Wrath of the Sea Queen

by Cynthia Woods

  "And you on him. Remember, I saw you both the day you met. I never saw two people so clearly in love and so blindly unaware of it," Salma smiled.

  "Well, it didn't take us long to figure it out. But, maybe you're right, Salma. Perhaps it has something to do with my hormones, too. I have never had them running amok before. I suppose all of this could be perfectly normal. Is it normal for pregnant women to feel like this?"

  "I wouldn't worry about it, Dear. It's not exactly a medical problem," Salma winked at her, but then continued seriously, "unless you are considering acting on it. That's definitely not a good idea. You are already tired; that sort of exercise would most certainly exhaust you and probably aggravate your remaining injuries, especially your ribs. Despite your remarkable recovery, you are still too fragile for such entertainment. I'm quite certain that sort of escapade would set your recovery back considerably."

  "You are probably right, but this is our vacation," Caeli replied with a slight smile, which almost reminded Salma of Caeli's usual, fun-loving personality.

  "Caeli, before we go back, there is one more thing I want to tell you," Salma was now the wary news reporter.

  "What's that?"

  "I discovered a disturbing bit of news about your friend Lara. Did you know she was originally from Hawaii?"

  "Yes. She was born here. Why do you ask?"

  "I saw a photo of her in your yearbook."

  "My yearbook? Salma, I lost those books years ago, when Vin and I built the house. Where did you see them?"

  "Max showed one to Ben. I flipped through it in the lounge," Salma began.

  "How did he get it?" Caeli wondered.

  "Max said the yearbook belonged to his Aunt Lorrie."

  "Lorrie? I don't remember a Lorrie in our class, but I really didn't know all that many people. I wasn't much on socializing in high school."

  "Actually, you know her quite well. She changed her name while she was in school. Lorrie went by the name Lara. I noted the name beside her photo. Apela's sister, Lorrie, is none other than your friend Lara."

  Caeli found the news relatively easy to believe. Lara always went to great lengths to keep her past a secret. The fact that she changed her name did not surprise Caeli. In fact, it answered a few of her long-standing questions about her friend. It was also a key factor to understanding why Salma thought that Caeli's troubles were her fault. Lorrie was trying to hurt Salma. Lara was aware that Salma was Caeli's aunt. Lara gave Caeli the poisoned bars. It all made sense now.

  "Vin knows, doesn't he?" Caeli asked without needing to hear the answer. That's what he had been keeping from her.

  "Yes," Salma answered honestly. She was aware that Ben had told him earlier.

  Caeli suspected as much. Just as she delayed revealing certain facts to Vin in order to protect his feelings, he did the same for her. Vin knew that Lara was partially to blame for Salma's troubles and her own brush with death. Vin also knew Caeli well enough to understand how betrayed she felt at the moment. He had tried to spare her this unpleasantness while she struggled with other matters. Vin would have eventually told her. They were always honest with each other, but there were times when it was necessary to choose the right timing.

  Caeli was angry that she had not seen Lara's role in this for herself. Had Lara only been pretending to befriend her all these years? Why would she do that? Sure, she had a passing crush on Vin in high school, but that had been more than ten years ago. She could not still be mad that it did not work out for her, could she? Lara had always competed against Caeli on the swim team, though she never won. Did she harbor ill will toward Caeli because of that? Maybe it wasn't that at all. Perhaps Lara regretted that Caeli was related to Salma and that it was necessary to hurt her in order to cause Salma pain. Scratch that. That notion did not feel right to Caeli. Everything Lara ever did was deliberate. She was not one to take action without a purpose.

  Unintentionally, her reaction caused Caeli to tug on her connection to Vin.

  "How could Lara do this? I thought she was my friend," Caeli wondered to herself.

  "You always did see the good in her, even when everyone else did not."

  "Vin, I didn't mean for you to hear that."

  "I'm glad I did, and I'm glad that you're upset. Well, not that you're upset, but it is good to feel this fire in you at last. I have been worried that you might succumb to all that has been happening without putting up a fight."

