It disturbed me how Detective Paulo Kopono was heading up a drug cartel and still not be arrested by how own employers. Did Honolulu Police not know, or was it only speculation taht Kopono was in deep. If he really had taken over the cartel, he was not allowing it to be obvious. From a distance, his appearance hadn't changed. He was average height, slight build, tanned and fit in as a local. The hair around his temples were turning grey and new pudge around the belly, but nothing of any significant physical change since the last I had seen him. This time, I could see what others could not. I could see directly into his soul and it was as black as any soul I had ever seen.
I sat patiently all through the night outside his home. As Kopono was leaving for his morning shift, I approached him cautiously. He lived at the end of a secluded road with only two other homes in view. The one next to his was where Kalani had resided. Her old home had the venetian blinds closed. The other house didn't seem to have anyone stirring either. Two red-crowned parrots were sitting in the tree a few feet from his front door. All I could hear was the squawk from one of the parrots and the wind flapping through the nearby palm trees.
“Good morning, Detective. I think we have some unfinished business.”
He let out a giant laugh then said, “Holy shit if it’s not, Mr. Kalani. Never thought I would see your cowardly face on this island again. Either you have a death wish or you’re plain stupid to get in my path. How’s that sexy wife of yours? I ain’t seen her in months. Did she send you to collect her money or something? You can tell her from me, she gets no money until she comes to collect up close and personal. I so love seeing that cute ass of hers.”
“What are you talking about? How do you even know we were married?”
His laugh grew louder. “Okay, so we ruled out a death wish, and now moved to plain stupid. What you doing here? Hurry up and explain yourself before I either cuff you for good, or put a bullet in your skull. Then I can bury you with all the other stupid people who cross my path one too many times.”
“First of all Detective, you won’t be doing any shooting since there is a sniper in the nearby trees with his cross hairs squarely between your eyes. He will kill you if you reach for your weapon. See, I'm not so stupid after all. Now, tell me what money you're talking about and I will allow YOU to live.”
“You think I believe you? Your wife, you know Kalani, the one you think you know so well, I know what she did to Kapena. See here on the islands, we believe in spirits. Since you don’t seem to know so much about your own wife, the woman has powers. She put my old boss in that mental place with her voodoo. I pay her to use her voodoo powers for me now. It keeps my men from thinking they can muscle in on my side job. When anyone tries, she does her magic and they drop like swatted flies. But the beauty is; I don’t have anyone looking for a dead body since they are still upright and walking. No cops looking up my ass, and I get to kill people in plain sight. I still don’t know exactly what her voodoo does, but it sure is good shit. I love having my special voodoo lady working for me. Look at your face. What? You didn’t know? Did you?”
I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. He had no reason to lie to me. He didn’t seem to even give it a second thought that maybe I had the same power as Kalani. He was just so full of himself standing there, laughing in my face. I didn’t know if I should thank him or rip out his soul. I decided to do both.
“Detective, you're right. I had no idea. However, I'm not here to collect any money. But I do want to thank you for opening my eyes. I just don’t know why she would do it? We have plenty of money.”
I stood there for a few moments listening to the parrot squawking incessantly in the tree above my head, as if the green and red bird was attempting to confirm all I had heard. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, realizing Kopono was not yet finished with his story.
“Who knows? Who cares why she does it? Maybe it has nothing to do with the money and only because she loves to please me. Oh, wait; if you didn’t know about the cash then I’m dead sure she never told you she and I were more than friendly neighbors. You’re downright blind to what goes on under your nose, aren’t you? You think I didn’t know she would take out Kapena for me? She told me about her witchcraft, so I wanted to see if it was all true. I got all scared when Kapena drugged her. I figured she didn’t have any spiritual powers, so I was willing to cut her loose. Then you come charging in on your white horse and save my ass. I really should thank you. Maybe I’ll let you leave here walking just because I owe you one. How’s that, Mr. Kalani? You think I owe you one? Maybe I do. I can see you are in shock that you’re married to a voodoo lady and don’t even know it. I guess she hides all her magic potions from you. How’s she doing?”
“She has been ill lately. I was hoping she would get better soon, but now I'm not so sure.”
“I can tell all this news is not sitting well in your gut, eh, Mr. Kalani?”
He was right. I was second-guessing not only my marriage, but if I should risk my own life to restore her soul. However, I had to know the truth.
“One more thing before I leave, Detective. If you don’t mind? When did it end with you and Kalani? It's important for her health. I need to know if you're telling me the truth.”
“You want to know despite her secrets if she is a good wife? I woke up in a good mood, so all I am going to say is that she loves you. I don’t know why, you being so stupid and all. Now, I’m going be late for work, so kindly move away from my car. I don’t know what your true business was, and I don’t believe you have a sniper pointing his rifle my way. But since I don’t want my day to be ruined, just in case you are telling me the truth, I am going to let you walk away with no trouble. However, if you ever step foot on any of the Hawaiian Islands again, I’ll know about it. I suggest you turn and move away quickly, before my good mood runs out.”
