The Shattered Genesis (Eternity) (92 page)

             
What was the name of the song playing? I could scarcely remember the name of the band, too. A color, or the absence of color, and the word “Keys.” It was one of their songs
that received little attention yet it was one of their best.

             
“Don't, man.” Elijah's voice said lazily and James let go of me. When his hands lost their grip, I expected to be filled with that ever-present ice again. Instead, I simply turned back to find h
im still there behind me, though now he was sitting on the couch with his head tilted back. I did not know where Elijah had gone.

             
Violet was in the crowd of people that I had wandered into, dancing slowly. As my heart twirled and spun in beautiful synchro
ny with my singing brain, I began to dance, too.

             
“
Just a psychotic girl and I won't get lost in your world
...
”

             
As the women vocalizing in the background of the song intensified, I raised my hands to the ceiling, feeling so calm, so alive, so beautiful,
so powerful...

             
James was watching me. The song was so true, he knew. He and I both knew that wisdom would tell him to stay away. But love was not wise. It was not even smart. It was just one of the many results that could occur when emotions won out over
logic.

             
He could not stand to stay away. He could not bear the thought of losing me. I almost allowed tears to fall from my eyes when I realized that I felt the same way about him.

             
Watching me was too much for him. In a blur of movement, he was in front o
f me and scooping me off of my feet. I was so entranced by his expertly sensuous kisses that I did not realize we were leaving the room. It was a blissful feeling, to be mindless.

             
We were in one of the back rooms of the house. I could still hear the music
playing clearly. Now, the song had changed. A band whose name was written in all capital letters. A singer with a raspy voice. An exclamation:

             
“
SAIL.
”

             
Our clothes were off and I was on top of him, my lips moving slowly down his firm body. His hand grasp
ed hold of my long hair and pulled backwards. I was sitting in his lap, straddling him, but now, our sweating torsos were touching. I moaned out loud when his tongue grazed my neck in between each perfectly placed kiss. While I was so hypnotized by the ero
tic intensity his mouth on my skin brought forth inside of me, he pulled my hips forward abruptly, taking me, literally and figuratively, by surprise.

             
I exclaimed at the feeling, almost in tears from the fierce pleasure of it. From the top of my head to t
he ends of my feet, I burned delightfully in desire to reach what I knew would be an utterly world-shattering conclusion. And yet, I wanted to experience the brilliantly agonizing, gradual ascent to that ending. After my head tilted back, his mouth moved d
own to my chest that was rising and falling with my deep breaths. By then, I was not moaning in ecstasy anymore; I was
crying
in sensual delirium.

             
When his deep voice saying my name echoed around in my ears, I grasped his shoulders and moved even quicker
. Nothing else in the entire world could possibly exist. Time had stopped. The Peace Fruit summoned images of the two of us, alone in a paradise as old as any world. Heaven, Nirvana, tangible serenity...

             
I did not have to worry about the entire house hear
ing my screams. When I collapsed on top of him, tears were streaming down my face as we both gasped for breath. All around the house, I heard the animal grunts and moans of those engaged in similar activities. Though they were not near us, my enhanced hear
ing could still pick up the sounds.

             
Perhaps our behavior was anything but morally upstanding. Perhaps succumbing to the force of the Peace Fruit was weak on our parts. I do not condone any of what occurred. But imagine for a moment exactly how wondrous to
tal emptiness was for myself, James, my brother, sister, and housemates. After all we had fought to survive, we were allowed just one night of wild frivolity. James and I were allowed a night of the most mind-numbing pleasure imaginable. We'll call it our
celebration,
our way to show our gratitude to ourselves for all we had overcome.

             
When we awoke the next morning, I was still lying on top of him. In his deep slumber, he had turned sideways to lie on the couch we had made love on. His arms had not release
d me. Someone, who had gotten an embarrassing view of both mine and James's naked bodies, had covered us with a blanket. I cringed in humiliation and ran my fingers through my sweat-drenched hair.

             
Those that built the house had extensive knowledge on indo
or plumbing. Every room had a shower that ran with hot and cold water. I awoke James, and we walked up to our room, wrapped in two blankets. We closed the bathroom door behind us. Penny, I was pleased to see, was sleeping peacefully still. The unsavory act
ions committed by us and the people in our house had not awoken her. For that, I was thankful.

             
My body was still weak from the erotic intensity of the night before. As the gloriously hot water poured over our skin, I clung to James and buried my face in h
is chest. The wildflower shampoo smelled divine, like the promise made by God regarding heaven coming to Earth. I almost moaned in ecstasy as I massaged that thick, sweet-smelling slop against my scalp. My nerve endings were still on high alert; they were
heightened even in response to the simplest of pleasures.

             
Breakfast was not due for another two hours, given the position of the sun. James and I seemed to be the first people who had risen from the deep sleep that followed the intoxication. After dressin
g in clean clothes that smelled of home, we walked, hand in hand, down the hallway.

