Shin took Kayin’s hand. “So are you feeling better? You look a lot better.”
“Thanks, I’m feeling better. I got a lot of work done and watched some Netflix.”
“You didn’t sleep? You’re supposed to sleep when you’re sick,” Kayin said.
I wrapped my arms around myself. “No, I was too scared. Too afraid of having to deal with Cartazonon again.”
“Maybe one of us should stay with you.” Kayin large brown eyes filled with worry.
“And do what? Jump into my dream?”
“If we could, we would,” said Shin.
“I know, and I appreciate it. Don’t worry. Tonight I’ll connect to Akasha, and I’m sure Shamash and Aya can fix this.” A group of kids waited on the sidewalk across from the park. I took the stop sign out of the holder by the crosswalk and checked for traffic, like I had seen others do. The kids talked, and I felt their confusion. Once the traffic slowed, I stepped into the crosswalk holding the sign and motioned for the kids to cross. They hesitated for a moment, then crossed, thanking me as they past. After putting the sign back, we crossed into the park. The kids had run off to a grassy field where a soccer game was starting. The concrete path divided into three and we stopped.
“Did you call Gavin and Anali?” Kayin asked.
Groaning, I nodded. “Yes, and he wanted to come and fly back out here, and then he wanted me to fly out to them. It took an hour and Anali to calm him down.”
“He’s just worried about you,” Shin said. “He wants to keep you safe.”
“Yes, well he needs to chill out.”
We walked under the gate and entered the park.
“So which way should we go? Right, left or straight?”
“Sapphire,” said Shin. “We go forward never straight.”
“Of course,” I said laughing. “My mistake.”
“Let’s go right, towards the pond,” Kayin said.
“But I normally lean a little the left.” Shin glanced at himself.
Kayin opened his mouth, closed it, then started walking.
“This is your fault,” Shin said, throwing an arm over my shoulders.
“Me? How?”
“I’m normally very well behaved.”
“That,” said Kayin, “is a lie.”
Shin pouted. “Well, he normally shuts me up with kisses.”
“Am I ruining your alone time?” I teased.
“No, I’m just going to get myself in trouble. It’s okay, Kayin will forgive me.”
Kayin huffed, a smiled tugging at his full lips.
Shin wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled Kayin into him. “Oh, baby. You know you love me as I am.”
“Something is obviously wrong with me,” Kayin said.
I moved away as Kayin laid his arm across Shin’s shoulders. I didn’t mind cuddling with the boys but I didn’t want to intrude.
Taking the lens cap off my camera, I began randomly clicking at things that caught my attention. I knelt by the pond. Thick dark green lily pads covered most of the surface of the water. Gold, orange, and white koi flashed between the pads as they swam by. I was too slow to catch the flash of color so instead I focused on a gap between the lily pads and started clicking nonstop. Several koi swam by and I hoped I’d gotten a good picture.
“Sapphire, come see.” Kayin pointed to a tree where one cherry blossom had opened already. Switching to different lens, Kayin focused on the soft pink blossom. Following his lead, I switched to a different lens and started taking pictures.
A pebble hit my back. Turning, I saw Shin sitting on the grass with his arm up and ready to throw a pebble at Kayin. I took a picture. “Poor baby, are you bored? Show me bored.”
Shin frowned, before hamming it up for the camera.
“Now, give me sullen,” I said as I kept clicking.
“I thought we weren’t supposed to take pictures of people until lesson ten,” Kayin said.
I shrugged. “So I’ll save these. Now I want sorrow, your heart is broken.”
Shin’s face contorted into a mix of fake cry and I need to pee. I laughed as I took pictures. “Kayin, you pick.”
“Let’s see, anger.”
I gasped at the transformation. Shin’s face became hard and he glared at us. I looked behind me to make sure no one was coming up on us.
“How about desire?” I asked. An angry Shin was kind of scary.
Shin face and eyes softened. Lying back on the grass Shin looked at us, then pulled the bottom of his shirt up and licked his lips.
