Free Sentari: ICE by Trevor Booth Page B

continued Ethaniol.
    The dome disappeared into a dark tunnel again. As it started to slow down, they emerged from the tunnel and came to a stop in a small room. Plain grey walls surrounded the room, with only one doorway, which lead into darkness. The doorway was lined with gold, woven into a pattern that appeared like a vine growing around a tree. A single crystal hung down from the roof, lighting up the room.
    The dome opened up and Ethaniol stepped out. Julius went to leave, but Ethaniol stopped him. “Go see her. You have no classes tomorrow and remember your actions reflect back on us,” he said.
    “Yes Father,” said Julius.
    Julius sat back down in the dome as the door closed. It whisked back out into the tunnel. Julius couldn’t help but feel excited. He did not expect his father to be so generous. He could not wait to tell Jade the news.
    The dome sped through the massive expanse of ocean, in and out of tunnels, then plunged down along the ocean bed.
    The dome came to rest at the base of an enormous cave. Solid see-through crystal walls kept the flowing lava at bay. Gorgeous black granite floors shimmered from the light of green gemstones embedded in the crystal, glowing from the energy provided by the lava.
    Two large statues of men dressed in silk stood next to a giant, stone, double-doorway, with a golden sword hanging on each door.
    Julius stepped out of the dome. Time seemed to stand still as Jade, the most beautiful woman – in his eyes – came running into the room. Her long, soft blonde hair flowed as she ran towards him and leapt into his arms. He stared into her deep green eyes, a colour befitting her name.
    “What are you doing here?” asked Jade.
    “My father approves of you,” replied Julius.
    “He approves?” said Jade curiously.
    “Yes, isn’t that great?” said Julius.
    “That’s more than great. That’s amazing,” she replied.
    Julius and Jade had been in love for a long time. They had kept their relationship secret from the world because they feared the repercussions. Jade’s father was the former chancellor and their families had been bitter rivals for generations. Ethaniol had drummed into Julius from a young age that they were Jade’s family were not to be trusted, but Julius could not help his love her.
    Jade’s family also had no idea of their relationship. Julius was very careful to always go to her house when no one else was home. This was to be the first night that Jade’s family would learn of their relationship.
    Jade held Julius’s shaking hand and squeezed it tight.
    Julius stopped near the entrance of the home.
    “What are you waiting for?” said Jade.
    “Come with me,” said Julius.
    “Where?” Jade asked.
    “Let us spend one last night together before everyone knows about us,” pleaded Julius.
    The two got in the dome and headed out of the tunnel. “Where will we go?” asked Jade. Julius ran his hand over a silver disc on the floor of the dome. The disc rose up from the floor, then moulded into a steering panel. Julius twisted the panel and the dome exited the tunnel. It slowed down and floated in the water.
    “What are we doing here?” said Jade.
    Julius pulled back on the steering panel. The dome slowly floated upwards. “Let’s spend the evening, just you and I, alone in the ocean, just drifting,” said Julius.
    Julius and Jade floated through the water, without a care in the world. Snuggled closely in each other’s embrace, they enjoyed their last night of peace together. They both knew, deep down, that tomorrow would be a different story.
    ***
    The artificial light that slowly grew brighter crept its way into Julius’s eyes, slowly but surely waking him up. Living so far under the water, his people had created an ingenious way of mimicking a sunrise, to great effect.
    Julius sat up in Jade’s bed in the small and unassuming room. The bed was comprised of a large slab of granite with a soft white mattress on top.
    Shiny brown silk sheets