Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Colter

Streets of New York City, Planet Earth

“Would you do the impossible and fly if I told you what would you do if Vida falls in love with you? Would you be able to catch her?”

Tessa's words were like a slap to Colter. The past couple of days on Earth were the greatest adventures he had in his entire life. However, he still could not forget the risk of an Ecanus falling in love with a human.

He can still hear Samuel's, the Lost Ecanus, words of warning in his mind:

"I would not want to see you suffer the same fate as I did."

Having a romantic relationship with a human that goes beyond platonic is forbidden. When that happens, the Ecanus will be stripped of his powers and have the special Ecanus mark removed painfully. The only way to reverse the crime committed is to have the heart of the Ecanus' lover be brought to Howard and offered to the Deity to be planted. In three days, if it blooms white, the Lost One would be welcomed back with the greatest honor and he shall slowly gain his powers back. But if it turns black, a wrong heart, then death is the foreseeable future for the Ecanus.

Colter had already felt a connection since that first dream, that rainy night in the alley. Vida had appeared in his dream even before he crossed the portal. The reality was even better than he imagined. Vida is a sweet girl and he could not help but gravitate towards her. The fact that she was the first one he saw upon landing on Earth, Colter did not need Deity Flora to tell him that it was definitely meant to be.

Before Colter could answer Tessa, Vida had saved him from giving out an answer.

"Cut it out, Tessa. You're scaring him." Vida playfully nudged Tessa, but her cheeks were a beautiful shade of pink. "Besides, don't you think it's a little too early for those kinds of questions?"

Tessa whispered to Vida, "Vida-babe, I don't want to burst your innocent little bubble but Mr. Medival here looks at you like you're some sort of dessert and he wants to devour you, but okay, let's ignore the elephant in this open space."

Colter chuckled at what he heard and Tessa gave him a stink eye. He quickly recovered and cleared his throat in an attempt to disguise his amusement.

"Well, I best be off." Tessa said loudly. "So, uh, Colter, be a sweetheart and ensure Vida gets home safe, okay?

"Yes, Ma'am." Colter saluted Tessa, something he heard and observed from an officer of the law the other day.

Tessa looked satisfied. "Good. Try anything funny and you'll wake up in prison with a bunch of guys ready to shiv your beautiful face."

"Tessa!" Vida exclaimed.

The feisty friend just shrugged, "I'm just saying it like how it is. Alright, cupcakes. I'mma bounce."

As Tessa left them, Colter suddenly found himself embarrassed by the silence. That girl's abundant energy was a tough one to handle.

"Since there is still some daylight, let's go for a walk. Do you mind if I carry that for you?" Colter reached out for Vida's bag.

Vida kept her bag closer to her person and jokingly said. "You're not going to run away with it, are you?"

"I'd rather run away with the owner of the bag in tow." Colter replied.

Vida laughed. "That's a good one!" She handed her bag to him and thanked him.

Colter wanted to take Vida to this garden he stumbled upon on one his many wanderings. He had a feeling that Vida would like the place.

"How was your work today?" Colter asked.

"Oh, it was pretty okay. Just a normal day for me." Vida answered. "How about you?"

"Mine was eventful. I discovered this place and I thought of you. I immediately wanted to take you there." Colter said.

"Really? Thank you for thinking of me." Vida smiled.

Colter gestured to the flower behind her ear. "You kept it with you."

"Of course, I loved it. Tulips are my favorite."

Colter thought the she was indeed going to love the place he would be taking her to. He also made a mental note to pick up more tulips the next time around.

They continued walking along the street and Vida pointed out shops and establishments that she often visits. She also shared some history of the buildings and areas around.

Colter was still in awe despite the many times he walked around the city. Who knew that his crowded and modern place was rich with interesting history? He could not fathom the time from when this place was just a mere barren land.

They reached the place Colter had come across. "Here we are."

Vida looked confused. "The park?"

"Yes," Colter said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "You might have passed by this many times, but there's something special about this place that reminded me of you."

Vida's face lit up with a smile, her eyes soft with admiration. "It did?"

Colter led her through the park. "It did. It reminded me of peace." They walked further along inside and came upon a bench. He gestured toward it and they sat down.

The park did indeed remind Colter of peace. It was the same feeling he felt when he saw Vida for the first time and every time he looked deep in her eyes.

"It may not be much, but when I came upon this place, I was mesmerized. It made me wonder how it thrived in a city full of concrete and automobiles." Colter sighed. "It also reminded me of home. My mother kept a garden similar to this. Although it isn't as spacious as the one at home, the tranquility it gives me is indeed similar."

Vida made an adorable motion of cocking her head to the side. "You sound like you miss home so much. And you obviously are not from around here. Where is home, anyway?"

Colter gazed at the sky. "Home is far away. It pained me to leave but I had to. I miss it but I can't go back. Not yet."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Vida said softly.

He shook his head. "No, don't apologize, Vida. You had no hand in it."

"Do you know anybody here?" Vida probed.

"To be honest with you, Vida, I do not know anyone." Colter shrugged. "Except for you, maybe. Oh, and that old man who gave me these clothes. He said that the dumpster is my friend."

Vida's eyes bugged out. "The dumpster? Where are you currently staying?"

"With the old man I met sometime before. He's staying at one of the abandoned rooftops. He's been so kind to me and he let me stay there with him for the time being."

Vida looked concerned and seemed to have an internal struggle. After a while, she gave her head a little shake and said, "If you need any help in any--"

Suddenly big, fat, drops of water fell on her cheek. It was followed by another. And another. The next thing they know, they're both wet.

"Oh shit!" Vida jumped up from the bench and used her hands in an attempt to cover her head from the rain. She gestured for Colter to follow her. "Come on, Colter!"

Colter followed suit. He was a tad bit surprised when Vida grabbed his hand. The butterflies in his stomach were back. He could not help but smile under the rain. It seemed like Vida's instincts were to hold his hand while they ran to find shelter from the downpour.

They ran a good distance before coming across a rundown store with an awning. Both of them were already drenched. Vida's clothes were sticking to her body, emphasizing her curves. This made Colter look away in embarrassment, a different kind of urge rising from him. He did not want anyone to see what he could see right now. He wanted to carry Vida and fly her home. But of course, he did not do that. It would expose him. Or worse, it would freak out Vida.

"It's not the time yet," Colter muttered.

"I'm sorry, what?" Vida yelled over the rain splattering on metal.

"Nothing," Colter shook his head. "I apologize, we got caught in this rain."

"That's not a problem." Vida was thinking. He could see it in her eyes that the gears on her head were turning.

"I guess, I have no choice now, huh?" Vida was talking to herself. Colter did not know what she was thinking, but it sure did cause her to bite her lip deep thought. It made Colter uncomfortable downstairs.

He wondered what it was like to taste her lips for real this time, to run his hands through her hair, down to her arms; to hear her gasps as he runs his mouth down her neck to her shoulders, his hand roaming and settling on her waist, caressing her bare skin, causing her to writhe underneath him.

"Colter?"

He did not notice that Vida had already flagged down a cab, one of the steel carriages that roam the city.

"Come on," Vida beckoned to him, her hand by on the cab's open door.

Colter followed Vida and slid next to her inside the cab. As he was closing the door, the driver grunted when he saw that both of them were dripping all over the backseat.

"Where to?" The driver asked.

Vida gave out some details, which later on Colter realized was an address.

"Where are we going?" Colter whispered in her ear.

Vida audibly swallows. "I can't let you stay out on the rooftop in this rain. I'll let you stay in the apartment for now."

Colter felt the similar urge from earlier, rising once again. Things are about to get interesting.