Finishing the email, I hit send and lay down covering myself in the thick warm comforter. I was tired, but what waited for me if I slept? Cartazonon didn’t haunt my dreams every night, so maybe everything would be fine. Maybe I would sleep peacefully. Maybe I would have another nightmare. Sighing I rolled onto my side. Laughter and cheering echoed through the floor. Closing my eyes, I forced myself to sleep, no nightmare could feel as bad as this.
“You know what surprises me,” Cartazonon said sitting behind a large teak desk. “Is why you sleep every night. I can feel it, when you sleep, and you have yet to try and stay awake to avoid me.”
Staring out the window I looked out on San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and rows of colorful Victorian houses. Home. I’d grown up here. I had moved from different foster homes and group homes across the city. Somewhere in the city was Taliesin’s mother and Shante. I’d thought of Shante as a little sister in the last group home. I had planned to live in that home until I could transfer into independent living. Another life, a life without magic, mythical creatures, or being hunted by evil.
“What do your friends think about my offer?” Cartazonon asked. “Oh, come sit so we can talk. I have tea.”
“The ones I’ve told don’t want me to take your offer.” I kept my eyes on my old home.
“Let me guess, you have only told adults. What of the other children? Are they much older than you? They have entire lives yet to live and yet you risk their futures. Do they know? Do they trust you?”
My throat tightened. Even if I knew what to say, I wasn’t sure I could speak. I had never asked the others directly. I begged Gavin and Anali to tell them about Cartazonon's offer. I was too much of a coward to face them and tell them I could–but wouldn’t–end all of this.
“And what of your young unicorn friend, doesn’t he want to know about his father?”
I shook my head. “No, I asked him and he said no.”
“Ask him again,” Cartazonon commanded. “Ask him again, and let him know his father is still alive. He could meet him.”
I pressed against the cold glass. “No, I won’t. I won’t do anything you want.”
The scrape of his chair made me shiver and my head ached knowing he was going to grab my braid again. My necklace began to warm. Wait, could I pull in Akashic power from here? Taking a deep breath, I focused on my pendant and opening the connection to Akasha. It began to warm as Cartazonon reached me, his fingers going right for my hair. He jerked my head back. I lost focus for a moment.
“And what are you planning on doing with all that power?”
I held up the hand closest to him and allowed my Phoenix power to create flames around my fingers. I turned to look at him. “I plan on defending myself.”
“It’s adorable that you think you can do something to me.”
I flexed my fingers and sent a surge of power to my hands. His dark eyes focused on my fingers for a moment. Keeping my face blank, I reached up with my other hand grabbing the one that held my hair in a fiery grip.
Cartazonon snarled, yanked his hand away, then struck me across the face. I hit the window then backed away from him. Stay relaxed, watch his face. With each breath I pulled in more power.
“Going to try and fight back? What got into you?”
Dragon energy, apparently. I pooled Phoenix energy in my hand and threw it at Cartazonon. He stepped aside, and the energy hit the wall, punching a hole through the dreamscape. Behind it the black cracked, light and color visible through the small cracks.
Cartazonon stood in front of me his fingers around my throat in seconds. “You stupid child. Not only is this my world, but I am stronger than you.”
Staying calm, I pulled in more energy. My hands ached with power. Reaching out, I pressed my hands against his chest. His fingers tightened around my neck. He gritted his teeth his body shaking. I shoved in more power.
“Fuck,” he hissed. “That hurts.”
I gasped for air.
“It’s like that time Lee and I made a bet to see who could eat the most habanero salsa.” His body shuddered. He took a deep breath and looked at me. “It hurts, but not enough for me to stop. This isn’t my physical body you’re fighting. The energy is strong, but I can and will use it.”
Black spots danced in front of my eyes and the connection started to fail.
He threw me to the ground. My shoulder hit his desk. Coughing I forced myself to stand. I gathered more power in my hands.
Cartazonon’s eyes narrowed. “What are you going to try now?”
