by R. Lynn
Sollara watched him devour his apple, fascinated that he, a SOD, ate like humans did. After a few awkward moments, Andrew paused and looked at her.
“Can I help you with something?” he asked.
“Sorry,” she blushed when she realized she had been caught staring. “It is just weird to me that you eat things other than, well you know… blood.”
“We normally don't but on occasion we eat something. Most of us prefer fruit as it is sweet like blood,” he answered.
“While we are asking things…” Sollara let out an awkward giggle, hoping to take some attention away from her prying questions. “Can I ask how it is that you are sitting in the early morning sun? You aren't sparkling or burning. I thought that SODs couldn’t go in the sun.”
“There you go with that name again…SODs SODs SODs! Where are you getting your information on Dark Ones from?” he raised his eyebrows and turned to face her.
“I don't know. I read a couple of books about Dark Ones when I was in the Deep Kingdom.”
“Ah, that explains a few things. You really shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
She threw her apple at him. He caught it with one hand and took out a big bite.
“But seriously Sollara, the reason we don't go out very often in the daylight is not a complicated one. We are pale skinned. Casper looks tanned next to us,” he said with a mouth full of apple.
“Casper?”
“You’re killing me! Casper the friendly ghost? Really, nothing?” He studied her face hoping for a sign of understanding. When he saw nothing, he continued, “I will make you watch that movie, too. Anyway, if it’s sunny out and we are the only ones at the beach who are not burning or tanning, or getting any color, people start to talk. We stand out in a crowd. I mean our skin is extraordinarily pale if you haven’t noticed. Eventually, people started noticing our kind more and more, noticing how we never colored, never seemed to age. It just got to be too much, so we decided to become night dwellers.”
“I guess that makes sense. But don't you miss going out in the day like normal people? When I was in the Deep Kingdom that’s all I could think about.”
“Yeah, we do but you must understand what it is like living so many years underground. You get used to it.”
The truck pulled into the gravel parking lot interrupting their conversation. Sollara tapped her fingers impatiently on the hood; she was worried how she would feel seeing Kai again.
Kai was just waking up. And Phoebe had asked Hannah to stay with him while they went to find the twins.
Sollara tried to hide the disappointment of not seeing him, even if she was afraid to. Without complaint she followed after Phoebe and Andrew. They had only been walking for a short while when they came up to a two-story house.
It was constructed out of driftwood and clay. Glass bottles clumped together served as windows, and random other recycled materials were built into its form. The house was painted in blues and greens, and even though it was very much out of place in the forest, it was stunning.
A young girl with frizzy orange hair was playing with an old tire in the front. She wore a colorful piece of fabric wrapped around her like a dress and she was barefoot.
Andrew nudged Sollara and pointed to the girl. “See, you’re not the only one with fire for hair.”
The little girl looked up and noticed the three of them staring at her. “Mom, Dad we have visitors!” she shouted.
A bald, older man with a grey beard that hung in long braids adorned with seashells and stones came to greet them. He also wore a colorful piece of cloth but just around his waist.
“Hello, and welcome to Sombrio Beach. What brings you fine folks this way?” His voice was jovial but had an undertone of caution.
“We are here for the twins; I assume you know of whom I speak?” Phoebe said.
“Lily, look after the kids. I’m going to take our visitors to River Mouth Joe’s,” he yelled in the house. “Follow me,” he said, not divulging any further information.
They passed a series of shelters composed of driftwood, steel sheeting, tarps, and other recycled things. Surfboards where scattered randomly around the squatters village. Children laughed and played, and adults gathered around fireplaces exchanging stories and cooking fresh fish. Others tended the vegetable gardens or milked one of the many goats. They didn’t even bother to stop what they were doing to watch the group pass by.
It was peaceful and unassuming, and Sollara appreciated that they lived off the land and in community. She silently hoped that they treasured the simple joy of living each day for what they are passionate about and not running from whatever problems life would have brought them.
As they passed through the village, they came upon an opening in the forest. The trees to their right started to shift and parted in a perfect row leading to the group. She could feel them bend and crack as if they were her own limbs. The peculiarity of their motion caused the group to stop and stare.
“That’s weird!” Andrew said, directing everyone to the trees.
Sollara’s skin tingled as a fern dusted past her arm. She suddenly felt so connected to the nature around her. The very earth beneath her feet felt like an extension of her legs.
Looking back toward the parted trees, she saw a man standing in the new clearing. He was tall with earth colored skin and long black hair that hung past his shoulders. He wore a simple pair of camouflage shorts. And a drawing of a tree was painted or carved into his flesh. Her eyes ran down to the flames on her hand, and she couldn’t help but wonder if how he got his marking was similar to how she got hers.
She watched him in awe. There was something strangely familiar about the feeling of his presence. When his dark almond shaped eyes held hers, a wave of recognition flowed through her. Somehow, this man, this stranger, was kin.
“Nice of you blood suckers to join us,” he snarled, never taking his eyes off Sollara. “I would like to talk to Sollara privately.” It was not a question; it was a demand.
