“Edan,” she said in a whisper.
The guy clapped. “Give the princess a prize.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?” he said and walked closer to her, so close, she could smell the pine trees on his ashy blonde hair. “After all, you are the princess.”
Pushed by her curiosity, Gaia found herself unable to leave. Instead, she crossed her arms in front of her. “Why is Edan against you talking to me?”
The guy laughed out loud. “Why is Edan against everything fun?”
“Are you calling yourself fun?” she glared at him.
“You know I am,” he smiled. His wicked hazel eyes staring at her as if they knew all of her secrets, something that scared her and made her angry at the same time.
Gaia cleared her throat and took a few steps back. “Somehow you keep stalling,” she said in a casual and unaffected manner. Thanks to Edan, she was now a pro at hiding what she was feeling.
“Somehow you’re still here.” He tried to get her back to relaxing, but this time she didn’t budge, she needed to know who he was. “Fine,” he gave up. “Edan and I were once inseparable; you would think we were brothers. We spent most of our young days playing around and taking care of you.”
I knew him? Maybe that explains this strange curiosity I feel towards him… she thought. “What happened?
“You know him. He’s a bit… temperamental,” he said.
Gaia smiled. His words put her more at ease. She couldn’t understand how her body could relax that much as soon as she knew this mysterious man knew Edan. “A bit?”
“We had a disagreement and instead of listening to me and sorting things out, Edan decided to part ways. Years of friendship. But his stubbornness and ego got in the way,” he explained. Gaia noticed there was a hint of anger and pain in his gaze, though she couldn’t tell what exactly caused it.
“Sounds like him,” she agreed without a doubt. “And if that’s all true, why are you here?”
“To help you,” he said, flat out.
“That’s sweet, but I don’t need help,” she said as her defensive mode engaged. She was tired of being treated like a child.
“Of course you don’t,” he said, and Gaia felt valued, a feeling she hated to like since it made her feel insecure and needy even if she wasn’t. “What I meant was that you have questions and I have answers.”
Gaia bit her lip and turned around, giving her back to him. She wanted some sort of action that would ground her to what was happening. Is he for real?... What if it’s just lies?… What if they aren’t? He really knows Edan… She turned around and faced him. “Why are you so happy to give them to me and go against the leader of The Six?”
“Leader or not,” he rolled his tongue at the ‘or,’ “you are my future queen. It doesn’t matter what he wants, it’s what you need.” Once more, the guy took a few steps forward, making his point. “Me… I can help you in so many ways.”
She stared at his eyes. “What kind of information do you have?” she asked trying to see any hesitation from his side.
The guy, skillful as he was, there was no hesitation at all. “Admit you trust me and I’ll tell you.”
“Make me trust you and I’ll admit it,” she said, not knowing where it came from.
“You win.” He walked away and sat down on the trunk Gaia had been lying on before. “For starters, I’m pretty sure Edan hasn’t told you… you are still seventeen,” he said.
“Because that would be a lie.” Gaia felt glad and disappointed with his so-called news. “I turned eighteen on December fifteen, I told you that before.”
“Wrong,” he said. “You birthday is not until March twenty-first. The first day of spring.”
“No way… Besides, even if it was true, how could you prove that?”
“I don’t have to.” He sat down and stared right at her. One corner of his lips lifted in a smile. “You will prove it yourself, soon.”
“What’s your real name?” Gaia asked.
“I can’t,” he said and smiled mischievously. “Unless...” he teased.
“Unless what?”
“Unless we make a deal,” he suggested.
“A deal?” Gaia repeated. Not in her wildest dreams would she have believed she would be making deals with magical strangers. “Who are you, Rumpelstiltskin?” she said between laughs.
“No idea who that is, but I assume he is charming and astonishingly gorgeous.” He smirked, making dimples on his cheeks.
“Far from it.”
“Then? How about that deal?” he asked but Gaia remained quiet. “I’ll take it as a no. Goodbye Princess,” he said and walked away.
