Wrath of the Sea Queen

by Cynthia Woods

  "Do you believe that you did those things?" Rika's voice laughed at Caeli.

  Caeli ignored the taunting voice and focused on her task. Again, the comforting sensation of the water triggered a response from her gift. Caeli ordered her thoughts, focusing on what she wanted to accomplish. She did not know any other way to perform the deed. So far, Caeli had simply willed the action to happen, and it did. If Rika was telling the truth, and she had not done these things herself, then this attempt would fail. At least Caeli would know that she did not possess the skill she thought she did and would not continue to rely on it. On the other hand, if she succeeded, Caeli would still be uncertain of whether she accomplished the task on her own or whether Rika permitted her to do so by supplementing her gift. Caeli hoped she would be able to tell the difference. There was only one way to find out.

  She continued her effort to break up the storm tormenting the other part of the island. Caeli sensed the rain diminishing at her request. Her gift made her aware that the slackening of the downpour was the result of her effort and not Rika's doing. Of this, she was certain. Caeli was succeeding until distraction ended her work.

  "Caeli, can you hear me?" Vin called her.

  A moment before she could reply to Vin, something solid slammed into Caeli's legs, knocking her from her feet. Caeli tried to stop herself from falling, but tripped over the unknown object wrapped around her legs. As she splashed into the frothy water and sank beneath the surface, Caeli realized that Max was clinging to her. His grip on her legs was so tight that she was unable to stand or get her balance as she continued to slip further beneath the waves. Caeli tried to reach down and pry Max's hands loose, but he would not let go.

  "Max, please turn me loose." Caeli tried to speak to him mentally, knowing he could hear her.

  "No pretty Caeli! You should not talk to the Sea Queen. You can't listen to anything she says. You can't do what she wants. Mr. Vin says I have to keep an eye on you."

  "Ok Max, but you have to let me get up. Please let go."

  Caeli could feel Rika's presence surround Max, and she was not able to raise a barrier around the boy as she could for herself. Rika prevented her from helping him. Caeli worried that Max would drown if he did not release her and make his way to the surface. Thankfully, strong hands reached beneath the six feet of churning water and pulled them both up.

  As Caeli was pulled out of the water, another set of hands tugged on Max and managed to tear his vice-like grip from her legs. His small fingernails tore scratches across her skin as he struggled to hold on and desperately tried to renew his hold once it had been removed.

  "No! No! No! I have to help pretty Caeli." Max strained within Apela's embrace. He kicked his feet and squirmed, but Apela did not relinquish his hold on his son. Instead, he held steady and worked to calm Max's anxiety.

  "There now, she's all right. Calm down, my boy. We've got her out of the water. She's safe. Come with me. Let's get in out of the rain." Apela carried a resistant Max up to the lounge.

  "That goes for you, too. Come inside, Caeli," Ben echoed Apela's instructions.

  "Not yet. I have to finish what I started, Ben." Caeli started to step toward the water again.

  "As far as I'm concerned, you are done. Whatever you were doing is over. Don't make me haul you up there. My back may still be sore, but I will risk the pain and toss you over my shoulder if I must." Ben played the guilt card that he knew Caeli could not refuse.

  Caeli did not doubt that Ben would follow through on his words, and she could not stand the thought of causing him any pain from having to do so. Not only that, but Ben was drenched. She did not want him to catch a cold. Caeli walked as sullenly as a punished teenager toward her room with Ben a few steps behind. Salma waited anxiously inside the shelter of the covered porch. Caeli glanced over her shoulder once as they neared the building, hearing Rika's mocking laughter in her mind.

  Vin noticed the return of normal power and the restored television signal as the rain decreased to a light drizzle outside. The weather was the first thing displayed on the TV where Vin sat impatiently watching the security guard unlock the ER doors. The female reporter said that authorities were still cautioning people to stay off the roads unless necessary, but the travel ban had been lifted for commercial vehicles.

  "That includes taxis," Vin said to himself.

