by Robyn Steele
Chapter 19
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
When we arrived in Italy we went straight to the DaMonicos home, even though it was a long ride there after a long plane ride. The DaMonicos had their chauffeur pick us up so we could relax somewhat on the way home. We were just anxious to get to their home and we were tired of staying in hotels. Dad commented how nice it was to see the countryside again. When he was held captive he was never allowed to see outside his prison walls. Things had changed drastically in twelve years and it was going to take a lot to get used to it. It was still nice to enjoy the scenery along with his freedom. Maybe that’s the real reason we chose to go straight to their home. So dad could reacquaint himself with the country.
“So has a lot of things changed, Dad?” I asked him.
“You have no idea, mia cara. It’s almost culture shock for me. No, it is culture shock. The cars look different. The roads are different. Buildings have moved and more have been built. It’s surreal. I’m going to have to spend a lot of time catching up. Venice airport is so big and modernized. Luckily the old historical places are the same. Otherwise I would feel I was in the wrong place.” Dad chuckled.
“Not to mention how different we look to you.” I added.
“Most everyone looks the same except for you and Cruz. Teletrians don’t age that fast.”
“So how do you keep people from noticing?” I asked.
“Well, we don’t usually deal with outsiders on a personal level. Until now. You are the first to have a life with humans, Talli. This is a new dilemma we will have to deal with. We will probably have to move to another country where you will not see them.” Grandpa sadly informed me.
“I don’t like the sound of that.” I protested. “That means Brielle and Nate and all the people in Harrington will no longer be in my life! That’s horrible!”
“Well, that is not something you need to worry about yet.” Dad said. “You have a few years before you have to deal with that.”
“Somehow that does not make me feel any better.” I sulked.
“Look at it this way, Talli; if we had never moved to the states you would not have known them at all. Isn’t it better to have known them for a few years than not at all?” Momma proposed.
“When you put it that way it does seem a little different, but it will still be hard to deal with when the time comes.” I said.
“Life is hard. But isn’t it worth it?” Momma asked me.
“Well I guess if you’re going all philosophical on me, it is better than the alternative.” I joked. But she was right. I wouldn’t want to change knowing Brielle or Nate. That’s part of who I am. These life experiences make me who I am. I just need to find my own path through this extraordinary world.
I slept so well that night. The long plane ride and long car ride had exhausted me. Even though I have had more energy and could get by with less sleep since my abilities emerged, the last few weeks had all been exhausting physically and mentally and I was in need of some good R and R. I even slept in. It felt good just to relax and not be in hyper-vigilant mode for a while. I was soon going to be trying to find my brother and fight off the “bad guys” again. But for now I was just chillin’.
There was a balcony just off my bedroom that overlooked the ocean. Still in my pajamas, I wandered out onto it and lounged in the teak wood Adirondack chair. The sun warmed my skin as the morning breeze carried both the sea salt air and the promise of a bountiful harvest from the vineyards. The elements were arousing my senses as if I were one with them. It seemed like the grasses were whispering my name in a song and the birds were humming along.
I was awakening to my heritage. This was the part of me that belonged to grams and mommas people. The Earth was calling me to join them. I was meant to be here. I belonged with my people. I was not quite there, but I was close to where I was meant to be. I felt it in my soul. Maybe this was what destiny is. A path I am supposed to take. Or, a path that I am supposed to make. Not a life that is predestined, but a way of life that is the right way for me. Destiny held a whole new meaning for me. And I began to believe in destiny. Making my own path in the right direction. That’s what destiny means to me.
Cruz texted me to see if I was awake and to invite me to go down to breakfast on the veranda with him. The breakfast table was covered with all kinds of fruit, bagels, sweet rolls and juice. An arrangement of tropical flowers just flown in adorned the buffet. I took a stoneware plate and filled it with fruit and sat down at a small café style table across from Cruz.
“Did you sleep well, love?” Cruz asked me as he reached for my hand. The familiar zing pierced my soul as if it was recharging my battery.
“Oh yeah! It was so nice. I could have slept another four hours except I have work to do. How ‘bout you?”
“Perfect.” He answered. Then kitchen staff came to our table and asked us if we would be wanting any breakfast or brunch this morning. I was perfectly satisfied with the food that was here so I told her no. Cruz ordered some crepes.
“I really want to explore the side of me that is from my mom’s family.” I told Cruz. Then I waited for a response. I wanted to see his reaction. He sat his fork down and settled back into his chair as if he was giving some serious thought to my declaration.
After a long pause he took my hand and looked at me seriously. “Does this exploring mean going to their village for a while?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“I think I should go with you, for protection.”
“I don’t know if that’s necessary. I think between my abilities and their abilities I would be alright there and I don’t think the kidnappers would follow me there.”
“I see. You really don’t want me to go, then.” He looked disappointed.
“It’s not that I don’t want you to go. I want you with me all the time.” I confessed. “I just don’t know how they would accept you since you are not of their race. I hate the bigotries that exist, but I can’t deny that they do exist.”
“I understand your reasons but I’m not real comfortable with you not having protection.” Cruz protested.
“I will make sure I am never alone. I will be with family who can watch for anything or anybody unusual. I will keep in touch every day and let you know what’s happening. I just had an epiphany this morning and I feel that I need to be there. I think learning about this part of my heritage will help me find my brother. I’m not sure why, but I feel there is a reason.”
