I took a deep breath. She was right, it would be ok. That itch was back and if I didn't find some way to scratch it soon, I might end up doing something I would regret later. I threw on the clothes, surprised they fit. The jeans were tight, and the top revealed a little more than I was used to, but everything buttoned and zipped without too much trouble. Most of my baby weight had been either sucked out of me by Bee herself or worked off by the gardening, walking, and cycling.
Ahi came back in with Bee on her hip. "Okay, the guys will be ready to go in about fifteen minutes. Andrés will be there, and Jose speaks English, too. I told them to have you back in a few hours."
Fifteen minutes. Just enough time to feed Bee. I took her in our little room, closing the door behind us and put her to my breast, stroking her hair as she fed. It had grown out more, not long enough to put back, but enough to run my fingers through. The wispy strands felt like silk between my fingers.
"It’s okay, baby Bee, I won’t be long."
She seemed wholly unconcerned.
I switched sides, enjoying her warmth against me. I played with her little toes, pink and swollen from milk fat. She fell asleep before she could finish that side.
Damn, guess I’m going hit the town lopsided.
I lifted her to my shoulder and patted her back until she burped.
I swaddled her in the newest blanket Mama crocheted and lay her down in her crib. "Night, night, sweet baby Bee." I turned off the light, and shut the door behind me. Mama sat in her favorite chair, knitting another blanket.
Ahi didn’t look up from where she was ironing out her work clothes. "Have fun, Chica. We’ll take good care of her."
"Okay. If she does wake—"
"Then we’ll know what to do."
I swallowed, nodding once. "Right."
"Go," Ahi ordered.
"Okay, right. Bye and thanks." I still didn’t budge from in front of the door to our room.
Ahi let out an exasperated sigh, setting the iron on its side before walking over to me. She took me by the shoulders and pushed me out the front door. "Go!"
The door slammed shut behind me, letting me know I wasn’t welcome back – at least not for a few hours.
I sighed, excited and nervous at the same time to be out without Bee. Already I felt awkward, unsure of what to do with my hands. I gave up, letting them hang at my sides like a useless pair of sticks.
I made my way down the long driveway. A car idled on the street in front of Ahi's house. Besides Andrés in the driver’s seat, Jose was there, as were two women in the back seat.
Oh great, I thought. I’m the fifth wheel tonight.
"Kaitlyn! Good to see you without that bundle on your back!" Andrés shouted out the window.
After briefly glancing back at the house, then toward the volcano – the source of the energy surge, I slid in the back seat. I took a deep breath, "It’s…good to be here."
Surprisingly, it was.
Chapter 13
The Fire Within
We arrived just as the tail end of the parade was approaching the main stage on Avenue Tekema. The lively beat of the band continued as floats parked and dancing women flooded the stage. One of the floats bearing a replica moai statue was set down a little too quickly. It rocked back once, then forward. I watched as it toppled, hitting the ground and shattering. I blinked as a flashback to the religious parade during holy week in Spain hit me. Micah and I had actually caught one of their floats – Jesus on the cross – as it tipped.
Here, my feet stayed firmly planted on the stone-paved road. I made no move to help. There was no Micah to stand beside me, pushing me to do the right thing. A wave of grief caused my stomach to turn, and I grabbed Jose's arm to steady myself until it passed.
"Are you okay, Chica?" The cracked face of the Moai statue blurred, and I felt Andrés strong hands support me from the other side. "Kaitlyn?"
Sandaled feet blocked my view of the broken statue and my vision cleared. I heard laughter, then the beat of the music came back to me.
"Kaitlyn?"
"I'm okay, guys." I straightened myself out. "Sorry. It's just…been a long few months."
Andrés frowned. "Take it easy on the drinking tonight."
There would be no drinking, not unless I wanted an inebriated three month old on my hands. "Okay. Come on – I want to see the dancing."
