Chapter One

Sex Gods and Forests

"W-what?" I gasped trying to take hold of what had been said to me. My ears had deceived me, surely!

Mrs. Heroshima laughed a little then patted my head in a friendly gesture-it would have been weird if it was motherly...she just wasn't the type- and looked at me again.

"I don't understand either...They were so hellbent to have the students write their examinations first, but i got the letter this morning...and well, now all they want is the top students."

"I have to admit...I like this better, it just seems a bit sketchy...how long is this 'internship' or whatever?"

"Internship lasts roughly five years in this field of work...and if they deem you fit you might get a logterm job there."

I reeled.

"Here just read the pamphlet they sent for us," she handed me a thick manila folder and examined me as I opened it with precaution. Hey-our government wasn't known to be all that nice.

I read the first few paragraphs and that was enough. They wanted me to join them on a top secret experiment for biological factors for the nation. This was...this was monumental. I carefully closed the folder and handed it back to Mrs. Heroshima. She smiled at my shocked expression.

"You can have it actually read through it tonight...They want you there starting from Saturday."

"Saturday?! That's tomorrow!" I laughed. My mind was a whirlwind...a tempest even.

I headed for lunch shortly after and upon reaching the cafeteria the noise there made my ears scream in bitter agony. But as soon as I entered the rowdy room packed with teenagers...everything quieted.

"Umm...?" I muttered. A path had been cleared from the crowd and I bit my lip in curiosity. Suddenly...or should I say horrifically, Adam Lockhart stepped forth. I sighed holding my hip and rolling my eyes.

"You owe me something," he sneered. The golden boy of the school sneered at me. Should I faint at the ounce of his time he was wasting on me...a poor, poor nobody of this prestigious, powerful school? I snorted.

"A brain? Cause apparently the robots that pieced you together forgot to put one in that excuse for a head."

A few people snickered but with one glare from Adam they silenced. His white hair billowed from the wind that passed through the cracked window in an almost ominous manner...almost ominous.

"No...I think that's you, I mean with that metal in your arm and all," he laughed, and even though what he said was not humorous at all, a second later the entire cafeteria erupted in giggles and snorts.

The metal he was referring to was when I had fallen when I was six and had to have it put in...and I didn't fall, the ratface pushed me off the friggin' monkey bars. "Can we cut this demented chitchat? What is it that you want ratface?"

"That scholarship should be mine," he had stepped up into my face and growled so that just the two of us could hear. I shivered. No, not from his proximity but from...a little bit of fear? I quickly shook it off and glared up into his cerulean eyes.

"If you were not so immature we could have possibly talked to Mrs. Heroshima about this," I grinned sardonically up at him.

His lips curved into a smirk that could have made any girl's heart melt yet I snorted, right up in his face. "What's wrong with your mouth?" I guffawed. He donned a shocked expression then snarled, grabbing my precious aka my arm.

"Fine, let's go to her and see."

"Rich boy scared?" I mocked.

"Shut-up! You know you talk way too much," he grumbled as he dragged me out of the cafeteria.

"How did you even know about the scholarship anyway? I thought only the winners knew?" I rubbed the last part in his face smugly.

"My father works closely with the government stupid." Let me just cut in by saying, Adam and I we had a tough rivalry regarding school. One time he'll score a ninety-eight and I'll score a ninety-nine, I'll get a twenty-three (Yeah shut-up) and he'll score a twenty-four. And it wasn't anyone else he rivalled with...it was only me. It grated on my bones a great deal and the way he treated everyone at the school made me hate his guts.

About two years ago he told the entire school to not talk to me...and guess what? My best friend since I was five stopped talking to me. I growled as he yanked me to the Biology lab.

"Mrs. Heroshima," he called impatiently. All the stupid teachers seemed to be in love with him too.

"Yes, come in Adam and Karita," she responded from inside. We gave each other incredulous stares then entered. How on Earth had she known it was us?

I opened my mouth to voice this very same question when she cut me off, "I knew both of you would come in to fight over the scholarship." She sighed rubbing her temples and slowly removing her glasses. Her Japanese descent was clearly portrayed now that her glasses were removed. It was not too long ago that the entirety of Asia had been wiped out by a devastating plague and the few Asian people who survived were treasured.

"I'm supposed to get the scholarship, check the grades," he whined like a little brat. I growled, sulkingly drawing my arms together.

"Adam Lockhart...," here she thinned her lips as she read from the computer screen, "ninety-six point three... Karita Omnos...ninety-six point four."

"You're kidding right?" Adam sighed, dejected. I actually felt kind of sorry for him. I looked sideways at him and drew in a breath.

"Can't both of us get it?" I asked knowing that I would hate myself for it after.

'What? That's not possible..." Mrs. Heroshima said.

"In every right...If both our marks were rounded off...they're both ninety-six, point one should not matter."

Adam had his eyes on me the entire while.

The Biology teacher opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. It was not seldom that we made our teachers speechless, this school did not boast about having good tutors...

"I guess...the school might have to contact the government...it shouldn't matter if both of you go...all the schools in the nation are participating. Alright, wait here I'll go have a word with the principal."

She left us in awkward silence... I sighed running my hands up and down my arms. Adam eventually broke the silence.

