He came out of the water then and took her hand, leading her to the drying stones, where he lay down close to her but not so much that she would get wet.
"Tell me what has happened today. I feel like there is something you need to talk about," he finally ventured to say, hoping to nudge her to speak, and finally she did.
"Yes, I have heard the voice again today, and I think I may know who it is but…"
"But what?"
"But I am not sure it is possible. I must be mistaken."
Trent waited patiently and could see her mind working hard, but he did not speak, once again hoping she would enlighten him to her thoughts. Finally she looked at him deeply, her eyes looking directly into hers.
"I think … I think the voice is Kat's. But it sounds like an older voice, as if…"
"As if Kat … of the future?" he asked and immediately saw her face move to disbelief.
"Yes, that is what I thought, but it could not be. That is not possible."
"Isabella, I think you and I both know that it certainly is possible for people to communicate over different time periods. What did the voice say?"
"It warned me to keep away from him, and I thought at first that she might be warning me to stay away from you but…"
"Adrian!" Trent said and saw her nod at him. "She was not happy this morning."
"Yes, and I went to see Adrian earlier but Kat put herself beside him and said that he couldn't speak to me. Trent, it was almost as if she had him in some kind of … I don't know. Like he did not have full control of himself."
Trent watched and listened, becoming more alarmed all the time.
"But Isabella, your people are peaceful. It seems to me, as an outsider, that you have no malice or hatred here. Where would she have learned such feelings of jealousy from?"
"Jealousy?" she asked him, another word new to her.
"Yes. Jealousy is when you do not like the thought of someone being with someone else - well, no, sorry, not necessarily a person. Sometimes you might want something - anything - that someone else has. And you get a feeling that can be very strong. A desire to have that thing - or person - for yourself."
"Yes, how you describe that is how I thought Kat was this morning. Not that she wanted what I have, but that she did not want me to talk to Adrian. Like she wants him and I to be apart from one another and not be friends anymore."
"Yes, that is what I thought when she spoke this morning also."
They lay quietly until he felt he was dry, and then made their way to their evening meal, both wondering what would happen if they saw Adrian and Kat there.
~~~~~
When they arrived, Kat and Adrian were already seated and seemed to be enjoying conversation together, but as Isabella and Trent approached, both saw the look that came from Kat, and Trent had no doubt it was intended to intimidate and make Isabella not want to sit beside Adrian.
He was proud when Isabella ignored the look and sat beside her friend regardless.
"How has the rest of your day been, Adrian?" she asked him and he turned to her and smiled.
"It has been busy at the mill, but you know I enjoy it like that more than when it is too quiet," he replied and Trent watched the interaction, but more so, he watched the face beside Adrian, which declared emotions that he wondered if anyone in the village would rightly understand. Seeing the seat beside Kat was empty, he stood up and moved to the other side of her and sat down in an attempt to draw her attention away from Adrian and Isabella.
"How has your work been, Kat?" he asked her, and he could see from her facial expression now that he had stunned her for the moment. She looked torn between the need to keep watching Adrian and Isabella, listening to every word they said, but also wanting to talk to Trent.
"My … my work has been very good, thank you Trent. It is busy but I enjoy working in the mill," he heard her say, her eyes flicking back to the other two as she said every few words.
He engaged her as best he could, an action that was noticed by Isabella and he saw her give him a discrete look of appreciation as she leaned in closer to Adrian.
"Will you come to our home for a visit, Adrian? I would like … I require your assistance in something personal," she asked him and saw him look almost relieved.
"Yes, of course, Isabella. I can come with you after we finish our meal, if you like."
"I shall come too, of course," Kat's voice said out loud from the other side of Adrian, and Isabella saw his face change again, although he did not turn and face Kat, instead maintaining focus on Isabella.
"No, not this evening, Kat. I have something personal that I wish to discuss with Adrian and it does not concern you," Isabella said as plainly as she could, not wanting to deceive anyone in her intentions.
"Then he will not wish to go with you," the young woman continued, and Isabella suddenly felt sorry for Adrian.
But all of a sudden he seemed to find some strength - the first Isabella had seen in him for this period of time where the young woman had been speaking over him.
Adrian turned to Kat and spoke quietly but with incredible power and strength.
"Kat, I shall go with Isabella and Trent after we eat. Isabella is a friend - as you well know - and she needs me so I will be there for her. This does not concern you and you do not need to be so concerned about me and her spending time together without you nearby. We have always done it, and we shall continue to do it."
Kat looked at him, first with a look of surprise and then an expression completely new to Isabella and Adrian. But Trent knew it and could easily see it - the feeling of utter contempt.
She stood up and left, leaving the remaining three to look at each other, all of a sudden not sure of what to say.
"I will come with you, Isabella," Adrian said quietly, his eyes intently focusing on hers, and Isabella nodded in return.
~~~~~
As they entered their home, Trent turned to the two of them.
"Shall I stay? I am happy to leave you alone," he asked but Isabella and Adrian both replied at the same time, telling him to stay.
"But thank you, Trent. I do not know why Kat cannot be as gracious as you are about my friendship with Isabella," Adrian said as the three of them sat at the small table. "Sometimes I feel like she has some kind of power over me - like she can bend me to her will, removing all of mine."