  Vin was about to walk up to the nurses' station to have them call him a cab when he saw one pull up outside. He quickly detoured and rushed out of the glass doors of the emergency room as a patient was being wheeled inside. He hurried over to the taxi as its current passenger exited the back seat and paid his fare.

  "Sir, can you take me to my hotel?" Vin asked the driver, a man with dark hair and dark skin.

  "Where are you staying?"

  "Here." Vin handed the man Apela's business card.

  "Ah, yes. I know the place. I have to drive by there on the way to my next stop. Hop in," the driver said with a grin.

  "Thank you. You don't know how much I appreciate this." Vin opened the back door and had one foot inside the cab when a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

  "Not so fast, Mr. Harding."

  Vin turned quickly, shrugging the hand off as he reacted defensively. His eyes landed on a tall, stocky man in a dark blue uniform and a large brimmed hat. He had to be at least a foot taller than Vin. The wide, black belt at his waist held a holstered handgun at his right hip and a nightstick at his left. As Vin caught sight of the man's chest, the sheriff's badge glimmered clearly visible where it was pinned to his left shirt pocket.

  "Sheriff, I am heading back to my hotel. Couldn't you please follow me there?" Vin hoped the sheriff might agree, though he honestly did not expect the man would care that Vin was eager to get back to Caeli while the break in the weather held.

  "Dr. Simmons tells me that you checked yourself out against his advice. I'm wondering if it might be better for you to stay here a while longer. Why don't you let this good man be on his way? I will give you a ride as soon as we are finished."

  Vin reluctantly closed the cab door and thanked the driver, retrieving Apela's card. He walked the few steps over to the sheriff and officially introduced himself. He decided that it might not be a bad idea to make friends with the local sheriff, especially the way this trip was going.

  "Hi. Sorry about the confusion. I'm Eyvindr Harding, but you already know that. You can call me Vin." Vin extended his hand, which the larger man accepted politely.

  "Sheriff Brian Obrey. So, do you want to tell me why you are in such a rush to get out of here, Vin?"

  "My wife is very sick. I have been trying to get back to her all day, but it seems there is always something getting in the way. It's already after three o'clock, and I promised her I would return by lunchtime. I haven't actually seen her since we checked into our hotel last night. Her doctor had her isolated so she could run some tests and…you probably don't want to hear all this." Vin checked himself before rambling on any further about how much he missed Caeli.

  "It's all right. I married a good woman myself. I understand how you must feel. Why isn't your wife at the hospital?"

  "That's a complicated story, but she was on the plane that crashed yesterday, and we didn't find out about the severity of her problem until late last night. We are traveling with her aunt, who also happens to be her doctor. Pending the outcome of the tests, she is treating my wife at our hotel," Vin explained as succinctly as possible.

  "I see. Can I do anything to help? Do you need a ride to bring your wife and her aunt to the hospital?" Sheriff Obrey offered.

  "I honestly don't know. I have not been able to check on her by phone. That is why I'm so anxious to get to the hotel."

  "That sounds perfectly reasonable. As long as you are all right, I don't see any reason…"

  "Vin, I tried to break up the storm for you." Caeli's voice interrupted Vin's conversation, and he stood still to listen and respond.

  "Thank you. I noticed the change."


  "I did it so that you could come back when they are done with you. Are you all right?"

  "Yes, I'm fine," Vin replied while trying to listen to the Sheriff at the same time.

  "…I don't see any reason why we can't have this conversation on the way. Do you?" Sheriff Obrey continued.

  "Good, I was worried that I might have missed something even though Salma said we healed you properly."

  "Vin? Mr. Harding? Is everything all right?" The sheriff tried to get Vin's attention when he didn't respond.

  "You know how Salma can be insistent about such things," Caeli continued.

  "That's her job, Caeli, and she is very good at it. I know you trust her judgment. You are just being overly concerned because it's me."

  "True on all accounts, but I can't help it. I almost lost you once. I don't want to risk that again. I would do anything to prevent it."

  "Don't worry. I'm fine. Honey, can I talk to you in a few minutes? I have someone waiting on me right now. If I don't answer him, he is going to think I'm sick and toss me back inside the hospital. If you can wait a little longer, I should be home within a half an hour."

