Cloud Riders(89)

She reached out for a pastry. ‘We’ve all day together, Pops,’ she said, drinking down some juice. ‘So, tell me what do you and your friends do in your spare time?’ Throwing his words back at him in a playful way she said, ‘Don’t tell me you only play war games. Surely there must be some fun things to do on these stars?’

He put his book down and sipped his coffee. ‘Aquarius has a huge water park with tunnels and slides if that interests you. Aqua is the ruler of the zodiac known to you on earth as the water sign. She’s a good friend of mine and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a visit.’

‘Beats sitting around here all day watching you read a book,’ she joked again and liked that he seemed to be enjoying her fun side and taking her comments as they were intended.

He shook his head. She was so much like him that it amazed him. ‘You’re so cheeky, young lady. I’ll take you on one condition. You eat something. And I just hope you can find a pair of bathers upstairs that’ll fit you.’ Looking at her shape he said, ‘It’s been a while since I had someone so petite visit me.’

She looked down at her outfit. ‘What sort of magical world is this? Surely if this outfit can mysteriously not get wrinkled, if I strip off near water shouldn’t bathers just appear on me?’ she asked, raising her eyebrow, uncertain but hopeful.

‘You’re a fascinating woman, Cassandra. That logic is quite kooky yet possible. Take a pair from upstairs just in case.’

Lamar served her a plate of eggs and bacon. ‘Normal food!’ she said as she ate heartily for the first time since breakfast two days before.

He smiled. ‘I took note of your indifference to our food last night. I thought you might appreciate some earth food.’

‘Thanks, Pops,’ she said, digging her toast into the runny eggs.

After both had eaten, Cassie ran upstairs and found a pair of bathers and a towel. When she went to join Aldebaran downstairs, he was talking quietly to one of his guards making her frown as she walked towards him.

‘You’re not breaking your promise to me and playing war games behind my back are you, Pop?’ she asked, feeling a little flutter of worry begin to grip her stomach.

He gently took her chin in his hand. ‘Don’t frown. I promised you, Cassandra and I’m not about to spoil our time together. I just need my home protected while I’m gone.’

The second he put his arm across her shoulder, a bright light surrounded them, the room they were in shimmering out of focus. Amazed with this form of travel Cassie was in awe when the view changed and suddenly realised he had transported them both to the Aquarius constellation in what seemed like an instant.

‘Cool trick,’ she said, looking around at the castle before them and to the left, the water wonderland. The sparkling water glittered and shone as the sunlight touched it. A woman came out with a warm smile. Cassie figured she must have been Aqua. ‘I wasn’t expecting you today, Ald darling. Who’s your friend?’

She stunned Cassie with her beauty. She had long, curly, dark hair and a perfect figure. She wore a white mini-dress with a gold sash that highlighted her waistline. Her ankles, wrists and hair glittered with diamonds that sparkled like the water. She had a sort of childlike sweetness yet if she was friends with her dad, Cassie knew that she would hardly be naïve or innocent, truth be told.

Aqua hugged Aldebaran maybe a little longer than normal, leading Cassie to believe they were a lot more than friends and Pops had been holding out on her. Aqua stayed hanging off his arm while her dad introduced them.

‘This is Cassandra, my daughter. She paid me a visit, yet after only a few hours finds me boring. So bringing her here for some fun in your water park gives me the opportunity to catch up with you as well, my lovely.’

Cassie smiled and shook hands with her. ‘Hi Aqua, nice to finally meet one of the twelve zodiacs. Coming from earth, I would never have dreamed the water sign would actually have such a magnificent setup. We all just thought you were a statue holding a water jug. I’m amazed at how magnificent all this is.’

‘Yes, we only give earth visions of what we want them to believe. This will be our little secret, okay?’

‘Sure. As if anyone would believe all this. I’d be labelled crazy and locked up in a padded cell if I divulged anything I did.’

Aldebaran laughed. ‘Your secret is safe with Cassie. She’s one of the Cloud Riders.’

‘Ald, my God! You two are mortal enemies—how can you be associating with each other? Zoren will have a fit.’

‘It’s alright, Aqua, she came to me. He knows. We have both agreed to stand down for twenty-four hours while her team sort out some personal business. It’s mutual and benefits both of us. This is the first opportunity we’ve ever had to get to know one another a little better.’