“Hi Ria,” Pandora said, flying over to land on her shoulder.
“Hey Pandora.” Ria felt Star’s curiosity and turned toward her. “Star, this is Pandora. She’s Vari’s friend and companion. Pandora, Star.”
“It’s good to meet you, Star,” Pandora said. “I’ve heard about you, of course. May I come closer? I’d like to see your cubs.”
“Of course you may, Pandora,” Star said. “Would it be rude to ask why you are so small?”
Pandora laughed. “Not to me,” she said as she left Ria’s shoulder and flew closer to the Brun.
Ria turned back to Vari who’d been watching Star and Pandora as well. “I come bearing bribes.”
“Bribes?”
“Yep, never let it be said I’m above stooping to anything to patch things up with my sister.”
Ria smiled happily, then her eyes went to Star. The Brun was feeling cautious, but hopeful for her sake. Ria smiled at her, too. She wanted Star and Vari to like each other, but she couldn’t help be glad that Star was, as always, on her side.
“According to the head cook here on the Hilgaria,” Vari said, lifting a box from the carton, “Star’s favorite dish is stir fry chicken. Second favorite, stir fry pork. Third favorite, beef kabobs.”
“That’s right,” Ria said, grinning at Star’s immediate interest.
“Excellent,” Vari said, taking the lid off of the box, releasing a cloud of steam that had Star off the bed in an instant.
“That smells wonderful.”
“I’m glad,” Vari said, watching curiously as Ria unrolled a mat. Ria caught her look and grinned.
“You know how Bean can be a bit of a neat freak sometimes?”
“Yeah,” Vari said, lifting a tray out of the box.
“She’s got nothing on Star. Which isn’t a complaint, by the way,” Ria added, rubbing Star’s ears.
“I know you’re not complaining,” Star said, enjoying the ear rub. Then she laid down on her mat and watched as Vari set the tray of food in front of her. “Thank you very much, Vari.”
“You’re welcome, Star. Careful, it’s hot.” She turned back to the carton and lifted out a small box which she opened and placed on the table.
“Pandora?”
“Coming,” Pandora said, reluctantly leaving the sleeping cubs. “They’re so cute! Oh goody, food.” She landed beside the little box of raw fruits and veggies.
Vari reached in to the carton again, removed a larger box and set it on the table. She opened it and carefully lifted out a bowl.
“Oh my goodness is that a banana split?” Ria asked in surprise.
“It is,” Vari said a little smugly as she put the bowl down in front of where Ria now sat. Then she returned to the carton and unpackaged another banana split for herself.
“What is a banana split?” Star asked as she nibbled delicately at the edges of her food while avoiding the center where it was hottest.
“It’s ice cream and syrup and a banana and total sugar overload,” Ria said. “Aunt Hope made these for us on our birthday one year and we were all addicted from that day forward.
“I do not know what those things are that you just named, but I can tell you’re happy about them.”
Ria put a spoonful of chocolate ice cream in her mouth and closed her eyes. It’d been a couple of years since she’d had ice cream. It was fantastic.
“Okay,” she said scooping up another spoonful, “your bribes worked.”
“I’m glad,” Vari said. They enjoyed their ice cream in silence for a few minutes.
“Ria, I know you’re aware that Talon told me some of your secrets,” Vari began.
“Yes,” Ria said nodding.
“I have some secrets for you in exchange.”
“You don’t have to tell me secrets, Vari.”
“Yes, I really do,” Vari said. “You’re part of this. I was always afraid of you or Bean being a part of it. Maybe that’s why, when I was told that you are, I didn’t really let it sink in.”
“Part of what?” Ria asked, confused.
“Chaos,” Vari said. “That and what we’re doing out here besides trying to find Kinah.”
“The Katres told me there are secrets, Vari. That’s all I need to know.”
“No, it’s not,” Vari argued. “As I said, you are part of it, and that means you need the information I have. And besides, I need to tell you a few things so that you can better understand your childhood, and some of what happened to you.”