It was time for me to complete the reason for my visit to Paulo Kopono and make sure he didn’t harm anyone else in the future.
“Sure, Detective, but before I leave. I'd like to shake your hand and thank you for all you have shared here today. After all, I really only came here to shake your hand.”
“You’re one dumb asshole, but sure, if that’s all you want, let’s shake that you will never return here again. The next time send that sweet piece of ass you got at home to see me. Be sure to tell her to check in I might have more magic I need doing.”
We firmly clasped right hands. I looked him square in the eyes and prayed that Mikael was right. I never required a camera. His grip started to weaken as he fell to his knees. He looked up at me in sheer horror, now understanding his fate. The shock in his eyes matched mine with what he had informed me about my wife. I felt no mercy, no pain for him, and no desire to offer redemption.
As I watched him struggle, falling at my feet, I said, “You will never touch or disrespect my wife again. Yes, you fool, I know all about my wife’s magic. Here is another surprise for you, my magic is stronger than hers, and your soul is now mine.”
As I let go of his hand, he completely fell to the ground. I turned, looked up at the morning sky in its full beauty, then staggered down the dirt road ignoring his snivel for mercy.
My report was sent to the Council and permission was granted to attempt to restore Kalani’s soul. I headed off to Tahiti with the idea that I could do this alone. I decided not to go back to Jamaica and ask Mr. Duvalier for assistance.
I didn’t want to believe what Kapono had told me was true, but why would he lie about it? She never told me about any trips to Hawaii after we were married. I knew there was no evidence of extra money. Could I have been wrong about my own wife? Maybe the Council had been telling me the truth about Kalani and I had it all wrong? I still felt obligated to restore her back to health and discover the truth.
After arriving in Tahiti, I was met with great skepticism from my in-laws. My mother in law was against allowing me to restore Kalani, but my father in law relented. After all, I was still her husband. I also believed he was
starting to think if it was possible, any chance to restore his daughter was a risk worth taking. They both wanted to participate, but I knew the importance of having total peace during the process.
They told me of a secluded beach, where people were rarely seen. I told my father in law that he could stand guard off in the distance to make sure no one approached within screaming distance while I attempted to reclaim her soul.
I took my wife to the beach and propped myself against a sand dune several feet from the ocean’s waves. The late afternoon wind was still. The only noise was the crash of the waves beating against the ancient sand. Off in the distant horizon, I could see a large ship heading towards my right. A few gulls nosedived for an early dinner to my left, but no other signs of life were evident. My father in law stationed himself many yards behind us to stop any curious onlookers.
I laid my wife across my lap so that her face was looking up at me. I ran my fingers through her hair, assuring her that things would be better. I revisited in my mind all the things that Mr. Duvalier had taught me the first time, and replayed all the actions I had taken the first time this was attempted. I was confident I could do this without the aid of others.
I relaxed my body, then my mind. I called upon the sprits to lift my soul to the Shadows of Souls and let me again communicate with the gatekeeper. The spirits heard my call and lifted my soul into another dimension. The light was dim. It all seemed similar to when I captured Dylan’s soul, however this time the rays of light were orange.
It was hard to see the image of the gatekeeper but I could hear a man’s voice ask, “You have returned to seek another of my protected souls?”
“I have.”
“And for what reason do you believe this soul deserves redemption?”
“Because her soul was removed without justification and I'm sure she wants to reconnect with her family.”
The light intensified sending a dazzling display of radiant orange beams of light dancing across the entire dimension.
“All of you, who come from earth to my gates, imagine you have the correct answers, but you do not. You dare to assume all my souls deserve restoration and return to earth. When they return, there is pain and destruction. Here there is none of that. Oh yes, many of the souls in my care added to the pain and misery of earth, but they are content here. Here we survive in peace. For some here, this is their redemption.”
The intensity of the light subsided and the orange started to form a human body. I had learned the gatekeeper would always take the form of an object or person that made the intended soul think of good things on earth. As the image became clearer, I guess I shouldn't have been shocked, but I was. The gatekeeper formed in my image.
“You need to show me the way to the soul ," I said. "I seek gatekeeper. I seek the soul of Kalini Inoke Novo.”
“I know who you seek. I also have told you not all souls deserve a second chance and should remain here. Why should I show you the way to her soul?”
“The Council removed her soul out of her love for me. She did it because she thought she was protecting me. This is not her time.”
“You dare come before me and lie about your reasons? Do you think I don't know the truth about the souls I protect? Her soul is damaged, more than you tell me, and I think you know it. Now again, tell me why the soul you seek deserves to be reunited with its earthly body.”
The light again intensified as if I had angered the gatekeeper.
