn’t like that…it was caring…sweet…soft…different…You had a message to convey and the message was clear – finish what you started. I just haven’t a clue what I started that I need to finish.”

  Her face softened. “I do possess a pretty good kiss or so I’m told.” She paused, considering. “And I’m a bitch about finishing things. I’ll work until I’m exhausted and then keep on going to finish a sculpture.” She took a healthy swallow of her wine. “Where were we? What did the environment look like?”

  I told her about the dream village, where everything trilled or cooed or sang – the creek warbled, the flowers chimed, the butterflies were melodious. I mentioned the people who walked by me, bowing and pressing their hands together. I described the stone walls of the buildings, carved and stained with elaborate designs and symbols. Showing her my ring, I said that some of the symbols looked like the dolphins cavorting around my golden surface. It was a breathtaking place that I dreamt of many times. She listened intently, captivated by the description.

  When I mentioned that everyone was naked, she scoffed. “Don’t know how I feel about that part but…” She tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. “I’ve had dreams of a place similar to that inhabited by a group or tribe called the ka’krisch…something like that.”

  Cam choked on the beer he was guzzling, exploding in a coughing fit. In the gym last year, I had pushed him down, pinned his arms to the floor and insisted that he apologize for a comment he made about the ka’krisch. Only I did not know who the ka’krisch were any more than Jayze did.

  Jayze gave Cam a sidelong glance. “You okay there, buddy?”

  “Yup…” Cam uttered, holding back another cough. He grabbed for a glass of water and poured it down his throat. “Got this…” He squeezed the words out before leaning back in his chair in an attempt to assume his casual form.

  “Anyway, like I was saying…” Jayze gave Cam another curious stare before continuing. “My dreams are not that musical, but still look similar…in fact, I’m working on a sculpture of one of the animals I see in my dream.”

  “Oh,” I said eagerly. “What kind of sculpture do you do?” I adored art of every kind.

  “Usually big bronze pieces…”

  “What’s the piece you’re working on?”

  “Well…it’s still emerging in my mind…but the part I’ve got so far is a huge lynx-like creature, with a snarling face, poised in a ferocious lunge.”

  Cam’s and Manoko’s chairs thudded to the floor at the exact same time. Cam uttered a “Huh…” Now all eyes were pointed at Jayze.

  “What?” She said, forking a mouthful of salmon.

  The room was silent as a tomb. Finally, Manoko said, “Finish up your meal, Jayze; dessert is getting cold. It’s Pear Soufflé with Orange Thyme Custard Sauce and has to be served at just the right temp.”

  “I don’t think so, Mano. I haven’t seen you warm anything since I arrived. All I’ve seen you do is put things away.” Jayze’ eyes narrowed to small slits, and she regarded each one of us carefully. “I sense a secret here, and I hate secrets. Don’t you know it’s rude to keep secrets from you dinner guests?”

  Manoko and I looked at Cam, whose face was now ashen. “Ever heard of a star dreamling?” Manoko asked Jayze, still staring at Cam.

  “Can’t say that I have, Mano…” She finished off her wine and extended the glass to Cam for another pour. He tipped the bottle into her glass, emptying it. I noticed that his hand trembled slightly.

  “Are you going to enlighten me, or let me guess?” She wiped her mouth with her napkin and tossed the cloth on the table. “Another fine meal by…” She made a drum roll sound on the table with her fingers. “…my friend and most excellent chef Mano!” she exclaimed, grinning at him. Then she turned back to Cam and me. “Okay, spill the beans. I hate mysterious secrets.”

  “I’m afraid you’re going to have to live with this one, Jayze.” Manoko muttered. “We’re still trying to figure it out ourselves. But if you are sculpting the star dreamling and you factored in the ka…in Chérie’s dream, I think it’s fair to say you play a part in this somehow.”

  Jayze considered this for a mome
nt. “Fair enough…I’ll treat it like its art…you get images, flashes of ideas, you act on them and then…” She flicked her fingers out before her and moved them in an arc towards her sides. “…and then you have a work of art. I can live with that. I’ll keep you all posted on my progress if you keep me posted on yours.”

  Everyone in the room nodded solemnly. Then Manoko stood up. “Care for dessert? I think this pact calls for dessert and some fine dessert wine to go with it. I’ve got a good one in the basement – Cam, care to go get it?”

