“Ow!” he yelled as he rubbed his head.
When Zech looked up, he saw a beautiful girl in the distance. She was standing on a wrap-around porch in Arizona, alone, and looking out into the wilderness with fear in her eyes. She was aware that she was being watched, but how? Surely if there was a portal, it must have meant that others had come here before him. He wondered if he had been the only one to find it. Zech just watched her in amazement; his heart barely containing the electricity he instantly felt.
“It was you,” Ina whispered to herself.
Ina was back to reality. Sitting in Zech’s memory orb. She just smiled to herself, standing up in Zech’s mind, recognizing that had been the moment Zech fell in love for the first time.
“I’m the first person he ever loved,” she said quietly.
Once again, Ina was taken back to Zech’s memory…
“Zech?” Ria whispered as she approached. “Zech?”
“Ria? How did you get here?” he whispered loudly.
“The same way you did! I followed you to the purple station that takes you to this place,” she snapped.
Zech lovingly stared out through the wilderness to the porch where Ina was standing. Looking over Zech’s shoulder, Ria noticed Ina having a panic attack. Ina recognized the scene, as Pipa and Jenna came to comfort her on the porch.
Ria looked over at Zech, who was still admiring Inanna. His instant affection was evident.
“You know love now,” Ria revealed to Zech, as she watched him admiring Ina. “Your powers are awakened.”
Zech was mesmerized, hiding behind a bush so he wouldn’t be discovered. He too knew that day had changed him forever. The girl on the porch awakened his senses, his powers, and a love he never thought he could feel.
Ria turned towards the purple orb and walked quickly.
“Wait, wait for me!” Zech called out as he tried to keep up.
Zech looked back, and hesitated for a moment.
“You might as well give up now. I’m sure we’re nowhere near Cova. This must be a portal of some kind,” Ria said sternly.
“Well, maybe it was there for a reason.”
Ria turned around angrily. “Not for us!”
“Well what if we’re the only ones who know about it?” Zech said.
Ria just rolled her eyes and walked faster.
“Ria!?”
Ria turned around again, knowing her words would pierce Zech. “You’re stupid! I – I try to help you – and – just don’t ever scare me like that again. Something could have happened to you – or me – do you even realize that?”
Ria had only followed Zech because she was worried about him. Her sense of smell was very keen, and when she caught his scent several times, she figured he was lost or in danger.
“I’m sorry,” Zech said, realizing he had really upset Ria.
Ria and Zech rode back home to Cova in complete silence. She knew Zech had helped her get away from the trolls, and he had been a great friend for over two years now. Nonetheless, she also knew that she would always be second place after tonight. Zech would never understand how Ria felt when she followed him into the orb, willing to risk her life for him, thinking he was in danger.
Ria was not in love with Zech. Ria had loved Zech like a brother, and all she wanted was his brotherly love in return. Zech, however, was not at fault for his lack of love. But that night, a new love had sparked. It wasn’t until Zech saw Inanna, that inevitably, the emotion could no longer hide. However, Ria was hurt. Even though she wanted nothing more than brotherly love in return from him, she felt like Zech had turned his back on her the day he met Inanna. He could no longer see beyond Ina. For that reason, bitterness towards Zech and Ina began to grow in Ria’s heart.
Ina was back to the memory orb – stuck in the bitter reality of being trapped in Zech’s mind. She remembered that day on the porch vividly. She had never imagined that it was Zech out on the ranch watching her. She never dreamed it was her that had sparked his power and love. Inanna felt unworthy of such an honor. Whether she liked it or not, it was a fact. And whether she could accept it or not, Ria became her enemy that day. If only time could heal the wounds. If only Ria could understand why Zech was so incapable of love before he met Inanna. She wasn’t so sure Ria would be willing to even listen at this point. This was something Inanna would have to figure out how to fix or fight against.
Past: The Boy
I watched her as she drank her coffee. I’ll probably scare her if I approach her.
One day.
One day I’ll speak to her.
Until then.
Present: Ina Dreams of Zech’s Past
I think I’m dreaming again; only I can’t tell because I feel like I’m once again living in Zech’s memories…contemplated Inanna.
Ria and the boys had been roaming the woods for hours, trying to find a secluded space where the trolls wouldn’t find them. For days, Zech and Salixz took turns coming back to check on Ria. One would go home and make excuses for the other, and then they’d switch duties.
One day, while they ate around a campfire, Zech finally brought up something that had been in the back of his mind since the day he’d met Ria.
“Ria, I know you said you don’t have a family…but how then did you end up with the trolls?”
“Febus, the big troll you saw, found me when I was just a baby. Someone left me in the woods to die, but the trolls took me in,” she said sadly.
“Why are you in danger?” Zech asked.
“Shakra, the tribe’s queen, she’s good to me. But Febus… Febus is evil! He just wants to marry me off to one of his sons by my tenth birthday, which is just a year away. I can’t let that happen! I guess he has always wanted an atavan to mix with the tribe.”
Past: Before California
B efore Ina had even decided to visit Jenna in California, Jenna was busy living her life and going to therapy to try to rectify her past.