"You and Isabella do have a close friendship," Trent said, trying to at least try and provide some justification about why Kat acted as she did. "It would not be an easy thing to watch when paired with one of you."
"But you are alright with it, are you not?" Adrian asked Trent, who nodded in return. "You have not seemed to have any objection to us talking still."
"Yes, but not everyone is the same, Adrian."
"Have you … asked her about pairing, Adrian?" Isabella asked, feeling extreme protectiveness over him all of a sudden, and when she saw him nod she felt another depth of concern for him.
"I did. And she said she wanted that. But since we talked about that she has seemed … different. Like she was … nice … but now, something is different about her," he said and was quiet for some time before continuing, now looking directly at Isabella. "I don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?" Isabella asked him, alarmed.
"Should I still go through with the pairing?"
Trent saw the look of shock on Isabella's face so quickly stepped in to take over the conversation.
"Do you have doubts?" he asked the young man before him. In his world it was nothing to get engaged and then not get married, for whatever reason, but he already understood that such actions did not happen in this place and time.
Adrian looked at Trent, for the first time appreciating him being in their lives. Having grown up so closely entwined with Isabella as his closest friend, he now missed having other men to talk to about things.
"I should not say so, I know, but yes, I do have doubts. When the two of you paired I thought I could just pai
r with anybody since I could not with Isabella," he said in all honesty, looking at Trent and then Isabella. "But I see now that this is not enough. And I did like Kat but she is not as nice as she seemed to be. It is like she made me see one version of her, but now I am seeing another. I need to pair. I know it is expected of me. But I want at least to like the person I pair with. I am not sure Kat and I have even that."
Trent found himself surprised at the candour of Adrian as he spoke. He had no hesitation saying how he had felt about Trent and Isabella pairing even though he himself had wanted to pair with her, and yet Trent could see that in telling them that, Adrian had absolutely no level of malice or anger inside of him about it. He was saying it in a completely matter-of-fact manner.
"You did not ask me here to talk about something personal with you, did you?" Adrian asked Isabella and she shook her head. "You knew that I needed to talk about Kat, and that the only way that I might be able to talk to you without her nearby, would be by asking me here, under such a guise."
Isabella nodded at him.
"Yes."
"Thank you. It feels like a difficult place for me to be in, when I want to talk to you but she does not want me to talk to you. It confuses me, not knowing where my loyalty should lie, even though I feel like my loyalty lies with you."
Isabella watched the face of her friend. He had always been a happy person, excited about life and possibilities. Now all she saw was someone unhappy. To think that he could change so much in such a short period of time knowing one person made her intensely worried about how much of an effect Kat would have on him over the long period ahead that would be the rest of their lives.
"Adrian, if you do not wish to still be paired with her…"
"I have to continue with it now, Isabella. To not do so would go against how things work with our people, as you well know."
"But you could at least talk to one of the ancients and get advice. It could not hurt, could it?"
"What if they are offended by me saying such things? I could cause hurt…"
"They are not like that, Adrian. Elder Rhys is wonderful to talk to. I can go with you - walk with you there - if you like."
Adrian looked at her face and considered what she was saying. He did not like going against the ways of their people - he never wanted to upset anyone - but inside of him he felt like something was not quite right with the situation with Kat, and he would rather ask now than live to regret later.
"Alright, if you come with me," he said and she nodded and stood. "Oh, you mean now?"
"Yes, immediately. Trent, will you come with us?" Isabella asked and Trent looked from one face to the other.
"I can, if you both wish me to, but I do not need to. What do you prefer, Adrian?"
Adrian appreciated again the older man who had paired with Isabella, and nodded.
"I think I would like you both there. I would feel better."
The three of them made their way to the door, but not before Isabella pulled Adrian into her arms and held him tight, not wanting to let him go. As he wrapped his arms around her in return, he caught sight of Trent over her shoulder, but only saw him smile sadly. He wondered if Kat would ever be so accepting of the special bond he and Isabella had shared all of their lives.
~~~~~
As they approached the temple the three of them walked slower and Isabella felt the warmth in her belly again. Her hands naturally came up and over it, in the protective manner they had so recently discovered. Trent saw the action and looked at her.
"You still can feel it when you move closer to the temple?" he asked and she nodded at him.
He placed his hand on her belly and felt the warmth, and the glow eased off, as if soothed by knowing both of its creators were there to keep it safe.
Adrian saw the actions and words exchanged by Isabella and Trent but did not question what they were talking about. It was not the right time. Right now he had to determine what to do about his own future, and not be distracted by someone else's.
They walked into the inner areas and were greeted by Elder Rhys.
"I sensed you coming to talk to me. Come," he said simply and the three of them followed him.
Once inside the smaller room, they all sat.
"Adrian, you are worried about something," he said and Adrian was overwhelmed all of a sudden, not having had the level of contact with ancients that Isabella had recently become familiar with.
"Yes. I am … uncertain … about my chosen pairing…" Adrian said slowly, quietly as if he were not sure he should speak of such things.