Kayin whimpered, his camera hanging around his neck forgotten as he stared at his boyfriend. I started taking pictures of Kayin and backed up until I got both of them in the shot.
A group of kids on bicycles rode by breaking the mood.
Kayin and I traded off calling out different things, all PG until we laughed too hard to take pictures any more.
Sitting on the grass I caught my breath. Closing my eyes, I lifted my face to the sun. I heard Kayin snap a picture but ignored it. This was what I needed. A break from everything, even my own worried thoughts and feelings.
“Come on, there are bridges and other gardens in the park to look at,” Shin said.
Jumping up, I brushed the grass off my butt. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Twelve
I lay on the futon, the thick soft comforter covering me. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and opened my connection to Akasha. With each inhale I pulled in more Phoenix energy and with each exhale I relaxed into the futon. My fire pendant began to warm. I knew the red, orange, and yellow flames that surrounded blue, green, and purple flames glowed with power. The colors, which looked like painted on gemstones would dance and swirl as I pulled in more and more power with each inhale. I wrapped Phoenix energy around me, willing it to protect me as I fell asleep.
Warm flower scented air welcomed me to Akasha. In the turquoise sky Quetzalcoatl flew high above. I was in Akasha. Looking around and not seeing my many times great-grandparents I sat on the soft grass at the edge of the woods. Soon a group of tree nymphs began playing harps and dancing around the birch trees, a group of satyrs joining them.
“Sapphire,” Aya called. “How are you, my darling?”
“I’ve been better.”
“What happened?” Shamash asked kneeling next to me, his red hair framing his face.
“I was bitten by snakes in my dream, and now Cartazonon can pull me into his dreams.”
Frowning, he ran a finger over my cheek looking at the pink bites. “Tell me everything.”
“Oh, Sapphire,” Aya said wrapping her arms around me when I finished. “Shamash, my darling, we can help her, can’t we?”
“I don’t know. This feels like Earth magic. I can undo magic from Earth beings, but it takes a lot of power and focus.” Closing his eyes, he opened them again, a luminous pearl tear filled the corner of his golden eye. “This should help.”
“It’s more beautiful than I remembered.”
I looked over Shamash’s shoulder. “No.”
Cartazonon stood in the meadow, his suit and shiny dress shoes a black mark against the magical beauty.
“I didn’t think I could follow you to Akasha, but this is glorious.” Raising his arms Cartazonon looked at the sky his pale skin pinking in the sun. Taking a deep breath, he grinned. “Oh, yes, the energy here is exactly what I need.”
Shamash turned to me, the tear fell down his cheek and to the ground, wasted. “I can’t remove the connection he has to you. Not right now. Not with Earth magic binding the two of you. I have to protect Akasha, you understand.”
I stood. “What do you mean?”
“Shamash?” Aya asked moving to stand next to her husband.
“I’m can’t have him here. Sapphire, he is linked to you. As long as that link is in place, you cannot be here. I have to send you away. Your necklace will still work, but you won’t be able to come here anymore.”
“What? No, please there has to be som
ething you can do.”
Changing into a Phoenix, Shamash screamed. I covered my ears and stepped away from him.
“You have to try,” I cried out. “You can’t do this to me. You’re supposed to help and protect me. This isn’t my fault.”
His wings exploded into fire, creating a great wall of flame and power. Each beat of his wings brought the wall closer to me. For a moment I thought it was a cleansing fire, something that would burn the poison out of me and get rid of Cartazonon. Then the heat hit me and the power and focus of the flames swept over me.
“I’m sorry.” Tears ran down my face as I backed away. “Please don’t send me away. I’ll do whatever it takes to break the connection. Please.”
The wall of flame moved closer, forcing me to step back.
“I have every right to be here,” Cartazonon screamed. “I was born here. This is my home. The power here is my birthright.”
Above the dancing flames I saw Aya standing on a hill next to a unicorn, the sunlight reflected off their tears. It was the last image of Akasha I saw. Another step back, and I transferred from the beauty of Akasha to the utter blackness of Cartazonon’s dreamscape.
