"No," Max replied in a matter-of-fact voice.
Caeli was surprised at the answer. She assumed Max would be excited to tell her his favorite story.
"Why not?"
"You won't like that story right now. I can tell you another story," he offered enthusiastically.
"My heart was set on hearing about the Sea Goddesses. You promised to tell me. Why don't you tell me the beginning of the story?" Caeli suggested. Max thought about it for a moment and finally agreed.
"Ok. This man wanted to be a Papa, but his pretty lady could not be a Mama and could not grow a baby. One day, the pretty lady went down to the water to talk to the Sea Queen. Everybody knew that the Sea Queen helped people if they paid her."
"That doesn't sound too bad. I suppose if the lady wanted a baby that badly, she would be willing to give anything for it," Caeli commented, not really expecting Max to understand such a concept. Salma once confided to Caeli that her one wish in life was that she could have a child. Now in her late forties, Salma finally found the perfect father for that child, but it would take a small miracle for such a thing to happen. Instead, Salma frequently dropped none-too-subtle hints to Caeli about how much she would enjoy being a great aunt.
"The Sea Queen agreed to help the pretty lady get a baby. She told the pretty lady about a secret place where the sea brought babies every time the moon was a big circle in the sky. If the pretty lady took the Papa there at the right time, then they would get a baby, and they could be a Papa and a Mama."
"And did she take her man to the secret place? Did she get her baby?"
"Yes. She got a baby boy and was very happy," Max smiled up at Caeli.
"I like this story, Max. It's a happy story. What did the pretty lady end up paying for her baby?"
Max sat quietly a minute before he answered. Caeli could tell this was the part of the story he did not want to tell, though she could not imagine why. It was only a story. Perhaps Apela was right. Maybe Max believed the story too much. Maybe it seemed real to him.
"The pretty lady had to become a Sea Goddess," Max whispered, clearly not liking the idea.
Caeli began to feel worse and decided she better get back before the pain in her stomach returned. She did not want to get stuck out here or have anyone unduly worrying about her.
"Maybe we better go inside before Ben and Salma miss us."
She and Max stood up and turned to leave. Caeli noted a tingling sensation in the water covering her feet as she walked, but it was not unpleasant. She ignored it, at first.
"Max, what exactly does it mean to become a Sea…Vin!"
Caeli's unexpected outburst startled Max. He backed a few steps away from her, further into the cave, and stood there quietly watching. Caeli had reacted to a sharp pain through her connection to Vin. She felt the pain of his injury and, somehow, also knew he was in the ocean. Vin struggled. Caeli knelt down in the water, letting her legs and feet get wet. She impulsively submerged her hands as well, and then closed her eyes to help block out any distractions. Caeli searched for Vin's thoughts across their connection. Finally, she located him as he supported another young man, the guardsman who had asked Vin to help at the levee. Something must have happened, because Vin was holding onto the guardsman on some sort of life preserver. They were a good distance from shore and struggling to make their way back.
"No! I will not lose him. Hang on, Vin," Caeli said aloud.
Already, the harsh current had nearly exhausted Vin, and he was an excellent swimmer. Caeli knew this because she had been a competitive swimmer and Vin a determined suitor. He swam laps with her and chased her around the pool many times, never tiring before earning her approval. Yet, Vin's exhaustion and his injury were not what most worried Caeli. It was the other presence tugging on Vin that troubled her.
That presence had first become aware of Vin when Caeli called up the wave to help her release the excess energy on the ship. At the time, she thought Rika was merely curious about Vin because of Caeli's own attachment to him. Now, Caeli wasn't so sure. Was Rika trying to help or hinder Vin? After their last conversation, Caeli doubted that Rika was offering assistance. Caeli's connection to the water told her that Rika was preventing Vin from reaching the shore. It was merely a feeling, and she was still new to her ability with the water, but it was certain enough to irritate Caeli. Regardless of the reason, Caeli was not about to allow Rika to hinder Vin's efforts.