Gaia took a deep breath. Her heart was begging her to follow the guy, but her instincts were screaming to run as far away as possible. Why?... she thought. Maybe it’s because he’s from Terra or because of everything that’s been happening with the dark beasts and danger around them… If only I could ask Edan. The memory of his indifference towards her made her chest hurt.
For the past few weeks she’d been fighting her feelings for that Terrain icicle and she hated being conflicted over something like that. Noah, or whoever this guy was, clearly had information she could find useful. She could use that information to know her past and keep her new family safe. If I agree, Edan will be furious… Crap, why do I care if he gets angry or not? I shouldn’t care, should I? It’s his job to protect me. Ugh, job. Her heart clenched. I’m his job… She refused to figure out whether she wanted his admiration as a leader or worse…to be more than a job to him.
Nope… don’t care if he gets angry. Whatever then… “Wait!” Gaia ran after the guy and found him sitting a few trees away as if he knew she was going to follow him. Stupid Terrians and their smug confidence… “I’m listening to your deal.”
“I’ll tell you my name, if you… promise not tell the others you saw me?” he said.
“Sure, that doesn’t sound sketchy,” she mocked him.
“Ok… be my guest, tell them you met me. I’m sure Edan will ban you from meeting with me and he’ll gladly tell you all I know about you and your past… in five to ten years.” He leaned closer, knowing Gaia made up her mind. “Deal?”
“Deal,” she said it fast before she could regret it.
He patted his hand on her shoulder. “Exciting, isn’t it?”
“Super.” She moved his hand away.
“Should we seal it with a kiss?”
Gaia jolted at the idea of kissing this guy. Absolutely not. “How about a handshake,” she proposed instead.
“Earthling customs. So dull,” he said in a bored tone.
Not caring if he was against it or not, Gaia extended her hand. The mysterious guy grabbed it, but instead of shaking it, he pulled her against him, locked his arm around her neck, and gave her a small peck.
“Hey!” she complained as she managed to push away from his touch.
“Sorry, princess,” he said and softly licked his lower lip. “I don’t do handshakes.”
“Do that again and this is over.” Gaia clenched her fist wanting to punch him. “I have to go,” she said and walked away.
“Wait.” He grabbed her by the hand and gave her a gorgeous orange and yellow marigold flower.
“Charming, but I didn’t expect you would be the flower type of guy,” she said moving her hand away without touching it.
“I’m not. It will be our ‘secret signal.’” He gave the flower back, and this time she took it. “Wherever you see this flower, it means I’m close and that I’ll meet you soon.”
“Clever.” She hid the flower. “Your name?” she asked before she walked towards the camp.
“Pratt,” he said with a smile.
* * *
Gaia had just walked into the camp when Edan immediately closed in on her. “Where have you been? This place is full of dark beasts.”
She smiled at his concern and hoped he couldn’t tell she had seen Pratt again. She promised h
erself she wouldn’t escape like she did to the town, but this was different. Pratt was from Terra and, if he was telling her the truth, then it meant that she could finally get some answers, an opportunity she wasn’t going to waste. “Sorry, I fell asleep on a bench.”
“What bench?”
“I don’t know, we just moved here.”
Edan turned around and walked towards the cabin. “Pack a small bag and let’s go.”
“Wait! Go where?” Are we moving again? No way. My feet hurt.
“We need to leave. Klog Mor is not far away.”
“But isn’t this place full of dark beasts?”
He grinned. “We better be prepared then.”
Chapter 21
Klog Mor
GAIA STOOD IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, the smell of patchouli and strong incense burning her nose. Curious about the woman she was supposed to meet, she tried to take a peek beyond the entrance, but the wooden bead curtains and the plants were blocking her view. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” she whispered after a man with the longest and messiest brown beard she’d ever seen came out from behind the beaded entrance.
Edan took a step further in and heard a loud laugh coming from the second floor. “Apparently so,” he said turning to the group. “Donovan, come with me. The rest, stay on guard.”
