by Jon Chaisson
CHAPTER TWO
Caren
Caren Johnson found herself in a faded version of the den in her childhood home again, sitting on the wide couch against the southern wall, hands on her lap, waiting for everything to fall into place. She surveyed the room and recognized each item from her past—the tall windows to her left that looked out over their meager back yard, the old lopsided recliner her dad loved so much, the family photos that hung over the mantel on the north wall. One of the windows was slightly open and a cool draft swirled around the room. The house was quiet, other than its usual clicks and creaks as it continued to settle on its foundation. She was in her spirit world again, her lumisha dea of memories and emotions, and her place of inner peace.
Across the room, the translucent ghosts of her parents stood side by side in front of the brick fireplace, just underneath their family portrait, Celine’s arm resting in the crook of Aram’s right elbow…a rare physical showing of love. She warmed to this view, desperately happy to see them again each and every time. She had always wanted to join them in that embrace whenever she met them here, but she never dared. Instead she stood up and waited, reverent and patient. She knew this recurring visitation well. She had healed enough from their passing that this reunion had become a rite of passage. She had grown to accept it, even look forward to it. It was her last remaining connection with them.
Karinna, her father said. They always used innerspeak, the voice within. The true voice of the soul. The voice that could not lie. We’re so proud of you and Denysia.
Our lovely daughters, her mother said. Aram…they’ve done so well.
I miss them dearly, he said. I wish we could just be with them again.
I wish I could bring you back, Caren said, wiping a stray tear away from her eye. Damn it all, why did she always cry when she saw them? She was so much stronger than that! I love the both of you so much.
Her father held up a hand. Shh, Karinna...it’s okay, we know.
Please, Karinna, her mother said. Please. Listen. You are going to have to be strong for us. For Denysia. You must remain her anchor, no matter what.
She stared at them, suddenly afraid. They’d never interrupted her before. Wait…what do you mean? What is happening?
It’s time to awaken, he said, and smiled.
“Caren?” the young girl murmured.
She twitched and slammed back into reality with a snort. Groggily she opened her eyes to a semi-darkened room that felt too warm. Her younger sister Denni stood patiently at the end of the bed, an unsure hand resting lightly on the corner bedpost as she waited for her to return to full consciousness. Caren sensed it wasn’t exactly an emergency, but she couldn’t help but wonder why her sister had come to wake her. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table…a little after one in the morning. She’d gotten almost three uninterrupted hours of sleep. Damn if that wasn’t a new record.
“Caren?” Denni said.
“Mmmm,” she croaked. She rubbed dry, stinging eyes with the heels of her palms.
“Did...did you just call me?”
Caren exhaled a half-yawn. “No, Denni. Go back to bed.”
Denni frowned and held herself close in the semi-darkness. “I thought I heard you calling my name. You know, that name.”
Caren froze. She rarely called her Denysia, her Mendaihu name. Their parents had given the both of them such names to remind them of who they were. They were sacred names, ones she would never use without a reason. She would not have called out to her in her sleep. “No,” she mumbled with a little more force than necessary. “Nope, wasn’t me. Go back to bed, kid. You got school tomorrow.”
Denni held back her words and snorted in frustration. “Sure.”
She closed her eyes and heard Denni leave. Belatedly she thought her visit was a bit odd and unexpected...the girl was in her mid-teens now, and she’d outgrown the childish habit of barging in quite a long time ago. Maybe she’d had a troubling visit to her lumisha dea tonight as well? Denni had been visiting it frequently lately, but it was nothing worrisome; she was merely growing up with the hint of Mendaihu blood in her. Letting it go, she rolled back over on her stomach and buried her head under her pillow, hoping she could get at least another few hours’ worth of sleep. She willed herself not to think of anything that would get her brain going again, or she’d be wide awake for the rest of the night. She chose to focus on her sister’s nearby presence instead…that always calmed her. As long as she knew where she was, and that she was safe, everything was right in the world.
Not five minutes later, she sensed the wave of terrifyingly strong energy heading in their direction.
She recognized that wave signature instantly and shivered. She was up and out of bed a second later, rushing down the hallway towards her sister’s room, but she was too late…the wave hit her squarely in her chest and sent her reeling towards the wall, head spinning. She cried out as it bled through her spirit like ice, awakening every nerve in her body, and she was powerless to stop it. Goddess, someone had just…!
Seconds later she cried out again, this time in unbridled anger. Someone had performed one hell of a powerful awakening ritual in her city, and right now, thousands of people were feeling the exact same deep pain. She spat and cursed loudly. This was going to be her job for the next day, week, month — hell, this was going to take years to put right. Goddess, the fallout was going to be a fucking mess! She swore again, looking down the darkened hallway. Denni stood at the other end, just outside her own door, leaning up against the opposite wall and staring blankly at her.
Oh Goddess…Denni…
“Stay there,” she called out. “Ride it out. Wait until it’s over.”
Denni nodded slowly and pushed herself flat against the wall, forcing herself to breathe slowly and evenly. Caren could barely move herself, caught as she was in this soulhealing, but she fought through it and guided herself along the hallway towards her, step by agonizing step. She confirmed the energy signature now...an awakening ritual. She’d witnessed many in her time and been involved with them, but never one this extreme.
Her parents had been warning her of this at her lumisha dea. Of this, a forced awakening upon the city. On her people! Her fear returned to anger again, even as the ritual coursed its way through her soul. No one had the right to enforce an awakening on anyone against their will, and someone had just broken that cardinal rule. She was pissed at herself for not catching this person sooner…this was her city, her watch. This was her job and her fate with the Mendaihu blood within her. She should have stopped this bastard before…
…before it hit her sister. This should not have happened. This should not have happened.
Be strong… she heard her mother say. For Denysia.
With a final shudder, the wave crested and calmed, leaving the two of them out of breath and utterly drained. Caren pushed herself forward and landed against the opposite wall, next to Denni. She reached out caught her sister’s hand and held it tight. Denni, can you hear me? she said in a quiet, even inner voice. She knew the girl could hear her…but she needed to know. Are you okay?
She shivered and nodded. She’d felt something but she wasn’t quite sure what. “I…I think so,” she said aloud. “…you?”
She nodded, and pulled her sister into a tight embrace. Only then did she let down her guard, shuddering and tearing up. “I’m fine, honey…I’m fine…”