Child, someday, you will have to face the things that frighten you. There will come a time when all this confusion goin’ sort out, then you’ll understand more ‘bout your mama, more ‘bout yourself. Don’t you worry any about that today. You’re a strong girl and when that time comes, you’ll be brave, won’t you?
I slid off the rock and started to back my way up the beach toward a set of stairs that led up to Main Street.
“Eliza, wait!” Ren said scrambling off his boulder.
I put my hands up in defense.
“This is crazy.” I said shaking my head, though a terrible gnawing feeling warned me to listen to him.
“Eliza, will you just let me explain?” He asked plaintively.
I took a deep breath assessing his deflated appearance. Despite the implications his presence held for me, he didn’t look like a threat at the moment. In fact, he looked almost as scared as I felt.
“I was going to stop by Bishop’s Tea Room before heading home. Can we talk there?” I offered reluctantly. It was starting to get dark and the dissipating light made the beach feel lonely and bleak.
“I’ll go anywhere you want to go.” He said sounding relieved. A hopeful smile spread across his face as he tentatively crossed the distance between us.
6
The diminishing light made the journey up the footpath more treacherous than necessary. We climbed a set of old wooden stairs and stepped onto the brightly lit street. Suddenly, I felt turned around on my own street. Ren’s intense gaze was incredibly distracting. I was grateful that I’d reflexively led him in the correct direction and thought that, maybe, if I could just get him talking, the intensity would lift and my head would clear.
“So, how’d you end up in Port Rune?” I spouted flippantly looking for an easy topic of discussion.
Ren’s expression darkened and his voice fell. “Before I came here, I lived in Africa, you know.” He said drawing in a breath as if the topic was uncomfortable for him to discuss, “My parents were assigned to a new project back there and they thought it was too dangerous for me. So, they sent me here to stay with my grandmother.” His lips pressed in a line and eyes clouded with thought.
“Oh, I’m sure you must miss them. I’m sorry to bring it up.” I mumbled, wondering if there was any safe topic between Ren and me.
Ren’s expression hardened.
“They didn’t give me a choice.” He said edgily.
I quickly averted my eyes regretting that I’d pried into such a touchy topic. We walked on in pensive silence for a few minutes. I waited until the hard lines of his expression softened before attempting another topic.
“So… have you always lived in Mali?” I asked tentatively.
Ren’s eyes brightened. “Well, my dad grew up in England and my mum is from here. Nan is my mum’s mum. My father’s family home in England is our responsibility now but we’ve lived loads of places. Before Mali, we were in India. But I was born in England and have lived there the most, I suppose.” He said calmly, his emotions cooling.
“Nan?” I asked.
“Oh! That’s what I call my grandmother. When I was younger I called her nana but I feel a bit ridiculous calling her that now.” He said chuckling.
“Yeah, I can see that.” I laughed along with him grateful that we’d effectively moved past the parent issue.
“What about you Eliza? How did you end up in Port Rune?” He baited.
My gaze fastened on the street ahead as I debated how to answer the question. It appeared Ren and I shared a touchy subject. After several moments of quiet deliberation I decided to tell him the truth. A truth that only a handful of people knew but considering the circumstances, felt compelled to share with him.
“My dad passed away when I was young.” I said softly. “And my mother disappeared when I was ten. The police never found anything that would help us figure out where she’d gone and she… She never came back.” I said quickly working hard to control the quivering sadness that hovered around those words.
“That’s when I came to live with Jane here in Port Rune.” I added quickly. “She’s my aunt. She owns a restaurant called Viva. Maybe you’ve seen it? It’s about three blocks down on the right.” I said gesturing toward the shops along Main Street, hoping he wouldn’t ask any more questions.
Ren was silent, so silent I couldn’t even hear him breathe. Avoiding his gaze, I stared at my feet, watching the streetlights reflection disperse on the wet sidewalk. I wondered if I shouldn’t have told him about my mother. I wondered if he was judging me, pitying me, and that thought made me angry. I didn’t need pity from anyone. Then he spoke.
“That must be hard… the not knowing.” He said gently.
His response took me by surprise.
“Yeah… it is. I haven’t thought about it... the not knowing, in a long time. But since you showed up, it seems, I can’t stop.” I responded tartly.
Ren boldly caught my gaze and held it. From the look in his eyes, I could tell he’d caught my accusation. Somehow he was linked to the resurfacing of my dark past and I wanted to know why.
Again, my eyes dropped to the ground. We continued for another block in silence until we reached Bishop’s.
“We’re here.” I said and pulled the door open for him. He insisted that I go first, holding the door open with one arm high above my head. I passed under it without needing to duck.
“Hey Jack!” I shouted, ambling up to the bar.
“’Evening, Eliza. How’s school going? Keeping busy?” Jack asked, his eyebrows raised as he glanced toward Ren.
“Everything’s going ok. This is my friend, Ren. He just moved here.” My face shielded from Ren’s view, I gave Jack a stern look.
Jack winked at me indicating there was no guarantee he wouldn’t at least try to embarrass me.
