by Lucia Ashta
Her legs stayed strong, holding her body in an arch, stretching it to its limits. Asara felt vibrant, connected to one and all. Prompted to raise her legs up into the air, she was able to hold herself on her forearms and forehead. It was invigorating to feel her body move into positions that challenged her to such extremes.
Then, she gently lowered herself to the ground. Her body rested for only a moment before wanting to rise up again. This time, Asara kept her upper body on the ground and propped her hands against her waist. She used her shoulders as support as she raised her legs into the air. She remained with her legs straight above her, her toes pointed at the culmination of strong, firm limbs. She breathed in and out, enjoying the moment, delighting in the feel of her body.
Next, Asara brought her legs down over her body. They floated down until they touched the ground on either side of her head. Her pointed toes rested against the earth. Asara’s body moved with fluidity, grace, and strength, synchronized with the universe’s flow.
The vision of the night sky seemed to explode within her head in a blast. It was as if a star had burst. Then her vision reverted to the black, night sky, dotted with bright, shimmering stars. Asara had found the fullest sense of one consciousness. She understood the universal oneness of all beings. In gratitude, she accepted this wholeheartedly as her truth.
When her body tired, Asara swung her legs up from either side of her head and put them down gently. She moved her arms from her hips to the ground and adjusted her shoulders so that she reclined comfortably. She shook out her body and then lay there, completely still.
Before long, she drifted off to sleep. She allowed herself the time to rest and assimilate the energy she’d generated and the wisdom she’d received. The rise and fall of her chest grew deeper as the birds chirped on the tree branches above her. She would sleep undisturbed for several hours and wake wondering if her experience had been just a dream.
Chapter 47
When Paolo finally pulled up to the Javelina Inn two hours later, his panic turned into hysteria. The door to their room was ajar. Lena’s clothes were strewn everywhere as if someone had rifled through her suitcase searching for something. What the intruder was looking for, Paolo couldn’t imagine, but it was clear that he’d looked. Things were a mess.
He walked through the room. In the bathroom, he found the tub full of cold water. His heart sank. Had Lena been yanked out of the tub naked? Paolo leaned against the cold tile wall of the bathroom, the breath gone from his body. What had they done to her? Where was she? He was having trouble breathing.
Paolo turned back toward the bed and noticed what he’d missed before when distracted by the mess of clothing around the suitcase. Lena’s phone lay on the floor broken, the battery next to it. Had Lena struggled against her attackers to call for help? Paolo looked around the room for other signs of what might have happened.
Lena’s running shoes were kicked over, her sweaty running clothes on top of them. A pair of sandals lay upturned next to the running shoes. Paolo sank onto the bed where they’d made love. Was the woman of his dreams gone already? Was he too late? Where could he begin to look for her? Paolo had no idea what to do. Should he call the police? He put his head in his hands. He forced himself to breathe deeply and slowly so he could think.
Chapter 48
The seven masters of the Temple of Laresu’u Kal had begun discussing the possibility of Asara and Anak marrying. At the age of twenty-two, the twins were past the age that people usually entered into marriage. By then, all the temple masters were aware of the strong bond between Asara and Anak and of the importance of their mission on earth. When the issue was decided, the temple masters called the twins to them.
Neither Asara nor Anak knew why the temple master council had summoned them. They were somewhat anxious, wondering what the masters could possibly want them for. They’d never been asked to appear for the entire master council of the Temple of Laresu’u Kal before. It seemed that everyone was happy to leave the supervision of the twins to Kaanra.
However, that morning, when the young messenger arrived, she announced that they were to meet all the masters. Anak asked, “Why are we to meet with the entire council?” The young girl was shy and hid behind unruly red hair, begging that she wasn’t informed of anything but that they were to go to the small hall immediately to meet with the council of masters. The girl bowed slightly to them and turned to leave. The twins sat in stunned silence as they heard the girl’s retreating footsteps break into a run. Then the twins stood and walked hurriedly to the small hall where all the temple masters waited for them.
As they neared the doorway to the room, the twins stopped to look at each other apprehensively. The masters held the power to decide much about their lives. Their parents transferred the power of decision-making over the fate of their children to the masters when they turned Asara and Anak over to the temples.
Asara asked Anak, “Do you think they want to separate us? To send one of us away?”
That was Anak’s fear too. He couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Asara.
“I pray not,” he answered. “But either way, we’ll stand united and strong. Together, we can accomplish anything. I love you, Asara, and I won’t allow anything to come between us.”
Asara closed the space between them. She rested her head on his chest and allowed herself to find refuge in him, even if for a brief moment.
“Thank you, Anak. Now that I’ve found you, I couldn’t bear to live without you.”
Their stolen interlude came to an abrupt halt when Kaanra peeked his head out of the doorway. He saw his two special pupils, so much like his own children, in a tender moment of love. That kind of love hadn’t been meant for him in this life, but he still appreciated its value and beauty. Kaanra cleared his throat so the twins would realize he was there.