  Cam stood up, rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and answered, “Sure, Mano. Care to help me, Chérie?”

  It wasn’t really a question…it was a command. I followed him downstairs. When we’d reached the basement he pulled me roughly to him and held me tight. “I don’t like this shit, Chér…any of it.” He pressed his nose into my hair and inhaled. “Mmm, eau de Chérie, my favorite scent…” Then he squeezed me so hard I could not breathe.

  “Cam, ease up.” I gently pushed him away.

  “Sorry…I’m just feeling a bit berserk…this is way outside of my comfort zone. I just get you back in my life as my glowing super powered girlfriend, not just the human girlfriend you were before…I can deal with that. The star dreamling makes no sense whatsoever…and now this woman Jayze is sculpting something like it…and, most importantly…” He took my face between his palms. “I want you, babe.” His gaze was laced with desire. “And I…can’t…act on it… If I could, I’d take you on the floor right here and now.”

  My body responded instantly, in kind. “Yeah…I hear you. Well, what are we going to do? I guess we finish what we started.”

  “Which was…?” He leaned closer to me until our foreheads were touching, caressing the small of my back with his palms.

  I closed my eyes and swallowed. “Which was, getting to know each other all over again…and finding out who we are to one another…this time around…” It was heady having him close to me…the feel of his defined chest against my soft breasts…the comfort of his arms wrapped around me…the warmth of his pelvis…his strong legs and back. I took a deep breath. “And figuring out a way to act on our desires without harm or pain to either of us…but especially not to you…” My heart pulsed in acknowledgement. “I’m beginning to love you in a way I can’t explain…don’t want to explain…and want to express fully and without constraint.”

  We both sighed and held one another. Finally, Cam pulled away and said gruffly, “Ready for dessert? Our host is waiting…” He grabbed the wine, took my hand in his, and we both headed upstairs.

  Chapter 8 – Chérie

  When I awoke the next day – alone – Cam and I had thought that we best not tempt fate through more physical contact, I pondered the previous night. Until we found out Jayze was somehow in the loop with the star dreamling, we had gone about our evening as nothing was wrong. Something was way wrong. A mysterious star dreamling was after Cam. I wish I could talk to Kayden, my mystery man. I’d even consider chatting with Natalie Epic, Kayden’s frightening crone of an associate. I had made her acquaintance last year, and boy, oh boy, could she be scary. What to do? I kicked my legs to either side, disturbing the slumber of my two cats, Mac and Jack, named after my favorite Northwest beer.

  Stop it, thought Mac.

  We’re exhausted, added Jack.

  “Wake up you two. Got any ideas as to how to solve this star dreamling dilemma?”

  Jack stood up, arched his little back in an upside down U, and settled down to sleep.

  “I’m not going to give you any raw meat this morning,” I crooned in a mocking sing song voice. They both whipped their heads in my direction.

  Mac yawned. My, my, how you threaten us…

  She won’t do it, Jack continued. But let’s get up just in case. They both leapt off the bed and ambled towards the kitchen, yawning.

  After feeding them, I walked outside to sit on the front step, tea in hand. It was a bright, beautiful morning. My yard, just waking up after its long slumber, was bursting with life. Tiny shoots of grass were popping out of the ground. Many of the buds on the tree were beginning to blossom, giving a honeyed perfume to the air. Crocuses were poking their purple heads out around the elm trees. I gave the yard a thorough appraisal. It needed some work, a little care, to bring it back into shape. Maybe later, after I called Cam, I’d get out the shovel and start digging. My attention wandered over to the Olympic Mountain Range when two masculine hands reached around my head pressed against my eyes. I yelped and pulled against the arms attached to those potent hands. They did not budge…a bit. I knew who this immovable man was. Kayden, my beautiful man-like creature, was back. “Care to let me see you, Kayden?”

  “Of course, why not? I’ve been watching you, ma chère.”

  “This again? We’re back to you spying on me?” I huffed, eyes still pressed closed by Kayden’s formidable fingers. The guy could crush me in a heartbeat…I knew…we’d sparred in physical contact many times. He could also melt me like honey on a hot tin roof.

  “Ma chère, I never stop spying on you, as you so quaintly put it.” He nuzzled the back of my neck with his nose, causing ecstatic shivers to run up and down my spine.

