“Do you feel you have to?”
“Maybe,” I said.
“Not at all. My mom loves me and that’s a blessing on its own.”
I shot her a look of amazement.
“Wow!” I said with conviction.
Maya looked puzzled and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her small ear.
“I’m just amazed by you,” I said. “It would eat at me every day.”
“Well, do you remember your life before you came here?” she asked without hesitation, almost as if she had thought of the question beforehand and rehearsed her answer.
I paused.
“No,” I answered solemnly.
“So, there’s not much of a difference between us then, is there?”
Did she seem angry or proud? I couldn’t tell.
“I guess not,” I said, as we continued to walk toward the village.
The angle of the trees became more severe. They seemed to be reaching over the large terracotta boulders. It was almost as if they were fighting for a view of the ocean.
“Don’t you feel alone?” I asked Maya with sorrow in my voice as this was how I felt most of the time, like I was missing out on love.
“Yes,” she admitted, looking down at her feet. “Some days I do.”
When she lifted her head, I saw a longing in her eyes that I understood all too well. I understood feeling like you didn’t quite belong, like a starfish among an ocean of mindless squid, waiting for a chance to break free, for your light to shine through and for something or someone to pull you out of the mess you’re in.
“That sucks,” I said, drawing in a deep breath.
“Yes, but it doesn’t help to feel like that all the time. I’ll never be happy if I do and my happiness is all I have right now. If we allow ourselves to get lost in self-pity, we lose everything.”
“Well, that puts things into perspective for me,” I said.
Maya let out a soft laugh. Small dimples in the corners of her mouth framed her slightly rounded cheeks. Her dimples reminded me of my own, which I didn’t like because they made me look younger and cute. I hated cute. I thought they looked much better on her.
“You know,” she pronounced. “I have this strange feeling that we’re supposed to be here together right now, like it’s a part of our destiny.”
I smiled because I didn’t find it strange. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, I would connect with someone and it would feel like I was knocked back on course, but I had never for one second believed I might have a destiny. I didn’t like to think of the future. To me, the future was just an illusion, because in my mind I’d been stuck in a meaningless cycle all my life; my existence. Would there ever be anything like marriage on this planet, I wondered. A wedding was unheard of among our people but I had seen it in the movies and loved the idea. I knew that it was part of a human’s evolution.
“Huh?” Maya shoved me playfully in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“Oh! Sorry, Maya. Was I thinking out loud again?” I couldn’t recall whether I had actually spoken out loud or not.
Her laughter rang through the forest. Reminiscent of Sam’s, her loud laugh also came from the pit of her stomach.
“My parents have chosen my husband already. When I come of age, I will belong to Toto, the Chief’s son,” she said as she broke off a twig from a nearby bush and began chewing the one end.
She seemed sad. I wondered what it was I had said out loud.
“Things happen because they have to,” she continued.
“No, they don’t!” I shouted defensively. “No one can force you into a life you don’t want.”
My heart was racing but the look on Maya’s face made me calm my anger and consider my words carefully, because the truth was that people did make me do things I didn’t want to. Maya didn’t speak for a moment. From her facial expressions, I could tell she was having a fascinating debate in her own head. By now we were halfway over the bridge. I could see the path on the other side leading to a clearing of golden sea sand, encircled by charcoal-colored rocks. This clearing formed the entrance to the Minoan village’s marketplace. Beyond that was Silverwood Beach which bordered its namesake, the Silverwood Forest. Mostly made up of silverwood trees, the Silverwood Forest stretched right around our vast island. My eyes fell on the small stream. Only, the stream was no longer gentle.
“What do you suppose this means, then?” I asked Maya as I stopped to look over the edge, my hands grasping the railing firmly and peered all the way down the shallow canyon.
By the look on her face, I knew I wasn’t imagining things and that she was as concerned as I was. She stood motionless on the overpass. We were both looking down on what used to be the tiny stream that snaked through the pebbles and disappeared over the ridge among the rocks. The stream had suddenly gotten much stronger. It can only mean that… I didn’t know what it could mean.
