by C J Benjamin
I turned to Eja. “I’m all yours.”
Eja directed me on a hunt to find the four elements of the Pillars. Earth, wind, water and fire. We traipsed through the forest together, all the while being shadowed by a familiar looking Beto scout.
“Who is he again?” I asked Eja.
“That’s Mali. He’s one of the shadow scouts. You met him when you were first introduced to the chief. I assumed that you met him at Vida’s last night also. He’s Talon’s best friend and he lives with them. Vida took him in after his family was killed by the Flood.”
“Oh . . . right,” I mumbled, mentally kicking myself for not sticking around the campfire with the others last night. Perhaps I should’ve asked Nova to fill me in before he went off with Talon.
“Why is he following us?”
“For your safety, my Eva. You will always have a scout with you now that you’re officially the Eva.”
“We’ll see about that,” I muttered to myself, making a mental note to change that rule as my first act as Eva.
“Why are we doing this again?” I asked while I dug up dirt to put in a small vile that Eja was holding.
“They are for the chief to bless at the ceremony, thus connecting you to all the elements of this world on a deeper level. It’s the foundation of the Eva ceremony,” Eja said sounding put off. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
“Right. Yes, sorry. I’m fine. My mind is just . . . I don’t know . . .” I trailed off feeling ashamed that I missed the history lesson from Vida’s family last night.
“It’s all right. I’m sure you have a lot on your mind. Being the Eva is no easy task. You’ve been given a great responsibility.”
My conversation with Vida didn’t help any either, I thought regretfully.
“I know, I know. Great responsibility means great sacrifice and consequence. I get it,” I moaned.
“I wasn’t going to remind you of that. I was simply going to thank you,” Eja said, immediately humbling me.
“Oh. Well you’re welcome, Eja.”
After we collected all of the elements, we had a long trek back to camp. I decided to use my time wisely, picking Eja’s brain.
“Eja? Do you know much about Vida and her family?”
“I know they are very kind. Vida is loyal to the ways of our people. She helps counsel and upholds the ancient traditions. She’s a wealth of knowledge and a talented healer, despite not having any Truiet powers.”
“So, you trust her?”
“Why do you ask that? Has she done something to make you think otherwise?”
“No. It’s just, I only met her yesterday and I didn’t really get a chance to know her all that well yet,” I lied.
It seemed I probably knew Vida better than anyone since she’d spilled all of her dark family secrets to me. I stopped walking and turned to face Eja.
“Can I ask you another question?”
“Of course.”
“Do you think history repeats itself? That we’re destined to suffer the same fate until we get it right?”
“My Eva, why are you asking me this?”
“Please. I just want your honest opinion.”
“No, I don’t believe that we are doomed to repeat the past. I believe in you, therefore I believe in freedom and limitless possibilities for our future.”
I hugged Eja, startling him.
“Me too,” I said. “I just wanted to make sure we understood each other.”
“We all feel that way, my Eva. All of the Betos believe in you. That’s what we’re celebrating today,” he said eyeing me suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. Fine. More than fine. Just some last minute jitters I suppose.”
Once Eja seemed convinced I wasn’t insane or that I wasn’t going to freak out and run away, he directed me to a stream where Jemma and Sparrow were already gathering. He left us to bathe, directing us to return to Vida’s tent when we were finished and to dress for the ceremony.
22
“Jemma, do you know how to put one of these on?” I asked holding up a long bolt of red fabric.
“Of course, silly,” she said, coming to my rescue.
She and Sparrow had already expertly draped their elegant saris into curve hugging dresses. Mine was hopelessly wrinkled and looked like I’d just gotten tangled in my bed linens.
“What did you do to it?” Jemma asked, sounding horrified when I handed her the balled up mess.
“I thought Vida was sewing it into a dress or something! What was all that pinning about anyway?”
“This is for the ceremony. The dress she was pinning is for the party afterward,” she scolded rolling her eyes at me. “You really did a good job wrinkling it,” Jemma fussed. “A little help, Sparrow?”
Sparrow gladly used her amazing healing powers to restore the delicate fabric back to its original glory.
“That really is the most handy talent,” Jemma said, her voice laced with envy while she expertly wrapped me. “Arms up,” she ordered. “Now spin.”
“Maybe I can teach you to do it? I was able to share it with Geneva,” Sparrow offered while they both helped me get ready.
“Yes, but I’m a Parallel,” I said matter-of-factly.
Jemma looked disgruntled.
“But we are sisters, maybe we’re both parallels?” I added, trying to defuse her mood.
“Don’t patronize me, Geneva,” she said, putting the brush down she’d been using to comb through my tangled hair. “It’s obvious you’re the talented one in our family. The chosen one. All I can do is track people. What use is that unless we’re playing hide and seek?”
“It’s really useful. If any of us are ever in danger or lost, you’re the only one who can find us. Or, what about when we get back to the Troian Center? You’re going to be our best chance in locating the Pillars and the other Truiets.”
“It’s a stupid power. You can train an animal to do what I do,” she said dismally.
