by Kristen Day
The dizziness took over and I squeezed my eyes shut. Next, I was sinking and finally…a lightness. I opened my eyes only an inch; anticipating the now familiar blinding pain that sunlight produced. But thankfully it was dark and the moon provided enough light to make out my surroundings. Four earth toned stone walls caged me inside, creating a perfect square. The walls reached impossibly high; allowing only a small view of the night sky above. No sounds penetrated its solid walls, but I could sense the ocean was near. I felt its promise of security calling to me. Where was I?
As my eyes adjusted to the shadowed features of my prison, I began to make out distinct shapes. A chest. A chair. A desk. A bed. A very comfortable looking bed. My tired mind and body ached to lie down and escape into the world of pillows and blankets that awaited. Then I realized that the mound on the bed was moving. Immediately on the defensive, I held my breath and pressed against the wall nearest to me. When the mound of covers didn’t sit up or make a noise, I relaxed slightly; eyes still fixed on the bed. I could hear someone breathing. Were they sleeping? I tiptoed carefully to the side of the bed and peered over at its contents. At least eight pillows protected the sleeper from the stone wall next to the bed, and a fluffy white down comforter blanketed the bed’s owner.
As curiosity won over logic, I carefully moved the covers back to where I assumed a head should be. I found a foot instead, and the roughness and size told me it was a guy. The leather anklet holding four black beads told me which guy the foot was attached to. I jumped back, clamping a hand over my mouth to prevent any hysterical sobs from breaking loose. Monstrous tears immediately blinded me and continued to roll down my cheeks, as I allowed my eyes to release the feelings I couldn’t vocalize.
Not realizing the toll my restraint was taking on my body, my legs failed beneath me and I slid to the floor. I leaned against the cool stone wall, taking deep breaths and crying for what seemed like hours. Finally, the tears subsided to a slow trickle and I was able to get to my knees. Unbeknownst to me, he had wrenched back the covers during my breakdown; revealing his bare torso and painfully handsome face. The need to look into his eyes was comparable to a punch in the gut, taking my breath and causing me to collapse back onto the hard floor. The desire to crawl in the bed with him and wrap myself up in his body shattered my heart again and again.
I held my breath as he mumbled something in his sleep. The tenor of his voice reverberated through my soul and I lifted myself back to my knees; allowing my eyes one last guilty pleasure. I knew it would hurt me later tenfold to even entertain this moment of weakness, but the void in my heart yearned to be filled; even if only temporarily.
“Stasia, please….” I heard him mumble, bringing back the tears in earnest. Holding back the sobs that continuously racked my tired body, my entire being became numb with pain. Too weak to resist, I reached out and touched his hand ever so tenderly. Still asleep, he moved his hand to lay on top of mine, filling me with an instant and overwhelming joy. I let it consume me and warm my heart.
My eyes eventually grew heavy and tired, so I rested my head on the mattress beside his arm and closed my eyes.
“I think she’s waking up,” a voice said; sounding very far away.
“Give her a little room. She’ll be confused when she regains consciousness.”
“Why is she so pale?” another voice asked.
“Her energy will soon be restored. As soon as she wakes up, her body will begin the regeneration process immediately.” I didn’t know who they were talking about, but it didn’t sound too promising.
“I hope so….”
“Stasia, honey?” My stream of random thoughts perked up at my name. “It’s time to wake up now; time to wake up.” Wake up? Why in the world would I want to do that?
“Stasia?” Willow! I tried to open my eyes, but the brightness scorched them and I squeezed them shut again. I struggled to move; bringing on extreme pain and pressure. This was quite unfortunate. I couldn’t imagine that never moving again was a viable option. I realized I was lying on something grainy and warm. Sand? Was I on the beach? Why was I on the beach? I attempted to open my eyes again. Amongst the piercing flashes of light, I could see several faces peering down at me with concern.