“Rain!” Maya shouted with excitement, although her tone betrayed her nervousness.
I stood listening to the flow of the river and the cascading waterfall that had formed where the brook fell over the edge. The sound took me back to when I was younger. It hadn’t rained in so long. Was it going to rain? Why now? What had changed? And, how? I pondered. As far as I knew, the weather machine had failed due to Poseidon’s weak magnetic field. Maya grabbed my right arm tightly and lugged me away with such force that I almost fell over my own feet which had been firmly planted on the solid, wooden platform. Our feet clattered loudly against the planks, the bridge slowly swaying underneath us as we headed toward the middle.
“Slow down, will you!” I yelled at her in frustration. “What’s going on, Maya?” The urgency in my voice momentarily startled us both.
“The prophecy,” she said distantly, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
“What?” I snapped.
But all she would say over and over again was: “It’s too soon! Too soon. Something’s wrong.”
I heard a loud thud. The bridge suddenly swayed heavily beneath us. I looked down, trying to figure out what could have caused the sudden motion and noticed Maya extracting a sharp object from her boot. She was crouching down, baring her teeth like a wild cat. I tried to turn but a sharp sting shot through my thigh. I looked down to see a long red splinter or needle protruding from my thigh. Maya shrieked and came at me, a thin dagger gripped tightly in her hand. She came hard and fast. I stood frozen with shock. What is she doing? My vision blurred and I started feeling dizzy. Maya yelled for me to get down, but I was frozen with fear. Suddenly, she ran around me and up onto the railing. She came crashing down, not on me as I had expected, but on something behind me. I staggered and fell on my hands and knees, barely feeling the hard wood as it pressed against my delicate palms and bony knees. There was more shouting. The bridge continued to sway beneath me, making it hard for me to clear my head – to get away. I managed to turn my neck just in time to see two dark figures climbing over the railing, reaching for me. Four powerful, dark hands clamped down on my arms and legs and lifted me off of my feet. I heard Maya scream my name, but I was limp and couldn’t move. As I was hurled away, unable to struggle, I could make out Maya’s form standing over the body of one of our attackers. She struck out at the two remaining assailants who were dragging me over the bridge. Another sudden shudder shook the bridge. I could hear the sound of weapons and fists flying around me. I dropped to the floor, suddenly free. By now I was completely numb. I didn’t feel the thud. It should have hit me full on. Instead I tasted dust and then copper. Blood. Maya stood over me and yelled for someone called Enoch. I looked up at her as my vision faintly perceived two Zulu warriors grabbing her. I shouted for her but the words got stuck in my throat and I was lifted to my feet once more as they tore her off of me. Maya screamed and fought her way out of our attackers’ claws. I heard an object slice through the air, passing over my head with a soft whistle. This was followed by a dull thump and a soft growl and the hands let me go. This time I didn’t hit the gr
ound. I kept on falling. I could barely hear the water over the shouting, and after what felt like an immense splash, I was underwater being overpowered by its cold darkness. Two crystal blue eyes floated toward me like shooting stars and I allowed the darkness in.
CHAPTER THREE
Pieces of a Falling Star
A shimmering star flashed before my eyes. I thought of my wishing star and assumed that I was being taken away to another world; imagined I was being whisked away to the far and beyond, where my dreams would be effortlessly realized and love would hold me tight – where it would be safe. I wanted to go to that place in my mother’s journals, the place she called Heaven. But, I began to shiver as the sharp pain in my thigh returned – I had sorely been mistaken. When I opened my eyes, a bright light clawed at my sight; I shut them again, forcing down the tears. I became aware of someone, or something, moving near me. I could hear footsteps crushing down on sand and stone. I was being carried by arms that held me close and as I tried to kick myself free, a raspy voice called out to me. “You’re okay! I won’t hurt you,” it said.
