by C J Benjamin
“You were out voted remember? Jovi is coming with us,” Journey added without stopping what he was doing.
He wasn’t taking me seriously, so I pushed myself in between him and his pack.
“I don’t care about the stupid vote! I’m the Eva and I don’t think it’s a good idea, Journey,” I challenged.
“Well, it’s a little late now, Geneva,” he said. “Bottom line is if we’re taking Quin, we’re taking Jovi. No one else can control that wex like she can and she’s our only way of communicating with the Betos.”
As if on cue, Quin came barreling at us. Journey, tried to get out of her way, but she changed course, narrowly darting through his muscular legs, tripping him up. He grumbled as he picked himself off the ground and brushed the moss angrily off his knees. He narrowed his eyes at me and said, “The kid’s coming with us.” Then he turned to Jovi and said, “Don’t make me regret this, kid. Get that wex under control.”
“Yes sir!” Jovi said and she sprang into action, running after Quin.
I was out of sorts for the rest of the day. It seemed that the sun was refusing to set as time dragged on inside our hot little tent. We’d already had dinner and gone over the plan too many times. No matter what I said or who I pleaded with, the verdict remained the same; it seemed that Jovi was coming with us. It turned out that there really was nowhere else for her to go. The Betos decided to remain disbanded until we made it to the Troian Center. That meant the only people left at camp would be Vida and Jaka. Everyone argued that Jovi was safer with us since there were more of us to protect her.
I sat, legs folded, brow furrowed, on the edge of our cramped tent. Eja was reading the Book of Secrets aloud again, describing the characteristics of the four Pillars that we would be looking for. We’d been over this dozens of times since we found the book and I knew it would reveal nothing new.
“I’ve gotta get some air,” I said suddenly standing and exiting the tent.
I instantly felt better once I got outside. It was cooler and quieter. I felt like I was suffocating in there with all the thoughts and emotions of my friends running through my head. I welcomed Niv when he crawled into my lap.
“You like it better out here too, huh, little buddy?” I murmured scratching him between the ears.
He chattered gratefully as I continued to pet him and soak up the silent serenity of the rainforest.
I groaned when I heard someone push though the tent flaps thinking it was either Remi or Nova checking on me. To my relief it was Sparrow who sat down. She quietly watched the sun sinking below the canopy of lush trees without speaking a word. I always appreciated her company. She had a knack for reading my moods and was happy to sit quietly with me.
When the sunlight was merely a faint afterglow, she reached over and squeezed my hand.
“It’s going to be okay. I know we’re one big dysfunctional family and all, but we’ve got each other’s backs.” She smiled.
“Thanks, Sparrow,” I replied. “And thanks for cleaning up my mess from yesterday.”
“What do you mean?”
“Vida said you healed all our wounds from the thistle palm thorns. She was giving you a lot of well-deserved praise.”
“She was?” Sparrow asked perking up.
“Yeah. And she’s right. You’ve really come into your own out here. You’re a great healer and a really great friend. I’m sorry that I probably don’t tell you that enough. I hope you know how much I appreciate you. I should probably tell everyone how much they each mean to me before tomorrow,” I sulked glumly.
“Geneva, it’s going to be okay. Don’t worry about tomorrow, we all know what’s at stake and you have to know you didn’t force us into this. We want to fight alongside of you. And that’s because we all know how much you care about us,” she smiled putting a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks, Sparrow. When did you become so grown up? I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks, Geneva. I’m proud of all of us. I think we’ve all come a long way.”
I forced myself to return her smile, but couldn’t help thinking how we still had such a long way to go.
55
“Why are you wasting my time showing me random thoughts that are running around her head? What do I care about the mundane musings of a teenage girl?”
“Because, Master, look. She’s frightened, and if we pay attention, we can see her biggest fears and use them against her.”
“Can you implant fears into her head to use against her later?” the dark haired man asked deviously.
