by C. Elizabeth
I wrinkled my nose. “You sound like a girl—if anyone owes anyone an apology, you do to me!”
“Whoa, ho, ho...Not in your lifetime!”
“Get out!” I spat, mind you, my words didn’t have as much punch to them.
“Is that all you can say?” Something impish flashed across his eyes. “Let’s make this interesting.”
Narrowing mine, I replied, “What?”
“Let’s have your father create a challenge of his choosing, and whoever loses has to apologize and kiss the other person’s feet.”
I was absolutely appalled at the concept. “Eww! I’m not kissing your feet!”
Throwing his finger in my face. “Ah ha! You know you can’t win!”
The idea of the challenge was revolting. I loved him...but kissing his feet made my stomach turn. “Yes, I can win, and I will!!” The second the words were out, I knew there was going to be some feet kissing on my part...sad day for me!
“Then, what’s it going to be? I stay here all night, or the challenge?”
Well, maybe it might turn in my favor. He wasn’t really all that cunning, now was he?
I giggled. “You’re not very smart... I`ll choose you stay here all night.”
He burst out laughing. “I guess that wasn’t the best threat, was it?”
Shaking my head, I giggled again.
“Well, then, it’s the challenge, because as much as I would love to stay here all night...” He tucked me into him and nuzzled into my neck. “Mm. Yes, it would be nice to stay here all night with you...” he cooed. “But we’re not married, so you’ll have to settle for the challenge.”
There was no fire power left in me at all—his yumminess was way too close. “Are you trying to really piss me off?” I uttered quietly.
With his hands around my waist, his breath drifted along my ear. “That, apparently, is what I set out to do today. Yes, it was my ultimate task.” With that, my hand was snatched up and I was being dragged through the kitchen and out to the backyard, where Mom and Dad were so conveniently waiting.
“Okay, we need a challenge, Mr. Gardiner,” Nathanael proclaimed. “I have a dispute to settle with your daughter.”
“Is the lover’s spat over now?” Mom giggled.
Nathanael glanced down at me and smiled. “Not yet, since the little miss here seems to think I owe her an apology, when in reality, it’s she that owes me one,” he tattled all proud, puffing up his chest.
“Don’t do that too hard, you might pull something,” I bugged.
Dad and Mom glanced at each with goofy grins on their faces. Dad rubbed his chin, looking off into the distance. “Well, let’s see... I got it!” he bellowed, making me jump. “Sorry, honey.”
“What do you have for us, sir?” Nathanael was having way too much fun.
“Come this way.” Dad motioned with his index finger for us to follow. “The one who can create the highest wave will win.”
“Ahahahaha, I am so going to win!” Nathanael burst out.
I crossed my arms and stuck my bottom lip out. “That’s not fair! I don’t know how to do that yet, and don’t even know if I can.”
Dad looked at me thoughtfully. “Then it will be good practice, won’t it?”
“Fine! What do I do?” I sulked.
Nathanael slid in behind me, so my back was tight to his chest, then took my arms, placing his like a splint against mine. He held onto my wrists and spoke gently in my ear. “You have to concentrate. Make the water believe you command it. Move your arms slowly at first.”
Dad raised one hand and the water responded, creating a mini-tidal wave, constantly turning in on itself.
Nathanael slowly moved our arms to one side as the water mimicked our movements. Then he brought them down slowly and in a quick surge, thrust them up again...the water rolled.
I giggled.
“You like that, do you?” he whispered in my ear, then kissed it.
Enjoying every facet of him, I nodded.
We did a few more sideway twists, then he stepped back and let me do a few on my own. My concentration was completely on the water and what I wanted it to do. It was fun having it dance for me, but if I tried to make it go really high or over the edge, it wouldn’t work and would splash back into the pool, then Dad would have to lift it back up for me. The highest I could get it was maybe a foot in the air.
“My turn!” Nathanael yelled.
My concentration shattered—the water bubbled and actually blew up, splashing back into the pool.
