by C J Benjamin
Blackness.
When I opened my eyes, Nova’s face was inches from mine. Relief instantly washed over him, changing his expression back to the handsome, charming one he’d worn when I’d first met him. He kissed my face all over—my forehead, my cheeks, my fluttering eyelids and finally my lips. I drank in the sweetness of his affection, craving it when he pulled away.
“Tippy, oh thank gods you’re okay.”
“What happened?” I mumbled, feeling sluggish with sleep.
“It doesn’t matter. I was wrong. I was wrong about all of it. We need to be together. I can see that now. Being apart will do us no good, but we have to leave here. We have to leave right now!”
“Leave? Where will we go? What about the legend and history repeating itself?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I need you to come with me right now.”
I followed Nova out of the tent and into the night. We ran through the forest until we reached a spot where he’d hidden a horse. He lifted me up onto its back and then mounted behind me.
“Wait. Nova, where are we going? Are we really leaving? What about our friends?”
“They can’t come with us, Tippy. It can only be us. This is our time and it’s about time we put ourselves first for once.”
“But —”
Sensing my doubt, he wrapped his arms around me and whispered into my ear. “Your life will always be filled with uncertainty, Tippy. At some point you have to take a risk. You have to trust in love and fate and me. I want someone to face this crazy life with. I want to face it with you. Together.”
I was spellbound and I nodded, knowing I’d follow him anywhere. He kissed me as my heart did cartwheels inside my chest. With that he heeled the horse and we galloped away into the darkness.
After putting a good distance between us and the Beto camp, Nova pulled up our steed. He was spent and we were all in need of some rest, so we found a quiet opening in the forest canopy to bed down for the night. We left the horse to graze on the dew damp grass, while Nova spread a blanket out in the sodden meadow to protect us from the chill of night. The air was cool, but sweet and alive with dancing lava pixies and the song of the night creatures.
My heart was pounding as I sat down on the blanket. I’d never done something so bold. We had no plan. We abandoned our friends and family, and my destiny, but I’d never felt so alive.
“Nova, what changed your mind? I thought you said you were no good for me?”
“Well, we proved we’re no good apart either and I will not sit by and watch you suffer. I was a fool to think we could be apart,” he said gazing down at me, the stars of the night sky surrounding his beautiful silhouette. “I can’t be without you, any more than I can be without air.”
“But the legend,” I whispered as he closed the space between us, touching his lips to mine.
“What about it?” he said between kisses.
“There’ll be consequences.”
“Let the heavens fall for all I care. As long as I’m with you, I’m happy,” he grinned.
My heart shuddered with glee. Nova was saying every word I’d ever wished to hear. I couldn’t stop smiling as he kissed and embraced me on the soft meadow floor.
“But if this ever isn’t what you want . . . if you get tired of being on the run with me, just say the words and we can go back,” he said as I breathlessly stared into his vivid green eyes.
“Never,” was all I said as I pulled him closer, until he blocked out the light of the moon and stars and all I saw was him as I drifted into the happiest moment of my life thus far.
42
I awoke well rested. I stretched my stiff limbs and yawned in the warm sunlight that cradled my aching body. When my sleepy eyes finally focused on my new surroundings I balked, sitting bolt upright.
“Good, you’re awake,” Remi said smiling down at me.
“Remi?” I asked in utter confusion. “But . . . I thought . . . Where’s Nova?”
“Hold on, I’ve gotta get Eja. Don’t move.”
Remi ran from the tent, leaving me alone to contemplate how I’d gotten here. The last thing I remembered was Nova . . . My cheeks flushed as my mind was flooded with the memories of Nova and I escaping together to spend the night in the forest, on the run from our lives and problems. But how did I end up back here at the Beto camp?
I stood up, ignoring Remi’s orders and peeked my head out of the tent. We were in the same place I remembered fleeing last night. My head felt so hazy and my balance faltered. I was stumbling back to the hammock, when Eja and Remi came into the tent. They both helped steady me so I could sit down.
“I told you not to move,” Remi scolded.
“What happened last night?” I asked looking at both of them. “My mind is so foggy and I thought . . .” I trailed off. “I don’t remember how I got here.”
Remi looked at me sadly. “You passed out again last night. I think you were having visions. It was sort of like you were possessed. You got up and were sleepwalking or something. You kept trying to get to Nova and when we tried to stop you, you started screaming and thrashing around, and your nose was bleeding badly. Vida had to give you something to stop it,” he said, looking apologetic.
“What?” I asked feeling crushed.
Was any of what happened last night real? Did I dream it? Was it a vision or a cruel hallucination? I should have known it was all too good to be true, but it had felt so real. My heart was in my throat and my head was pounding.
“Where’s Nova?” I asked again, trying to catch my breath. “I need to talk to him.”
Remi looked uncomfortable and didn’t reply.
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“Geneva, we need you to remain calm,” Eja said.
“What aren’t you telling me? Is he hurt?” I cried getting to my feet unsteadily. I took a step and nearly collapsed, but Remi moved quickly and caught me.
“No, Eva, he’s fine. The chief just doesn’t want him to see you right now.”
