“Why? Why do you want him to come here?”
Londar tilted his head, the cold smile was still fixed on his face. “I have been ordered to awaken your powers and fulfill the beginning of the prophecy.”
“What are you talking about? What prophecy?”
“So clueless,” he scoffed. “To think one as useless as you holds the key.” He shook his head before he looked down at the book. “It is time to begin. I hope you are prepared to lose what you care for most.”
Rin felt all the warmth drain from her body when she realized he meant Kaedin. Her eyes filled with panic and she tried probing the wall holding her prisoner again. She had to get free.
Londar did not even glance at her before he began to read an incantation from the book. The runes around the archway began to shimmer in response to the words. Rin felt the same power she felt in the palace return. It continued to grow as Londar continued to recite the incantation.
“Stop,” Rin gasped. She sank to her knees inside the circle. Her insides felt like they were on fire and her mind was bombarded by uncontrollable emotions.
Londar chuckled under his breath as he watched her pain. He did not pause the incantation when he slipped the book back in his pocket. Unsheathing his katana, he moved to stand beside the entrance to the room. He only waited a few moments before Kaedin ran into the room.
“Rin,” he exclaimed as he hurried toward her. He was so focused on her that he did not notice Londar by the entrance. Reaching for her, worry flashed across his face when his hand smacked into the invisible wall.
“Look out.” She managed to gasp when she tried to warn him, but it was too late. As he turned, Londar stabbed him in the chest before he drug the blade across him. Kaedin crumpled to the floor with a small gasp of shock.
“Kaedin! Londar stop! I must help him! Kaedin!” Rin cried as she started beating her hands on the invisible wall. “Kaedin!” Her frantic cries caused Londar to laugh as he just continued to recite the incantation. At this cold, uncaring reaction something inside Rin snapped. The power inside her reached a new high, fueled by the strong emotions threatening to consume her. She hit the wall as hard as she could with a scream of frustration and power exploded out of her. The wave of magic was so strong that the entire mountain and earth around her began to shake. Rin lost all sense of what was going on around her as the magic took over and sent wave after wave into the archway. With each new wave, another stone would light until all but the last one glowed.
“Open the gate,” Londar said with a crazed laugh. “You have no idea what you have started.”
Another strong, massive burst of magic emanated from Rin and the whole room began to shimmer and twist around on itself as the sheer strength of the magic fractured the wall between worlds. One final explosion of magic hit the archway and flowed into it. An alternating red and yellow spinning vortex formed underneath, and Rin was gone.
The first weak rays of the rising sun shone down on an old forest deep in the mountains. A thick mist weaved through the tall black pine trees that clung to the steep slope. Dancing among the trees was a young Japanese woman dressed in light blue robes. The melody she played on the light golden violin, while she danced, was lively and fun.
“Damhsa liomsa. Damhsa liomsa. Taidpeáin dom na bealaí ársa agus múineasdh dom labhairt leat. Damhsa liomsa. Damhsa liomsa,” she sang in a beautiful soprano voice. Her eyes were closed as she poured herself into the melody. All around her the trees seemed to sway in time to the song as she passed close to them. It was as if she weaved a magic spell with the music she created.
As she continued deeper into the forest, she came upon a small waterfall that spilled over the top of a jagged ledge on the mountainside. The water plunged into a crystal-clear blue lake that was completely still except for the area directly under the falls. In the early morning light, the towering trees surrounding the lake cast long shadows across the surface of the water.
On the far side of the lake, the young woman stopped beside a massive lone willow tree that grew on the edge of the lake. She opened her bright, blue eyes and peered up at the tree. Her face was filled with certainty. She just knew she would make contact this time.
“Damhsa liomsa, dance with me. Show me the ancient ways and teach me to speak with you,” she sang as she switched from the Irish back to Japanese. “Dance with me.” She started to move again and danced through the cascade of willow branches. The old tree’s branches swayed in time to the music she created. When the tree appeared to be trying to reach one of its rope like branches toward her, she stopped dancing but continued playing the melody. She forced her excitement down when her fingers started to fumble the melody.
The branch drifted closer to her as though it was moving a heavy weight when a sudden ringing from her pocket broke the spell. With a discouraged sigh, when the branch fell back into its normal place, she lowered the violin and pulled a cell phone from her pocket.
“Hello?” She asked in a soft, quiet voice after pressing a button.
“Sara!”
Sara jerked the phone away from her ear when a loud voice shouted her name. “Whoa, Paige, that was really loud.”
The voice on the other end of the line laughed, “Come on Sara! Are you ready to go yet? We will be late for our graduation if you don’t hurry!”
Sara pulled the sleeve of her robe back and looked at her watch, “Oh, my goodness. I didn’t realize it was this late. I’m on my way back now.” She snatched a small violin case off the ground and rushed up the well-kept stone trail that led away from the lake.
“Where are you?” The voice on the phone paused before it continued, “Please tell me you weren’t trying to talk to the trees again?”
“Uh… well,” Sara replied as her face started to redden. There was a loud sigh on the other end of the line.
