Deep

by Leesa Birch

  “How are you feeling today, Ivy?” asked Grogan as he placed his hands on my neck. His eyes changed. Was he examining me? I pulled away.

  “What are you doing, Grogan? I’m fine, really.” He cocked his head slightly. “I just spoke to Kane. You’re not fine at all. Your temperature seems to be dropping in line with the lake’s, and the tea I gave you isn’t working on your nightmares anymore. They’re getting stronger, aren’t they, Ivy?” I nodded slightly when realisation kicked in.

  “Gary isn’t here to help, is he? He was sent to keep an eye on me, to make sure I didn’t double-back and catch you and Kane conspiring. Well, I hope you had a nice chat. Did he tell you his big secret?”

  Grogan looked confused. “Never mind.” I tried to calm down. “Why were you talking to Kane behind my back? I would have answered anything you asked.” This wasn’t entirely true. The fog thing was none of his business. Oh God, I hope he didn’t share that.

  “Ivy,” Grogan put his hand gently on my arm. “Kane’s worried about you, that’s all. We all are. Especially as you seem to have a link to the lake’s problems. Enough of that though, Ivy. We have water weaving to master.” He turned and swooped out of the tent, his flowing coat knocking things over as he went. I just knew this was going to end up in the stream.

  I followed Grogan to the edge of the stream where he was standing with his wispy white hair blowing in the breeze, and his arms folded, ready for the task at hand. I hoped this wasn’t going to take long as I was already cold.

  “Okay, Ivy, from what Barrett told me about what happened in the tunnel, I had an idea. I need you to stand in the middle of the stream.” The look on my face must have been awful. Grogan turned to me and carried on explaining.

  “You won’t get wet if you concentrate properly, I promise. Move the water as you walk into the stream. Divert it, like we practised.” I looked at the angry stream.

  “Then what?” I asked, looking worried. With his hand on my shoulder reassuringly, he said something I wasn’t expecting.

  “Then I need you to crouch down as low as you can get. With the same skill you use to divert the water around you, I want you to divert it over you. Create a bubble, if you will.” I had stopped listening. Was he mad?

  “I’m not doing that, Grogan. I’ll drown.” I begged.

  “Ivy, you’ll be fine if you concentrate. It’s the same principle as moving the stream around you.

  Let a small wall build in front of you, then let it flow over you. You need to do this, Ivy. It’s the next step in your training, and council orders.” I looked at the stream, feeling betrayed. Council orders meant no choice.

  “Fine,” I said, defiantly. I removed my boots and took a step towards the freezing torrent. I held out my hands as if to calm the water, and moved the flow away from me. The bed of the stream was muddier than usual and I sank a little as I stepped in. Four paces took me to the centre. I was pleased that I’d made it this far without slipping and soaking myself. I let the water flow to the left of me. Now I was an island waiting for the worst to happen.

  “Okay, Ivy, now crouch down and let the water flow over you. And try not to panic, I’ll be right here.” I frowned at Grogan hard.

  “Ssshhh!” I let out a breath and slowly crouched down. I wobbled a little and the stream splashed at me as if it was eager to see me fail. I started to let a wall of water build in front of me. This I knew how to do, the next bit was going to be hard. The tip of the wall started to curl and I threw my hands straight up and over to guide the water.

  It worked! The water rushed over me, leaving me looking up at it in surprise. I carefully looked to either side of me to make sure my bubble was holding. With my hands still in the air, looking up at the torrent flowing above me, my eyes felt strange. They felt thick and gluey. I blinked a few times but they wouldn’t clear. I could feel myself vibrating and my breathing quickened. This wasn’t fun anymore, something was wrong. I tried to call Grogan but he couldn’t hear me.

  I felt a familiar surge of hot energy flow through me - the same energy from the fight I’d had against Luke, the fight I nearly lost myself to. I shook my head to try and clear my thoughts – a mistake. I wavered under the strain, dropping my arms. The stream did not wait for me to rectify my lapse in concentration. The mass of raging, cold water impacted on me with force. I hit several bed rocks as I was carried, mercilessly downstream.

