Behind the veil of water

Finally, some solitude. Kyra had fled the city the moment her shift ended on Friday, having packed her car the night before. She drove toward the mountains, eagerly awaiting the chance to re-center herself; no car noise, ringing phones, rumbling trains or chattering people.

Kyra had felt off kilter for months, unable to focus on anything for very long, and fighting the overwhelming feeling that she was drowning in her own life. Typically she headed to the ocean to recharge her batteries, letting the waves lap at her feet and burying her fingers in the sand always made her feel calm again.

Today she was being drawn toward her friend Erin’s cabin. She knew Erin wasn’t home, she was spending the summer touring Italy but she also knew that it was perfectly fine that she use the cabin in her absence.

Turning off the main highway, Kyra spent the next hour driving down a narrow dirt road that became progressively more and more rutted, bouncing her around like a ping pong ball in a dryer. The sun was setting behind the pressing stands of evergreen trees, their peaks silhouetted against the orange light like black brush strokes.

As she rounded the final turn the cabin came into view, its steeply sloped roof mimicking the shape of the trees around it. Erin had built the cabin in a way that would have minimal impact on the forest; no trees had been cleared, no electrical wiring had been run and there was no running water, only a deep well and nearby river.

Stopping the car beside the house, Kyra turned the engine off with a sigh. Climbing out she inhaled deeply of the fresh mountain air, letting the scent of sharp pine and rotting needles fill her body like a cup. Lifting her duffle bag and small ice chest from the back seat, she made her way up the front steps, slipping her key into the lock and moving into the dark interior.

Kyra spent the next 15 minutes getting settled, which only involved lighting candles so she could see, putting her things in the single loft bedroom and opening one of the bottles of wine she had brought with her.

Slipping into the navy blue sweater that she always left on the hook behind the front door, she picked up her wine glass and slipped out onto the porch, sinking down into one of the rockers Erin’s father built for her.

The night was filled with the sounds of the unseen inhabitants of the forest. Cicadas sang loudly in the trees, small animals scampered through the underbrush, and in the distance the river roared on its way to the ocean. The moon rose overhead, shining down full and heavy and draping everything in a gossamer blanket of light.

Kyra saw something move out of the corner of her eye, just a brief flash of action that pulled her gaze, but when she looked she saw only trees. The rustle of leaves pulled her attention back to the front just in time for her to see the nude form of a man dash into the shadows of the trees. Normally she would have done the smart thing and gone into the house, locking the door behind, but the shimmer of iridescent light that followed in his wake pushed her common sense onto the back burner.

Setting her glass aside she rose to her feet and moved down the steps as quietly as she could, moving to follow him into the night. The blanket of pine needles muffled her sandaled feet, making her stealthier than she’d thought she could manage.

Again the slim line moved across her path in a flash of pale skin and dark hair.

Kyra followed. The sound of the river grew louder; helping to mask any noise she might make, even the startled scream that burst from her lips when a slender hand touched her shoulder was drowned out. Spinning around to face the owner of the hand she flailed, her arms wind milling in an effort to regain her balance, but it was the long arms of the nude man wrapping around her that kept her on her feet.

He held her against the length of his body, the green of his eyes visible even in the weak filtered moonlight. Kyra didn’t struggle, his touch gave her a sense of calm she’d never felt before and she wanted that sensation always.

He released her slowly and Kysa felt like someone was pulling her out of her own skin, the feeling almost painful, and she whimpered as her own hands shot out to clutch at his forearms. His smile seemed to shine with its own light as he caressed her cheek a moment before taking her by the hand and leading her deeper into the forest.

Kyra followed without question, unaware and uncaring where he led her as long as he stayed with her. It wasn’t until he stopped walking that she looked around, finding herself standing at the edge of a large pool fed by a thundering waterfall. The man released her hand and smiled at her before walking toward the water and wading in knee deep. Turning he curled one finger at her, beckoning her to follow, which she did with only the briefest hesitation.

Following him around the perimeter of the pool, Kyra’s heart began to pound when they reached the base of the waterfall. The man stepped into the water, the silvered rush cascading across his skin for a moment before he disappeared beneath the veil of water. With a deep breath Kyra stepped under the heavy flow, the sound of it deafening her as she reached out for something to grab onto.

His hands found hers, guiding her out of the water and into the mouth of the cave it concealed. He gave her only a moment’s pause before he turned and led her deeper into the cave, and she followed blindly. It took only minutes to reach the inner chamber where mineral deposits had formed curtains of marble, columns of calcite and clusters of white crystals that sprouted from the walls like exotic blossoms.

Turning to her he claimed her mouth without warning, pressing his lips to hers while his hands pulled impatiently at her clothes. Kyra returned the kiss and helped remove the cloth that prevented his skin from touching hers. Their hands roamed and touched, bringing pleasure and ecstasy, and drowning them in passion and heat that could have lit a dying sun.

Kyra woke when the fingers of dawn poked at her, and she cursed at them in a string of incomprehensible swear words. Opening her eyes she found herself staring up at the heavy beams of the cabin ceiling, and she blinked rapidly to clear her foggy mind. Sitting up in the bed she found herself naked and alone; had the whole thing been the product of an overly exhausted mind?

“Coffee’s ready!” came the voice she recognized as Erin’s, which only served to confuse her all the more; why was she home? Slipping to the floor she rummaged through her bag and pulled on her sweats and socks before descending the steep stairs to the main floor.

Finding Erin in the kitchen Kyra sat down at the small table and frowned down at the floral table cloth. A mug of black coffee was held out to her and she shifted her gaze to the hand that held it, staring at the long familiar fingers. Her eyes moved up the length of the arm and locked with the owner’s bright green stare, his lips curved up into a sly smile.

“Oh, I don’t think you’ve ever met my brother,” Erin said, “This is Jordan.”

Kyra smiled at him and took the proffered cup, setting it on the table. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Jordan.”

He took her hand and raised it to his lips, brushing a kiss across her fingers, “The pleasure,” he said in a husky whisper with a knowing smile, “is all mine.”