by Jeny Heckman
She was genuinely losing it. The words Finn said to Dee, about her desperately wanting the information she uncovered to be true, streamed through Raven’s mind. Now, she was doing the exact same thing. Even if in some bizarre, crazy, freak of the universe it was true, why her, why now, why Finn? And now that their relationship wasn’t happening—she laughed out loud.
“It didn’t happen, and the world didn’t fall apart. Raven, you’re an idiot.”
****
A perfect snowy white swan floated in a pristine lake, with its surface reflecting the sky above it. A dolphin swam around the swan in circles, ripples streaming out from the center of the duo.
“But how can a dolphin enter a lake?” Raven asked aloud, breaking the serenity.
“The swan showed it the way.”
The most beautiful man she’d ever seen stepped out from the forest. His hair was as white as the swan's feathers, curling to kiss the tops of his shoulders. He held a bow as if he had been recently hunting. He wore hunting clothes but sandals on his feet. She curiously moved to touch him, but he was behind glass.
“But there’s no stream.”
“There’s a waterfall.” He gestured and turned his head. The movement caused a lock of hair to slide across his forehead. At the same moment, a lock fell into her own eyes. They both brushed them aside with the same gesture. A gentle breeze lifted the air, causing it to shimmer with the seductive scent of hyacinth.
Turning, she beheld a magnificent waterfall cascading over a steep and rocky cliff. The spray danced around her in suspended droplets. The roar of it was deafening, and its color was like Finn’s eyes. She looked down at the swan and playful dolphin, then back at the man, who seemed endlessly fascinated by her.
“Is Finn the dolphin?” she queried.
“He is the great rock of the cliff.”
“Am I the swan?”
“No, you are the waterfall.”
She woke startled and looked around her dark room for the man, but the residue of the dream was already scurrying from her mind and into the ether. It was early the next morning, the successful performance of the night behind her. She lay awake, trying to decipher the vignette and had a sudden urge to touch Finn. Instead of repressing them, as she was growing used to doing, she let the feelings come. Raven could almost feel his hands on her, the mesmerizing way he kissed, looking at her with those intense eyes.
From the beginning, he had been truthful with her. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she understood that it was truth. His words didn’t always sit well, and some were painful, but they were real. He didn’t tell her he loved her because maybe he didn’t feel that, but she knew without a doubt he cared for her. Her pride told her he cared a great deal.
The night of the concert now six weeks prior, he had told her the truth. The truth that she couldn’t even admit to herself, but he knew it, knew her, and had said it. He didn’t handle her with kid gloves but rather as a woman who could be capable. Besides Wyatt, no other man had done that. Raven knew she loved him, had known a long time, and wondered if she was yet strong enough to face him and let go. For her own sanity, she needed to find out. So, picking up her cell, she entered the digits and heard a sleepy voice.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Dee? It’s Raven.”
Chapter 35
As six weeks closed in on Finn, he went to rallies to stop the construction of the turbines, but initial installation ensued two months after Alaula’s death. He began a renewed campaign to raise funds for the rehabilitation facility, propelled by the promise of matched funds. On the day Kaimi returned to the sea, Finn was there to see it, though the day was bittersweet. Feeling a growing detachment with the animals he researched, he experienced fleeting thoughts about change, yet quickly dismissed them. What else could he possibly do? He surfed, drank, rode his bike, hung out with Dee and his friends, even tried dating once, but upon bringing the woman to her door, couldn’t make himself go in behind her.
It was a Saturday night, and Finn opted to stay in for the evening. His grandmother was playing Bingo with friends, and he was restless in the house. He passed by her study, paused, then doubled back, sipping on a beer. She’d left the light on, and the illumination highlighted a single piece of paper on her desk, like a beacon. She’d typed out notes, essential facts she deemed worthy. Sighing, he sat down and leaned back in her office chair, taking another pull from his beer, while absently reading her scribbling.
Poseidon, god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses. Symbol, the trident.