Jenna drummed her nails impatiently on the desk in front of her. She was in her weekly therapy sessions, and today her therapist had a task for her. Jenna picked up her cellphone and found Keith’s contact.
The phone rang. Keith answered on the first ring.
“Hi Keith,” Jenna said surprised.
“I thought I told you to stop calling,” Keith said in frustration.
“Listen, I’m sorry for all of this. It’s a mess, I know.”
“Good bye, Jenna,” Keith said angrily almost hanging up.
“Wait! Just listen to me, please,” she begged.
Keith took a deep breath and listened impatiently.
“I – I don’t know what’s gotten into me, it’s like, all of a sudden during our senior year, I grew these feelings overnight – and – and it’s like there’s two different people inside of me ya’ know? Like, I don’t even know myself anymore…”
“Yeah, I stopped knowing you a long time ago,” he said dryly.
“I need to make things right with Ina…”
Keith interrupted her abruptly.
“You already tried, and you made things worse! You showed up on Christmas – and – and what the hell were you expecting Jenna? I tried to keep the peace and be your friend, but you need help. Go to a shrink and leave us alone already,” he said coldly and hung up.
Jenna looked at the phone and tears streamed down her face.
“It’s okay, Jenna. You gave it a shot. Guys are not worth losing a friend over,” said Jenna’s therapist.
“Thank you, Annie. It’s just that, I feel like something happened to me my senior year of high school that I just can’t explain,” Jenna started. “I can’t remember for the life of me, but I know there was this one night, that I remember nothing about. I woke up the next morning with a huge migraine, like as if someone had drugged me or I hit my head, and I woke up in a daze. I just…” Jenna trailed off and squeezed her eyes in disbelief.
“Jenna, Jenna,” the therapist coaxed. “Sometimes teenagers experience thes
e things. And it’s okay to feel different things than what you’re accustomed to.”
“But no – it’s not okay. Because suddenly I had this infatuation with Keith, which is the weirdest thing, because I never in a million years ever would I think of Keith in that way – and then – suddenly this jealousy towards my best friend, Ina. Like, how could this even happen? What happened to me? How do I make this right?” Jenna asked with tears in her eyes.
“I say you write your friend a letter. Tell her how you feel,” Annie instructed. “Then cut her off after that.”
“Cut her off?”
“Yes. You don’t want this to haunt you forever, do you? I think the only way for you to move on, and for Ina to be happy, is for you to be as blunt as possible and then let her go. Move on.”
Jenna nodded, trying to understand how pushing her friend away would help in all of this.
“I’ll even help you write it,” the therapist said with a smirk.
“Thank you, Annie.”
Present: Keith is Angry
K eith laid in his cell bed, staring at the ceiling. He noticed every crack in the cement, and wondered how long it took each crack to form. He wondered if any of the other prisoners before him ever noticed them. He would look at the cracks each night and see if there were any changes, if they got bigger, if he could find more. But like every night for the past few weeks, they still remained the same. The unchanging miserable cracks in the ceiling just stared at him every night.
Keith’s mind was racing a million miles per minute. This happened every night. The roller coaster of emotions was a mixture of mourning over Ina, guilt for not getting to her sooner, anger for not being able to save her, and the numbness in between.
I messed up. I messed up bad. Of course, it’s my fault! How could I? How could I be so dumb! To think my relationship with Ina would have ever been anything different, after I kept so much from her. I knew she had lost her memory. I should’ve been honest and told her the truth about Zech.
Zech. Damn you, Zech. This guy comes into her life and tears her heart out. Then comes again to just leave her once more! For what? Why? Why the hell should I have to tell her anything about some guy who came into town unannounced, made her fall in love, and then left her twice. Screw you, Zech!
I didn’t have to tell her the truth. I was protecting her. She deserved a new life – a fresh start.
And Jenna! What the hell was I thinking?! She’s not even the Jenna we all used to know. She’s different. So cold.
Oh my God.
Could Jenna hurt Ina?
Oh my God.
That bitch.
It’s my fault.
Keith was beginning to feel borderline insane. He began punching the bed in anger, and he screamed into his pillow.
The guard banged his metal baton on the railing.
“Quiet,” he commanded.
Keith settled down, but he cried for a while, then turned on his side and fell asleep. It wasn’t at all peaceful.
Past: Brooke calls Jenna
B efore Ina visited California, Jenna had a conversation with Brooke.
“I’m in therapy now, Brooke; I’m doing much better,” Jenna told her.
“That’s good to hear. It breaks my heart to know you and Ina aren’t friends anymore. You need to talk,” Brooke countered.
“Yes, I know, you’re right. My therapist thinks I should go to Florida over Christmas break and talk to Ina. The problem is, every time I try to talk to Keith or Ina, I – I choke. It’s almost as if something possesses me, and I can’t get the right words out. I actually become a total bitch without even trying.”
“You said you’ve talked to Keith; you guys are cool now, right?”
“I mean – kind of, not really? I don’t know. We’ve talked briefly. I think he’s worried I might ruin it for him if I tell Ina about Zech. I’m pretty sure he’s keeping that from her.”