“Okay,” Ria said hesitantly.
“It’s all right, Ria,” Vari said gently. “I’m here to help clarify and explain, not hurt or worry.” Ria smiled, but she was still nervous.
“Should I go into the other room?” Star asked, looking from her food to the bed where the cubs lay sleeping.
“No, Star,” Vari said. “You’re Ria’s best friend. You need to know these things too, just as Pandora does.”
Star’s head went up, her ears cocked forward and her tail wagged, all signs of happiness and pleasure. “You are generous, Vari. Thank you.”
“No thanks needed, Star, but you’re welcome anyway. So, shall I begin?”
“Yes,” Ria said, nodding before taking another bite of ice cream.
“You know the story of Aunt Lari, Mom, and Riata being taken from the ranch, and Mom’s conversion,” Vari began.
“Yes, of course.”
As Vari began the story of their conception, the strange powers that she, as primary fetus, had absorbed most of, but that Ria and Bean had gotten as well, and the influence all of it had on her life, Ria hung on every word. When she started to explain how Chaos had directly impacted her life, Ria was stunned.
It was a long story, and it took a long time to tell. By the time Vari got to the present day she and Ria were sitting beside Star’s bed while the cubs had their third lunch, with Pandora on Ria’s shoulder watching.
“So, you think that a lot of what happened to me in my life is due to the influence of Chaos,” Ria said.
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Vari said. “It’s not just a guess on my part either. I had Pandora speak with the Eternal Pack. They went back and watched your childhood unfold very carefully, and have concluded that Chaos had a grand time messing with you. I had Pandora to help me through it, but you had no one. I’m sorry, Ria. I should have seen this sooner.”
“That doesn’t matter, really,” Ria said. “What matters to me is that there’s a reason. A real, honest to goodness reason for all of it and that reason isn’t that I’m a…a…a total waste of space.” She frowned. “Geoff?”
“Yes, him too. According to the Eternal Pack, every attempt to drive you far away so that you couldn’t play your part in things to come failed. So Chaos nudged you into his path.”
“You make it sound as though Chaos is sentient. Is it?”
“A year ago I would have said absolutely not. Now, I honestly don’t know. Neither does the Eternal Pack. Well, I don’t think they know. One can never be sure with them.”
“So, to summarize, I was given gifts I believed I had to hide, and Mom, the Dads, you, and Bean were influenced against me because of them.”
“Yes, that’s about it. I’m so sorry, Ria.”
“Please stop apologizing, Vari,” Ria said. “It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. I’m just so glad you told me all of this.”
“I’m glad, too,” Vari said, leaning over to bump shoulders with her.
“So, why is it that Chaos wanted me out of the way? Do you know?”
“I think it’s because of your visions,” Vari said. “You can see too much now, in too many ways, and your ability to see tachyo-matter is a big deal.”
“Why?”
“I think it’s the source of the Doftles’ power, and you can see it. I don’t know exactly how that’ll come into play, but I’m certain that it will. Your ability to detect lies is going to be useful, too.”
“Useful to who? You?”
“
To me, to us, to the Thousand Worlds.”
“Well, I’m certainly willing to do whatever I can to help.”
“I know you are,” Vari said, smiling. “Okay, now to a few things I want to tell you that don’t have anything to do with Chaos.” She frowned. “I take that back. There’s really no telling when, where, or what Chaos will muck around with.”
“That’s the truth,” Pandora said feelingly.
“I’ll remember that.”
“First thing is, I recorded a vid telling Mom and the Dads what really happened to you on the Leaper. I also told them what Shanti and I had done and said, and also the things I’d learned about you on this expedition that indicate we’ve all had a skewed concept of you. I sent it to them that day.
“After I spoke with Talon this morning, I recorded another vid for them, explaining my theory regarding you, Chaos, and the things Pandora was able to confirm for me with the Eternal Pack.”