He sighed again and then, if only for a moment, admitted to feeling life within that mark on his back. Reluctantly, he thought about it and the date Raven had come to town. The strange experience when he first saw her. Then recognizing that maybe the communication he had with Kaimi and Alaula was special. He left the idea to continue to float and kept reading.
Finn and Poseidon similarities.
Animals—dolphins, fish, seals anything sea life.
Water—tsunami, funnel cloud (Raven’s first day). I think she has reactions to her medallion (cliffs)
Personality— angers quickly, possessive, moody, smart, loyal
Trident
Poseidon and Apollo—they were the builders of Troy
Shaken, Finn threw the paper back onto the desk. It was all so stupid. He was an intelligent man. Intelligent men did not believe mythical gods existed because if they did, only then could one imagine they had surviving offspring. He sighed and stood, cursing Dee for ever bringing it up in the first place. He moved to turn out a light when a name caught his eye. Raven had used it, so had Dee. He looked at what she’d written on the paper.
Demeter mourned the loss of her daughter, Persephone, and hid in a herd of Poseidon’s stallions. When he came to her, overcome with her grief, they coupled, and she bore two of his children.
So technically and mechanically speaking she could be Demeter, his Dee if one were so inclined to believe it. He looked at her note below the line.
What do the Moirai have to do with the prophecy?
Dreams?
Three sisters/fates/Moirai, they doomed the gods?
Why?
Who else is involved?
Finn’s tattoo means something!
He brought a hand to his neck and touched the place where the ink had permanently settled into his skin. The trident had been in every dream. He’d been helpless without it. It had split into a lyre. He couldn’t protect Alaula, each dream so vivid and real. Raven turning into fire when his researchers drowned. No control, just unanswered questions. Misery and Discord— Misery and Discord? Why did those two words scream in his head? Suffuse themselves in his dreams. He shook his head a little in disbelief, then reached up and turned out the light.
****
“Hey, you all done down there?” It was a couple of days later when Nate walked down the ramp and onto the dock after the team had left for the night.
“Yeah, just,” Finn said, stepping onto the small pier.
“Wanna get a beer?”
“Sure. I think I heard people talking about meeting up at the Crab Shack. You wanna go there?”
“Naw, let’s do this one solo.”
“Great, why don’t I like the sound of that?”
“No, it’s good, really.”
They cleaned up and went to a small outdoor pub and ordered whiskeys. Sipping companionably, with the fresh scent of the water wafting over them, Finn waited for Nate to begin.
“So, we just got some new funding.”
“Yeah? How much?” Finn’s hopeful smile finally reached his eyes.
“Wait for it…one point eight-five”—he watched Finn—“million. All designated for the monks.”
The air seemed to leave the open-air bar they sat in. Nate just smiled and sipped his beer, watching his friend’s reaction.
“What?” Finn was incredulous, with an expression almost akin to fear etched on his face. “Are you shittin’ me?”
<
br /> “Nope.” Nate began to laugh and shake his head. “Already in the bank.”
“Ho…ly…shit.” Finn scrubbed a hand down his face and over his beard, then began to laugh. “Oh my God. One point eight million dollars? Million?”
“I know.”
“Oh my God. Nate.” His eyes darted around in disbelief as realization sank in. “Do you know what this means?”
“It means we’ve got it. All of it.”
“Shit… Who’s the donor?” It was everything Finn could do to contain his excitement. He wanted to scream.
“Anonymous, but Sunderland’s pretty sure it’s that outfit in California. They floated a number like that after NOAA got involved and wanted it kept quiet.”
“We’ll have to try and reach out to them.”
“I already asked. I’ll do everything I can to make that happen.”
“Oh man. Sunderland, we can be done with him.” Finn sat back in his chair and picked up his whiskey glass again, then let the amber liquid glide down his throat. “We can do it now, can’t we Nate?” He looked over at his friend, whose eyes glistened and whose grin could light the sun. “Shit.” Finn had tears in his own eyes. “We can really do this now. We need to celebrate.”