             
“We need to find Violet.”

             
“Are you worried? Don't be worried.” James told me.

             
“I am quite worried. I neglected my responsibilities last night and I can only pray that sh
e did not pay a price for my ignorance.”

             
The way Lucien did,
my mind taunted cruelly. I stopped walking and pressed my hand to my forehead. I wished that I could reach into my skull and strangle my sadistic conscience.

             
“Hey...” James whispered. He let go
of my other hand so that he could place both of his on my face. “We're happy, baby. Last night was one of the best nights of my life.”

             
“You mean the drug-fueled moral depravity or the earth-shaking sex?” I asked after pressing the top of my head against
his chest.

             
“Both. Tell me that you didn't enjoy that last night.”

             
“I enjoyed the latter substantially. I wish that the former had not occurred.”

             
“You torment yourself over everything.” He told me as we continued walking. “I'm glad that you ate the Fruit
last night. For the first time in your life, you finally let go.”

             
“It was nice,” I agreed with a slight smile, “It was so peaceful.”

             
“That's why it's called Peace Fruit, my love.”

             
“Whatever it is called, I will not be doing that for a very long time. I
sincerely doubt that I will ever do it again.”

             
“We'll see about that.”

             
I scowled at him in jocular scorn.

             
“That 'Peace Fruit' as you call it, could be used as Rohypnol.” I told him, “Given your stalker tendencies, I would not be surprised if you forcib
ly drugged me.”

             
“Now is a good time to tell you about the time I bought Rohypnol outside of a bar in New York. There was this stunningly beautiful young woman with an evil glint in her eye sitting and watching the other patrons in the bar disdainfully...”

             
I punched him lightly in the arm as he laughed raucously at his own joke.

             
“It would not surprise me!”

             
“Oh, baby, you know I'm just messing with you!”

             
I was walking ahead of him when he grasped my hand and pulled me back to him. In a quick movement, he
dipped me backwards and kissed me passionately. When his mouth finally broke from mine, I looked up at him, trying to suppress a smile.

             
“Why are you bending me over like this?”

             
“Bending you over...” He repeated in exaggerated elation, “I'm going to show
you bending you over..”

             
“Oh, really?” I grinned up at him, “You have my full permission to show me exactly what you're talking about.”

             
“Say no more.”

             
Without taking his eyes off of mine, he kicked backwards, sending a door to one of the many closets in
the house flying open. There were two screams from within. James and I both jumped and shouted in surprise when five of our housemates came stumbling out into the hallway without a scrap of clothing on any of their bodies.

             
James was staring, wide-eyed an
d mouth open, in absolute horror. The look on his face and the situation as a whole had me doubled over, clutching my stomach as I laughed. My arms reached out and grasped James as I struggled to stand upright.

             
“Baby, this is so disturbing... I think we n
eed to move out...” James muttered as he shook his head back and forth. I only laughed harder.

             
“Stop!” I grasped my stomach with one hand and wiped the tears from my eyes with the other, “This is so
ridiculous!
Oh, God or Gods... I cannot take it!”

             
“Sorr
y, guys.” An English man said. He was trying to hide his lower appendage from our view with both hands. “Closet's free now.”
             
“Oh, that's gross!” James exclaimed in genuine revulsion. 

             
“Come on, honey.” I managed to say through my laughter, “You were so
eager to show me how you were going to bend me over and now the closet is free! How convenient!”
             
“I see your point of view on the Peace Fruit now.” James told me as he rubbed his eyes. “You win, baby.”

             
The uncontrollable giggles that shook my entire body
only intensified.

             
“It's not funny!” He exclaimed finally, “I feel violated!”
             
Alice and Quinn stumbled out of their room, cracking up just as I was.

             
“What are you two so happy about? If you knew the horrors we have just seen...” James shook his head aga
in.

             
“What are you so happy about, Brynna?” Quinn asked me to purposely avoid the question he had just been asked by James.

             
“Oh, human tendencies, of course.” I replied as we descended the stairs, “Have either of you seen Violet?”

             
“Yeah. She and Nick wer
e sneaking past our door about an hour ago.” Alice answered, “That was a good time last night, wasn't it?”
             
I stopped in my tracks, my laughter ceasing quickly as though it had never existed in the first place.

             
“I swear if my sister and that boy are havin
g intercourse, I am going to castrate him with a dull sewing needle!”

             
The stifled laughter of Alice, Quinn and James told me that my outburst was a tad over the top.

             
“I choose to ignore your laughter at my emotional torment! She is seventeen and has
only known him for a few weeks.” I scowled as James's thoughts entered my mind, “You know what, I am aware that that statement is hypocritical! Actually, it is not. You and I have known each other for several months and...”

             
More of his thoughts invaded m
y brain. I wondered briefly if he was assailing me with them purposely.