by Rona Go
Jemmah laughed out loud in the background. She was standing right by the window, puffing a cigarette. Jonah joined in a snickering laughter which earned her a loving, soft tug on her hair by Jervais.
"What?" Jonah complained playfully. "You started it," she teased the older sibling to which Jervais only frowned.
"Jemmah, you are making a mess," Jane scolded, referring to her cigarette butts.
"You don’t even have an ash tray here," Jemmah complained, flipping her dark curls, her coffee-colored eyes becoming rounder by the minute.
"That’s because nobody smokes here," Jane responded.
"It was for your own good. With your mother still around, the air was already polluted!" Jemmah said. "All of you wouldn't have survived at all."
There was a momentary, eerie silence which passed through the atmosphere. It felt like an unknown presence had kept them from saying anything, only prompting them to listen to the grave stillness of the surrounding. All of a sudden the air felt heavy and gloomy that the hair on Jonah’s arms was all standing on its end.
It was the arrival of Brice which broke the strange moment. And Jonah sighed with relief. With the rhythmic accompaniment of his fast and short steps, he blurted out upon entering the room "I’m here. Don’t anybody say anything—my car broke down twice on the way here!"
Jervais started laughing and Jonah joined in. The rest of the siblings also laughed as Brice continued to walk in like a ramp model. With his curly, blond hair and dark blue eyes, he looked younger than his thirty years of age. Tall and very lean, Brice was a beautiful young man, an androgynous beauty which made a lot of women and men, both young and old, disillusioned. He settled on the arm of Jane’s chair.
"Little girls," Brice addressed the younger ones. "It ain’t funny to drive here to and fro. And it seemed we will be holding a lot of these for the next few days, I reckon. I mean do we really have to be gathering like this?"
Jane put her arm around his waist and squeezed him fondly, "Only for now, Bricius!"
"Brice!" Brice corrected Jane.
"I don’t mind!" Jenssen joined in looking up with her sparkling blue eyes. With her short, blond curls in pigtails, she almost looked like she was barely out of college. She smiled and her plump cheeks were all flushed, "It’s an excuse to pig out on Jane’s sweets."
"You don’t need an excuse, dear!" Jemmah commented while Jervais snickered softly in the background. Jemmah looked at her watch impatiently and took a seat. "Let’s get this started I’m late for—something!"
"Shouldn’t we wait for Aunt Judith?" Jane remarked.
"We’ve already been waiting for a lot of things…and people. Brice…for your mother to die…my patience has been tested enough!" Jemmah said.
"Nasty!" Brice chimed in. "Very nasty, sister!"
"I think it’s better for us to discuss matter first within ourselves before Aunt Judith arrives," Jerone said, putting the papers down on the coffee table.
"Let’s start with your mother’s will—" Jemmah said.
Jane leaned over from her seat. She said, "Nobody cares about the will."
"Oh, I do care!" Jemmah interjected.
"Almost all of your mother’s properties have already been settled extra-judicially—" In a soft voice which was almost a whisper, she added, "I think it’s more important that we discuss about—"
"Oh, the woo-hoo stuff!" Jemmah said. "That’s crap! Whoever believes in that stuff now a days?"
"Oh, Jemmah, please—" Brice remarked flippantly. "I get goose bumps every time I think about it. Now, ask me if I don't believe at all!"
"But what do we really know?" Jerone asked. "That your mother was the greatest healer the world ever had. That whoever killed her will be the next one in line—"
"That she has tremendous powers," Jane chimed in. "And gifted with immortality—"
"God!" Brice interrupted shivering involuntarily. "This is freaking me out. Our family is freakish."
There was another awkward silence engulfing the whole room. Jonah closed her eyes and allowed herself to listen to her surroundings.
"Jonah!" she heard a voice close to her ear, whispering her name.
Opening her eyes in a slit, she squinted at Jervais and mouthed, "What?"
"What?" Jervais asked and ruffled Jonah's short hair.
Just then, they heard the undeniable stiletto-steps of their Aunt Judith like a tap dance, just outside of the room. For such a small woman, their Aunt Judith can create so much noise with the way she handled herself wherever she was.
