Of Gaea Read online

  Ari glanced up at him completely stunned and his returned smile was patient and caring. He still hadn’t asked her what she was doing or where they were going. It was a testament to the trust between them that was humbling and terrifying at the same time.

  If he didn’t comment then he trusted her decision. It made the decisions she made more important in a way. She had to be right or he would follow her into the wrong. Ari would cut off her legs completely before getting Sasha into trouble.

  “You can push,” Ari held up the notebook so he could see her hasty scrawl. It was another point of their friendship, no matter what kind of short hand she used he could read it. “We’re going to see a man who claims the angels allow him to heal the sick.”

  “Ah,” Sasha moved behind the chair and began to walk. “I think I’ve heard of him. He was on TV wasn’t he? When he first came to the area? Where’s he located?”

  “The address is one Boulevard of Eden. It’s off Jefferson Davis Place between Burnside Ave and Cornwall Street.” She flipped the pages rapidly and held it up again for him to see. “He was on TV?”

  “If it’s the same man I’m thinking of, yes.” Sasha smoothly pushed the wheelchair down the sidewalk. He smiled to himself. Nasya had guessed right after all.

  “We’re going to see if he can help.”

  “I don’t think he can, but it doesn’t hurt to try.” Sasha mused. “If he can’t help, I’m sure he’ll know where to steer you.”

  “Good point.” Ari bit the inside of her cheek. She hadn’t thought of the healer not being able to help; he was a healer, after all. Though, Sasha had a valid point. The solution was very rarely as straight forward as a visit to a man that claimed miracles as a profession.

  Sasha walked faster than she would have been able to push herself so they arrived in a much shorter time than she had anticipated when making the appointment. They had an opportunity to study the building from the outside while she clenched her hands in her lap.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” Sasha gestured at the building. There was no judgment, no rush to get it over with in his voice.

  “No time like the present.” Ari breathed in and out a few times slowly, and evenly. Nerves danced up her spine. She was more nervous than she had thought she would be. Perhaps she had put too much hope into this visit.

  “Do you want to roll in or should I…” He trailed off.

  “Um… I don’t think…” Ari laughed nervously and rubbed her arms. “I’m a little jittery.”

  “Completely understandable,” he maneuvered the wheelchair once more. “Just… don’t get your hopes up too high.”

  “A part of me is skeptical.” She voiced. “Part of me is afraid this will work. It will throw all of Mom’s beliefs out the window.”

  “What about yours?” It was said so quietly she nearly missed it under the whoosh of the automatic door.

  “Welcome to Divine Touch!” The back of the receptionist’s head sang even as she began to swivel around. Her smile was radiant for Ari and faltered over Sasha a moment before it returned, not nearly as bright as it had been originally. “What can I do for you?”

  “I have an appointment with Mr. Elias.” Ari forced her lips to curve into what she hoped looked like a smile. “At three forty five. I’m Ariadne.”

  Something flickered in her eyes, but it was so brief Ari could have imagined it. “Please follow me.”

  She had expected the sterile halls and rooms of a hospital, but it wasn’t. Instead it looked and felt like was a home. The walls were warm, the floors some kind of wood, not typical white tiles. The paintings were street scenes full of life.

  The receptionist knocked on a door before cracking it open. “Ariadne is here.”

  “Let her in.” The voice was rich, well-aged and well- articulated.

  The receptionist stepped back and with a long look at Sasha, she walked back the way they had come. Ari watched Sasha’s shadow on the floor nod politely to the woman before he rolled the wheelchair through the open door.

  It was like a law office. There were books of every kind lying on every available surface. The desk was dark red wood and with the streaming sunlight though the window it looked like blood. The chair behind the desk was turned to look out on a blooming garden.

  “Welcome, Ariadne. I am Elias.” The chair swiveled around to reveal a man old enough to be someone’s great grandfather. His smile faded when he looked over Ari’s shoulder to Sasha standing behind her. What he had been about to say died on his lips. He cleared his throat hastily, “I’m sorry, child. I cannot help you.”

  Ari blinked in surprise. “But, you haven’t even tried. We haven’t even discussed…”

  “Some things I know are outside my gifts.” His gaze flickered back to Sasha. “You should go.”