Dozens of women in bikini tops, grass skirts, and sunburst headdresses took the stage. Their hips swayed in sync with the music, accentuating the low booms and high clicks of the percussion band. An elaborate background of giant roosters, sunbeams, and ocean waves changed color with different lights. The women parted and a group of tan, muscular men bounced forward in outfits that barely covered their essentials. White paint adorned their bodies in swirls, birds, and sea turtles. In contrast to the women, whose arms and hips floated like rolling ocean waves, the men kept a wide, strong stance, using precise arm movements. They pounded their thighs and lifted their knees, drawing attention to the dried grass rings covering their lower legs. They thrust their groins back and forth, facing one another in a warrior's challenge.
The women continued to make large sweeping movements with their arms. They bowed and dipped, displaying beautiful flowers woven in their hair, then raised their hands again in praise. The separate dances contrasted each other, but at the same time provided a perfect balance.
The crowd pressed in close to the stage. Everyone clapped and stamped in time to the music. Even if they weren't part of the show, the locals had exchanged their usual garb of jeans and tank tops for traditional tribal dress. Yet, they held their digital cameras up high to capture the moment. Soon I found myself stomping and clapping alongside Jose and Andrés. Low thumps and high-pitched clacks blended together, making the music impossible not to move to.
My attention snapped away from the stage all at once. Another surge of energy shot out from up the hill.
Ahi’s house - Bee!
Before I even made my way through the crowd, the energy dissipated, but I had most certainly felt it. A strong hand grasped my upper arm. I turned. Andrés questioned me with his eyes.
The music was too loud, I couldn’t explain. I just pointed toward the house and screamed as loud as I could, "I have to go – now!"
He nodded, and caught the attention of the rest of the group with waiving arms.
I told myself to breathe. He would take me home.
On the way, several times, I urged Andrés to drive faster without explanation or the attempt at small talk. My whole body leaned forward in the seat, intent on getting to Bee.
When Andrés pulled up to the house, I burst out of the car before it stopped. All of the lights in the house were on, including the one in my room. I flung open the front door, now in a full panic. "Bee!"
A delighted giggle greeted me. Bee sat on Ahi’s lap, playing with her braids. The entire household was wide awake.
"Everything okay, Chica?" Ahi asked.
I paused in the doorway. "Yes…"
"You look worried."
"I thought I…well, um." There was no way I could explain what I felt to them. "I saw the lights on – I thought everyone would be asleep." I closed the door behind me. "When did she wake up?"
*
The following morning I woke to bright sun filtering through the window. I sat up in alarm, immediately crossing the room to check on Bee. She was still fast asleep. I lay my hand on her chest and was greeted with a slow, steady up and down. Her skin wasn't hot, nor did she look sick. Guess we both had an exhausting evening.
I left her sleeping and made my way to the kitchen. Ahi and Mama looked up, cups in hand. Coffee for Ahi, tea for Mama. I poured myself coffee.
"Bee still sleeping?" Ahi asked.
"Yes." I paused, halfway to the table. She never slept this late. I set the coffee down on the table, planting my hands on my hips. "What happened last night?"
The two women buried their faces into their mugs. They weren't going
to get away that easy. The energy surges could no longer be ignored, not when one came directly from the house. It was fess-up time, for all of us.
"What. Happened. Last. Night." My grip on the chair in front of me tightened. I would start throwing things if I had to.
I looked from one woman to another, neither of whom responded.
They glanced at each other, lowering their mugs.
Now was the time to catch them off guard. I slowly raised my hand, palm open, until it was level with their eyes. Then I began to draw in the elements, first the air. The breeze blew in through the open window, toying with the curly strands of Ahi's unkempt bed hair. Next was water; morning dew droplets pulled from the rows of pansies in the front yard. Then earth from the garden, lending its energy. Fire from the open flame on the stove, heating Mama's teapot. I blended them all together, like the shield but smaller, more compact, controlling the flow and keeping them contained in the palm of my hand.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Mama's knuckles turning white around her mug. A bead of sweat rolled down Ahi's forehead, despite the cool morning breeze.
In a much, much lower voice than before, I repeated myself, "What. Happened. Last. Night."