  Grogan came running to a halt next to me as I lay coughing up water and what could have been a bit of blood.

  “I think we’d better get you inside, Ivy. Then I can take a look at your damage.” He carefully helped me to my feet and walked me towards the tent. Holding my hand as we walked, I could feel him healing me. Shame he couldn’t do anything about my temperature. I was so very cold.

  Grogan had healed me fully and expressed his pride in what I had accomplished by the time he walked me back to my cabin. I was wrapped in one of his throws, cold and wet. I was too exhausted to dry myself.

  Kane was stood frowning at us as we approached. Grogan thought it best to say goodbye a good thirty feet away, leaving me to walk the rest by myself. I felt weak and wasn’t up for defending my latest accident. My knees buckled as I reached him. Kane caught me before I hit the ground. In one movement he slid his hand beneath me, pulling me up into his arms. Kicking the door closed behind us, he carried me straight into the bathroom.

  I shivered as he unwrapped Grogan’s throw from my body. There was a bath already waiting for me. The temperature of the water burned as he lowered me in. I struggled against his hold.

  “Quit fighting me, Ivy. You need this. I can’t believe Grogan had you out in the stream today. Damn him.” I tried to speak but was too busy throbbing in the overly hot water.

  Frustrated, Kane sat on the laundry box, watching me slowly thaw out.

  “Here, I got you these.” He held out a small, heavily embossed trinket box. I was still trembling as he opened it for me. It was full of a strange coloured powder. Kneeling down next to the tub, he pulled out a handful and sprinkled it into the bath water. It started to fizz.

  “I saw some in your apartment back in Chicago before you left. How does it feel?” The fizzing bath salts made my skin tingle all over.

  It felt like a full body massage. My muscles started to unclench and I started to relax. He sat holding my hand for a while until I felt a little more human; well, as human as a Lake Dweller could feel.

  “Grogan was only trying to help prevent me drowning the next time I got stuck in a tunnel full of water. I’m alright you know, just a little tired.” Kissing the inside of my wrist, he rose slowly, perching on the rim of the bath. I closed my eyes and sighed as he did. Then he stopped. Looking up at him I could see something was wrong.

  “I’ll be in the lounge when you’re done, Ivy. There’s something I wanna talk to you about.” He let go of my hand and left me alone to stew. I couldn’t relax much after that. Once my teeth stopped chattering, I grabbed my robe and headed into the lounge.

  Kane was pacing the room like a trapped animal. He pulled his hair back into a pony tail, which usually showed he meant business. I perched on the edge of the couch, coffee in hand, and waited for the bad news. It had to be bad news for him to be so worked up about it, right?

  Several times he went to speak and changed his mind.

  “Will you stop pacing and just spit it out, Kane, you’re worrying me.” I took a long drink of coffee; not in a million years did I expect to hear what he said.

  “Ivy, I think we should get married.” I choked, spraying coffee everywhere. He sat down next to me, handing me a cloth. I rose off the couch quickly, backing away from him.

  “What! Are you serious? Lake Dwellers don’t get married. It’s unheard of.” Kane stood and walked towards me. I held out my hands.

  “No, that’s ridiculous. What are you saying?” I didn’t give him chance to speak. I was rambling like a crazy person.

  “We don’t get married, we live too long. No
one is expected to stay with the same person for over two hundred years. That would be lunacy. Where did you get such a…” I couldn’t breathe. The pipes in the room had started to rattle.

  Kane grabbed me by my arms and held me tight, whispering closely into my ear.

  “It’s not so wrong, Ivy.” I leant my head on his shoulder and my breathing slowed. “When I said I wasn’t going anywhere, I meant it. Take some time to think about it. I have to leave for work for a while; we’ll talk when I get back.” He lifted my chin. His smouldering eyes so blue - he was really going right now?