"Good! I see everyone's here," the elderly woman said in a strong voice even if her blue-grey eyes appeared reddish and tired. Despite her expensive-looking stilettos, she looked even smaller than her five feet flat stature with her hunched back. Her jet black hair was pulled back in a bun. She motioned for Jane to vacate her place, which the younger woman willingly obliged, and sat on Rebecca's tall chair.
Jane playfully swatted Jonah's dangling feet as she took her seat in the divan."Sit down properly, Jonah!" she instructed.
"Why'd you call me?" Jonah asked Jervais in a soft voice.
"Huh?" Jervais looked at Jonah questioningly. "I didn't call you."
"Then, who did?" Jonah inquired.
"Perhaps, it was your mother!" Jervais jested.
"Who killed our poor Rebecca Blood? I am pretty sure that one of us here killed our poor Rebecca. But there's nothing to be afraid or ashamed of. In our tribe, this is not a morality issue—especially when the healer has not performed her responsibilities well," Aunt Judith began. "Whoever is the new healer, you will need the support of people who truly care about you. We are family here. So please, speak now!"
The Blood siblings looked at each other uncomfortably. It was Jemmah who spoke first.
"Aunt Judith," she started to say. "You don't expect us to believe that, do you?"
Aunt Judith stood up shakily. She directed a pointing finger at Jemmah and brusquely said, "Why you—you could be the one! Rebecca had her eyes on you. She favored you to take her legacy. And you hated your mother ever since."
Everybody's eyes were fixed on Jemmah, who was shaking her head vehemently."I could have very well killed her. But I don't believe in this healer-crap!"
"Healer-crap? Crap my foot!" Aunt Judith said and took her seat again. "Nobody is asking you to believe. But the truth will not change. We came from a clan of healers—our poor Rebecca was the greatest…most powerful. It is a family secret. Nobody among you showed signs of the gift or was even slightly interested. It should have stayed a secret if only Rebecca wasn't murdered. However, the coroner is ninety percent certain, poor Rebecca was poisoned. So whoever killed her has her power now."
Jonah straightened up as the memory of her Aunt Judith brewing a concoction she insisted Rebecca took to get well, clicked through her mind. She looked at her Aunt Judith. The older woman met her eyes without blinking. A small, hardly noticeable sneer spread through her Aunt Judith's thin lips.
It's her…she killed her own sister. Jonah thought as she looked away and avoided her Aunt Judith's eyes.
"So, how is it now?" Jane asked timidly. "What will become of the new healer?"
Aunt Judith explained, "The new healer can heal and destroy and become immortal. But she can also be vanquished—especially now that her power is not yet that strong."
There's a healer…she can heal…why in the world am I thinking of X all of a sudden? Jonah reflected amusingly as the image of Xavier suddenly entered her mind. It was not as if she totally cared what will happen to him. But Hugh and his mother did tell her Xavier was terribly ill.
Jonah recalled she had gone for the nth time to Xavier's house to have the chance to talk to him that day. However, his mother had been the one who faced her and warned her never to see him again.
"Xavier is terribly ill!" Mrs. Lively had told Jonah. "But you should know since your mother—" she never did finish her sentence then as she started closing the door. In between gritted teeth,
she added, "You will make Xavier sicker than he already is. If you don't want him to die sooner, never see him again!"
"The new healer is at her weakest now," Aunt Judith's voice interrupted through Jonah's thoughts. "Until a year and fortnight after Rebecca's death will the new healer complete her phase to become truly powerful. And of course, she has to seal it."
"Seal what? How?" Jane queried.
"She has to give life to a dying one," Aunt Judith said. "But even then, she needs to be taught how to use her power. But this moment is the most significant because vultures—from around the world, nameless, faceless, unknown— seek the healer's blood."
"Oh, for God's sake!" Jemmah said out loud. "This is nothing but a freak-show!"
"Jemmah!" Brice, Jane and Jerone said in unison.
Kill the new healer…A voice in Jonah's head was saying. Then, heal X yourself.
Before Jonah could stop herself, she asked out loud, "What for?"
