The Elder Origins Read Free Page B

excitement that would break through her brother’s voice once he heard the news that land had been sighted when dawn approached. He would undoubtedly bring her atop the ship’s decks again to experience the excitement firsthand. Madison turned and discreetly made her way back to her room and threw the sheet back on top of herself, grabbing it in her tightly clenched fists. She had no desire to see this land again. It would only bring hope to the eyes of the crewmen and her brother. She knew inside not to trust the cries of joy…not to let them fool her into believing that this land would be good to her brother. She continued to sense the darkness beneath her and now which lay ahead. But she dared not voice any of her suspicions, knowing that they would be regarded as a woman’s delusions of danger around every corner. Jamison already told her that she worried enough to embody multiple women’s fears rather than just her own.
                  She closed her eyes and tried to let sleep take over the sense of dread. All she could see beneath her eyes was darkness again. The darkness of the room, the darkness of the sea beneath her, and now the dark curtain of clouds that engulfed the land they would soon encounter. Danger lurked all around them, and she knew she was the only one there who could sense it so clearly.
    * **
                  Jamison gently rocked his sister’s shoulder awake. She had managed to fall back asleep quicker than she thought she would. Her drowsy eyes met the only source of calm she knew within her current surroundings when she saw Jamison looking down on her.
                  “Come now. Come. Wake yourself and dress quickly. There is much to see,” he said smiling.
                  “What is it?” said Madison. It took her a moment to remember that Jamison had not yet seen the sight of land as she already had.
                  “Land, my dear. We have finally found land. It is beautiful. You must come see for yourself. And no arguing this time. They will be sending crew to the shores soon to prepare for our departure from the ship.”
                  “Are they certain that it is safe? We don’t know what inhabits these lands?” she said.
                  Jamison smiled and brought his hand behind her head, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Stop this incessant worry. They will be fine, as will we. Today we start our new life.” With that he opened the door behind him and left their small room.
                  Madison breathed in slowly and removed her blankets, reaching below for her shoes. This time she managed to find them and slip them on without having to graze her hands along the floor of the room. She dressed with haste, but not with the quickness her brother probably imagined she might have. Granted she had already seen this land, she did not feel the need to hurry.
                  As she stood upon the deck again, she saw the land in a way that she had not expected. It was large now and clear in view, no longer a small blackened space with twilight surrounding it. It was large and rocky with sands beneath the cliffs above. Trees lined the green and grassy moss that fell over the length of the black and grey crags. Sheets of white caressed the bottom where the waters crashed into their firm exterior. The sun hit her back and warmed the soft blue cloth that touched her pale skin. Her mind was slightly more at ease feeling warmth on her body rather than the chill she had felt the previous night. The air around her that had once felt so condemning had a glimmer of hope in it. But she sensed that her newly found optimism was only hope for Jamison’s disappointment not being realized.
                  She went to the bow and placed her hands to one side. Jamison took his arm around her shoulders and leaned her to him for comfort. His warmth with the sun behind her