When, at last, he found me.

by Adrianna Stepiano

  Nasani and Ethan looked to me. “You heard him. Let’s go.” I said.

  We silently shuffled out of the room, closing Joseph in with Orin. It wasn’t until we got to the main floor that the most beautiful tones began to ring through the house.

  “That dude can sing.” Ethan threw himself onto the couch and cuddled up to a pillow. “You think he can bring this guy back from the dead?”

  “Orin had very little life left in him, if any at all. I’m not sure Joseph will be able to do anymore than I could. If he had the cuff his abilities would be heightened. He’ll try though. Joseph doesn’t let lives slip through his fingers and he doesn’t like to lose. Who ever poisoned that man was sending a very clear message by using the venom of a blue-ringed octopus. It’s the same poison that was used on Joshua; I am useless against it.” Nasani blotted her eyes with a tissue and, with ease, slid next to Ethan on the couch. He moved to give her more room but still kept his body close. He offered her the pillow but she waved it away.

  “Nasani,” Ethan asked “Joshua was pretty special to you, wasn’t he?”

  She slowly nodded her head. If she allowed herself to speak a flood of tears would have been set free.

  “I know it’s not much but I’m really sorry. I’ve never experienced the loss of someone close but I imagine that the pain is unbearable.” He looked in my direction—his eyes filled with understanding and sympathy.

  Nasani smiled and shifted her weight closer to Ethan who had casually stretched out his arm and placed it around her shoulders. He closed his eyes and yawned, within minutes his breathing deepened; he had fallen asleep.

  I was tired, but found it difficult to relax. Nasani held a look of exhaustion but I got the feeling she didn’t want to give in to sleep.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I broke the long, silence.

  She nodded.

  “How is it that you have healing abilities?”

  She shifted away from Ethan, as to not disturb him, leaning forward to answer. “My family has a long history of healing abilities, so it comes naturally. However, I don’t think just anyone can learn. I’m not too sure why it worked with Joseph. He’s always had the urge to save people, animals or anything really. I suppose it comes from something within. He heals differently than I do; I saw this when he worked on you. It’s much more passionate—like he feels the pain of those he’s healing. It’s almost as if he absorbs it. I don’t experience any of the pain and suffering that the wounded or sick are feeling.”

  “Do you think he’ll be able to save Orin?” I knew I wouldn’t like her answer the second I asked my question.

  “What I’m more concerned with is that he might harm himself in the process. He won’t give up Seraphin. Just like he didn’t give up with you—healing you took so much. What’s worse is that he knows Orin and respects him. His emotions are already woven—did you see how intense Joseph’s eyes were?”

  “I did.” Immediately I wanted to rush to the bedroom and pull him away from Orin’s dying body. His voice rang through the house, more powerful than Nasani’s. “Surely he would stop before he put himself in danger.”

  Nasani shrugged her shoulders. She leaned into Ethan’s arm, closing her eyes.

  I listened to Joseph’s voice for hours. It was well into the morning when I tiptoed up the stairs. For another 30 minutes, I waited in the hallway outside the bedroom. Finally, my worry for Joseph had taken hold. Quietly, I opened the door and slipped in—my fears were confirmed. Joseph was hunched over Orin, singing his sounds of healing tones, but his skin had turned pale. Sweat poured from his body and his legs were shaking. Death had already captured Orin. There was no rise and fall of his chest and the sweat that had been on his skin earlier was dry, but Joseph wouldn’t see.

  I moved across the room, he didn’t break his focus from the old man. Taking a deep breath, I slowly wrapped my arms around Joseph from behind, laying my hands over his. At my touch, his voice turned from a soothing tone to a low moan. I felt the pain he was in—both emotionally and physically. My heart ached as his did. When I closed my eyes, I began to see why the man meant so much to Joseph. Like a movie clip, I saw young Orin in a library reading. He wore the same glasses but his hair was full with bushy brown curls. Another man joined him, placing his hand on Orin’s shoulder. A boy no more than 5 years of age, with bright blue eyes and curly blonde hair ran into the room and pounced onto Orin’s lap, throwing his small arms around the man’s neck.

