Time Beyond A Dream

Chapter 21-Cold Mountain Kiss

The next morning, Sean step inside her room in a frantic rush. Catherine hadn't even seen her final reflection in the mirror when Sean barged in. 

“I'm going to the DRI and look for my team.!”

“You're doing what?!” Catherine screeched, dropping her lipstick in shock. She let out a surprised squeak and picked it up as she stayed in the same disbelieving position. “You are not going back in the DRI Sean, are you out of your mind?” Catherine repeated, in the same high-pitched tone of disbelief.

Sean frowned, not liking the way she was taking the news; him being an involuntary rescuer for his team. “It's not like I'm doing it for myself! I need to see them, I need to know if they are all okay.” He grumbled, sinking onto the mattress on her bed.

“Plus I need to see if they rescued Nathan. I'm worried.” or at least, he hoped, he is.

Ever since his tiny flirtatious move last night, Catherine has been giving her the cold shoulder the entire night so far, only talking to him when it was necessary.

She pressed her lips into a straight line before pursuing them and glaring up at him. “I understand..... fine.” She said as evenly as she could, trying to mask her fury. “I'm going with you then.” 

“No!. Forget it. There's no way you're coming with me!” His words have an unmistakable finality. A leaden quite skulked between them for a few seconds.

“What the hell does that mean?” Catherine shot back.

“No! Catherine and that's final.” 

There was no reply. 

Then Catherine's voice came back, tinged with a sudden unease. “What about Nathan in the Land of Nod? We need him back, so he'll be out from the coma, you've known what could have happened to him if he would remain unconscious in there, have you? An assertion, not a question.

“Yes!” Sean's retorted. “I'd like him to get the hell away from there as soon as possible.

“Then, let's go back.... those rescuers here were professional. I'm sure your team was okay.” 

The comments seem to freeze Sean in his tracks. “I believe you're right, Catherine. I hope.” 

A pregnant silence greeted his accounts. Catherine could just visualize Sean processing thought, “So shall we sleep together here in your bed or?” he asked while the grin on his face is out of this world. The change in his demeanor was the palpable childish way.

Her eyes widened in shock. “Are you out of your goddamn mind? Of course not? We are not sleeping together. Hell no!... b****y no! “ She said in a panic.

“Shut up, will you? I'm just kidding.” He demanded, walking over to where she stood. Her mouth sealed itself, too nervous to argue about his rude language. “Why don't you wear stuff like this to work every day?” He murmured, the blue-gray in his eyes dominating the honey brown as he snaked an arm around her waist and looked in the dress on her body again. “Seriously, in the office?” she asked, amazed by the idea of wearing it.

She was slipping on simple yellow summer clothing and a nude flat sandal, as she slipped it on. “We should get going...” She trailed off, self-conscious under his intense gaze. A blush made its way to her cheeks as he leaned in closer, so she could feel his solid torso through his shirt. She cursed for being too naïve and helpless by his flirting.

His powerful hands held her as he stared into her eyes. She couldn't help but blush. His smile etched its course back into his face. His body was warm and toned as he hugged her, comforting to the touch. His voice was firm, with a serious tone. His lips brushed her ear as he spoke, “You look good with it though.”

“Stop, stop! Okay? This is so weird.” She was about to put her hand on his chest and push him away, but he sighed and pulled himself.

“Okay then, I have to sleep in my room alone and scared” He pouted and a small mischievous smirk on his lips was visible. Something flashed beneath the surface of his flirtatious expression, and she hurried to investigate the sudden shift. It was too late, the emotion disappeared before she could identify it. “Goodbye Catherine, see you in the Land of Nod, and I hope we won't end up on Wasteland again.” He muttered, avoiding her gaze as he went out to the door.

____

In a moment they landed on the Cold Mountain, Her facial expression sank faster than a penny on a pond, her skin became icy and pale as white itself. 