“Wow,” Ria said, stunned. “Do you think they’ll believe you?”
“Yes, I do,” Vari said. “But Ria, even if they don’t, I know the truth now, and so do you, and so does Star, and Pandora, and my men and your men. An absolute truth, known absolutely, is powerful stuff, Txikreba. Which brings me to the next thing I want to tell you.”
“Which is what?”
“I should never have come down on Shanti’s side against you. I almost can’t believe I actually did something so dishonorable, but I did, and I’m sorrier than I can ever say. It was Pandora who yanked me up short, right after I left you in the conference room that day. If she was bigger, I would have been a little worried by how angry she was with me.”
“Pandora?”
“Yep, and I’m sorry that surprises you,” Pandora said. “It’s my own fault for being as blind to you as everyone else for so long. But I see you now, Ria, and I won’t lose sight of you again.”
“Thank you, Pandora,” Ria said softly. “That means a great deal to me.”
“Anyway,” Vari continued, “because of all the people who lost their lives on the Leaper, there was a complete investigation done, in which every single soul on that ship was interviewed.”
“Yes, I remember that.”
“I read the report the day you told us what happened. I learned the truth, and I took it to Shanti. She hasn’t been trying to see you because she wants to threaten you, Ria. She wants to apologize. I’m not saying you should accept it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t, either. That’s up to you. But know this; I will never side with anyone against you or any other member of my family again.”
Ria blinked back tears, but she was smiling. “I’ve been kind of afraid to see Dr. Jula because I know she’s Shanti’s aunt. I thought she’d be angry with me, too.”
Vari laughed. “Oh, she’s angry all right, but not at you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She’s not happy with me, but she’s absolutely furious with Shanti. She overheard me threaten to cut Shanti from my heart, so she knew something bad had happened.”
“Cut her from your heart?” Ria asked faintly. “That sounds…horrible.”
“It kind of is,” Vari said, all humor gone. “It’s a Flaridian thing. It means that I feel she behaved in a deeply dishonorable manner, and that if she does so again, I will never see, hear, or speak with her again in this life.”
“You did that for me?”
“Yes, I did,” Vari said. “You deserved that much from me, Ria. At the very least. But, I want you to understand that I didn’t do it because of what she said to you. That would have been completely hypocritical on my part since I said some equally awful things myself, and I’m your sister.
“I did it because of the things Shanti said after she knew the truth. She told me she was still angry with you, that she couldn’t change gears fast enough. I didn’t buy it because I’ve known her a long time. She has no trouble switching gears. She just wasn’t ready to let go of her mental image of Geoff, and she was looking for someone else to blame. That didn’t set well with me and it still doesn’t. Dr. Jula also threatened to cut her from her heart.”
“Because of me?”
“No, Ria, not because of you,” Vari said firmly. “Because of Shanti. I would have been surprised if she hadn’t, actually. Before I came over here I told Niri as much as I could about Chaos, which wasn’t much since most of this stuff has to remain secret. But I think I convinced her that there were other forces at play here.
“She’ll forgive Shanti, but she won’t do it fast. Flaridians are very spiritual, and they have a very formal culture with strict guidelines that govern many aspects of their lives. There are ways to do things, and ways not to do them. She’ll want to be sure that Shanti learns a lesson from this. If she doesn’t, Dr. Jula will likely cast her from their blood.”
“Vari, I don’t want anyone to suffer that much because of me.”
“I understand that, Ria, but this isn’t about you. This is about Shanti. She went too far.”
Ria nodded. She couldn’t deny that Shanti had gone too far. But then, she also knew that Shanti had been in love with Geoff. Or at least, in love with the man she thought he was. “If I accept her apology, will that help?”
Vari looked at Ria for a long moment, then reached over and hugged her tightly. “You’re such a good person, Ria, with such a generous heart. How could all of us have missed that for all these years?”
“Um…well…see…there’s this thing called Chaos,” Ria began. Vari laughed and released her sister.