Forcing myself to look again, I squinted up trying to focus on what was in front of me. Finally, my sight returned and a black-haired, blue-eyed face came into focus. The next thing I noticed was that he was Minoan, a male. I had never been so close to a male, never mind a Minoan man. I felt heat rush up to my ears at that revelation.
“Maya…” I tried to call out in panic, but the words got caught in my throat. It felt like a fire was burning me from the inside out. I struggled to swallow, simultaneously forcing down more tears.
“Shhh, don’t try to talk. We’re almost there,” he uttered.
My teeth chattered from the cold. His strong arms pulled me in closer. My heart raced and I shut my eyes once more. I began shivering uncontrollably. His grip tightened around me as he pulled me in toward his chest where it was safe and warm once again. Disorientated and exhausted, I felt myself slip away and into a stranger’s warmth. The last thought that crossed my mind was that my wish upon a star had just come true. I willingly fell into the unknown.
When I woke I found myself in a dark room, a low flame casting shadows on the roof above me. I could hear voices in the distance, muffled and deep. I couldn’t make out their muttering but I heard someone whisper “the change has come.” Trying to pull myself up, I fell back down again when a wave of nausea hit my stomach like a ton of bricks. Head spinning, chest on fire, I let out a soft moan hoping for some relief. Lifting up a hand that felt like it didn’t belong to me, to steady my head that was about to explode, I called out to Maya through the darkness.
“Ava?” she called back.
I tried to sit up once more but the pain assaulted every inch of me. All at once, I fell back onto the pillow and into blackness. Nightmare after nightmare taunted me. I fought from one terrifying image to find myself in the next. Horrifying faces glaring, dark claws grabbing at me and snarling teeth stalking me. I kept hitting my hands against a cold pane of glass that wouldn’t break until my hands bled and my knees gave in. I couldn’t get out. I begged for someone, anyone, to pull me out of the pit of eternal nightmarish torture in which I found myself – every time I fell asleep. I cried out to no one in particular – just started screaming. Once I woke, I was troubled. I would never know if I got out of my glass box or how I got out. Did I just give up? I couldn’t remember the sequence of images but no matter where the nightmares took me, it was always a terrifying experience that left me feeling distraught and traumatized. Too exhausted to let my mind wonder any longer, I drifted off once more.
The following morning, I woke up in a strange room to a kaleidoscope of colored bottles swimming before me. I closed my eyes, counted to three and opened them again. The bottles spun into focus, a faint light illuminating the rainbow of stars being reflected from their halos onto a table and ground below. I felt a hand brush over mine and looked up to see Maya’s bright eyes blinking over me. She held out a cup of steaming hot tea. Pulling myself into a sitting position, my mouth tasting like I had swallowed a desert of dirt, I accepted the cup, took a huge sip and immediately spat out the horrid taste.
“Gross! What was that?” I croaked.
She pulled back and shot me a look of disappointment.
“It’s my favorite,” she said a matter-of-factly, looking down at the white sheets, ‘a tonic of ginger and lemongrass with some honey.” She ground her foot into the carpet.
I took another sip trying very hard to be open to the strange taste.
“Okay, it’s not that bad,” I croaked softly, in an attempt to soothe her disappointment.
She smiled, turned swiftly on her heal and threw some clothes at me with a weak smile.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Not sure yet,” I replied, putting the cup down on the barrel-like side table. Rubbing vigorously at my eyes – it hit me. “I feel worse than crap,” I said.
“Get dressed. I know exactly what you need,” Maya declared, grinning at me.
My body swayed in protest as I forced myself to get up. I had to hold onto the bedpost to catch my balance. I pulled on the brown tights and slipped into the white sweater, which was way too big for me. Maya laughed and passed me my boots.
“Cute,” she said.
I shoved the feeling of anxiety back. The Council will have my head for this, I thought.
