by R. Lynn
-36-
“How long have you and Sophia… you know?” It took every ounce of her strength to say these words.
Upon hearing them, his eyes rolled back, and he wrinkled his brow as if to recall and then suddenly remembering.
“Oh my god. Sophia!” He jumped out of the hammock, grimacing in pain and placing his hand on his bandaged wound. The momentum of his movement flipped the hammock over and spilled Sollara to the floor. He did not turn back to help her but ran out the door.
The floor acted as a good tool to smash her fist against. How could she have been so stupid to bring up Sophia? It was the first time they had been alone in ages. She stayed on the floor, defeated and humiliated, wishing she had remained silent and simply enjoyed being next to him.
Kai ran as fast as his injured body would allow. “Phoebe!” he called out as he continued pushing through the pain of his unhealed wound. “Phoebe!” he screamed. After unsuccessfully running around for what seemed like ages, he decided to go back and wait at the cabin for her. Just as he turned to leave, he heard her voice call back.
“Yes, what do you want Kai?”
“I must talk to you, please; it’s important.”
“What is it?” She walked out of the forest and toward him. When she came upon a long piece of driftwood she took a seat and beckoned him to join her. Kai took a deep breath and proceeded to tell her all about his recurring dream.
“Are you sure this is all you saw?” she pried.
“Yes, do you know what it means?” He was desperate for any form of understanding.
“I am afraid I may; let me investigate to confirm my suspicions. I will meet you back at the cabin.”
He listened to Phoebe and made his way back to River Side Joe’s. When he opened the door, he practically stumbled over Sollara who was lying on the floor crying.
“Sollara?”
She didn't respond, so he bent down next to her and stroked her hair, hoping to calm her. At his touch she instantly pulled away. He was about to press her further when Phoebe burst through the door.
“Kai, I need to talk to you,” she said, “privately,” as she looked at Sollara.
“Phoebe, you can tell me whatever it is in front of Sollara.”
She walked over to him and put her arm around his shoulder. Her eyes were rimmed with tears about to flow. “It's...it's Sophia... she... she’s dead.”
“No, you’re wrong. It can’t be. Not Sophia. It’s not funny Phoebe.” He studied her face, trying to see if she was lying. When he found no trace of a lie, he hung his head in his hands.
It had caught Sollara off guard when Kai had returned so suddenly. Now she felt foolish for creating a scene. Hearing what Phoebe had said and seeing the grief that overwhelmed him, she wished there was something she could do. Kai had Loved and Lost. And she knew this feeling all too well.
Before Phoebe left to collect the group, she nodded at Sollara, motioning for her to tend to Kai. She did as Phoebe asked and sat up maneuvering beside him so she could rub his back. Unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around her neck and pressed his face to her chest as he wept for his love.
Oh how she wanted to hold him— to kiss his pain away. But she forced herself not to be so selfish. How could she think about herself when he was in so much pain?
He pulled back from their embrace, light reflected through his watery eyes. She reached up and wiped his cheek with the back of her hand, where a stray tear had managed to escape.
He leaned forward and tried to kiss her.
Immediately she pulled back and slapped him across the face. “Kai, I know you are grieving lost love, but how dare you use me as a rebound to soothe your hurt!”
His face was in shock as he watched her. “Sollara I’m so sorry, I....” She didn't stay to hear him out but left the cabin and ran down the beach.
Tears and more tears. She felt as though she was drowning in anger and grief as she ran blindly down the beach away from him. Oh how she had longed for him to want her. How could she have been so stupid, so naïve?
She doubled forward, holding onto her knees for support, too distraught to continue running. The sound of footsteps on the soft pebbles grew ever louder. She turned to see Kai jogging down the beach after her.
“Sollara wait!” he shouted. “Please, can we talk about this?”
“Fine, talk,” she snapped, as she wiped away her tears.
“Do you not feel anything toward me Sollara? Please answer. I swear to god if you answer no I will leave you alone if that's what you want.”
“What I want. What I want!” she yelled. “I know what I don’t want! I don't want to be another girl on your long list of conquests!”
“What are you talking about? There are no other girls. There has never been a girl who makes me feel like you do.”
It had to be a lie; it just had to be. She couldn’t believe him.
“When you were in the hospital bed, I was trying to tell you how I felt about you, and you started moaning another girl's name. Do you know how that made me feel? I heard you calling for Sophia. I heard you... and you’re always together— don't do this to me, don't lie to me anymore. I’m not strong enough for this torment.” She forced herself to walk away from him.
A spark of sudden understanding flashed in his eyes. “Sollara, I was dreaming. I had a dream Sophia was out hunting at the university a couple of miles from campus. A strange man came up behind her and snapped her neck, and then a group of men tore her body into pieces. I kept having the same nightmare over and over. I told Phoebe and she called Coeus. He confirmed it to be true. I don’t love Sophia! Stupid silly Sollara! Listen to me,” he yanked her arm back pulling her to face him, “I know I have made many mistakes. For everything I have ever done to hurt you I’m so sorry. The gods knows I’m sorry. You have never been just anything to me, Sollara. From the very moment I saw you in that field I felt whole. Sollara you are everything.” His eyes were filled with such love and so much beauty that it screamed into her heart and broke down her emotional walls.