“Somebody turn off the lights. They hurt,” I heard my own voice say; still feeling somewhat detached from my own body. Somebody snickered, and I remembered getting perturbed that whoever it was found fifth degree burns on my corneas to be humorous.
“You can keep your eyes closed, but I need you to tell me how you feel,” said a voice I couldn’t quite place.
“Am I in my body?” my voice said again. I heard a hushed, panicked whispering. Then the voice spoke again.
“Yes dear. Did you leave your body?” she inquired gently.
“I went to see Finn,” my voice said. I heard several gasps and more hushed whispering.
“You’re back now. You’re okay now,” she consoled me. I just wanted to remember whose voice was speaking to me. She sounded so familiar. Once again I attempted to open my eyes. This time the light didn’t hurt as much, and I was able to see flashes of white sand and deep blue water dancing in front of me, along with a collage of faces. Phoebe. Willow. Carmen. Liam. Natasha.
Natasha?
“Natasha?” I croaked my thoughts out loud and tried to lift my head.
“Yes dear. I’m here.”
“Oh good.” The pain in my abdomen receded as I laid my head back down with a thump. I immediately thanked the sand for being so soft. A light pulling sensation was my answer, and the pain in my abdomen receded even further.
“Where am I?”
“We brought you to the Fortunate Isle. You needed the Isle’s essence to heal your body.”
“Am I hurt?” I asked, completely perplexed. No wonder I was in pain.
“You were stabbed, but we got to you in time. The Isle’s water has healed you to a point where your own cells will be able to regenerate.”
“Stabbed?!” I tried to sit up, quickly reminded by the piercing pain why I was lying down in the first place.
“Easy, trigger,” I heard Phoebe say. Somebody stabbed me? The little boy. The two little girls. As the memory came slamming back, so did the excruciating panic.
“What happened? Is everybody okay?” The pain returned as the panic made my stomach clench.
“Shhh…you need to rest. We’ll talk about it later.” Later. For some reason ‘later’ seemed like a luxury I didn’t have. But I couldn’t remember why. Not feeling up to searching my memory banks; I closed my tired eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next thing I knew, I was being carried. A soft wind flowed along the bare skin of my legs and my senses reveled in the decadent smells of sage and lavender. Without fully opening my eyes, I could tell it was twilight. The absence of bird calls, the cool breeze, and an odd sense of just… knowing were my only clues.
I also sensed something else. A recognition. A welcoming. I could feel the energy of each tree. Each shrub. Each small animal foraging. They stilled as we travelled by; acknowledging our presence. Or was it just my presence? Something else whispered to my heart and my soul. The jewelry lying against my skin warmed slightly, and a frenzied energy began to race through my veins.
Both of my traces warmed and I knew. I was home.
“I don’t see a house,” I heard Carmen say.
“You are correct. But that doesn’t make it any less real, child,” Natasha answered wisely.
“So, do we do a dance? Say a chant?” The corner of my mouth lifted in response to Phoebe’s questions.
“Maybe we should ask the future Goddess who’s pretending she’s still asleep,” Willow snickered. Damn.
“I’d really like to see you guys do that dance,” I retorted softly; immediately surprised at how much better I felt. My abdomen reflected a dull ache, but it was only slightly uncomfortable. I knew the island was healing me. And one dip in Thetis’s estuary would fix me right up. I knew the magical
qualities of the water on the Isle because it had healed me the last time I was on the brink of death. I was apparently making a habit out of that these days.
“As would I,” the voice of the person carrying me said. Liam. He was just as strong as Finn; supporting my weight effortlessly as we stopped in front of the intricate wrought iron gate.
“Stasia! It’s your trace!” Willow exclaimed as she ran up to the gate.
“Careful, Willow,” Natasha warned and then turned to Liam. “Move Stasia closer. The house will feel her essence.” Liam slowly stepped forward inch by inch with a slowness that made me giggle.