Both pairs of eyes fixed on the kitchen table.
Enough.
I threw the ball down, with as much force as I could muster. It hit the small, round table and the piece of furniture shattered. Shards of wood flew out. All three of us staggered back, covering our faces.
As soon as the last of the debris clattered to the ground, I glared at them. "You do see it!"
Ahi opened her mouth first, "I…I don't—"
Mama interrupted her daughter, hissing something in Spanish I didn't follow.
"Fine." Ahi smoothed her hair. "But you owe us a new table, Chica."
"Fine," I said, crossing my arms.
Ahi straightened her back and lifted her chin, "Last night we performed a naming ceremony."
"What's that?"
She glanced at her mother, then back at me. "It’s our tradition – has been for centuries." Her shoulders slouched, just a bit.
Bee began to cry. Mama turned but I held up my hand, stopping her. "Leave her." I turned back to Ahi, asking through gritted teeth, "What exactly occurs during a naming ceremony?"
Ahi's eyes flit back to her mug. "We acknowledge her, as a person, and…her powers."
I swallowed, hard. "Her powers."
"Yes—"
"You did this without my permission?!"
"You weren’t sharing your abilities with us." Ahi’s brow furrowed. "We thought to honor your discretion. These powers are her birthright."
I thought back to the energy burst I felt. "What else happened?"
"Well…" Ahi looked at her mom again.
I wanted to strangle her. "Out with it!"
"Akasha had more planned than we thought for little Bee," Ahi said in a rush.
"What?" Chills went down my spine.
"Akasha invoked Bee's powers." Ahi looked down at her feet, biting her lip. "I guess it was just…meant to—"
My warning look didn't cut off Ahi's joke. "…Bee."
I rubbed my temples. Akasha, the fifth element, you fickle, fickle, whore. I quickly tried to recall the description of Akasha that Arianna, the Shade inside Shawn's Athame, gave me. Instead Micah's clear voice rang through my head, as clear as if we were still in Spain, touring a castle. I shook my head violently; there was no time for that now.
"Okay, it's done. So tell me – what are her powers?" I held my breath and closed my eyes. Please don't say all of them, please don't be a Gaia.
"Fire."
I opened my eyes.
Both looked at me.
Ahi repeated, "You have a Fire, Kaitlyn."
The corner of Mama's mouth turned up in a cautious smile. She was proud. She was actually proud.
I stammered, "Power, she has…has a...I mean, my girl…" I rubbed my temples. "You gave my baby the power of fire?!"
My hands went back to the chair. I really wanted to throw it.
Ahi began to pick up pieces of wood. Bee was crying louder now. "Admittedly, not the best power for one so young."
"Take it back." I demanded.
"What?"
"You did it. Now undo it."
"I…I…can't." It was Ahi's turn to stammer.
I stormed toward my bedroom, collected Bee and her blanket, and came back to the kitchen. I held Bee out toward Ahi. "Undo it."
Bee was screaming now; I wanted to do the same.
Ahi stepped back. "It's like puberty, Kaitlyn. It just happens. You can't stop it – you can't undo it."
"You can't force it!" I screamed. Bee cried louder.
Mama cursed at both of us, taking Bee from me to calm her down outside.
Ahi dropped the shards of wood she had collected. "I didn't. Akasha did." She slumped down to the floor, leaning against the cupboards.
I dropped my shoulders and sighed, joining her. "You shouldn't have even done the naming ceremony. It's not my way. I'm not one of you."
Ahi turned to me and smiled.
"What?" I asked.
She picked up a shard of wood, and the end lit up in a small flame. Ahi flicked her other hand at the flame, snuffing it out. She handed me the smoking wood piece. "You are one of us Chica, several times over."
I huffed, twirling the burnt wood in my fingers. "Just one question."
She raised her eyebrow.
"Does this damn island have any fire extinguishers?"