"What are you saying, child?" Aunt Judith asked. "You don't have any idea what the healer is capable of— a lot of people are thirsting for power and immortality."
"It's not what I mean—" Jonah stammered. She was feeling hot all over as it dawned on her she had spoken out loud what was on her mind. "I was really thinking of something else—"
"Ssshh!" Jervais said. Her brows met in a scowl. Suppressing her laughter and in a low voice, she added, "Just go back to your daydreaming, huh! This ain't our stuff."
Jonah slouched back on the divan to avoid further notice from anybody. But her mind was more vigilant as the conversation around her turned more serious.
"Does our family have unknown enemies, Aunt Judith?" Jerone asked. "People who are interested with the healer's power?"
Aunt Judith smirked, her eyes glowing with enmity."You don't need to create enemies to want power. Even your loved ones will thirst for it."
"The whole thing will be a witch hunt!" Jemmah declared. "Where in the world will we find the new healer?"
"A witch hunt?"Aunt Judith asked. "Of course not! There will be signs."
"What signs?" Jane asked.
Aunt Judith looked skeptical for a moment. Whether it was deliberate or not, Jonah noted her Aunt Judith did not want to reveal the signs as she changed the topic."There's one more thing though, the habak that holds the secret teachings of the healer is missing," Aunt Judith said.
"What habak?" Jane asked.
"The ancient belly chain? Is that the one?" Jerone joined in."The one she always wore with her?"
"Now, this is more interesting!" Jemmah said sarcastically. She reached out for her purse and got her lighter and a cigarette.
As Jemmah lighted the thin stick, Aunt Judith tapped the arm of her chair twice with her three middle fingers and the lighter refused to emit fire. Jemmah clicked again, this time lighting the cigar successfully. Another tapping came and the smoke just dried up.
"Did you see that?" Jervais whispered near Jonah's ear. Apparently, only the two of them noticed as their other siblings became busy mumbling to each other.
"This is getting surreal!" Jonah replied.
"Until the new healer has not surfaced yet, it will be safer for the world to speculate that we killed our poor Rebecca to keep those who are interested at bay," Aunt Judith said.
"But wouldn't that only put everyone in danger?" Jonah asked in a small voice which was barely a whisper. "Whoever is interested will be after each one of us."
Jervais nudged her by the elbow. "This ain't our stuff, remember? Be quiet!" she instructed.
Jonah kept her mouth shut. However, her mind was running amok. If the new healer was as kind as Jane, she might oblige to healing Xavier. However, if it were someone like Aunt Judith, Xavier will have no chance.
All the more reason to find the healer, defeat whoever she is and heal X…Jonah reflected, scanning the faces of the people around her under her lashes. For no matter how Xavier treated her, she was still very much into him.
Chapter 14
The Unexpected Meeting
Jonah had to get out of the house for a while. The excitement over the family's fate had totally drained her. Fortunately, Jane had called a break to prepare for dinner which the others had willingly agreed except for Aunt Judith.
The hag is acting so strange. Jonah contemplated about her Aunt Judith. She is in a hurry to find the new healer…but she doesn't even realize she's putting everyone in danger.
The air was getting cold and daylight was fading. All sorts of insect-sounds were beginning to be audible. Dusk was already peeking at the horizon, but Jonah's footsteps and her preoccupied thoughts, led her to the old trail towards the woods at the back of their house. She hadn't ventured into those paths ever since Hugh was feeding her information about Xavier.
Jonah's thoughts pleasantly drifted to Hugh. She missed Hugh. He had a way of making her feel very comfortable with a lot of things, even the really awkward ones which would terribly embarrass her if she shared them with Xavier.
Each step she took crackled under her feet with the dry leaves and twigs. In rhythm, she proceeded to the clearing that separated both the Blood's property from the Lively's family. Before she reached the clearing, she stopped, listening as another rhythm, not far behind, disturbed her.
It could be an animal… Jonah told herself. Or somebody must be following me…
She looked back and saw nothing. She went ahead until she arrived at a small dried up, man-made pond. There was a rickety, wooden bridge which was built at the end of the pond connecting the two lands. Her father used to tell her, there was a point in the past when the two families had shared raising koi, a species of fish symbolizing love and friendship in Japan.
