The Sea of Change

by Tina Engel

  I looked at Kimberlite and realized that I was feeling a bit strange. I had taken the infection from Brett but it didn’t seem to bother me at the time. I wondered if it was affecting me now.

  “I think I just need to sit for a bit. I do feel tired after healing Brett. Maybe I need to feed a bit more.”

  I went over to the makeshift bed that I had been on earlier and sat. Rose came over without me even asking. She gave me her wrist but had a look of worry.

  “Don’t worry.” I said, “I won’t take too much.”

  I fed for just a bit, not wanting to weaken Rose. I knew that we had a long journey ahead. Why I felt this strange, almost confused, feeling all of a sudden, I didn’t know. Why didn’t I protect us?

  As I finished eating and healed Rose’s wrist, still holding her arm, I tried to put up the force field. I couldn’t! There was something stopping me. Rose’s face was full of concern and I then saw a hand rest on Rose’s shoulder.

  It was Brett standing behind her. Rose got up as I let go of her arm. Brett knelt down and took my hands in his.

  “Emilee, stop.” He said. “It’s okay, we’re safe.”

  Brett just looked at me as I stared out into nothingness. He was right there in front of me, but I was seeing past him, somewhere alone and frightened. I felt detached somehow, as if I didn’t belong here anymore.

  Brett was there in my mind; I could feel him. I shut my eyes and let him in totally. I was afraid and didn’t want to be alone in this feeling.

  “It’s okay Emilee, you’re not alone. I think we need to enter the fey’s realm now. Maybe it’s time for you to go to your true dimension.”

  I opened my eyes when Brett said this, and his eyes had such a calm ocean blue color that the fear left me. He was right. That’s where I needed to go. It was time to travel in my home land.

  Just then, I heard the sound of breaking branches, cries of pain and screeches of anger and rage. We all looked up to see our protective cover open, as branches and leaves came crashing towards us; the wind and darkness swooping down, ready to consume us.

  The noise was deafening. The pixie that Brett had fed on, was standing alone where Brett had been laying, and the darkness circled him and carried him away, as he screamed in terror.

  Brett stood pulling me to him, grabbed Rose around the waist and headed towards the small hill in which Queen Anahita had disappeared earlier, but where she now she stood waving us to come. Kimberlite disappeared into the ground as Eagle and Jordan arrived at Queen Anahita’s sanctuary before us.

  Chapter 16

  You’re not alone

  They’re all around.

  You can see them,

  You can touch them.

  But deep inside

  They can’t come.

  You’re alone there!

  We entered a small opening, and as we did, looking back we saw that the trees were removed from the ground. They were torn apart and swept away, up into the air in a massive funnel of blackness and evil.

  The entrance to the tunnel closed. It was dark for a moment and the noise from the outside was almost too painful to hear. Those were our friends. They protected us, saved us from the dark fey. They may have died for us, for me.

  A light came on then, not a light from a light bulb, but the tunnel glowed enough for us to see. It was my diamond, all aglow. Warm to the touch but glowing a soft yellow light. We were all there, just standing and listening to the terror outside.

  Queen Anahita spoke, “Kimberlite created this tunnel for my spring water to come to the opening. We need to follow the stream down to safety. Hurry, follow us.”

  Kimberlite went first and Queen Anahita followed him.

  Jordan took Rose by the arm and guided her next as he followed her. Jordan showed again that he did care about all of us after all. I realized that even as a human, he could be in this enclosed area underground. His fey self wasn’t gone at all. Maybe the council wasn’t as powerful as everyone thought. Brett sent me next with him behind, and Eagle was last, to keep us protected from whatever might follow.

  We walked for some time as the tunnel twisted and turned, but went slowly downward. The stream became a small river as we went, and after a while we came to a lake in the middle of a large cavern.

  We were deep underground now, and the only noise we heard was the dripping of moisture from the top of the cave and the gurgling of the water as it rushed into a small lake. There was splashing in the water, as the water fey that lived in the lake came to the surface to see what the excitement was all about.

