“How is this…” She looked around her, “… still here? In my dreams, your Island was destroyed.” He had lost everything and everyone he loved. He had been betrayed. The tower was the epicenter where the queen had unleashed her vile powers upon the Island. Ishtar killed everyone, not Toqeph, as Mariana’s books had recorded. Toqeph was good. She was sure of this. “Why are you still here?” She turned to look at him, hoping he would answer. She wanted to learn more about him, about the Island, and why he shared these visions with her.
Deep sadness overtook her friend’s energy as he placed a big hand on her shoulder. “You need to return home.”
Chapter Seventeen
January 26th, Bimini Island
Early morning
Fawna’s vision began to waver with the turning of her stomach. She was adrift, both physically and mentally. Caught in an in-between state of dreaming and waking. One conscious motion, and she knew she would snap out of her reverie, and she did not want to.
She had been on Toqeph’s Island.
He saved her.
They spoke.
She wanted to stay.
“Fawna, Mi Fuego.” Dex’s big voice woke her.
She sat up, confused, unsure of where she was. “Have I been here all this time?” She asked as she twisted, and turned on the couch.
“Yes. Where else would you be?” Dex answered.
Maybe it was all a dream. She rubbed her temples, trying clear her mind. “Where’s Mama?”
“Outside, cleaning up. That storm really did a number in the garden.” Dex started humming and going about in the kitchen. “You hungry? I’m making some omelets. Mr. Snow gave us eggs.”
“No thanks, Pa.” Still unsure of what happened, she reasoned the dreams were becoming more vivid. Maybe she walked in her sleep. She must have fallen asleep on the couch again. “I didn’t hear that pest of a rooster.” She was looking out the window, checking out the litter the storm had left behind. Her gaze swept past the garden and toward the shoreline where she kept her boat. It was there, sitting securely in the sand, and tied to the coconut tree.
“Missing. Mr. Snow came by this morning with the eggs, he asked if we could keep an eye out.” Dex twirled a whisk in between his thick fingers as he got ready to whip the eggs. “That was his prize rooster.”
As annoying as the bird was, Fawna hoped it wasn’t hurt. The storm had come out of nowhere. It almost felt unnatural. “I’ll go outside and help Mama.” She needed to check on her boat. Maybe it would clear her mind. She remembered the small vessel being dragged out to sea. She was trying to reign it back in. She remembered being carried out... drowning. Toqeph bringing her to his Island. Dream. It was all a dream. She tried to convince herself.
“Tell Mama, I’m making hers eggs extra spicy.” Dex was singing now. He loved being in the kitchen.
Pushing up from the couch, her arms and legs were sore and achy as if she had exercised all night. As if she swam against raging currents... She headed outside rubbing a shoulder, “Mama?” She called out, not seeing her mother right away.
“Over ‘ere, Fawna.” She waved for her to come over.
Sabine was talking to their closest neighbor and dear friend. Who was she kidding, he was more than a friend. Mr. Snow was family. She slowed her pace, unsure if what she was seeing was right. Their neighbor’s face was scrunched up with worry. She’d never seen the man frown before. Something must be seriously wrong. “Hello.” She greeted quietly, not wanting to interrupt the conversation.
“Hello, Dear.” Mr. Snow looked her over quickly. “I’m glad you’re all right. I saw you struggling with your boat last night.”
She straightened. Her pulse began to race, and a lump caught in her throat. How could that be?
Sabine shot her a surprised sideways glance.
“I came out to help you, but then you were gone. I was afraid you got pulled out to sea, but then I saw the boat tied up...” His voice trailed off, his gaze drifting off to the shore.
Anxiety was knocking down each rib. Playing them like a xylophone, making her nauseous and sweaty. She grabbed for her pendant, clutching it tight. How could he know elements of her dream? She could feel his concern, and his relief at seeing her, but confusion overshadowed both emotions. It was making his aura flutter and tremble, just like the erratic beating of her heart.
She needed to change the topic for both of their sake. “Thank you for the eggs.” She smiled warmly at the kindly man.