Doing what they were told, Floyd, Pink and Veter nodded and assumed position while the rest of the team walked up the stairs across the vines.
“This way,” said Edan and stopped mid-way. “Don’t touch anything,” he warned Gaia as she was about to touch one of the crystal sculptures.
Followed by Donovan, Gaia walked behind Edan up the stairs. The more they climbed, the more the house changed. Flowers, trees, jewels and many other gorgeous things surrounded the upstairs room.
Gaia took a deep breath and felt completely at peace, like being inside a magical greenhouse. On the walls, exotic vines with flowers that looked like bells moved on their own. Gaia walked by them and even though the plants ignored Edan, they caressed Gaia’s arms and face as if they recognized her as their mother. “It tickles,” she giggled and petted the vine back.
“They are Terra’s saucer vine,” said Donovan. “Pretentious little flowers. They seem to like you.” A vine smacked Donovan on the butt.
“I like them back,” Gaia laughed and went through a bamboo curtain towards a bigger room.
In there, she saw Edan walking towards a woman in her late sixties with long curly grey hair, full of colorful wooden beads, and fixed in a messy way around her shoulders covering most of her back. The woman sat on a round chair made of rock with carved runes. With soft blue eyes and delicate hands, the woman wielded a ball of fire that skilfully melted and shaped glass into a star sculpture.
Gaia noticed she had the same tribal mark Veter and the rest had on top of her wrist, only this one had a circle made of stones and a flame inside it. She also noticed a new and strange symbol under the same wrist, a few inches below her palm. None of The Six had that one. At first she thought the symbol was just like her birthmark but this one was darker and Gaia’s was in her right hand. She took a better look and saw the symbol was an oval tribal tattoo made of flames and beautiful vines with a white tulip.
“Klog Mor?” said Edan.
The woman lifted her gaze full of emotion. “Edan,” she smiled and stood up leaving the fire to work by itself.
“Can Terrians do that?” Gaia asked Donovan, surprised to see an element continue to follow its wield even after the person who wielded it stopped commanding it.
“She can,” whispered Donovan.
Klog Mor placed her right hand on Edan’s right shoulder. “Agnosco,” she said with a proud and sweet smile.
Edan repeated the same movement making a cross with their arms. “Agnosco,” he said and gave her a small bow.
Klog Mor pulled Edan into a hug and smiled softly. “Long time no see, my boy.”
Edan scowled, “Unfortunately, not long enough.”
“Yes, I heard about the necklace. Tough luck,” she said calmly as if they weren’t talking about one of the worst scenarios that could’ve have happened.
“Tough luck?” Edan frowned. He was too stressed to deal with this kind of comment and, as always, Klog Mor had no filter.
“Stop frowning!” She flicked Edan’s forehead with her finger.
Gaia smiled at how much he sounded like a teenager being embarrassed by his mother and her mind wandered with images of what Edan’s true mother was like. She must be beautiful… she thought as she glanced at Edan’s breathtaking features.
Everyone had opened up to her about their parents or siblings, everyone except Edan and Hunter. She understood Hunter had an unknown past. She also knew that none of The Six really knew where he came from or what exactly happened to him but they all felt open to talk, unlike with Edan, the man who’s everything seemed to be a secret.
“Now let me see her.” Klog Mor moved across Edan and walked to Gaia with arms open. “Gaia! Come here, child.” She hugged her and to Gaia’s surprised she felt comfortable and at home. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Donovan laughed out loud. “If you were, you should have cleaned a little.”
“Oh, Donovan, always something to say, too bad only animal’s truly listen.” She gave Donovan a kiss on the cheek. “Tell me Edan, what brings you here?” She escorted them to a sand garden inside the same room and signaled them to sit with her.
Edan gave Donovan a signal. Donovan stood in front of the door that connected the stairs to the room while Edan walked into the sand garden and sat down right in front of Klog Mor. Gaia followed. “You already know,” he said.