Was she even breathing? Catherine thought were running wild as she turns around looking for Sean. Though the snow and wind could have frozen any earthly matter, the sun still rose and illuminated the slopes as if proud of illuminating their every tiny feature. 

“There you are! Did you have a nice landing?” she said in a soft voice, breathless?

“I'm fine, sweet pea! Even though sleeping in my bed was a nightmare without you in my side.”

“Here we go again, will you stop flirting, I'm used to that” her eyes widened at his statement, and she hurried her pace, put her head down and avoiding eye contact?

“Hey... Catherine, wait! Please stop!” Sean's deep voice blaring, making her look up from her boots to meet his eyes. That's when she realized that she was almost running away from him. He scurried towards her side as he frowned. 

“Relax, I'm just trying to make you smile, I'm just teasing you okay, and I'm sorry!.....” Sean said and noticed how rigid she was.

“It won't happen again. I will behave.” He whispered into her ear while placing a hand on her shoulder; a gesture that calmed her down.

Her body relaxed as she looked up and nodded at him. “I'm not used to that Sean, I'm used to you being a jerk but not the flirty Sean okay? She muttered, before walking forward farther, leaving her discomfort behind.

“ So where are we going now?

“I guess that remains to be seen,” Catherine added. 

The frigid air has a way of keeping them at the moment, wicking away body heat faster than it is replaced. It's one of those days when normal clothes aren't enough when they feel thinner than they are. Luckily, they were both ready this time. Breaths rise in puffs, arms hug each body, and there is a briskness to movements that will melt with the snow as they walk towards the unknown lands that await them.

“By the way, a matter of curiosity, you got the two prophecy coins with you, right?” Sean's voice was whispered in a deep tone. He then looked at her a moment longer.

“Yes! It's always with me. Would you want to have a look?” 

“Sure,” he responded. Then Catherine took the coins out from her pocket and showed them to Sean. “Interesting” he mused.

“What's so important about it? Miah said that only you and the keeper can hold it.”

“Would you like to try? Let's see what happens, I'm curious as well!” Catherine uttered in excitement.

“Touch it.!” she exclaimed. And her eyes sparkled.

“I don't think that is a good idea. What if that thing could kill me or banish me or something you know.” Sean replied in a frantic hazed. Doubts ringing in his voice, knowing that in this land anything could happen. Anything at all.

“Oh! My! Sean, you are terrified? Aren't you?” She asked but hides the smile in her tone. She couldn't just tease him when things like this were serious.

Then she burst into frantic laughter.

“You should have seen your face!”

“Good lord, I am not scared Catherine, I am not!” He was beyond embarrassed, but he had long known that it's better to be ashamed than dead. Then he suppressed a sigh. There was no point in any kind of cross-examination with his fear. After all, he was quite free to tell himself a pack of lies.

Catherine's laughter was the rainbows in his skies and yet, it irritates him as much as he hates to admit.

“Dammit! Catherine stops laughing and gives me those coins.”

“Would you hold it otherwise are you sure sweet pea?” She asked, but the hidden rumor in her tone was palpable, and he was sure Catherine was teasing him! A beautiful payback.

Then with a seriousness in her expression a minute longer hang in the air as the humor in her voice was gone; gone was the laughter earlier. He stared at her for a long moment. She knew that he was assessing what she said. Weighing the possibilities, considering her motives. She was a clever woman, after all.

“No” He agreed to let it pass. “Let's save Nathan instead.

“Are you certain? I won't judge, she asked.

Silent passed. He ignored her instead. This woman was the death of him for sure. She was beyond annoying. And yet, a moment went by, she added, “Can't you see it? The writing in this coin, its visible as the daylight.” Pointing to the coin in her outreached hand, observing it.

The wintry wind comes louder than usual, yet it chills into their bones that bring a crispness into their air. The howling of the windswept across the land with bold honesty, a rawness that brought one's soul into the gentle cloud-filtered rays.

“What writing?” He asked.