The only thing Jonah had been privy about the drift both families had was that Rebecca Blood had been accused of cursing the other family. Yet, she suspected the feud was rooted way back a long, long time ago. And just as the pond dried up, the two families desecrated their friendship and became silent enemies.
Fond memories rushed through her as she recalled the times she saw Xavier there too…in their pond. Although, he never really talked much, she enjoyed his silent company then. And when he did use his voice, he sang her songs.
"Mushy!" Jonah said out loud.
"You still talk to yourself," a voice said from behind her.
"Hugh! Is that you?" Jonah called out, looking at her back.
"It's me!" Xavier revealed himself from the bushes and came forward— into view.
Jonah faced forward, her cheeks had felt hot all of a sudden and she wanted to turn back and run as fast as she can to where she came from. It was so odd on her part to pine for Xavier all these time and yet grow used to Hugh's presence instead.
"Hugh will be here in a while. I have asked him to meet me here," Xavier said, feeling ill at ease. For Xavier, it wasn't after all an everyday thing for a woman to search for another man just to find out she was in the presence of a man she would rather avoid.
"I didn't—I wasn't expecting for Hugh," Jonah mumbled.
"The mumbling, the talking to yourself…still have those odd behaviors," Xavier said and grinned. "But you cut your hair!"
Jonah faced him then. There were only a couple of feet away between her and Xavier. He still had his bonnet on the way he had back in the Church. But he had put on some color to his cheeks. He was too corporeal for her touch…he even smelled real.
It came over Jonah's mind. With one step, he could be in my arms…again.
Aside from oxygen, as if air had a component of courage and a knack of wisdom, Jonah breathed long and hard, until she felt she had to expel it out again. Anger has surfaced and Jonah felt grateful. Anger kept her at bay and hindered her from throwing herself and her sensibilities towards Xavier.
"Ugh!" Jonah grunted in disgust."Did you foresee it, that's why you left me without a word? Because you won't like my hair?" she told Xavier sarcastically.
"It's beautiful—" Xavier said shyly. "You're beautiful!"
"Jonah, please!" Xavier started to say. "This is not us!"
"Oh, this is us! With me—very disappointed at you!" Jonah answered Xavier flippantly. "And it is you, a very disappointing you."
"Let's talk," Xavier urged.
"If you'd begin your saga from the moment you disappeared without a word, we won't have enough time." Jonah told Xavier. "I don't have time."
"Fine! Let's not talk about us then. Let's talk about what happened earlier—" Xavier demanded boldly. "When you touched me, I felt something. I'm sure you did too."
"Of course I felt something, didn't you?" Jonah answered back. "We were dating!"
"You know I am not talking about that," Xavier said uncomfortably. His cheeks flashed pink.
"What were you talking about?" Jonah asked, confused. She had to refresh her memories about the encounter she had with Xavier earlier. At the moment, she couldn't relive what exactly happened between her and Xavier and what he really meant. "I can't remember!"
"Do you know about—" Xavier was about to tell her about the quest for the new healer, but thought it may freak Jonah out. Coming from Gilda, the story sounded all too farfetched, even if he was already beginning to believe it could be real…that Jonah could be the new greatest healer.
"Do I know about what?" Jonah replied looking flabbergasted by the moment. "X, you have got to speak out clearly. Talk!"
"No, let's not talk anymore—" Xavier said. He stepped in closer to her and scooped her up.
Jonah stood frozen to her spot and in Xavier's arms. She felt nervous all of a sudden. She could no longer hear her logic. Even her senses were in disarray. She was just anticipating and quivering deep inside for his next movement.
Xavier bent over to kiss her. When his lips touched hers, all of his nerves were vibrating and dancing to the beat of the moment. And his hands seemed to want to keep from being still as they glided through her arms to her back… to her hair…to her face. Then, there was the strange sensation of being lifted higher. He felt the urgency to jump up and down like a child. And yes, he also felt like crying and laughing at the same time. It was like he had just woken up from a terrifying nightmare and there was so much relief rushing in.
