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Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 48
(Insecurities.)Hercules divided the low branches with his hands. Behind Dahlia's Inn, there was a jungle of dry twigs.He went to a place where the darkness was heavy and lit a cigarette. He could see the grey tail of the smoke curling into the sky.He finished that and lit another, as he was preoccupied with other things. Specifically, Buttercup.Buttercup was not lacking in confidence; he could see it in her. She simply had a habit of restraining herself from being happy. What was she afraid of, given that life happens and we move on? However, he had the impression that she was a woman who carried pain as a precaution. She preferred to become best friends with her pain. It was necessary for protection.He wanted to be her protector.He thought.He finished his cigarette and slid his hands into his pocket.She was damaged badly, he could tell that much. Yet, she needed to understand, that if we're all honest, we're all damaged in some way.****"**************************He saw h
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 49
(Mate Bond/Soulmates.)Raquel was on her way to her office at the back of the store when she noticed three people enter, one of whom she recognised immediately.Here comes the bitch! She thought. She did not normally serve customers. She had employees who did so, but this was an exception.She heard the bell jingle as the door closed and made a swift walk across the store to arrive at the customers before her employee did.She greeted them politely."How may I help you?"The beautiful blonde woman looked at the curvy, dark lady, with her short pink hair. A pretty teenager had already approached a rack of blouses."We are simply shopping around."The dark skin woman smiled."Is there a special occasion?"Raquel smiled back, there was something about the woman that made one want to be kind to her.Jatray looked at the woman again, silently.They had arrived in Mala three days now and she had vowed to herself to make this a wonderful experience for Izzy and Journey. Where they had cried
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 50
(Through Her Eye.)It was their fifth night in Mala, and little had changed. Doug had said they would take it easy for a week to recoup for whatever lay ahead. So rested they did, spending most of their time at the Inn.Hercules was sitting on a bench beneath a tree with his laptop, working on his new book. He did not even see Buttercup approach him; he never expected her to, because she did her best to avoid him even when they were eating lunch and dinner together."Hey." She said.He looked up."Hi."She wore blue jeans and a white blouse, with her hair in a high ponytail."Let's go somewhere."She was not asking, but rather telling him. She had been watching him from her room's window for several hours before making this decision.He closed his computer and placed it in the bag."Let me take this back to my room first."Ok."She said.He told his mind not to think about it as he walked to his room. Just go with the flow. He placed the laptop on his bed, locked his room up and retu
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 51
(No Silver Lining?) "Lucinda." "Jatray." It was a chilly meeting and in that space where the two women met, Antarctica couldn't even come close to rivaling the climate. "Any news?" "Nothing yet." Jatray had allowed Izzy and Journey to go off on their own today. The carnival had come to Mala and they had said that they wanted to experience it. "Are you coming Jatray?" Journey had asked. "No I am allergic to being out in the sun all day." Izzy, who though it was a joke, laughed and said. "Really, that is your excuse?" Izzy picked up a brush from the dresser. "It is and I am sticking to it." Jatray had replied. Izzy brushed her hair and Journey held up a white shorts, wondering if white was a good shade to go dancing in the streets all day in. Jatray had returned to her room and picked up her cellphone. ******************************* Jatray couldn't think of them now. As the old saying goes, there is no pleasure in business. There was something peaceful about the m
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 52
(Love Conquers All.)It was cloudy in the afternoon. Buttercup and Hercules spread a towel and lay on it while sitting in a meadow. Since that night on Bridget Street, they have been having peaceful days together.Butterflies took effortless strokes across the land, wings flutter colourful and soft as blush on a woman's cheek. A caterpillar climbed a nearby stalk of grass, hunching and extending its boneless body, while a bird sat on a tree branch and scratched its feathers with one leg. They both smelled the rain, but knew it was not near its hour to pour.It was a perfect day, warm enough to wear strapless blouse, which Buttercup did. Yet it was cool enough to wear sweatpants, as Hercules did, and neither was uncomfortable. "So we are going to the country in two days, right?""Yes."Buttercup replied, picking an apple from the bag of fruits she had carried with her."Opal and Moonstruck said they grew up in that region. What is it like?"Buttercup bit, chewed, then swallowed."It
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 53.
(Turning Point.) "Izzy what is wrong?" Jatray asked. Coming into the room and finding Izzy balled up into a fist and lying on the ground. "The baby, I am losing the baby." Sweat was running down Izzy's face, her pink hair matted to her brow as she clutched her stomach. "What can I do?" Jatray was terrified and rushed to Izzy's side. "Get me to the hospital." Izzy screamed as another sharp pain gripped her. "Yes, yes I will." Jatray took Izzy into her arms. Blood was soaking through her jeans, making Jatray dizzy. The car? Jatray thought in her confusion. Where did I park the damn car? She ran into Journey just outside the door to her Mother's room. Journey paused to avoid bumping into Jatray, then she saw the blood. "What is wrong with Mom?" "Let's go Journey." Jatray hurried past the teenager. "Go where, what is happening?" Journey began to panic. "Your Mother needs a doctor." "A doctor, why?" "Journey let's go now!" Jatray barked over her shoulder, not slowi
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 54.
(Written In Stone.) (Chapter 54.) Two weeks and nothing. Not a knock at the door. Not a spy in sight. The group took turns patrolling the premises during the day and night. Buttercup gave Hercules frequent tours of Mala's countryside. Hercules knew that in the chaos of reality, peace of mind was priceless. Mala was a place where the imagination could have no limits. Creatures and humans had no right to inflict unrest in this place. Hercules reflected sadly. Mala's landscape was designed to promote physical and spiritual rest, balance and harmony. The atmosphere served as natural medicine for aligning all of the chakras. Mala was created with the intention of fostering peace. ***************************** Today they had crossed the stream barefooted. Buttercup's long, white dress hangs on to drops of water as she skips across the stones. Her curls bounced against her neck, her dark skin gleamed, and her brown eyes glowed with laughter. In jeans, a sleeveless shirt tha
Beautiful Creatures. Chapter 55
(Trust Opens The Door.) They ate a light snack of cheese and crackers and washed it down with grape juice. Maverick and Bruce talked about Goblin Land by the window. Buttercup, who had prepared the snacks, was still in the kitchen, and Opal had gone to see if she required any assistance. Doug sat by the drawn bamboo shutters at his laptop downloading some pictures to his National Geography page, a half filled glass and a plate of crumbs joined his camera on the small table. Hercules had his earphone in his ears, sliding his fingers along the face of his smartphone, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Moonstruck had gone outside. She did so most nights since returning, and one assumed she wanted to be alone, to look across the river at her Village, which she could not visit. "Well, I think I will now take my leave and take these with me." Maverick stood and gathered the stone tablets in his hands. There were no objections. "Goodnight everyone. It has been a p