Aidan stepped forward. “Eight years apart and you two pick up right where you left off, annoyin’ each other.”
Pavian faced Aidan and pulled him in for a quick hug.
Tossing Kavana an exaggerated smile, Pavian joked, “Well, I missed her, so I had to give her a hard time right off the bat.”
Aidan laughed as Kavana rolled her eyes.
“Come here,” Pavian demanded, hugging her again. “I’m just messing with you. I really did miss you. It was boring without you around.”
“You should consider yerself lucky,” Aidan started, smiling at Kavana. “Pavian only shows his humorous side with you and Karra—”
Aidan stopped, catching sight of Pavian and Kavana’s widened gazes as they turned to face James and Rhiannon.
“And Karramis,” Aidan finished, shifting his remorseful gaze from the twins down to the ground.
Rhiannon and James had observed silently as the three of them interacted—ignoring the urge to talk amongst themselves. But as Aidan said their mother’s name, Rhiannon grasped James’s hand.
Still coming to terms with the truth about her mother’s death, Rhiannon had a hard time hearing her name. Her mother’s passing was partially her fault, or so she thought, and an immense amount of guilt and an unbearable resentment radiated throughout her body. Her actions, though she had no memories of them, and her very existence were the reason her mother was gone.
James could sense the pain Rhiannon was feeling. He experienced every emotion and pain billowing up inside of her.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “It’s not your fault.”
Rhiannon’s grip loosened, and she turned her head to face him. She closed her eyes in a slow blink and tears ran down both cheeks. His words, though surprising, comforted her. James somehow understood what she was thinking. Questions surfaced, and she started to open her mouth, but she was interrupted as the others stepped closer.
“I’m sorry,” Aidan confessed solemnly. “I—I didn’t mean to upset you by mentionin’ yer mother.”
Rhiannon took a deep breath and gulped. “It’s okay. It just caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting the flood of emotions by seeing James. I guess . . . learning everything”—she faced James—“and seeing you again was a little more than I could handle all at the same time. But . . . but I’m okay now.”
Kavana grabbed her shoulders. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Aunt K. I’m good now.”
“Well then,” Pavian said, “let’s get our stuff, so we can get going with reopening these portals, shall we?”
The tone of his voice made everyone aware of how uncomfortable the emotional situation made him.
James narrowed his eyes at Pavian, the two meeting each other’s gaze. “Wow, for someone who wasn’t ready to go back just a few hours ago, you sure seem in a hurry now.”
“Oh really?” Kavana said, grinning.
Pavian rolled his eyes and turned away from the group.
“Why didn’t you want to go back, big brother? Could it be something is making you nervous . . . or maybe someone?”
James’s face lit up. “Whoa, wait a minute . . . What? Someone?” He smiled at Pavian. “You never told me—”
“Never mind,” Pavian said, a low growl in his voice.
Pavian stomped over to the car and got in, shifting into gear and pulling into a parking spot. Turning off the vehicle, he stepped out and slammed the door. He popped open the trunk, pulled out his backpack, and trudged past the group who were all holding back laughs. Passing Kavana, he pushed her, and she stumbled into Aidan.
In a deep and gravelly voice, he demanded, “Let’s go.”
Pavian strode down a narrow trail just beyond the small building where they parked and disappeared into the darkness.
Kavana burst into laughter. “I’m gonna pay for that.”
“Yeah, definitely,” Aidan chuckled under his breath. He leaned in toward Rhiannon and James. “This never gets old.”
The twins smiled and laughed as Aidan followed Pavian.
Calling back, Aidan added, “Just remember, though, Kavana . . . you started it.”
“Yep, I’m definitely gonna pay for that.” She faced the twins and grinned. “But it was totally worth it.”
***
James slammed the trunk closed, placed his backpack over his shoulders, and headed over to the start of the trail, waiting as Kavana and Rhiannon rummaged through their car.