  "You don't think I've been fighting? Though you could not see it, Vin, I have been fighting Rika ever since the crash. It has taken all the will I could muster through my illness to hold her at bay all this time. She has clouded my mind, prevented me from seeking your help, hurt you, and caused me a lot of pain; she has not made it easy. But, I promise you that I have been doing my best to resist her."

  "From what little I've overheard, I should have known as much. I'm sorry I doubted you. Please come inside. I would like to hear about it. We can finish our talk and look for an answer." Hearing Caeli's spirit return was a big relief. This was the turning point Vin had been anxiously waiting for her to reach.

  Caeli sensed the relief that she heard echoed in his reply as the wind embraced her again. The ladies turned toward their bodyguards and started to retrace their route to the hotel. When they stepped into the next beam of moonlight, they watched Max avidly filming a sand crab. He heard them move and turned the video camera on the women. They smiled politely and waved at Max as they continued up the beach. Maku finally took the camera away from Max and, seeing the opportunity to get a fantastic shot of the two ladies together, subtly snapped a few candid still shots of the pair before returning the video camera to its holster. The entire group walked slowly toward the lounge.

  CHAPTER 46

  Ben sat across from Apela. Vin returned from watching the women commence their walk and sat in a third chair placed partially between the other two. His mind was on Caeli. Vin gave her the best protection he could offer, hoping she would not stay out very long. He understood why Caeli needed the change of scenery, however briefly, and he did not begrudge her the request. Vin simply wanted to be with her in case that strange man showed up again. He did not want Caeli, or Salma for that matter, out in the open in the unlikely event that more protestors showed up. And, it went without saying, that Vin did not want Caeli near the water in case Rika tried to control her again. There seemed to be a growing list of threats against which Vin would be hard pressed to protect Caeli.

  On top of all that, Vin continued to consider more personal thoughts about his wife. He repeatedly pushed those notions to the back of his mind, something he found himself doing more frequently over the last two days. Until earlier, he had been successful in suppressing those feelings. If not for Caeli's pain, her response to his kiss would have caused Vin to forego his self-imposed restraint. She had certainly been receptive. Nonetheless, Vin knew that Caeli was fragile, despite how strong and healthy she now looked. Vin suddenly realized that he was, once again, letting his mind wander. With difficulty, Vin returned his focus to the conversation in front of him.

  Ben expressed his sympathy to Apela for the loss of his wife and unborn daughter. He was just getting to the real reason that he asked to speak with Apela.

  "Apela, I know this is going to be a touchy subject, but I would like to ask you about your wife," Ben started.

  "What do you want to know?"

  "I was wondering about the time before Max was born. Did you and your wife happen to go to a fertility clinic or seek assistance along those lines?" Ben's question took Vin completely by surprise, and he noted a similar reaction on Apela's face. Only, Apela's reaction was because Ben had guessed correctly.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact, we did. How could you know that?"

  "Something Max said, but that's not important. Did your wife ever happen to tell Max stories that might have made him believe he was part of this fairy tale he's been sharing with Caeli?"

  "What do you mean exactly?" Apela asked uncomf
ortably, becoming nervous under Ben's unrelenting gaze.

  Vin watched and listened carefully, as Ben had requested. Vin learned a great deal from his friendship with Ben, whose years of police experience combined with exceptional natural instincts were beyond comparison.

  "I'm sorry, Apela. There is no delicate way to ask this next question, so I'm going to come right out with it. Would there be any reason for Max to think that he was conceived in that cave down on the beach, perhaps during a full moon?"

  "Oh! Um, well, I think Max has been sharing a bit more than he should. But, yes, it's possible that he might. You see, my wife and I tried everything to have a child. I would have been happy either way, but she desperately wanted children. So we even tried the suggestion in Max's story. We figured it would be fun, if not fruitful. I'll admit it. That night in the cave was one of the best times my wife and I ever shared together. I loved my wife deeply, but I never felt as strongly attracted to her as I did that night. It was almost as if I needed her more than anything else at the time," Apela explained.

