by Debra Kristi
“Father planted them for Mother when they were wed. A lovely gift, do you not agree?”
“Lovely? It’s amazing! And so romantic.” My breath hitches. “I saw you there with an old woman. Madame Marrouske?”
Kaia becomes serious, thoughtful. “Trust the old woman, Ana. She has always been there for you, through many a lifetime.”
My footsteps falter. “Many a what?”
“Do you not remember?” Her hand runs down my arm. “What you are, what we are together. The Triune. We are reborn every era.”
I stare at her, a cloud of disbelief forming in my brain. My eyes must be bulging wider than quarters. “The old woman said something about a seventh moon and things beginning.”
“Keep moving, and I will explain.”
We stroll, this time in a new direction, my steps now stiff and stressed. Her voice sounds at my ear, reciting facts and legends like an excited student presenting a history report. She talks, and I imagine it happening. The land splendid and healthy, people and Gaea living in harmony, everything in proper balance. But, as she says, time brings change, and the scales tip. The lands slip into darkness.
My imagination is no longer necessary; while she talks, the transformations is taking place around us. Splendid, green grass and trees, flowers of vibrant color. They fade, morph brown, black even. Clouds roll in above, the sky darkening. Occasional flashes of lightning temporarily illuminate the somber, stormy sky. Thunderheads block out the sun, yet provide no rain. The bird and frog prattle vanish, and the land sits silent in death, waiting. But for what? Revival?
The forest falls away, and we step into what was probably once a beautiful grassland along a lake’s edge. Now, there’s nothing. No plants, no water, nothing. Only dried, cracked earth. It’s as if my home has been destroyed, and I want to do something. Scream, stomp, slug, but I stand frozen. Hollow and empty.
“All things are connected, Ana. Our world is dying. As it dies, the world you live in falls deeper into despair. It is a cycle constantly repeated, time and time again. As many times as it is repeated, you have been there to set the balance. We have. You, me, and Crystia.”
She is trying to tie my reality to Hiddenkel, to say I’ve lived multiple lives. It’s not possible. “I don’t understand.”
“Look around. The darkness shows itself in many forms. Crime, greed, selfishness. Self-serving actions will kill their world, but you can save it. You can save all of them.”
I shake my head and ponder the palms of my hands. “How can this be true? And even if it were, how could I accomplish such a task?”
“Together we have the power, but you, you are the vessel. The One. And you will need the cr—”
“Hey.” Crystia jostles me awake. “Time to go.”
The scene around me changes, and I’m beside a wooded lake, Crystia standing before me. Only this time, she looks surprised by her surroundings. I grab her forearm, and the crystals on our matching wristbands explode with radiant light. A shimmer and twist of the air, and the wooded lake is gone. We’re now on top of an old tower, the angry crash of waves signaling the shoreline nearby.
Where’s Kaia? I look to my left and to my right. I need to hear what she has to say. I need the cr-what?
“What do I need? What?” I yell to Kaia against the wind. But she’s not there.
Something tugs at my elbow, and my eyes spring open—the dream is gone. Crystia crouches before me, her eyes wide. Our arms are clasped like in my dream, and a delicate glow is fading from the crystals. When I made the leather gauntlets for us, I never expected anything like this to happen.
Ry stands before us. “I don’t know what just happened, but I think we should go.”
I glance past him to the students starting to stop and stare. Holy hide-me Gaea. Did I yell out loud in my sleep? Not cool. I stand and wipe the grass from my jeans.
“What was that?” Crystia says.
“Bad dream, is all.” I smooth my clothes and hide behind my hair, deciding to make a brisk exit. I can feel everyone watching me.
Skylar makes a beeline in my direction. I bet she’s itching to find the best material, yet again, to use against me. Jaden snags her and swings her around playfully. In that moment, she has eyes only for my green-eyed guy—her green-eyed guy. Whatever. I’ve suffered enough humiliation today, adding to everyone’s theory I’m a freak. I rush for Ry’s car with my head hung low.