We’d been getting along so well. I was determined to turn this conversation around. I studied Jemma’s face. A tiny cut above her eye was still visible from when she fled the Troian Center. Without thinking I grabbed both her arms and closed my eyes, concentrating hard on the healing power Sparrow shared with me.
“What are you doing?” Jemma cried, trying to squirm away from my hold.
“Hold still. I want to try something.”
“No! I’m not your test subject!”
I opened my eyes and smiled. My sister’s miniscule scab, above her dark eyebrow, was now completely gone. I let go of her arms as she pulled away from me.
“What’s your problem? You’re smiling like a lunatic.”
“She healed your cut,” Sparrow said, admiring my work.
“What?” Jemma cried. Her hand instinctively went to her eyebrow as she rushed to the large pot lid we were using as a mirror.
When she turned back to me, her dark eyes were ablaze with anger.
“So what! Are you just showing off now?” Jemma asked lividly. “It’s not enough that you’re prettier and that everyone loves you and that you’re the chosen one. You’re an Echo, and a Parallel and I’m nothing. I get it, Eva. You don’t have to flaunt it!”
I was stunned! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Jemma thought I was the pretty one? I’d been envious of her my whole life! Hearing her insecurities made her seem more human and sisterly than I’d ever imagined she could be. I wanted to hug her, but I knew better.
“No! No, Jemma. That’s not what I’m doing at all. I think I can share my powers with you because I am all of those things. It’s strange for one person to possess so many powers. I’ve been thinking about it and there has to be a reason. I think maybe it’s so I can transfer powers to people who will use them for good and to further our cause. And, if it’s going to work on anyone, it’ll be you, Jemma. You’re my sister, my blood. There’s always been a connection between us, some magnetism. I think the universe was try
ing to tell me this all along. Our fight on the rubble pile is what started all of this.”
She was staring at me, eyes wide, but with less hate in them.
“Think about it,” I urged.
Sparrow was watching us with baited breath.
“So, what are you saying?” she asked.
“I just healed you with a power that I acquired from Sparrow because I’m a Parallel. But, I’m also an Echo, so what is done to me is done to others and vice versa!”
“I don’t follow.”
“I used a power to heal you, thus giving you that same power through my Echo ability.”
Both girls were looking at me like I’d lost my mind. Jemma was shaking her head and Sparrow just looked confused.
“I don’t feel any different and if what you’re saying were true, wouldn’t I have healed you?” Jemma asked, nodding to the large bruises that remained on my arm from my fall in the cave.
“You weren’t trying to,” I said.
Jemma still looked skeptical.
“Geneva, if this works . . . Do you know what this could mean?” Sparrow asked.
I nodded my head. It could have infinite possibilities, which delighted and frightened me simultaneously.
“It might work,” Sparrow said with a shrug. “Couldn’t hurt to try it.”
“Try it,” I encouraged Jemma.
“I don’t even know what to do,” she argued.
“Just place your hands on my bruise and concentrate. Close your eyes and picture my skin healed and flawless.”
Jemma obliged and slowly closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
“There’s an awful lot of shrieking and giggling going on in there,” Remi said, motioning to the tent where the girls were getting ready. “Do you think we should check on them?”
“Nah,” Journey shrugged.
“What’s taking them so long?” Nova said, as he paced back and forth waiting for the girls to finish getting ready.
For once, he and Remi seemed to be on the same page. They had spent all day helping set up the ceremony site and now he, Journey and Remi had nothing to do but wait. They’d been dressed and ready for hours and he was getting impatient of parading around in the ceremonial waistcloth they’d been instructed to wear.
“They’re girls,” Journey yawned.
He looked entirely too comfortable in his skimpy cloth, sitting on a tree stump, chewing a long blade of green grass. He had his arms folded behind his head lackadaisically.
“Journey, I’m seeing more than I ever wanted of you right now,” Remi scoffed.
“If you don’t like the view, look the other way, mate,” Journey said unapologetically.
“Seriously, Journey, why are you so comfortable with these ridiculous outfits?” Nova chimed in.
Before the argument could escalate, Eja trotted up.
“Where are the girls?” he asked, unable to hide the mild panic from his voice.
“Still getting ready,” Nova and Remi said in unison, pointing to the tent that was muffling squeals and laughter.
“Do it again!” Sparrow giggled.
“Okay, what color now?” Jemma asked.
“Peach to match her sari!” I exclaimed.
“Okay, peach it is!” Jemma said, grabbing Sparrow’s face and concentrating.
“Bravo!” I exclaimed when Sparrow’s lips changed to a soft, dewy shade of peach that matched her dress expertly.
We exploded into laughter and applause. After Jemma had been able to heal my bruises, she couldn’t get enough of her newly acquired healing powers. Sparrow had shown her a trick or two about how she could use her power to manipulate her hairstyles and complexion. After that, we’d spiraled into an indulgent soiree of making each other over. I’d never had so much fun or felt like such a girl! It was grand! And Jemma was in her element. She was being fun and silly, and for the first time, I knew what the girls in her clique must have felt. When Jemma’s graces were upon you, it felt like the sun itself was worshiping you.
“Eva, let me do yours! You need perfectly, pouty red lips to match your dress!”