"Kat," the ancient said and Adrian nodded, assuming Elder Rhys was asking a question, but upon looking at the ancient's face, he saw the older man before him was in contemplation and not there in the present with them at all.
The three of them watched as Elder Rhys seemed to go rigid and stare at nothing, before finally he came back to them in presence.
"She is here, in the temple," he said and stood up to walk out the door. Adrian looked at Isabella and Trent with a look of horror on his face, sure that Kat would be angry at him for being here in the temple, and talking to everyone about her, but still he stood up and followed the ancient from the room, with Trent and Isabella following behind.
Elder Rhys walked to where she was - in his mind he could see what she was seeing so knew exactly where she was. As she came into view he saw Kat turn around and look at him. As she did, the ancient felt a feeling overwhelm him. From behind him, Isabella saw the look on Kat's face and the way she was looking at Elder Rhys, but was surprised when she saw the ancient grip his belly firmly and slowly lower to the ground, onto his knees.
Isabella moved to rush forward before she felt her belly warn her to not get close to him, and Trent, seeing her frustration, ran to the ancient himself.
"Elder Rhys! What is it?" he asked the elderly man but the ancient only gripped his belly and moaned loudly.
Trent looked back at Isabella and Adrian, but saw them both focused on Kat.
"Why are you here, Kat?" Adrian seemed to find the strength to ask but almost immediately wished he hadn't, as he too found a deep ache in his belly that forced him to the ground in pain.
Isabella watched in disbelief.
"Stop! What are you doing, Kat? You are hurting them!"
Kat turned her attention to Isabella, her face contorted into something that only Trent could recognise as deep hatred. She seemed to focus on her, but then looked surprised.
"You will bow before me," she said, as if a different voice was coming out of her - a voice that Isabella recognised immediately as the one that had entered her head on numerous occasions recently.
"No, I will not, Kat," Isabella said, moving forward. She monitored the feeling in her belly - she would not do anything that would hurt it - but it only gave her courage, not concern.
As Isabella moved forward she saw something begin in the belly of the woman she faced - a glowing. But not the golden glow she had noticed in her own belly. Before her was a blue glow starting to form. At the same time she saw it, so did Trent, who had remained on the floor with the ancient and so had temporarily escaped Kat's attention. But when he saw what he saw, he did not stay quiet.
"Isabella, look!"
As soon as his voice was heard, he saw Kat's eyes fall on him and then felt the extreme pain inside of him. Isabella saw it and that drove her on to stop the woman before her.
"You have been talking to me in my head for days now, Kat. Why?" she asked but Kat only looked confused.
"What? I don't know what you…" she started to say and all of a sudden seemed to feel pain herself, as the blue glow intensified.
Isabella continued to walk forward, feeding off the feeling that was coming from her own belly, but as she did so, Kat seemed to suffer from it.
"Stop! You are hurting me," she was saying but Isabella felt a new emotion in her - anger.
"Stop hurting them and I will stop hurting you," she said and instantly Kat changed her
focus and seemed to lift whatever force she had pushed onto the other three people in the room. "Now tell me what you want from me. You must have had some reason to talk to me as you have been."
"Isabella, I don't know what…" she started to say but again felt another deep pain inside of her.
"Isabella," Trent's voice said and for a moment she turned to look at him. "Isabella, I don't think she knows what has been happening."
The ancient finally seemed to come back to himself as his pain subsided, and when he looked at the two women he groaned heavily.
"You! You are in disguise but I remember you," he said forcefully, directing his words at Kat.
"What…?" Kat continued to ask, seeming to not know anything about anything the people around her were saying.
"That blue glow. I have seen it before. In the future, when you were here before. When you destroyed us."
Kat's eyes grew large as she tried to comprehend what the ancient was saying.
"No! I would never hurt anyone! I don't know what you are talking…"
Once more the pain flowed through her and Kat fell to the ground in agony as Isabella moved closer to her still.
"Be careful, Isabella," Trent pleaded with her, hoping she had true strength in her to not be harmed by the dangerous woman in front of them all.
"My baby. Oh! Don't hurt my child," Kat called out and Trent saw Adrian's face react as if he were only now waking up.
"Child?!" he asked quietly - so quietly that only Trent heard it.
"It is no child, Isabella," Elder Rhys said. "I have seen it before. That glow - it is not a child!"
Isabella stopped and was still for a moment, checking her body within but knowing in her heart that it was right for her to keep moving forward.
As she stepped closer, she saw Kat start to back away, moving along the ground away from Isabella, but then reached a wall and could not move any more.
Kat watched as Isabella neared, the blue cold in her belly intensifying to a level where she thought her body would freeze in its entirety.
All of a sudden, when they were only a metre apart Isabella brought her hands together as if making them into a cup shape, and before all of their eyes a golden glow emerged, as if coming from the golden stone that had been seen by her, Trent and the ancient. She stood still as the glow grew in its power and Kat stood once more and braced herself as she saw and felt Isabella take the final step toward her. Kat willed herself to put out her hands and push Isabella way but found that she could not move any part of her body. She was frozen still, and could only watch as the hand holding the golden glow moved closer and finally made contact with her own belly.
The Golden Desires Page 17