“Five more. You can do it,” Ry encourages, and I strain to curl and lift the weights again. I grit my teeth, pushing harder, and more sweat runs down the side of my face.
“How about a water break?” My voice is strained, my muscles stretched to their snapping point.
“Not yet. You’re almost there. Finish these reps.”
“Monstrous torturer.” I make it sound like a joke, but I am trying to send a message. He doesn’t relent. So I close my eyes and bear down. I’ve already done a ton of upper body strength today. We do this every day, alternating between upper, lower, and abs workouts. I’m ready to run. I count the reps as I press through the ache. When I’ve completed the full set, I set down the weights.
“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” He hands me a towel and a bottle of water.
Dabbing my face with the towel, I grant him a look that says I don’t completely agree.
An instant laugh bursts from his lungs, and he jabs me in the side. “Come on. Secretly you thirst for the pain.”
Truth is he’s right, but I’m not going to vindicate him with confirmation, at least not right now. I roll my eyes and pretend to ignore him, taking a swig of my water. It’s refreshing, and I consider pouring some on my head. Instead I splash a little into my hand and pat it onto my face.
“You don’t really want me to go easy on you, do you? There’s been some recent slacking, missing both kenpo and yoga.” He puts the weights back with the others along the wall.
“You told me to skip kenpo.” My voice pitches. “Speaking of,” I get up in his face, “did you do something to my tea yesterday?”
Mild amusement plays at his facial features. “I might have.”
“You just admit it like that?” I expected denial. A fumble. Anything but this.
“I do. You were injured and needed rest. I made sure you got it. I did nothing more than look out for you. Same thing I always do. You were significantly healed when you woke, weren’t you?” His brows arch, awaiting my response. His steady tone disarms me. I’m not sure if I should be mad or thankful.
“Well, yeah,” I say, stumbling over my words.
“All right, then. Let’s run.” He snatches the towel from my grasp and throws it to the side, then—lucky me—straps a heavy pack to my back. It’s so not fun when he does this. Although, it is making me stronger. He takes off in the direction of the running course. Blinking away my daze, I follow.
My feet pound the pavement in time with my thrumming heart, and I revel in the ensuing adrenaline rush. There’s something about getting the blood flowing and the heart pumping that’s euphoric. By the time training is over, I’m eager to get home and rinse the grime away. Not to mention escape the awkwardness still lingering between Ry and myself.
Home, showered, and comfortably attired in my favorite sweats, I plop down at my computer to check email. My fingers fly over the keys while my mind works on bigger issues. Like destiny, for one. And all the places in the house I need to check for clues regarding said destiny.
“Oh good, caught you before you slip into cyberspace.” Crystia flops onto the bed. Oscar follows her in, mewing and kneading against the edge of my bed. “You know, I think Ry’s more bothered than he lets on.”
I roll my eyes and keep typing.
Her brow wrinkles. “Jealous,” she theorizes and scratches Oscar’s head. “I heard about the new guy. I told you the chocolate was magic.”
“You think?” I say sarcastically. “I embarrassed myself today! Collapsing in front of the whole school, and then hiding in the bathroom. Besid
es, Skylar already made her claim on Jaden. And Ry—so not jealous.”
“Skylar. Pftt. If he’s smart, he’ll scrape her off like gum from a shoe. She’s generic candy he can get anywhere. You, on the other hand, are a rare brand.” She smacks me in the arm.
“Thanks for that. I think.” I caress the red mark she was so nice to leave on my skin. “What you fail to consider is Skylar’s impeccable complexion, and my…well…” I wave my hands beside my head. “Ugly birthmark. Like anyone’s going to want that.”
“I still think he’s into you.”
I shrug. “Whatever. I don’t need him. Or any guy. I’m my own person.”
“Of course you are.” Her whole body unexpectedly explodes with uncontained excitement. Oscar drops on the floor, a pile of dead fur. “Speaking of you… What that the heck was that dream thing today? And Kaia? You were actually there with me.”