“Brat.”
“Thanks,” Ria said smugly.
“Yes, I think that if you accept Shanti’s apology it will help her with her aunt. But please promise me that you won’t do that until and unless you’re ready and what did I just say that has you looking pale and worried?”
“It’s just…I can’t promise, Vari. I can’t ever promise again.”
“Oh, Ria,” Vari said sadly as she watched Ria bow her head. She thought for a few moments, then tapped Ria on the chin. “Listen to me, Txikreba.”
Ria looked up at her. “No one, and I mean no one will ever condemn you for breaking a promise to save your life in the way you did. Not going to happen. I know what you were taught about promises because I was taught the same thing. I also understand that for you, those lessons were set in stone. But I promise you, anyone who ever says one single word of judgement against you is going to find their head detached from their body so fast they won’t know what hit them.”
Ria smiled, but there was still a light of worry in her eyes. “I told Mom and the Dads in my vid this morning about your shame at having broken that promise. When they respond, and they will, you’ll see I’m right.”
“Okay Vari,” Ria said, nodding. “I’ll try to remember that.”
Vari understood that was the best Ria could do at the moment, but it was enough. “Well, now that I’ve ruined everyone’s lunch and dinner, I should go back to the Bihotza and get some work done. Unless you need help with moving your things?”
“No, thanks Vari. I’ve only got a couple of drawers left. May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“If it’s not my business please say so but, what is it you work at all the time? I know it must be important.”
“It is,” Vari said with a sigh. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can about as many cultures and peoples of the Thousand Worlds. When I meet Pithos, I want to be able to do a fair job of representing our worlds and her peoples as I can.”
“I agree, that’s important,” Ria said. “If there’s ever anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“Thanks,” Vari said, smiling. She got to her feet and Ria followed. They put the empty dishes and boxes back in the carton.
“Vari, I’d like to ask you to do me a favor.”
“All right.”
“Will you come over with Shanti? Tomorrow maybe? Or whenever works for you.”
“Yes, I will,” Vari said. “I’
ll speak with her later and arrange a time, then I’ll let you know. How’s that sound?”
“Good,” Ria said. “Thank you Vari. For telling me all of this. It really changes so much for me, and all in a good way.”
“I too would thank you, Vari,” Star said. “I can feel already how much lighter Ria’s heart is.”
“So can I,” Vari agreed. “And I really like it that way.”
Chapter 26
Six weeks later…
Ria sat cross-legged on the foot of the bed in the master suite, her eyes still staring at the vid screen even though the vid was finished. She suddenly realized that she now understood what Shanti had meant when she said she hadn’t been able to switch gears fast enough.
“Kitelle,” Talon said, moving to sit beside her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine I just…um…not sure what to say. First Vari tells me all that stuff about Chaos and suddenly so many things made sense that it took me days and days to sort through it. Then Shanti comes and apologizes. Sincerely. And now….,” she held out one hand toward the vid screen and waved it back and forth. “Now this. I gotta wonder.”
“What is it you gotta wonder, Shiaki?” Thorn asked, fighting a grin. She just looked so cute sitting there in one of his black t-shirts that looked like an oversized dress on her slender body, her long hair slightly mussed from the morning’s amorous activities.
“Well, I think I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see gravity work backwards, for one thing.”
“Gravity work backwards?” Tee asked, leaning against the table while sipping coffee. “What does that mean?”
“You know, backwards. Like we all suddenly start walking on the ceiling, and have to strap ourselves into bed so we don’t fall out.”
“Wouldn’t gravity cause the furniture to also be on the ceiling?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe. If we don’t glue it down.”
“Don’t you mean glue it up?” Thorn asked.
Ria rolled her eyes. “You guys are being difficult on purpose and I’m trying to be serious here.”
“You’re being serious about gluing the furniture to the ceiling?” Talon asked.
Ria's Visions (Hearts of ICARUS Book 6) Page 48