by M.M. Shelley
Chapter Eleven – Kye II
Kye wasn’t about to begin to take orders from his cousin. He would do what he wanted. This was his Island. Closing the door in his cousin’s face, he walked to the open window that overlooked the beach in question. The longer Kana’i was on the Island, the more he would corrupt the islanders against the Haoles. Kye liked the Haoles and at the moment he enjoyed Tatiana’s company. He watched as Kana’i made his way down the path leading to the beach.
After a shower, Kye went to look for the other guest on the island who normally kept his own distance. Eros wasn’t a Haole. He was something else entirely. He found Eros down at his restaurant in the back office. Without asking for entrance, Kye pushed the door open to let himself into the office.
It was a very spacious room. Everything was white. Inside long silk drapes draped the windows. A chaise chair with a small table with what looked like food on a plate stood in the middle of the room. The place conjured up images of a bygone era. The food looked unfamiliar to Kye. Eros walked in from the open doors that led into a tropical garden. He was dressed in white slacks and tank top, “You’re finally paying me a visit. Laying down the law, Kye?”
Kye noticed blood on the white tank top as Eros slid his hands in his pants pockets.
“I heard about what brought you to the island, but I’d like to hear it from you. Maybe I can help?”
Eros answered warily, “It didn’t concern you before to trouble yourself.”
Walking further into the room Kye stated, “I’m just trying to clean up my island, so if I get you whatever it is that brought you here, then you could leave.”
“You’re anxious for me to leave this paradise you have here? Why? It’s nothing like what I call home.”
“You want to make a permanent settlement here? Will more of you come?”
“I hope not. Some of my family can be temperamental.”
Kye saw the mud on Eros white leather shoes. “Those don’t look like they will last here much longer,” he informed before glancing back at the blood. “And I didn’t know gods bled.”
Looking at his clothing, Eros noticed the blood for the first time. “Oh, well it’s not mine.” He pulled the tank top off, letting it fall to the floor. He then came to stand before a wall. With a press of his hand, the wall dissolved, revealing a hidden closet full of clothes.
Eros walked into the closet saying, “I’m not planning on staying here.” He came out with a brown collared shirt and clean shoes. “I already had a run-in with Pele. Your grandmother tried to drown me in one of her volcanoes. She’s got a temper.”
“That she does.”
“Well since you’re here, let me show you something.” Eros led Kye into the tropical garden beyond the open doors. A white stand stood in the center of the garden. Above the stand hovered a small yellow crystal. “I managed to grab this from Pele before she tried to drown me.”
“Why would she attack you?”
Standing on the other side of the stand, Eros looked at Kye. “How well do you trust Pele?”
“Trust her?” He couldn’t stop looking at the yellow crystal as it floated above the stand. He raised it to eye level. He felt it called to him.
“She was behind Sita Knook’s capture. I’ve managed to locate her, but unfortunately I can’t get to her.”
Looking away from the crystal, he looked directly at Eros, “Why? What would cause her to get involved with Sita Knook?”
“You would have to ask her. Sita Knook is carefully guarded. When I couldn’t reach her, I went to Pele for this yellow crystal.”
“Why do you need this crystal? What does it do?”
Eros looked at him suspiciously. “How could you not know?” Eros asked. “I went to Pele in hopes of reasoning with her for this crystal. It wasn’t until Pele tried to trap me in a volcano that I realized she was behind Sita Knooks capture.”
“The reason why I’m here, Kye, is because Pele took Sita Knook in the hopes to incite a war. Sita Knook is not what she appears to be.”
“What is she?” He had no idea who Sita Knook was or why she was so important to everyone.
“She is ancient. Sita Knook is not her real name. Her name is memory itself. Mnemosyne.”
Kye had never heard that name before, which wasn’t unusual. He didn’t bother himself with what was going on in the magical world unless it happened on his Island. It was his duty to protect his island, and the people who call it home.
“Mnemosyne.” Kye repeated the name. “How did you get mixed up in this?” he asked Eros. Eros seemed like a shallow man, why would he bother with her?
Eros ran his hand in his blonde hair. He remembered that night well. It was the darkest night of his life, and he has lived many lifetimes.
He was awakened by a knock at the door. Leaving his wife sleeping, he went to see who it was. The moment he stepped out of the room, the door swung shut behind him. He heard Psyche wake up and then there was another knock. This time it was much closer. Once, twice, then for a third time, the knock came.
Psyche rose from the bed. The bedroom door became a black abyss. She waited, not sure what to do. She called for Eros. A small light began to form into a perfect circle in the dark doorway.
As she watched, it began to pull in more light as it tried to form a shape. The light began to crackle, shooting straight down, hitting the floor like a bullet. She jumped back nearly landing on the bed.
There on the floor was a silver ring. She took cautious steps to the fallen ring. Kneeling down, she picked it up. The ring held a large stone in the shape of a tear drop, a moonstone. There were many different colors in the stone. It held such light within its depths.
It was one of her rings. “What are you doing here,” she asked curious not expecting an answer. Her fear gone; she slid it on her left hand.
Three clicks sounded throughout the bedroom. She jumped to her feet in alarm.
At the bedroom window, which overlooked the sea, was the image of a face. The face was encircled with elaborate jewels.
“Who are you?” Psyche shouted, “What is going on?”
“Your questions can wait. He is coming.”
Psyche became encircled by a white mist which came out of the moonstone. The mist traveled in two directions, one to the ceiling and the other to the floor. “What is this about?” she demanded. “We have been peaceful with you.”
“Tell that to Sita Knook,” the face angrily replied. The white mist became thicker, enclosing her tightly. “We will make an exchange of you for Sita Knook.”
The bedroom door swung open, dissolving the black hole, “Eros,” a click rang in the air, and Psyche was gone, disappearing into the white mist. “You will talk to me now Eros,” the face in the window said shouting at him. “Return Sita Knook to us, or we will return your wife to you in a box.”
A fury like no other over took him as he strode over to the face in the window. Bracing both hands on the window pane he said quietly, “You won’t live to see Sita Knook.” He took hold of the face in the window, yanking the rest of him out, throwing him onto the floor. It was a very thin man who lay on the ground, crumbled up, breathing in heavy breaths. His eyes glowed a dark emerald green. “It’s equal measure.” With that said the very thin man evaporated into the air.
Eros stood before Kye remembering the question Kye asked, “She took my wife,” he said. The lack of emotion in his voice revealed his true feelings.
“And this crystal will help you get her back?” Kye asked now understanding what had brought Eros to the islands. It didn’t mean that he trusted him.
“It is a step closer.”
“What’s to keep Pele from coming here and taking it back?”
A smile slowly formed on his lips. Eros chose not to answer that question. “You should go now.”
Kye’s gazed settled on the yellow crystal once more. He couldn’t understand why he felt a pull towards it. Eros led Kye from the garden without exp
laining anymore.