Clarity's Doom (Ancient Origins Book 1) by C.L. Scholey Read Free Book Online Page A

terrain.
    Nature’s assault stopped and Clarity heard the man’s deep intake of breath when he stood motionless for a moment. Instinctively, she knew they were no longer outside. With a few long strides, he settled her down atop a lush mound of leaves within a shelter of rock and moss. Her purse slipped under a leg. With his warmth and protection now gone, the chill in the air brought goosebumps to her arms. Blinking, she gazed at her surroundings. The blowing of wind beyond the entrance scattered more leaves in her direction. Foliage wasn’t placed strategically for comfort; it was a natural occurrence.
    The man squatted on the balls of his feet before her. The heavens no longer a daunting force, the rain dripped down his features. Fine moisture drizzled from his forehead to slip from the tip of his nose. He wore earthy, rugged-looking moccasins hugging his feet and ankles to below mid-calf, and tanned hide pants covered him to his knees. The simple garment had numerous strange deep pockets which bulged with their secret contents. A thick, braided woven rope strung round his hips held simple tools, a crude hand axe, the handle made of beautiful deep purple quartz, a long ivory-handled stone knife, and a rustic leather pouch.
    Rugged, powerful, intricately tattooed, he gazed at her. She would have expected a cocky glance from a man of his size but he seemed thoughtful. Sad and hopeful. Clarity wiped her face with her hand and pushed strands of hair behind her ears. It took effort to settle her clattering teeth. He continued to stare at her, study her.
    She knew her hair when dry was so blonde it looked white when wet. Edward claimed her eyes were a mad hazel of all colors. The man before her dwarfed her five foot five. Many men did, but she had never encountered the sheer beauty of one so well proportioned. There was something prehistoric in his features in a fascinating way. Ancient, his gaze was primeval as though he’d lived a thousand lives over a million years. If he were primitive man, he would be considered the epitome of the best there was, the alpha male. This man hadn’t fallen in a sinkhole to get here. He belonged. The surroundings complemented the man and vice versa.
    “My name is Clarity.” The moment of truth. She doubted he’d eat her, she doubted he’d understand her, but a name was a simple place to start. “Clarity.” She pointed at her chest then motioned to him.
    “Doom.”
    It occurred to her that although his tone wasn’t that of the voice in her living room, the word was as frightening. Was he Clarity’s Doom? Would she die here in this cave filled with green vegetation, with a man who saved her life only to take it?
    “I’m afraid,” she whispered.
    He reached to cup her chin. His hand, though callused was gentle, his look sincere, his tender smile earnest. He gave her chills.
    “You should be.”

Chapter Three
    Doom’s voice was deep, his words clear and not threatening. Clarity could have been knocked over by a feather.
    “You speak English.”
    “I speak talk.”
    “No I mean you talk like me.”
    “No, you talk like me.”
    Clarity wondered at the evolution of speech. Where, how did it originate? Ancient origins? Scientists would have a field day here. First, communicating dinosaurs, and now a male who spoke English. What other languages were here? Clarity didn’t know where she was, but she definitely knew she wasn’t anywhere near home.
    “This isn’t Earth is it?”
    “No. Not your Earth, this planet is my Earth.”
    “How do you even know what Earth is? What do you mean your Earth?” He didn’t by any means look stupid but his primitive weapons suggested the lack of space flight.
    “Others come. Like you. Through holes.”
    Clarity rose to her knees. “You mean there are others from an Earth like mine here, now?”
    “They leave.”
    It was the way his gaze shifted, the sudden tension in his shoulders. He was lying or omitting a part of the truth. Doom looked