“Yes, of course, Master, but I don’t think we need to. She’s already terrified of her destiny and of us.”
“Kobel, I don’t employ you to think, I employ you to execute my wishes.”
“Yes, Master,” Kobel cowered.
“Besides, the mercenaries are closing in. Why should they have all the fun? What’s a few more nightmares for good measure?” he laughed.
“As you wish, Master.”
56
After a long and sleepless night full of terrifying nightmares, it was finally time to make our way back to the Troian Center. The air seemed to hum with the electric anticipation of the long awaited moment. I found myself shaking out pins and needles of anxiety that pulsed through me as I dressed. The feeling was both ominous and exciting. Either way, I felt relieved to finally be doing something productive. I was ready to face my destiny. No matter what the voyage back would bring, at least it was better to confront it head on, instead of waiting for evil to come find us.
We departed camp before daybreak, following Mali to the Bellamorf tree, with Talon bringing up the rear. Our mood was tense and no one spoke as we crept single file through the forest. The dew still lay heavy in the air, adding a chill to the already eerie pre-dawn trek. The forest was still asleep as we moved through it with stealth. The twilight hours were when the night creatures were returning to their roosts, while the diurnal species had yet to wake. The quiet glow of dawn was growing as we caught our first glimpse of a Bellamorf tree looming majestically ahead of us.
After inspecting the tree, Mali waved us forward and helped us climb into its tangled limbs where we took shelter from the cool morning air, awaiting the signal that it was time to morf.
“All right, it’s almost time,” Talon said looking toward the brightening horizon. “As soon as the sun breaks we’re going to morf. Everyone link hands and follow Mali. I’ll be right behind you.”
We nodded and reached for each other. A tense tingle buzzed through me as we linked hands. I found myself wondering how this group of tragic teens had been selected to save an entire civilization. It was quite a tall order for a ragtag group of orphans.
The horizon was ablaze with a bright orange glow as the sun began to crest above the trees. The Bellamorf tree sprung to life, beginning to shake and groan as leaves swirled in the powerful wind that Talon summoned.
“Get ready!” he called over the sound of rustling leaves. “Now!” he yelled as the fiery yellow ball of sunlight burst over the canopy, bathing the forest in light.
Success! We landed in the next Bellamorf tree—some more gracefully than others. I, of course, was one of the clumsy ones, narrowly managing to regain my balance and stay on my feet with the help of Remi steadying me. I smiled my gratitude at him and he shrugged and smiled back. Just another day in his life as my best friend.
Talon landed above us moments later. He and Mali exchanged some sort of hand signals that only they understood and then directed us to climb out of the tree. It was hard work since we couldn’t use any of our powers to assist us. That would have been a dead giveaway, sure to draw the Ravinori, but I really missed being able to bound down the massive trees effortlessly. By the time we reached the ground, I was covered in splinters and sweat.
I surveyed my friends—everyone looked a little worse for wear. I was starting to worry about this plan. Traveling by morfing was no easy task and this was only our first jump.
&nbs
p; “Great job everyone. A dozen or so more jumps just like that and we’ll be at the edge of the forest in no time,” I encouraged.
“We have a lot of morfing ahead of us,” Talon said. “Let’s keep moving.”
Everything went according to plan for the next few hours. We hiked and climbed our way through the forest. Morfing where we could and hiking between expanses that were too large to jump. Talon and Mali were keeping watch, always scouting the area before letting us move on. They were so vigilant that I actually tried to relax for a while and enjoy the simple beauty of the forest and the company of my friends. Although we were moving with care, I had a strange foreboding feeling in the pit of my stomach that this may be the last time I could relish such happiness.
