by M. Goldsmith
She closed her eyes and visualized him standing before her in all his splendor. He lowered himself into the bath to join her. As she imagined his strong arms encircling her, she could practically feel Hawk drawing her back against his chest. When she envisioned his large body pressed tightly against hers, she became energized and aroused. Ashlyn couldn’t help but dream of what it would be like if they were actually together.
Looking down at her wrinkled fingers and toes, Ash decided to leave the cocoon of the warm bath. Already dripping on the floor, she squeezed the excess water from her hair before grabbing a towel. The toasty terrycloth smelled like fresh laundry, and she wrapped herself up. Once in her bedroom, she yanked open the door to her walk-in closet and pulled on a pair of her favorite cozy sweats with a long-sleeved T-shirt.
Pacing back to the bathroom, she tossed her towel on the growing pile of dirty clothing collecting on the floor. Frowning when she stole a quick glance in the mirror, she snatched her hairbrush off the counter. Yelping, she ran it through her hair attempting to tame her mass of wild red curls. She blew out a breath. “Good enough, I guess.” When she reached the doorway to leave, she turned back and gestured with a slight wave of her hand. All of the candles extinguished in an instant.
Tantalizing smells wafting up from the kitchen brought her back downstairs to join her parents. Rowan was an amazing cook, and Ashlyn realized how hungry she was when her stomach growled loudly.
Mica laughed at the sound. “I guess someone is feeling better and definitely hungry.”
“Ha-ha, I haven’t eaten all day. What are you making over there, Mom? Do you need any help?”
“I’m all set, thanks. In fact everything is ready,” Rowan said.
They took their seats as her mom set a giant bowl of pasta with shrimp in a rich-looking sauce, a side of roasted broccoli, and garlic bread on the table. It all looked and smelled fantastic causing Ash’s stomach to rumble noisily once again. They all burst out laughing lightening the mood considerably.
“I texted Laurel. I think I’m going to take a walk over there after dinner. I could use a little girl time,” Ashlyn mentioned. Her best friend was an easy-going person in contrast to Ash’s intensity. She was calm and levelheaded, where Ashlyn was passionate and excitable. Their opposite natures were always a good balance.
They finished dinner keeping the conversation light and with no mention of her disturbing nightmare. Ashlyn helped her dad clean up the dishes while her mom packed away the leftovers. When everything was in order, Ashlyn grabbed a sweatshirt off the coatrack by the front door.
“I’ll probably be home late, so I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t wait up for me.”
Laurel lived far beyond the North Tower at the very edge of the village deep into the woods. Her family was of The Earth and loved to be near the forest. The Green family had occupied the same house for many generations, and Ashlyn loved spending time there. There were some people among the citizens of Aether who were intimidated by Ashlyn’s power and role as Guardian. At the Green’s home, she always felt welcome and was simply one of the family. It was comforting to belong rather than be on the periphery. As she made her way, the crisp spring air chilled her slightly as the wind whipped her hair around her face. Ash zipped her sweatshirt up a little higher and picked up her pace a bit.
Knocking on the door, she entered without waiting for a response. Her friend was stretched out on the sofa reading a magazine. Laurel was a stunning woman with long, straight mahogany colored hair. Ashlyn thought it always looked so shiny and perfect whereas hers was wild and unruly. Laurel was petite with beautiful olive-toned skin. She had almond shaped, chocolate brown eyes that reflected her nurturing temperament, which was probably why she was the most popular teacher in the village’s school.
“Hey there, stranger, long time no see.” Laurel waved.
“Hi there, my friend. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. I really need your calming influence,” Ash said.
“Yeah, you’re definitely looking a little lost tonight.”
“Ha-ha. I’m not lost, just a little anxious I guess. Want to take a walk with me?”
“Sure, hon. Let me just grab my shoes, and a jacket and I’m all yours.” Laurel returned moments later. “If it’s not too late, do you want to grab a drink at the Pub after our walk?”