Slightly embarrassed that Kaanra had witnessed their private display of affection, Asara and Anak separated quickly. The look of concern returned to their faces. Kaanra recognized it and smiled to assure them that all was well. Still, the twins weren’t fully convinced as Kaanra ushered them into the hall where the other six masters waited. Asara and Anak took in each of the seven faces that looked back at them, trying to gauge the reason for their summons.
The temple masters sat on one side of a long, wooden table. Kaanra sat in the middle seat; three masters sat to his left and three to his right. Kaanra signaled to the twins that they should take the two seats set out for them across the table from the masters. When the twins sat, Kaanra told them, “We have called you here today to discuss your futures.”
Anak reached over, grabbed Asara’s hand, and squeezed it. It was his way of reassuring her that everything would be okay, no matter what the masters said there that day.
Kaanra continued. “As you know, you are both well past marrying age.”
Asara worked hard at pushing away her first thought. Were they going to separate them and marry them to other people? To strangers? The thought was so ghastly to her that she focused on pushing it out of her consciousness. She knew her thoughts were energy and that, if she put her focus on the fear that had just swooped through her mind, she could contribute to making it happen. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she released the negative fear and focused on trusting that everything would be well in the divine plan.
She was so inwardly focused, repeating to herself, All is well in my world, to keep her thoughts from causing problems, that she missed what Kaanra said next. She realized something had happened though because Anak was squeezing her hand so tightly that it was beginning to hurt. What happened? What did she miss? She turned to Anak. All she found in his expression was shock.
Anak’s look and the loop of disciplined affirmations she’d been running through her head disoriented her so that she spoke with an uncharacteristic lack of eloquence.
She looked at Kaanra and asked, “What?”
Kaanra smiled tenderly at his stunned pupils and looked As
ara in the eyes. “I asked if you’d like to marry each other,” he said.
Asara just stared back at Kaanra until her eyes began to glaze over, and she could no longer focus on anything in particular. The idea hadn’t occurred to her. Never, that she was aware of, had the temple masters allowed two pupils to marry each other. One from within the temple was always married to an outsider. That was how it was done, with the purpose of spreading wisdom and spiritual support outside of the temple walls.
Anak turned to Asara with a glistening of tears in his eyes. Still holding her hand, he looked her directly in the eyes and answered Kaanra. “There’s nothing I’d like better. I’m honored.”
Asara couldn’t find her voice. Instead, she nodded fervently, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Kaanra continued speaking for the council. “It’s settled then. You’ll marry when the moon completes its third cycle. That’s a most fortuitous time. It will bring blessings and protection to your marriage. You’ll marry when the moon is full, representing the completion and maturity of your union.”
Like all of those trained at the temples, Asara knew the lunar cycles with precision. The waxing and waning of the moon were powerful times of magic. But never had she watched the moon as closely as she would over the next few months, anticipating the time when she would marry her beloved.
Chapter 49
Driving on autopilot, Lena found her way to Victor’s house. She sat back in the black, sleek rental car for a few minutes, trying to compose herself, but she realized that wasn’t going to happen to the extent she wanted. So she breathed in calm, walked to Victor’s door, and knocked.
He opened the door right away. Lena was just as surprised when she saw Victor as she’d been the first time. Though seventy-seven years old with a shock of white hair, Victor emanated an ageless strength. Lena could easily picture him dominating in battle. She imagined that Victor could protect her from anything, yet she hardly knew the man.
Lena stepped into Victor’s modest home and into his embrace. Two people that by all accounts were virtual strangers shared a heartfelt hug. Lena felt as if she somehow knew Victor. Maybe it was that Victor reminded Lena of her father—that quiet strength, strong will, and unwavering character that spoke the honest truth. Lena’s father had been a man of his word. She sensed that Victor was also.
“Victor, I need your guidance. I’ve started having visions. They’re getting more intense and frequent. And there’s something incredibly familiar about them, as if I’m seeing myself in another time. I think that maybe these visions are teaching me about myself, but I don’t understand exactly what I’m supposed to take from it all.”
“And how have you felt since the clearing of the demon that we performed the other day?”
“Honestly, Victor, I haven’t had a chance to give it any thought. Life has been intense lately. I guess I feel good. But things have been moving so quickly that I don’t know what to think about anything anymore.”
“Have things intensified since the clearing?”
Lena hadn’t put it together, but now that she did think of it, things had gotten even crazier since the clearing. She had more visions, each more vivid than the previous one. She believed she’d met the man made for her before time existed, but then learned of his betrayal, she heard a rabbit talk, and now she found herself at the exorcist’s home again.
“I don’t think I can really answer that question. My mind is spinning. So much has happened to me over the last few days. It’s as if my entire world is in upheaval. Everything I once believed is inside out or upside down.”
“You’re being activated quite quickly. That’s interesting.” Victor said as he stared out the window, deep in thought.
“Why is that interesting?”