"Leave him alone! I don't know what you are up to, but this will not win you any points with me," Caeli attempted to address Rika, somehow knowing that the lady, wherever she was, would hear her.
Caeli immediately set about using her new skills to help her husband. She shielded Vin and the young man from the rushing currents so that they would not have to struggle to maintain their position. Rika resisted Caeli's attempt to move Vin away from her influence; but Caeli's determination to save Vin was boundless, and she soon fought Rika off. When it came to Vin, Caeli would never give up. Once freed from Rika's hold, Caeli gently pushed the two men toward shore, making it look as though they were accomplishing the task on their own.
When she finally detected other people reaching out to take hold of Vin and Jeremy, Caeli could have released her connection to Vin, but she did not. She found comfort in that connection. As Caeli picked up the thread of Vin's weary thoughts, she was startled to find that he already held onto their link and helped maintain their connection. He was perusing her thoughts as well. Caeli wasn't certain if Vin had overheard her few words to Rika or not.
"Thank you, Caeli. I don't know how you knew we were in trouble or how you did that, but I am really glad that you found us when you did," Vin was well aware that Caeli was the only reason they were able to reach the shore.
"Thank Max. He is the reason I'm out here. Otherwise, I would not have known."
Apela and Maku were there to help Vin and Jeremy out of the water. Jeremy couldn't wait to be pulled to the safety of dry land, gladly accepting the aid being offered. Vin, however, knelt down within the shallow water waving away the offered assistance. He told them he wanted a minute to catch his breath. In reality, Vin wanted to talk to Caeli.
"Honey, who were you talking to a moment ago?" Vin asked her about the bit of conversation he overheard. Perhaps Caeli had not been confused last night. As he quickly recalled her words, it seemed more likely that Vin had been too quick to dismiss what she said simply because he did not understand.
"A nuisance, but she is not important. You are. Put your arm in the water, Vin."
"What?"
"Your right arm is hurt. I can feel how much it is hurting you, and I can help. Please, put your arm under the water."
Vin did what she asked and an odd sensation surrounded his arm. It was a little bit painful at first.
"Caeli, are you doing that? What are you doing?"
"I am fixing it. Thankfully, the bones don't seem to be broken. I would not be able to fix that. It is awfully banged up though. But, with this much water, I should be able to work a little magic. Give me a minute…there! Is that better?"
Through their link, Vin clearly felt Caeli's pleasure at being able to help him.
"Yes. That's amazing! It feels as good as new," Vin said as he pulled his arm out of the water, testing its wholeness.
"Good."
"But, you don't need water to work your magic on me. Jeremy was right. You are one hot ticket." Vin flirted with her and smiled to himself at the thought.
"Ticket? What are you talking about? One…"
A wave of pain suddenly racked Caeli's body, cutting off her reply. It happened so quickly that she could not sever her connection from Vin before it hit. Some of the pain flowed through to him.
"Caeli! Is it the same pain as before?"
"Yes."
"Is it as bad as last night?" Vin could hardly stand the amount of pain coursing across their connection. If this is what Caeli had felt at the arena, he was astounded that she didn't pass out from the severity.
"This is not nearly as bad," Caeli began to have trouble concentrating.
"Last night's pain was worse than this? Caeli, I'm sorry. I knew you were hurting, and I knew it was bad; but I had no idea just how bad it really was until now. What I'm feeling could bring an elephant to its knees. I can't believe you are able to endure it."
"It probably has something to do with the remnants of Salma's medicine in my system."
"I never should have left you this morning," Vin berated himself.
"You were right to go, Vin. I'm sure this will pass soon."
"Honey, something is terribly wrong with you."
"Salma will figure it out. I'll be ok."
"Where is Salma?"
"She is in the lounge. Max is keeping me company right now."
"Send him after Salma, and then stay with her until I get back. Make sure you tell her how bad you're hurting so that she can treat you properly. Please do as she says, Caeli."
"I will, Vin. Don't worry."
"How can I not?"