  My mind raced for something to say, “I…” His lips stopped me from saying anything I’d regret. I ached under the overwhelming pleasure. My eyes shifted just as he released me. I stood there staring at him, breathless. I didn’t know what to say. He smiled cheekily, impressed at what he’d done. Then he grabbed his bag by the door and was gone.

  Standing there alone in my cabin once more, I just shook my head in disbelief. Marriage? Was this the big secret? I hoped so. I didn’t think I could handle anything else right now. I wasn’t handling this. After sighing several times, full of nervous energy, I cleaned the cabin like never before.

  I lay in bed staring at the empty spot where Kane usually slept. I was irritated that he’d asked and ran. I was more irritated that I hadn’t handled it very well. I turned over, hoping the ceiling had better answers. It looked at me blankly. This was going to be a long night.

  The sound of a door slamming shut woke me, followed by the laughter of small children. I sat up in bed and stretched. I could smell the heat of the early rising summer sun. It was going to be a good day. I fiddled with the ring on my finger and smiled at the muddy boots in the corner of the room. Pulling on my robe, I opened the bedroom door and went downstairs.

  “You’re supposed to keep your toys off the stairs you two!” I called out to an empty house. Picking up some socks and a toy truck I paused by the hallway mirror. Straightening my long black hair, I still couldn’t believe how it had grown so fast. It was just short of my elbows now, with a slight curl at the end. The smell of food emanating from the kitchen drew my attention away.

  Pushing open the door, the smell of waffles hit me. “Morning sweetheart,” Kane said, looking up at me. He piled the hot food onto four plates and walked over. Brushing my unruly hair out of my eyes he kissed me. “Happy Birthday, Ivy,” he said as he squeezed me playfully. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, “How long do you think before we’re interrupted?” I smiled back at him but it was too late. Two children ran through the kitchen like tornados. Kane grabbed one as she ran past. “No running in the kitchen, you guys!” he said loudly, as he tickled the girl and put her down. “Now, what do you say today?” he asked them. “Happy birthday, mom,” they said simultaneously before tucking into their waffles.

  I recognised them. They were my children, twins too. Seven years old with unrelenting energy. “Aren’t you joining us?” Kane kicked a chair out towards me. This was my best birthday yet. I took a seat at the table and watched the children.

  Jaxson Kane had the most unusual turquoise eyes, a definite cross of my green hue and Kane’s blue colour. I wondered if he would show signs of any water weaving skills; he was so full of confidence and could already heal pretty well. Cherokee Rose was different. Her eyes, as stunning as they were, were odd in colour; one green, one blue. She was quiet, artistic and very loving. She was drawn to animals in a big way, but showed little sign of any healing ability yet.

  I didn’t care, they were perfect and they were mine. I placed Jaxson’s truck on the end of the table as Cherokee slid off her chair and made her way to me. I made room for her to sit on my lap; she clambered up, waffle in hand, smelling of freshly baked cookies.

  I looked up as I stroked her dark hair and noticed Kane watching me.

  “Why don’t you kids take your waffles outside and give your mom and me some grown-up time?” Both children moaned at the same time, but took what was left of the food and ran out of the kitchen, laughing at us.

  Kane rose from his seat and made his way across the kitchen. I stood and watched out of the window as Jaxson and Cherokee ran laughing out into the fields that surrounded our house. Kane stood close behind me with his hands around my waist. “Are you happy, Ivy?” he whispered in a low voice. I nodded as his hand slipped into my robe. I turned to face him as he walked to the other side of the kitchen and quietly closed the door.

  He smiled teasingly, raising his eyebrows at me. I laughed at his goofiness. He walked back, stopping level with the table. Pulling me towards him, he shoved all the plates and leftover waffles to the far end and lifted me onto the large, oak table with ease. “What if the kids walk in on us, Kane?” He pretended to think about that. “It’s not like they haven’t before, Ivy. Besides, I paid them to get started on the new tree house; they’ll be gone for hours.” I giggled.