  "Good. I knew it would work. I knew she couldn't keep us apart. I really need to talk to you."

  "You just don't learn, do you child? Remember, you are the one forcing my hand," Rika's angry voice rang loudly through both Vin and Caeli's minds.

  As soon as Rika spoke the last word, Vin clasped his hands to the sides of his head and grit his teeth to keep from shouting. The sudden pain in his head made him feel as if his brain were on fire and like a giant clamp began to tighten its jaws on the sides of his skull. Vin staggered a step or two across the sidewalk and leaned against the building for support.

  "Vin!" Caeli could feel the pain Rika inflicted on him.

  "Rika, stop it! Please, stop!" She pleaded.

  "Vin? What's wrong? Nurse! I need some help out here." The sheriff held Vin steady on his feet until a nurse arrived with a wheelchair.

  Ben nudged Caeli forward after she stopped at the threshold of the sliding door. Caeli lost the connection with Vin and could not restore it as she stepped into the room. Her anger boiled and her heart sank. Rika was hurting Vin in a manner similar to what she had done to Caeli at the arena. There was nothing that she could do to help him without being able to connect with him. Caeli kicked the wall in frustration as she walked by the bathroom door. Then she made a quick turn and went inside, closing the bathroom door behind her.

  Caeli detoured into the bathroom before Salma could resume her lecture. Ben gave Salma a look that forestalled the verbal inquisition that she was about to unleash on Caeli. In her current state of mind, Ben did not think it would be wise to agitate Caeli further.

  "What was that all about?" Salma asked Ben with a perplexed look on her face.

  "I have no idea. She did not want to come inside until I made her feel guilty about it, but I don't think that is what's bothering her," Ben replied as he rubbed his chin.

  While they waited for Caeli to come out of the bathroom, Ben told Salma that he did not observe any new injuries on her. He thought there might be some scratches caused by Max's fingernails the way he clung so tightly to her.

  "Tell me again what you two were talking about before she went outside," Ben prompted.

  "Mainly, she wanted to talk to Vin. I attempted to explain to her why she could not. That's when she noticed that the storm knocked the power out and started behaving oddly," Salma answered.

  "Could you tell if she was talking to Vin in that way you do?" Ben queried.

  "I did not get that impression. But, now that you mention it, Caeli did seem to be listening. I have no idea what she might have heard."

  "Speaking of which, do you hear that?" Ben moved closer and put his ear to the bathroom door. Without warning he threw the door open and rushed inside.

  "Caeli! Get down from there. What in the world are you doing?"

  Ben hurried over to the window opposite the sink and tugged Caeli down off the chair where she had been attempting to climb out the open window.

  "Please, Ben! Let me go. I have to help Vin!"

  "You aren't going anywhere in this weather. Vin would rake me over the coals if I even considered letting you take such a risk. Besides, he is fine. He's at the hospital. What's gotten into you?"

  "He is not fine. You don't understand," Caeli insisted.

  "Ok. Prove it. If Vin really is in trouble, convince me, and I promise we will help him," Ben did not relent. He was not at all certain that Caeli was in her rational mind at the moment.

  "She is hurting Vin," Caeli replied as she stepped out of the bathroom, having changed into a dry pair of denim shorts and a pale yellow and blue t-shirt that she found on the chair beside the sink before she formulated an escape plan. She had not put them there and assumed that Salma must have laid them out at some point. As usual, Caeli wore no shoes or socks.

  Caeli walked over and sat down on the sofa beneath the room's only window. She pulled both of her feet beneath her and sat sideways so that she could see out the window. Salma and Ben followed her across the room. Salma took a seat beside Caeli on the couch, and Ben pulled a chair over beside Salma's end of the couch.

  "Caeli, who is hurting Vin?" Salma asked.

  "I don't really know who she is. All I know is the pain she causes. She is hurting Vin because of me. Now I can't reach him. I need to go there so I can help him."