“Phhhft. Least I can do.” He was smiling again. “You and your family are always helping me out.”
Dex often went to visit their old neighbor, and helped him with maintenance around the house. Their neighbor lived alone. He had family, but they hardly ever came by and when they did, it seemed they always left with the older man’s things, sometimes even some of the animals. Then they wouldn’t see their neighbor for a couple of days, until her parents checked in on him. The family visits did not seem welcome, and her parents certainly got worked up whenever those visits happened. Sabine would keep watch out the window, her posture as tightly held as her jaws. “They take advantage of poor Mr. Snow.” She would growl as she spied for activity.
“That’s his family, Sabine. We cannot interfere,” Dex would scold.
“Well, I wish ‘e would ask us. ‘e knows we can.” She would hiss before leaving her window post.
Just then, a loud raucous noise erupted from behind the house, interrupting her thoughts. It sounded like metal garbage bins being clobbered by something angry. The chickens scattered, running excitedly in every direction.
She and Sabine sprinted toward the commotion. “Mr. Snow. Stay ‘ere,” her mother ordered.
The old man stopped mid-step. He had been ready to go with them. He didn’t argue with Sabine, though he looked thoroughly deflated.
Fawna ran ahead, only slowing down when she got to the edge of the house. She peeked around the corner, sending out her energetic feelers to scan for any presence. Her scalp tingled as information returned to her and confirmed that all was safe. Sabine was nearing, approaching from behind.
“Anythin’?” she whispered
She shook her head.
Sabine went around her and proceeded cautiously. She had a grip on a hex bag dangling from her waist. The noise had stopped, except from a pile of wood scraps and corrugated tin. Fawna recognized it right away. It was the junk pile that wasn’t really junk. The resourceful old man reused everything. Nothing was wasted.
A small piece of tin rattled on top of the heap. The piece of metal teetered wildly, stopping Sabine in her tracks. Fawna saw her mother gasp before turning to look at her. “You said there was nothin’?” she mouthed.
“No humans.” She mouthed back.
Her mother’s eyes widened and asking, “What about everythin’ else?”
Panic, struck her. She hadn’t checked for everything else. It wasn’t until now that she remembered recent concerns about demons. “Sorry,” she mouthed again. She felt for other energies as quick as she could. She didn’t detect anything else, thank god.
Giving Sabine the thumbs up, she inched closer to her mother. The tin roof rattled again, this time followed with scratching. Sabine’s brows raised. “Animal?”
“Lots of animal energy around. I didn’t have time to separate all the different ones.” There was apology in her tone.
“It’s all right. Get back and be ready.” Sabine warned as she inched closer to the wood and metal scrap pile.
The scratching intensified and a loud squawk followed the rattling. Fawna jumped, but Sabine relaxed and started giggling. “Fawna, come ‘ere.” Her mother was bent over, her head craned to the side trying to peek in between scraps of wood. “Go around, to the back of the ‘eap.”
Fawna did as her mother directed, though her heart was trying to jump out of her chest. She knew it wouldn’t be a demon, it was safe, it was just an animal, but what if it was a giant island frog or worse yet, an island bat? Good lord, ma
ybe facing a demon would be easier.
She could see Sabine crouching down, and reaching for a nearby stick.
Fawna held her breath, her mother was going to poke whatever was trapped in the pile toward her. “Mama,” she whispered loudly.
“Shhh. You don’t want to scare it.” Her mother stuck the stick into the gap with care. The tin on top of the pile rattled fiercely, the wavy piece of metal lifting off and finally slipping down the heap with a thunderous crash.
Frenzied animal energy erupted everywhere. Chickens ran amuck, goats bleated with excitement, and nearby sea birds took off in haste.
“’ere it comes, Fawna! Be ready to catch it.” Sabine called out, as excited as the animals.
Fawna fell back on her rump and teetered on her back just as her morning nemesis, the prized rooster, raced out of the scrap pile and nearly ran her over.