“It’s a house, not a volcano. It’s not going to hurt you,” I smiled up at him. I looked to the right and took in the same meadow I had seen the first time I’d come to the Isle, spreading out before us just past the gate. Then I remembered the lightning. I guess that could technically hurt us. Maybe I spoke too soon. I felt my trace burn and the gasps told me the house had appeared. No dramatic entrance. No natural disasters or lightning. One second it was invisible and the next, a sprawling, majestic home stood before us. Unlike the last time I had arrived, the home and surrounding gardens were immaculate. The mangrove trees still dwarfed the manor with their size and stature, but nothing could compare with the home’s beauty. Not even the gardens overflowing with the colors of Autumn displayed by the mums, zinnias, and marigold flowers.
“That’s unbelievable,” Liam muttered in amazement.
“So it recognizes her?” Carmen asked with shock swiftly spreading over her dark features.
“That’s right,” Natasha confirmed. “She awakened the island, as well as the house, the first time she arrived.”
“Wow,” I heard Willow breathe.
“I think I can walk now,” I informed Liam. He gently tilted me forward; allowing my feet to land softly on the grass below. As soon as my feet hit the ground, the frenzied energy rushed through me like an electric current. I closed my eyes and sighed with happiness. I pushed open the ornate gate crawling with ivy and led everyone down the stone path. The sandstone exterior of the house shaded with the warm colors of sunset set my heart on fire. Its gothic majesty wasn’t lost on my roommates, who were still gawking like it was their job. As I stepped onto the first step leading towards the door, it clicked automatically and swung open slowly.
“You better say it’s supposed to do that,” Carmen narrowed her eyes at me.
“It’s supposed to do that,” I snickered back at her. As we entered the grand parlor, my focus fell on one thing only. The fountain. Namely the estuary that lay hidden below the fountain. And it was calling to me. As everyone else scattered around the room to appreciate the many wonders it held, I walked straight for the fountain. I stood on the edge and peered down into the shaded water below. It was also fairly dark in the house as well. We would need lights soon. Before I could get my thoughts out, several lights including the crystal chandelier hanging over the staircase came to life. I could definitely get used to that.
“You better say it’s supposed to do that,” Carmen hissed at me from behind Phoebe, whom she’d jumped behind in a brief moment of fear.
“I honestly didn’t know I could do that,” I smiled widely at her, enjoying the connection I had with the house. It was almost as if it were an extension of myself.
“What are you doing?” Phoebe asked curiously just as I stepped off the ledge of the fountain; submerging my body in the soft, healing waters of the estuary. I automatically took a deep breath of water, marveling at the warmth it sent through my body. It was dark, but I could still see relatively well…so I wasn’t expecting what happened next. The algae on the walls of the underwater cavern began to emit a blueish glow, illuminating the underwater room in an ambiance of magic. My trace shimmered blue right along with them and I continued to swim in circles, enjoying the feel of the water gliding over my skin.
“Hello, dear. I see you found your mother’s favorite hiding place.”
Chapter 31
I whirled around at Natasha’s soft voice to see her descending from the fountain with a nostalgic glow lighting up her face. Her flowing black pants and lacy top danced in the water as she swam to me.
“You can breathe underwater, too?” I asked, completely shocked. She smiled at my surprise.
“I have an affinity for killer whales,” she explained, “therefore I have the ability to breathe underwater.” I thought about what she had said and tried to wipe the utter disbelief off of my face. I don’t know why it was so surprising - Finn could breathe underwater. It would only make sense that his mother could as well. I was still trying to figure out how one comes to the conclusion that they have an affinity for killer whales when I registered her comment.
“Did you know my parents well?” I questioned her.
“Yes. Your mother was a brilliant leader and your father was an loyal, loving husband; he was the foundation of her strength and happiness. They loved you very much. They would be proud of you, Anastasia.” She touched my arm, “I know I am.”
As I allowed her endearing words to touch my heart, I remembered Finn’s betrothal. The walls of my heart slammed shut and I twisted away from her.
