Finding Solace (Ancient Origins Book 2) Read online

  “Something smells wonderful.” Bastian said.

  “I’m so hungry I could eat anything right now,” Tain muttered.

  Different scents drifted to Solace, not only the smoke of the fires, which escaped from tiny smoke holes, but an ancient earthy scent. The parts of the floor not covered in fur were moss. Edible mushrooms were growing. Looking closer she saw wild onions and chives. There was a greenhouse of food within. Whoever these people were they were brilliant with their design. Higher wood baskets were strategically placed for sun. The green tops of vegetables were visible.

  Inside the large dwelling was a man with his back to her. The crowd seemed to part until he filled her line of vision. There was something about the way he stood. Something familiar. He was covered in furs from head to toe. He turned with a slight motion.

  “Menace.” Solace raced into his arms.

  Stunned surprise greeted her as she was scooped up into powerful arms and crushed to a massive chest.

  “Solace, my Solace.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “We waged war again yesterday on the hybrids. We killed the five female breeders, at least I hope we did. I wasn’t thinking, I was so angry and wanting you so badly. I was attacked from behind. As a hybrid and I fell from the cliff I screamed to the aliens I had to find you,” Menace rushed to say. “A sinkhole opened last moment and I fell into a pile of snow and found my way here.”

  “Aliens?” Lochlan asked.

  Menace narrowed his eyes onto the man and stepped forward, fists balled. “You, it was you who took what is mine.”

  Solace saw a red hue creep over Menace. Lochlan was no wimp, but Solace had seen the same furious gaze cast at Edge once from Menace, and the man had the good sense to back away. So did Lochlan. She gripped Menace harder.

  “This man is Lochlan; he thought he was saving me. This is Joe, Joey’s father, Flights father, and Bastian and Tain. These men have been traveling through sinkholes from different time periods or something. We don’t know what is going on. Do you? What about aliens?”

  “Is that guy you said expected you to call him father as big as this guy?” Joe whispered out the side of his mouth to his son.

  “No daddy.” Joe slouched in relief. “Edge isn’t as big but real close. All the men there are big.”

  “Great,” Joe muttered.

  Glaring, Menace said, “Clarity was kidnapped during our first confrontation with the hybrids by an alien who claims dominion over twenty Earth planets in different stages of growth. When she explained that to me I was worried Solace was kidnapped by aliens. Are you aliens?” He tightened his fists and took a step toward Bastian.

  “No, Menace,” Solace interjected as her eyes widened. “They are men from my Earth. I think. At least they are from an Earth and I know Joe is from my Earth because Joey is.” She realized she had yet to find out about the others, their lives were such a whirlwind of events. “That’s Bastian, Tain, Lochlan and the one holding Joey’s hand is his father, Joe. Please tell us what Clarity said about aliens.”

  “The hybrids were never supposed to learn the way they have, or as much as they have, their intelligence was not meant to be and must be stopped before they discover space flight. Showing up in that plane will make them fight harder. You men never should have come to my planet.”

  Joe stepped forward with Joey now in his arms. “What length would you go to save your son?” he demanded. “What length were you willing to go for Solace?”

  Solace watched as Menace relaxed, his fists unclenched. Menace was suddenly surrounded by children demanding his attention. Blue and Cole held their arms up to him but instead he released Solace and dropped to a knee where he could embrace all of them, Nina and Em included. Only Nick remained seated on the sleigh, glaring.

  “I see you’ve maintained your sunny disposition,” Menace drawled to the teen.

  “He’s hurt,” Solace said. “We’ve had a heck of a ride in the last few days. I’m no doctor.” She looked at a man who was studying her, his regal stance made him appear leader. “Do you have a healer here? A doctor who heals wounds, hurts, pain?” She wasn’t certain which word he would understand.

  “We have a Gift Giver,” he replied. “My name is Dagger.”

  “I’m Solace. Can your Gift Giver help this young man?”

