Vin imagined that, for a brief moment, he might have felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but he received no other response. He continued to sit there, letting the winds run free around him with a billowing effect on his clothes and waves rippling through his hair.
He tried to see each of the choices that might confront him in the next hours, debating the pros and cons for each of his potential responses. While this process confirmed much of what he already expected from himself, it did not bring Vin any closer to those last few pieces of the puzzle that had been deliberately removed from the box before he started building.
When Vin returned to his home, he picked up the conversation right where he left it as if no time at all had passed.
"Ben, you told Salma that you discovered more. I need to know what it is," Vin stated flatly, his voice little more than a whispering wind. He did not receive an answer right away. Instead, Ben glanced at Salma and Vin followed his gaze.
She noticed the two men looking at her and quickly began to feel uncomfortable.
"What? I’m pretty sure I am not another one of Vin's long lost relatives," she joked hesitantly to help mask her tension.
"No. You are not related to Vin."
Ben let the words float across the short distance between them. It took a few seconds for Salma to comprehend the silence that followed.
"Caeli? Do you think I’m related to Caeli? How could that be? I know who my mother was, though I lost her when I was young."
"How did you lose her?" Ben asked.
"There was a raid on our city. My parents and I were separated as we sought shelter. Almost four hundred people died that day. I never saw her again, and my dad told me she perished when a building collapsed," Salma related her vague memory of that day.
"My father brought me to this country so that he could raise me in a place where he had family and friends to help him."
"What was your mother’s name?" Ben asked with sympathy for the pain relived in that memory.
"Shukura Mesi Yamanu."
Ben walked over to the wall of photos he was studying earlier and motioned for Vin to join him.
"Who is this lady holding the toddler I assume to be your wife?" Ben pointed out an older photograph from a time in Caeli’s childhood.
"That is Caeli's grandmother holding her own daughter, not Caeli. Caeli kept the photo out of respect for her grandmother. Jaddah helped Caeli’s mom raise her after a car accident took the life of Caeli's father, Jaddah's son. Caeli was extremely fond of her grandmother."
"And what was her full name?"
"I honestly don’t know her full name. Caeli always referred to her as Jaddah Mesi. I always thought it was either a foreign name or a personal nickname. But, now that you mention it, there is an undeniable resemblance," Vin replied as he looked back and forth from the photo to Salma.
"Jaddah is simply a common term for Grandmother." Salma walked over and was leaning in to get a better look at the photo. She gasped in recognition.
"That’s my mother! And, you're right. That is not Caeli she's holding. It's me. I have a copy of this same picture." Salma confirmed Ben's theory, and her eyes grew very wide with the surprise of this discovery.
"How did I not see this photo before now? Surely, Caeli must have known her grandmother's former name. I have told her my mother's name many times. She would have made the connection. How is this possible?"
"Obviously, your mother did not perish in that attack. She must have eventually given up on you and your dad, and moved on with her life. She remarried and had another child, Caeli’s dad. That, of course, makes you Caeli's Aunt. I believe that is why you were so drawn to her, and why you are able to reach Caeli with your special gift," Ben finished the tale.
"Fate, it seems, has been weaving this web for quite some time."
"It's incredible! Caeli is going to be thrilled when you tell her, Salma. She already thinks of you as family. You know, Jaddah was able to talk to Caeli, too, just like you did. I never gave it much thought until now, but it makes sense that you inherited the ability," Vin said to Salma.
Salma took a few minutes to digest the news. As she was absorbing the impact of this information, Vin startled her once more with another unexpected outburst.
"Salma, this explains Javeed! He didn’t befriend me only because he was your great grandfather or because he knew of your ability, but also because he was related to Caeli. This is amazing!" Vin thought he at last understood his new friend. Javeed practically begged Vin not to do this, having a suspicion of what was afoot. He wasn’t just looking out for Vin’s common circumstances. Javeed was watching over his family, all of it, Salma and Caeli included.
Salma stood quietly now leaning into Ben’s comforting embrace and staring at the photo on the wall.
"Vin, did you know my mother well?"
"No. If you recall, she died the week Caeli and I met. I only know what Caeli has told me about her. Caeli said that, after Jaddah's son died, she divorced her second husband whose anger nearly drove him mad. He tried to convince Jaddah that it was God’s fault that she lost both of her kids. He wanted retribution for the loss of his only son. I think he was not an entirely stable person to begin with, and the grief was too much for him to bear. He was never a part of Caeli’s life. He never even knew that his daughter-in-law was pregnant. However, Jaddah lived with Caeli and her mom from the time Caeli was born. When Caeli was in grade school, her mother died. Her grandmother was the only family Caeli had left. She was a strong, wise, and kind woman. Jaddah loved Caeli very much. I am so sorry you did not get the chance to spend more time with her," Vin answered.
Ben listened quietly, but did not say anything. He held Salma tenderly as she tried to contain a soft sobbing. The three stood in the hallway together sharing a glimpse of the profound machinations that brought each of them to this point. It was Ben who stirred first.