  The scene changed. Orin was older with white streaks in his hair. He looked nervous as he paced outside a tall building. There were 3 beautiful women standing in the background, watching him like hawks watch prey. It was cold and snow fell from the sky. A woman wearing a black scarf around her head held the hand of a boy—too young to be a man but too old to be a child. His eyes stayed down as they approached. The woman kissed the top of the boy’s head then left. Orin placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder and the two sulked away as the hawk-like women watched. I caught a final glimpse of the boy’s face and his deep-sad blue eyes.

  Then I gasped at the next scene that filled my head. Orin stood on the beach with a man and a woman. The woman held an infant child. Her face was filled with sadness. The man turned and I saw his face. Orin held a silver box in the palm of his hand.

  My mind returned to the bedroom where Orin lay dying. “We have to save him.” I whispered.

  A blue glow filled the room. The Rune of the Sea on Joseph’s neck illuminated and was spreading light over the surface of his skin. It was so vibrant that I turned my head to the side—catching a glimpse of my own reflection in the mirror. I was glowing. The light traveled down my arms—it soon followed Joseph’s arms as well. When it reached our hands on Orin’s chest, a burst of blue energy filled the room. The pressure was too much; it threw us against the wall.

  A deep breath drew from Orin’s lips.

  Joseph and I remained on the floor; in shock. “Joseph, did you see?”

  “Yes.” He sounded unsure. “Did he show us those things?”

  “I think. Was the boy you?”

  “Yes. That was my father with Orin in his library and the woman with the scarf is my mother—I remember that day very clearly but it wasn’t my memory that we just saw. The three women standing; watching, could you see them? Who were they? We were alone that day—my mother, myself and Orin.”

  “I don’t know but they didn’t look friendly. They were watching the three of you with intent.” Chills moved through me as I recalled their sharp faces. Their features were nearly birdlike and they wore thick coats of feathers.

  “The woman on the beach, with the child—she looked like you Seraphin; was that your mother?”

  Even though I had never seen my mother, he was right. Her hair; her face; we were so much a like. A low moan came from Orin as we helped each other to our feet. We went to the bedside and the old man spoke.

  “What is the child’s name?” He said weakly but remained unresponsive when we tried to wake him. He was talking in his sleep.

  Joseph was shocked. “I think we saved his life Seraphin.”

  “You mean—you saved his life.”

  “No. I wasn’t strong enough. I was losing him—his life was slipping away. When you came in I had nearly given up. Then I felt you—your energy. We did this together.” The look he gave me was full of admiration.

  Orin began to shout. “NO—woman—stay back.” His breathing increased and I took a step back. Joseph stepped forward and placed his hands on the man’s chest. His blue eyes grew wide and his face was full of fear.

  “Joseph, what is it?” I was alarmed.

  Not answering, he began to shake his head from side-to-side. Orin screamed in terror and his torso shot forward, throwing Joseph’s hands into the air. They stared at one another. Joseph continued to shake his head. Orin panted like a dog as sweat soaked through his clothing. Neither spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Orin returned to laying, closing his eyes he remained uncons
cious.

  Finally, I broke the silence. “What just happened?”

  “I was there.” He spoke to no one then turned his attention to me. Disturbance filled his face and he looked frightened. “Seraphin, something happened to your mother. Orin knows.”

  “My mother?”

  “The memory is so foggy. I was just a child. She was holding you, but there was a flash of light and I heard a man yell.” He was frustrated as he searched for the memory. “The next thing I remember is Vanita Caro’s voice, Nasani’s mother; healing me.”

  “What did he do to her JOSEPH?” I was shouting, suddenly protective of a mother I never knew. Could this man be the reason why she wasn’t a part of my life?

  “Orin didn’t do anything,” he defended. “It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I wasn’t supposed to be there, my parents didn’t know. Seraphin, do you know what this means?”

  “It means this guy needs to wake up!” Shaking Orin, I repeated myself. “WAKE UP!”