“Have you told this to your parents?” Cruz asked. I think he was trying to find a way to change my mind.
“No, I haven’t seen them yet this morning. I was going to talk to them as soon as I see them.” After breakfast I went in search of my parents and found them on the beach. I told them of my intentions and received the same response I had from Cruz. However I was persistent. Momma didn’t want to leave my dad after having lived without him for so long and dad wanted to stay with the DaMonicos and search for my brother. They decided that grams would accompany me to the village. She could introduce me to people and teach me their ways and also help protect me.
So it was agreed that grams and I would go spend some time at her village and momma and dad would stay with the DaMonicos, as well as Cruz. I packed for a long stay because I had no idea how long I would be there. When I said goodbye to Cruz I was torn between wanting to stay with him and wanting to be where I thought I should be. “I promise to call and text every day and we will meet up once in a while outside the village.” I consoled both of us. It did little to ease Cruz” fears for my safety and little to ease the way I was going to miss him. But it would have to suffice for now.
Grams and I decided to rent a car to take to the village. I was filled with many emotions. I was
excited to learn more about grams people and I was curious about how they would accept me, and a little worried about that. Grams assured me there would be many who would accept me, even though some would not. Not much different than the world I grew up in. I guess they weren’t much different here after all. One thing I was sure of, I would soon find out. I was determined to stick this out no matter what.
We contacted Aunt Cat before we left and made arrangements to stay with her. She was happy to have us there and there were no hotels in that village. When we arrived at her house she had a welcoming committee there. Caio and Mitra and their two children were there. Concetta and Antonio and their daughter were there as well. Aunt Cat had also invited her and friends Tizio and Lucia. She felt strongly that she could trust them and they lived close by so they could help keep watch for anything suspicious. She also invited, at grams request, grams childhood friend Giovanna and her husband Necko. Grams felt that Giovanna could be trusted. She had actually kept in touch with her all through the years.
We spent the evening getting to know each other casually. These people would become my support system while I was there. I would get to know them much more over time. I really liked aunt Cat’s daughter Concetta. She reminded me a lot of momma. We formed an instant bond. I already knew her son Caio, he had helped out a lot when we were searching for my dad. His wife Mitra was nice and their daughter Mila was my age. We found in spite of the geographical and cultural differences, we had a lot in common. We were going to become good friends. Aunt Cat’s grandchildren were all about my age so they were going to show me around the village.
After all the guests left aunt Cat showed us to our rooms. But I was not tired so I came back down to the kitchen where aunt Cat was having her chamomile tea. “Would you like some?” She asked when I walked in. She poured me a cup and then asked me what was on my mind. She was very intuitive. “I hear you are a healer. That is a great honor, you know. Do not take it lightly.”
“I don’t plan to.” I said. “That’s sort of why I’m here. I feel a need to connect with this people. I can’t explain it, I just feel something.”
“Yes, of course you do. That is a natural instinct since you are a healer.” Aunt Cat explained.
“Do you know other healers?” I asked.
“Of course. We use them often. We only have one at a time so I have only known two in my life.”
“Could I meet the one?” I asked.
“I could arrange that. When you are ready I will contact her.”
“Is it always a ‘her’? Or do men ever become healers.” I wondered. “What is expected of a healer? Do I have to live here for the rest of my life, being a healer?”
“My, my you are full of questions, aren’t you?” Aunt Cat chuckled. “First of all, you do not have to do anything. That is entirely up to you. You are a free agent. And usually it is a woman that is a healer. I’ve only heard of women healers. But there isn’t a rule against men being healers. I think it’s just that all women have a natural tendency to heal or nurture or care for others. I think that is why it is women that become healers. As far as what is expected, it’s up to you. You will be summoned to heal people and hopefully you will respond.”
“Why did I become a healer?” I asked her.
“I can’t tell you. You may understand that someday. I can’t say when or how.”
“It seems very mysterious. I feel inept.”
“You will grow into it. You are definitely not inept. You must have something in you that is connected to healing for it to develop in you.” Aunt Cat explained. “Never underestimate yourself, Talitha.”
“Thanks Aunt Cat. That helps me a lot. Since I didn’t grow up in this culture, everything is new to me. I did feel incompetent for this life. I felt competent for what I was used to, but not this. Thank you. I will remember this.” I gave her a hug and told her goodnight, then went to my room. My cell phone rang.
“Cruz! I’m so glad you called. Things are really going great here. I think my aunt will help me a lot.” I told him when I answered.
“O k a y.” He dragged out the word. “You didn’t miss me?”
“No, not at all.” I teased. “Of course I did! I’m just excited to talk to people that can help me develop my other abilities. I really wished you were here to share this with me…”
“Great! I’m on my way!” He interrupted.
“However, I can’t risk it. Sorry.” I finished.
“Darn! I thought you had changed your mind. Well, I guess I will just have to settle for a rendezvous in Rome this weekend. What do you say? Could we do that?”
“I think that could be arranged. I would like that, a lot.”
“It’s a date then. I just wanted to say goodnight and I miss you and see how things are going. Sounds like they are going good. Too bad for me but good for you and you already know that what is important to you is important to me, so I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. For the support.” I said. We talked for a few minutes and then said our goodbyes and I went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. I wanted to get up early.
Chapter 20
"Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the Divine." Ludwig van Beethoven