“Gatekeeper, in truth, she is a loving wife, and caring mother. If everyone who made one horrible mistake was sent here, there might not be anyone left on earth. She deserves another chance at life in her earthly form.”
Moments later, the lights were gone. Only a voice hearkened in the distance, “The soul you seek sends a message to you. She is not who you think she is, and you should return home and raise your son. Now leave, Caeles Novo. You have failed.”
“Tell her that I know exactly who she is, my beautiful wife and the mother of our child. Nothing else matters. It is time to come home.”
My mind raced with thoughts of failure. Our lives could not end this way. Time passed slower than a dripping Molasses tree.
I opened my earthly eyes and looked deeply into Kalani’s brown eyes with the faded green specs. I used all the powers of my mind and begged her that if she ever felt connected to me in more than a physical presence to hear my plea to return. The green specs flickered as I again closed my eyes.
The spirits wrapped my soul around their tender arms, as one orange light penetrated through their protection, and attached an orange crystal to my soul. The crystal was not as vibrant as it had been the last time my soul was in this dimension, but it attached to mine. Within seconds, both souls returned to my earthly body, my mind noting the entire life of my wife. All her fears, joys, beliefs, and stories were tattooed to my brain.
As my body acclimated itself to being whole, I sensed something was wrong. Our kind was immune to most earthy diseases, but I felt like someone would when having the flu. I felt tired, run down, and my mind was blurred. The last thing I thought I saw before falling unconscious was Kalani’s face looking up and smiling.
Kalani's father told me that I had slept for two days. I awoke in a hospital bed where my father in law worked. I made an effort to get out of the bed, but as I stood, I felt lightheaded and was helped back into bed. The nurse advised rest. All I could think about was restoring Kalani’s soul, which now resided inside me. I needed to finish my task. I knew the strength I would need to restore her soul was evading me. After lying awake for an hour, my father in law came to visit.
“You gave us a scare, Cale. You had little signs of life for more than a day. I didn't know what to do for you other than lay you here and hope your body would heal itself. I couldn't find anything wrong with you specifically, that I could treat. All your reflexes were working, but there was little brain activity. How do you feel now?
“I feel like I was run over with a truck. How is Kalani?"
“She's the same. She's resting at home. You can see her in a day or so, but for now, you should rest. I really didn’t think you were going to survive whatever it was you went through. You might think twice before trying that again.”
“Thanks, Doc, but I’ll be fine. I was warned that if I accepted a soul that I did not steal, this might happen. Once I regain my strength, I can restore your daughter’s soul.”
“You didn’t do that already?”
“No. I brought her soul back to earth with me, but it remains with me.”
Doc smiled. “That’s a huge relief because we've not seen any change in her and assumed you failed.”
“I refuse to fail.”
“Get some rest. I'll check in on you again before I go home tonight.”
Confined to a hospital bed far from home is not what I would call fun. Granted I was getting plenty of attention from the staff, but I had work to do. Much to my surprise, I had a visitor later that evening.
“Nice to see you are still with us, Caeles. The Council was concerned you wouldn't survive reclaiming Kalani’s soul. I presume I don’t need to tell you that some on the Council were even quietly rooting you wouldn't survive.”
“Thank you for your visit, Elder Spia. And you, what were you quietly rooting as an outcome?”
“It's easy to presume that we stand united with every decision, but appearances are not always reality. As a Council, we're called on to make difficult decisions. Even the one to remove Kalani’s soul in the first place was not an easy one. You would be unwise to assume we take our responsibilities lightly.”
Elder James Spia was the oldest member of the Council. He rarely spoke anytime I was standing in front of our six elders. With him, you could tell his emotions by looking at his facial expressions or demeanor in his seat.
“Elder Spia, if you are not careful, I will confuse you with a politician running for the next election and not a member of our Council. You told me many words, yet did not answer m
y question, unless my brain is still not functioning.
With a soft chuckle he responded, “I was in favor of you succeeding. However, I am here to warn you of troubles in your future. Kalani had taken more than one unauthorized soul. She was reprimanded for it more than once. I know you believe we took her soul only because of the one incident, but you would be wrong.”
“I know all about the others, Elder Spia, and I know why. Remember, her soul lives within me now, so I know all her secrets. She took those souls for money. Look around you. Although I do not agree with her choices, she donated all the money taken from the drug cartel to this hospital. It is why she did what she did.”
“That does not excuse her, Caeles. I'm here to remind you of one simple idea. You cannot have good without evil. I know your intentions for wanting to restore souls is honorable and pure. I know you're not a perfect soul, but still one who wants good, not evil. But we cannot have good without evil. When you restore her soul, heed my words. You have accepted the responsibility of keeping Kalani from performing evil. It won't be a simple task. I will leave you to your healing now, but commit to memory my words. Without evil, goodness cannot exist.”
CHAPTER Twenty Four
Soul Intentions Page 24