  A woman approached and proceeded to pull at Nick’s clothes. He shook her off, slapping at her hands. The woman eyed him, cocked her head and left. She tossed her arms up as though she had better things to do and didn’t look back.

  “That was foolish,” Solace snapped at Nick. “She might have been able to help you and we are strangers here. You have lousy manners young man, or should I say little boy.”

  “No touch,” he said with a snarl.

  “Fine. Lay there on the ground then until you develop some sense.” Solace began helping the children shed their furs.

  “Come to the fire,” Dagger said urging them toward the heat.

  A young girl about Em’s age began giving out wooden cups of water to the children. Em exclaimed in delight announcing it was sweetened with honey. The young girl approached Nick with hesitance. Solace knew Nick didn’t fear children. He stopped glaring long enough to take the cup, drain it, and lie back. He was soon asleep. The Gift Giver returned and offered Solace a sly smile. Dagger picked the boy up and carried him away.

  As Dagger left, he informed his guests they were free to look around. With so many eyes on the strangers, Solace knew they were considered no threat. The men carried handguns they kept concealed. Dagger’s people wouldn’t know what to make of them if they saw the weapons. From the spears standing upright in various places Solace understood these were a primitive people with intelligence. Simply gazing around showed her their ways were inventive. Their home was stunning.

  Solace stepped into Menace’s arms and they kissed. Other women came forward and took the children to various hearths to feed them and offer changes of clothes. There was great interest in Tain’s plaid shirt and a number of young women flocked around the men with interest. Solace took Menace’s hand and they walked near the base of the tree. The ground beneath their feet was littered with large furs, with the moss surrounding them on the outside away from the fires. Rows of cordage sectioned off food areas and the children stayed away from the somewhat lush areas.

  “The trees base is lined in cement, it seems, or a harder substance,” Solace said. “Remarkable. Look at the rich soil where the moss is. They’re growing food in here, plants in strategic places where sun filters in but the fires keep the plants warm. Look up there, those aren’t mere smoke holes.”

  Not only the base but half way up was a cement-type substance and it was thick, keeping cold out and warmth in. The rock material helped keep the plants warm as well. There were mammoth furs hung from many of the walls. Solace cocked her head. The amazingly thick tree had been gutted on the inside leaving a number of huge live branches used as walkways, or perhaps they were roots from the surrounding trees. The branches weren’t from the tree she stood in. There were holes where the branch entered then looked to head outside to another tree base. Another way for smoke to escape and allow sunlight in. The holes appeared to be the right size for each individual branch. As she watched a man used a large knife to gently scrape away bark to enlarge a hole allowing branch growth.

  She could look straight up and see the top of the tree, it was apparent the rest of the tree was left partially intact, the sides tapering smaller, about twenty feet high, but not enough weight strained the base. To strengthen the tree there were layers of cement half way up the base to the dwellings to form a sturdy foundation. She puzzled at the branches that interlocked and when the pair climbed higher she stood stunned mouth agape. Beneath them a number of branches were fitted with support beams.

  Tree after solid tree formed to make a circle from what she could see, each with a sturdy supporting base from branches, each housing twenty or more people. She was gazing at
an entire community. Perhaps an entire race. Each person had lines, perhaps tattoos, including the smallest of children which led her to believe they were birthmarks. Across their upper chests in fine rows shoulder to shoulder, were rainbows of color in fine lines. The colors of man. Their language was comprised of a number of languages. Solace was well versed in different languages but there were some words she didn’t comprehend when overhearing conversation that was no doubt about the visitors. The words were strange and on a deeper level she knew she should know them.

  The children of these people were cute, little surfers, of all ages, as they slid down tree branches covered in moss in bare feet. They moved from site to site. Home to home. There were no boundaries. There were no barriers. The surroundings belonged to them. The children swung from vines. Every head of hair fluttered in the breezes they made. Blondes, brunets, gingers, chestnut, black, tawny, and more. Thick hair, thin, long, short, curly, straight, and wavy. A kaleidoscope of humans. The trees were filled with delights of sights and sounds. The children were singing and a few adults joined in. They were a happy people and Solace could tell there was much love within these homes.