“I’m not sure if one is going to cut it. Do you think the pub has an IV pole I can hook up to some vodka?” Laughing, they retreated to the back porch where Ashlyn embraced Laurel with a tight, emotional hug.
Laurel returned the gesture. “What’s wrong, sis?”
Talking a mile a minute she blurted out, “I’m a wreck, my powers are wonky, I had a horrible, crazy nightmare, not to mention I think I’m in love with a man who I can’t seem to get close to and—”
“Whoa there, just calm down. One crisis at a time, please. Let’s take a walk and you can tell me all about it.”
They stepped off the porch and headed down one of the many paths into the woods behind the Green’s house. Even though it was quite chilly, it was an exquisite night to be out in the forest. Most of the trees were filled with leaves again creating a canopy above on the crisp, cloudless, early spring night. The nearly full moon shone brightly through the openings between the trees forming tiny spotlights on the ground as they strolled along. They meandered onward in silence for a while, the only sounds were the dead leaves crunching under their feet and the whistling of the wind.
Heading off the path as they wandered farther into the woods, Laurel finally spoke. “Are you a little more relaxed now?”
“Yeah, thanks for always getting me and knowing what I need.”
“That’s what best friends are for. Why don’t you pick one neurosis and spill it, sister?” Laurel said, trying to lighten the mood.
“I guess it started last week when the baby Guardian was born. My powers have become completely out of control, like when we were crazy adolescents. My Flame either keeps surging to the surface and I can’t seem to call it back no matter how hard I try, or it won’t come out at all. I just keep having this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.”
“I know you, Ash, I’m sure you’re nervous about living up to the Elders expectations. The powerful Ashlyn Woods, keeper of the Flame. Give yourself a break. You may be the Guardian of Fire but in your heart, you’re just as vulnerable as the rest of us.”
The loud snapping of a twig behind them pulled their focus from each other and their conversation. It had been pretty quiet and they hadn’t noticed any animals in the area when they were hiking along.
“Did you hear that?” Ashlyn asked.
“Yes, it was probably just an animal.”
“I don’t know about that. Maybe we should head back toward home. We’ve gone much farther than we usually do.”
As they turned to head back in the opposite direction, they heard more branches breaking and a heavy rustling. Ashlyn whispered, “I have bad feeling about this. Let’s hurry!”
The two women started to move more and more quickly until they were almost jogging. “I still hear it. I think it’s getting closer. It’s definitely getting louder. Come on, let’s run.” Ash gently tugged on Laurel’s hand encouraging her to move ahead, as nervous knots tightened in her stomach.
“Calm down. I’m sure it’s nothing.” It seemed to Ash, Laurel was trying to reassure herself, as much as Ashlyn.
Just a short distance ahead there was a large gap between the trees allowing the light of the moon to shine luminously down. There, underneath, stood a dark figure with a gun pointing directly at them. Laurel screamed, and Ashlyn turned toward her friend with the realization this was her nightmare come to life. She grabbed Laurel by the sleeve urging her to flee as she felt something whiz by her cheek. They charged through the forest sprinting at top speed.
“Run, Laurel!” Ash yelled.
She could feel the presence of the stranger in black closing in on them. Ashlyn knew she needed to get her f
riend to safety. Laurel’s powers were limited. She could create only modest vibrations in the ground, not enough to cause any real damage. Laurel charged ahead with graceful movements, barely winded.
Ashlyn was in her dust, pumping her arms and legs to keep up. With her heart beating loudly in her ears, Ashlyn called her Flame to the surface but like in her dream, she was feeling powerless. Fear pulsed through her an invader in her own body. The muscles in her legs protested and she felt herself slowing slightly.
Her friend continued to forge ahead, and Ash could tell Laurel didn’t realize she was beginning to lag behind.
As Laurel zigzagged through the trees, three more men dressed in black with masks enshrouding their faces, lurched toward them. Ashlyn made the decision to change direction in order to lead them away from Laurel.