  Joseph took my arm, stopping me. “It means your parent’s knew you were a Guardian and that they brought us together as children. I remember your little toes dangling down from your mother’s arms. You were the baby that Orin brought me to see.”

  Tears filled my eyes. “So what happened to her Joseph? Did she leave me?”

  “I’m so sorry,” he moved closer, standing beside me. “I’d give so much to know the answer to that question. All I remember is what I’ve already told you. Orin showed me my own memory, he reminded me of the day. When he wakes up we’ll know more, he’ll tell us everything.”

  Orin was breathing but remained unresponsive. “I think we should let him rest,” Joseph suggested.

  We left the room together; both exhausted. Neither of us had slept the night before. The days were beginning to blend together.

  “You should rest too. I’ll stay here and keep watch in case Orin wakes up again.” He slid down the wall and onto the hard wood floor.

  “You’re not going to sleep on a wooden floor Joseph. Don’t be silly.” I reached out my hand for him to take.

  “Honestly Seraphin, I’m fine. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep much as it is.” He ignored my hand.

  I looked at my feet and then around the hallway. A painting hung on the wall between my bedroom and my father’s. It was a blue canvas with the negative silhouette of a mitten. Little plus signs were scattered around the edges of the mitten. I took interest in it. My mind spun with thoughts of my mother. I craved more information but knew it was impossible until Orin woke. While I was lost in my thoughts, Joseph moved to be near me. I felt him standing close.

  “You need to rest Seraphin,” urging, his breath was warm on my neck.

  Of course, he was right but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Or maybe I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. I wasn’t sure. “I don’t want to be alone.”

  A long silence stretched between us. I continued looking at the painting and he remained just inches away. The wooden floorboards creaked as he shifted his weight from one side to the other.

  He drew a deep breath and exhaled. “You should go downstairs with Nasani and Ethan.”

  “Do you want me to go downstairs?” I was surprised at my own words.

  It occurred to me that he was holding back. It was my doing. I had made a mistake when I rejected him so blatantly earlier.

  “I want you to get some rest and if that means going downstairs, then yes.” He stepped away when I turned. His head was down and I watched as he slid his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “It’s been a long couple of days Seraphin.”

  “You’re right.” It was hard to leave him at the top of the stairs but I did. He watched as I walked down—on the last step, I turned. “Do me a favor and sleep in my room. It will be more comfortable and you’ll still be able to hear Orin if he wakes.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Goodnight Joseph.”

  “See you in a few hours Seraphin.”

  I made my way into the living room where the faint light of a candle burned. Ethan and Nasani slept—and from the looks of it, uncomfortably. Ethan was at one end of the couch with his mouth wide open and his limbs sprawled freely. Nasani was covered in a knit blanket and had her head resting on Ethan’s leg. Her body curled into a ball.

  I blew out the candle and locked the doors but left the window beside the chair open. The cool breeze was refreshing and within no time I fell into a deep sleep.

  It seemed like only a few minutes before the sun was shining through the window. I was awake but the rest of the house remained asleep. Glancing at Ethan and Nasani, I had to laugh. At some point they had completely changed positions. Ethan was on the floor, curled in a ball and gripping a throw pillow. Nasani had the entire couch and knew it by the way she was sleeping. As I stepped over him, Ethan let out a few choking snores.

  After I made a pot of coffee, I walked down to the beach. The water was calm and I found it hard to resist. I waded in, waist deep then fell back into the calm ocean. For several moments, there was nothing but the sound of my hair gently swaying in the rippling water. A few small fish were swimming nearby and a school of minnows was feasting on seaweed about 100 yards away. I focused, pushing further—like sonar, bouncing signals. More fish; a large colony of lobster—I had to be sensing almost a mile off shore. It was exciting to have such capabilities. I pushed even more. A worm wiggled on a fishing hook cast out from a small aluminum boat and just a few feet below that, Joseph was in a heated discussion with Ms. Z.

  Was I sensing this correctly?