  Apela's words struck a familiar chord with Vin. Need. That word perfectly described what he had been feeling for Caeli ever since that episode with Rika in the cave. Vin was more than curious about the similarity.

  "Of course, we knew it was a coincidence when we found out that she was pregnant soon afterward. But, my wife was ever the romantic and fond of the sea; much like your own wife, Vin. She repeated folk tales to Max many times. She used stories to explain things in a way that he could understand. Max's mother always told him that he was special. Although, I did not realize she told Max that he was actually a child such as his fairy tale describes. No wonder he likes that particular story so well."

  "I imagine that is also why he hates it. Max also believes the ending is true," Ben added.

  "Why do you say that?" Apela asked with a nervousness that revealed more to Ben than the man's words would ever tell.

  "I think Max believes that the sea took your second child as payment for something your wife did. He thinks the sea then took your wife, too."

  Apela was now very nervous, unconsciously wringing his hands and fidgeting in his seat.

  "That's ridiculous. My wife had a miscarriage. She overexerted herself helping people during the storm a few days before, and it was too much of a strain in her condition," Apela replied.

  Vin was on the edge of his seat. The parallel was not exact, but unnervingly close. Vin hung on every word as Apela continued.

  "The doctors worked on her in a tub right here in the hotel, but could not save our child."

  Vin stared at Apela intently, but could not say anything due to the lump in his throat. That wound was still too fresh to discuss with Apela, but also too similar to ignore.

  "I'm sure that's how it might have appeared, but there was something more, wasn't there?" Ben persisted.

  "A few days after our child died, my wife was in the shower and started bleeding. She lost too much blood, and then I lost her."

  "I am very sorry, Apela," Ben said, giving him time to work through the pain of the recalled memory.

  "Apela?" It was Vin's turn to ask a question.

  "How exactly did your wife help people during that storm?"

  Vin thought he could guess the answer, especially given Max's gift, but he needed to hear it. It was too much of a coincidence for all of this to happen and not be related. Vin had finally caught up with Ben's trail of logic and now clearly understood the connection.

  "My wife was talented. She had a unique skill. I have no idea how she learned to do it, but for the last few years of her life, she could lessen certain damage caused by the storms." Apela reluctantly shared details about his wife's talent; a reluctance with which Vin could sympathize. That was all right with Vin. Those few words were all the confirmation he needed to be certain of his conclusion.

  "Your wife could manipulate water, couldn't she?" It seemed obvious to Vin now that it had been voiced.

  "Yes," Apela confirmed.

  "That is how Max inherited his ability, isn't it?" Vin inquired further.

  Apela finally gave in to their curiosity and told them the truth they were both eager to hear.

  "Partially. Max believes that his mother was the Sea Goddess in his story. He believes that his baby sister was taken away as payment for my wife's use of her talent to aid the people during the storm. Max thinks that my wife got mad at the Sea Queen for taking her baby and no longer wanted to be a Sea Goddess. Therefore, he insists that the Sea Queen took away his mother, too. He blames the Sea Queen for the deaths of his mother and sister. I have tried to make him understand differently, but his own gift makes it difficult to dissuade him," Apela finally admitted.

  Apela left the lounge after the disturbing conversation. Ben continued to sit, rubbing his chin, while Vin paced in front of the windows, keeping an eye on Salma and Caeli. They had stopped walking and appeared to be having a private conversation of their own.

  "Do you understand why I wanted you to hear Apela's answers?" Ben asked.

  "Yes, but Caeli's situation is different than Apela's wife. Apela's wife had to learn her talent. She did not inherit it. Caeli also has the requirement that Apela's wife lacked to make the transition permanent. Rika knows about Caeli's bloodline. They will have to face each other and bring this to an end. I realize that. Caeli is aware of it, too. She figured it out before any of us. Raphael said that Caeli has much to lose if she faces Rika on her terms. She still has a child that can be taken from her," Vin answered.