“That’s not fair!” I screamed.
He pecked my cheek. “Sure it is! You’ve been doing it for an hour.”
My, how time flies when you’re trying to build water mountains!
Dad stood back. There was no need to help Nathanael.
He put one hand out and the water rose smoothly, twisting into a tunnel. It filled the air until the pool was empty. Then Nathanael moved his whole body right and it followed his command. He glided his hand across the horizon and the water mirrored every motion. It did flips, snaked along the ground and weaved through the wood structures... It responded to his every gesture.
Slowly he brought it back and with his free arm, bonded my back to his chest again and softly said, “Hold onto my arm—feel the water. It’s not just a thing. You have to feel the whoosh of the wave to make it respond...be the wave.”
We moved together exactly. It felt like I melted right into his chest as our arms melded together, we were one, it was peaceful.
The water’s movements were graceful and soothing for me, yet it could very well have been Nathanael, but it didn’t matter, we were together. He started humming softly against my ear in a tune I recognized. It was the one Mom used to sing to me, Que Sera, Sera. My head rested on his chest as I focused on our heartbeats. They always seemed to beat at the exact same time.
From out of nowhere, fire encased the water and the tunnel popped and crackled, forcing the fire through the middle of it. I gasped, dropping my arms, my heart hammered against my chest.
“Nathanael!” I squeaked.
Dad was laughing and so was Mom. I spun around just as Nathanael licked his lips, stifling a smile.
Tears welled up in my eyes—for me it had been a wonderful moment, but for him it was only a chance to scare the crap out of me. Throwing my hands to my face, I took off. “Leave me alone!”
“Saydi, I’m sorry!” Before I even got to the door, he was in front of me.
Scrambling around him, I barged into the house and ran to my room.
He followed like a human.
I slammed the door on him.
“Saydi, please!” He knocked gently, then I heard a small thud which I assumed was his forehead butting against the door. “I felt it too, us being one. But it was too much—things were happening to me that have never happened. I was going to lose control in a way I shouldn’t until we’re married. I’ve never felt that way, wanting to be with you so badly. I had to do something and...your parents were watching!!” He was begging.
Swinging the door open, I threw myself at him and lunged for his kisses.
Needless to say, he accepted my apology.
Twenty-seven
“You’ve captured it, sweets,” Nathanael whispered in my ear, holding my back against his chest as we wound our arms in motion watching the wind dance over the swimming hole, making it ripple.
From out of the trees, nine came forward, Mr. Braxton in lead. “You’ve done well, son. You’re offering is accepted.”
The wind snatched my hand up and dragged me across the air, forcing me on my knees in front of the brood.
Turning back, I cried, “Nathanael!”
He held two small children behind him. Upon looking in his eyes, I saw they were blood red and matched his hideous grin. “They’re mine now.”
~ * ~
Bolting up, I screamed and screamed and screamed.
“Saydi!” Mom yelled, throwing open the door, landing at my side
. “Saydi!”
My chest heaved and heaved; my lungs wouldn’t take in enough air. My head felt woozy and my heart thudded from down deep in my soul.
“It was so...real,” I stammered.
“It’s okay, honey,” Mom stroked my hair, holding me. “It’s okay.”
Mora stood with the rest just outside my door, all watching with concern. Dad pushed through them.
“What is it?”
“Another bad dream, John,” Mom told him.
Dad sat behind me and rubbed my back. “What was it about?”
“It wasn...wasn’t very much, but...” I looked at Mora. “Nathanael was taking...our kids and gave...me up to his Dad.” I threw my face into Mom’s shoulder and bawled.
After a bit, Mom wiped my face with a cool cloth, instantly making it feel better after the tears had chafed my cheeks.
Eventually I was able to get ready for school, though it was difficult. The air around me was heavy and pressed hard. I slumped down on my bed, thinking about Nathanael and the dream. Not only was the dream bothering me, but also the fact I needed to convince myself he would never do something like that.