“You really have to stop doing stuff like that. People already think you are weird enough as it is. I mean it doesn’t bother me but imagine what people would say if they found out.”
Sara grimaced at what her best friend had just said. She did not even want to think about what would be said if anyone found out. She had always been different from all the kids who grew up around her. Being raised at a temple high in the mountains with a strict emphasis on the traditional ways had set her apart. Plus, her dad being an American of Irish descent, which is where she got her crimson hair and blue eyes, and a devout Catholic had caused countless awkward situations. She had been without a real friend until Paige transferred to her school, from America, when she was in middle school. Since Sara’s father was also American, this gave the girls something in common and they had been inseparable ever since.
“I know, I know, but I was so close this time. The trees were responding to my music. I think just a little longer and I’ll get it.”
There was a lengthy pause on the line and then a sigh, “You aren’t going to give up, are you?”
Sara bit her lip before she answered, “I just can’t. I feel like I’m supposed to make contact and I can’t explain why. It’s just a feeling.” She could practically hear her friend’s eyes roll through the phone.
“I know, you’ve only told me like a hundred times,” Paige joked. “Anyway, hurry or we will be late!”
“I know,” Sara said as she hung up the phone and shoved it back into her pocket.
Another narrow stone path came into view through the trees, she turned to the right and followed the new path up the mountain. When she approached the top a large wooden Torii gate appeared. The ornate structure was carved from black pine and had several Japanese characters carved onto a plaque attached to the poles.
She rushed under the gate, careful to remain to one side and not pass through the center, before she headed up the steps to the front of a house. Once inside she hurried to pull off her robe and hang it on a hook on the wall. She was wearing a high school uniform underneath. In a rush, Sara looked over her uniform, her crisp white shirt was tucked into her dark blue p
laid skirt that stopped just at her knees. The red and blue striped tie was just peeking out above the top of the dark navy jacket that was held closed with two silver buttons.
“I’m leaving,” she yelled as she tugged up one of her stockings that had slid down before she ran back out the front door and dashed down the long gravel drive toward the base of the mountain. When she finally made the half-mile trek and reached the small parking lot tucked among the trees, a light tan, four-door wrangler body style jeep came into view. It was immaculate, but its overall appearance was rugged since it was decked out for any off-road terrain.
A girl with short, dark brown hair, in the same school uniform, was pacing nervously back and forth next to the jeep. When she glanced up and saw Sara running up to her, her blue-grey eyes filled with relief.
“It’s about time,” she called. Sara, who had now joined her, was leaning on her knees trying to catch her breath.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped between pants.
“Are we ready, ladies?” A handsome young army officer asked as he held open the passenger door of the jeep for them. His almost black, dark brown hair was cut short on the sides but had been left longer on top. It was a spiked, styled mess, which was a stark contrast to the well-kept fatigues that he wore since he had just come off duty a little while ago.
Paige grabbed Sara’s arm and dragged her over to the door where she scrambled into the back of the jeep.
“Hi Sara,” the young man said with a friendly smile.
“Hi Jake,” Sara muttered in a soft voice. She flushed red as she climbed in the back next to Paige and did her best not to look back at Jake. Once she was settled, he closed the door and climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the jeep and drove them down the steep mountain road.
The trip into the city flew by as Paige talked excitedly almost the whole time about the move they were all about to make after finally becoming high school graduates.
“Aren’t your parents coming to graduation today?” Paige asked, changing the conversation topic again.
“No, they can’t make it. They’re too busy getting ready for the festival tonight,” Sara replied with a frown. “It’s okay though, they have a lot of responsibilities with the shrine.”
“Well, me and my brother are here for ya, so you aren’t alone,” Paige said with a grin. “Oh! I almost forgot. We’re heading back to the base to change after graduation. Will you be able to get back home okay if your folks aren’t coming?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I can just take the bus.”
Paige frowned and looked at Jake who was watching them in the rear-view mirror.
“I can take you back before we go to the base,” Jake offered.
Sara shook her head no, “That’s okay. You guys are heading up there later to pick me up anyway. It would be silly to spend all that time driving. The bus is okay.”
Neither Jake nor Paige seemed pleased by Sara having to take the bus back home, but they let it drop.
“Oh! Oh! Oh! We’re here!” Paige interrupted with an excited squeal. She was bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement when Jake pulled up in front of the high school and stopped the jeep.
“The two of you are late so go and I’ll be there in a minute,” he said as he glanced back at them over his shoulder. Both girls hopped out of the jeep and ran toward the school. Once they entered, the girls split up and hurried to find their homeroom classes. They slipped into the lines with the other students standing in the hallway.
Moments after they arrived, the teachers ushered the students into the auditorium. The boys and girls were separated and seated in their own rows. Once all the students were settled, the principal stood up and gave the opening address for the ceremony. When he finished all the students stood and sang the national anthem. Next came the many speeches from influential members of the community such as the mayor, PTA reps, and several current students. Sara tried her best to focus on the speeches but in a short time she found her mind wandering to the festival later. She was worried about her dance as usual.
