Promise of the Opal (Gemstones Book 1)

by Lyra Shanti

  Xian Shen smiled and said, "Your friend? Your lover, you mean?"

  Gan wanted to protest, for Sa's sake, but he felt powerless to say a word.

  "Worry not, black dragon," said Xian Shen, "I won't hurt your sweet, little fox. But you? For my brother's sake, you need to go!"

  In a matter of seconds, Gan felt the heat of the opal ring stabbing into his heart.

  "No!" shouted Sa and Ji Wei in unison.

  The pain was beyond Gan's comprehension, as if his soul was being seared out of his body. Quickly, Gan started to lose consciousness. He wanted to at least say goodbye to his beloved fox and dragon, but he couldn't catch a breath. "Forgive me," he managed to whisper.

  Turning his gaze to the starry sky, the last thing he saw was a magnificent, white flame, shining through the darkness.

  Chapter 32: Ready or Not

  "N o!" yelled Sam, sweating buckets in her bed. For a second or two, she couldn't remember where she was, or even who she was.

  Turning over, she saw Jon, who was sitting up, bare-chested, looking as startled and confused as she was.

  "Did you… did we dream the same dream again?" he asked without making eye contact.

  Sam's mind began to adjust. She was at Jon's parents’ house. They were going to get married. Everything was fine… right?

  "I think it was really intense this time," she said, groggy and hoarse. "Like… worse than before. There was a crazy guy in a hood… and then there was a forest fire… or something."

  Jon turned to Sam with a terrified expression and said, "I think I died."

  Sam grabbed onto him with all her might. She didn't want to believe it.

  "I'm not even sure it was death," he continued, "but… it was something really bad, like, worse than death, almost… soul-death, like… I vanished into nothingness."

  Sam grabbed him even tighter. "No, no, no," she repeated, tears falling down her cheeks. "You'll never leave me! You promised!"

  Jon shook his head and lifted her chin, looking into her eyes. "You're right, my love. It’s just a stupid dream. I love you, and I'm here. I'll never ever leave you. I promise."

  Wish a passionate kiss, Sam's fears were quelled, at least for the moment.

  After taking a relaxing bath, they felt a little better. After breakfast, Sam kept telling herself it was just a dream. It didn't mean the nightmare really happened. But what if it did? What about Dr. Lee's old book of mythical figures and legends? Sa was a real person, right? If so, did Gan actually die a tragic death?

  No matter how much Jon told her everything was fine, her doubts were hard to silence.

  "I have to see him," she said abruptly.

  "Who?" asked Jon while watching a silly game show on TV. He seemed to need the banality of modern life. Sam totally understood, but she needed answers, and her mind wouldn't quit.

  "My therapist, Dr. Lee."

  "Oh," said Jon, half-heartedly.

  "You should come with me," she said with a gentle poke to his back. "We're having the same dreams and stuff. You should be there to figure this out with me."

  "Okay… I guess."

  Sam hated the way he barely responded, and began to feel angry. "Hello?"

  Jon sighed. "Yeah, look, Sam… I'm not ready."

  "What do you mean?"

  He turned to her with alarmed eyes. "I died, Sam! I mean, Gan died… and not even a regular death, but ceased to exist. It's… freaky. I just… don't want to deal with it right now."

  Sam threw up her hands and got up from the bed. "Fine!" She put on a pair of jeans and looked for her wallet.

  "Where are you going?" Jon asked.

  "I don't know. But I need answers, and I can't watch a stupid game show!"

  Heading out the door, she heard, "Wait! Sam, hold on. I love you. You know that, right?"

  She exhaled deeply, blowing back her long bangs. "I know, but… Look, I know you're scared, Jon, but I need to do something. I can't handle anymore dreams like these."

  He nodded and said, "Me neither. It felt horrible, like there was this fire that consumed my entire being. It freaked me the hell out."

  Just then, it came back to her: the evil brother, the opal ring, the fire. Had Sa done something to destroy Gan? No, she didn't want to believe it. She refused to go there. And yet, the tears fell down her face, stinging her soul.

  "Maybe you should go back to Andrew."

  "What?!" Jon exclaimed.

  "Maybe he's your true love, and I'm just a weirdo who doesn't even know what gender they really are. Face it. I'm bad for you. I'm just… cursed or something."

  "C'mon, stop it," he said, grabbing her shoulders. "Stop sounding like everything is over. It's not over. I'm not actually dead. I'm alive, and so are you. It was just a nightmare."

  "But it's from something real, Jon. And we keep sharing this stuff! Why?"

  He shook his head. "I don't know, my love, but listen to me. I don't care what gender you are or if you're good for me. I adore you, and I want to marry you."

  "You shouldn't! I'm cursed. I'll hurt you, Jon, and…" Sobbing now, Sam could barely talk.

  Jon held her close. "It's okay, honey. I've got you. It was just a bad dream. Let it go."