Mom peeked in my door. “Saydi, honey, breakfast is ready.”
“Mom I don’t want to...”
“I know, but you have to eat. Besides, Nathanael’s here to take you to school before he goes to work.”
Normally that news would have my heart skipping a beat in excitement—but not that morning. “Okay.”
He welcomed me with a big smile. “How did you sleep?” he asked.
I shrugged, being glum. “Good, until the dream.”
Creasing his brow, he asked, “Want to tell me about it?”
Recapping the scene was hard—he cringed and yanked me close when he heard the ending. “I would never do that...but I like the idea of having kids with you one day.”
The boy could turn my mood around in one sentence. “So you’ve thought about it?” Butterflies fluttered in my tummy at the thought.
“Maybe a little. Come on, let’s go have some breakfast. We have to get you to school and I have to get to work.”
Mora came around the corner, letting her presence be known. She looked very nervously determined.
Being a gentleman Nathanael reached his hand out to her. “Hello.” He smiled. “We haven’t really been formally introduced. I’m Nathanael Braxton.”
Her expression was one of absolute adoration for her son. She smiled and happily took his hand. “I’m Mora. Saydi’s emotions Magister.”
As the exuberant handshake slowed, Nathanael’s eyes widened, then he yanked away as if he had been burned. His eyes went dark, then he spun, glaring at me. “Is this your idea of a joke?” he growled.
Hugging myself, I quietly replied, “No.”
“Your father comes back into your life, so you have to meddle in mine!” He pointed at me, face red hot and eyes hotter. “You wanted your father in your life...” Shooting his finger out behind him at Mora, he spat, “That...is dead to me!” Reeling around, he forced his way past Mora.
“Nathanael!” I cried, chasing after him. By the time I got out the door, his tires squealed down the road. He didn’t even stop when he turned the corner... The car fishtailed.
The last thing I wanted to do was upset him, especially after everything he had already been through. I was instantly angry with everyone. It was my life and they were making it so difficult. Even though Mora was crying, I didn’t care.
Running back into the house, I put my shoes on, grabbed my coat and knapsack and took off. Again, the wind plucked my feet off the ground, gliding me. All the houses went by in slow motion, but within a second I was at the path that would lead me to the swimming hole or the park—the park was left behind in a blur. I finally rested on Main Street a few blocks from school.
It normally took me twenty minutes, at least, to get to school, but with my newfound speed I was way too early. To kill time and hopefully get some relief from my worrying, I went to the grocery store to talk with Miranda. She always had great advice and could cheer me up.
“Hi, Muriel,” I said, to the full-time cashier.
“Hey. Miranda’s not in. She had to go into the city for some supplies the supply truck forgot.”
“Again?” The supply truck was always forgetting our store stock. We had our suspicions the guys were lining their fridges and cupboards with it. “Oh well, tell her I stopped in.”
“Will do.”
I stepped out just as the wind gusted, but didn’t touch me. “Watch it, I’ll whip you right back,” I mumbled under my breath, then giggled. It was a pretty idle threat, as I had no idea how to manipulate the wind yet.
Why did you do that?
That voice wasn’t something I expected, especially him asking me a question. There was no way to answer since he couldn’t hear me.
Saydi? Are you going to answer me?
The air was cold, so I tightened my collar around my throat and lumbered toward school.
Turn around.
The command had my stomach leap forward with excitement. I pivoted ...and there he was, leaning against his car, arms crossed. He was way over on the other side of the square. Though I wanted to run, I kept my cool and strode toward him, keeping a straight face and not exactly sure what to do. When I reached him, his eyes were red and swollen, tears still sitting in the corners. “Are you okay?” I asked.
He didn’t move. His features were devoid of any emotion, hidden. “Why did you do it?”
“Nathanael, I didn’t. The Tovs did. Apparently all my teachers were chosen years ago and your mom was one of them.” There was a definite plea in the way I said it.