I tried to fight my ominous thoughts as I watched the sunlight filtering in from high above the rainforest canopy, casting dust moats for us to pass through. I found myself wishing we could remain encapsulated in their stillness. I envied the world of slow motion, longing to somehow dwell within its suspended safety, instead of the rapidly changing reality I lived in. I shook myself from my trance and zeroed in on Jovi. The decision to let her join us still haunted me. She was so young and so innocent. I would never forgive myself if I let anything happen to her. I stared after her as she added a skip to every few steps to keep up with the others. She was still barefoot, despite having made herself shoes upon her mother’s insistence. Her long brown hair was already escaping the neat braid Vida had put it in. The good news was, Quin was actually obediently jogging at her side for a change.
“She’ll be all right,” Remi said from behind me, reading my thoughts as only a best friend could.
I paused for a beat to let him come along side me.
“She’s so young, Remi. I don’t want to drag her into the mess that we left at the Troian Center.”
“She’s tough. She can handle it. Besides, I’m pretty sure if we hadn’t let her come, she would have followed Quin back to us after we sent word to the Betos that we’d arrived at the Center. It’s probably safer for her this way.”
I looked at the tan, energetic girl bouncing in front of me and smiled, realizing Remi was probably right. She was staying in line with the group and urging Quin to do the same so none of us would have anything to say about bringing her along. I smiled as I watched the tiny girl marching, fearlessly, into our unknown future. I hated that this was her reality, but I knew having her nearby would continually inspire me to fulfill my destiny. I sighed and linked my arm with Remi’s, squeezing it to thank him for making me feel better.
“You doing all right with your pack?” he asked.
“Yes, thanks. It’s fine.”
“Okay, well let me know if it gets too heavy. I’m going to catch up to Journey and find out how far we are from the next tree.”
I nodded to him and watched as he picked his way past the others to the front of our group. Chivalrous Remi. Hmm . . . this was new. There were a lot of new things I was starting to notice about him. Maybe being out in the forest agreed with him, like it did Sparrow. His skin wasn’t so pale anymore and lean muscles now rippled just below his healthy, tanned skin. He seemed more confident too. It looked good on him, I thought with a smile.
Sparrow interrupted my musings.
“What are you smirking about?” she asked.
“Oh nothing,” I lied when she broke my concentration.
She was carrying Niv, who was defiantly living on our shoulders to show his protest for Quin joining our group. He chattered and leapt to my shoulder when Sparrow was close enough.
“Oh, Niv, come on. Quin’s not that bad.” I laughed as I scratched him under the chin. “Look, she’s following Jovi very obediently.”
Niv squeaked his disagreement and disappeared into my pack. Sparrow and I both giggled.
“So do you think we’ll be able to find them all?” Sparrow asked. “The others Pillars?”
“I do. We all found each other somehow and I truly believe we were meant to. Together, with all of our individual skills and powers, we’ll have everything we need to find the others and help them.”
“How do you do it? How do you stay so confident and positive?” she asked shyly.
“Truthfully?” I asked. “I learned that from you, Sparrow.”
She beamed back at me and gave me a quick hug. When she released me, I could see the sparkle had returned to her amber eyes. I couldn’t put my finger on it before, but I knew there was something off, but now that it was back, it was obvious. The gravity of our situation was weighing on her too.
“Thanks, Eva. I think I needed that.”
“You’re welcome, Sparrow. I meant it. You’ve always been there for me and you’ve helped boost me up when I thought we were a lost cause so many times in the last year. You’re a great friend, so I’m happy to return the favor.”
“I am a pretty great friend,” she joked, the joy evident in her larky voice.
“We’re more than friends. We’re sisters, remember?” I said laughing with her.
“That’s right!” Sparrow chirped.
“Too bad you’re not my real sister,” I sighed as I fixed my gaze on the back of Jemma’s perfect raven mane swaying down her tan flawless back. Nova was already carrying her pack.
“What’s going on with you two?” Sparrow asked.
“Which two?” I sighed, thinking how Sparrow could have been referring to either Jemma or Nova.
It seemed I couldn’t make up my mind about either of them these days.