"I want to get through this as much as you want me to get well. There. Can you feel? The pain is already easing up."
"Ok. I will be back as soon as I can," Vin was concerned, despite Caeli's assertion.
He was about to end the connection when another wave of pain dropped Caeli to her side. She curled up in a ball on the cave floor as Vin fell forward on his hands and knees in the shallow water. The pain flowing through to Vin, though not physical, was emotionally unbearable.
"Caeli!"
Vin's inability to help her punched him in the gut. The only aid he could offer was maintaining their connection, which she could no longer hold. He held on for both of them so that she would not be alone. How Caeli managed to withstand such pain was beyond Vin's comprehension.
"Vin, please release our link. I need my full concentration," Caeli asked him to break the connection. It was bad enough that she was in pain. She did not want Vin to share it with her. Her head was already spinning and weakness overcame her. As Vin released their link, Caeli lay on the cave floor unable to move.
Caeli looked up after a few minutes, remembering that Max still stood behind her. She had probably frightened him already and did not want to scare him any further, but the pain was getting progressively worse. Caeli waved Max forward so that he would come up and stand beside her.
"You should not have interfered," Rika intoned angrily.
"You should not have threatened Vin. Try your best against me, but I will not let you hurt him." Caeli held her ground as a stronger wave of pain coursed through her abdomen. She endured it as she had the others.
"Max, will you help me?" Caeli intended to have him bring some water to help quench her excessive thirst. It might also help ease the pain. She tried to ignore Rika.
Before Max could answer something strange happened. Caeli abruptly became too tired to stay awake, but she did not fall asleep. Her own thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind, and Rika's presence made its way into the forefront of her mind, into her. The feeling was inexplicably invasive, but Caeli could not stop it or push it away. Caeli no longer had control of her body. All she could do was watch helplessly as Rika took over. Caeli listened as Rika spoke using her voice.
"Hello, my son. It's so good to see you through living eyes. You have grown. Come and give me a hug."
Max stared wide-eyed at Caeli. He was frozen in place and looked as if he wanted to flee. Yet, Max surprised Caeli with the conviction of his response.
"You are not pretty Caeli!"
"No, but I will be when the moon is full. Then she will stay here with you forever. She will take care of you and never go home. Wouldn't you like that, Max?"
"No. If you borrow pretty Caeli, she will not be able to talk to me. It will only be you. I don't want to talk to you. You should go away! Only pretty Caeli should stay. Please come back, pretty Caeli!" Max shouted the last phrases.
"Now, Max. You should not speak to people like that. We will definitely have to work on your manners. You've got too much fire in you; like your father."
From the depths of her mind, Caeli found strength in her anger at this woman and her insinuations. It was a strong enough emotion that Caeli's gift responded instinctively. Somehow, it helped her push the intruder from her mind in an attempt to retake control of herself. Caeli did not yet notice the white light that appeared beside Max as she struggled with her own problem.
"That's enough, Rika. Stop this." The powerful voice commanded attention.
Caeli sensed Rika's presence shy away at the sound. She used the opportunity to completely regain control of herself and send Rika away, though her presence remained nearby.
"You cannot order me about, Michael. You gave up that right the day you gave away my son," Rika responded.
"I did not give him away. He never belonged to you, and he was not mine to give away. I am truly sorry that you formed such an attachment. You should not have remained near him."
Rika did not respond. Instead, her presence faded away, only her anger lingering in the cave. Caeli glanced over and noticed that Max had reached out to hold the hand of the man who appeared to stand beside him. That presence, too, began to fade away as Caeli watched.
"Take care of her, Max. She needs your help. Remember, you promised to keep an eye on her," Michael's voice echoed in Caeli's mind as well.
"I will. Bye!" Max waved cheerfully to the departing figure.
"Max, how do you know him?" Caeli asked through her pain.