Phoebe nodded, but gave him a look that read something like, do not hurt her.
“We will meet you at River Mouth Joe’s Cabin,” he informed, ignoring Phoebe and trudging through the brush to Sollara.
For some reason he did not scare her. And when his large hand took her hand, she willingly followed after him. When they were out of reach of the SODs’ hearing, he turned to talk to her.
“Let me guess, Phoebe convinced you that you need to drink blood to keep your strength?”
A loud crashing sound distracted Sollara from him. She peered over his shoulder through the trees, trying to find its source.
“Sollara?” he asked, his gaze holding hers with a look of concern. He waved his hand in front of her face, and she stepped around him and walked toward the sound.
When she had passed through the trees, she froze in place. She stared out before her in amazed wonder. She could sense him beside her, watching her. But try as she might, she couldn’t bear to take her eyes off the beauty and majesty of the ocean.
“I guess she didn’t bother to mention that Elementals can also get strength and healing through nature. No, I bet she didn'tshe would much rather force blood down your throat,” he growled, ignoring the fact that Sollara wasn’t paying full attention to him.
“What are you talking about?” Sollara turned towards him and tried to focus on his face.
“Elementals are named after their strongest ability. I am Iresh and my name means earth. My twin sister is Oya and her name means wind. Kai means water. Your name means solar or sun. We’re above those bloodsuckers. Even though we have blood thirst when we use our powers, our partner’s ability can quench it. Does the sun not make you feel alive, powerful?” He studied her face looking for answers.
“Yes it does. I never knew, I...I....” She was torn between what he was telling her and the overwhelming urge to run to the water. Deciding on both, she grabbed his arm and pulled him with her as she walked toward the waves.
<
br /> Following behind Sollara, he could tell by the stiffness of her back and lack of response that it was what he expected. “Phoebe tried to trick me once, too, but I wouldn't have it. So she shipped my sister and me off to Port Renfrew. Put us up in this big flashy penthouse. Needless to say it was not our style. So we came here.” He studied her face once more, watching as Sollara stopped walking and crinkled her brow at what he had said.
“She bought you something, too, didn’t she?”
“Well…a car. And a bike for Kai, but…”
“It’s all part of her plan, trying to get you to trust her. She is going to try to trick you just like she did me.”
“What do you mean she tried to trick you? What good would it do her if you were to drink blood?” Sollara asked.
“I'm not sure yet. But I find it really odd that she never told me about my option to self heal in nature. I was lucky to find a letter from my mother in an old childhood book of mine telling me some of the secrets to being an Elemental. When I approached Phoebe about it, she denied ever knowing about the alternative to blood. Things just don't add up for me. Not to mention that she has eaten one of our kind before. Just don't trust her, Sollara. I don't have a good feeling about her. I know you don't know me yet, but we share a special connection through nature, and I really don't want to lose you or Kai. We have to protect our kind.” His face was so stern, desperately begging her to be on guard.
“I will be alert, and I will weigh everything from now on. In my eighteen years I have been very naive about how others operate. Overly trusting wouldn't even begin to describe me. I have learned my lessons. Thank you, Iresh, for your concern.” She was diplomatic and careful, not wanting him to know how deeply she was processing his words. And even though she felt somehow connected to him, she had to start being more wary. The thought of Phoebe being calculating had caught her off guard.
-35-
“Come. We must go to the others. There will be time to play in the water,” Iresh said as he guided her down the beach with his hand on her shoulder. Again, she followed him willingly, and soon a small log cabin came into view.
Phoebe paced back and forth beside it, talking on her cell phone. Andrew had explained that they use the same magic as the radio. After she understood phones, the situation with the jewel buyer made more sense. The magic of the Surface was so exciting to her. Andrew said it was called technology, and she couldn’t wait to learn more about it.
When they got closer, Sollara managed to catch the last part of Phoebe’s conversation. “Still haven't found any trace? Really... well have you talked to friends and checked all areas that are routine visits? Ok, thanks, please do. Yes. You too, goodbye.”
When Phoebe saw them, relief washed over her face. This confused Sollara. If Phoebe wasn’t being honest, then why did she seem to care? Having had her share of people manipulating her, Sollara decided talk to Phoebe about what Iresh had said when they got to Cortez.
The door to the cabin swung open and out walked Kai. He went right past Phoebe and Sollara and threw his arms around Iresh.
“Iresh!”
“Kai!”
They laughed and embraced each other. Kai winced under the pressure of Iresh’s hands on his wound. But the joy of seeing his friend powered him through the pain.
“What has it been? A thousand years? Look at you. You don't look a day over two,” Iresh beamed.
“It’s good to see you, too, brother. Where’s Oya?” Kai was grinning from ear to ear. It was obvious that they knew each other well and with great affection.
“Wait a minute.” Sollara was so taken aback by what they said, that she didn’t even realize Kai was doing better. “How old does that make you?” she asked.
“If we were in Atlanticus, I would be two maybe three years old. In human years I am the equivalent of nineteen. It is roughly four human years, give or take a few months, to one Atlantian day. Time goes by much faster here.” Kai offhandedly answered while still in locked arms with Iresh.