Chapter 14
Kindred Spirits
Shawn, having experienced the trip twice before, landed gracefully on the platform. Micah's boots clipped the edge, sending him somersaulting into the water below. Temporarily disoriented from the spinning fall, Micah doggie-paddled underwater, unsure which way was up. There was no natural light to guide him. Shimmery, gaseous-looking forms surrounded him.
One moved closer, emitting small bursts of blue and purple light. Once level with Micah's face, waves of matter rippled together, until two eyes took shape.
"Aahh," Micah gurgled, waving his hands wildly in front of him to shoo away the creature. The eyes disappeared and it zipped off. Micah resumed flailing in slow motion.
Where the hell is up?
Another form swam closer. This one at least had arms, legs, and a head. She touched Micah's shoulder, beckoning for him to follow. With little other choice, Micah swam after her. Seconds later, their heads broke the surface.
Micah's eyes darted around the cave. More forms of green and even gold floated through the air, staying well away from Shawn and his ledge.
The woman in front of him smiled. "I am Arianna. And you must be Kaitlyn's other half."
Micah looked over his shoulder, "How do you know?"
"Because you're glowing," she said. "Kindred spirits glow when they're together."
Micah looked down at his body, which was still mostly underwater. Nothing unusual there. He lifted his hand in the air, peering at his skin. There was a slight glow, as if he were radioactive. He wiggled his fingers, and energy swirled around the tips.
Micah glanced at Shawn. He was still on the ledge, smirking down at the pair in the water.
"He's not glowing."
"His other half isn't here," Arianna said. Micah looked toward the cave high up on the wall, and Arianna answered his unspoken question, "They were never meant to be together. She knew that on his first visit here."
"Let's get a move on, brother," Shawn called as he descended the stairs.
Arianna blocked Micah from moving forward. "Quick, take my hand."
"Why?" Micah narrowed his eyes.
"I want to pass along something you will need once you find Kaitlyn."
Micah hesitantly put his hand up to meet hers, palm touching palm. A torrent of energy rushed through him, condensing in his core. He stiffened and went under. He came up, again with Arianna's assistance, coughing up water.
She laugh
ed. "You don't have the limitations of your physical body here. Kaitlyn caught on to that fairly quickly. You'll need to follow suit, if you want to find your other half." Arianna gestured to the cave high on the wall – Sarah's cave, as Shawn had described it.
Micah began swimming to the lower ledge, where Shawn was now waiting. Arianna let out an audible sigh, then lifted herself out of the water and floated past Micah to wait for him on the same ledge as Shawn.
Micah caught glimpses of the pair waiting as his head bobbed in and out of the water. Shawn said something to her, and Arianna shimmered visibly.
Micah frowned as he pulled himself out of the water. He wrung out his shirt as he moved to stand next to a completely dry Arianna.
"What's with the glow?" Shawn asked.
Micah shrugged. "Polluted water, maybe." He looked down at his hands. Brighter than before, even.
Arianna smiled.
"Now what?" Micah asked her.
"Now – you let go of your earthly limitations, and find Kaitlyn."
Shawn and Micah both huffed.
"Easier said than done," said Micah.
"What is it you truly want?" asked Arianna.
He started, "I want—"
"Don't tell me," she said, cutting him off. "Just close your eyes and think it."
Micah took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
I want her safe.
He felt himself lifting off the ground. He didn't dare open his eyes. He kept his mind clear except for that one thought, repeating it over and over in his head, until his feet touched solid ground again.
Carefully, he opened one eye, then the other. He was at the ledge of the cave, glowing even brighter than before. He turned.
Shawn made his way up right behind him. "What the hell, Tinkerbell? Next time remind me to bring my sunglasses."
Micah ignored him and turned to the cave. A strong light burst out from the back. One figure, darkened by the backlight, stepped forward.
"Hello again, Sarah," Micah whispered as her face came into view.
She nodded her head at Micah, walking past him. He turned to watch her. She passed Shawn just as he landed on the ledge. They paused, looking at each other. He automatically reached out to touch her, as if he couldn't help himself.
Fire Page 6