"That's my Uncle Michael. He's an angel, and he is very strong. He made the Sea Queen go away. Nobody else can do that 'cept him. Pretty Caeli, why were you talking to the water this time? Were you helping Mr. Vin? Uncle Michael said you would want to help him. Is Mr. Vin ok? Is that why you let the Sea Queen borrow you, pretty Caeli? Did you ask her to help Mr. Vin?" Max casually explained his relationship to Michael and then asked a succession of questions that Caeli now understood based on Max's story.
Caeli was intrigued and wanted to know more about Michael's involvement, but she first needed to ensure that Max would not repeat this incident to anyone. Additionally, her condition remained a pressing issue. The pain had subsided while she used her gift to help Vin. It went away entirely while Rika controlled her body. But then, Rika made the pain return at a much worse level as a parting expression of her animosity.
"Max, I need you to keep another secret for me. Can you do that?"
"What secret?"
"Max, I did not let that lady borrow me. She did not ask for my permission. I don't want anyone to know that she borrowed me against my will. I know it's a very big secret, but you will keep it, won't you? Promise me that you won't tell anyone."
"Ok, pretty Caeli. I can keep a secret. I don't tell anyone about my Uncle Michael either, but I'm glad you got to meet him."
"Me, too. Your uncle is interesting."
"He teaches me stuff. Uncle Michael says I'm very smart."
"That you are, Max. Listen, your Uncle Michael was right. I do need help, grown up help. Can you go tell Salma that I am sick and ask her to meet me in my room? Will you do that for me, Max?" Caeli wasn't certain if she would be able to stand, much less walk back to her room, but she knew she needed to reach the hotel and Salma's help.
"Yep, I will get help for you, pretty Caeli."
Max looked down and saw that Caeli was crying. He had promised Mr. Vin that he would keep an eye on her. Max had tried to do that by bringing her to the cave, but she was still hurt and sad. Uncle Michael reminded him that he should help, so Max took off running as fast as his little legs would carry him. When he reached the outer door to the lounge, Max was completely out of breath. The screen door slammed shut behind him, waking Ben with the loud noise.
Once Max left the cave, Caeli was sick again and in a great deal of pain. It was all she could do to inch her way up the wall to shakily stand up. She needed to get back to her room. Caeli forced one foot in front of the other, slowly making
her way along the same path Max had followed to bring them to the cave. She began to wonder how anyone would be able to help her when she didn't even know what was happening herself. What if this was not a medical problem at all, but rather something Rika was doing to her? Caeli began to consider such possibilities and rapidly amounted a vast array of questions, too many to count; and the answers were too few. There were other problems that needed resolving, as well, and not all of them were physical.
Caeli fell multiple times as she made her way along the backside of the ridge. Once, she tried to catch herself, but landed on her right arm. It hurt badly enough that she thought she had sprained it, yet she forced herself to continue. She needed to return to the relative safety of four walls and a solid floor beneath her feet; away from ocean tides and seawater.
She had finally reached the halfway point when Ben came trotting up beside her.
"Caeli, let me help you. Lean on me, Lass," Ben reached out to support her as she walked. Caeli winced when he jostled her right arm as he wrapped it around his shoulders.
"How did you…?" Caeli began. She was interrupted by an overwhelming weakness that made her legs feel like wet noodles. If Ben hadn't kept hold of her, she would have fallen again.
"Max was looking for Salma. He said you needed help and told me where you were. I followed your footprints leading this way. Seems I am just in time, too. You are quite determined. I will give you that. However, I don't think you would have completed this trek on your own, young lady. You should have called for me."
"I'm sorry, Ben. It didn't occur to me to ask for you because you are hurt."
"I'm no cripple and not so badly hurt that I can't still be useful, particularly after your aid."
Caeli merely nodded in appreciation. Though she stumbled several times, she was glad to have Ben's help. If she could just get to her room and lie down, Caeli knew she would feel better. Obviously, the walk was too much exertion so soon after the trauma of the plane crash and the severe illness she had been fighting. Her body simply wasn't ready for that much exercise yet. Ben supported her for the remainder of the distance.
Wrath of the Sea Queen Page 30