"Why'd you do that?" his voice was a whisper.

"I knew you didn't have the balls to so I said to myself, what the fuck, better just get this over right?"

He grinned at me. "But you hate me..."

"Yah I do, with every single fibre of my being," I glared at him effectively ending the conversation.

It was about an hour before the woman returned a smile upon her heart shaped face.

"Sorry to keep you guys waiting but I'm sure it was worth it...they said yes, the two of you will be going tomorrow," she chirped.

I sighed, nodding as I left. Adam grinned and walked out as well.

"This might not mean much since you hate me and all but thanks," He smiled.

"Really? I'm the one who hates you? Well yes with good reason but you just hate me for hating me sakes," I growled.

"Is that what you really think?" He whispered softly. I was thrown back by the warmth in his eyes but as soon as I opened my mouth to ask him what the was his problem, the bell rang. And mister smooth was gone in an instant.

Later that night I stood up leafing through the pamphlet in agitation. It was the most boring piece of crap ever. I groaned. A little knock resounded through my room and I smiled as my eyes flitted to the door. The little knock made itself heard again and with a smile on my face I called, "Zelda?"

The wooden door burst open and a little girl who barely reached my knees clambered in and dashed onto my bed. She grabbed my torso and clung on for dear life. It was only when I felt the moisture on my skin did I realize she was crying.

"Hey...hey Zel? Look at me," I cooed in her ear.

"Mm?" I heard a muffled reply. I ruffled the brown hair atop the tiny head and placed a soft kiss upon it. Little brown eyes looked up at me and she beamed a watery smile. "I don't want you tuh go..."

"I know," I whispered as I rocked her. "But if I go...I'll buy all the dolls in the world for you."

"I don't want dolls...I want you to stay," she sobbed. I sighed and held her till she fell asleep. I made up my mind then that I would leave before anyone woke, I wasn't one for goodbyes ...they were always so hurtful.

I had hailed a cab and was halfway to the research facility long before the sun had even risen. My muscles were aching from the lack of sleep and when I awoke with Zelda in my arms I had to try to persuade myself to leave. I sighed as my eyes traced the numerous stars in the sky...the little beams of light. The city was asleep, not a soul stirred this early morning. The gutters below were alive however with the tiny tap-tap of the feet of the city rats...and whatever other creatures lurked below.

I pulled my shawl tighter around my person as the biting cold of the outside air threatened to enter the cab. I shivered involuntarily as the research facility eventually loom ahead of us. I had no clue of what to expect despite the fact I stayed up almost the entire night reading the pamphlet.

It was early, too early and no one was here yet. I groaned as I paid the taxi driver and stood straight up hearing several bones in my back crack. My eyes roamed the facility looking for an entrance. I ddin't have much time though since a loud commotion erupted. My eyes ripped to the sight and I gasped upon seeing a man bordering on a sex god running fully naked toward me.

I coughed a bit. Wait...TOWARD ME?! I screamed and ran to the side hoping he would just run past me. But with mind bogling reflexes he swerved, grabbed me, holding me bridal style and ran at the speed of light.

I screamed all the way. His hard chest pressed against mine in an almost too intimate manner. He was bloody kidnapping me! Yet I held on for dear life. His ink black hair was wet and clung to the nape of his neck whilst his forest green darted to and fro as he averted trees...trees? It was only then that I realized he had run some couple miles already and we were in the Gorgoan Forests. I gulped once this dawned upon me.

He came to a thundering halt and dropped my unceremoniously to the forest floor. I groaned rubbing my rear and glaring up at him.

"Hey!" I shouted.

"What?" his voice felt like a liquid lullaby rubbing against my flesh in a way that made my blood boil...in a good way...a too good way. I shook the feeling and stood glaring into his face, I was afraid that if I so much as gazed into his eyes I would be sucked in.

"You...you kidnapped me!"

"I needed someone who knew these times, someone who looked stupid and unarmed, congratulations that's you," he smirked. I gasped in horror at his accusations.

"You imbecile, I am not stupid looking. If anyone, you are running around naked as the day you were born with that...thing hanging there," I grew red toward the end.

"Oh...Back in my day...women liked this 'thing' but mayhap it's just you who doesn't like men."

"I never said that and you'd better explain about your previous statement."

"Which one, because I could very well explain how women loved this 'thing'," he smirked.

"I mean about me being from these times and will you please put some god damned clothes on?" I yelled, shielding my eyes. I was getting used to seeing him naked and that was not a good thing...

The hard ripples of his muscles drew me in like an oasis in the desert. His arms were well muscled, not too much but just right and the thin trail of hair that lead from his amazing stomach to ...downward made me want to die.

"Like what you see?" he laughed.

I swallowed and glared up at him. It was only then did I remember my powers. I began chanting but then gasped and fell to the floor clutching my head in agony.

"One good thing about the Gorgoan Forests is that my people cast a spell on it that prevented your kind from using your witchcraft."

When the migraine subsided I looked up at him in confusion. The Gorgoan Forests belonged to which race again? God damn it we did this in History. Did I mention the twenty-three I scored was in the subject of History?

"What are you?" I croaked, genuinely afraid now. He stooped to my level and with his eyes staring into mine he whispered.

"Adamnas..."

It was then I promptly fainted.

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