Enough! I thought angrily.
I sensed the next wave before it happened. My attacker surrounded me, sucking the very energy that was being endowed to me out of my body. Anger flowed through me like a magnetic pulse – a surge of energy being pulled from the source around me and meet in my center to explode causing an earthquake-like ripple. The world beneath the water quaked emanating from my being then became still. Maybe all of this should have had me paralyzed with shock but not wanting to push my luck, I turned my direction towards the surface and with one last kick, I burst through the surface with the boy.
Once the sun hit my skin, my body tingled as it began to rejuvenate itself. Lifting the boy out of the water, I ignored the gawking stares and the mass confusion when I was spotted. Barely getting my footing, I stumbled out of the pool and dropped the boy on the embankment; the drone of people making my head hurt something terrible. Someone fell beside the boy to help him to my relief because I did not think I had any more strength to tend to him. I got a glimpse of Kasey running towards me when the sun’s brightness blinded me. My hands flew up to shield my eyes from the glare. Following the path from which the light came from, that is when I saw him standing on the edge of the embankment as majestic as the day I first saw in the square.
Gawonii.
Chapter 4
Strange Dreams
I was having strange dreams that took residence up in my mind that entire afternoon. Dreams that manifested into more dreams from the four strange figures at the doctor’s office, to the watery battle that took place earlier. Each time I felt the need to struggle, heaviness overpowered me starting from the heat around my neck. At the end of every dream, I saw him…Gawonii, staring down at me in disgust from on top of the embankment.
Why was he showing such disapproval and disdain from what I had just done?
Then other times, I would see him swimming towards me giving off a blast of pure energy – reaching out to me then lifting me out of the water. Sometimes he would walk me to shore, pull at my hair, and disappear, but oftentimes, which I never complained, he would lower me onto the ground. His lips devouring mine while his hands, with a mind of their own, roamed over my body, stripping me of my clothes until I would lie completely naked underneath him. Not once did I struggle, nor did I care that the animals, the trees, the flowers, or the nearby spectators watched as he made love to me filling me with the most delicious warmth of energy.
I could hear voices all around me in hushed whispers, but I could not make out who the voices belong to other than the times when a man’s voice rose above a whisper. The accent sounded familiar but hard to make out what he was saying since they were not speaking a language that I was familiar with. And why did he sound angry? Then suddenly, there was a woman’s voice.
Kasey!
I willed my eyes to open…and they opened to stare right into the face of the little boy I had saved.
He was alright! I could not help the jubilation that sparked inside of me. I smiled at him welcoming his hand that reached out towards me and touched my brow.
“Egasinu.”
I heard him say…then sleep came easily.
I jumped up in my bed staring at the walls of the cabin. The light from the sun started to set, casting a shadow.
Christ! How long was I out? A few hours? That was one hell of a dream. The waterfall, the bear, and the tumble off the cliff were like a distant but very bad memory. It didn’t feel real. There was no way what happened in that dream was real.
I should have died!
One from the fall…Two from the length of time I was under water.
Damn it! These dreams I have been having lately were taking their tow on my psyche.
Setting my feet on the rug on the side of the bed, I wiggled my toes enjoying how the texture caressed the underside of my feet. Standing up, I expected my legs to wobble but they were strong and steady. My arms went over my head for a wonderful stretch. Every bone adjusted inside and shifted all the way down to my toes. My body tingled like I set off a volley of fireworks inside.
Smiling I walked out of the bedroom.
“Kasey!”
Silence…
Déjà vu.
Where the hell was, she now? Or maybe everything that did happen to me was a dream and I just slept the day away waiting on Kase. That made a lot more sense. All that happened were dreams. More dreams. No wonder I felt so good. I was sleeping; something that was a luxury back at home.
Ok! Great! Now that I cleared that up, I needed to find some food. My stomach felt like I had slept a couple of days away. Crossing my arms, my hand fell onto a bandage on the right forearm… pain shot up my arm!
“Ouch!”
I looked down at the bandage, my insides growing cold.
“Can’t be.” I cried running into the bathroom.
I stared at my reflection zeroing in on the bandaged arm in the mirror. My hand shook as I grabbed a hold of the tape ripping the bandage off my arm. Shaking my head in disbelief, I gaped at the four partially healed gashes that were carved into my flesh staring back at me.
No way! My mind cried out. There was no way any of that could have happened.
Backing out of the bathroom, I ran through the cabin searching for Kasey.
“Kase!! Kasey! Where the hell are you?”
Running out of the house, I searched the cabin grounds in the dimming light, but she was nowhere on the premises.
Shit! Damn it all! Where the hell is, she?!
I stood in the middle of the field behind the cabin looking around me but all I saw was open meadow.
Standing there, the air became very still and dank. I took a few steps back, the tiny hairs on my air standing up. Something told me that I should head on back to the cabin right now. Taking one final look around me, I wrapped my arms around me at the sudden drop of temperature and headed back towards the cabin.
Walking, I heard a whisper coming from the trees. I stopped, briefly, before continuing. Then I heard it again.