  “But, I…” She stuttered confused. “I don’t understand. What does Sasha have to do with you trying?”

  “Perhaps, you could give some words of advice or another avenue for her to explore? If you refuse to use what you claim to have, you could at least impart some wisdom on us for our troubles.” Sasha still sounded completely pleasant but there was something dangerous in the undertone of his voice.

  “Young man, I have seen enough of the light and the dark to know when not to interfere in their war.” Elias stated sternly, “why don’t you ask your…”

  Ari looked up at Sasha when Elias trailed off. Sasha’s face was rigid and cold, unlike anything she’d ever seen before. She couldn’t read the look in his icy eyes but apparently Elias could.

  “I’m sorry.” Elias rubbed his eyes, but whether from actual strain or not Ari couldn’t discern. “You’re not sleeping well.” His gaze returned to her with the random, abrupt statement.

  Ari wasn’t shocked. There was so much trying to process that there wasn’t room for any additional emotion. It created the worst mental exhaustion she’d ever experienced. “It’s hard.”

  He nodded. “To be expected, considering,” he opened a desk drawer and pulled something out. Ari didn’t have enough time to examine it before he tossed it at her.

  Sasha caught it with his considerably longer arms before she could. She watched him examine it carefully with his eyes before he brought it to his ear and shook it gently. Then he brought it to his nose and sniffed cautiously.

  “Sasha.” Ari reached up and tried to take the bag, but Sasha had the considerable advantage of legs. She settled for punching his leg as hard as she could. It was like hitting a steel vault door. Ari was pretty sure she might have dislocated some fingers. “Give it here. It’s not for you.”

  “Your guardian is making sure I’m not trying to poison you in some fashion. You’ll want to hang that on a bed post, under your pillow, or in a spot in which it stays under your head.” Elias provided even as Sasha dropped whatever it was in her lap.

  “It’s safe.” Sasha announced. He wanted to mention that his leg was on fire where Ari had punched him. Her arms could break bricks and he knew he’d have a solid bruise from her hit. However, in front of Elias, he wouldn’t share any of his discomfort.

  “Duh. What would you have done if it wasn’t? You’d have been poisoned.” Ari commented even as she examined the delicate violet sachet. It was soft to touch like cashmere or velour would be, but she knew that wasn’t what it was. “So genius, what’s in it?”

  “Rosemary, mint, sandalwood, a touch of vanilla and jasmine; it feels like there are stones in there as well. At a guess, I would say Onyx, or Chiastolite combined with Amethyst or Charoite. Potentially, a combination of those.” His answer was so instantaneous and easy Ari wasn’t sure if he was joking or not.

  She looked at Elias for confirmation.

  He nodded. “He’s right on the herbs.” Elias said. “But it is Turquoise wrapped in copper wire, Agate as a booster, Talachite to ward off nightmares, and Labradorite as a booster for dreams. There should be a small dime size stone of Danburite as well, for restful sleep. Your stones are the most common for
sleep and pushing off negativity.”

  “Yours are stronger.” Sasha gestured to the sachet. “Why do you even have that?”

  Elias smiled half-heartedly, “I’m old, child, and I’ve seen a lot of things. If you want guidance in the right direction I suggest exactly what you’re holding in your hands. The earth will never lie to you.”

  Ari looked up from the sachet to Elias’s wrinkled, weathered face. “I don’t understand.”

  Elias’s smile saddened for reasons unknown. “You will. Of that I am most assured.” His eyes moved back to Sasha. “Please leave now.”

  “Of course,” Sasha moved behind the wheelchair before Ari could protest. He knew trying to get anything further from Elias would not only be a waste of time but a bad idea. Ari would have questions of course, but Elias wasn’t the source of information she needed. At least he and Elias were on the same page about that..

  Ari waited until they were out on the street before speaking again. “Sasha,” she began slowly thinking out her words. “Why was everyone staring at you funny?”

  “Wouldn’t you stare at the six five guy with broad shoulders and rippling muscles hunched over pushing a wheelchair?” He was joking of course, but she wasn’t having it.