She stumbled back, shock danced upon her face. How could she let herself believe him?
“But you told me you regretted being drawn to me. You....”
She tried to argue but no words came out. Instead she felt his velvety lips pressed against hers. She struggled to free herself mentally but her body disobeyed and melted into his. Pressing against his muscular frame, his tongue forced its way into her mouth and danced with hers.
One of his hands tangled itself in her hair pulling her tightly against his lips. The other wrapped around her waist, lifting her off the ground. Waves crashed against their feet. The world spun, their hearts leapt. His touch, his kiss was so much more than she had ever imagined it to be.
-37-
The electricity burned within her as their passion intensified. Her only desired was to be closer to him. Somehow she tried to force her body even further into his. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she clung to him, and they became lost in each other’s embrace.
A light breeze whipped about them, tickling her cheeks. It was the most perfect moment she had ever experienced. Better than anything she could have created in the in-between. But when the sound of someone clearing his or her throat interrupted their moment, Sollara’s heart dropped in sadness of having been distracted from Kai.
Kai also tried to ignore whomever it was, but when the sound persisted, turned to see the source. Wide-eyed before the pair stood Andrew, Hannah, Phoebe, Iresh and someone who could only be Oya; a stunning woman who looked strikingly similar to Iresh but with the mark of a feather beside her eye above her cheek. Sollara was starting to see a pattern with the strange markings.
Finally, Hannah spoke interrupting the awkward silence.
“Whatcha doing?”
The absurdity of her question threw Sollara into a fit of laughter. Kai struggled to maintain his footing as he held Sollara while she leaned backwards.
“No seriously, that’s cool. How are you guys d
oing that?” Hannah continued.
Looking down to where Hannah pointed, they noticed two amazing things. One, they were completely engulfed in white flames which danced on their flesh as they embraced; and two, they were about four feet above ground level standing on the water. It had risen creating some sort of step that pushed them into the air.
Sollara gasped as she looked to Kai.
“Hey, do you people mind? I have waited hundreds of years to be able to hold the love of my life in my arms, and you are ruining the moment,” Kai scolded.
Love of his Life, she could get used to that.
Sollara had loved and won!
“So you have activated soul fire.” Iresh rolled his eyes as he looked upon the pair suspended on a step of water. “No big deal.”
“Soul fire?” Sollara turned from Kai to look at Iresh.
He crossed his arms in frustration as he explained it to her. The tone of his voice reflected the fact that he was not impressed by their display. “We each can access our gifts with our body, mind, and soul. By the looks of you two, that is triggered by soul. It isn’t burning Kai is it?” Iresh looked at Kai.
“No, I’m fine,” he said to Iresh, “More than fine,” he whispered into Sollara’s ear.
“I hate to be the one who dampens this wonderful moment,” Phoebe interjected. “But we need to make a decision about where we are going. Some of you have suggested paying our respects at Sophia's funeral. That is a risk, as we already know, because the Descendants are aware that Kai and Sollara have recently been there.”
Sollara interlocked her fingers with Kai’s and nuzzled her face into his neck. It completely overwhelmed her that this godlike creature chose her. It took Phoebe three times calling her name to get her attention.
“Sollara...Sollara? Sollara!”
“Sorry, yes?”
“What are your thoughts? Do we go to Cortez where we know it is safe for now or go back to the university?” she asked.
Sollara looked to Kai. Being with him made her feel safe. And she was no longer afraid of any of the Descendants. The flames had dwindled, and they now stood on the sand next to the others. “
I think that we need to make sure the other students are safe, and the four of us need to learn how to work together.” she said signaling with her hands to the other Elementals. “We are somehow connected in all this. I think we should go back, continue learning and put together a better plan of action. We can’t run away forever.”
“But us going back could cause the other students to be in harm’s way. We have already lost Sophia,” Andrew threw in.
“All we have is our soul,” Sollara recited the words Aurora had instilled into her. “They can’t take it from us, and not doing anything would be like surrendering or giving up.”
Oya floated into the air and descended, placing herself in the circle. Now Sollara understood why they thought it was funny when she said Oya was a good tree climber. She didn't climb, she floated. And Sollara really wanted to learn how to do that.
“Please, Sollara is right.” Oya spoke so softly that Sollara had to concentrate to hear what she was saying. “We do risk the university and the students, but we must learn how to work together. Are there any training facilities in Cortez?” she asked.
“No, I’m afraid not. It is only a vacation home,” Phoebe replied.
“Then it is settled. We head back to the university.” Hannah clapped her hands together in conclusion.
“All right,” Phoebe sighed as she shook her head at Hannah’s exuberance. “Let’s spend the night here, and tomorrow we will head back. Unless someone has just reason we should not?” she looked around the circle, studying each person’s face.
Not one said a word; they were in silent agreement.
As a group they walked back to the cabin. All the while Sollara and Kai had their fingers intertwined.