Sabine was laughing hysterically, the stick held in a position to poke her.
“Mama!” she scoffed, before surrendering to a fit of laughter herself. She couldn’t believe she had been afraid of a rooster. It was embarrassing and pathetic, much like her adult life has been so far.
Sabine offered a hand and heaved her up. For such a delicate woman, her mother had considerable strength.
Mr. Snow came from around the corner. The brightest smile lighting his face. He had his rooster in his arms, cuddling it. There wasn’t a happier sight. “Thank you, thank you.” He was almost singing the words. “He’s a bit dirty, missing some feathers, but he’s not hurt.” He set the rooster down, watching over it like an over-protective father.
Fawna watched the rooster, expecting it to strut away, but it stayed close as if knowing he was safest with Mr. Snow. What a night it must have had.
“We’ll be going ‘ome now.” Sabine waved goodbye and scooted her forward. “That was fun.”
“Thanks again!” The old man looked so happy with his prized rooster back at his side.
“What took you two so long?” Dex blurted out as they entered the front door. He was washing dishes.
“Mama found the rooster.”
“So. What were you doin’ last night?” Sabine’s eyebrow was quirked upward.
Fawna felt immediately guilty even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. Images of the Island and the temple flashed in her mind. She couldn’t and wouldn’t lie to Sabine, but she did not want to worry her parents any further.
“You did a great job, Ma.” She was stalling.
“’mm-mmm. And what about my little chicken at ‘ome?” her mother teased.
She looked down, avoiding looking at her mother. She headed for the kitchen. “Papa, anymore eggs?”
“On the counter, Mi Fuego.”
Sabine was eyeing her. She could feel her neck burning with her mother’s stare. She might have been teasing, but she wanted to know what happened. “’ow did you manage your boat last night?” Sabine asked, her tone more serious.
Fawna shrugged as she took a bite of an omelet. Heat rose quickly up her neck and into her face from all the spices in the eggs. “Hoot, hooot.” She choked.
Dex laughed, and handed her another plate. “That one’s for your mama.” He handed her a glass filled with golden yumminess. It was her favorite drink, a mango lassie, made Dex-style. “Here,” he chuckled.
The mango lassie was like heaven going down her throat. It was sweet, creamy and cool, neutralizing the spicy heat from the eggs.
“Well?” Sabine took her plate and started eating.
“I don’t know what part was a dream and what part was real. I’m starting to think that maybe I walked in my sleep.”
Sabine looked worried, just as she’d predicted. This is what she didn’t want. Sabine had been in a great mood.
Dex came over, drying his hands on a towel strewn on his shoulder. The smile was gone. “Your dreams are getting worse.”
“What did Mariana, say?” Sabine asked as she took her plate to the sink. She had stopped eating.
“She wants us to see her again.”
“Me too?” Sabine twisted to look at her as she washed her plate.
“Yup.”
“Better see Mariana tonight.” Dex was standing next to her, his big body radiating warmth whenever he got excited. He was worried too, the elevated temperature and frazzled aura said it all. “We don’t want to chance the girl sleep walking right into the ocean.”
Dex’ strength came from fire. So did hers. That was a unique bond she had with her adopted father. When she was a child, he had helped her focus her ability, and her tendency to lose her temper. Fire does that, he explained to her. We run hot! During one of their lessons, he had told her, he suspected she was Anakim, but he didn’t know for sure. Anakim, that word had always stayed with her, like an itch she couldn’t relieve. It was nagging at her now.
Her father cupped her hand, his warmth giving her comfort. He gave her a worried smile, his eyes drooping like a puppy’s. She remembered that same look, when she had fallen and broken her leg. She was only six years old and had tried to parachute off of their roof, explaining to her frantic father, she knew she could fly--that it was her destiny. Dex had chuckled as he lifted her off the ground, Enjoy the ground, Mi Fuego. Destiny can knock you hard on your nalgas--rump, when you least expect it, he had told her.
“I’ll call Mariana,” Sabine’s voice cut into her thoughts.