  I was shaking now, not from cold, but there was something going on deep within my body, turmoil. I can’t explain it any other way. It was like something inside of me was trying to get out.

  I went over to the lake and sat down on the ground. I lifted my dress up and put my feet in the water. This calmed me a bit. I could still feel this confusion within and I assumed that it was the two bloods; Brett’s and mine still trying to combine, if that was possible.

  Watching the water fey swimming about, I wondered if I would look similar to them if I stayed in the water for long. I still had such a need for the water.

  One fey came to the surface, a female and she reached out for my hand. I took it willingly and she gently pulled me in. I swam down to the bottom with her and all the other water fey followed. Before I knew it, I was surrounded. They were all touching me and talking non-stop, asking questions to each other and to me.

  I wasn’t afraid; I felt no negative energy at all down there. I was covered with many hands now and I had the feel of calm throughout my body. Yes, I belonged here, just as much as up on land.

  I heard Brett in my mind, asking if I was all right. He wanted to come and rescue me but hesitated just in case this was a safe place for me at the moment. I appreciated his asking before jumping to rescue me this time. I reassured him that I was safe. Brett stayed there in my mind for a bit longer and then was gone, but the vibration that was always between us was there still.

  I shut my eyes and let the calm take hold of me and I could see in my mind their fey world; their underwater homes, families, daily routines; their very existence. I saw the importance that they played on this planet. They cleansed the water that fed the plants that people and fey alike ate; the water that we all drink to stay alive.

  I opened my eyes then, and the female who brought me down was there facing me. She smiled as all other hands left my body and swam away. Not far, but away. This female fey then took my hand and led me back to the surface where Brett was standing to help me out.

  My dress was wet, of course and Rose came over in a fussing manner, wanting to get me someplace away from the others so I could dry off before we continued.

  Brett chuckled at this display of mothering and Rose gave him a dirty look. I just smiled, thinking how lucky I was to have them all with me.

  Kimberlite came to my rescue, heating up a rock that I stood by to warm myself and dry my garment. When it was dry however, Rose wanted me to change into the furs that Eagle had made for me, and to put on the fur boots too. It was cool down here and she was concerned for my health. Sweet Rose!

  The others had been talking and I was half listening to them, but also listening to other voices around me. It was voices of the rocks in the dirt walls, the water fey and plant fey that were all around.

  Then a different voice came, loud and urgent, “Emilee it’s time to come home!”

  My eyes opened wide as I heard this and looking at the others, I knew this time they heard it too. Everyone’s facial expressions went to a look of shock and they all looked around to see if someone was there.

  “You all heard that this time, didn’t you?” I questioned.

  Everyone nodded their heads, and it was Jordan who spoke first. “What was that? Better yet, who?”

  Brett actually started to laugh and Kimberlite and Eagle joined in.

  I could see by the looks on Rose, Jordan and Queen Anahita’s faces that they didn�
�t find it amusing at all. Brett then commented, “Emilee has been hearing this voice, calling her home, from the beginning of this journey, but no one else had heard it before now. I guess we must be getting closer to whoever wants her home.”

  Kimberlite said in a matter of fact way, “Yes, definitely a woman’s voice.” This put a questioning look on Jordan’s face, since he had no idea what had gone on in the past with this voice that I had been hearing.

  “I need to enter the fey’s realm now. We need to travel there for a while.” I said, in an almost panicked tone.

  Everyone started talking at once, but it was Jordan who came over to me, and putting his hands gently on my shoulders to try to reassure me, said in a caring voice, “Emilee, if that’s where you need to go then you should all go there.”

  Everyone stopped talking when he said this and as I looked up into his face, I saw the sadness there deep within his eyes. I realized that if we traveled to the fey’s world, he couldn’t come with us.

  “No!” I yelled, “He will come with us. If I can go then so can he. Can’t we help him cross the border between worlds?” I asked, looking to Brett for reassurance and agreement.

