EvO (Darverius, House of DaR #16)

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

QWIN

Seems like one minute I am asleep and the next wide awake. Opening my eyes, I know better than to think this has been a dream simply by the stale smell in the room. The second, my eyes open. I instantly search him out, yep there he is, and he is still … purple. EvO is so focused on what he is reading he hasn’t detected me staring at him yet. His coloring is beautiful, and now that my mind is not in a fog. I can see the different shades across his skin as he moves around. The lights make him appear as if he is shimmering. Another thing I didn’t detect either is how smooth his skin looks.

He must have felt my eyes on him, because he looks up and once again, I am startled at how bright those yellow eyes of his are. His coloring is so extreme you could never lose him in a crowd. “ Good rising, you seem to be more rested, is there anything I can get for you?”

“ I need to pee. The yellow guy said that one of the Med bots would come help me, whatever that is.”

“ I am right here. Let me help you to the doorway, it’s been quite some time since you have been on your feet.”

Before I can say yes or no, he is right next to the bed holding his hand out. Oddly , the first thing I notice is not the extreme length of the claws on his fingertips, it’s the fact that they are the same color as his skin.

When I pull the blanket off I groan out. My entire body is a multitude of colors, from different stages of bruising. At some point through the night, they must have removed all the tubes and the things that were attached all over my skin while I was asleep. I really must have been out of it because somehow that machine slipped a gown over my head, dressing me after it was done. Even though that’s kinda creepy, at least I don’t have to keep the sheet wrapped around me so tightly now. It takes me a minute to wiggle over to the edge. “ If you don’t care, could you step back just a little bit. I would like to get out of here without flashing you and everyone else. I know you have already seen it all already, but I wasn’t awake, so it doesn’t count.”

EvO steps back a few feet and I swing my legs over, tucking the gown between my legs as I go. Then I slide down the side of the bed, overly confident in my own strength. The very second, I go to put weight on my legs. I instantly pitch forward as my knees buckle. Warm masculine arms grab me, pulling me close before I reach the ground, but the moment my hand touches the bare skin on his arm. My whole world shifts, and I hear him gasp. Then suddenly, it’s like we are inside each other’s mind at the same time.

His memories and experiences start flashing before my eyes. I can feel his exact emotions like I am the one this is all happening to. How safe he felt when his father held him, after he had just left his mother’s world. His tears because he thought there was something wrong with him and that he wasn’t worthy of her love. Of ViN wrapping his skinny warm arms around him, rocking him gently to sleep when the nightmares came.

The aches and pains of learning to fight. Battles against monsters that are so vulgar they almost look fake. Laughter with others in what appears to be an arena. The feeling of acceptance and then the rage of failure.

Brothers appear, flashing through in so many colors they all blend together. The pranks, and the petty arguments between them all. The loyalty of them standing together fighting who they consider the bad guys.

Depression because of the disappointment on his Father’s face when he was unsuccessful, but then the pride he saw when he achieved the task his Father set before him. The pressure and overwhelmingness the first time he set eyes upon the Destroyer . Standing against nothing, staring out at the colors, frustrated at his looming failure. Then the excitement and the stress of finally finding the pods. Success , and then the opportunity to rest.

Suddenly , I see myself through his eyes. He is standing above a cylinder, my face barely visible in the surrounding darkness. His resolve that he may not make it back when he realizes how long it’s taking to get me out of there. The pain of the skin being peeled off his legs. The terror he fought off when he was no longer able to breathe, but none of that is what was on his mind. It was me. I can feel his determination to save me, as if it’s my own. When he shoves my frozen body through the outer doors sealing behind us, an overwhelming relief floods him, knowing we were finally safe inside. When he sees me for the first time, floating in water. The time it takes me to wake up causes both fascination and worry that it had all been for nothing. The possibility that he had been too late. His pull to hold and comfort me when I was crying and how right now. He has never seen anything so … beautiful or felt more complete than me being in his arms.

“ How am I seeing all this?” I whisper in my mind.

Suddenly , I can hear his voice in my dream as his life continues to flash through my mind in pieces, few of them in any order. “ We are Memory Fasting ; our souls have merged together from a single touch. It’s rare for my kind … but the fates have linked our paths you are ... The one soul in all this vastness made just for …”

Even though I feel like he just hid something important from me. The view in my mind changes and I lose that train of thought. All I can figure now is that I am witnessing what he just did, but it’s turned. He is currently seeing my life in fast forward. Giggles and laughter as dad threw me up high in the air when I was little. Looking in a mirror as I play dress-up in Mom’s old high heels and dresses. Making my first batch of cookies and licking the spoon at Grandmas . To the tears in Mom’s eyes my first day of school. Friends that came and went as I grew up flash through. A rainy day, sitting in a rocking chair next to Mom laughing about a book we just read together.

College was uneventful days of studying and tests. The years pass quickly, then I see me opening the door to the Scientific center. Witnessing the pods for the first time and how scared, but determined I was to make a career for myself there. Even though I didn’t believe all the terrible things they were telling us were coming.

