Chapter 15-Land Of Nod Grassland Fae

The next morning, Sean stepped 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 to 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 to the DRI, Sean. Are you out of your mind?" Catherine repeated it 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 was.

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 it as evenly as she could, trying to mask her fury. "I'm going with you then." 

"Never! 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 of the coma. You know what could have happened to him if he remained 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 a ways... those rescuers here were professionals. I'm sure your team was okay. " 

The comments seemed to freeze Sean in his tracks. I believe you're right, Catherine. I hope. " 

His accounts were met with a pregnant silence.Catherine could just visualize Sean's processing thought, "So shall we sleep together here in your bed or?" he asked, while the grin on his face was out of this world. The change in his demeanor was palpable in a childish way.

Her eyes widened in shock. Are you out of your goddamn mind? Of course not! We are not sleeping together. Hell no!... bloody no! " She said it 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 at 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 herself for being too nave and helpless under his flirting.

His powerful hands held her as he stared into her eyes. She couldn't help but blush. His smile etched its way 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 away.

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 in the Wasteland again." He muttered, avoiding her gaze as he went out 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 they were running wild as she turned 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 it in a soft voice, breathless.

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

Her eyes widened at his remark, and she hurried her pace, lowering her head and avoiding eye contact.

"Hey... Catherine, wait! Please stop! " Sean's deep voice blared, 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 only teasing you, and I apologize!..."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 farther forward, 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 their movements that will melt with the snow as they walk towards the unknown lands that await them.

By the way, as 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 for 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 of her pocket and showed them to Sean. "Interesting," he mused.

What's so important about it? Miah said, "Only you and the keeper can hold it."

Would you like to try it? Let's see what happens. I'm curious as well! " Catherine exclaimed with glee.

"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 haze. Doubts rang in his voice, knowing that in this land, anything could happen. Anything at all.

"Oh! Oh, my!Sean, you are terrified? Aren't you? " She asked but hid 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 it irritates him as much as he despises admitting it.

Dammit! " Catherine stops laughing and gives me those coins. "

"Would you hold it, or 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 hung 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 on this coin is visible as daylight. " pointing to the coin in her outstretched hand, observing it.

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

"What is it?" he asked.

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

Seriously? You couldn't see it? " Catherine's curiosity went up a notch.

Narda! Nothing! " He exclaimed as he watched the coin again carefully this time, but he dared not touch it. His curiosity can wait a little longer. 

You know! I can see it! The words are small but readable. " I was 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 close to 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 pauses. You know, go on!" It worried him. Sean wished to see it himself, but he wouldn't risk it.

"The heart of the two

Like a bridge with two ends,

I awoke from my slumber.

The first shall begin. " 

No one dared to speak after that.

"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 of 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 of curiosity here."

Sean, it's obvious, it's us, the bridge out of the slumber, and the first......Well, maybe the initial coin? The first adventure? Or the first time we've been out of Cold Mountain? " 

"The last one makes sense, though,"

Yeah, it 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 will pierce through his heart. But together they will fight for what's right.

A pregnant pause followed. Both were 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 us about our trip to the grassland, but the second row says about us traveling to the wasteland." She hesitated. "Right?" Catherine continued to ask 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 bloody know that, so don't give me that look. "

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

If you won't stop teasing me, I swear I'm going to kiss you right here, right now. 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 wouldn'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 showed the strength of their feelings and mutual needs. 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 petals. When they trailed back, their minds were like every rainbow that ceases to stay yet enjoys the kiss. She wished they could stay like this forever.

Sean pushed his lips in more and the wave that ran through her was intoxicating, making her head swim 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?"