“What about all our stuff?” Rhiannon asked, placing her purse strap over her head and adjusting it against her chest.
“We’ll send someone back to get all our suitcases and deal with the rentals. I don’t feel like lugging this stuff around for miles through the darkness.”
“Miles?”
“Yeah. It’s about two miles from here.”
“But I—I’m not wearing the right shoes.”
Glancing down at Rhiannon’s heeled ankle boots, Kavana laughed. “Well, you better change ’em then.”
Rhiannon grunted and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
Tying the final knot of her tennis shoes, Rhiannon stood up, tossed the boots into her suitcase, and zipped it up.
“You might want to change your clothes, too,” Kavana added, leaning against the car and observing her niece’s short-sleeve and knee-length dress. “Maybe into some warmer clothes, like jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“I didn’t pack those.”
“I did. I put them in the front section of your suitcase when you weren’t looking.”
“No, that’s alright. I’m perfectly fine with what I’m wearing. I’ll just bring my jacket.”
“Okay then, if you insist.”
James tapped his foot as the two continued to converse next to the car. Closing the trunk, Kavana met Rhiannon and they headed over in his direction.
“—did Pavian leave behind?” Rhiannon asked as she stepped closer to James.
“What about Uncle Pavian?”
“Oh, I was just wondering what was going on with him. I wanted to know who he left behind.”
James’s eyes darted to Kavana. “Yeah, I’d like to know that too.”
Kavana smiled and pointed down the trail. “Well, we have a bit of a walk. So, let’s go and I’ll fill you in on the way.”
The twins walked side by side behind their aunt. A single flashlight lit up the trail in front of them, and the full moon rising along the horizon illuminated the area. The clear night sky displayed thousands of twinkling stars and the bright Milky Way Galaxy, nestled perfectly among the darkened backdrop as it rested behind the mountains. The bitter winter winds blew across the desert and the twins shivered.
Refusing to admit her aunt was right, Rhiannon zipped up her cotton jacket and folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“It’s freezing out here,” James stated as his teeth chattered.
“At l-least you have p-pants on,” Rhiannon shuddered, “and a thicker jacket.”
Kavana called back, “I tried to tell you.”
“You didn’t t-tell me it was going to be f-freezing cold in the middle of the desert.”
“It’s wintertime.”
“Y-yeah, but it’s winter in the desert. It’s not like winter where we live. I j-just figured it would be nicer out here.”
Kavana stopped, placing the flashlight under her arm. Reaching up under her bulky jacket, she pulled a pair of jeans from under it, handing them to Rhiannon.
“Next time, and I know this is hard for you to hear, but maybe, just maybe, you might consider the fact you aren’t always right.” She leaned in and pecked Rhiannon’s cheek. “Love ya!”
Kavana headed back down the trail.
“I hate when she’s right,” Rhiannon said bitterly. She lifted the pants. “Ugh, and I hate jeans.”
The ground crunched under their feet and dry foliage rustled all around. The smell of snow was in the air and each breath grew
heavy as condensation billowed from their mouths. Their bodies ached from the cold temperature and moderate hike, but they did not mind once Kavana started telling them about Pavian and who this “someone” was.
***
Pavian was eighteen when he first met Raina Richards, a shy and fiercely independent young girl. The seventeen-year-old arrived alone in Kiluemar just a few days before Christmas. Lost in the innocence of a teenage crush, Pavian believed Raina was a gift sent to him by the magic of the realm. Although the adolescent attraction was present, Pavian admitted the young love and infatuation surrounding this girl could only be the work of male hormones. The overly mature and fundamentally practical young Pavian pushed his immediate feelings aside and steered clear of her, avoiding all contact with her for many years. But by the luck of fate, and his father, Pavian came face to face with his first crush.
Raina, now nineteen, was starting to tap into the full extent of her powers, but she needed guidance. Gifted with an ability many were able to learn over time with practice and concentration, hers exceeded the normal baseline possessed by others. Raina had a very uncommon power—she was an Astral Traveler.