  "It's much more than that, Vin. It is not only what Rika is trying to take from Caeli. It's also what Caeli will become if Rika succeeds. Caeli will lose more than her child. She will lose more than control of her body. She will lose her life," Ben explained his interpretation of the facts before him.

  "She will be forced to switch places with Rika and assume her current role. Believe me, Ben, I understand the implications. I'm worried more because Raphael said that Caeli cannot beat Rika without surrendering herself. It doesn't sound like there is a winning choice for Caeli. Yet, I can't accept that. There has to be a way. Caeli has been searching for it. For her sake, I hope she is having better luck than we are."

  Vin noticed that Caeli turned to look up at the lounge and enhanced his connection to her. He immediately received the backlash of emotion that tumbled through her mind. Salma told her about Lara's betrayal. It was the last straw, and Caeli was finally ready to do something about this situation. This was more like the Caeli he knew. This was the spirit that he loved in her. The mere thought of Caeli at her best stirred Vin's personal feelings for her again. After answering her briefly, Vin had to forcefully set those feelings to the side once more.

  Caeli was ready to talk; to tell him the details that she had not been ready to share before. She wanted Vin to understand her struggle, and she wanted answers. She intended to bring this to an end. Vin completed his reply with a supportive stirring of the wind already surrounding her. He fully intended to help Caeli achieve her goal.

  Vin and Caeli returned to their room a while later.

  "Vin, I need to talk to you. I haven't told you everything that has been happening," Caeli began.

  "I know, Caeli, and I understand that this has been difficult for you. I know you needed time. I'll admit that it has not been easy for me to wait to hear everything. Despite my impatience, I knew you would eventually tell me, when you were ready."

  "I'm ready now."

  Caeli finally told Vin everything; all that she remembered, even explaining about the gaps in her memory. She gave him more details about the events that caused her injuries while he was away at the seminar with Ben and Salma. While she related that story, a portion of the veil lifted in her mind. Caeli remembered a few more of the horrific details that Urim had sheltered from her at the time.

  "Urim has been your steadfast guardian for which I am immeasurably grateful. I'm very glad he was able to help you in the cave," Vin said as he held Caeli
in his embrace while they sat on the bench, listening to the repetitive sound of the waves and watching the water sparkle under the spotlight of the nearly full moon.

  "Me, too. Without his help…"

  "Please, let's not talk about what might have happened. I cannot bear to dwell on how close I came to losing you again. Why don't you tell me what Max was talking about when he said that this was the second time Rika borrowed you? When was the first?" Vin turned the direction of their conversation down a different path.

  Caeli explained what Max witnessed when Rika took control of her in the cave after she helped Vin at the levee. She was particularly interested in Vin's opinion about the exchange between Michael and Rika, but he was not certain what to make of it. Finally, Caeli told Vin about the most recent injury. He was momentarily upset by the fact that she did not tell him about it right away. Then his irritation quickly switched to feeling guilty, as Caeli knew it would, about not heeding her plea to stay instead of chasing after the mysterious man. And then he understood why she had waited to tell him. Caeli subsequently squashed Vin's guilt by assuring him that she was fine and that he could not have prevented it, even if he had remained. There was one final piece of news that Caeli shared, hoping Vin would help her clarify it.

  "Vin, there is one thing about this that I don't understand," she hesitated.

  "Only one? Then you are having much more success than me," Vin replied in a half jesting manner.

  "I can't feel our baby. I don't understand why. Salma said she sensed a change, but could not tell what had changed. Vin, when you touch my stomach, can you still feel him?" Caeli was almost afraid to hear his answer. To her surprise, Vin refused to run his hand across her belly.

  "If I answer that, either way, you will have more questions. You will spend too much time worrying about the baby instead of taking care of yourself. For once, I agree with Salma. I think it would be best if you focus on yourself right now. You cannot care for the baby if you aren't well."