“What?” I screeched in outrage. “Why?”
“You two were talking last night right before you passed out. We’re not sure if he did something to upset you, so the chief is just being cautious. He’s trying to keep you calm until we can help you.”
“Nova didn’t do anything!” I yelled. “He’s not dangerous. He’s not Kull!”
“My Eva, please calm down. You are probably still feeling the effects of the sleeping potion we gave you. We need you to remain calm. It should wear off shortly,” Eja assured me.
“You drugged me?” I whispered, astonished as I looked from Eja to Remi.
“It wasn’t like that,” Remi said, unable to mask his devastation. “We were trying to help you.”
“In the meantime, the chief is on his way to see you. He says it’s imperative that you share your powers with Jemma right now. We can’t wait any longer,” Eja interjected.
“No! I’m not ready. I don’t trust her,” I argued feeling defensive.
“I’m afraid you don’t have the luxury of time,” Jaka said as he entered the tent with my sister by his side.
“Hello, my Eva, I’m glad you are awake and I’m sorry that we had to drug you last night, but I’m sure Eja explained it was for your own good. You’re powers are overwhelming you. We cannot wait any longer. You are in danger of being consumed by all the power you possess.”
“But—” I started.
“Trying to contain all of them is making you a beacon for the Ravinori. If you share your powers with Jemma, it’ll hopefully throw them off your trail, protecting us all. That’s what you want, isn’t it?” Jaka asked.
He was right, but I felt cornered. I didn’t trust my back stabbing sister one bit, but that didn’t seem to matter to anyone. So I tried a different tactic.
“What if my powers are too much for Jemma? Isn’t anyone concerned for her safety?”
Her eyes got big and she turned to the chief.
“They won’t hurt me, will they?”
“When she shared her healing power with you, it didn’t hurt, did it?”
“No . . .”
“Well then there’s no reason to believe this will be any different.”
I could see the chief wasn’t going to let up.
“Fine! Let’s just get this over with,” I muttered. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’d like you to share each one of your powers with your sister. One at a time, please, and slowly, to make sure she can handle them.”
I walked over to Jemma and looked into her dark, conniving eyes. Her lips twitched up as she tried to suppress a triumphant smirk. It killed me that she was getting everything she wanted. My powers, my boyfriend . . . and she didn’t have to suffer any of the consequences. I raised my hands and clamped them down hard on her shoulders. She did the same.
“Are you ready?” I asked begrudgingly.
“Of course,” she smiled sweetly.
“It may hurt. Are you sure you can handle it?”
“If you can handle it, I can handle it.”
“Fine. Just remember you asked for this.”
“Bring it on, Sis,” she smirked coyly. “Oh, and since I heard the notion of you and Nova being an item is off the table, I’d prefer you share that nifty little Empath power of yours first. I’d love to know what he’s feeling inside that pretty head of his.”
I gawked at her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”
In that moment, as the rage coursed through my veins, I decided I was going to make sharing my powers with Jemma as difficult and painful as possible.
I dug my nails into her skin and closed my eyes, channeling all my energy, anger and power toward my sister and I didn’t stop. Not even when she buckled and screamed out in pain. Not when my nose started bleeding again and Remi looked like he was going to jump out of his skin. I kept going, until finally the tightness in my chest and the buzzing in my ears diminished.
I released Jemma’s trembling arms and she fully collapsed to the ground. Small droplets of blood were oozing from where I dug my nails in. I felt sick. Bile quickly and unexpectedly rose up from my gut and I rushed from the tent to heave the contents of my stomach.
I sat outside the tent for a long time, listening to Jemma groan and cry. Niv crawled into my lap and I scooped him up, burying my face into his soft fur. I felt awful. I couldn’t believe that I let such hatred take hold of me. I was frightened of myself. Maybe the chief was right, maybe I was beginning to be consumed by my own powers. At least I prayed that was the case. I would have never thought I could hurt someone. But as I formed the thought, Greeley’s face filled my mind and I found myself vomiting again.
I felt a cool hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Eja standing over me.
“It is done,” he said.
“What does that mean? Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes, your sister is very strong. Vida has given her something to help her sleep, but she should be fine by morning.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her like that. I—” I stopped short and let my head drop in shame.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s a lie. I think I did mean to hurt her. I was thinking about how angry she makes me and how unfair this all is and I wanted her to suffer, just like I suffer. But I lost control . . . I’m no good at this. I should never have been chosen to be the Eva.”
“That’s not true, my Eva. You’ve done more good than you know,” Eja said.
“Like what?”
“Like this.”
I looked up to see what he was talking about. He was pointing to his chest. His marks were still there. The tattoos remained.
“Oh, Eja! It worked!”
He smiled. “It seems you were right. We are a family after all. You’ve made me a legitimate member of the Beto society, Geneva, and that means the world to me. I will always owe you my deepest gratitude.”
I perked up a bit and returned his smile. “So you owe me, huh? Enough to let me talk to Nova?”
“My Eva . . .”
“Please, Eja. I need to talk to him. I’m so confused about what I remember from last night. I need to know what was real and what wasn’t. Besides, I shared my powers with Jemma. I should be able to control myself now, right?”