  Sam tried to hear his words, but when she closed her eyes, all she could see was Gan in pain, surrounded by white flames.

  Pulling away, Sam wiped her tears and said, "I'm going to see Dr. Lee. He might be the only one who can help me at this point. Are you coming?"

  Jon looked uneasy. "I… Sam… I want to, but…"

  "Fine! I'll go by myself. I need answers. I need… healing."

  Breaking from his grasp, Sam ran out the door without a plan. All she knew was that she had to see Dr. Lee. Somehow, she knew he could help her. If not him, then no one.

  Chapter 33: The Opal

  "I 'm at the Lama Temple right now, Ms. Hanover Mills. But if it's urgent…"

  "It absolutely is urgent, yes."

  She heard him exhale. "I see. If you can meet me at the temple, I actually have something I want to show you. It may help make things… clear."

  Clarity sounded like the greatest thing ever to Sam. "I'll be right there!"

  Hanging up the phone, she raced to the train station. When boarding the train, she tried to remember the route she and Jon had taken before, but her brain was foggy. Luckily, she heard an announcement in English at the last minute and got off at the correct stop.

  After paying the entrance fee, she walked toward the temple's gate and felt an ominous, pulling sensation. Thinking back, the feeling had been there the first time, but not as much as today. Something about the smoky incense and the lion statues had her a little spooked.

  "Ms. Hanover Mills," said Dr. Lee, appearing to her right. She hadn't even seen him coming.

  "You can just call me Sam," she said with a small bow.

  Bowing in return, he said, "Sam, we need to talk… in private. Follow me, please."

  Turning to face the center building, he walked ahead and Sam followed. Just when she thought they were going to enter the main temple with the Buddha statues, the doctor turned to the left and walked further along. Sam wondered where he was taking her.

  He then winded around the small pathways between buildings. Sam was entirely lost, but she had faith in her doctor. He must know where he's going.

  Finally, he stopped and turned back to face her. "Tell me, Sam, do you know anything about the Opal of Fortune?"

  She shook her head. "I've been dreaming about a white opal, but…"

  "Exactly," he replied with an extended forefinger, "and I think I know why. Come… We are going to enter a secret area. Only a few of the monks and people with special clearance are allowed back here, so… be mindful."

  She followed him, wondering why they allowed a mere therapist into a secret place for monks. Sam wanted to ask if he was a monk once, but she didn't want to seem rude.

  As they entered a back door, they walked inside one of the smaller buildings. Right a
way, she could tell this place was not for tourists. It didn't have any fancy statues, colorful cloth, or pretty bells. It was simply a medium-sized room with boxes and crates on each side.

  "Is this a storage room?" she asked.

  "Sort of," he said with a smile. "This is where the monks keep their hidden items, their treasures, if you will."

  Sam's earlier fear turned to excitement. "Treasure? Really? Like jewels and stuff? I thought Buddhist monks renounce all that earthly possession stuff… attachments are bad and all."

  Dr. Lee smirked and walked a few steps away. "Well, these items are considered treasures for their historical and spiritual significance, not their monetary worth." Turning, he went to a particular create and slowly opened it. He then pulled out a small, jade box. Sam noticed gold-colored lettering all around the sides, possibly Chinese writing, though she had no idea what it said.

  "What is that?" she asked, coming closer to get a better look.

  Handling the box with care, Dr. Lee brought it to Sam and said, "It is yours."

  Sam thought she misheard him. "Huh?"

  He smiled. "This box holds a great artifact with a power not many can withstand. It was first found by a Buddhist disciple from India around the time the Buddha had died. His followers were traveling, spreading the Buddha's noble truths when this particular disciple found a mysterious ring, left in an abandoned temple… right here in Beijing."

  "Wow," said Sam. "It must be worth millions."

  "Well, it's worth more than that to the monks who still believe in the old gods, the deities before Siddhartha Gautama found enlightenment… when we worshipped the heavenly ones from the sky."

  Sam didn't know what to say to that, but she was definitely intrigued. She didn't know much about Buddhism or Hindu gods, so she kept quiet.

  "You see," he continued, "in both Hindu and Asian myths, there was a time when the gods were changelings, able to transform from animal to human, spirit to flesh, male to female… anything, really. And these gods taught us lessons as a way to advance our souls in karmic evolution."

  Sam merely nodded, trying her best to take everything in. Her mind was distracted, though. She kept wondering about the object inside the jade box.

  "The god most revered, and oldest of legends, is the dragon. Well, there was more than one, of course, but never more than a handful at a time. In most myths, each dragon has a natural element it represents and a correlating purpose. For example, if you look at the top of this box, you'll see a painting of a white dragon with what looks like swirling smoke behind it. Do you know what this dragon represents?"

  Sam shook her head. Her guess was that it represented the spiritual plane of existence, but she didn't want to be wrong.

  "Go ahead," the doctor prodded.

