Eramane by Frankie Ash Read Free Book Online Page B

me, and I let go of Lebis to put my hands out. I lift my head to the sky and inhale all of the smells from the earth. I feel the sun trying to kiss my skin, but it cannot keep up with us. I squeeze Kelwyn tightly with my legs; her slender physique enables me to hold on tight. I wish that this moment of freedom will last forever.
    My moment of enjoyment is short-lived, as the image of the beautiful man I saw earlier revisits me. But I decide immediately that I want to dwell on this moment, my moment with Lebis, his magnificent mare, and the beautiful meadow. I open my eyes and in an instant the image is gone, replaced by my beautiful surroundings. I lean forward and put my arms around Lebis’s waist, gently latching on to him. He looks back to me, and I see a smile come over him before he can turn away.
    “There it is!” Lebis shouts. “Just beyond the tree line!” Kelwyn slows her run to a trot, then to a walk. “We will have to walk her in. She gets a little spooked by the shadows. Once we are in, she will be all right,” Lebis says, pulling back on her reins. He dismounts, drops the reins, and offers his hand to me. I slide down the side of the horse and land on the softest, greenest grass I have ever seen. As I look around, I realize that I have never been to this part of the river before. Usually my family goes to the waterfall by the cliffs. Here, though, the river runs through the forest, very secluded and peaceful.
    We walk into the woods. Lebis searches for a spot to lay down our picnic blanket. He locates a brilliant green, moss-covered patch right next to the edge of the river. The forest is thick, but beams of light shoot through in every place they can, giving it a dreamlike quality: a setting fit for fairy tales. The beauty of this place is astounding. Lebis throws out a thick, red, velvet blanket, stirring the woodland creatures. Blue and yellow butterflies flutter all around, and their wings twinkle when they catch beams of sunlight piecing through the trees. A rabbit hops along the edge of the river, and little birds migrate from tree to tree, trying to get a closer look at the humans who have invaded their homes. The mare, on her own accord, saunters over to the river’s edge and lowers her head to the water, sucking in its cold refreshment. I am curious to know how cold the water feels. I edge up slowly and kneel down to submerge my fingertips.
    I put my hands in the clear water; it is cold, and it sends me back to when my father took Samiah and me to the river. I ran from my brother, knowing he wanted to toss me in the water. He eventually caught me and threw me into the river, jumping in himself right after. The water was cold and took our breath away. The day had been unseasonably hot, so after a few seconds we adjusted to the water and enjoyed our swim.
    The water is clear, and I can see all the way to the bottom. In some parts the sun reaches the bottom and makes the riverbed pebbles sparkle. While I am taking in the beauty of the forest, I am suddenly jolted as I recall the words from the beautiful stranger: “I will come for you tonight.” I drop my view of the canopy down to the river water. As I peer into the water, watching a leaf slowly float by, I see his reflection again. It is blurry at first and then forms clearly. I stare at him and he stares back at me. Tonight, Eramane . I am hearing him in my thoughts! I continue to stare into the water, hypnotized by the image, just as I was earlier. His words penetrate my skin, and I feel as if I have been stung by thousands of little bees.
    I cannot move my eyes away from his, and I feel as if I am being pulled closer to the water’s surface, as if something below the water is pulling me in. At first I struggle with the sensation; then an eagerness to give in comes over me, and I let it take me closer to the water’s surface.
    “Dinner is served.” Lebis’s words break the spell, and I quickly recover from the trance. I splash at the