Pushed by his father to help her sharpen her powers, Pavian tried to direct all his attention on the task given to him. He tried to convince himself the juvenile affection he felt all those years ago had disappeared. Despite his efforts to push through the persistent emotions still evident within him, he started to fall in love with her every time he saw her. With her long, straight dark hair, big brown eyes, and smooth golden skin, Raina’s beauty was hypnotizing to him. Her kind nature countered his stern and serious disposition. They made each other laugh, something Pavian rarely did outside the inner circle of his younger sisters.
At first, Raina was only concerned about getting her powers under control. She was worried her magic would send her to a random place, and she would never be able to come back. Her astral powers were unpredictable, and she feared they would get her killed. Before asking Zarrius for help, she was seriously injured after traveling back in time.
She awoke on a bloody field to the sounds of metal clanking and loud cries filling the air. Hurrying to her feet, she tried to escape the dangers of the fierce battle. She stood confused and terrified as more bodies fell at her feet. Spotting the soldiers’ metal and chainmail armor, longbows and swords, and bright colored banners, she quickly concluded she had traveled back in time, something she had never done before.
No one noticed the girl in strange clothing within the thick crowd of warfare. She frantically ran through the midst of heavy fighting, doing her best to avoid the swinging swords and stabbing lances. She sprinted to the outer sides of the dense band of opposing soldiers and halted as a sharp pain took her breath away. Glancing down at an arrow protruding from her chest, she struggled with each shallow gasp, collapsing to the ground and passing out.
Waking up almost two weeks later in the infirmary, she came to a terrifying realization that her powers required some much-needed control. A few months after recovering from an arrow through one of her lungs, Raina was finally able to begin her training.
Pavian specialized in helping many magical creatures improve their powers. Being one who learned his powers early in life, he always exhibited the most patience and caution when it came to teaching others how to master their abilities. Despite his professionalism, he still desired the sweet and modest young Raina. But it took Pavian almost two years after they started training to finally admit his attraction to her—acknowledging it not only to himself, but to her as well. To his surprise, she knew their friendship could grow into something more. Never having experienced a man’s embrace before, Raina fell in love with Pavian and his well-established position, protective nature, and passionate admiration for her.
James interrupted, “Two years? It took him two years to finally tell her how he felt?”
“Yeah.” Kavana stopped, turning back to face the twins. “He’s never been one to make spontaneous and carefree life decisions.”
“How come he’s never talked about her before?”
Kavana spun back around. “I’m not sure. I guess it’s because he left her behind.”
“Did they ever get married?” Rhiannon asked.
“No.”
“Wait,” James said. “Okay, let me get this straight. So, they dated for how many years?”
“Uhm, let me think—She’s the same age as me, so . . .” Kavana counted her fingers. “So, uhm, eleven—No! Twelve. Twelve years.”
“Twelve years?” the twins exclaimed.
Surprised by this, Rhiannon added, “They dated for twelve years and never got married?”
“Well, actually, no one even knew they were dating. Pavian didn’t want my father to find out, so he asked Raina to keep it a secret. Only a few of us knew about them. He thought about proposing, but never did. I’m not really sure why, though.”
“Hmm,” James pondered. “I wonder what happened between them before he left?”
“We broke up,” Pavian’s deep voice boomed as he stepped from the darkness.
The three of them jumped, twisting to face him.
“Jeez!” Kavana screeched.
Panting, James inquired, “Why?”
“Because I didn’t want her tethered to me when I had no clue when I would return. It was unfair to ask her to do that, so I broke up with her.”
The four of them stood quietly along the dimly lit trail, staring awkwardly at each other.
Trying to think of a topic to break the silence, Rhiannon forced a chuckle and glanced over at Kavana. “So . . . what’s the story with you and Aidan?”
She instantly regretted the question after her aunt scowled at her.