“There is nothing in there, it's just ancient coin, nothing out of ordinary though.” He added self-consciously.

“Really? You couldn't see it?” Catherine's curiosity went up a notch.

“Nada! Nothing!” He exclaimed as he watches the coin again carefully this time, but he dare not touch it. His curiosity can wait a little longer. 

“I can see it you know! The words are small but readable.” Amazed that he couldn't see it as it was so clear in her line of vision.

“Well, I guess that's the reason you're the mark, the coins have chosen you for that reason, I think.”

“Maybe you're right,” Catherine said, keeping the coins near in her eyes. Testing it longer and flipping the coins over and over.

“Read it then, maybe it's a clue!”

“Well “she wavered.

“ It reads.....”

“Catherine, you are killing it with your suspense paused, you know, go on!” It worried him. Sean wished to see it himself, but he won't risk it.

“The heart of the two

like a bridge with two ends,

out from slumber

The first shall begin.” 

Silent followed, no one dares to speak.

“That's all? Anything else?” He asked.

“Well, I guess Nathan's theory was correct after all.”

“What the hell was that supposed to mean? “He repeated, confused. 

Catherine ignores him. Busy with her thoughts. Nathan was correct about the bridge, though. That, she admits. She hopes for him to be fine.

“Catherine perhaps now was the time to stop thinking and inform me what's on your mind. Or unless you plan to tell me that those writings were riddled with pitfalls'?”

“Not at all” she replied. Staring at the second coin. Amazed by its beauty.

“In that case....” Sean turned to Catherine “-tell me, I'm dying out of curiosity here.”

“It's b****y obvious Sean, it's us the bridge out from the slumber and the first...... Well, maybe the initial coin? The first adventure? Or the first time we've been out from Cold Mountain?” 

“The last one makes sense though,”

“Yeah! It makes sense!” Catherine frowned.

“How about the second coin from Miah?” He asked. There was a pause.

“Well, it says” Catherine continued.

“The Bridge shall open through the Warrior's land.

When Mark travels to the land of waste, betrayal shall pierce through thy heart. But together they will fight for what's right”.

A pregnant paused followed. Both lost in their thoughts.

“That is way more confusing than the first one!” Sean added, weighing his words.

“Yes, I think so.”

“But the initial line tells about our trip to the grassland, but the second row says about us traveling to the Wasteland.” She hesitated. “Right?” Catherine continued asking herself. She hoped she was wrong.

“We've been there before, and I don't like the idea of us going back there again. That land smells like rotten cheese. Hell, worse than that!” Sean said in obvious disgust.

“Yet, we don't have a choice, do we?” She murmured.

“The coins were pointing us to the wasteland. If you want, you can stay here. No one's going to force you to come with me though.” She hinted.

“Are you out of your mind? There is no way I'm letting you go out there alone, Catherine. The reason I'm here is to help you and to watch after you! You b****y know that, so don't give me that look.”

She smiled, the smile that could melt someone's, chilled heart.

“I swear I'm going to kiss you right here, right now if you won't stop teasing me. I warned you, Catherine!”

“Ow! The baby's mad.” She teased.

Then suddenly.

There was something so heavenly about a surprise kiss, a wonderful moment that just won't wait. It is that burst of unknown feelings that are expressed, not caring if the cold winter wind soaks through to chill their skin. It was the connection that shows the strength of their feeling, the mutual need. So inviting. It is a rebellion against their natures. And they shared the kiss a minute longer than necessary, longing for each other.

For the time their lips were locked together the world itself ceased to exist, blurred and wonderful as a rose with its torn. When they trailed back their minds were like every rainbow that cease to stay yet enjoying the kiss. She wished they could stay like this forever.

Sean pushes his lips in more and the wave that runs through her was intoxicating, making her head swum as she drew back to take in his beautiful eyes, staring at her, longing for more. At that moment of the kiss, their chemistry becomes an ever-bright flame.

“What was that?”