“What does my name have to do with my honor?”
“I thought you said you were from Tuala? How could you not know how important a person’s name is?” Gevena was becoming confused and then wondered if this meeting had been a good idea after all.
“I was born here, well, not here in Manzanit. I was born in a place called the Roanoke Colony in the Pantano District. When we were eight, my mother was afraid for our safety and sent us to Earth accidentally. We were adopted by the people who we call our parents, and we have spent the last eight years on Earth.”
“What’s a year?”
Valentina shook her head in confusion. “What do you mean? It’s a year. You know, 365 days make up a year. Do you call it something else here? Now I’m confused.”
Gevena’s expression cleared as she heard Valentina’s explanation. “Yes, we call it an anon. So you were eight anons old when you went to Earth.”
“I guess. Hmph. I never knew there were differences in language. I wonder what else is different.”
“Your clothing, for one,” Gevena said with a slight smirk as she looked Valentina’s outfit up and down. She touched the blue cloth on Valentina’s leg and asked, “What’s it made out of?”
“Denim…I guess it’s probably made out of cotton or something like that. I don’t really know. What do you make cloth out of here?”
“Mostly of woven foxl hair. It’s really soft and versatile.”
“What is a foxl?”
“Seriously? Oh, my! We have a lot to learn from one another! Are you planning on ever coming back to Tuala to live or are you going to stay on Earth?”
“I had hoped to live in both places. After all, I have parents in both so it’s what made the most sense. Now, I’m not so sure it’d be a good idea. What if I did or said something which would make people wonder about me? I wouldn’t want to jeopardize my mom’s standing as the leader of the colony.”
“I don’t think it would happen there since they all know you live on Earth. It’s just the rest of Tuala you’d have to worry about.”
“Oh,” Valentina chuckled, “Is that all? Just the whole rest of Tuala. No problem!”
They both laughed, relaxing as they did so. Neither knew the beginning of their friendship had formed, but their conversations became less forced.
Valentina was the first to speak. “You were saying something about my name and honor. What was that all about?”
“Okay, this will be your first lesson in Tualan culture. All girls’ names end with an ‘a’ and all boys’ names end with an ‘n’ unless they’ve lost honor. Then they are forced to drop the honorific letter at the end of their name to let everyone know their shame.”
“It sounds pretty harsh. Does it happen often?” Instantly she made a mental note to make sure her brothers did not call her by her shortened name if they ever visited their mother. She did not want to bring any shame to her mother by slipping up in front of the villagers or any other people who might be around while they were in Tuala.
“Not as often as it should!” Gevena spoke bitterly as she recalled other people in her life who had treated her badly but still retained their whole name.
This was the opening Valentina had been hoping for in their conversation. She asked, “Tell me about your life in Desio. What was it like?”
Gevena instantly sobered, her sense of ease vanished as she recalled her tough life with her father. “My father drank a lot, and he liked gambling. He met a man named Politun who was from the Roanoke Colony.”
“I remember him; he was always so sneaky and secretive. He was the second in command of the colony and Grobin’s best friend. Grobin was our leader and the reason we were sent to Earth,” Valentina interjected as her memories of her childhood began to sharpen upon hearing Politun’s name. “Where was your mom?”
Gevena agreed with Valentina’s assessment of the man even as she answered her question. “My mom left us when I was a toddler. I don’t know where she is or if she is even alive anymore.”
“I’m sorry. Do you think you might want to try to locate her someday? Maybe she was trying to get away from your father,” Valentina offered.
“Leaving me behind to deal with him! I’m sorry; you didn’t deserve that.” She paused to collect herself before continuing her story as if she had not been interrupted. “As I said, the colony had recently started camping outside our village, causing all kinds of problems as they stole food and clothing from our people.
“We don’t know why they came, but my father was only interested in his gambling and drinking. Nobody in town would play with him anymore because he couldn’t pay what he gambled. Politun was an outsider, and he was willing to play cards with him. For a while, my father was winning. He bought more liquor and got sloppy.
“After losing several nights in a row, my father came home and told me to gather my things. I had no idea what he had done, and I did as he asked. He took me away from our home and gave me to Politun. He took my arm and began dragging me away from the village. I kept crying and asking my father to help me. He turned around and walked back to our house.
“Politun told me to shut up. He said he had won me fair and square in their last card game. I could not believe what he said was true. I called him a liar and told him to let me go home. When we got to his tent in the woods, he shoved me on the ground and told me I was home. He ordered me to make him dinner so I did it. I figured I’d be able to sneak away when he was sleeping and go home.
“He must have anticipated my plan because he tied my leg to his tent stake that night. After we were done eating he told me to take my clothes off. I refused, and he ripped them off of me. I screamed and screamed knowing someone would come and help me. Nobody seemed to notice. Politun hit my face until my eye swelled shut and my nose was bleeding.
“He told me I was his property and he could do to me whatever he wanted. I had no idea how far he would take this idea until…” She stopped talking. She had no idea why she had even told Valentina as much as she had.
