Read Online Gaia's Secret by Barbara Kloss - Free Book Online Page A

passed, the chaos in my mind
abated, and I became aware of my own feelings again. 
    Waves of concern poured over me. Even though
my eyes were closed, somehow I knew the concern was Sonya’s. I
could feel her approaching. My hand was in hers just as I
felt Cicero beside me. Then I sensed Alex.
    I opened my eyes and found his at once. They
were burdened and heavy, but the joy flowing from him was so pure
and potent it was intoxicating.
    For a few moments I struggled to push their
emotions away so I could find my own again. Once under
control, I peered at Sonya, who looked a little worried.
    "Are you all right?" Her eyes searched
mine.
    “I think so.” I stood, releasing her
hand. 
    My senses were acute and powerful, more so
than I thought possible, and had connected to this strange place
without my permission. The Del Contes said this world was a magical
world, but this? They hadn’t said anything about this.
    Reaching a new sort of equilibrium, I finally
looked at the land before me.
    We stood on the rim of a deep, lush valley
with a glittering blue river dividing it in half. Magnificent
mountain peaks stood all around, their caps like white arrowheads
piercing the sky. The valley itself was veiled with giant trees,
while exotic wildflowers dotted the rare open spaces, accenting the
deep green with splashes of bright colors. Everything here was
vibrant, like I was looking at a world in high definition. The air
tasted crisper and cleaner, and the light breeze was scented with
flowers’ perfume. The thrum of rushing water echoed throughout the
verdant vale. Everywhere I looked I felt life—in the air, in the
trees, in the rocks—everywhere.
    This place made me feel to the core of
my being; it held a knowledge and wisdom of its own.
    It was then I realized my need to press on
had left. I had arrived. There was no turning back, not even if I
wanted to. No more brown fields, no more fences. No more
loneliness.
    Just…life. Pure, powerful life.
    "Beautiful, isn't it?" Sonya said beside me.
I'd almost forgotten they were there.
    “Yes,” I said, but I didn’t think the word
“beautiful” was enough. I wasn’t sure there was a word that could
capture the magnificence of this place.
    Cicero moved to my other side, his expression
curious. "Are you all right to keep going?"
    I nodded. "This place is incredible."
    “This is only a piece of it.” He grinned, and
then his eyes narrowed as he gazed ahead. "Better get moving before
someone sees us."
    He began walking down a narrow, rocky ledge
that hugged the granite wall behind us. Sonya touched my arm and
smiled, and continued after him.
    Alex remained. He stood fixed, staring beyond
with that same weighted gaze, the light breeze ruffling his cloak
and dark hair. He looked majestic standing there, as if he were a
prince watching over his realm, burdened by the safety of its
citizens. Deep down inside, a part of me ached. It was a part that
wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him how much I missed
him and how happy I was to see him again. I was furious at that
part of myself.
    His gaze met mine then, those deep green eyes
seeming to understand everything I didn’t say. And everything I
didn’t want to feel.
    I quickly glanced away and hurried after
Sonya and Cicero into the veil of dense foliage.
    It was much cooler beneath the shade of the
trees. Shadows slithered along the ground as light fought to pierce
through the barricade above. I glanced up, tilting my head to the
green cathedral that walled us in, and felt dizzy. Boughs creaked
and moaned as they strained with all their might, reaching out to
cradle me in their arms, their leaves rustling in the breeze.
    When I looked back down, I realized I was
alone. I didn’t see Sonya or Cicero anywhere.
    Just as I opened my mouth to call out to
them, a hand grabbed me by my cloak and yanked me off the trail.
The hand belonged to Sonya, and we were now hiding behind a large
boulder with Cicero. Alex appeared right