“I want to see what’s behind the curtain.” I threw my power at the hole I had made. The black cracking like glass.
“Stop.” He ran at me. I moved, throwing more Phoenix energy.
Chunks of black fell away. The memory hit me. A battle between Mongol war lords. Lee, the boy who’d been caring for him, only ten summers old had rushed to help his older brother who lay on the ground, blood bubbling from his mouth, arrows piercing his chest. He rushed, leaping over the fence and hurried to his boy’s side as a soldier came at him screaming. With a war cry of his own, Cartazonon ran as fast as he could. Lee held his sword, a small blade compared to what was coming at him. Lee, the son of a war lord through and through, screamed and leapt at the man. Jumping over the boy, Cartazonon kicked out, flinging the soldier back.
“Thank you,” whispered the boy, a gash down the side of his face, blood dripping onto the ground.
Cartazonon dipped his head. The boy fisted his hands in his friend’s mane and pulled himself onto the horse’s back. Running in between slashing blades and avoiding arrows the black stallion carried his boy away from the fighting.
My head whipped to the side. I screamed as my ribs hit the edge of the desk. Blood dripped down my cheek where he had split the skin. I pushed myself off the desk sliding on the papers.
He jerked me up by my braid.
“How dare you, to look into my mind.”
“How dare you pull me into your mind,” I yelled holding onto the base of my braid trying to relieve the pressure.
He yanked me close. “Next time I won’t be so nice.”
I was sucked into suffocating darkness.
“Sapphire!”
“Nyota?”
“Sapphire, wake up!”
I latched onto Nyota’s voice. And opened my eyes wincing at the bright light.
“Thank god,” Nyota yanked me into her arms and held me tight. “I was so scared.”
What was this craziness? “Shush, I’m fine. Everything is okay.” The others sat on the floor staring at us. Taliesin and Miu tucked into the farthest corner. Kayin and Shin had their arms wrapped around each other. Michael and Sasha stood next to each other behind Nyota.
“You are not fine,” Michael said, his voice tense.
“You screamed,” Kayin said. “And we couldn’t wake you.”
“I had to rip the covers off of you,” Nyota said. “You were surrounded by fire.”
“Did he hit you?” Shin asked. “Several times your body jerked like you had been hit. And your cheek is cut and bleeding.”
I pulled away from Nyota and touched my cheek. “Oh, I should go get cleaned up. Did I get blood on you?”
Nyota blinked. “Really? You’re worried that you got blood on me? Not that you were cut during a dream.”
“Well, the dream is over. And Cartazonon is not in my mind, he is pulling me into his. So good news.” I smiled then winced, the bruises on my face aching.
“Did. He. Hit. You?” Shin asked again.
“Well, yes, but I hurt him first. I don’t mind telling you about the dream, but I’d like to wait for Philip and there wasn’t any new information.” I frowned. “Well except that he says Taliesin’s dad is still alive.”
Everyone turned to look at Taliesin. He shrugged. “I don’t care. I’m not interested in dealing with Cartazonon.”
“Miu, can you heal her?” Kayin asked.
Miu frowned then started to walk to
wards me.
“No, thank you. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Little sister, the right side of your face is bruised, swollen, and cut.”
“And it was worth it.” I stood. “I’m going to go and clean up. What time is it?”
“Four in the morning,” Sasha said.
“Oh, way too early. Go back to bed.” I grabbed my bag.
“And what will you do?” Michael asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know, read? Watch a movie? Right now I feel too buzzed to sleep, but maybe I’ll try.”
Kayin yawned then wrapped his arms around me. “You should try to sleep.”
I squeezed him tight and waited. A second later Shin had wrapped his arms around both of us. They were so adorably predictable. “I’ll try and get some sleep big brother.”
“We all should get some sleep, the train leaves at eight,” Michael said. “Come on boys, let’s go.”
Taliesin looked at me, then turned and left.
Sasha hugged me, picking me up off the ground. “Sweet dreams.”
“You too.”