Sparrow laughed, “Well I was referring to Jemma.”
“I don’t know. Honestly I haven’t talked to her much since I gave her half my powers. It’s too painful to see her and Nova together. She knows I like him and she obviously doesn’t care. I don’t even want to bother with her. I have too many other important things to worry about, besides my backstabbing sister.”
“So you’re not even going to fight for Nova?” replied Sparrow sounding shocked.
“Why bother? It’s Jemma. I mean look at her. What boy would choose me over her?”
“Seriously?” Sparrow squealed. “You don’t give yourself enough credit and you’re not trying to get any boy to like you. We’re talking about Nova! He’s crazy about you! You two are destined to be together. Like star-crossed lovers . . .” she exaggerated, quoting a play we had read once.
“Oh stop,” I said, playfully shoving her. “You really think he likes me?”
“Please! He loves you. You really don’t have any idea how the boys look at you, do you?”
“Boys?” I asked.
“Yes, boys. Nova and Remi in particular.”
“Oh, right. Remi,” I said suddenly embarrassed, thinking back to our kiss.
“So what are you going to do, Eva?”
“I don’t know, Sparrow. It really doesn’t matter, does it? I’m the Eva, and not to mention the Ponte deorum, so it’s not like I’ll really have time to have a love life anyway. I’m sure I’m going to be spending all my time trying to dodge Ravinori hunters and just stay alive.”
“Maybe that’s true, but isn’t that even more reason to live in the now? You need to enjoy every second. Take it all in and spend your time with the people you care about most.”
She was starting to sound like Remi, but I nodded, knowing she was right. It awoke an ache in my heart as I stared at Nova’s tan muscular back.
“So who is it you want to be with, Eva?”
It was Nova. It had always been Nova. But my heart protested itself, remembering the searing pain of seeing Nova and Jemma together, along with all the warnings from Vida and the legends.
“It’s Nova, but . . .”
“But nothing. Just talk to him! For once, just tell him how you feel. If any two people need to talk it’s you two!”
“It’s not that simple. You heard the legend . . .”
“Geneva, even a legend can’t keep you two apart if you’re both honest with each other.”
“You’re righ
t,” I sighed. “But not right now. I’ll talk to him tonight when we camp. I don’t want Jemma around or anyone else overhearing us.”
“That’s probably a good plan. I can try to distract her to give you two some time to talk if you want?” Sparrow offered.
“That would be great!” I said, but I still felt uneasy. “You really think he likes me over Jemma?” I asked.
“Absolutely.”
“It just seems like he spends a lot of time with her.”
“Whatever his reasons, I’m sure that you’re the one he loves.”
I smiled at Sparrow as my spirits lifted with her confidence in Nova’s feelings for me.
Sparrow and I walked side-by-side in silence for a while, but I kept getting the feeling that our conversation wasn’t over. She wanted to ask me something more and finally she did.
“So you really don’t have any feelings for Remi?” she asked.
“I mean it’s complicated. I love him, but in more of a brotherly way, I guess. I’ve known him forever. He’s my best friend. It’s a different kind of love.”
“So you wouldn’t be mad if he wanted to date someone else?” she asked timidly.
“Like who?” I asked caught off guard. But I never got the answer to that question.
57
Talon signaled to Mali and we halted.
My stomach plummeted and my heart started pounding. I could hear a dim roar in the distance. Was something wrong? Had the Ravinori found us? We all instinctively crouched while Talon scoped out the threat. He was only gone a moment, but time seemed to stretch into an endless abyss. I protectively watched over Jovi and my friends, their eyes wide with alert and fear.
“All clear,” rang Talon’s voice, shattering the tense silence.
I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and stood.
“We’re at the vine bridge. The last Bellamorf tree before we make camp is just on the other side of the ravine. We’ll need to cross one at a time because I don’t know how well the old vines will hold. We haven’t crossed this boundary since the Flood.”