It called to me, piquing on my interest…so I changed my direction. I walked to the outer limits of the darkening forest, at the edge of the field, and peered through the trees. I couldn’t make out anything but the buzzing of voices whispering through the thick brush. I took a step closer and the voices turned into a loud cadence that rose in volume. Then like a switch, it stopped.
I stood, motionless, trying to see if I could make out the origin of the whispering when those hairs on my airs rose again. My pulse quickened wishing I had stayed back at the cabin. This was not the first time I had felt like this.
Underneath the water! Was my dream a warning?
Taking steps backwards, it was time to go back, quickly. I turned, breaking out into a slow jog to the cabin pushing my bare feet to move faster. A brush of cold air caressed the back of my neck and I spun around to face whatever it was and saw…nothing.
Nothing but open fie-
A blow landed me on my back, knocking me yards away from where I was standing! Jumping up, this time I ran for the cabin… running as fast as my legs would take me.
The cabin was getting closer but not fast enough. I looked to my side and blinked. A ghostly figure leaped through the tall grass barely visible, its form shifting and reshaping.
I convinced myself that I had to be seeing things, but as it inched nearer, the more prominent the apparition’s features manifested. Large, slanted eyes with black pupils the size of quarters glared at me; its mouth opened in a snarl revealing razor sharp teeth.
It leapt through the air at me. Screaming, I dodged the attack, stumbling onto the clay and rock that made up the path to the cabin.
OUCH! I really should learn to wear shoes when I go looking for Kasey, dammit!
Unable to steady my body, my head smacked against the rocky path. I rolled over in time to see the form materialized in a full leap over me, talon hands drawn, daggers for teeth bared. Its long white, ghostly hair roped around its body
like a whip in excited. My hands went to cover my face preparing for the attack when it screamed, disintegrating into nothing. The necklace around my neck glowed bright giving me the opportunity I needed to jump up and continue my beeline to the cabin. It was not over though. I could feel the threat still close on my heels. I ran up the stairs, bursting through the door to run smack into Gawonii. I screamed, kicking and clawing at him.
“Lailah! Stop!” He cried, then he looked behind me. Gawonii tossed me across the room away from him before throwing the weight of his body up against the door. A crash sounded on the other side, sharp nails scratching into the solid wood.
I scooted myself into a corner terrified watching the scene in front of me. The door shook and splintered while Gawonii held it closed. What I saw next should have been the clue I needed to know that I was completely off my rocker. A burst of the purest, white light exuded from his body, lighting the cabin up in a magnificent glow briefly causing night to turn into day. Screams, deathly frightening, filled the night air then there was silence.
When the glow dimmed, I watched as the Indian removed his hands from the door and stood there listening for any other signs of ‘whatever the hell that was,’ was still there. Then it hit me!
“It was you at the pool. It was your light th –”
“Do not ever go past the edge of the field again without knowing how to protect yourself!” He advanced on me quickly, lifting me up by my waist into the air and shaking me. “Have you lost your mind! Was not the incident at the pool enough for one day!”
I struggled but his grip was iron clad. “Wait! So that really happened. How the hell was I to know! I was looking for Kasey! There was nothing in the brochure that stated to stay away from trees.” I struggled with the grip he had on me wanting to be put down. “Put me down!” I yelled back at him.
Without the slightest hesitation or regret, he dropped me to my surprise. I fell with a thud onto the floor and watched him put some distance between us.
“Damn Chitsa-Yona! She is to be watching over you,” he growled.
“Look, I don’t know who you are talking about or what is going on?” I crawled to my knees. “I just want to know where Kasey is so she can explain to me what the bloody hell is going on! I don’t understand what is happening to me and for god sakes why it is happening? This trip was supposed to be stress-free. THIS IS NOT STRESS FREE!” I yelled feeling the anxiety building and tears streaming down my face. I jumped up and paced around the room trying to calm myself down. The last thing I wanted to do was cry in front of him. I needed Kasey…now!
I saw Gawonii approach me looking quite annoyed at my tears. His hand came up covering my face. “Egasinu.” A familiar warmth spread over my body and I felt myself falling… right into his arms. I guess that was one way of calming me down.
My eyes opened to stare up at the ceiling. The sun shone through the window beside the bed conjuring up thoughts of Gawonii who so rudely invaded my dreams again last night. This time horrible images of monsters and ghostly shadows with razor sharp teeth chased me throughout the night and each time Gawonii would appear in a fury of white light to drive the shadows away. I sat up slowly taking in account of my surroundings when I heard a cough beside me.
“It’s about time you wake up.”
I turned to see Kasey sitting on the seat across from the bed. Her hair was twisted perfectly into a braid, make-up applied darker…heavier than she normally wore it. She looked awfully native.
“Are you hungry?” She asked, moving her legs that were folded underneath her body to the floor.
“Yes.” My voice croaked. “And I could use a glass of water. It feels like I haven’t had anything for days.” My stomach was touching my back and the hunger pains were real.
“I guess it would. You haven’t eaten for days.” Kasey stood up and walked out of the room.
My back sat up a little straighter. I swung my feet out from under the covers and placed them on the floor. Slowly walking out of the room, I followed Kasey into the kitchen. She was filling a glass with water and pulling what looked like burritos out of the refrigerator.