I jolt, and Oscar jumps, then runs from the room. “You saw that? Crazy peeping Gaea, that was insane. How? And why?” I touch my crystal wristband, study the lines in the glass. “Do you think it was our crystals?”
“I don’t know, but I saw everything. Never have I shared my dreams before.” She chews on her fingernail. “What does it mean?”
Computer completely forgotten, I drop my hands in my lap. “That we’re the same. Just like Kaia said. You often dream of her?”
“Sometimes. She can be cool. Not as cool as you, of course.”
I snort, then the room falls silent, both of us staring into nothingness.
Her posture straightens, and her smile widens. “Oh, hey. Guess what I heard today?”
My eyes widen. How can she blow the dream off so easily?
Before I can ask anything else about the dream, she sighs. “You’re taking too long! I’ll just tell you.” She pauses, fans her hands out on the bed. “Okay, I know you don’t like this person, but...please, listen. And don’t say anything until I’m finished. Okay?”
Remaining silent, I nod and prepare to listen.
“Skylar’s having a big birthday bash in two weeks. It’s at her house, and the entire senior class is invited.” Her hand lifts, shakes a finger in the air. “The only catch is, everyone’s required to bring a gift and pass inspection at the door.”
The frown is already forming on my face.
“Oh, come on! Don’t be like that. I really want to go.” Her voice rises. “I’ve always wanted to see the inside of her big mansion on the hill. And I need you to get me in! Plus, we can dress the part and get in, all for the price of a tiny gift. That’s easy enough.”
She sees a cakewalk. I see an obstacle course. “Crystia, you know she’ll find some reason to kick me out, if not you, too.” I loathe raining on her parade. My chest is weighty and my chair uncomfortable.
She leans forward. “Maybe, maybe not. Promise me you won’t dismiss the idea so quickly—please. Think about it for a few days.” She squeezes my hand. “It’d mean so much to me.”
“Okay. If it means that much to you, I’ll think about it.” A heavy breath escapes, like I just finished wrestling a bear.
“Thank you.” She jumps up and disappears out the door. My eyes linger on the spot where she vanished from longer than normal.
When I return to my email, there’s mostly junk waiting in my inbox. Delete, delete, delete.
Wait. Fifteen emails from Madame Marrouske. Holy Gaea and God!
I study the messages, read the first one line for line. My body jolts. Kaia said to trust the woman, only this—it sets me aquiver. I hit the delete button fifteen times, then switch off the power. I’m all wound up. Too emotionally distressed to stay in one place. I step away from the computer and pace the room, but it doesn’t work. My nerves are a tight ball of anxiety. What I need is the outside, fresh air. Running shoes on, hair thrown into a ponytail, I head for the door.
The second my foot hits the front step I run straight down the main road. I run long and ruthlessly, until my legs scream for a break. Then I take a seat on the curb and collapse my head in my hands.
The sun is slipping into the horizon, turning the sky a brilliant burnt orange, and I have no idea how much time has passed since I left the house.
A car pulls up beside me. “What’s going on, Ana?” Ry’s voice calls over the humming motor.
I look up, see him leaning across the passenger’s side, gazing at me. “Hey,” I say, “fancy meeting you here.” My insides flip-flop. I’m elated to see him. Embarrassed to see him.
“Everything all right?”
Is it? He’s been asking me that a lot lately. My upper body sways, torn in my response. “It will be.”
His eyes tighten in a spirited chuckle, and a grin torques the edges of his lips. “Then stop fooling around and get in the car.”
I rub my legs and remain perched on the curb, my inner dialogue arguing all the reasons why I shouldn’t be ashamed of my earlier flirtations.
When I don’t immediately move, Ry gets out, walks around the car, and opens the passenger door. “Let’s get home before nightfall.”
This has my mom’s green thumb stamped all over it. I get up and shuffle to the car.
The black leather seat is baking from the late afternoon sun, and it toasts the back of my legs. An unopened bottle of water waits in the crevice.
“That’s for you.” Ryland slams the door and starts up the engine.