  Jordan removed his hands from my shoulders, mumbling as he walked away from me, “It’s not possible; I don’t belong there and don’t have a right to go.”

  No one spoke for a bit and then it was Queen Anahita who broke the silence. “Princess, you seem to have the magic within you. If anyone can bring him to the fey’s world, it will be you.”

  Brett came to me then, and as I looked up into his face he smiled and agreed with her. “It’s up to you. We could try. Sometimes we can bring humans to our dimension but Jordan was banned by the elders, so there is a spell stopping him for entering.”

  Jordan replied in his normal, gruff, I don’t care voice, “It doesn’t matter Princess. You don’t need me anyway. I was a fool to think you did.”

  I went up to him and grabbing both of his hands in mine, I looked up into his face. I said sternly, “I do need you and you are going with us. Don’t you even think about staying here! Do you hear me?”

  It was Eagle who broke the tension in the cave by saying in a comical tone, “Looks like you’re stuck with us for a while longer.”

  Everyone but Queen Anahita and I chuckled a bit and Jordan just continued to scowl. I could feel though, as I held his hands still, that he was glad I was so persistent.

  I thought out loud, as I stared out into nothingness, “If he could see and feel the fey around him and he is surviving in this cave that has very little air, then the Elders really aren’t as strong as everyone thinks.”

  It was Rose who spoke up. “Princess, don’t say that out loud. The Elders have those around who can hear and will be angry. They could ban us all too human existence, for all eternity.”

  I took a deep breath then and thought about my shield, and it appeared around me and Jordan.

  “What if I keep him protected in my shield while we are in the fey realm?” I said again more to myself, but out loud for all to hear.

  “Emilee,” Brett said, “You can’t keep it up forever. If you take Jordan to the other side and then loose the shield, will he die?”

  At that statement, Jordan perked up and before he could say anything Brett interceded saying, “Don’t even think it Jordan. Adam would never forgive us if anything happened to you!” Jordan’s look changed back to solemn gloom.

  I dropped the field that had surrounded Jordan and myself, and when I did I felt quite drained. I dropped to the ground as if in slow motion. I didn’t hurt myself, I just didn’t have the strength suddenly to hold myself up.

  Brett came to me and was down on his knees, in front of me, within a few seconds. I tried to reassure them all that I was all right. There was something down there, underground, that was draining me. It was just like before, when I was underground. I just assumed that I was still changing and that was why I was so weak, while being in the caverns and tunnels, before.

  When I shared this, it was Kimberlite who spoke in a defensive tone.

  “Princess, there’s nothing down here that would harm you without my knowledge. I have done everything possible to keep you safe down here. I know there are fey who live here that are working for themselves, but I assure you, I have everything under control.”

  I looked up at Kimberlite and he didn’t seem to want to make eye contact with me. When he did, I could see that there was something else bothering him, but what?

  I noticed Brett looking at Queen Anahita with an accusing look, but she said nothing, turned away from his gaze and disappeared into the small lake.

  Kimberlite added, “I think we should stay in this realm until we get back to the surface. The underground world, in Terrafirma, is much harsher to move through. Everything is alive and moving, slithering and churning. I can move freely through it, but it would be more difficult for the rest of you. “Kimberlite” I said, “How have you been able to continue on this trip with us, when your rock is back in Oregon?”

  Kimberlite laughed at this and said, “Princess I am the rock.” At that he turned into a large boulder. Then he was back to Kimberlite.

  As I looked around at everyone, realizing that they were all different species of fey here to protect me, I noticed that Lily was nowhere around. I felt a huge panic within me, and before I could say anything Brett asked, “What is it Emilee?” But before I could answer, Brett said, “Where is that pesky cat?”

  I stood, feeling fearful, and asked if anyone had seen her since we entered the cave. No one had. The last time Rose had seen her was during the storm, she had been sitting next to the opening in the hill where the spring water was coming out.