“Until what? What happened to you, Gevena,” Valentina pushed gently. “I know this is hard, but sometimes it makes it easier to talk about bad things so you can begin to forget them.”
“What do you know? Apart from being sent to Earth, how can you possibly know what I’ve been through?” Gevena accused rudely.
Trying not to be offended and also taking her own advice, Valentina answered softly, “Because the day you were rescued from Viceroy Blair’s captivity, was the same day I was raped by Grobin.”
Gevena’s eyes grew wide in disbelief and shock. “I’m so sorry, Valentina. I had no idea!”
“There was no way you could know.” Suddenly Valentina laughed harshly and said, “Do you know what the stupid thing is?”
Confused by the sudden change of mood, Gevena shook her head dumbly.
“The reason our mom sent us away was because Grobin was going to make me his wife when I was eight. My mom knew what he had planned for our ‘wedding’ night, and she was trying to protect me from his disgusting advances. I guess he got what he wanted after all.”
“Oh, Valentina, how awful! But you’ll have to admit it would have been even worse for you when you were only a small child.”
“True, but then it would have been over a long time ago rather than just two weeks ago. It wouldn’t still be fresh in my mind. So since you know I truly do understand, do you want to finish telling me what happened to you?”
Reluctantly, Gevena decided it would be nice to tell someone else her story who knew what it felt like to be helpless. She swallowed and took a deep breath before she continued. “He removed his clothes and pinned me to the ground. I couldn’t get away with my leg tied to the tent. I didn’t have anywhere to go since my father had betrayed me.
“At first, I struggled and clawed at him, but he only hit me with a sick grin on his face. I immediately figured out he enjoyed it when I fought him so I forced myself to be completely still. When he realized I w
asn’t going to challenge him anymore, he finished and got off of me.
“I didn’t dare move a muscle until I heard him laughing with Grobin over by the fire. It was like my mind was no longer inside my beaten body. I curled up on my side and cried. That was when I knew nobody cared what happened to me. I was alone.” Her last words came out in a whisper.
“I know the feeling as well; it was almost the same thing I did when Grobin left me after…you know. Thank you for telling me. Someone very wise once told me as long as I let what was done to me haunt me, then I was giving up myself to the other person. The shame and guilt belong only to Politun; you did nothing wrong. Do you understand?”
“I guess.” She sighed deeply and felt as if a weight had been lifted from her soul. Rasa had been very wise when she had suggested she invite Valentina for a visit. Suddenly she wondered if Rasa knew what had happened to Valentina as well. She remembered seeing Rasa with her when they were leaving the telepod at the Stel’s house. “Does Rasa know about your story?”
Valentina nodded. “She’s the first one who helped me when we got back to Earth. I was pretty much a mess when Juila had her see me.”
“So that’s why she wanted us to talk?”
“I think Juila had something to do with it as well.”
“It makes sense, Juila is the only person I’ve ever told about what happened to me, until now.” Thinking of Juila and her twin sister, Gevena wanted to change the subject and asked, “Do you know what happened between Jena and Willian? The last I heard, Willian had gone to Earth to try to work things out with Jena. She was pretty upset to learn he was staying close to where she lived.”
Now it was Valentina’s turn to be uncomfortable. “They weren’t able to work things out between them. Jena requested for their betrothal to be broken and Elder Daven granted it.”
“Oh, no! That’s terrible! There has to be a way for them to work it out and get back together. But I guess it’s too late if the Elder approved her request. Was it just a verbal break or did they give up their bond symbols?”
“Bond symbols? What are those?”
“They are usually bracelets, rings, or sometimes a necklace. Both of them would have had a matching set of whatever it was.”
“Oh, then yes. Elder Daven asked them to relinquish their rings immediately.”
“Definitely too late then. Both families must be mortified.”
“Why? People get divorced all of the time. What difference does it make?”
“You do have a lot to learn, Valentina. Let me see how I can explain this…people get married here, but betrothals are different, they are more than just a marriage.” She pulled at her bottom lip with her thumb and finger as she tried to find the right words to express the magnitude of a betrothal.
“We don’t have very many betrothals. They are rare because of what it means to the families involved. Betrothals are arranged between two infants by applying to an Elder to take the matter to Jehoban. Usually, the reason for the arrangement is because the families are in important positions or are influential in the society. Sometimes it’s because it’s believed the match will enhance the crystal skill lineage in the children they will bear when they’re grown.
“The children are raised together by the boy’s parents so they will share the same background and beliefs. They grow up knowing they will be married. They also know they will have a blessed marriage because it was sanctioned by Jehoban Himself. Their special relationship will always produce children who have unique talents and their standing in society is held in high esteem.”
With a sick feeling in her gut, Valentina forced herself to ask, “So what will happen to them since the betrothal is dissolved?”
“They will both be ridiculed and shamed by their peers. It will always be remembered by the people, and their lives will never be the same. It’s too bad it didn’t work out. Do you know why?”
Wishing she did not have to admit her part in the situation, Valentina looked down at her hands. She saw her fingers were almost white with the strain of holding them so tightly. Consciously, she relaxed her fingers and thought about what Willian had told her. Finally, she nodded and replied, “It’s because Willian and I are bonded.”