“Turn off the light,” Miu grumbled, pulling the covers over her head. “And use some of the arnica ointment I made on your face. Otherwise, people will think one of the boys is beating you.”
“Okay, I have some in my bag.” I flicked off the switch.
“Hurry back,” Nyota said her voice soft.
“I will, and I’m sorry I scared you.” The shoji door slid shut with a soft squeak. I grinned. My cheek throbbed, but I didn’t care. I had fought back. I had pissed Cartazonon off and hurt him. Sure, I hadn’t controlled the dream, but I’d made him mad enough to let me go. I’m calling it a win.
* * *
I sat on the floor in my room in Tokyo. Gavin and Philip stared at my face, again. At least they stopped yelling.
“So,” I said my voice breaking. “You’ll be here in three days?”
Philip nodded, his salt and pepper Mohawk down today, the hair swaying as he moved. “Yes, I fly out tomorrow.”
“Good,” Gavin said. His jaw tight.
“Michael and Nyota have been taking good care of me. No one can help me in my dreams.”
“Sapphire,” Anali said, her hair messy and her voice rough with sleep. “Gavin, I told you to wake me for this call.”
“Anali, how are you feeling?” I asked.
“So much better. What happened to your face?” she asked yawning.
I told her about my dream.
“Good for you.” Anali smiled. “I’m proud of you. Do you think you can do it again?”
“I suppose so, but he does fight back.” I pointed to my black and purple cheek.
“We need to come up with something better,” said Anali
“We were about to discuss it,” Gavin said.
“What if you built a shield of Phoenix energy around you?” asked Philip.
“It’s worth a try,” I said.
“Maybe if you channel the energy before you go to sleep,” Anali suggested.
“I wish I knew how the dreams were affecting him,” Gavin said. “I bet you hurt him with the Phoenix power.”
“He didn’t seem to be all that hurt, but one can hope,” I said. “Okay, I’ll try to build a shield and let you know how it goes.”
“Have a good day. I’ll see you soon,” Philip said then disconnected.
Anali yawned. “Be careful and call again soon, during the daytime, so we can talk properly.”
“I will and take care of yourself.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come to us? I can get you on a flight tomorrow morning?” Gavin asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Do you automatically look up plane tickets every time we Skype?”
“Pretty much.”
“’Bye, Uncle Gavin.”
“’Bye, I love you.”
“Love you too.” Closing my laptop, I got up and paced around my room. Before my alarm went off for the Skype call I’d been having a nightmare. It wasn’t Cartazonon, just my own guilt, fear, and failures. The screams of Ramsey and the others hurt in Avalon crept at the edge of my consciousness, waiting for me to let my guard down so they could haunt my thoughts some more.
I slid open the shoji door and stepped out onto the porch. A breeze blew my hair around my face, and I imagined it clearing away all my bad memories and dreams. The air was sweetly scented by the first cherry blossoms. The tops of the trees held a few of the precious white and pink blooms. It wouldn’t be long before all the trees in Tokyo would be in full bloom. I looked for the faeries, maybe one would come and talk to me for a bit. In the far corner of the garden I saw a small movement, then heard a gentle tune. Was a magical creature in the garden?
I didn’t want to intrude, but I wanted to be alone even less. Throwing a sweater over my pajamas, I left my room and slipped on the wooden sandals. I walked as quietly as possible down the narrow wooden stairs. Ninjas did not wear these stupid shoes. With all the noise I was making I would probably scare away whatever or whoever played the music and the faeries before I even reached the door to the garden.
I followed the music along a stone path to a back corner of the garden. The faeries danced on the moss covered rocks and between the branches of the trees.
A little old woman knelt on the ground playing a wooden flute. She smiled at me, her wrinkles crinkling around her eyes and mouth. For a moment I worried she was here to harm us, but remembered the guardian and relaxed. I knelt and watched the dancing. The faeries’ kimonos of leaves and flower petals glistened with drops of dews. Their green hair was loose and flowing as they twirled in the pale moonlight. I swayed to the melody of the flute, my mind so enraptured that the images from my nightmare began to fade.