  "Um… something to do with the spirit? Like with the incense stuff they give you here to use for prayers and meditation?"

  He smiled. "Exactly right," he replied, looking proud of her answer. He then sat on a large create and motioned for her to join him.

  Hoping they wouldn't get in trouble, she sat next to him on another crate. "So… this box you're holding is dedicated to the white dragon?"

  "Precisely," he replied with a grin. "Experts think it was made sometime in the fifth or sixth century, though it's hard to know for sure. The craftsmanship is exquisite; don't you think?"

  Sam looked at the details of the painted dragon. It was indeed beautiful and in wonderful condition. "So, it's been kept here at this temple for hundreds of years?"

  He nodded. "This, and many of the artifacts that hold meaning for the followers of the old gods."

  She half-smiled, curiosity filling her mind. "Are you an ex-Buddhist monk, Dr. Lee?"

  "Please," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "if I'm to call you Sam, you may call me Jun. And no, I'm not a monk. Never dedicated myself to it fully. But I believe I told you that I collect artifacts and ancient relics. It's a hobby."

  Sam didn't buy that. There was more to this guy, and she knew it. "Yeah, okay… but why would the monks here allow you entrance to their secret storage of artifacts? You must be someone they really trust."

  "They trust me because I was…" he stopped and gave a sigh. "Look, Sam, what I'm about to tell you will sound crazy."

  "Hey, you're the doctor," she said with a teasing smile. "You're supposed to be the sane one." For a second, she worried she was flirting. She didn't mean to, but the guy was almost as charming as Jon.

  He smiled in return, then said, "I try my best to remain sane, but in my search for understanding of the subconscious mind, I've come to unlock a great many truths about myself… and about the past. You see, Sam, I believe your dreams stem from a deep, traumatic past life. I not only know this because of what you've told me, but because I too have had similar dreams."

  She sat in silence, unable to process what he was saying. She couldn't imagine anyone else had the same weird dreams. It was bizarre enough Jon shared them with her. How could her doctor have the same type of dreams as well?

  "I can tell by your expression that you don't believe me, but it's true. I was there, Sam. I remember Ling Sa, not just from the book I own, but because I knew him. In fact, I was his brother."

  "What?!" She stood up, shocked and somewhat angry. "You were there? You were his brother? What?"'

  Memories came flooding into her mind: the ring, the forest, the white flames. "No!" she said as she stood. "It couldn't have been you." Sa's brother in her dream was cruel and sadistic. Jun had to be wrong.

  He lowered his head. "It's true. I've had the same nightmares you described. It haunted me for many years, to be honest, which is why I studied psychology to begin with. It was a selfish need to find out the meaning of those horrible, recurring nightmares. Eventually, I came to realize the truth, and I decided to help others with their dreams. After what happened in our past, I believe it's my karmic duty to help others… maybe even to help you."

  Sam's anger rose inside her chest. If he really was the reincarnation of that mad sorcerer from her nightmare, then he killed her love. She wanted to slap his face so badly… but not at a Buddhist temple. That would be weird.

  "Why did you do it?" she meekly asked, looking down at the floor.

  "You mean, why did I plot to kill Li Gan?"

  "Yeah…"

  He sighed. "Because I wrongly believed that I was destined to be the black dragon, not he. I thought he took my place, and I was filled with jealousy."

  She looked up and scowled at him. "Why the hell did you think you had the right to be a dragon when you were dabbling in evil magic?"

  The doctor looked down and shook his head. "I'm so sorry."

  Sam couldn't believe she was scolding her therapist. And she still wanted to slap him. It felt so bizarre.

  Getting to her feet, she began to pace. "Look… I know all this stuff is way in the past, and it really shouldn't matter, but… I need answers." She turned to face him with her arms folded. "Do you remember what actually happened that night in the forest? Did I cause those white flames? Did I… kill you?"

  He looked at her with a somber expression. "Yes, I remember, and yes, you did."

  That wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.

  "To be honest…" he continued, "you killed everyone: me… that fox boy... and Gan as well."

  "What?!" she yelled. "No, you're lying. That's impossible."

  He stood and opened the box. "Take a look at the ring, Sam. What do you see?"

  She couldn't stop herself from taking a look. The ring was white but iridescent and larger than she thought it would be, almost an inch wide. It was absolutely beautiful. She had a strong urge to grab for it, though she resisted.

  "Tell me," said Jun, "do you remember wearing this ring? Can you feel its magic?"

  She wasn't sure. "I think I feel it… but I can't remember what it did exactly."

  "I'm not sure how, but this ring enhances your power. I've tried to research its properties, but there's no writt
en evidence to prove it's anything more than a regular opal. However, we both can feel it’s magical. It’s a holy relic, Sam, from the time of the ancient gods, the elemental dragons. This opal was made for the white dragon, and only the one who carries its spirit can awaken the ring’s true power."