“Wait, what? You did this to them? How could you ruin Jena’s life?”
Valentina shook her head in denial and kept her voice calm. “It wasn’t like that. Willian bumped into me at school, and something happened. He says our life-lines merged together or something like that. I tried to keep away from him, but it’s like trying to avoid oxygen. I need him to live, and he feels the same about me. When Jena realized we didn’t have any say in the matter, she asked for the dissolution of the betrothal. I recall her asking Elder Daven to dissolve it without fault or blemish on either part. Do you know what it could have meant?”
The horrified expression on Gevena’s face disappeared when she heard the last part of Valentina’s explanation. She sighed in relief as she answered. “Yes, thank Jehoban Jena added the phrase to her request. They both would have been ruined without it.”
“Oh, good, but what does it mean?”
“It means Jehoban will remove the betrothal from everyone’s minds. They will still recall Willian and Jena were in a relationship, but the stigma of a broken betrothal will not haunt them. The only way people will know about it is if they tell anyone. I suggest you don’t talk about it in Tuala so it will stay gone from everyone’s memories.”
“That’s good to know. I had no idea Jehoban would be such an active participant in the whole process.”
“So what are your plans with Willian? I guess it really means you’re going to be moving to Tuala. It would be hard for him to be an Elder if his wife were on Earth. You do know most people in Tuala don’t even believe Earth is real. Most of the Elders have gone to great length to let them think the old souls are dangerous individuals who should be turned over to them for the cleansing of our culture.”
“Isn’t it a contradiction then? How can Earth be a myth and old souls be a problem? Where do they think the old souls come from then?”
“I never thought about it in such a way! I don’t really know the answer! Wow, how funny. I guess I might be able to learn something about Tuala from your perspective being so different.”
Valentina grinned at the idea of them being able to compare notes. She was intensely relieved to know she had not ruined Willian’s or Jena’s lives simply by being in the wrong place at the right time. Things had worked out for all of them in the end.
Chapter Twenty-One
“DR. STEPHEN GASCON is here to see you, Dr. Medin,” the receptionist said over the intercom.
Jasmine cringed at the idea of meeting with her least favorite colleague. She had not known he was coming, and if she had, she would have found a way to be out of the office. Since she had worked with him years before, she had first-hand knowledge of his idea of patient treatment which she found completely unethical.
Her last contact with him had been when he had requested a meeting with her long-term coma patient, Amanda Covington. She had been shocked when he had even asked then considering how they had left things off when she quit working for him. It was her phone call to the medical board which had caused him to be placed under investigation.
After sighing in resignation, knowing he would only come back until he got his interview, she pressed the button on the intercom and said flatly, “Send him in.”
As if he had already been standing at the door it opened immediately, and the stern-faced man stalked into the room as if he owned it. Her dislike of him intensified as soon as he sat and began talking in his condescending tone.
“I hear you’re seeing a former patient of mine, Nealand Taivas.” He watched the woman across from him to see if she would give anything away.
“I’m sure you know I would never discuss any case with you, even if he were my patient. What is this visit really about, Dr. Gascon?” She kept her gaze steady and did not allow her finge
rs to fidget. She knew his methods too well to fall for any of his intimidation tactics.
“Well, if you were hypothetically seeing Nealand, I wanted to share with you my deep concern for his special case of psychosis. His extended captivity created a split personality of sorts, allowing his delusions to seem as though he had lived in an alternate dimension or another world. I believe he called the place “Tuala.” I simply wanted to make sure you were taking precautions for your safety when you meet with him. He is a young man with a lot of pent up frustrations. I know your aversion to drug therapy, but he really should be on a regimen of anti-psychosis drugs.”
“That sounds very interesting Dr. Gascon. I see you haven’t bothered to observe your discretion regarding doctor-patient confidentiality. If there’s nothing more, I really do have a lot of work to get done. Please see yourself out.” It was important for her to maintain a sense of professionalism when dealing with his kind. He took pleasure in making others uncomfortable, which was why she had chosen the dismissal tactic with him.
She knew a prolonged visit would only lead to him gleaning small pieces of information from her. She wanted him out of her office as fast as possible. As she pretended to be busy reading a chart on her computer screen, she tried to ignore the fact the other doctor had not made any move to leave. Suppressing a sigh of irritation, which would only make Dr. Gascon feel like he was getting to her, she asked in as bored of a tone as she could muster with her heart racing, “Is there something else?”
“There’s something about you which has changed. I’m just trying to figure out what it is.” Dr. Gascon shrugged like he was trying to be friendly.
Jasmine knew better than to fall for his act. “It’s called confidence. I no longer have to follow orders I don’t agree with. I treat my patients by dealing with their emotional issues by talking to them and not drugging them. You might give it a try yourself and see if your results improve. There, I’ve answered your curiosity about my difference. I do not have any additional time for socializing. I don’t believe we have any further need for conversation.”
Ascension Vision- The Levels of Ascension Box Set Page 71