‘Nah…it’s the other way round. Touching is definitely allowed.’ The girls squealed before simultaneously shifting their bodies round to face them. The kitchen door opened, followed by an annoyed coughing. Soon other hands were stretching forward discreetly placing more bags on the table and Claudine groaned pulling herself away.
It was obvious that everyone disapproved. Maybe it wasn’t the right time, but everyone was so stressed by the meeting, she just wished, for once, they could have fun.
‘I’m not in the mood for meetings – anyone important coming or do you think we’ll be missed? Gabe winked conspiratorially.
‘Not sure,’ Caro whispered back. ‘I heard Andrea talking to the Surrey and Kent group earlier. Think there’s a load coming from there – bet it’s to do with that damn Anna.’ Three heads nod.
‘I heard she’s using mind control to take control of their totems.’
Claudine arched her eyebrow. ‘I‘d like to see her try.’
The noise from the lounge was getting louder, and they all looked towards the door.
‘We’ll find out soon enough. Low level trancers like us, don’t get to know what’s going on – remember?’ Caro half laughed, while sweeping a red gloss over her lips.
Gabe growled, wedging her in the corner of the kitchen and she pretended to struggle.
‘Hey, you should move to our group. We’re all equal, except for Suriah, Jared, Eaton, Lelah and of course Pippa.
‘Shut up…idiot!’ Garren interrupted looking at the mystified looks of the twins.
‘Don’t listen to him; he’s just named everyone in our group.’
Garren’s wide grin froze as the door slowly opened.
‘Everything done? Andrea called, peering round and focusing on Claudine and Caro. Caro blushed when she noticed a faint gloss on Gabe’s mouth, and knew Andrea hadn’t missed it either.
‘We’re about to begin, best to come back in.’ Andrea added, her voice low. When she had gone, Gabe and Garren wiped their foreheads whistling softly.
‘And we thought Pippa was tough.’ they laughed. Claudine and Caro held their fingers to their mouths, nodding towards the doorway.
‘Don’t forget to actually bring some food through,’ the girls reminded them. They looked at each other and smiled.
‘Glad we came,’ Claudine whispered to her sister as they went into the lounge, almost dropping her plate when an eco stepped through the wall.
‘Jeezus, be careful will you? Don’t you guys ever use doors?’ she glowered, and the eco made a peace sign before moving back to his group.
‘At least they’re wearing some clothing,’ Caro whispered.
‘Do you remember the last time?’
Claudine’s shoulders shook so much she nearly dropped her glass of juice.
‘Careful.’ A young girl growled sitting on a nearby chair narrowing her eyes at her. Claudine muttered a quick sorry before rolling her eyes at her sister, giggling again. This time, Caro bumped her causing a domino effect and Claudine found herself sitting on the girl’s lap.
She looked up in horror when they both stood up. She was the height of a giant and juice dripped down her face, like she was melting.
‘It was an accident, big foot.’ Caro snapped coming to her sister’s defence - although they both stepped a little further back. The girl growled, but the growl was deeper than anything they had ever heard before. It vibrated through them, and their mouths dropped. The girl called on her totem in front of them, and almost instantaneously, large paws were sweeping people and food like insects. Andrea pulled the wriggling twins away and into a nearby room. The commotion was deafening, and all they could hear was the splintering of wood and crash of glass before a deafening silence. When Hawk eventually opened the bedroom door, he looked visibly shaken and glared at the twins until they shrunk back on the small bed before turning to Andrea.
‘Haven’t you taught your group to behave in a meeting? She could have killed you and put a few more of us in the ground before we stopped her.’ Andrea who was still biting from their previous argument made the challenge gesture by crossing both arms in front him. Stress over Seth and Nettles and now the twins made her edgy, plus she was still stinging from their last encounter. She wasn’t going to be told what to do, not by him.
‘I’m group leader, you are a guest, just remember that, and considering I’m down to two official members tonight, I would suggest you stop telling me what to do! So, Hawk, are you challenging me?’ She repeated, crossing her arms again, as he exited, slamming the door behind him.