  With one hand he loosened his belt as the other brushed my hair out of the way. My robe fell open as he pulled my legs towards him. He pushed me back onto the hard oak before leaning over me.

  I woke with pipes clanging in a room full of fog. I opened the window next to the bed and lay back breathlessly. As annoyed and embarrassed as I was, I slowly started the process of moving the fog outside.

  7

  Barrett came waltzing into the cabin. “Barrett, you’re supposed to knock!” I said, grabbing my robe. Luckily, I was wearing my pyjamas. He looked a little ruffled with his hair down and without his suit. Covering myself up, I looked him up and down. “Going for casual attire today?” He just didn’t look right in jeans and a jumper.

  Pulling his unruly, long white hair into a neat ponytail, he surveyed the room.

  “You know I think I like your cabin, Ivy,” he breathed deeply. “There’s a certain amount of moisture in the air. Makes one feel right at home.” Damn - I thought I’d got rid of the entire fog residue. I tried not to think about it as I could feel my face heating up, so I changed the subject.

  “Why are you here, Barrett?” I asked, while turning up the heating some more.

  “Oh, right,” he said, almost as an afterthought whilst still sniffing the air. “Gary was doing something with the van, so he asked me to fetch you. A body has been found by one of the other lakes. Presumably one of the Lake Dwellers that lived there. They want us to investigate.”

  I was going to ask if it was normal practice for the council to send someone like me along, but I doubted if Barrett would know.

  I was going to see Sylvia this morning after last night’s shocker of a question. I guessed it would have to wait. I grabbed some warm clothes and headed into the bathroom.

  “I’ll be a few minutes. You wait out here.” Closing the bathroom door, I realised it didn’t have a lock.

  Not that I thought Barrett would do anything untoward, it’s just I didn’t think he understood human boundaries very well.

  Dressing quickly, I brushed my teeth and hair. I stopped and looked at my short hair. I felt sad at leaving the sun-drenched country house, husband and beautiful children. It was the closest thing to normal I had felt in a long time. I could almost smell the waffles Kane had been cooking. Now really wasn’t the time for this. I needed to speak to Sylvia.

  Filling the sink with warm water, I placed my hands carefully in.

  “Sylvia, are you there? Come on, I need to talk to you.” It felt like an eternity before I saw her face come into focus.

  “Morning, cheery,” she smiled. “How are you feeling, Ivy? You look a little frazzled.” She wasn’t wrong there.

  “Was that it - the big secret that was bothering him? A little heads up wouldn’t have gone amiss.”

  Sylvia, looking confused, interrupted me. “Slow down, Ivy, what happened? Did Kane say something to you? Blake would have said if he had told you.”

  I could hear Barrett pacing in the other room.

  “Told me? Don’t you mean asked me?” I shook my head, momentarily losing the connection. “Look
Sylvia, I have to go, council business. I seriously need to talk to you about this when I get back. I don’t know what to do.” With that, I pulled my hands out of the sink and dried them.

  Entering the lounge, Barrett was holding up my fluffy socks. I frowned at him before snatching them out of his hand.

  “I get cold feet, that’s all.” He gentlemanly opened my door for me.

  “You humans have very strange ways.” I walked past him and pointed out, “I’m not human.”

  Gary was closing the hood of the van as we approached.

  “Ready?” he asked. I still wasn’t sure why I had to go. Gary opened the door for me.

  “I’m not sure if I’m speaking to you yet, Gary.” He shrugged his shoulders innocently. “Grogan’s, yesterday,” I pointed out.

  After climbing into the front of the van, he asked, “Are you going to be like this the entire journey, Ivy? ‘Cos I haven’t had any coffee yet.” He smiled. Then he climbed into the driver’s side whilst Barrett did the same the other side of me.