“I do,” she grinned with her cherry lips and childlike eyes, “but one can never know an answer for sure, unless the question is asked.”
“We need… I need guidance,” said Edan looking lost, unclear of his thoughts.
Klog Mor took a moment to read Edan. “You fear they were right. That you shouldn’t be the leader,” she guessed, and by the stern face Edan made, Gaia understood Klog Mor was right. What she couldn’t understand was the guilt she saw in his eyes. Why would he feel guilty about being the leader when everyone clearly accepted him as such?
Carefully choosing his words, Edan sat up straighter. “Her necklace breaking, taking the Marked One, losing an entire year, Gaia not being prepared, none of that was in the plan.”
Gaia tried her hardest not to stare at Edan. Ever since she met him, he’d been in control of every situation. He’d been nothing but composed, cold, arrogant and overconfident. Now he was showing indecisiveness. It was a softer side of him, like a child looking for his mom’s advice.
Is Klog Mor the one causing it? Is he always like this with her? Or is this some strange case of Terrian sickness? She couldn’t tell.
“Of course the plans changed. You must remember, Nature has its own will,” said Klog Mor moving her hands. The fire that was molding the star outside the sand garden switched and molded another figure. At first the glass seemed to resist, trying to rebuild the star’s spikes, but in the end, it gave in and turned into an even more beautiful lotus flower. “It is in how we adapt where we find the true character in ourselves.” She took the flower out of the fire and placed it in front of Edan. “Now both of you men go. The child and I need to talk.”
Edan stood up and took a bow. “Until next time,” he said as he exited the room with Donovan.
Once alone, Klog Mor clapped in excitement and took Gaia’s hands. “Let me take a better look at you,” she said and scanned her completely. “Same beautiful face, same fire hair, mm…” She closed her eyes and gave Gaia a little squeeze on her hands. “Different essence,” she said and opened her eyes.
Nervous that something was wrong, Gaia pulled her hands away and used them to separate a long lock of red hair and slide it to her chest. “Is that bad?”
“Not all change is bad,” said Klog Mor. “But not all change is good. The
change in your essence could be good for you, but might not be for others; relativity is everything in the world.”
Gaia stood in silence. She had so many questions she needed to ask, only she couldn’t tell if it was prudent to bring them up with Klog Mor. Ask her… What if she thinks I’m stupid, or worse… weak…? she feared.
“Ask them,” Klog Mor smiled all knowingly.
“Ask what?” Gaia pretended not to know exactly what she was referring to.
“Your questions,” said Klog Mor. “The ones you’ve been keeping to yourself all this time.”
A chill ran through Gaia’s spine. Can she read minds?... Is she reading mine right now?... What about before?! Does she know what I think of Edan? Ahh!! Don’t think of him! Gaia panicked but since she knew nothing about mind reading in Terra, she decided to ask before going crazy. “Can you read minds?”
“No, only people.”
Gaia relaxed knowing her unstable thoughts were safe and took a deep breath of courage. “I’ve heard it many times but I’m not sure I understand what’s so important about turning eighteen.”
“It’s important because your eighteen birthday lands on the Eighteenth Spring. When this Eighteenth Spring is up, you will become of age and begin the process where your elements will fully mature. This is called the Resurgence. Once your Resurgence is in process, you’ll be the most vulnerable. But once the year of Resurgence passes, you’ll receive complete control of nature, making it impossible to be defeated, killed or changed. You will become nature itself and you will claim your place as such.” Her eyes turned sad. “And now, the locket is gone before time.”
“He can find me,” Gaia finished, and Klog Mor nodded. “I have to run and hide like I’ve been doing for another nine months?”
“Not nine months… twelve. You are still seventeen and your birthday isn’t until March twenty-first.”
“What?” Gaia was surprised, not by the fact that she would have to run for a whole year, but the fact that Pratt was telling her the truth. For the first time she felt like she could get the answers she needed to find her path. She wouldn’t be lost anymore. She wouldn’t hesitate anymore. She would be able to become strong and protect her family.
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