  I said loudly, “Damn it Lily, you need to stop this disappearing act. If you are hurt in any way I am going to….”

  Brett took my hands in his before I could finish my sentence. He had a gentle smile on his face and tried to reassure me that she was always all right. “Cats have 9 lives, remember?” He said, with a chuckle.

  I looked to Kimberlite again and he was still acting strange. He glanced at me, and as we made eye contact for just a moment, I knew something was wrong. He looked away quickly and told us that we all needed to continue, before the rock fey who inhabited this area decided that they had enough of strangers in their home.

  Queen Anahita emerged from the water then, agreeing with Kimberlite that we needed to continue in the human’s dimension.

  Brett asked if I was strong enough to travel, and of course, I said I was even though I felt odd, like someone or something was sucking out my energy.

  A tunnel opened up where Kimberlite was standing and the lake water flowed towards it, entering before us. Kimberlite entered, followed by Queen Anahita and the others. Brett held his hand out towards the tunnel entrance, insinuating that I go next. He and Eagle stayed behind and were having a quiet, but intense conversation. I stood at the entrance to the tunnel watching them, not going into the tunnel, but not going back to where they were talking.

  Where is Lily and what are those two discussing? I tried to enter Brett’s mind and was there for a second when his thought process went from “What’s up with K...” to “Emilee go away!” And I couldn’t hear any more of what they were saying. I was shocked at the tone in which Brett expressed this, and what he said annoyed me greatly.

  I turned and entered the tunnel, feeling all alone again. The others were up ahead and Brett and Eagle were still in the cavern. I could feel other presences all around. There were plants and trees, ants and underground creatures of all kinds, everywhere. I could hear them talking, whispering about us, me, and I tried to reassure them that we were just here passing through. There was something else though, following us, surrounding us. I couldn’t see it but I felt it pulling at me, pressing on my body, trying so hard to, to what? I wondered.

  The shield on my cheeks suddenly started to harden as if ready to activate, and my diamond was vibrating and glowing a dark orange.
I felt the need to remove my barrette, but didn’t. I kept moving, quicker now, wanting to catch up with the rest. The thought of Lily out there somewhere was concerning me greatly. Was she all right or was she up to something?

  I realized that I was questioning everyone around me. Was Kimberlite really helping me or was he taking me to my demise. Was Queen Anahita working with Kimberlite, wanting Brett to herself? Was Lily really a friend, or foe, the way she disappears and the strange things she says? Brett was so sharp with me back there in the cavern and Eagle didn’t want me there in the intense conversation that they were having. Should I be concerned with Rose and Jordan too? My mind was spinning with all this doubt as this strange presence was pulling at me.

  I moved faster now, at almost a run, trying to get away from whatever it was surrounding me, chasing me, and trying so desperately to have me. Fear, it was fear grasping me, holding me hostage. My shield activated then, and my diamond exploded within the bubble that I was in.

  Everything turned hot, and all I saw was the color red. Everywhere it was red. It was thick, hot, but safe and comforting. The heat wasn’t too much for me to tolerate. I stopped running and knelt down on the ground.

  I put the diamond in my hand. It was still there, all intact, but it seemed to have exploded just a second ago. I could see then, small pebble like creatures floating around in this red substance that I was in. It was the lava babies. I was in their lava. They were protecting me from something out there.

  I could hear mumbling from outside the bubble filled with lava; voices, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I heard Brett in my thoughts then. “Emilee, are you all right? We can’t break your force field, let it go!”

  The diamond was starting to cool, and as I let go, the lava babies entered it and took with them the warm, red, thick substance that they were flowing in. I gradually saw everyone around my force field, with panic and fear on their faces.

  I stood, and my shield released on its own, as if it knew I was safe again. The fear inside of me was gone. The doubts about the others seemed silly now. Whatever was surrounding me, pulling at me, was causing my fear and doubts. But was it surrounding me, or was it within me. Whatever it was, it was gone now, and with my friends surrounding me, I felt safe again.