“Cabin?” they both said in unison.
“Absolutely,” Finn affirmed.
“Okay, I’ll tell Annie. Bring Dee too. She’ll love it.”
“Around six?”
“I’ll have Annie call everyone.”
****
For the first time since Raven left, Dee noticed that Finn appeared to enjoy his friends. Discussions about the project and possible ways to increase awareness and include the community in its construction were exhausted. She smiled as he talked to Annie about her pregnancy and flew their son, Tanner, over his head like an airplane.
It was only later, with the celebration in full swing, that she saw him sitting alone on a dune, in relative quiet, overlooking the sea. He stared at a place on the beach, with a faraway smile. Dee’s heart broke a little, and she approached him.
“May I join you?”
He turned in surprise and looked up at her.
“Absolutely. You want me to get ya a chair?”
“No, no.” She patted his leg after she sat down. “What’re you doing over here by yourself?”
“Just my new favorite pastime, basking in newfound happiness.” She looked at the colors of the sun going to sleep, then back to her grandson. The amber gold shimmered on his face and hair.
“It’s nice to see you happy Finn. Been a while.”
“Yeah, sorry ’bout that.” He smiled at her and swung an arm over her shoulders.
“Why don’t you call her?”
“God,” he said exasperated and removed his arm again. “Why don’t you mind your own business.”
“Because you are my business honey, don’t you know that?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, abashed.
“Why are you being so headstrong here?”
“Dee.” He exhaled. “I could never live in that kind of environment. It’s insanity. Besides,” he said, looking back down onto the beach. “She made it crystal clear that we’re done.”
“And that really chaps your ass, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“That she decided. That it wasn’t up to you? Did you ever think that maybe the lesson was hers to learn, Finn, not yours? Do you know what she did after you left?” she queried, looking out at the amber hues.
“Yeah, she collapsed, a.k.a. went into hiding so her handlers could figure out what to do with her next.”
“You’re an idiot.” He looked at her patiently.
“Okay, so let’s summarize. I’m an ungrateful idiot, a control freak, and a selfish, headstrong asshole? I’m sure there’s a home I can put you in somewhere, old woman.”
“I might just admit myself.” She chuckled. “So I don’t have to watch this nefarious scene play out.”
“Oooh, nefarious is it?” he chuckled.
“She told both those assholes to shove it and walked out.”
“What?” He stopped laughing. “What’re you…”
“I’m telling you, our little Raven flew the coop.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
“Dee?”
“Apparently, something about not getting to do what she really wanted to do and then when they demanded she go back onstage, she said no and left, then fired both of them.”
“Both?”
“Both,” she affirmed. His mouth fell slightly open as he cast his brilliant gaze outward, glowing with pride. “As I said, maybe the control was hers to learn.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He laughed, then sobered. “Good for her.” He ran soft golden sand through his fingers. “How did you find out about all this? Her cell changed.”
“Oh, I spoke with her brother,” she said, deciding on the spot to fib but happy to hear he’d at least tried the old one.
“Wyatt? How do you know Wyatt?”
“Raven gave me his cell number a long time ago, and I wanted to know how she was.”
“Well, thanks for that. I’m sure she’ll think I put you up to it.”
“No she won’t. I only talked to him, and just said I missed her. He said I shouldn’t have to miss her long.”
“Did he say why?” He looked at her quickly.
“Yes.”
“Well?
“Well, what?”
“Well, are you gonna tell me?”
“Oh, you’re interested? Okay, well, she’s giving a concert on Oahu, Friday, at the amphitheater.”
“She doing a concert here?”
“Well, on Oahu, remember, I just said at the…”
“Smart ass. How come I haven’t heard about it? A show of that magnitude, you’d think it would be everywhere.”
“It has been everywhere, Finn. You clicked off, but the rest of the civilized world kept spinning.”
“Smart ass,” he repeated, rolling his eyes.