“That is what you reject me for?” Cartazonon yelled running his fingers through his hair, the black locks disheveled, his black eyes wide. “That fiery chicken? Who kicked you out of Akasha? He didn’t even try to help you. Did he offer any comfort, or reasons, or even a promise that he would try? While I offer you this.”
The tears dripping over my cheeks were the only thing I felt, everything else was numb. I couldn’t think. My chest felt hollow, and my breath came in soft gasps. That wasn't real. It was only a trick to get Cartazonon away right? Shamash would come for me.
Cartazonon forced a room to materialize around us. Blue, shocking bright deep blue, with turquoise, white, and pale yellow green mosaics tiles covered the walls in a never ending pattern of flowers, vines, and geometric shapes. White curtains fluttered on a dry desert breeze which carried the scent of jasmine. Adhan was called out from a local mosque, calling the faithful to prayers.
Cartazonon’s shoes clicked on the polished wood floor. Reaching out he grabbed my braid and yanked my hair. I reached up grabbing at his arm, but did nothing to get away. I felt too numb to care. He turned me so I faced a large, white, L-shaped couch with bright blue throw pillows. Twisting my braid around his arm he dragged me over the window. I looked through the carved wooden screen onto a city of tan stone and mud buildings, with an occasional red clay tile roof. The towers around the mosque cast long shadows over the city and its dome was covered in somber gray tiles.
“Why would you reject all of this for that fiery chicken who doesn’t even want you anymore?”
I brought my hands down. Cartazonon relaxed his hold on my hair. Taking a deep breath, I thought of how Shin taught us to get away when someone is holding our hair. Of course that was from the front but maybe I could improvise.
“You can try to get away, but realize I have been a warrior for almost two thousand years. There is nothing you can do that would surprise me. I can see what you’re planning on doing before you tighten your muscles preparing to move.” Cartazonon tightened his hold on my hair. “How is this better? Why do you continue to refuse my generous offer? Why increase your own suffering and the suffering and death of others?”
A harsh mechanical alarm screeched echoed through the room. I jumped and looked around.
“I am a patient man, and an alliance with you is what I want, but I won’t wait forever.” Cartazonon let go of my braid. “I am going to have the worst headache today. I hope you appreciate what I am going through for you.”
The bedroom faded and I hung suspended in the black, helpless and numb.
* * *
The melody of rain hitting the tile roof pulled me out of the blackness. Hot tears ran from my eyes and over my face. What was I going to do now? My hands shook as I reached over and grabbed my phone.
I bit my lip as the phone rang. Would they answer?
“Sapphire?” said a rough sleepy voice.
My chin quivered. My eye filled with more tears. “Uncle Gavin.”
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“He kicked me out,” I gasped then started sobbing. “He didn’t even try anything else.”
“Who? What?”
I opened my mouth to answer but all that came out was a low moan.
“Sapphire, yes or no, are you physically hurt?”
I sniffed. “No.”
“Okay, that’s good.”
“I know it’s late.”
“Stop, it is never too late for you to call me. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I went to Akasha.” I choked at the memory.
“Yes, we talked about you doing that. Was Shamash able to help you?”
“No, he didn’t try, well he was going to give me a Phoenix tear, but Cartazonon …” I stopped talking again, tears choking me.
“It’s okay,” Gavin cooed. “It’s okay, take your time.”
Closing my eyes, I let the tears fall and calmed my breathing. “Cartazonon followed me to Akasha. Because I was the reason he got in, Shamash threw us both out. He didn’t even try anything else. Why didn’t he try?”
“He followed you, and Shamash didn’t protect you? How dare he.” Gavin took several deep shaky breaths. “Okay, okay. I want you here, with me and Anali. I don’t like this. Can Cartazonon hurt you in your dreams? Is he getting into your mind? I can’t help you from this far away.”