I put the boots on as quickly as I could. Quietly, we crept through the cottage and moments later made our way toward the marketplace, the sun rising over the ocean’s horizon. The deep purple sky, fading into soft lavender as it touched the dark blue water. Birds singing their hellos, it all felt so surreal. Never had I woken up to the beauty of the ocean, always staring into the rolling hills from my window, the ocean blocked from my view. Still feeling unsteady on my feet, I grabbed onto Maya’s hand as she lugged me through little foot paths. I glanced back at the quiet market place; too early for any of the stalls to be open, something I was thankful for. I did not feel like making a public appearance anytime soon. Rubbing at my eyes once more and trying to regain my focus on the view ahead, my mind touched on foggy memories of the day before, flashes of spears and dark figures – me, falling over the edge of the bridge. I felt nothing, no emotion, just the cold numbness. Coming to a stop near the water’s edge, we sat down on some rocks, waves gently rocking back and forth. The ocean was calm as was the air. I took in a deep salty breath, unlaced my boots and set them aside on the cold sand beside me. As the breeze gingerly ruffled my hair, I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth, closed my eyes, took in the cool air and listened to the water breaking softly below our feet, thankful for that moment – for I never knew what would happen to me once I returned. Maya was silent – too silent – but I was enjoying the calm after the chaos and I didn’t want to talk about the attack, the nightmares or anything else. Saying it would make it real. At that point it only felt like a very bad dream. I didn’t want to think about what might have happened to me, or to us. I wanted to climb back into bed and never show my face again. I bit down on my lip and shoved the guilt down, burying it beneath the surface. I spent a huge amount of time trying to withhold my feelings. I should not have left Sam, I told myself, but I then realized that perhaps it was better that I had as I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. Maya seems to be prepared, while Sam and I have no experience in self-defense, I thought to myself. Time stretched out until it felt like we had spent the entire morning on the beach avoiding the world. The sun had slowly heated the rocks beneath us. I ran my hands over their warm surface wishing summer would return to Poseidon.
Maya and I eventually decided to return to the village before her Mother got too worried. As we neared the marketplace an unnatural hush flooded my ears. Maya and I looked at each other in a way that confirmed my suspicions, something was amiss. The usual hum from the hustle and bustle of the busy morning market was non-existent. An abrupt jolt struck the pit of my stomach as I grasped how much things had changed
. Minoans stopping their daily routines had never happened in my lifetime on Poseidon. As we hurried through the valley, lush, green ferns swept drops of dew down the back of my boots, dampening my tights making them stick to my skin as we walked faster and faster along a narrow path that cut through the valley toward Arriana’s cottage. Rolling my sleeves up above my elbows, stroking the foliage as I scurried past, I marveled at how the plants had survived in the absence of rain. Spreading the droplets between my fingertips, I smiled to myself. The village surrounds were truly beautiful. I could see why Maya loved living here and thought that perhaps, I could one day make a living amongst these folks, away from tight rules and bad regulations. Built on the side of a mountain, little streams stretched between the little white cottage-like houses, oak and maple trees adorned every hill between the silver barks of silverwood trees. White stone bridges arched over pools of water in the distance. I imagined how this corner of Poseidon must have been engulfed in the bright colors of autumn a few years ago. But the loneliness of winter had lingered in the air and in my bones for far too long. The path was dimly lighted by the small amount of sun that stole through the thick twisting branches above. I hadn’t noticed the sheer beauty of the path in the early hours of the morning. I had been too overwhelmed by what I thought to be fatigue. At the end of the path, a small fence emerged out of an overgrown lawn. Maya walked to the small russet gate, it creaked softly as she swung it open. I picked up on Maya’s concern; I too felt the pinch of worry as we neared the little white cottage wedged tightly between two gigantic trees. We stepped onto the porch, our boots thumping on its surface and stood facing the front door silently. Maya hesitated giving me time to reflect on the round, timber door, adorned with golden hinges and strange symbols carved into its soft metal edges; the door that stood between me and my fate. Maya turned the beautifully engraved doorknob and the dark door swung open smoothly, the fire from within immediately touching our faces as we stepped inside from the cold. I hadn’t felt the reality of the cold until just then.
The Broken Destiny Page 5