“Yeah,” James ventured with a side grin. “Wait, who’s Aidan?”
Rhiannon glanced over at him and smirked. “You know, the Scottish guy who’s with us.”
“Oh right, I—I knew that. Well, who’s he exactly?”
Pavian, James, and Rhiannon all turned to Kavana.
“No one,” she exclaimed. Pausing, she took a deep breath. “And nothing. We’re just friends.”
“Yeah, right,” Pavian snorted.
“Would you shut up!”
James and Rhiannon were fascinated, not only by the stories, but by the playful and annoying teasing between the two siblings. It was like Pavian and Kavana had not been apart all these years. They had a relationship deeply rooted in memories and there was a need to pick up right where they left off. The twins were compelled by this close connection and hoped to, one day, have this with each other.
“Friends, huh? Is that what you call it,” Pavian teased.
“Yes! That’s exactly what I would call it—we’re just friends.”
Aidan appeared through the shadows. “Well, it’s good to know you still think of me as a friend these days.” He stopped next to Pavian and faced him. “I found the path.” Disappearing back into the darkness, he called back over his shoulder, “I mean, it takes a strong woman to admit friendship with an ex-boyfriend.”
Following behind Aidan, Pavian laughed, his chuckles echoing among the silence.
Kavana grunted and stomped behind the other two.
Stopping, she twisted around and hissed at Rhiannon, “Not a word.”
Rhiannon held back a laugh as Kavana walked away.
Raising her elbow, she nudged James, finally letting out a giggle. “Come on, let’s go.”
Stepping over dry underbrush and oversized rocks, Rhiannon led the way in front of her brother along a thin path between various shrubbery. James was lost in the story of Pavian and Raina, while Rhiannon laughed in her head about the untold gossip surrounding her aunt. Imagining the possible love story between Kavana and Aidan, her thoughts suddenly flashed to Raina. She halted, causing James to shuffle to a stop behind her.
Without directing her question at anyone, she wondered, “Why didn’t she heal?”
; Puzzled by the unexpected delay and unusual question, James repeated, “Why didn’t she heal?” He stepped over the knee-high vegetation and faced her. “She who?”
“Raina.”
“Raina? What do you mean?”
Gently nudging James aside, Rhiannon raced up to Pavian and Aidan––who were a couple yards in front of them. Kavana, surprised by the noisy approach, turned as Rhiannon flew by and jumped over a bush next to her.
“Hey!” Rhiannon called. “Wait a minute.”
Reaching them, she panted to a stop as large plumes of condensation erupted from her mouth. “W-why didn’t Raina heal?”
Pavian flinched. “Heal? Heal how?”
“When Raina was injured in her astral projection”—Rhiannon paused, taking a few more breaths—“how come she didn’t heal? When I was hurt in my astral projection, I healed over time. And by the time I woke up, my injury was completely healed.”
Pavian’s face was blank, peering at Aidan and over at the other two as they strolled up behind Rhiannon.
“I—I’m not sure. Those who sustain an injury in an astral projection don’t usually heal from it. And Astral Travelers don’t have the power to heal. That—that must be something unique to you, I guess.”
Kavana stepped next to Rhiannon. “Maybe it’s the Guardian blood?”
“No, it can’t be,” Pavian admitted. “First, her Guardian magic is stuck in Kiluemar—blocked, like ours. Second, we can’t heal from major injuries. I—I don’t know. Maybe it’s a power we just don’t know about yet.”
Rhiannon was not satisfied with this response. Although, she could not persuade someone to divulge information they did not have. Waiting for yet another piece of the puzzle was testing her patience. The intriguing and alluring nature of this unpredictable story left her wanting more. It was a feeling very unfamiliar to the once meticulous, structured, and self-disciplined young girl. The disappointment across Rhiannon’s face was obvious to her brother, and he placed his arms around her shoulders. The need to comfort his sister emerged from him, displaying an unusual side of him.
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