Just then, Laurel glanced over her shoulder and noticed Ashlyn was no longer behind her. “Ash! No! Don’t!”
She shouted back, “Keep running, Laurel, get help. I’ll be okay!”
Her plan worked, because the three additional figures turned to pursue Ashlyn. Only their original attacker seemed interested in chasing Laurel.
Ashlyn attempted to control her emotions in order to call her Fire to the surface. Her fingertips sparked, and she set a few small fires off behind her. Projectiles continually brushed by her getting closer and closer. She took cover behind an ancient looking tree its girth shielding her.
Pausing momentarily, she breathed in deeply attempting to regain her composure. Ash sensed the heat rising up from within her and willed her Fire to the surface. With an audible whoosh, her entire body ignited in a burst of flame.
Ashlyn faced the three figures from her nightmare with renewed vigor, as her body remained engulfed in flames. They stared at her while backing away, shocked, and dumbfounded. Arms outstretched, she prepared to launch her Fire, when without warning, she felt a sharp stab in her shoulder blade. Ashlyn pivoted around to identify a lone man standing behind her.
Anger bubbled up. “I’m going to incinerate you!” A warm rush flooded her cheeks. Ashlyn attempted to project her Flame toward the cloaked figure. Suddenly, her limbs felt heavy, and her arms fell uselessly to her sides. The power of her Flame gradually ebbed, until it was completely extinguished, and she fell to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Chapter Two
Kai
Kai Sanders sat at his desk in Aether’s Medical Center. When he couldn’t sleep, Kai often came in to work. Insomnia plagued him on a regular basis. He massaged his temples with the tips of his fingers attempting to relieve the ache in his head. Perhaps it was the pressure of being Aether’s only actual medical doctor. It had taken many years for Kai to get permission from the Elders to attend medical school, and he took his position very seriously. In fact, being a doctor was his entire life.
It was a quiet morning since the Clinic wasn’t due to open for several more hours. Kai expected it to be completely empty with the festival and ceremony taking place this evening. He planned to close the Clinic early so he and his staff could attend. He knew his best friends, Hawk and Quill, would force him to have a drink afterward, or knowing Quill, way more than one. Kai worried if he got carried away and an emergency popped up, he wouldn’t be of much help.
Many people in the Water community had a natural gift for healing, but the Sanders family had been healers since the beginning of the people’s history. They were compassionate, kind, and understanding making them remarkable practitioners.
An endlessly curious child, Kai trailed his parents constantly in the Medical Center. He was a tiny sponge attempting to soak up every bit of knowledge. For as long as he could remember, he wanted to continue on in the Sanders family tradition as a healer.
Endowed with a special power, Kai demonstrated the ability to touch individuals and sense their physical condition, however, not without consequence. Through this connection, their pain invaded his body. Over many years, with practice and training, he learned to control his ability. When necessary, he could bring forth his power. This was a rare gift even among other healers in the Water community.
Shivering, Kai retreated back in his mind to a time which transformed his life in every way. He had been forced to use his gift to reveal the most devastating news. It was hard to believe the tragic events and their aftermath had happened more than fifty years ago. He remembered every detail as if it were yesterday.
****
“I wish everyone would get off my back about working in the Clinic too much,” he said, to his friend. Kai turned back to file charts in the cabinet behind the reception desk. “Now it’s not just my parents, but it’s Laurel, too. They keep saying I need to spend more time socializing.” Thankfully, he had Hawk and Quill to push him to get out more often. Laurel, on the other hand, tempted him away from work in a very different way.
A thunderous crash followed by desperate shouts from the Village Square ceased any conversation. Kai rushed to the front door poking his head out to see what all the commotion was about. There was a person sprawled out on the ground in front of the village’s market with a ladder beneath him. He shouted into the Clinic for someone to get a gurney quickly, and that he needed a team to help outside immediately. His father, Rayne, and two assistants, came racing out.
“Hurry, Dad, it looks like someone took a pretty serious fall off a ladder by the market.”