I wanted that, part of me wanted to be tucked away and kept safe, but that wasn’t going to be my life. “I have to deal with the Gaki. I can’t leave it while it’s killing people. I don’t think Cartazonon can get into my mind, at least he hasn’t yet but what if that changes? What if he follows me to India? To Anali and the baby?”
“Does it feel like he’s in your head?”
“No, but how would I know? I mean I’m not waking up with a headache or feeling invaded.” Would that even be the right word? “And I still don’t know about the hair pulling. I mean it could be some magical creature here, but what if it’s Cartazonon? What if he knows where I am?”
“What makes you think the hair pulling could be Cartazonon? Have you felt the Sons of Belial?” Gavin asked.
“No, but he’s grabbed my braid to make me look at things, and it seems like he either is responsible for the hair pulling, or he can get information from my mind and knows about it.”
“It doesn’t seem likely that it’s a coincidence.” Gavin sighed. “I understand why you don’t want to come here yet. So how can I help? What do you need?”
Wow, he sounded all rational. “You’re dying to come and get me aren’t you?”
“I’m looking up plane tickets online,” Gavin chuckled darkly. “I’m trying my best.”
“Thanks. Uuummm, I don’t know what I need. A way to deal with these dreams. To stop having them or have control in them.”
“Anali and I will start researching it. And if you ever change your mind, I’ll come and get you.”
“I know, Uncle Gavin. Thank you.” I wiped the drying tears off my face. “How’s Anali?”
“Much better. We’re staying with her parents and trying to spending most of our time away from people. She still can’t block emotions.”
“But that’s why you’re there, to be the barrier between the world and Anali and the baby.”
“Yeah, at least I can do something to help them,” Gavin said then yawned.
“Oh, God, what time is it?” I crawled out of bed and slid open the shoji screen. It was still dark outside, not even a faint glimmer of sunrise. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sapphire, don’t worry about it. You’re a 24/7 kid. You can call me whenever you need me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Uncle Gavin. Go back to bed and tell Anali I said hi.”
“Good night. Call me anytime you need me.”
“Night.” I hung u
p and after chugging some water, I went and washed my face.
* * *
My body ached pleasantly from working out this morning. My stomach was full from breakfast at the ryokan, and now we were traveling on a train towards Hokkaido and the gateway stone. Best of all, no Emiko. Miu had said her parents wanted to spend some time with her. I was just glad to not have her around for a few days. Poor Hiroshi had been told he couldn’t come, either. I promised to tell him all about it for his manga.
“So,” said Michael as he opened his laptop and called Philip on Skype setting it on a table. “Time for us to talk and plan.”
“Hello everyone, thanks for waiting until I had a break between classes,” Philip said wiping sweat off his face.
Sasha pulled me up and sat down putting me onto his lap. Kayin and Shin set next to us. Michael, Nyota, and Miu sat facing us, with Taliesin leaning against their seat.
“Sapphire, you look better but not all the way healed. Were you able to get to Akasha while you dreamed last night?” Philip asked.
Taking a deep breath, I recited what had happened with as little emotion as possible. Freaking out with Gavin earlier had helped purge the intensity of what I was feeling. Kayin reached over and held my hand as I explained how I had been cast out of Akasha.
“Sapphire, I am so sorry,” Philip said.
“Well, what are we going to do now?” Miu asked fidgeting with the moonstone sphere on the silver chain around her neck. “If Cartazonon is so dangerous and powerful Shamash can’t defend against him, then how can Sapphire? And is it safe for us to be around her while Cartazonon is in her head?”
“Stop,” said Philip. “This isn’t going to happen; you are a team.”
Taliesin looked at the floor, his forehead wrinkled in a frown, his fingers running over the moonstone on his bracelet.
I rubbed at my ears as they began to buzz. I hate it when this happens. What causes it anyway?
“Sapphire, do you feel like Cartazonon is getting into your mind?” Michael asked.
I shook my head. “No, and Cartazonon has mentioned the dreams leave him with a headache.”
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