“Ren, this is Jack Connelly. He’s the owner of this lovely establishment.” I nodded toward Jack, keeping my eyes on Ren.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir.” Ren shook Jack’s hand vigorously.
“Welcome to Port Rune, Ren. Where are you from?” Jack’s tone changed. He appraised Ren curiously.
“Most recently, Mali, but England is the place I call home.” Ren replied.
“Well then, are you looking for a tea that will bring back memories of home or travel? I can accommodate both.” Jack beamed.
“A strong British tea would be fantastic. Something I can bite through, as my dad would say.” Ren said flashing a challenging grin.
Jack looked contemplative then rooted around in a low cabinet. “I think I can handle that. Eliza, would you like a green tea, as usual?” He briefly turned back to me with a polite smile.
“That would be great. Thanks.” I scanned the tiny room looking for a suitable table for our conversation. I wanted to make sure we were far enough from the bar that Jack couldn’t overhear our conversation.
“You kids go ahead and take a seat. I’ll bring your drinks out to you.” Jack said shooing us from the bar.
I bee-lined toward a table near the back of the room situated between two bookshelves. Ren slid into the seat opposite me. We stared at each other for a few minutes in awkward silence before I mustered the courage to further our conversation.
“So, we’re here. You said you’d explain...” I said, self-consciously glancing around the room.
Just then Jack arrived with two pots and cups for each of us. He’d brought cream and sugar for Ren.
“Thanks.” We both chimed nervously in unison.
“You bet. Just holler at me if you need anything else.” He nodded looking puzzled then turned and strolled slowly back to the bar.
Before answering me, Ren poured a cup of tea for me then poured his own ignoring the cream and sugar.
“Thanks.” I mumbled.
Ren stared at me with an intensity that dared me to doubt what he was about to say.
“Eliza, the first time you saw me, in homeroom, you felt something didn’t you?” He asked his eyes
were alive, as if small flames leapt within his pupils.
“Yes.” I responded meekly, taken aback by the fervor of his gaze.
“Would you like to know what I saw, when I walked into that classroom?” He asked and without waiting for an answer added, “I immediately spotted you. To make an analogy, if everyone in the room was two-dimensional and black and white; you were not only three-dimensional, you glowed with the most brilliant, pulsing colors imaginable.” He said sincerely, his eyes locked on mine. At his description of that moment, when we first saw each other, I flushed with embarrassment recalling my own reaction to him.
“Eliza, what I’m about to tell you is going to sound very strange but I ask that you listen with an open mind.” He requested solemnly.
I nodded soberly. “Go on.” I urged.
Ren sucked in a deep breath and sat up straight before speaking again. “In this world, humans are connected by a binding energy force that flows between us, through us, and around us. It’s the same force that Mr. Palmer spoke about today when he explained the meaning of the boli. This force entangles our very essence as a race and encompasses all of the plants, animals, and elements, as well.” He paused purposefully to allow me to process this first bit of information.
Rendered mute from the shock of what I was hearing, I stared wide-eyed at Ren.
“All humans’ actions, feelings, and behavior influence the energy around them be it positive or negative. Yet most people go through life oblivious to its existence.” He paused again. His voice dropped in volume as he continued.
“There are some people who are born with an innate ability to control the energy force. It is this ability, to bend, twist and mold energy at will that is commonly considered magic or what we refer to as Heka. Eliza, you are one of those people and so am I.” He said firmly.
My blood froze. Suddenly the thrumming vibration coursing through my body took on a new meaning.
Ren remained still, staring at me intently.
I don’t know how many minutes passed before my blood began to flow again, warming my cool moist skin.
“Am I understanding you correctly that you seem to think what’s happening between us is magic and that I’m doing this on purpose?” I asked skeptically.
Ren laughed and shifted in his seat again leaning closer to me. “Yes… and no. I know that you’re not consciously doing anything to affect me. Though you certainly have affected me. Rather, you emanate power, Eliza. What’s happening between us is not an exercise of magic. It’s a characteristic of it. It’s like a signal or a greeting that allows people with the gift to find each other.” He said excitedly then continued quietly.
“After that first moment in homeroom. I realized that you were unaware of your powers because of your reaction to me. But what puzzled me was how someone of your strength could have gotten this far in life without encountering another of our kind.” He added.
“Then, last night I talked it over with Nan. She was the one who suggested I could be your pharos.” He said, looking satisfied.
Suddenly aware that my mouth was hanging open, I stared at him in a state of shock. Then gently shook my head struggling to regain my senses.
“Wait a minute. You told Nan about me? Is she like this too?” I asked.
It seemed a trivial detail considering the information Ren had just dropped. Yet, I felt it necessary to piece together his story before I tackled my own.
Ren eyed me carefully as if deciding whether or not he wanted to discuss the topic.
“My family and I are members of an international society that serves a very old community. Nan’s retired from active duty with the Heka Council, but she still takes on projects when she’s needed. My parents are still…enlisted.” He grimaced continuing. “The community that the Heka Council serves isn’t bound by geographical borders, language, ethnicity, or culture. In short, yes, Nan and both my parents are gifted.” He paused and evaluated my expression.