‘Wow, Andrea, you go girl.’ Claudine whispered, instantly regretting it.
Andrea looked at them like she was seeing them for the first time. Her voice was barely a whisper but the anger was obvious and they shrank away.
‘Next time you pick an argument with someone, make sure it’s not a bear, especially a grizzly. And give it a break with those guys, keep that for later. We need to stick together, not stick out.’ The twins stared at the door once she had left. They were baffled.
‘I still don’t know what we did that was so wrong. It was an accident, and she should control her damn totem. I mean, grizzlies aren’t exactly low profile in England. Jeezus, couldn’t she have chosen something else.’ Claudine whispered.
‘I think this is all to do with Nevaeh. I told you it was a bad idea bringing her into the group. Look at the way everyone fawned over her. She’s pretty in a weird sort of way, but she could do so much more for herself.’ Caro said, staring at herself sideways in the long bedroom mirror.
Claudine nodded in agreement. ‘Ready?’ Back in the lounge, Caro rubbed her arms, flushing guiltily at the looks they were getting. Hawk’s house was trashed; the front door was completely missing. They took in the large splinters of wood that had already been swept to one corner and noticed Gabe and Garren holding broomsticks. They were smiling in amusement, and the girls looked cautiously at Andrea before smiling back.
A large table had been cleared in the middle of the lounge. Hawk stood in the centre holding the sacred totem stick of leaders. Everyone was mesmerised except the twins who were still eyeing Gabe and Garren; especially when he mentioned Anna. Patrols were to be set up, and each group leader was given a place to patrol. The eco leader, Quinqui, an old, wizened man, greeted Hawk by touching foreheads. His green and brown skin resembled a mangled root, but his voice was loud and strong. The moment he took the stick, the other ecos murmured their respect in the ancient Gaia language.
‘From the time of Gaia’s birth, we were guardians of the sacred sites. We are voices for her breath, her life. Since the beginning, we have protected her.’
The ecos filled the room with their mumblings.
‘Already, this enemy of Gaia has placed her hands on our mother and taken our kind from us, but…’ he stopped to pause - his yellow eyes darting round the room. ‘Gaia has sent her daughter to help us.’
Gaia mantras filled the room and Quinqui raised his voice.
‘But Mother took me into her bosom where I sat beside the veil. I saw her place two children on separate carpets of earth where they were wrapped in Nirvana’s magic.’ The room sighed like one being. Hawk’s head shot up. ‘Two?’ If Quinqui heard him, he didn’t answer but continued, his voice soft and even.
‘We know of only one. They call her Nevaeh. She showed me the scales of balance and images of both children on either side. They were the same and opposite, we do not know which one - both were wrapped in the indigo cloak.’
Quinqui took a deep breath and the room breathed with him as he raised his totem stick even higher.
‘Remember my children, the first of Heaven’s children were cast from her bosom. Together they are harmony, bliss, while apart they are the children of Khaos.’
He brought his stick down on the table so hard, some of the members near the front jerked. The room erupted with questions and arguments about who this other child was. Hawk
took the stick, nodding to Quinqui. Hands shot up, and he pointed the stick in their direction.
‘Is Anna part of this?’ Gabe asked. Hawk nodded. ‘She must have been given purpose; why else would she want Nevaeh - or any of us? We must be careful, Anna is more powerful, and I don’t think it is just from Harp, she must have the other child.’ The word child stuck like a lump in his throat and he coughed before continuing.
‘The blue sickness is pushing through Gaia’s sacred energy lines. Her pathways are blocked, and my brothers and sisters cannot hear Gaia’s messages. I have also heard whispers that the old ones are rising. Every year, these sacred openings, revitalise and fertilise Gaia’s skin. It is a gift from above and below. The time is near, and if we don’t stop her, she will bring forward more children seeded from Khaos.’
At the mention of Khaos everyone seemed to breathe like one being. Hawk looked back at Quinqui who placed his hand over Hawks. His face was grim.
