27
(Silnaday, cont.)
Palerma, Tephsa - holocinema
Kauri Klement felt excited to be going to see the opening performance of Derick Aiden’s film after lunch. She ate quickly, despite the fact it would have no bearing on how long she’d have to wait for the film. She looked at Kanesh, across from her, who seemed just as excited as she was. He should be excited, she realized. He’d written it after all!
Kanesh smiled at her.
“Does it ever get easier?” she asked.
“What?” he asked, as if he’d been daydreaming.
“Does it ever get easier to wait for the opening of your films?”
“Not really,” he replied. “I’m always slightly scared that people won’t like it, and it will flop.”
“That’s almost hard to believe,” Kauri said.
“I don’t think it’s all that much different from the feeling you had when I wanted to read your stories. It’s a vulnerable feeling that never gets any easier,” he said.
“I have yet to see a movie of yours that I don’t like,” Kauri said.
“And I have yet to read a story of yours that I don’t like,” Kanesh replied.
She blushed.
“Let’s go,” he said standing up and taking her arm.
Four A’mara quickly joined them as they made their way to the holocinema.
“There are media here,” Kauri whispered to Kanesh as they walked.
“Who is the lady?” a reporter called out.
“Impossible to completely avoid attention, I guess,” he whispered back. “Let’s give them something to report.” He stopped and pulled her closer. He pressed his lips onto hers hungrily, his tongue begging entry. She was quick to answer, savoring his taste. Several whistles and cheers were heard, but Kanesh didn’t seem to care. Finally, he finished and led her inside.
Kauri felt her lips tingling and her cheeks blushing. “I feel like a movie star!” she said.
“You will be,” he promised. “You may need to get used to this. Popcorn?”
“Please,” she replied.
They sat in the nice comfortable seats with the best position in the house. Kanesh lifted the arm rest between their seats and put his arm around her.
Trailers played and then the movie started.
Kauri found herself drawn into the movie, almost forgetting that she was sitting with the writer’s arm around her.
“Is that really what the Neví are like?” she asked him at one point.
“According to my source,” he whispered into her ear, his accent absent again.
“This is really good,” she told him.
“Thanks. I do my best with my films,” he whispered back.
The film ended and Kanesh stood, seemingly anxious to leave. Kauri’s eyes were on the credits. She always watched them – for things like where movies were filmed. It was one of her habits.
Kanesh pulled her to her feet even though there was no clear path to the aisle. He kissed her, as if trying again to distract her from the credits. She kept looking between kisses. Then she stopped.
What's that?” she asked quietly. “Written and directed by Derick Aiden?”
“Good old Kanesh does not take the credit,” he explained with feigned annoyance.
“Then why would Kanesh be receiving death threats?” she asked, pointedly.
“The Nevi are clever people,” he said to her. Kauri wasn’t so easily convinced. The crowd had cleared enough to let them out.
As they left the cinema, Kauri noticed that there were more cameras now than there had been when they had arrived. Reporters shouted questions. The only question she could hear clearly was the same as they heard earlier.
“Who is the lucky lady?”
She turned to her lover, “Why does the media care about Kanesh?” she whispered.
Kanesh did not answer as they hurried along with the A’mara back to the shelter of the Complex.
♥
Derick felt incredibly nervous as they returned to the Complex with the A’mara, Having people trying to kill him was nowhere near as frightening as coming clean with Kauri. He formulated his words, intending to take her to the rooftop again and talk, holding her close to him, in front of the waterfall.
But she had other plans.
As they reached the library, she stopped and sat at a holonet terminal with a determined attitude.
“Come with me,” Derick urged, dropping the accent again. “I can explain everything.”
“But will you tell me the truth?” she asked, looking up at him. Then she turned to the terminal, typing in ‘Derick Aiden.’ She found a basic media encyclopedia and started reading.
Derick walked a few feet away, his heart in his throat. He looked out the window into the well-planted atrium, trying to distract himself with the little birds that flitted from branch to branch. But it did nothing to calm his nerves.
♥
Kauri was silent for a few long minutes. Then, she read aloud – just loud enough for him to hear. “It says here that Derick Kanesh Walker Aiden always writes, directs and stars in his own films – many of which are on controversial subjects.” She paused a moment and looked at the man she’d been with for almost two months now, but with new eyes. “You don’t just look like him; you are Derick Aiden!” she said standing up and uncertain whether she wanted to walk towards him or run away from him.
“I couldn’t tell you at first, I’m sorry,” he said, in the voice she recognized from the films. He tried to put his arms around her. But she dodged him. “If you had reacted badly, it could have been too dangerous for both of us.”
“You could have told me at any point since we arrived in Tephsa,” Kauri said walking away from him, then looking at him challengingly. “But you chose not to.”
Derick walked towards her trying to explain. “I started developing feelings for you – and was scared that if you knew who I really was, you’d be so overwhelmed as to declare your undying love for me simply because of who I am. Instead, you fell in love with me thinking that I was just the writer and stand-in actor.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t think you could trust me with that,” she said, wanting to feel so angry with him, but her heart wasn’t in it. He was so vulnerable, it made her love him even more, despite everything.
“I’m sorry,” he said, kneeling in front of her. “Please forgive me. It was just easier to continue being Kanesh… with the real guy coming at some point to act with you.”
Kauri stood there a moment, completely speechless. This very handsome, very famous and very rich man was groveling at her feet like the poorest beggar!
He mistook her silence and continued his pleading. “Please don’t be mad at me! I would hate to think that I ruined the best chance at happiness I’ve ever met, Derick pleaded.
Kauri felt her heart melting with the love that had been building and coursing through her almost since they’d met. Yes, she had begun to love him from the very start, she suddenly realized – before she knew that he was famous at all, when he was just Kanesh, the man Saraca wanted her to entertain for the day. Wasn’t this the same man who knelt at her feet now?
A moment later, she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet with a smile. “I want to be mad at you, but somehow I just can’t,” she shook her head then kissed him. “I do love you, Derick Kanesh Walker Aiden!”
“Thank you!” he said kissing her, then just holding her to him, his hand pressing her head to his chest. “I’m the luckiest man in the world, to have gained your forgiveness and your love! My wealth means nothing compared to you!”
♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví... |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – all rights reserved.
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
