Page 1 of Total Lunar Eclipse
CHAPTER 1
ZAHRA
When I finally come spiraling out the black tunnel of hell (as I am now calling all portals for dimension jumping), I free-fall into a magically verdant landscape. I have never seen anything so. . .green. Everywhere, plant life is thriving and all the bushes, trees, and vines teem with flourishing blossoms and fruits.
After landing gracefully (you believe that, right?), I snag a juicy-looking peach. The succulent fruit reminds me of Sunny and I am suddenly overcome with a deep sadness that I cannot explain. It feels like I have lost him. I quickly shove that thought aside. There is no room for pessimism right now; I have shit to do.
A mission to complete.
And that mission:
Fuck-up Bitchhole’s plans.
I can do that, right?
I mean, I am pretty good at fucking shit up. . . usually by complete incompetent accident, but still. . .
I take a bite of the peach and groan.
Ohmygod.
Not even my hand tasted this good.
I hungrily take another slurping bite, and another, and another. . . before a thought crosses my mind:
Every dimension has fucked me over. I just don’t expect it out of Kane’s domicile, but with my luck, I just ate the fruit from the Garden of Eden or some biblical shit that is going to come back and bite me in the poop-shooter. I spit out whatever remnants remain in my mouth and throw the peach on the ground.
Instantly, it’s absorbed into the soil.
Creepyandsanitary.
I stroll about, running my hands along the lush vegetation. It seems to reach for me and I have to untangle myself from a few clinging vines. Another thought pops up:
What if plants are Kane’s protectors?!
Is a giant Venus Fly Trap going to come out and eat me or is some Jumanji-style flower going to shoot me with a poison-tipped dart?
I am suddenly very leery of my surroundings.
I hug my arms around me and try to make myself as compressed as possible on the path, so as not to brush against the probable deadly beauty that surrounds me. Still, delicate stems and stalks extend towards me. I wonder if my warm glow also attracts them. Who knows?
“They like you,” a familiar voice says softly from behind me.
I whirl around to find Kane, in his Jolly Green Giant form. I’m so excited to see him, I run and throw my arms around his waist. It is like hugging a Sequoia tree! His arms remain limply at his side and I look up. . . unfortunately, he is even taller in this form than on Earth. I have to take a few steps back to see his face.
He has his gaze averted, but I can feel something is wrong. . .
“You soul-bonded with Caed,” he comments, still not looking at me.
“How did you know?” I ask in surprise.
He shrugs, looking off in the distance.
“I can feel your bond with him through mine. . .also through Lina’s.”
I cringe.
Fuck me, I forgot the lovelywhiteGoddess of assholeness had sneakily soul-bonded with me when I had formed a connection with Caed.