The willingness to work any hour so that I could get mom’s meds, who was getting sicker every day. Once again, I am staring at myself through a mirror looking at an older version of myself, wearing a sundress going out on a date. Wondering why I struggle to find that one person meant for me, when others seem to find theirs effortlessly. Watching the news and how devastated I was when they announced our world was dying. The horror of observing my world disappear as I’m floating away.

Next thing is seeing him … EvO , for the first time. The instant attraction and how beautiful he is, in a terrifying way. Fear arising from the unknown. The burden of surviving amidst so much death. Blinking , I come back to myself. We are still in the same spot, but I feel like I have traveled the universe.

He has that devastating smile on his face again. “ Your favorite color is purple, how convenient.”

I can’t help but laugh. “ You better get me to the bathroom before I pee on myself, then we can talk about what just happened.”

“ I am here to serve.”

I can’t seem to take my eyes off him, and I miss the feeling of his arms around me. The second he sits me down in front of, thankfully, a normal-looking toilet. “ Do you need me to help you?”

“ Oh , no! I can pee by myself, shoo. I’ll yell when I’m ready.”

As I glance around, my mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of everything I believe I just witnessed or encountered. The sudden knock on the door brings me back to reality and reminds me of how long I have been sitting on the toilet. “ Qwin are you alright?”

“ Sorry . Yes , I am fine, kinda lost track of time. I’ll be right out.”

Wiggling a little bit, it takes me a second to pee, then I almost jump off the thing when a burst of hot air hits my bottom. Cussing , I grab onto the nearby sink, pulling myself over so that I can wash my hands. After I am done, I look around for a place to dry my hands, but I can’t find anything, so I just wipe them on my gown.

“ EvO , I am ready.” The door slides open before the words are even out. Right before he reaches for me, I hold my hand out, stopping him. “ Do you guys have a shower, maybe even a mirror? I’m sure I look a mess and I feel sticky all over.”

“ Let me ask LeX … Hey , LeX , is it alright for Qwin to take an Ionizing shower?”

“ You will have to assist her with it EvO . Fortunately , that particular room has an oversized bay in case we needed to wheel someone in. Before you enter, put a healing patch over the port location she had in her right arm. I don’t believe the Ionizer will bother it, but no reason to cause any extra harm.”

I jump when a drawer pops out of the wall with several items inside. EvO fishes what looks like plastic wrap out and gently places it over the bruised now healing, opening in my arm. Then part of the wall opens to what appears to be a shower. Instantly , I am uncomfortable. I know EvO has seen everything, but this is a little more personal.

“ Are you ready, or do you want to try and walk inside?”

“ If you show me how to turn the water on, I am sure I can manage getting undressed by myself.”

“ You don’t need to get undressed; the Ionizer will clean both you and your clothing at the same time.”

“ Ok , I am confused.”

“ Here let me show you. I think you would call this an alien thing, but hopefully it will be one that you will come to appreciate.”

He gently holds me by the elbow, slowly helping me into the rather large stall. The door closes just as he steps inside. “ What are you doing? I might think you’re awfully cute, but it’s too soon to be taking showers together.”

“ Qwin , calm yourself and enjoy.”

He holds me loosely around the waist, a small smile on his face, as my confusion is apparent. A mist like steam fills the room, circling both of us just before my skin starts to tingle and I swear my hair lifts off my head. A hot burst of air practically takes my breath, then it stops as suddenly as it started.

“ How do you feel?”

“ How am I supposed to feel?”

“ Well , you, me and our clothing are now clean.”

“ Is it?” I raise my arm up to see if I can smell myself and to my amazement. I smell absolutely nothing. “ It wasn’t the shower I expected, but I can see where this could come in useful if you were in a hurry. Do you not have water showers available?”

“ We do, but we have been conserving water since we entered the Nebula , just in case. Let me show you where the personal viewer is, and if you will let me. I will brush and braid your hair.”

“ You know how to braid?”

“ It may not look it right now, but I used to have hair clear to my butt. Got sick of dealing with it one rising and chopped it off at my shoulders with a knife.”

“ Why does that not shock me? Well , let’s put your beautician skills to work. I am tired of laying on this mess.”

He helps me take baby steps out of this weird shower thing and instead of being shocked, I am simply grateful to see a chair slide out of the magic walls in this room. I plop down very unladylike and gasp when the wall becomes a mirror right in front of me. “ Damn , I look like hell!”

“ You do not.”

“ How would you know? You just met me; this is the best version you have seen.”

“ That is not accurate, I have seen your memories.”

“ Is that normal? I mean, do you … do that every time you touch someone?”

“ No ! It’s a rare blessing, but something. I’m pleased to have shared with you. I believe the knowledge it grants will help us adjust better to each other and the things coming.”

Sitting back slightly, I watch him behind me as he gathers my tangled hair in his hands. It’s grown a substantial amount while I was under and the ends look ratty. “ If you need to cut any of it off to get the tangles out, I don’t mind.”

“ We will see when I get done.”