Kai ran to make certain everything was prepped and ready in the trauma room they used for just such emergencies. Their Medical Center contained many medicines, ointments, and creams developed by the healers, using nature’s bounty, as they called it.
The team burst through the Clinic doors sprinting in with the patient on a stretcher. Blood was flowing heavily from the victim’s nose and ears. His face was unrecognizable with significant swelling already present, and his left leg appeared contorted. He remained unmoving as they wheeled him into the trauma room.
“It’s Storm, Kai.” Rayne’s voice quivered. “He was repairing something on the market’s roof when the ladder slipped from its footing.”
Storm was Kai’s sixteen-year-old cousin, and they shared an extremely close bond. The kid had been bouncing off the walls with excitement after landing an after-school job working for the village’s construction crew. It was unnerving to see the vibrant teen, comedian of the family, who loved working with his hands, lying motionless. Kai’s face dropped, and his mouth hung open. The severity of Storm’s injuries were overwhelming.
“We need to get word to Uncle Burke and Aunt May. And, Kai, hurry. It’s really bad.”
Kai returned shortly to find his father in the trauma room with several assistants crowded around treating Storm’s various injuries. He was clearly still unconscious. Rayne was touching Storm’s belly concentrating on his examination. Several different x-rays hung from the light box on the wall; one displayed a severely broken leg, another a fractured skull, and one showed completely shattered facial bones.
“Dad?” Kai said, getting Rayne’s attention. “How is he? Burke and May are here. They’re waiting outside and are very anxious to come in and see him.”
“I need you to come here and help me first. Come and touch his belly. It’s quite distended and firm to the touch, and I’m not exactly sure what’s happening inside. I know how hard this is on you, but Storm needs you.”
Kai approached the bed. “I can feel the pain every time I place my hands on someone and try to see inside.”
“I know, son, but I’m not sure what else to do. I’m almost certain he is bleeding internally. That, along with the fractured skull and leg, not to mention the severe facial trauma, he is just not healing the way we usually do.”
Kai placed both of his palms on Storm’s distended, tense belly, took a cleansing breath, and closed his eyes. Images flashed in his brain as the extent of Storm’s injuries revealed themselves through Kai’s gift. A tremendous jolt of pain exploded inside him halting him in place. His face dripped with sweat, and his body shook. Rayne
pulled him back by his shoulders and turned Kai to face him.
“Well? What did you see?”
“Oh, Dad.” He hung his head choking back tears. “It’s his liver and spleen. They’re a mess.”
“I was afraid of that. I guess we just have to treat what we can and hope his body takes over to heal the rest.” Rayne instructed his team to set the leg and clean Storm up as he went out to see his brother and sister-in-law, with Kai trailing close behind.
May wept quietly on Burke’s shoulder as he comforted her silently. Burke jumped to his feet as soon as he saw Rayne approaching from the corner of his eye.
“Rayne, what’s happening? How is he? Can we see him?” Burke said, in a rush.
“You can see him in a few minutes. They’re setting his broken leg right now.”
Looking relieved, May said, “Thank the Goddess it’s just a broken leg. I thought something really terrible happened to him.” Her relief was short lived when she read the expression on Rayne’s face.
“I’m so sorry, May, but the leg is the very least of it. He has a fractured skull, severe facial fractures, and is bleeding internally. He is still unconscious and doesn’t appear to be self-healing. I’m afraid there might be too much damage for his body to repair. We will have to wait and see and pray. There is nothing more I can do for him right now.”
Catastrophic accidents and attacks, being a rarity among the citizens of Aether, left the people with a limited capacity to deal with helplessness and loss. Most injuries were easily treated and individuals generally recovered quickly due to their innate powers of regeneration. Kai felt paralyzed in his inability to revive Storm. His full of life sixteen-year-old cousin was most likely going to die, and Kai acknowledged he was powerless to stop it. His mother found him standing in the hallway a short time later.