Raife: An Aquadomina Novel Read Free Page B

blanket that
covered her then froze. She had turned forty-five this year and there were a
few things that came with age. The dark spots on her hands had increased over
the years. Sometimes it felt like there would be a new one daily. Like her
mother and grandmother before her, Sophie had accepted the spots as a fact of
the aging process. Now as she lay here she realized her hands were smooth. She
didn’t have one dark spot or wrinkle to mar the skin. Taking note of her body
there were a few other changes as well. Despite the stress of the situation,
she wasn’t feeling any pain in her joints. Nothing in her back or knees, and
both had been aching of late. What she could tell of her body the muscles were
more toned and the skin taunt. Not that she was a size two or anything, adding
an extra digit to that number would be closer to the truth. She wasn’t totally
fit, but she wasn’t overly heavy either.
    Before her panicked mind could take flight, she started to look around
the room. Her eyes landed on the five males. They had stayed in the exact same
spot the entire time. Two by a doorway type arch in the wall, two by an opening
she assumed was a window but was now closed, and one closer to her bed but not
in the way. They were all looking blankly ahead. She was wondering if they were
breathing, they were standing so still. All five were tall with large builds
that she couldn’t tell was armor or just male body since they were wearing some
type of black clothing. They all had the same slightly elongated face, not a
disfiguring amount, but enough to notice.
    Her eyes strayed to the man closest to her bed and her breath caught in
her throat. She felt like this one was different. He was tall, about six foot.
His hair was dark, either brown or black. There were faint highlights to make
her wonder at some red in there too. He was staring impassively ahead like the
others, but his eyes would twitch every so often. She wondered what he was
thinking. His eyes were the same blue as the females, only his had a hint of
something she couldn’t place. Trying not to stare and appear rude, she was
covertly trying to see what about his eyes was catching her interest, and then
it hit her. They had sparkly looking flecks. His eyes were catching the light
and reflecting like a prism. Before she could look at the guard further One
spoke again.
    “You are perfectly healthy Chosen. The scans all show it.”
    Sophie sighed, “Can I get up and walk around? It helps me to process
things better if I’m moving.”
    “The Chosen can do whatever The Chosen wants to do.” The Three spoke in
unison.
    “Okay then.” Sophie sighed loudly, “The Chosen is going to stand up.” She
moved the blanket aside and was happy to see she was wearing some kind of
pajama pants for bottoms and wrapping t-shirt style top. Sliding off the
medical bed she slowly stood up, making sure her legs could take her weight
before standing taller. She felt extremely fit. Walking around the side of her
bed she asked The Three, not really caring which one answered.
    Whatever they had done to her mind must be starting to work because
instead of feeling panic or continued disbelief all she felt was a sense of
calm.
    “So where exactly am I?”

 

Chapter
Three

 
    “Would The Chosen like a lesson on the history of
Aquadomina? Or just the great Kingdom of Aquarian?” The Three asked together.
    Sophie had thought that this whole situation
couldn’t get any stranger. Now she realized she was wrong…It could. First, she
was told she had been chosen to bring peace to the Three Kingdoms. What
Kingdoms those were she had no idea. Shaking her head, she paced around the
room. “You call this city an aquarium?”
    “No Chosen.” One tried to keep up with her pacing,
“Not Aquarium...Aqua-ria-n.” She enunciated the last sound so that Sophie knew
the difference. “We are in the main city of all Aquadomina, though you will
rule over all of the people of the Three