A crispness crept into his words. “She can’t teach you. She’s human.”
I took a step forward, wanting so badly for him to understand. “She’s a Half Light, Nathanael.”
He stood straight and dropped his arms to his side, moving quickly to the driver’s side. “Impossible!”
The tears were threatening me too. “It’s not! It would do you good to talk to her.”
“No!” He flung the car door open.
Before he could get in, I managed to throw, “She didn’t leave you by choice!”
It was too late. The tires squealed and the car disappeared between the buildings.
“Nathanael, I’m sorry,” I said to dead air.
~ * ~
School was a continuation from earlier in the morning: Total crap. Mind you, toward the end of the day, my friends came around and we talked, clearing the air, so to speak. The things that happened would always bother me and even sometimes make me mad at them—ever so often I’d have to remind myself they really didn’t know what they were doing.
Right after school I tried calling Nathanael—each ring brought with it a dread. The feeling of wanting to cry was very prevalent, and I wondered if he truly blamed me. No one answered.
There was no allowance for me to feel sorry. Dad insisted I train and when we worked with the water, I could feel Nathanael working with me, swaying. I still couldn’t get it higher than a foot or two. However, it moved a little easier and wasn’t so choppy.
An hour later, it was Zack’s turn. He introduced me to the wind and, imagine my surprise when the fuzzy pink mine monster showed up in my back yard. When it first sailed over the top of the fence, I started to back away. Zack laughed and explained, “It comes to you, Miss Saydi, because somehow in your subconscious you were calling it.”
There was no intention, in my bones, of letting it out of my sight. It looked like a fat pink snake floating on the air. All it needed was one huge eyeball and the extra creepiness would be complete. “Why would I call it?”
He smiled. “No one knows. However, Miss Saydi...” His dark eyes looked down on me. “For it to come to you like that, it is a very strong donum.”
Once the initial fear dissipated, it almost enchanted me. “Why is it pink?”
“Everyone who can command the wind will hav
e a different color. You will see only your wind from miles away. No others will be noticeable by you, as yours isn’t noticeable to others, until it latches onto your hands or...” He tapped his temple, “Your mind.”
I continued to stare it down and soon we had a little contest going...I think. “Once it latches on, then everyone can see it?”
“No, only those who command it can see others.”
“Oh!”
Then out of nowhere he said, “Let’s begin.” He raised his arms.
The pink thing didn’t move slowly, but rather zoomed right in and latched onto my hands. My first reaction was to shake the crap out of it and run away screaming again. But Zack got a hold of my shoulders and spoke softly until he got me calmed down.
The first lesson was simply to follow his movements, to learn how to control it. That was not an easy task. It may be light, but it had incredible power behind it and figuring out how much force to use with my command was the most difficult part. Eventually though, I got the hang of it and he was able to teach me how to snap it like a whip and how to curl it around solid objects. With certain hand movements, I was able to give it the strength to pick things up to throw them.
When we were done, my thoughts immediately went to Nathanael. “Mom, I’m going for a walk,” I stated.
“Don’t go too far,” Mom said, touching my back as I walked past her.
“Saydi,” Mora said from behind.
“Yeah?” I hesitated at the front door with my hand on the handle.
She touched my arm. “I’m sorry.”
I sighed and hugged her tightly. “It’s not your fault.” Unlocking my embrace I asked, “Have you seen any decisions from him?”
“No. Whatever he’s doing is blocking everything out. He’s completely shut it off.”
Nodding, I gave her a weak smile. As a mother, she must be so torn and hurt. “See ya,” I said, squeezing her hand. I stepped out into the frigid evening air and took note of the frost starting to cling to the branches of the leafless trees.
Twenty-eight
The swimming hole was no longer my peaceful place. Too many bad things were connected to it, I preferred some place different—the wind shot me like a bullet to my intended destination. Down the highway I flew, then turned onto the path that led to the mine, easily dodging the branches and obstacles that came at me.