“Hello, there,” said the woman as the last notes floated away on the breeze. “I’m Nara.”
“Hello, my name is Sapphire.” My Phoenix gift of languages allowed me to translate and speak in Japanese, since she was a magical creature. I wondered what kind. I couldn’t feel anything from her. “That was lovely.”
“Thank you. Music is a powerful and beautiful thing.” The faeries came over and kissed her pale wrinkled cheek in thanks before flying off to tend the garden.
“It is, or it can be. It can also be ugly and dangerous.” I thought back to Hiroshi’s party at the karaoke bar and the blank faces of this friends. I shivered. It wasn’t a power I wanted to have.
Nara nodded. “Yes, but with great power comes great responsibility.”
I frowned. “Did you just quote Spiderman?”
Her giggle sounded as light and carefree as a child's. “My brother read them to me when I was little.”
I shook my head and smiled.
“There are stories of singing to soothe savage beasts, gain help from animals, and enchant handsome princes.” She nodded and closed her dark eyes. “Yes, music can be a very powerful force. And it can also be used to lure sailors to their death, trap children, or lead someone to their destruction. But you, my dear child, you can choose how to use your gift.”
“But, how?” Did she really know who I am?
“How does anyone learn to do anything? You practice. You fail. You try again.” She smiled at me. “Oh, how do I know who you are? Well, when you get as old as I am you gain a great deal of wisdom.”
I was supposed to believe that? “Oh, okay.”
Laughing, Nara rocked back and forth. “Oh, the look on your face.” She wagged a bony finger at me. “You’re supposed to respect your elders, young one. The faeries told me about you. They said you suffer from dreams. Dreams the Muto family guardian cannot protect you from.”
“Little gossips,” I whispered.
“They told me because they thought I could help you.” Her tone made me flush with shame.
I sighed. “I dislike people talking about me.”
Nara patted my hand. “I understand, dear. Now, you are the Phoenix Jewel. And Phoenixes can sing. The key is to connect your emotions
to the song. To allow your need to focus your notes. That is how Phoenix song works. Emotions, focus, and music.”
“I’ve been able to control someone once before, and it made me ill, and one time I hummed and helped my friends feel better. Then I was singing, for fun and wound up, I don’t know.” I wiggled my fingers at her. “Enchanting some people. A friend’s boyfriend kissed me. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want anyone to blindly follow me.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to be safe.”
“Yes, and that is a good place to start, but I would try to be more specific,” Nara said. “It will help you to focus and make your song stronger.”
Could I stop the dreams altogether? Shamash couldn’t, because what bound us was Earth magic. So maybe I should focus on protecting myself once I’m in the dream. “I don’t want him touching me.”
“Good, very good.” Nara smiled showing small yellowed teeth. “That is better.”
Birds began to chirp as the black sky lightened to a deep blue.
“It’s time for me to go.” Nara moved, her bones creaking. “Help me up.”
Sliding my hand into her weathered bony grip I helped her. Nara smiled and drew a kanji on my wrist with her finger. “Here–this will help you remember my wise words.”
I traced my finger over the faint lines on the kanji, 五. It looked like someone had used lip gloss to draw on my skin. “What does it mean?”
“Oh, it’s an old nickname. Good luck, Sapphire.”
“Goodbye, and thank you.”
Nara walked away, and the fairies came down to say goodbye.
What could I sing that would make me feel protected? Or should I think of being safe and let the notes come? I thought over the problem as I got ready for the day.
* * *
“Sapphire, kiss me,” yelled one of the acrobats.
“What?” I laughed.
He stalked over to me, his eyes intense. “I can no longer resist your charms. You must kiss me.” Puckering his lips, he made kissy sounds.
“No,” I laughed pushing against his chest as he came closer. “What is wrong with you?”
Sighing dramatically, he sat next to me. “This place is cursed. My red is all dried out, and you wear the same color as I do.”
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