  "Why were you climbing out the window?" Ben asked.

  "I knew you would try to stop me. You must think I've lost my mind, but I assure you I haven't."

  "Let's assume that what you're saying is true. How is she hurting him?" Salma asked.

  "She is causing pain in his head."

  "Is it very bad?"

  "Yes, severe."

  "Then, he probably won't be able to stand it for very long without passing out. Assuming that is why you can no longer reach him, then the doctors at the hospital are probably already treating him. And I would imagine that she must have stopped once he passed out. There would be no point in continuing once Vin was unconscious. Wouldn't you agree?" Salma appealed to Caeli's logic.

  "It doesn't matter. Vin needs me, and there is nothing I can do to help him from here." Caeli's agitation lined her face and shook her fidgety hands.

  "I'm sorry, Lass. I understand that you're upset, but I can't let you go out in this weather. I have to agree with Salma's assessment. It makes sense. I'm sure Vin will be fine when he wakes up. He would certainly not want you to put yourself at risk just to find him asleep when you got there."

  "I would still rather be there with him than sitting around here," Caeli conceded the possibility that they were right.

  "Of course you would; Vin knows that. And you know what he would say, don't you?" Ben gently forced her to admit the truth.

  "Yes. I won't do it again."

  "Good."

  A knock sounded at the door. Ben went to answer it, confident now that Caeli would not try to pull another crazy stunt. While he was out of earshot, Salma leaned close to Caeli and whispered.

  "Dear, how are you feeling?"

  "I'm upset."

  "Clearly, but I meant physically. How are you feeling physically?"

  "Better than I was, though I'm still incredibly tired."

  "You're not hurt?"

  "No. Why are you asking like that?" Caeli detected a hint of caution in Salma's voice.

  "I think you better step back into the bathroom and check your upper leg. I see that Max and his father have come to visit. I will distract them for a few minutes. Go on. We'll talk in a bit."

  Salma walked across the room to intercept Max and Apela as they headed further into the room. She suggested that they all go out into the lounge to wait on Caeli. Ben raised an eyebrow in silent question, but Salma merely shook her head. It was obviously not a matter she wanted to discuss in present company.

  Caeli quickly examined her leg in the privacy of the bath
room and discovered what raised Salma's concern. Her left inner thigh had a fresh smear of blood running halfway to her knee. Caeli checked to see if she might have overlooked a cut, but found nothing. She had not noticed any blood when she changed clothes. There had only been a slight twinge in her stomach at the time.

  "It is about that time of the month, but if my condition is true, then this shouldn't be happening. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm not pregnant after all. I'm glad I bought that second test while I was in the hotel lobby. I think I'm going to need it. It must have been this illness that misled me to think that I was pregnant. Yet, it seemed so real..," Caeli ran through the possibility and finally put it to rest. There was no arguing with the facts in front of her. She cleaned herself up, changed into another pair of denim shorts, and joined her friends in the lounge.

  "Everything ok?" Salma asked nonverbally.

  "Yes. It seems like Mother Nature tagged along for the trip. Obviously, I wasn't expecting her. Guess I don't need that favor after all."

  Vin woke to find himself lying in a hospital bed. He started to sit up, but the wires attached to his forehead prevented him from moving very far. He turned his head to the left and saw Sheriff Obrey sitting in a chair across the room. The sheriff heard Vin stir and looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

  "Welcome back. You gave me a bit of a scare out there." Sheriff Obrey walked over to stand beside the bed.

  "What happened?" Vin asked. All he could remember was the splitting pain in his head.

  "You were talking to me about getting home to your wife and then grabbed your head in pain. Dr. Simmons gave you something for the pain, but it had the side effect of knocking you out for a while. He was actually quite pleased that it provided him the opportunity to run those tests you were trying to skip out on earlier," the sheriff filled Vin in on his current situation.

  "Earlier? What time is it? How long have I been out?"

  "It is almost eight o'clock. You've been out long enough for me to get caught up on all of today's cases except for the lighthouse incident. I still need your statement. But, it can wait a while longer."