  “It’s not hard to make cement. But this stuff would last a long time. I don’t remember any in our Earth history of ancient homes with cement.” Solace scratched her head. “This must be a different Earth, not a different time period.”

  “As long as I’ve found you I don’t care if it was Earth’s Hell,” Menace said. Their fingers interlocked.

  A woman approached Solace and held out reindeer skins. She shuffled her feet, went red, and urged what appeared to be garments onto her. The women then bid her follow. Solace was confused. She glanced up at Menace.

  “What you’re wearing is frightening to them. You are, um, a bit ripe.”

  “I stink?” Solace was mortified.

  “No not stink,” Menace was quick to say. “Then again you could swim in mammoth dung and I’d still hug the stuffing from you.”

  “Always the romantic.”

  Solace followed the woman. She led both Solace and Menace, because Solace wouldn’t let him out of her sight, through a heavy hide she pushed back. A tunnel of interlocking cement and wood and bone took her to a large bathing area. A small waterfall was near the back. Soft light from bowls filled with melted fat bathed the interior. Torches were lit. The woman left and Solace stripped, her toes dug into the luxurious furs beneath as she moved. Menace followed. The water was heavenly warm, as she slipped lower from rock to rock.

  “Spring fed,” Solace said.

  “Like home but different.”

  Solace turned into his embrace. “I missed you.”

  “Did anyone hurt you? Or anything?”

  “No, we’ve been running for our lives since I left. It’s nice to be in your arms. I ached for you to hold me. You make me stronger.”

  Menace drew her higher into his arms for a kiss. Their tongues met with a leisurely dance. She missed his taste and moaned in delight. When their kiss broke Menace settled his forehead against hers. He placed his hand on her chest.

  “My heart is beating again,” he whispered. “The frozen pain is gone, you melted my icy agony. A fishing line is what you are to have hooked my soul from the depths of despair. I am alive again. Your kiss filled my quiet lungs with your breath.” He pulled her head to his chest. “Listen my love, it beats for you.”

  “I knew we would be together. There was no other option.” She ran her finger down his cheek.

  “I would have looked forever.”

  “Me too.”

  Menace nuzzled her throat, kissing his way up to her lobe and chin. She may have melted his heart but it was because of the fire he started within her belly. Every inch now burned for him. Her flesh tingled, remembering what his touch would do. Waist deep in incredibly warmed water he explored her. Menace kissed her, lowering to fondle each breast then lave her bellybutton. He nipped first one hip then the other.

  As he moved back up her body she shivered in delight, a heady euphoria engulfed her. He claimed a deeper kiss of her mouth, as he lowered a hand to dip in the water. Solace moved against the two fingers that found her heat. She ground against the thumb at her bud.

  “Menace I want you,” she panted raggedly.

  He buried his face into her hair. “You have me. You woke me from living death—again. Our hearts can’t be denied. Yours beats with mine. When you left all sweetness turned sour. Let me love you. I live in your heart, remember? I am home again.”

  Menace eased his cock into her, lifting her. Her legs wrapped around his waist. She devoured his power into her flesh. Each stroke tossed her up into his arms. Menace gripped an ass cheek and the back of her neck. Soon the still water was awash with waves at his motion as he dropped to his knees to keep her in the water’s warmth. In his loving embrace Solace wept. A small shudder rocked her. When she peeked up at him a tear fell from his eye followed by another. His tender expression showed his love.

  The pounding of his heart boomed against her and Solace met his pace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried out when he thundered his release. When his body slowed he crushed her to him. For a moment they stayed together refusing to give up the intimacy. Menace nipped her throat making her squeal. With tenderness he eased her off him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders watching the water droplets fall from his hand onto her skin. She wondered what he was thinking.

  “My Solace. I wish I had a name you could be proud to call out.”