The bottle is damp with condensation, and my mouth waters just looking at it. Damn, I’m parched.
The drive home is silent, awkward. I haven’t a clue how to change things, so I don’t try. Instead I rest my head on the window and try to figure out why Ry and my mom are being so protective. It’s not as if they know what I’ve experienced. Such things can’t be.
Mom’s waiting when we pull in the driveway, her face chiseled in upset and worry. I lower my eyes, pluck at my hair, pull some in front of my face, and exit the car.
“Anala, you had me so worried.” Mom hurries down the steps and swoops me into her embrace. “Why did you run off?” Her hug is too snug.
“No reason. Just needed a run,” I wheeze, barely finding air between her constricting arms.
She steps back and appraises me. “Please, never do it again.” Her eyes droop, and she looks sad, maybe lonely.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Then it’s settled. You won’t do it again.” She places her arm around my shoulder and leads me into the house.
Freshly cleaned and starving, I wander to the kitchen. A warm bowl of chicken noodle soup and a tall glass of milk wait for me on the table.
“I thought you might be hungry.” Mom half-smiles and pours herself a cup of tea.
“I am. Thanks.” I take a seat, interrupting the quiet of the house with the screech of my chair across the linoleum floor. “Where is everyone?” The only sound is the humming of the clock on the wall. No Crystia or Ry chatter.
“Meow.”
I glance at the cat at my feet begging for handouts.
“Not tonight, big boy. Your food is over there.” I point to the food dish across the room. Oscar turns up his nose and walks away. As if his food isn’t good enough. Silly cat. I shake my head.
“They’ve already eaten.” Mom glances from me to Oscar. “Not the cat. Your sister and Ryland. Crystia’s in her room studying, and Ryland went home.” She plops down in the chair beside me.
Thinking of nothing to say, I nod and start eating.
She glides her fingers back and forth across my back. “How are you feeling?”
I shrug. “Okay.”
“What really happened today, Ana?”
When I look up, Mom’s gaze is glued on me. Do I come right out, confront her with the truth? Ask for answers to all the questions I seek? Or work in stages? I know she’s keeping secrets. I just don’t understand what, or why. It’s making me crazy, and today’s incident only goes to prove it.
I lean into the table, attempt to be casual. “Have you e
ver heard of Hiddenkel? Know where it is?”
With a blink, shock flashes across her face. “Sorry. Have I heard of what?” She takes a sip of her tea, covering her face with the cup. “No.”
“Then you’ve never heard of the Palinot Woodlands?”
She swallows. “Should I have?”
Lies are building between us again, but I shrug anyway. “I guess not.”
“I wish I could help you, honey. I really do, but I have no idea where you get these names. Do they come from a storybook?”
I suppress a laugh. If only it were that simple. “Maybe. I might be confusing them.” I return to my soup. The wood table shifts, one leg uneven with the rest, and my soup sloshes.
“I ran the numbers after the Market,” she says, “and it appears your jewelry did quite well. You’ve become a popular artist.” She flashes a pleasant smile and stretches her hand to mine.
I note the topic change for what it is. No more Hiddenkel tonight. “Cool. Thanks, Mom. I noticed you’re wearing yours.”
I gesture to the necklace hanging around her neck. It’s a vine of small silver lilies. Several petite, finely chosen crystals are wrapped within the setting. The stones reflect the colors of the rainbow when the light bounces off them, each crystal chosen for its unique and particular property. I wanted Mom to have several. A crystal for luck, an additional for health, another for love, one for prosperity, and most important, one for protection. Five in all.
With gentle, loving care, she runs her fingers over the casting and looks lost in thought for a moment. Snapping out of her reverie, she turns her attention on me. “I always wear your crystals. They’re precious to me.”
“Mom, what did you mean when you mentioned dreams yesterday?”
Her posture changes. Is it resignation? Her fingers fold over mine. “It’s the gift of our heritage to observe what others cannot. You use your dreams for this purpose. You awoke with your sister’s injuries that morning, am I correct?”