“So you are saying, if you count every four human years, it is only one Atlantian day? So I am only days old in Atlanticus?” Sollara struggled to process what she had been told.
“Or you could do the opposite; think about how many days you would be if you had stayed in Atlanticus and times that by four,” Iresh offered.
“But… I thought I was only one year younger than you…I...” Then it dawned on her, “Oh my Apollo, I am old! I was almost two when Mari and Sugoi took me from Atlanticus. That meant I was hundreds of human years old already? I...I am old.” She began pacing in circles, trying to fully comprehend what she had just learned.
“Did she just say oh my Apollo?” Iresh asked as he raised his eyebrow and turned to Sollara.
“It’s a long story,” Andrew laughed as he came up behind them shaking his head. “Iresh, good to see you again.”
Iresh did not offer Andrew a return greeting but watched Sollara as she paced back and forth before them. This worried Kai as well; he assumed her actions were in response to learning her true age.
“Sollara, calm down. Age is just a number. You can’t let it muddle your head. Just know you are the equivalent to eighteen.”
Hannah and Phoebe noticed the group and walked over just in time to hear Sollara lose her composure.
“What do you expect from me? I just found out that I am technically four years old for every day I have lived. Or is it one year for every four? I have wasted lifetimes living underground. Such a waste… I mean....”
Phoebe put her arm across Sollara’s shoulders. Iresh stiffened his back and clenched his fists when he noticed Phoebe was there.
“Don't worry child,” Phoebe tried to reassure, “most everyone here is much older than you.” She grinned as she turned to head back to the cabin.
A good number of them laughed at Phoebe’s comment, except Iresh who only relaxed once she was a good distance away. Sollara puzzled over what Phoebe had said as they walked together toward the cabin. Awe and confusion at the collective age of the group overwhelmed her, and she could barely focus on walking. To an untrained eye they were just a bunch of kids, but in truth they were hundreds of years old.
She eventually got over her shock and made her way to River Mouth Joe’s cabin. When she entered, Phoebe and Iresh where arguing about the plan. Looking around the room, she noticed that the people who brought them there, River Mouth Joe and Iresh’s twin sister Oya, were not there.
“Where is River Mouth Joe, the gentleman who brought us here… and Oya?” Sollara asked, interrupting the arguing.
“One of the resident bald eagles has not returned home for a few days. They are bringing Oya to the nest so she can check on the eaglets,” Iresh offhandedly explained as he stared across the room at Phoebe.
“Oya must be a good climber. I read once that eagles only nest in the tallest trees.”
It amused the group, and some even laughed out loud at what Sollara had said.
“What, it's true. Why is that even funny?” she was getting more and more frustrated at the continual laughter at her expense.
“No, its not that it isn't true.” Kai tried to stifle his laugh to explain. “It's just, you obviously have never met Oya.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You will see,” he said as he patted Iresh on the back.
Frustrated with the events of the morning, Sollara slumped into the hammock in the corner of the room to pout. The group set out to find Oya, with the exception of Kai who watched Sollara with a curious intensity as he walked over to the hammock.
“Move over, let me in too,” he instructed as he pushed at her in the hammock while trying to maneuver in.
She gave in and moved over, granting him enough room to lie down. “You seem to be doing much better.”
“I feel much better. I’m still pretty sore, but apparently human blood speeds our recovery. Or so Phoebe says.” He lay down next to her and she could feel her heart beat
accelerate. Just being next to him manipulated her body to do his will. They were so close, only millimeters away. The electrical current in her blood was buzzing between their bodies.
He turned his head to gaze at her. She turned away, suppressing her feelings as they surged up within her. It wouldn’t help her hurting heart to allow his beauty to hypnotize her into forgetting her pain. He belonged to another and would never be hers. Sollara choked back tears when the realization of it sunk in.
“Sollara, can we talk?” he asked. They were so close that she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck. It gave her shivers.
“All right, but why?” She tried hard to sound casual.
“Can you turn around and look at me please?” he begged.
She rolled over, trying her best to keep distance, to maintain some sort of boundary. However, just the opposite happened. His weight caused her to fall into him. Pressed up against his chest, she struggled to push away. Then two strong arms halted her when they wrapped around her and pulled her close.
Their faces barely avoided touching. His eyes drew her in, she so desperately wanted to press her lips against his, just once, just to know.
“I thought I’d lost you. I saw the guy and I ran as fast as I could. Thank god you are safe. I would never have forgiven myself if...” he stopped.
He reached up and pushed a strand of stray hair back behind her ear. The touch of his hand against her skin caused her resolve to weaken. And in a moment of anarchy, she moaned softly in pleasure. Quickly she cleared her throat and turned the moan into a grunting sound.
She longed for this man more than she longed for blood. More than her lungs needed oxygen and more than the ocean’s tide longed for the shore. Being this close only hurt more. She couldn't stay. It was slowly chipping away at what was left of her very fragile heart.