“Besides it’s not that kind of show.”
“What kind of show is it?”
“I guess you’ll have to escort me to find out.”
“No.”
“But, I want you to come with me.”
“No.”
“Finn…”
“No, she wanted it over and damn it, it needs to be over.”
“Maybe things were said and regretted on both sides.”
“Did Wyatt say that?”
“No.”
“Then come on.” He stood, then helped her up. “Let’s go home.”
****
The ground trembled beneath his feet. He saw no one but heard a voice that felt like it could be everywhere, all at once. Approaching the woods, he turned a corner and saw an ancient man, his hair and beard snow white. So brilliant and bright were his eyes, Finn could barely connect with them. He sat on a protruding root of a toppled banyan tree, as a king might sit upon a throne.
“My pride has resulted in this fate,” the man said quietly, without preamble.
“Who are you?”
He ignored Finn’s question.
“Eternity elsewhere, never fully formed within my mind, for I was once immune.”
“So, what? You’re the ghost of Christmas past, telling me I’m going to wind up in a hot oven somewhere regretting my life.” Finn looked around and saw horses in a field and pointed at them. “Yours?”
“My power, my control was second to only one, my brother, but still we did not know.”
“What the hell is this?”
When Finn still received no answer, he turned away disgusted, and the man turned into a rage of blue fire that shook the earth once more, then split.
“Perhaps the question isn’t who I am, for I am you, an answer for which you know not.” He actually sparked with anger. “Who am I? I am pride, greed, wrath, regret, fear, and now”—there was a pause—“apparently, stone.”
Finn turned, and the man was in
deed stone, with a live silky-black, raven sitting on his shoulder. It circled him once and flew away.
Chapter 36
Raven sat in her periwinkle robe, watching Abby spin around in a chair, chattering away about her surfing lesson that morning. Her corkscrew curls blossomed from her head in every direction, swept away from her face by a silky white hairband. She glittered under the lights in her gunmetal dress, as she climbed down from the chair and clicked across the floor in tiny-heeled shoes.
“Can I get my makeup done too Rave?” Abby pleaded.
“Well, you’ll just have to ask Miss Barb here if she has time, and then ask your mom if it’s okay.”
“Okay, I’ll be back.” Abby giggled, forgetting the hierarchy, and ran off to find Que.
“There.” Barb ended with a flourish. “I think you’re all set. You look perfect.” The stylist turned her boss around, and Raven gazed in the brightly illuminated mirror. She saw a soft, flawless face reflected back at her, with enormous curlers in her hair.
“Oh Barb, it’s perfect.”
“Well, it sure is a helluva lot better than before,” Barb reassured, then handed her the water bottle poised precariously on the corner of the counter. “I'll just be a second and then we’ll get you going on your hair.” As Barb walked out of the room, Abby dragged Que in.
“Mama says it’s okay.”
“Well, I think I said you also needed to ask Barb, Ab,” Raven chided. “She’ll be back in a minute, and we’ll ask if she can squeeze you in.”
“You look pretty,” Abby observed, and her mother quickly agreed. Raven beamed, but before she could respond, her stylist reemerged and smiled at the room.
“So, soft and romantic, right?”
“Absolutely.” Raven looked in the mirror at Que and asked, “Did anyone show up?”
“Girl, the hill is filled,” Que said, indicating the slope behind the theater seats and in front of the stadium seats.
“Here we are.” The women looked over at Wyatt resplendent in a dark suit, carrying three glasses of wine and one glass of sparkling apple cider. He handed one to each of his ladies before raising his own. “Okay, to my brilliant, beautiful, and talented sister, embarking onto bigger and better things. And to my other sister, who had to go where no mother should ever have to and showed us what real strength is all about. And finally, to my lovely little lady, who is the light of my life and the coolest, bravest girlie I know.” Hearts melting, all the girls simultaneously kissed him on the cheek and clinked glasses, as Abby reached out her hands to him, to be picked up.