‘You all remember the legend of Gaia and Khaos having children. Khaos became jealous of the children of Gaia and tried to kill most of them. Those that survived have been hidden. We are the guardians of those survivors and of Gaia herself. Some of the scrolls write of a new time, when a daughter of Gaia and son of Khaos, reunite and bring an end to the war between the gods.’ The room was quiet.
Hawk leaned forward, his voice was low, as he brought them back to the present.
‘My friends, legends are one thing, but right now groups from one pole to the other are stretched to capacity. In Australia, firestorms are raging, killing everything in their path. Some are in hiding, and others are being turned into drones.’
‘Look what happened to Japan. Did Khaos have anything to do with that?’ someone shouted. Hawk shrugged. ‘I want to say no, that it is the natural way of Gaia, but I can’t. Nothing is the same anymore.’
The groups were muttering to each other and Quinqui wearily placed his stick down, inviting others to have their say.
Hawk stepped away from the table; he was still reeling from the new information. He hadn’t counted on a male version of Nevaeh, and if he was a child of Khaos, one of the immortals, then why hadn’t he sensed this or been told?
Aponi - why?
He rubbed the back of his neck and felt a hand on his shoulder, Quinqui was smiling at him. It had been a long time since he saw his grandson and best friend, and he still missed him. Jin had taken over an eco group in South America, when he passed through the veil. He had become trapped under a rockslide while he was in transition. Ecos often moved from tree to earth to air, but the transition was the most dangerous. Hawk mourned his friend for months and laid out sweet herbs and incense to remember his passing. A thought crossed his mind.
‘Yes Hawk, he is here, feel him…’ Quinqui sensed the message and he closed his eyes, feeling a slight pressure on his other shoulder. Emotion overwhelmed him.
Goddess, I wish you were here Jin; I could do with your help.
‘He is,’ Quinqui sensed him. Hawk smiled indulgently at the thought of Jin beside him.
Quinqui surprised him then, by laying his ancient hands on his face.
‘He has been appointed your guardian Hawk, it is not a thought.’ Hawk felt tears well up and closed his eyes to the embrace of Jin.
‘Thank you my brother.’
Apart from his grandparents, Jin was the closest thing to a brother he had ever had. His thoughts were never far from Nevaeh, and he let Jin know. The ecos were the most ancient race of beings, and death meant renewal. Those that passed through the veil took up positions on the other side. This they believed kept the balance.
They both stood side by side, listening then to the accounts from other leaders in their territories. Entire generations of totems had been taken in one sweep. Andrea was the last leader to take the stick and spoke in more detail of Hawk’s vision. Hawk heard the stress in her voice and felt guilty over his behaviour. She was young as far as leaders went and Seth and Nettles were more than just members to her, they were family.
He looked round the room then at the panic Anna and the unknown child had caused. He searched his memories trying to remember the stories of the ancient ones. He would have to rely on the Quinqui’s knowledge.
‘I have to reach them,’ he thought thinking of Nevaeh. Part of him was pleased that Quinqui had confirmed what he suspected. Although, not even he dared to think that she might be the true daughter of Gaia. If she was, then she stands between what Quinqui called the two worlds, the seen and unseen, above and below.
And you’re not going to have her, he thought, remembering Anna’s threat.
He pushed forward, just as the last leader had finished, and took the stick. Voices dissolved when they saw he had returned.
‘I don’t know why she wants Nevaeh,’ he burst out, looking towards Quinqui then Andrea. ‘But she’s not getting her. This is war and we must protect our mother and children.
He made his point by slamming his hand down and the room roared in agreement. Hawk looked around and felt adrenaline pump through his body then as he raised the totem stick above his head.
‘In Gaia we see. In Gaia we believe.’
The room exploded.
He cast a glance at Quinqui, thinking of Jin; together they were stronger and stood a better chance. He just wished he knew what Anna had planned. If she had made contact with the immortal children of Khaos, they needed all the help they could get.
Amidst the noise, only the twins stood in angry silence, not even Gabe and Garren could get them to talk. Andrea made her way through the crowd.
‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Claudine muttered.
‘We should have known first, before everyone else.’ Caro added.