"Vin, you haven’t told us about Caeli. Where is she being held?" Ben queried, ending the serene moment and dissolving the mood that lingered among them.
"She's in a remote compound in Idaho. I followed my sister. She has taken the Book of Elements, the book that our replica was modeled after, and offered her services to my adversary. He will use Dalla to access its power and wreak global devastation," Vin replied.
"What sort of place is it?" Ben asked.
"It's an old facility that looks like it might have been a monastery or school at some point in time. Caeli is there, but has not been harmed further. I believe he is waiting for me to attempt her rescue. Until then, Caeli is not in any immediate danger."
"We’ll need an exact location. How long do we have? It will take us several hours to drive across the state and reach the Idaho border," Ben replied.
"What do you mean? I can get there without delay. I don't need a car."
"We’re going with you. I assume you need some way to transport the book, right? Isn’t that why you’ve been staring at it, trying to figure out a way to move it yourself?" Ben put all his cards on the table now. He had long since decided that he would see this through, no matter what. He suspected that Salma had the same intention.
"Yes. You are right," Vin admitted reluctantly.
"I could carry it on the wind along with me, but there is something unusual in the way it feels. I believe it is a reaction of my current state to the blood of my former state in the book’s decoration. It is extremely difficult and exhausting for me to move it. I have tried several times. It would require more of my attention and time than I can spare."
Vin admired the quickness of Ben’s mind and his keen observations. His and Salma's help would be invaluable. It might even provide him with an advantage not originally anticipated.
"Thank you for doing this, both of you. I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to me. I’ll show you the location and the route the same way that I showed you the image of the book, if you will join me." Vin moved to stand in front of the table. He waved one hand over the wood and the o
ther in front of their eyes, imprinting the image he displayed on the table into their minds, a trick Vin learned from Tabbris.
"It should only take two hours to drive there. Thankfully, Washington is not as large as some of the other states, and the place in Idaho is near the western border. His time is nearly gone. He must make his attempt tomorrow or not at all. We should have plenty of time to reach him before that happens."
Vin went on to explain his plan and told them exactly what he needed them to do when they arrived. It was risky, and they would only get one chance. If they failed, it was likely that Vin, too, would fail. That would doom them all to an unpleasant future.
"There is still one part that I don’t understand. Originally, this guy wanted to kill Caeli so that he could get to you, use you to access the book? If Dalla, your sister, can give him that access now, then why does he still need you?"
"The Book of Elements is the key to unlocking the force he will use to destroy the barrier from this side, but he needs something more. He has to have a connection to the other side of the barrier. I would have satisfied both of those requirements if Caeli died. Although he may no longer need the inheritance of my blood, he does still require that connection. Caeli and I are still linked. Somehow, he intends for me to help him destroy the barrier from my side. Unless both sides fall, he will just be taking chunks out of a wall that will never yield."
"If you succeed in rescuing Caeli, you can walk away, leaving him with no other recourse? Does your sister not have a link to the other side that can be exploited? Would that be the end of it?" Ben puzzled over the theories involved.
"As far as I understand it, yes. Caeli is truly the mate to my soul. I’m told that is a rare happening, and it is what allows us to remain linked. If there is more going on than that, it is beyond my knowledge."
When the discussion came to an end, Vin welcomed them to make use of his home as if it were their own, and he left them for the remainder of the evening. He made arrangements to meet them when they neared the monastery tomorrow morning. There was another matter that Vin needed to deal with in the meantime.
CHAPTER 32
Vin went first to visit Caeli. He needed to see her once more before the final madness commenced. He hoped that this would end well. Yet, even if it did, Vin expected that his situation would change. No matter the outcome, Vin felt his time with Caeli coming to an end, and it was the worst pain he had ever endured.
Nonetheless, he could not let her know that he was there. Vin assumed that she was being watched for just such a visit. If he tipped his hand now, the game would begin before he had all his cards in play. Vin watched Caeli as she sat quietly in the darkness and solitude of the room. She sat with her back against the headboard of the bed, knees drawn up to her chest, head and one arm resting atop them. A gray blanket covered the thin mattress beneath her, and her other hand repeatedly wound and unwound a bundle of the blanket’s fabric.
Vin could see that Caeli was angry, and she was thinking. He had watched the familiar, unconscious fidgeting many times over the years when she was confused or trying to solve a problem. It was another of her many qualities that Vin found so endearing. Right now, he presumed it meant that Caeli was trying to figure out a way to take action against her captor. She would not give up. Caeli's relentless search would likely keep her awake all night if she did not find a solution that she could use. There was nothing Vin could do to assist her just then. He had to allow her the small comfort of trying to affect a change in her own situation.
He hoped that whatever answer she eventually ended up with, for he had no doubt that she would devise a plan, would not interfere with his own agenda. Vin tried to imagine what choices Caeli would make. Then, he followed them through in his own mind to see if they might overlap with his plan. Naturally, they did. Anything Caeli did would have to involve that old man, the Book of Elements, and probably Dalla.