“I’ll get ready,” she agreed quietly.
Dex cupped her face, his gentleness almost overwhelming her, “You’ll be okay, Mi Fuego. Your fire is rising. I can feel it.”
What did he mean by that? She looked at him curiously. “I love you, Pa.”
“Go, get ready. You know your mama hates to wait.”
Chapter Eighteen
January 26th, Bimini Island
Morning
Mariana was waiting in the Sanctuary’s courtyard, spritzing her flowers. The garden smelled of vanilla and roses, the balmy island air intensifying the fragrance like a woman’s perfume. She turned to Sabine and Fawna as they approached, her smile warm and inviting. “Where’s Dex?”
“Gettin’ ready for work. ‘e’s got a big group ‘e’s taking out on tour. ‘e’s pretty excited.” Sabine reported.
“I was hoping to ask him if he’s heard anymore rumblings from the townsfolks.” Mariana set down her spritzer, and led them into her office.
Sabine sighed, “’e ‘as actually.”
Mariana looked at her mother, her gaze expectant and concerned.
“The ones who were around six years ago, they say they feel the same disturbance.” Sabine shrugged off her light linen jacket onto a chair, exposing toned, sun-kissed arms. “But they cannot point to anythin’ specific. Dex has combed the island several times. ‘e hasn’t found anythin’.”
Fawna jerked her head towards her mother, “Six years ago? When there were demons?”
Sabine nodded, but didn’t look at her.
“But, there was also a protector.” Mariana added before sitting behind her desk. “Your guardian.” Mariana leaned back, her thoughts seeming to drift to another place and time as her face shadowed with concern.
“Guardian?” Fawna was clearly confused.
Mariana leaned forward on her desk, her fingers twined together, and lightly tapping on the tabletop. “Six years ago, an old friend of your father and mother came to deliver sad news.” Mariana took a deep breath. “Rosa, your father’s cousin had passed away. She had a parting gift she wanted your father to have.”
Sabine started. “Despite the sad news, the visit ‘ad been a good one. We ‘adn’t seen Will in ages.” Her gaze flew to Mariana as if asking for reassurance from the Elder. Sabine let out a breath. “We ‘adn’t seen Will since the day ‘e brought you to us.”
Fawna turned to her mother, eyes wide, mouth gaped in surprise. “Is... he my father?” she asked nervously.
“No.” Sabine held Fawna’s hand. “But ‘e was the one who found you and saved you.”
; Fawna went rigid. “Saved me? From what?”
“Demons,” Sabine choked back.
“You told me you adopted me when I was just a baby.” Why hadn’t her parents told her any of this before? “Why would demons go after a baby?”
“They had already killed your parents, and was coming after you,” Mariana interjected. “Will found you before the demons could harm you, and brought you to Bimini.”
“Will knew Bimini’s natural protections against dark energies is strong. He knew you were special, and had to be protected. He contacted us for help.” Sabine sniffed. “We saw you, we fell in love, and we promised to take you as our own.” Sabine looked at her lovingly. “Your pendant was a gift from Will.”
As if called by the stone dangling from her neck, Fawna gripped her beloved pendant. “Why haven’t you told me this before?”
“Bimini has always been a haven. It is difficult for most demons here. We are protected. We thought you would be safe. And you were for many years,” Sabine quickly added before she started sobbing.
“Six years ago, there was an attack on our community. You were one of the targets.” Mariana’s voice was soft, but firm. “Will was able to get to you on time, but the others had not been so lucky and had been harmed, badly. They survived. But I’m afraid the scars left on their psyche… will take longer to heal.”
“A demon attack?” Fawna wanted confirmation.
“Yes. We have not been able to determine why you, along with the others, were targeted. If Will hadn’t been here, many would have perished. We were not prepared.”
“The island has been quiet since then, but somethin’ is makin’ the community agitated. And you’ve started dreamin’ about Toqeph.” Her mother’s voice was too low as if she didn’t want to hear herself speak.
Midnight Rain Page 13