“The project your parents are working on in Africa, is that related to this… society?” I asked carefully, knowing that I was pressing into a dangerous topic with Ren.
Ren’s expression hardened but he kept his cool. “Yes. It is.” He said curtly.
“Eliza, I’m sure you have a million questions and it could take all night to tell you everything you’d want to know but, for now, there is just one thing you must understand.” He said peering gravely into my eyes.
“I mentioned that I’m surprised you haven’t encountered another of our kind until now. The truth is, you’re old to be so unaware of your gifts. In fact, it’s impossible that you’ve remained hidden for such a long time by chance.” A worried expression crossed Ren’s face.
Hidden. Something deep inside of me jumped at the word. Again, I saw Cora’s eyes peering fretfully at me from across my bedroom. I recalled her words,
“I know how to send bad dreams away.”
A feeling of dread bloomed in the pit of my stomach.
“Eliza, I think that someone has hidden you purposefully, used some sort of shrouding spell to protect you from others, even yourself. That spell is what’s prevented you from discovering your powers.” Ren said, looking like the cat that ate the canary.
His gaze darted around the room nervously before settling back on mine.
“And… I may have accidentally broken the shrouding spell. Now it’s only right that I serve as your pharos and make sure you are protected. That’s the pharos duty, to guide and protect until a new witch can fend for herself.” He added quickly and drew in a breath as if bracing himself for my reaction.
I eyed him incredulously. In truth, I’d always known something strange happened to me the night Cora promised to send my nightmare away. To accept that she’d cast a spell over me wasn’t as difficult as maybe it should have been. But if there was a spell meant to hide me, what did its absence truly mean?
“Protect me? Why would I need protection?” I asked suspiciously.
Ren cast his eyes to his lap before answering. “There are others who can detect your powers, like I can. Some who might mean you harm. I suspect that whoever cast the shrouding spell on you was worried that you wouldn’t have a protector while you were young and vulnerable. Now, because of me, that protection is gone.” He said shamefully.
I shivered in response to his words. My mind drifted back to a dark swamp and then… there was Narissa popping up in my dreams, a long forgotten detail from the night that changed my life forever.
The terrible truth of my situation settled over me like a fog.
“I know who cast the shrouding spell.” I whispered.
Cora had meant well. She’d promised to care for me the best she knew how. Her voice echoed in my mind.
Child, someday, you will have to face the things that frighten you… You’re a strong girl and when that time comes, you’ll be brave, won’t you?
I promised her that I would be brave.
Ren’s eyes widen at my confession. “You know who cast the shrouding spell? Then…do you know why?” He asked.
I closed my eyes tightly and shook my head wishing that none of this had ever happened. A day ago, I enjoyed complete, peaceful, safe anonymity. Now the spell was broken. What would happen to me?
I opened my eyes and gave Ren a stern look. “Look it’s getting late and I promised Jane that I’d meet her down at Viva for dinner. I really need to get going.” I said brusquely and began to stand before waiting for his response.
I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of Ren’s alarmed expression.
“Wait, Eliza, you can’t just leave now. There’s so much to discuss, and plans that need to be made.” He said emphatically.
Just then I felt his hand on my arm, hot and electric, forcing me to pay attention to him.
“Don’t do that.” I spat.
Hurt filled his eyes. Certainly the guilt he harbored for getting me into this mess was tearing him up.
“Eliza, please. I know this is a shock and you
have a right to be angry with me but…”
He dropped his hand and stared daringly at me, the hurt in his gaze was replaced with a determined warning.
“You don’t have a choice. You could be in danger for more reasons than one. Will you please let me help you?” He asked firmly.
I rolled my eyes in frustration and admitted to myself that I had a confession to make.
“I really am late for meeting Jane. She’ll start to worry if I don’t show up soon. Let’s walk and talk. Viva is just down the road.” I offered.
Ren jumped out of his seat and hastily threw on his jacket. We waved at Jack as we walked passed the bar. I carefully ignored the disapproving glare he gave Ren.
As we began the journey to Viva, walking briskly down the sidewalk, I divulged my own suspicions about Cora’s spell.
“Ren, you said that you think you broke the shrouding spell on me but you’re not sure how. Is that right?” I asked carefully.
“Yes, that’s right.” He admitted.
“Well, I think the spell on me was intended to be broken.” I said evenly.
“You knew it would be broken?” Ren asked suspiciously.
I raised my hands in defense and rushed to explain. “No! Well, yes and no. I didn’t realize at the time that Cora was casting a spell on me at all. But now… now I think I’m starting to understand some things that happened a long time ago. Cora, she’s the woman who cared for me after my mother disappeared, told me that I would be protected from the things that frightened me. She also told me that someday I would have to face them. I suspect she intended for the spell to be broken at a time when I was ready. I guess this is that day.” I concluded glumly.
Ren pursed his lips and squinted at the ground. “Does this mean you’re not mad at me?” He asked hopefully.
We had just reached the entrance of Viva and I paused just shy of the door. With a streak of uncharacteristic confidence, I reached over and clasped Ren’s hand. A jolt shot up my arm.
Eliza's Shadow Page 5