“Because it makes me think you’re needed for something right away. Usually the process of awakening gives you a little more time to get your feet under you. The awakening happens as you get your bearings. If you’re given a vision, then also you’re given time to integrate what you’ve learned before the next vision comes. It’s not all easy and smooth, but you’re given at least a little time to figure things out. It doesn’t seem that you’re getting any processing time. It seems to be urgent that you awaken.”
Victor met Lena’s fixed gaze. She was determined to find the answer to her concerns within his words.
“It makes me wonder why your awakening is so tempestuous. What are you being called to do at this time in the world?” Victor looked at her intently. “Do you know yet?”
Lena shook her head no. “Victor, I’m lucky that I know my name right now. And maybe it isn’t even Lena.”
“Where’s Paolo? Has he been able to help you understand any of this?”
Lena started crying. “I’m sorry,” she said, swiping at her running nose. “I didn’t mean to cry.”
Lena had hoped not to have to talk about what was going on with her and Paolo. She thought that Victor was above petty dramas, and she felt embarrassed to bring it up. But her composure was so fragile that it crumbled at the mention of Paolo’s name.
Victor showed surprising tenderness. “It’s okay. Emotions are healthy. What’s wrong? Where’s Paolo?”
Lena relayed the events of the last couple of days as succinctly as she could, trying to limit the drama.
“What does your heart tell you, Lena?” Victor asked, for he was wise. He’d seen Lena and Paolo together and felt that spark of divine connection between them. “What does your heart tell you if you open up to all possibilities?”
Victor suspected that something else was going on that Lena didn’t understand. Victor, familiar with the dark forces in a way that Lena was not yet, knew the darkness might be at work attempting to break Lena and Paolo apart. The dark side would perceive two light beings coming together as a threat. And Victor had enough experience to realize that nothing, absolutely nothing, was as it seemed.
Victor asked again, “If you delve into your heart, Lena, does it feel like Paolo is this person from the note?”
Lena looked at Victor. The tears that were resting on her lashes broke free and slid down her face. For the first time, someone was offering her hope. She hadn’t allowed herself to doubt the words in the note because she didn’t want to be one of those women who lived in denial, disrespecting and undervaluing herself; she’d already been that way, and she wouldn’t repeat that behavior again. Now, Victor was suggesting that maybe there was some kind of mistake. Maybe Paolo wasn’t married with children. Could she allow herself to wish that?
“I feel that Paolo is the person meant for me, like he’s somehow my twin soul. And this is crazy, but I’m beginning to believe that my visions are about me, and the twin that I see in my visions is actually Paolo. Am I losing my mind?”
Victor smiled a big, bright smile. “You know, Lena, I think you may be starting to see. The visions are yours for you alone to interpret, but what you say makes perfect sense to me. We all have a soul, and those souls are in our bodies now. When we die, our soul goes back to where it came from, to prepare for the next stage in its evolution. Most of us have many incarnations; we keep returning to the school of earth until we learn all that we need to learn.”
Lena understood what Victor was saying. It resonated with her, even though it was contrary to everything she’d learned growing up. When Lena experienced the visions, she knew she was seeing herself in another body. With Victor supporting her in this possibility, she became more certain of it. Now, there was no doubt. And the man in her visions, who was so connected to her, her twin in every way, was Paolo in another lifetime. So what did all this mean? She knew the answer even before she asked the question.
She would allow herself the leap of faith from her heart. She would ignore the voice of reason and allow herself to follow some other prompting, some magical and invisible force that was calling on her now. She would follow through on her initial impulse to trust Paolo and see how her reality might transform.
&n
bsp; Chapter 50
Arnaka was an island in the River Haakal. It was large enough that neither Asara nor Anak had been to the other side, but small enough that it was possible to trek across the island, though it would take several weeks to make the journey. The river encircled the entire island and then gave way to the sweet waters of the Hosuul Sea.
Since the inhabitants of Arnaka were surrounded by water, they were isolated from other civilizations, which were accessible only by boat and inconvenient to reach. Outsiders didn’t often bother them. There had been times in their culture’s history when aggression had come to their land, but that had been a long time ago. It was whispered that magic protected Arnaka—literally, the land of enchanted water.
The people of Arnaka were content with their isolation. They had no desire to spread their beliefs and teachings to others. News of the rest of the world trickled into their island slowly, and often not at all, as there was little use for trade or travel. The people could meet all of their needs on the island. There was plenty of food for everyone, and their land was rich in minerals.
On rare occasions, a few foreign men and women would come across the water to forage for plants that weren’t indigenous to their own lands. They used these herbs for medicine and, with their aid, healed many difficult illnesses in their people. The men steered the ships onto the shores of Arnaka, and the women, who were the medicine healers, harvested the plants in sacred ceremony.
There was limited verbal communication between these visitors and the people of Arnaka as the languages spoken were very different from each other. The medicine women interacted with the temple masters through telepathy. This non-verbal communication allowed the temple masters to see and feel what the rest of the world was like. Examples of cruelty flashed in graphic images through their minds, the shared experiences of the tribes of these medicine women.