“Can you do my hair like yours too?” I begged, envying her silky straight black braid.
“I could, but why would you want to give up these beautiful blonde curls? They suit you so well, sister,” she said, as she tenderly stroked my hair.
She was so kind I had to fight to remember that she was the same girl who tortured me at the Troian Center. Perhaps we really could put that behind us and be sisters again.
Just as she finished dialing my lip color to perfection, we heard Eja clear his throat outside our tent.
“Ladies. Time is of the essence.”
“Sorry, Eja. We’re almost ready,” I called. “Just putting on the final touches.”
“We really must be going. I’m sure you all look beautiful, as usual,” he said.
We blushed and exploded into another fit of laughter.
“Okay, we’re ready,” I said, after I’d collected myself.
Eja pulled open the tent flap and we emerged one by one, into the fading sunlight of the afternoon.
Nova stopped pacing, and Journey and Remi stood, when their eyes settled upon us. They’d never seen us so dressed up before, and truth be told, I’d never felt so beautiful. The sheen of my delicate red sari bounced the filtered sunlight back in the most flattering way. With each movement, different shades were illuminated, making the fabric come to life. The beautiful, hand forged jewelry Vida lent us shimmered, reflecting rays of gold as brilliant as if they were stolen from the sun itself.
The boys were speechless. The stunned expressions on their faces were what we’d been hoping for, but it still made us blush and giggle all over again. Jemma loved the attention. She marched forward and linked arms with Nova.
“Shall we?” she crooned.
Nova hesitated against her pull, with his gaze still locked on me. I felt my cheeks flush and had to avert my eyes. When I glanced back up through my bashful, pale lashes, I saw he had given in to Jemma’s persistence. I watched his tan, toned back moving away from me, as a pang of jealousy awoke inside my heart.
23
We made our way to the Eva ceremony. Jemma with Nova, Sparrow with Journey, and me hanging back with Remi and Eja. I balked when we emerged from the brush, into the clearing where everyone was waiting. The beautiful scene momentarily took my breath away. The lush landscape was elegantly decorated with red flowers in every size and shape imaginable. They hung overhead, draped in luscious strands. They lined the aisle, separating the sea of strangers and they were gathered in elaborately arranged bunches around the large stone altar. It seemed the elegant sari I wore was dyed the same hue to match the flowers.
“Why is everything red?” I whispered to Eja. Then I cringed, realizing it was probably explained in the history lesson I’d skipped.
“Isn’t it your favorite color?” Eja asked sounding slightly terrified. “The chief noticed the flower you had in your hair the day he met you and thought it must be something you loved if you were wearing it to make your introduction, so he modeled everything in that hue for tonight’s affairs.”
“Oh yes, it’s perfect. I love red,” I smiled, remembering that it was Jovi who gave me that flower.
How appropriate that spirited little Jovi had influenced the entire Eva ceremony. It made me smile and relax for a moment, knowing she’d had such a big part in planning tonight’s festivities. I tried to hang onto that thought, but when I saw the endless sea of Betos before me, I could feel the panic setting in.
“Why are there so many people?” I whispered nervously.
“Geneva, you are our Eva. We have been praying for the prophecy of our savior to return since its inception. Betos from all over the island have come to witness you.
“How many Betos are here?”
“Many. Our Island is vast and it has been safer for us to exist in smaller groups, where we could travel more easily and live simply. Now that you are
here, that may all change,” Eja said, beaming.
I struggled against the crushing expectations. I knew this day was coming and meeting the Betos was a simple task compared to what lay ahead of me, but already I could feel the tiny beads of sweat forming on my brow and the heaviness pressing back against my rapid heartbeat.
Remi noticed my nerves and came over to comfort me. “I can walk in with you if you’d like?”
“Thanks, Remi,” I said trying to collect my breath.
“No, actually you all need to proceed ahead of Geneva to the right side of the Altar,” Eja said, pointing to the massive moss-covered boulders in front of the large group of tribes people.
Jaka was seated comfortably upon one of them, with his eyes closed in meditation. He was wearing a beautifully stitched robe of reds and yellows, along with an elaborate headdress to match. I studied the calmness of his face and tried to channel his energy. Once I focused on it, I could feel him sending me soothing vibrations. I slowed my breathing and let his strength wash over me, encouraging my own. The moment I knew I was ready to proceed, Jaka opened his eyes and nodded.
The music boomed forth, startling me as Eja urged my friends forward. Jemma perked right up, straightening tall and pulling her shoulders back as she glided down the aisle away from me. Nova gave me a wink over his shoulder and followed shortly behind her. Next was Sparrow. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze of encouragement before flitting away from me, into the sea of foreign faces. Eja had to hold Journey back when he tried to instantly follow behind her. His protectiveness over Sparrow was second nature and Eja ended up letting him go sooner than he wished after Journey gave him a menacing glare.
I watched, as all of my friends climbed atop the stone altar and sat next to Jaka. Remi was the last one to join them. Once he was settled, the music changed to a more grand rapture. It must have been my cue, because Eja genuflected and then let his arm gracefully point to the path before me. Everyone was on their feet and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, as I took my first unsure steps forward.