EvO seems very determined and I smile when he sticks his tongue out the side of his mouth in concentration. It’s also purple, once again I am given the opportunity to watch him while he is busy with something else. Dark purple plump lips and his brightly colored eyes are both outlined in black against the smooth skin of his face. From what I can tell, besides his head there is no other hair on his body. Things like eyelashes and the contours of his features all just seem to be different shades of purple and black all merged together. Then there is that smile, that even though different is pleasing to the eye as his teeth are wider than ours. Bulging muscles flex in his arms as he slides his fingers through my hair, laying small pieces over my shoulder as he finishes.

“ It’s not polite to stare.”

“ Sorry , you are just differently beautiful and scary at the same time.”

“ I could say the same thing.”

“ I am not scary, hell I can barely even walk on my own.”

“ You terrified me from the moment I set eyes on you. I was petrified that I was going to lose you before I ever had the chance to get to know you. All this time I have hunted, looked and prayed. Then the moment I found you, well it was ... soul changing.”

“ But you saved me and now here you are being my own personal aid. You sure you signed up for all this?”

“ Do you see me complaining?”

“ No , but I don’t know you either, EvO . This forced proximity is taking away your choices. If we were not stuck in here together, someone else would be helping me and you would be running this ship.”

“ Things all work out the way they should, Qwin . The Lord of Light has given us this time and I plan on enjoying every moment, if possible.” I see a frown form upon his lips. “ Would you have preferred someone else.”

“ I have no complaints with your company.” EvO smiles back at me through the mirror and I feel myself blush once again.

“ Why does the skin on your face change color? And what is the Earth’s name for the color of your eyes? They look like cooling lava to me, but I don’t believe that’s accurate.”

“ My eyes are an odd color even on Earth ; they are amber, no one in my family had them either, so we have no idea who I got them from. As for my cheeks, I tend to blush easily.”

“ Blush ?”

“ It happens when I am embarrassed, aggravated, or aroused. Many things cause this reaction.”

I swear I can see his mind working through that statement as his fingers work quickly on the intricate braids he is weaving back there. His eyes look up at me and then back to what he is doing I really must have stumped him. Drifting off into my own thoughts about the things I saw before we come in here. His hand touching my shoulder has me looking up.

“ What do you think?”

“ I can’t see it, silly.” The view on the mirror changes and I can see the back of my head like I am looking at it from the behind. “ Wow , that’s a cool feature. Now , I won’t have to ask if my butt looks good in these jeans. I can see it for myself. The braids are beautiful thank you. I’ve never seen such intricate details before; you are quite talented. If you ever want out of the captain’s business, you could always do hair for a living.”

“ I think I’ll stick to simply doing this for you.”

“ Ok , now that we are clean, and my hair looks amazing, let’s address the elephant in the room.”

“ The what?”

“ Sorry , it’s an Earth saying we use when we are avoiding something uncomfortable. What happened back there in the other room? Will it happen every time I touch you skin to skin? Were those really your memories?”

“ Those were my memories; you were in my head reliving things that had already happened in my life. If I recall correctly the only time that should occur again is if we are separated for a long period of time.”

“ Does that happen to you regularly?”

“ No , you were the first, but I have never physically touched another of your kind.”

“ But Ember has been here for a while.”

“ Yes , she has, but males do not willingly touch another male’s mate without fearing the consequences. My brother ViN is already hot headed, we do not encourage an eruption from him.”

“ So , this may not be something you could have only experienced with me.”

“ EvO’s eyes clash a bright white and for a moment I see another more violent side of him.” I must have jerked because he steps back away from me a few feet. “ Forgive me Qwin , for my reaction. I should not expect you to understand what you saw or felt if I cannot truly explain it myself. The things we experienced were special. Meant to help us bond, because of where we come from, and the experiences we are about to be subjected to. Did you feel more at ease after all you witnessed?”

“ Yes , I believe so. I felt like I got to know you on fast forward. Sorry , another earth word.” I can feel my strength faltering and before I have time to ask him to take me back to the other room. I am in his arms. Cautiously , I lay my bare hand upon his chest, relieved and disappointed that I didn’t see anything else.

I’ve never been one who liked to be picked up, mostly because guys thought I weighed less than I really did because of my small size. Then they would struggle to keep hold of my buck thirty weight. However , I feel weightless in EvO’s arms.

“ I am sorry you have to pack my big ass around. I’m sure I will be up on my own soon.”

He holds me out away from him, looking at me intensely. “ I do not view this big ass you speak of. You are proportioned quite favorably.”

I can’t stop the laughter once it starts. “ Sweetie , that’s the best compliment I think I’ve ever received in a not so conventional way.” Holding me with one arm, he pulls the covers back before lowering me down.

“ Would you like me to have your bed adjusted into a lounger like mine, or do you prefer to rest?”

“ A lounger sounds great, but you don’t have to entertain me. I could tell you were pretty caught up in whatever you were reading when I first awakened.”

“ I was reading about your world. My readiness for the awakening of the others in the pods is inadequate. I don’t understand enough about the circumstances that led your people to build these pods or their launch. Would you care to help me with this dilemma, or is the subject too painful?”

My mind drifts off to the things I had chosen to ignore until now.