As it turned out, I could sort of breathe under water, though not in the same ways as the water dragons and the race known as Undines. I had to create little bubbles of air at random intervals, that enabled me to stay under the water, while still having access to oxygen. It wasn't a perfect idea, but it did tell me that, if I was ever in any great danger, I could hide under the water for an extended period of time. Not the best for just having fun though.
Even Veren seemed to relax when we reached the lake, letting the water move around him as if he was some sort of God of it. I was fairly certain that his element would have been fire, but without being able to read him, I would just have to wait until he told me that himself.
Being in the water had been a relief for me, as all of my problems seemed to drift away from me, for at least a short while. But after an hour or so, and after my skin started pruning, I needed to get out of the water to relax on the shore.
A towel that matched my pale blue swimming top and black swimming shorts enabled me to lay on the grass, relaxing under the sun. I knew I would probably end up with a sun burn, but everything just felt so amazing that I couldn't bring myself to worry about it.
Naturally, Veren still hadn't fully left my side at all, leaving the water when I had, and sitting on the grass in his black swimming shorts, all of his muscles and perfectly smooth skin reflecting the sun light. Again, I wanted to slap myself for being well past the starting point of falling for this guy, who was practically a stranger to me.
When he wasn't looking, I would admire his form, then close my eyes again, trying to connect to that little tug in the back of my mind. But every time I got close to it, Veren or someone else would say something, distracting me. It was very frustrating.
I didn't know how long had passed and I honestly didn't care. This world felt completely peaceful, and it was a kind of bliss I hadn't ever known that I needed. But, of course, the peaceful fun couldn't last forever. Eventually the others began to leave the lake, having their own responsibilities, and saying their goodbyes.
It was truly remarkable how I had been completely unable to make friends back on earth, but here, friendship just felt so natural to me. Like this was the world I was meant to be in this entire time. However, my lineage had come from here, so maybe I was supposed to have been born here, and there was just some sort of mix up.
"Shall we head back?" Veren asked, as the last group of stragglers left.
I looked over at him, still enjoying the view, but figuring that I had reached my time limit of freedom.
I sighed "I suppose so. I have a lot to learn about this world, and I guess I can't procrastinate forever."
He laughed softly and gave a far too dazzling smile "You don't have to learn it all at once."
I rolled onto my back, looking at him, then looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling the heat on my skin as it comforted me and urged me to doze like I'd begun to do a few times.
"I know" I sat up with a groan "But there are some things it's better if I learn about earlier rather than later."
"Like what?" He asked, tensely.
I knew what he was really asking. He thought I meant that I wanted to learn about the link that he felt with me. But, actually, that wasn't my intent at all. I knew that if I wanted answers to that particular subject, I would have to find them myself, and I probably wouldn't find them in a book that I could just grab from any shelf in the study.
"I want to learn about my lineage, and the rogue demons." I answered his question, matter-of-fact and confident in my decision.
He clearly relaxed, and gave me a shy, slightly uncomfortable smile, and said "you may not like what you find in some of it."
I watched him, before saying "If history was always pleasant, no one would ever have anything the learn from." Then I added "Besides, I need to prepare for whatever it is Kat can throw at me. I won't be caught unprepared for her ever again."
I still remembered all of the physical and verbal abuse she had ever spat at me, my rising temper fueling my decision further. I would never be that little girl that let people beat her up ever again. I was going to be the warrior that my family line had always had. The one who fought against the darkness and made the world safer for everyone else. I may not have had the amount of experience with the dark creatures, or rogue demons, that my sisters, or my mom and aunt, and so on, had, but I would learn everything I needed to know to make sure that I not only survived, but that I would have the chance to truly live.