“Paige Riverwood.” Hearing her friend’s name called, drew her attention back to the graduation. They had moved on to handing out the diplomas.
Sara waited with her class until her name was called and when it was, she could not keep from fidgeting with her sleeve as she proceeded to the stage. Her anxiety at being the center of attention grew more pronounced when she accepted her diploma with a trembling hand. Once she had hold of it, she fought to keep from running off the stage and back to her seat. She exhaled in relief when she was once again safe in her chair. Her mind started to wander again when the ceremony droned on and on. It seemed to be an eternity before the closing address began. Sara was relieved that it was almost over. These formal functions had never been enjoyable for her.
What felt like hours later, the closing address was finished, and all the students were released from the auditorium. Most of the students gathered around the front of the school taking pictures with each other and saying their goodbyes before they started going separate ways.
Sara weaved her way through the crowd looking for Paige. She found her standing near the front gates.
“We did it,” Paige squealed when she caught sight of her. Sara smiled and gave her a hug.
“Finally,” she said with a chuckle. “I never thought the mayor was going to quit talking.”
“I know, right!” Paige’s loud laugh drowned out several of the people trying to talk near them. Sara glanced at their unhappy faces before she just shook her head. Paige was completely oblivious.
“I have to get back to the shrine and help with the preparations. See you later, okay?” Sara said when she looked back at her friend.
“I’ll see you in a few hours,” Paige said with a sigh. Her excited smile slipped a little bit, but she waved to Sara as she started down the street.
Sara quickened her pace and managed to make it to the stop just in time to catch the current bus. Happy that she did not have to wait for the next one, she climbed aboard and picked a seat by the window.
The trip out to the mountains where she lived took an hour, but she did not mind the trip. It gave her time to enjoy the sights around her since this would be the last time she took this trip home for a while. She was leaving Japan in the morning to go to college in the states with Paige. Jake was being reassigned to a base in Colorado and Paige would be moving there with him. They offered to take Sara with them, and she jumped at the chance to get away from the shrine.
With a small sigh, she felt sadness course through her at the thought of leaving her home, but she only allowed it to bother her for a moment. This was her choice after all. She turned her attention back to the views out the window, and before she knew it, they arrived at the stop closest to her home. She exited the bus and began an unhurried walk up the gravel road to the shrine. It took her a little over half an hour to reach the stairs in the side of the mountain that led up to the main stone path.
When she reached the top of the stairs the first of the shrine’s Torii gate’s came into view. She paused beside it and ran her hand along the red poles before passing under on the right side. Continuing along the path, she passed through a magnificent grove of cherry blossom trees, which were almost ready to bloom, before she reached the second Torii gate. She passed through this one in the same way as the first. After she was passed it, she stopped and glanced at her house. Normally she would have headed straight inside, but today she was feeling more apprehensive than normal about her dance.
She looked back over her shoulder at the Torii gate, that stood more than double her height, before she sighed. Unable to shake her nerves, she turned her attention to the shrine in front of her. She needed to pray for her dance, that was the only thing she could think of to help ease her worries. As soon as she made her decision, she headed toward the purification water pavilion off to the left side of the second Torii gate. When she reached it, she took a long slow breath before picking up on
e of the ladles with her right. She scooped the water into the ladle before pouring the water over her left hand. Her movements as she continued with the purification ritual were sure and steady since she had done this many times in the past. Switching the ladle to her other hand, she poured water over her right hand before pouring the rest of the water into her cupped right hand. She rinsed her mouth with the water from her hand and then placed the ladle back in place. With the purification ritual finished, she could approach the shine.
She headed to the altar in front of the main shrine where she rang the bell that was there. After ringing the bell, she bowed twice and then clapped her hands twice. Still holding her hands together with her head bowed, she expressed her gratitude to the deity and her desire to perform well at the festival. With one final bow, she opened her eyes and stared almost blankly at the altar before she walked toward the house. The sun was just starting to sink behind the trees when she climbed up the front steps.
“I’m home,” she called as she stepped through the door. She slipped off her shoes and placed them in the holder near the door.
“Welcome home,” an older gentleman, who shared her red hair said, when he joined her in the small entryway. She could not help but smile at his thick Irish accent.
“Hi dad,” Sara said as she gave him a hug. “How are the festival preparations? Do I need to help with anything?”
“They are all finished. All you need to do is get ready for your dance. The festival starts soon, and you took longer to get home than we expected,” he paused with a chuckle. “I assume you were enjoying the scenery?”
Sara shrugged with an embarrassed smile, “Yeah, I was.”
Her dad reached out and ruffled her hair. “Aye, I suppose that’s all right,” he said with an amused smile. He had never truly been able to be angry with her.
“Sorry I took so long. I’ll go and get ready right now.” She hurried down the hallway to her room. Once inside, she changed into her kimono before she went to find her mother, who was waiting on her. The two worked the omamori stand until it was time for her to take the stage.
Whispers of Time Page 3