As they got closer, the door of the cabin flung open, and a scraggly older gentleman rushed out carrying surfboards. He was also wearing cloth wrapped around his waist and his hair did not looked like it had been combed in ages. They knew instantly it was River Mouth Joe.
“Are all y’all just gonna stand around while the sun’s out ‘n the surf’s high? I brought you these.” He dropped the boards and headed back to the cabin. Short but straight to the point— Sollara liked River Mouth Joe. She looked to Kai, her eyes begging him to grant her wish.
“All right, Let’s go surfing,” Kai said, “even if my bandages get soaked.”
“Brother, don’t use your little scratch as an excuse for looking bad next to me,” Iresh joked as he grabbed a board and threw a block of wax at Kai.
They became a hive of action, getting their swimsuits on and waxing boards. Joe was right; it was the perfect day to surf even though Sollara really didn't know how.
She was content to watch Kai and Iresh demonstrate expert skill on their boards. They battled each other, trying to best the others moves. Meanwhile, Oya floated above the water, occasionally dipping her toes in, and Hannah lay on a towel next to Sollara.
“I hope I get more freckles,” Hannah said as she rolled over and exposed her back to the sun.
Sollara raised an eyebrow as she looked over her friend. “I was going to ask you about that. When did you start getting color?”
“When you came,” Hannah confessed as she closed her eyes to relax.
It seemed like an unusual coincidence, and Sollara couldn’t help but worry. Coincidences never seemed to end up being very good.
Before she could think it over any further a huge wave pushed Iresh over, and he fell in front of Kai, knocking Kai's board out from under his feet. Sollara watched in astonishment as Kai didn't seem to notice. Even without a board he successfully rode the rest of the wave by floating on the water.
Sollara spontaneously clapped. “That was awesome!”
“What's that?” he yelled from the water.
“Look at your feet!”
He looked down then back up quickly. Confusion gave way to pure joy. “I don’t have a board! This is awesome!”
-38-
After dinner around the campfire, Kai asked Sollara to go for a walk with him. They took their time enjoying each other’s company as, hand in hand, they sauntered away from the fire. He had brought a blanket and spread it out on a rock-free portion of the beach.
They lay down next to each other, listened to the sound of the waves and watched the stars. Sollara was in total bliss with her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat.
“Sollara, I just want to apologize for not telling you who I was. You know back in the Deep Kingdom when I wasn't in true form?”
“It's all right. I have forgotten that already,” she replied as she propped her head up to look at him.
“No, it’s not all right. I didn't realize that my actions were being dishonest. I just wanted to be around you and get to know everything about you. When I heard you talk about me with so much fondness, I was hooked. I needed more. It was like all my years of being lonely were erased with your simple caring words. I should have told you sooner, but I didn't know how.”
His words warmed her heart, and any lack of trust she had was washed away. “Kai, here is my offer. I will forgive you for that only if you remind me how wonderful those lips of yours feel against mine.”
Kai’s answer was swift. He grabbed her waist and in one motion flipped her under him. His lips gently caressed her neck, and she let out a moan, one that she wasn't ashamed of. He softly worked his way up to her lips and paused to take in her face before bringing his lips to hers in indulgence. It took all Sollara’s willpower to restrain herself from ripping off Kai's clothes. Her body was telling her to go further, but her mind was telling her she wasn't ready yet.
They fell asleep in each other's arms on the beach, and soon the sun’s early rays warmed her face. She opened her eyes to find Andrew video taping them.
“What is he doing?” she asked.
Kai rolled
over and opened his sleep filled eyes and looked at Andrew. “Do you remember when I told you I will show you how to get pictures on the TV? Well, Andrew is doing that with us, that device turns us into those pictures. It captures what we are doing,” he explained.
“Stop, Andrew. Don’t you know not to bother a red head when she first wakes up?” She hid her face in Kai’s arm.
“I figured I could use a little blackmail. By the way, Sollara, did you know that you snore louder than Kai?” he teased.
“I do not snore!”
“Yes you do sweetheart.” Kai laughed in his groggy morning voice.
“That's it!” She jumped to her feet and chased after Andrew, trying to get the camera. He was much taller than she, so he held it high out of reach. He laughed at her failed attempt to reach it. After jumping for a while, she debated trying to shadow Oya's abilities. But when the thought of a rematch with Andrew came up, she decided combat was the better option.
She stopped jumping for the camera and crossed her arms.
“You give up so easily.”
At that she punched him in the stomach causing him to bend forward. Then quickly snatched the camera. Sollara sauntered down the beach toward the cabin with a wide grin on her face.
“I told you not to bother with a red head when she first wakes up. Oh, and does that count as the rematch you requested?” she yelled back after him.
“That’s it!” he cried as he ran after her tackling her to the sand.
They wrestled for the camera until Kai came and broke them up. He threatened to beat up Andrew for fondling his girl.
“Andrew, did it hurt getting beaten by a girl?” Hannah teased as she threw him a bag to start packing with.
“Only my pride H, only my pride.”
They laughed at him as they set about gathering their things. It didn’t take long as they didn’t bring much with them and soon everyone had regrouped by the cars. The ride home was a lot less adventurous. But Sollara didn’t mindhaving Kai beside her made the world feel right.