  My first thoughts were naive. I was so relieved to see Ms. Z alive that it took time for reality to soak in. Ms. Z and Joseph were face to face, both fully transformed. She wore a floral swim top that accentuated her chubbiness—he was shirtless.

  Was it an illusion like the one that Orin showed? I let myself sink into the water fully. No, I was not mistaken. I felt Joseph, I felt his presence.

  They didn’t sense me and I kept my thoughts blocked so they wouldn’t hear either. My heart was racing. I could tell that Joseph was upset but I couldn’t hear his words.

  Though, it didn’t matter what they were saying. Joseph had been lying—Ms. Z had been lying. Was Nasani lying too? What a fool I had been to think Ms. Z needed rescuing—to think that Joseph and Nasani were my friends.

  Their conversation ended and Ms. Z disappeared.

  Joseph began to swim to the house—then I let him hear me. You liar! You’re not welcome in my home—in my life. Stay away from me.

  It shocked him. The last thing I heard before I ran to the shore was his pleading. Seraphin, it’s not what you think. Please let me explain. Seraphin, please!

  As fast as my legs could go, I ran up the hill and to the house. I knew it would take Joseph only minutes to swim the distance back to shore. Quietly, I woke Ethan. He was confused. I grabbed his hand and my car keys. Soaking wet and shivering, I convinced him to get in my car. We pulled out of the driveway as Joseph crossed through the ivy covered trellis. I drove away from my home on Briarwood Court while he stood in the middle of the street with a look of defeat.

  SIXTEEN

  “What is going on Phin?” Ethan rubbed his eyes—still groggy.

  “They’re lying to us.”

  “Who?”

  “They are—the people in my house, the fish people.”

  “You’re one of them.”

  “No. I’m not. I’m not a liar.” I was shouting and speeding.

  “Alright. Calm down. I don’t think Joey can catch us on his bare feet. You can slow down to at least 10 over the speed limit.” Ethan was logical, which is exactly what I needed.

  I let my foot ease off the gas pedal. My heart was racing and my mind was going even faster. Every moment that Joseph and I spent together was a lie—but no, that wasn’t the worst part. The only woman I trusted—my dear, sweet teacher had lied to me as well, and for so many years. What a fool I had been; an absolute fool.

/>   Raindrops began to pelt the windshield and a violent wind whipped through so hard that I found it difficult to steer the car straight. I realized what was happening. “I need to calm down.”

  “That’s more like it. How about you pull over and let me drive?” He suggested.

  We stopped in the parking lot of Keyes Market. Mr. and Mrs. Keyes pulled in behind us. When I got out of the car, Mr. Keyes shouted over the thunder. “Seraphin, the store doesn’t open for another hour. If you need something, I’ll get it for you.”

  Seeing Mrs. Keyes reminded me that I had less than an hour to get to work. I ran to the car and she rolled her window down. “What dear?”

  “Mrs. Keyes, I’m so sorry to do this to you today but I can’t come to work. There is something very important that I have to do. It’s about the Guardian thing,” hoping she would understand.

  “Don’t worry. Do what you must—just make sure you get out of this rain before you catch a cold. You’re soaking….” She rolled up the window before she finished her own sentence.

  I climbed into the passenger side of my car. Ethan started to pull out of the parking lot but stopped. “Where am I supposed to go?”

  “Drive to Northeast Harbor. We’re going to spend the day on Great Cranberry Island.”

  “You just told Mrs. Keyes that you needed the day off,” he was dumbfounded.

  “Ethan. I know where my father hid the relics.”

  During the car ride, I explained to Ethan how I saw Joseph and Ms. Z secretly meeting.

  “So what were they saying?” He asked the obvious question that couldn’t be answered.

  “I wasn’t able to hear anything,” sheepishly admitting.

  “If you couldn’t hear what they were saying then how do you know that they’ve been lying to us? I get that you’re upset but stop and think for a minute, Phin. Maybe they are letting Ms. Z see Joseph? Did he tell you where they are keeping her?”

  “No.”

  “He didn’t tell me either. She could be close-by for all we know.” Again, his thinking was very logical but I didn’t want to think that way.