He nodded slowly.
“What better way to test it, than seeing if Nova and I can have a normal conversation?”
“You make a good point,” he said. He looked over his shoulder. Camp was deserted. Everyone was occupied in the tent with Jemma. “Come on,” Eja said.
43
Kobel’s eyes flew open wide and he gasped for air.
“What is it, Kobel? Did it work?”
Kobel ran to the table, where the Book of Gods lay open. He stared at it, panic washing the remaining color from his age-creased face. After a moment of watching the empty page before him, he slowly pulled his brimless white cap from his head, mashing it against his chest, defeated.
“I’ve lost her, Master.”
“What do you mean? Did she stop using her powers? Is she blocking you somehow?”
“No, Master. I mean she may have been gravely injured.”
“What?” he growled. “What did you do?”
“I don’t know. I may have pushed too hard. But it was working. She was responding to me, but then suddenly, nothing. It’s like she just vanished. Everything went dark and now, the little bit of power that was still pulsing, pulling me toward hers . . . it’s almost nonexistent. And not like before, when she’d just stopped using her powers. This time it feels different, more permanent. Like her powers are at half life, or expiring.”
“You fool! You ruined everything!” he thundered, grabbing Kobel by the throat and lifting him off of the floor with one hand. “We needed the Eva alive and with her powers!” he hissed into the old man’s face as he pushed him against the stone wall with crushing force. Kobel’s legs twitched as he struggled. One of his sandals came off, skittering to the floor while Kobel sputtered for air.
“Master . . . we can still complete the ritual without her,” he managed to squeak out.
“How?” he asked, letting Kobel fall to the floor in a heap of white robes.
“We only need the Pillars. We can draw enough power from sacrificing them to do what we need.”
“And just how do you suppose we find them without her? She was a descendant of the goddess Zophia. We needed her help to track them down and her blood to bind the spell!”
“She has a sister. They share the same blood. The Eva has already located the fire Pillar. We only have to find the other three. I’m thinking we can use the sister for that as well.”
“I don’t care whose blood we have to spill, but we will complete the ritual! Dispatch the rest of the mercenaries. Surround the forest and flush them out.”
44
“Hey,” I whispered, causing Nova to jump.
I thought he’d heard me come up behind him, but he must’ve been lost in thought. I watched as a mix of emotions rapidly washed over his perfect features. He looked surprised and happy to see me, like he was going to reach out and hug me, but then a dark, sadness stopped him and the familiar light in his eyes clouded over.
“You shouldn’t be here,” was all he said as he leaned back against the tree he was near, hunching his shoulders.
“No, it’s okay. I’m okay now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I shared my powers with Jemma,” I said, mustering up as much excitement as I could, given how against it I’d been.
He shook his head and laughed. “I didn’t think you’d do it. What do I know though?”
“You know a lot. You know I didn’t want to do it. But what choice did I have?” When he didn’t reply I added, “But I do feel a bit better.”
Nova just kept looking down.
“Nova,” I said, reaching out to touch his arm.
He recoiled away f
rom me like I was poison.
“Don’t! Don’t touch me, Geneva, it’s not safe. I’m not safe.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Last night. I let you go and . . . and . . .” his eyes grew darker. There were deep shadows under them like he hadn’t slept. “The chief doesn’t think it’s a good idea for us to be alone together after what happened last night.”
“What about what I want?”
He still wouldn’t look at me.
“Will you at least tell me what happened last night?”
Still nothing.
“I would like to know what I imagined and what was real.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I remember talking to you and deciding . . .” I trailed off. It was too hard to get into it again. My heart wasn’t strong enough after all the wounds I’d inflicted lately. “We decided I should just focus on finding the Pillars. I remember being sad and hugging you, and then . . .” I trailed off again.
“Then what?”
“I think I imagined the rest. I think I had a vision or hallucination or my mind just made up its own reality since the truth was too much to take. I dreamt that we ran away together and we never looked back. We said to hell with all of these legends and prophecies and we just took off.”
Nova was looking at me now. It was as if I was watching his heartbreak all over again. It seemed worse now in the daylight, without the cloak of night to soften his despair. He looked like he wanted to reach out to me so badly, but he didn’t. I could see the wall go back up, closing me off from his vulnerability and true feelings.
“That’s not what happened, Tippy. You collapsed. You were convulsing, having some sort of seizure I think. You were screaming and I couldn’t get you to calm down. Your nose was gushing and you were choking on it. I was trying to help you, but you kept screaming at me like you didn’t even know me. Talon came and got you. He carried you back to camp and Vida treated you. She gave you something to calm you down. I don’t know what happened after that. They wouldn’t let me in the tent. Mali and Journey stood outside my tent all night like they thought I was going to do something to hurt you,” he said sounding hurt. “Later that night Sparrow said you got up and were looking for me. She said you were in a trance and trying to find me. Vida didn’t want to wake you. She said it could be dangerous. But you started to wander away from camp so they had to stop you. You were deranged beyond reason and they had to drug you again. That’s all I know. They don’t want me near you and they’re probably right.”