  “Take your hands away, Kayden, so I can see you.”

  In a split second he was in front of me, standing like a 6’ 4” magnificent black stallion glistening in the sun. I expected him to whinny, paw the earth with his hoof, and toss his mane. “You’ve been a naughty, naughty girl, mon amour.”

  His use of French phrases still caused me to tremble with loin-stirring waves of pleasure. “Stop it, Kayden. You disappeared on me.”

  He smiled an immense dazzling smile full of glistening white teeth. “Ma chère, I have never been apart from you. How quickly you forget.”

  “Well, where were you?” I spat. “I sure couldn’t feel you.”

  “Did you try a different frequency?”

  “No, I didn’t try a different frequency. I fell madly in love with you, and then you evaporated. You just vanished. Did you run away, too, like Cam did last year?” I started to sniffle.

  “Oh, the Neanderthal…you always run back to the Neanderthal. We’ve been enjoying him, haven’t we, chère?”

  “What do you mean ‘we’?”

  “Chère, honestly…it’s like you learned nothing last year.” He folded his arms over his chest, his glossy black hair falling down his shoulders like a cascade of nightfall, his muscular thighs pressing into his ever tight jeans – it was like his outer skin was denim.

  “Your hair’s longer…” I said sulkily.

  “Yours isn’t…”

  “I missed you when you went away, Kayden.”

  “Now you don’t have to miss me…I’m back.”

  “Where did you go?” I looked up at him through tear laden lashes.

  “Here and there…ma chère, it was essential that I go away, physically, but I was never…ever…away from you.”

  “Who were you with? Were you ‘instructing’ someone else?”

  “My, my, are you jealous? You, you have shared your heart with the Neanderthal again, ask me if I’ve been with anyone else?”

  “Have you?” My face was fixed in a childish pout, I just knew it. I couldn’t seem to help myself.

  Kayden’s face became gentle. “Mon amour, I could not possibly have been with another without you knowing about it and this I would not do. I would never betray you that way.”

  “I don’t understand. Am I then betraying you by being with Cam?”

  “How could you betray me, ma chère? The only act of betrayal would be if you fail to remember who you are.”

  “I am the channel of the ka’kriyayaga…” I repeated in a drone-like voice.

  “Yes, chère, you are... But you don’t yet know the extent of your abilities, as evidenced by your silly summoning of the star dreamling.”

  “What are you saying? That the star dreamling is my fault?”

  “No, chère�
��it is your boyfriend’s adventure to figure it out. You just give the dreamling easy access to him when you engage with him.”

  “So now he’s my boyfriend again?”

  “He seems to be…”

  “And you are not jealous?”

  “Why would I be? Ma chère, these questions are tedious. Use your heart.”

  I frowned, but did not stop asking questions. “Am I a Galaxy Dancer?”

  Kayden grabbed my hands and joyfully pulled me up to standing, a broad grin spreading across his chiseled face. “Yes, chère, you are a Galaxy Dancer. How did you remember?”

  “Well, we did find ourselves dancing through the galaxy last year…when I heard the term, I just put the two together and made a lucky guess. Are you a Galaxy Dancer?”

  “I am the conduit of ka’kriyayago, aren’t I?”

  “I suppose…yes…that is what you are…”

  “Are you guessing or knowing?”

  I closed my eyes and tuned into my center. “Yes, Kayden you are the conduit of the ka’kriyayago.” I opened my eyes and squinted from the brilliance of the ascending sun. “So, how can I be with Cam, then?”

  “Because you just can, chère. You can do whatever you want.”

  “And you can’t?”

  Kayden gave a sniff. “Chère, don’t be naïve. Of course I can do whatever I want.”

  “So why don’t you want to be with anyone else?”

  Kayden just shook his head. “Mon amour, I am not going to dignify that with an answer. That is part of your journey, not mine.” He smoothed his black t-shirt along his six-pack abs with his long fingers, brushing away a small bit of dust. I watched the particles swirl in the sunlight. “And now we must begin our lessons.”

  “Wait a minute – what do I tell Cam when he sees that you are back in my life too?”

  Kayden flicked his fingers at his side in a dismissive fashion. “Tell him whatever you like. Tell him I pine for you, but I realize that he is the man for you. It makes no difference. We shall continue in the same manner we have always continued.”