Page 32 of When Eden Falls

The wind hit me as we scurried along it, ripping strands from my bound hair. Glancing through the archways, I felt a sudden pang of vertigo. The rockface below narrowed, almost disappearing from beneath the corridor floor, with the beach and the waves hundreds of metres below.

At the opposite end, another dark stairwell descended into the rockface. This one was far more enclosed than any of the previous ones. Each step was steep, and the ceiling felt low and claustrophobic. I had to duck to prevent myself from hitting my head. My back and legs ached by the time we got to the bottom, where a low, yet wide chamber met us. Strange blue lanterns illuminated the area, revealing several openings in the rock wall, big enough to step through. A gentle trickle of water echoed around us, signifying running water was somewhere close by.

Yuska dismissed the guards, and as they returned up the stairs she turned to us, the blue light dancing across her long, pale face.

“Each of these openings takes you to a different bathing pool. You may either bathe separately, or together. The choice is yours, but you must remove your…foot protectorsbefore entering.”

Zamya snorted. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather go separately.” She began to unlace her boots. “Not sure about you, but I’m not comfortable enough with our friendship yet to start stripping naked in front of each other.”

A laugh escaped me, and I nodded my approval. Looking across at Cora, she seemed nervous, almost scared. I reached for her hand. “I’ll join you if you want.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’d rather go alone. Like Zamya said, it would feel…awkward.”

“And the guys would have a field day if they ever found out we got naked together,” Zamya japed. “It would probably explode their tiny brains.” She looked at Yuska and pointed to an opening to the left. Yuska nodded and Zamya ducked over the threshold, closely followed by Bibska.

“Not completely alone then,” mumbled Cora, just as Woohla coerced her forward towards a different opening.

I watched her go, content she was safe, before unlacing my boots and stepping through another opening after Yuska.

Wet, uneven rocks met the soles of my feet as I steadily made my way down a shallow stream of steps. They ended at the edge of a small bathing pool moulded into the rock floor. Sunlight filtered in from two small holes in the rock several metres up, but it was the four hovering blue lights that gave the space a tranquil atmosphere. It felt almost peaceful.

“You may undress.”

I realised Yuska was holding her hand out to me, awaiting the disposal of my clothes. Peeling off my garments, I tried to ignore the pang of self-consciousness, before dipping my toe into the clear water. It was pleasantly warm.

Without hesitation, I slipped into the pool, submerging myshoulders. The warmth and softness of the water made me sigh. I hadn’t realised how tense I’d become.

Leaning back against the edge, I watched Yuska as she placed my clothes and boots into a netted bag. She was unusually pretty but I couldn’t work out how old she was. She seemed knowledgeable and had a position among the Akquarians. The blue caped soldier had specified all chaperons wore blue capes or sashes. Well, every time I’d seen Yuska, she was wearing a blue sash. That in itself must’ve meant she had some kind of authority amongst the males.

She noted my attention and asked, “Do you need assistance in cleaning oneself?”

I chuckled. “Oh, no. No…but thank you.” I reached for the bar of soap on the uneven floor behind my head. Well, I think it was soap. It felt more like foam or sponge. Bringing it up to my nose, I sniffed it, discovering a pleasant fragrance which emanated the freshness of the sea. I began to scrub myself, aware Yuska remained by the steps, watching.

After several minutes, and washing the remaining suds from my now clean hair, Yuska moved to the edge of the pool, holding a teal robe out to me. Clearly signalling the end of my bathing session, I reluctantly stood, climbing the shallow ragged steps, and allowing her to wrap my body in the warm robe. Tying the soft material securely, I watched Yuska climb the steps to the exit, leaving my Alluran clothes in the netted bag by the pool. I followed her, keeping my questions to myself.

We didn’t wait for the others. Yuska guided me back to our quarters with two guards in tow. Guilt overcame me as I entered the apartment. I should’ve demanded that I wait for Zamya and Cora. But here I was, back in our rooms with neither of them in sight.

It was as if Yuska sensed my unsettling thoughts. She asked me to sit at what appeared to be dressing table. It was situated in a small room at the far end of the bedroom, one I had not known existed.

“You worry too much,” she said gently, beginning to brush my hair. “Like a mother hen.”

I frowned. “Are they safe?”

“Yes. As is your commander.”

“You’ve seen him?” I met her gaze in the murky glass before me.

“Yes.” But that was all she would give me.

I tried to calm my thoughts while she brushed, untangled, and arranged my hair. But it was only after a strained few moments, then hearing the sound of Cora’s laughter and Zamya’s hissing from next door, that I allowed myself to relax.

Yuska tapped my shoulder as if to say,I told you so.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat at the dressing table, but Yuska’s delicate fingers in my hair seemed to sooth me into a trance. I wondered how Oz was, if his wounds were healing. I thought of Troy alone on The Orka. How must he be coping with us down here and the lack of radio communication? I thought of Sym and what he’d make of the Akquarian people, how he would try to mimic their hair styles. Knowing Sym, he’d probably pull off the long locks and braids the males seemed to fashion. I smiled. Nux, I missed him already.

I hadn’t noticed Yuska had finished until she appeared next to me with a long, midnight blue dress draped across her arm. I looked at her then at the dress, my eyes dancing with questions.

“Havav has asked you to wear this for dinner.”