“What do you mean I haven’t eaten for days?”
Without a flinch, Kasey continued to prepare a meal for me. “You haven’t eaten in days, Lailah. You have been asleep.”
I sat down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table trying to process all that she was saying. “So how long are you talking?”
Kasey placed the plate in the microwave, shrugging. “About five days give or take.” She answered nonchalantly.
“FIVE DAYS! GIVE OR TAKE!” I jumped up from the table and went over to my taller friend. “What the hell does ‘give or take’ mean?”
Kasey pushed passed me setting the glass of water on the table. “Drink.” She demanded. I held my ground wanting answers not more avoidance.
Her face turned to mine, her eyes turning dark. “Drink.” She repeated firmly then sat down. “You need to build up your strength.”
More elusiveness.
“I have been having these weird…crazy dreams that seem so real.” The microwave beeped, loudly making me jump. Kasey stood up and pulled the plate out of the microwave and sat it down beside the glass on the table. “Now you tell me that I have been asleep for five days. Oh, let’s not forget, give or take a day or so.” I mocked. “And you don’t look concerned over the fact that for one part of our vacation, I have been on my back. Did I get sick? Did something happen to me?”
Kasey remained tight-lipped.
“Maybe you should take me home?” I finally blurted out. I was ready to leave. The sooner the better.
Kasey lifted her hand and placed it over mine. “Lailah. Eat. Drink. I am concerned. You were looked at and I was told that you just needed rest. You passed out after jumping into the pool near the falls to save a boy which was quite surprising considering your fear of water.” I dropped back down in one of the chairs and picked over the food she had sat on the table for me.
“I’m not afraid of water.” I mumbled. “It just never liked me.”
“Well thank God, you did what you did. You were the only one who saw the boy drowning and jumped in after him. I’m really proud of you, Lee-Lee.”
I put a forkful of what she sat in front of me in my mouth. “And the boy?”
She smiled. “He’s doing fine…thanks to you. He has been by a few times to see how you were doing. Gawonii as well. That was his nephew.”
The fork hovered in the air inches away from my mouth hearing that. “That was the boy Gawonii was taking to the pool that day? I saved his life?”
Kasey nodded handing me the glass of water. “Drink. They want to know when you have awakened so that we can come to dinner. So…go take a bath or shower, relax for the rest of the day so that later on I can take you to go see the boy’s family.” She stood up. “I’m glad that you are awake. Tonight, you can relax while watching the moon festival. That you should really enjoy,” she said cheerfully as if I haven’t missed five days of my life…give or take.
“I’m not in the mood for any festivals, dinners or company rather. Shouldn’t I just rest here? Or perhaps just go home.” I reiterated.
But she had already left the room. And if she heard me or not, I didn’t know. Finishing whatever she handed me on the plate which…side note…was delicious, I took her advice and drew a hot bath for myself to relax in. My body felt like it had been through hell the past few days.
I’ll go tonight. Hopefully, the festival will set the course of some fun finally happening on this trip.
Chapter 5
Moon Festival
Well so much for fun.
I sat on the sidelines watching the preparation of the moon festival which was the Spring Ceremony of the first new moon. Intriguing as it was, I wasn’t allowed to join in the work. Instead, the boy, Usti’s mother, Inola, and his grandmother have been preparing me for the celebration by explaining the Cherokee customs and why the
y celebrate every year. But this year was special and extra preparations were being made. For some reason, they were not elaborating on why this year was really special, so I just rested my head in my hand and listened.
Kasey and Inola appeared with a bleached white leather dress and laid it on a nearby table. Jumping up, I stepped over to the table to get a better look at the dress. I sighed in awe at the many hours it must have taken to construct such a gorgeous piece.
I gently ran my hand, lightly, over top of the dress.
“Oh my god.” I looked over to where Inola had walked off to mix something in a bowl. “This is beautiful. Are you wearing this tonight?” I asked her. All she did was smile, her pestle scraping along the rough edges of her mortar.
“No…you are. She wants you to wear it out of appreciation for saving her son.” I heard Kasey behind me. I moved away from the dress.
“Oh no. This dress is too pretty and…and it was nothing. Anyone close by would have saved your son.” I protested facing the quiet woman.
I felt hands tugging on my shirt, trying to pull it off. Spinning it around, I came face to face with the grandmother, Hiawassee.
I looked over at Kasey questionably. “Uhhh… You don’t have to do that.” I tried explaining to the old woman. “I can do it myself. Really I can.” But the woman was stronger than she looked and managed to remove my shirt and started working on my pants. She began to speak in another language, and she didn’t sound happy as she tugged on my pants.
“Kasey?” I laughed. Kasey smirked.
“Go with it, Lailah. They want you to be a part of the ceremony. It’s their way of showing appreciation.”
“Then why does she sound like she’s upset at my pants?” I whispered harshly. Inola chuckled in the far corner, still crushing something in the mortar.
“She doesn’t understand why you modern women wear such tight pants. She said that going to the bathroom must be a chore.” Inola answered, speaking for the first time.
THE AGENI SERIES: AMA ANGENI Page 5