  “Menace.” He cringed when she spoke. “Menace is a perfect name. Because it belongs to the man I love. Any name you have is perfect.”

  “Really?” he cocked an eyebrow.

  “Yes.”

  “So if I were named Bubble-gum…”

  “Never mind, or I’ll be calling you Muffin.”

  Menace chuckled, the sound filled her being, a gift to lighten her soul. “We need to go back and help Doom.”

  “Yes, we do,” she concurred.

  “First let me help you wash.”

  A creamy soap had been left in small woven baskets for use. Solace washed her hair enjoying the flowery scent. She moaned when Menace let his hands glide over her back to her rounded ass. She turned wanting the feel of his skin on her heated flesh. Fingers she adored soaped her breasts and throat. They were both panting when he rinsed her clean. Menace was hard again; he pressed his cock against her belly.

  “I can’t help it,” he said as though to apologize.

  She smiled at him and gripped his swollen member in her hands. “I missed you, too.”

  “You must be hungry.”

  “I am for you.”

  Menace nudged her legs with a knee and soon he entered her with a quick thrust. The water churned as he took her in a frenzy. Solace gasped from the passion that exploded from him. His grip was almost too tight.

  “My Solace,” he said panting.

  His hands squeezed her body to him lifting her higher in his arms. Menace roared when he came and her release caught her by surprise. She slumped in his embrace; her body was shaking. He kissed her throat, her cheeks, holding onto her as though his life depended on it. He was a powerful man in a strange place and she was his lifeline.

  Menace lifted Solace to her feet. “As soon as the snow clears and we can take off, we’re out of here, Menace.” Solace was gazing up at him. “We will get home.”

  “In that plane?”

  “It’s all right. Don’t be worried.”

  “I wasn’t worried just wondering. Do we have to take Nick?”

  Solace groaned. “I’m afraid so.”

  “Maybe a mammoth will poop on him and solve our problems.”

  “Ew. That would be one big pile of crap.

  “Exactly.”

  “Teen years can be hard no matter the situation. You have to admit he has had it rougher than most.”

  Menace led her from the water where they dried and dressed. Solace took her time running a soft skin acros
s his broad back, loving the feel of him. She moved lower to rub each ass cheek, then lower to his calves. Menace bowed his head. There were the tattoos of his fallen people on his back and legs. Burdens he carried because he had once been a leader. Somehow the fates knew to place this burden where he couldn’t see it. Solace was glad of that, there were so many.

  Each tattoo she wiped dry with gentleness born of knowledge. When he turned, she stood to stand quietly before him. More images adorned his body but were of the sacrificed victims.

  “They are gone in body but are safe with you,” Solace said.

  “My heart is safe with you so they are doubly protected.”

  They took a leisurely stroll back to the others. The sky was already growing dark and many of the fires were banked. Wicks were snuffed out, a few torches remained lit. Furs were laid out for the new guests around the main large fire. Menace and the others helped get the children settled for the night. Solace again wondered about time in these ancient worlds. She wondered when the earth of this world would settle into twenty-four hour time periods.

  A variety of food was left out for the pair to pick at in the stillness of the evening. The treasures of greens filled her mouth in a flavor dance. A fermented drink quenched her thirst and relaxed Solace. The last few days were beyond hectic and filled with fear. Solace’s fear was gone. Wrapped in Menace’s arms she fell asleep.

  Chapter Six

  Morning was a bustle of activity. The women were preparing breakfast and Solace watched them take turns stirring up different foods. In a huge, thick, worked hide hanging over hot coals was a mixture the women added black beans to, as well as garlic and powders smelling of chili, chipotle, guajillo, and salt. Another woman smiled at Solace and encouraged her to watch as in another hide was placed masa harina, salt, and water. They took turns with a wooden paddle beating the dough. The dough was transferred to husks. The villagers grew corn which amazed Solace and they smoothed the dough over husks to form a thin layer. The filling was added and soon the tamales were steaming.