Vin should have expected as much, but fearing for her safety, he completely forgot to anticipate Caeli's own reaction. He knew that she would not just try to escape to prevent herself from being used as bait, but that she would also try to help avert the trouble. Caeli would try to help him if she could. Vin would have to pay close attention to her tomorrow so that he did not miss any indication she might give as to her intentions.
Vin had to leave before his sudden need to talk to her overwhelmed his good judgment. He left Caeli's room with a heavy heart, but glad that he got to see her. Vin moved down the hallway, drawn toward the room at the end. He stole a quick look through the window of a door on his right, opposite Caeli’s chamber, and saw a person sleeping on the bed, hooked up to monitoring devices that resembled the ones used in hospitals. He noted the unusual way the man was positioned with his hands crossed over his upper body. Vin did not linger after catching a glimpse of movement in the far corner of the man's room. He hurriedly moved on to avoid the chance of accidental detection by some other person with psychic talents.
Vin reached the room at the end of the hall with the locked door and glanced inside. Dalla lay in a heap on the floor near the base of a pedestal which held the Book of Elements. She was beginning to rouse herself as he moved inside, keeping his distance to see if she would be able to discern his presence or not. It was risky, but Vin wanted to talk to her.
"Is that you Vin? Are you trying to spy on me? You should know better."
"Hello, Dalla."
"Ah, so you know my name. I suppose you must have overheard Antonius and I talking. You are a sneaky little fella, aren’t you? Well, it doesn’t matter what you’ve heard. It won’t help you. You don’t stand a chance," she snarled.
"Perhaps; that outcome is yet to be seen. That’s not why I’m here. I wanted to ask you a question before the opportunity was lost." Vin tried to keep his voice calm and unthreatening.
"Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because we’re family," Vin watched her reaction carefully.
"Family? Ha! So you know about our father and that slut of a mother of yours whom I called Aunt. Well, it makes no difference to me. It was family that made this mess in the first place," she retorted angrily.
"It matters to me, Dalla. When I was a boy, all I ever wanted was to have a permanent family. Until I met Caeli, I always felt like there was an important part of my life missing. If I had known that I had a sister, I like to think we might have been good friends," Vin offered sincerely. He continued to watch Dalla's response. She might have considered his words for a fleeting moment, but then seemed to shake them off. Vin was not optimistic about his chances of reaching her now, though he would never be able to forgive himself if he didn’t try.
"You were the lucky one, Vin. Family members are no different than other people. They just happen to share the same blood. Family is better at manipulating you, forcing you to do their bidding by abusing your misguided sense of obligation, loyalty, and love. With strangers, at least you can choose freely, for better or worse," she emphasized the last words from wedding vows that their father broke.
"That is one theory, but I am unfamiliar with such circumstances. Caeli is my family, and I would gladly give everything that I am to protect her, to make her happy. I never felt that way with any of the strangers who bounced me around from house to house. Family gives me the best feeling I have ever known, and I've only known it with Caeli. I am truly sorry that you have never experienced such happiness." Vin was stalling now. Dalla's responses made it evident that she would not be swayed, but perhaps he might still be able to gain some benefit from their conversation. At least she had not alerted anyone else to his presence, yet.
"Fantasy! You sound like a greeting card, and I’m beginning to get bored with the sentiment. Ask your question and I might grant you the privilege of an answer," Dalla snipped.
"I was wondering why you chose to help this man, Antonius. What possible benefit do you see if he achieves his goal?" Vin’s voice was hardly more than a whisper near her ear.
"That was
two questions. However, the answer is the same for both. When the barrier falls, which Antonius has the ability to make happen, I will see my mother again. I will never again have to worry about being parted from her."
"I’ll admit that is a tempting bit of logic. I would dearly love to hold Caeli again. None of this would be happening if I did not fear for her life." Vin was trying to gain Dalla's confidence. His true viewpoint on the topic was considerably different than his words suggested.
"Then it sounds like you should talk to Antonius yourself. He suffered a similar loss when his son died. That was when he and his wife discovered this barrier. Learning that he was being deliberately kept apart from the boy nearly drove him mad. But, the Deacon channeled his grief and anger by devoting himself to this ultimate purpose. He will put an end to the suffering caused by death. He was so dedicated to this cause that his wife left him, giving him the freedom and time he needed make this happen. If you talk to him, maybe he could still find a place for you on our team." Dalla almost sounded hopeful. Vin was sorry that he had to crush her flickering wish.
"Ah, you see, that is where we disagree. This stranger, Antonius, changed the course of my life without my consent. He chose this path against me and, for that, he will always be my enemy."
Dalla offered no response. How could she argue against the very logic opposed to suffering that she just tried to use on him?
"I hope you understand that he will use you, too, Dalla. Antonius will not give you a choice. He will take what he wants from you, probably your life, as he did mine. I do not wish that for you. Keep in mind, Dalla, I will not refrain from stopping anyone who gets in my way when I try to stop him." On those last parting words, Vin slipped away. He planted a kernel of doubt in her mind. If it grew enough, Dalla might hesitate when the time came. And, Vin learned a little more of what he really came to find out.
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