Andrea took a deep breath. ‘I was going to tell you, but after the bear thing, well…’ She rubbed her hand over her face wearily. ‘Where are they?’ Gabe interrupted and they all stared at him, even the twins. They had been standing close by.
‘We don’t know, but according to Hawk’s vision, if Anna has them, they’re at the old fortress.’
‘Harp.’ Garren added and Andrea nodded.
Andrea sighed – the loss of two members weakened them, especially now. As if in answer, an older collection of women from the Berkshire group approached her. Their leader, Pippa, a red-haired woman the twins had seen earlier, pushed through.
‘Join with us? Harp needs to be destroyed!’ she blurted in a no-nonsense way, before holding out her hands, palm upwards. Andrea blinked in surprise staring at the frank, round face in front of her. She turned to Claudine and Caro questioningly and they smiled.
‘Ma – ehti.’ She whispered. ‘Right and truth.’
Garren and Gabe beamed.
22
Blue mist
Seth and Nettles blinked in the darkness. They were still joined, but their human selves had become disconnected. They wobbled when they stood up, their muscles trembling. Seth stumbled sideways, his silver hair becoming rigid when he touched the edge of his cage. The frequency had a mouldy smell to it, and he whined moving away and urinating in the corner. Memories of grass, dirt and pain filled the fox side of his brain.
His mate circled him, tucking her tail between her legs, sniffing for any sign of the humans that did this to them.
As they felt the blood start to pump through their limbs, they automatically shook themselves apart, their human minds foggier than their animals.
Seth…what’s happening? Where are we? Nettles whined.
I don’t know...but man, I had the worst dream ever, and my head is killing me. He groaned putting his paw against the edge of the white pulsating floor before yelping.
What the hell? I just got electrocuted. Nettles barked, before sniffing his face.
I’m scared…my parents will be worried - do you think the others will know where we are? She whimpered.
Seth’s mind returned to their last moments before they passed out.
Don’t worry, I sent a message to Hawk. Nettles licked him gratefully, hope making her pulse quicken. She felt drained, and the urge to be free was stronger than ever. Another thought crossed her mind and her ears flattened. Seth’s animal instincts reacted to her heightened sense of fear and he mirrored her pose, his brushing the cold metal surface of the cage.
Seth, I’m tired, we shouldn’t still be joined, we need to free ourselves, have you tried?
Nettles shook her body then, her brown hair standing on end like Seth’s. It was normally quite easy to free herself from her totem, you just will it. But nothing was happening.
‘There’s no use trying, the frequency in there is high enough to keep you joined. Better get used to it.’ An accented male voice interrupted. Seth and Nettles froze, both growling in their throats at the hazy shape beyond their line of sight. The energy that surrounded them made it difficult to see anything outside properly.
‘Aww…can’t speak? Fox got your tongue?’ The unfamiliar male voice chuckled. Nettles tucked in her tail – her whining increasing.
‘Hey don’t worry, you might be saved if the exchange happens, for now just think of yourselves as our little energy bulbs.’ The voice was filtering and Seth threw himself against the energy field before bouncing back up just as quickly. The pain was immense, and he curled up on the floor whimpering.
You bastard, you almost killed him Nettles screamed, but all that came out was a high pitched barking.
‘Don’t get too worried, your new leader will be arriving soon, and you’ll soon figure out your purpose. I’ve heard she’s excellent with animals.’
Nettles pulled her mouth back, baring her teeth at the mention of the woman. The laughing made her rage, and she threw herself at the wall of light, howling in pain as she too ricocheted backwards, every inch of her body pulsating.
I will kill you…when I’m free. I will kill Nettles vowed.
‘Now then little ones, that’s against totem law isn’t it?’ Nettles’ ears twitched. The gravelly voice was familiar and she wished her eyesight would clear. The name Anna brushed at the sides of her consciousness and the thought was immediately picked up. ‘Well done, I’ve underestimated you, little one. Don’t worry, I’ve sent word to your group, and if they agree, then you’ll be free. Perhaps by then, you might prefer to join me.
Heaven's Children (Earth Totem) Page 11