“Why are you here?” I said harshly.
“Your friends brought you to my house last night when they found you in the kitchen. They knew I could help,” she explained with concern.
“Last night?” Anxiety clutched my chest, “What’s today?”
“Today is November 1st.”
“That means…”
“You will need to leave for the Underworld at midnight.” As if that realization wasn’t enough, it would also be Finn’s eighteenth birthday. The day of his fight. The day he would be betrothed to Nadia. I spun around to face her again, anger spreading through my veins.
“Why didn’t you tell me Finn was betrothed?” I spit at her with venom in my voice; instantly feeling guilty. But I deserved an answer. I had trusted her. I thought she cared about me. I waited as she took a deep breath and her features settled into sadness. It seemed like she had aged considerably since the last time I had seen her. Being the mother of the Future Prime must take its toll on a woman.
“It wasn’t my secret to tell, Stasia,” she answered calmly, instantly infuriating me.
“Apparently it wasn’t anyone’s secret to tell, since I had to hear it from Nadia!” I yelled, exasperated.
“I am so sorry, dear.” She reached for me but I swam farther down into the cavern; running my fingers over the fronds of the kelp to calm me down. Several of the massive seaweed stalks swayed in my direction and I allowed them to wrap around me, comforting me and showering tiny electrical currents across my skin. Natasha kept her distance, but I wasn’t done talking.
“And now it’s too late. Tomorrow is his birthday.” As the tears burned in my eyes I let them melt into the surrounding water. “It’s too late.”
“Finn is very wise. He does nothing without forethought and careful consideration. I trust he has a plan.” She swam closer, “He loves you.” Her words only succeeded in eliciting an onslaught of sobs as my sadness pulsed through me. I wiggled out of the seaweed as she gently hugged me and I pulled her close, craving a supporting touch. She let me cry for several minutes before she pulled away and met my eyes. The dark red stone around her neck glistened and seemed to catch fire in the blue light of the algae. It was magnificent.
“It was a gift from Finn’s father, Charon.” She smiled lovingly as she grasped it in her hand.
“It’s gorgeous. What kind of stone is it?”
“Fire agate. It represents the Underworld.” Fire agate. That was the stone hidden within the black onyx Finn had given me. And the same stone hanging from Nadia’s necklace. Now it made sense why it would act as a beacon for anyone who knew its meaning. Bianca said it would call to Nadia. Finn said it would act as a beacon for my mother in my reveries. What else could it do?
Would Charon also recognize the black onyx and fire agate stone Fi
nn had given me? The possibility of bumping into Charon while I was the Underworld did little to make me feel better.
“If Charon is in the Underworld, how do you ever get to see him?” I asked curiously. Talk about a long distance relationship. Something else occurred to me, “And how is that possible?
Doesn’t your soul have to be connected to the Underworld in order for you to be married?” She patted my hand and smiled.
“You are correct, but Charon comes and goes from the Underworld at will. He visits often.
Secondly, there is much you do not know about me. I am a descendent of Hecate, as is my own mother. Hecate is a goddess of the Underworld, so I am connected to the darkness. I am also connected to the sea as my father was a Tyde.”
“But…Hecate? Wasn’t she technically a witch?” What we read in history class had painted a picture of dramatic displays of sorcery and witchcraft.
She chuckled at me, “She is the goddess of magic and witchcraft, so I suppose she could be classified as such.” This was one of the most fascinating things I had ever heard. Descendent of Hecate and a Tyde? She was the ultimate double threat.
“So what kind of abilities do you have?”
“I have a connection with all herbs and plants as well as the moon. I have the ability to work enchantments.”
“Like a real witch!?” I blurted out.
“Technically, yes - although the term ‘witch’ is fairly recent in the history of the world. In its rawest form it isn’t the hocus pocus you see in the movies. I simply call upon the elements to assist me.”
“Wow.” I was utterly impressed.