“I know, it’s horrible. But I think he wants to protect her from getting hurt,” said Brooke.
“I guess,” Jenna agreed.
“All right, well keep going to your therapist! You’ve got this, girl!”
“Thanks, girl. Talk to you later,” said Jenna pensively as she hung up the phone.
Present: Meretseger has Secrets
I t had been over three weeks since Inanna had arrived in Cova, stuck in a trance. Now, Zech was tranced, too. Although Meretseger was injecting Inanna and Zech with nutrients to keep them alive, she was beginning to lose optimism. Salixz had left the cave for reasons he did not mention, but he left in a hurry and assured Meretseger he’d be back. It had been days since she’d seen him.
Meretseger sat in her cave, humming to herself as she rocked back and forth in her chair. In the midst of this turmoil, she reminisced on the good times of the past. When she once lived happily in Euron, the only developed nation of Cova at the time. Although there were small tribes on the outskirts of Euron, everyone in Cova lived in peace. This was before Kah had tricked Meretseger, of course.
That damn Tink Berry!
She cursed in Covian to herself. It was the only weapon against her senses, and now because of that, the entire destiny of Cova had changed. A mere trick for Kah to gain Euron’s throne, ultimately gave him the power to take half of Euron’s people to build the Kahnroch nation. Meretseger cringed at the thought of all that had transpired, and how the course of their planet had changed because of it.
Meretseger had tried to help Euron when she realized she had been the one to give Kah the potion that killed the Queen. Unfortunately, no one trusted her after that, and she could not save Akeena or Atum, who had already been captured and killed by Kah’s men. When Euron’s people found out what Meretseger had done, they banished her immediately. They didn’t kill her, because they knew her power and senses could be useful if they ever needed her. Meretseger didn’t blame them; she accepted her fate. Now it was her time to rectify all of this, and she was still failing them.
King Heron trusted her, and he never even fought King Kah, believing Meretseger’s vision was true. He knew that causing a war in Cova would only put the princesses in great danger and could ultimately kill all of Cova.
Inanna’s arms twitched, and Meretseger sat up straight watching her chest move up and down.
“Stay alive, princess,” she whispered.
Zech remained sleeping, his eyelids occasionally flickering open revealing white.
Inanna’s arms calmed, and Meretseger went back to daydreaming. She remembered the days she’d spent with her sister, Jeneka, who now lived in solitude in the Frozen Lands of Cova. Before Jeneka went away, life was good. Those were the days when everyone trusted Meretseger and Jeneka. The days where citizens would come to them to whip up potions to heal the sick, or provide comfort to anyone in need. Now, Meretseger was just the old banished witch of the mountains. Loathed by both nations, shunned by her sister, Jeneka. Meretseger wished Jeneka could help her, but she knew that was impossible. Jeneka had already relinquished her soul to the dark side to gain more power with sorcery. It would be too risky.
Meretseger felt ashamed. For, although she was tricked by Kah, there was another secret in her soul. A secret even she would not dare say. How could they really trust me anyway? she thought guiltily. She wished she could tell the people of Cova, but she could not. For if she revealed it, no one would believe her anyway, and she would lose the few people who loved her now – Salixz, Zech, and Inanna. And if they did believe her, everyone would assume she held it for her own gain. The truth of the matter was, the secret was one that no one needed to know. Or at least, no one needed to know yet. What she didn’t know, was that this secret had greater consequences.
Meretseger looked over to Zech and Ina, who looked dehydrated and pale. Looking up to the ceiling, she began to whisper some words.
“Oh One, Power of the Universe. If you can still hear me…”
Meretseger realized it had been centuries since she’d said a prayer, and she ha
d forgotten how to do it. For so long she relied on her potions and spells, which ultimately made her self-righteous. She had lost her faith.
“If you’re out there, hear my prayer,” she pleaded.
She extended her hands over Zech and Ina’s bodies and began to murmur her request.
“Please, bring back Princess Inanna and Zech. Help me find a way to save them. Help us all save Cova of the Core Disease.”
She felt a spark that shocked her hand and she was startled. She slowly brought her hands back to her chest, and continued to whisper words in Covian.
“May your will be done,” she whispered as tears ran down her face.
Past: Annie
R ia sat melancholically in her hotel room, hugging her legs curled to her chest, staring at the blank television screen as tears rolled down her face. She finally sat up straight, looked down at the letter in her hands that was addressed to Ina from Jenna. She wiped her tears quickly, snapping out of it, and sealed the envelope.
“Let’s see if this makes you leave Clearwater. Stubborn cross-breed. And curse you, Zech for putting up a force field! Now let’s see who’s going to save you after putting us all in this mess,” she said angrily.
Present: Marjorie
M arjorie Preston sat in the living room sobbing into a throw pillow. She had lost over ten pounds, and she wondered if her life even mattered anymore. Going to a safe in the living room wall, she took out a small handgun. She became very silent and numb as she stared at the gun for at least a minute.
Beyond the Stars- Awakened Page 14