  “I get the feeling it’s not that he couldn’t heal me. It’s more he wouldn’t, and I’m getting the impression it has something to do with you.” SHe paused a moment biting the inside of her cheek thinking it out. “You wouldn’t keep secrets from me, would you? I mean we’ve been friends how long?”

  “For you or for me?” he asked. “Let’s say for you. We have been friends, thirteen years, eight months, two weeks, four days,” The wheelchair stopped and Ari watched the long shadow look at his watch. “Sixteen hours, four minutes and forty seven seconds and counting I’d say; give or take thirty minutes. Or if you want the short version: five thousand and four days plus or minus a few hours.”

  She put her hands to her face and laughed to keep from crying. “Please tell me you made half of that up. Who actually keeps track of time like that?”

  “Remember the first time we met?” Sasha asked and resumed walking pushing the chair. “I’ll never forget. It was September after school, I would have been made to do my homework first so sometime between four and five thirty. I was only outside for a few minutes when I heard a crash and the wails of a little girl in pain. I ran around to the front of the house and there was this little girl sprawled out on the sidewalk, with a pink bicycle turned on its side next to her. Do you remember what I said?”

  “You didn’t say anything at first. You crouched down, took my hands in yours and looked up into my crying face. Then you said “Are you hurt?” And I…” She trailed off and tried to pull the full memory into focus.

  “You pointed at the bike,” he finished for her, “and said, “It tried to kill me.” I was stunned.”

  “You kissed the scrapes on my hands and made it better, like my mom always did. You were so solemn about it, like it was a serious affair.” She remembered quietly and laughed. “You taught me to ride the bike without falling.”

  “Yes, I did; and when your mom called you in, I walked you over. And I said to your mom, “Ma’am, it’s a pleasure to meet you. As long as I’m with Ari she’ll be safe. I promise.” Your mom laughed and invited Da and I over for dinner.” Sasha traced his fingers briefly over her hair. “But for one incident, I’ve kept my promise; I don’t intend on breaking it further.”

  “Sasha,” Ari exhaled slowly. “You were four; I was four. I’m not holding you to that.”

  “Should I make a new one then?” Sasha stopped and moved around in front of the chair so she could see him. He crouched down and looked up into her face. His face was as solemn and serious as it had been when they were four. “As long as I draw breath, nothing further will harm you without going through me; I promise.”

  “Sasha, I…” Ari stared into his warm frosted eyes. He waited for something from her, but she had no idea what it was. She reached for whatever seemed appropriate for the moment. “Your dad would say, “Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength.” Wouldn’t he?”

  Sasha’s lips quirked, “He would. Do you trust me to do that?”

  “Sasha,” Ari reached out and combed his hair ever so gently. The silky smooth strands drifted like water through her fingers. She wished she could linger there. “I have never, not trusted you. That will never change. I will always trust you.”

  He smiled sadly. “I’ll make sure to always deserve it.”

  “Sasha.” Ari began as he stopped in front of her house. “You wouldn’t ever lie to me would you?”

  Sasha paused a moment before moving around to the front of the wheelchair. He gave her a pained look and then looked away down the street towards his house. From the distance they could see Kleisthenes seated on the porch steps. He was reclined in a relaxed position, but Ari had known the Horiatis men long enough to know that even in a semblance of relaxed they could jump up and be completely mobile in seconds.

  “Sasha?” She pulled his attention back to her.

  “I don’t ever want to lie to you. Thereof, I’m not saying anything that could potentially leave me in that position in the future.” He replied quietly. “I should talk to Da first.”

  “You’ve been acting weird since the accident Sasha. You’ve barely left my side and today when I go to a spiritual healer, he and his staff act really funny around you. Why won’t you talk to me?”

  He looked up at her house and seemed to study something important before speaking again. His tone was so sad, he sounded on the verge of tears. “I wish I could. I really do. It’s not my place. You should talk to Miss Ghita.”

  Ari scoffed. “The only thing Mom wants to talk about is God’s healing and how school’s going. She’s not exactly on par with the world.”

  Sasha closed his eyes a moment and Ari could almost see his internal struggle before he spoke again. “You should ask about your grandmother.” He looked down briefly and smiled though it wasn’t a happy smile. It was laced with the sorrow in his voice. “I’ve got to go talk to Da. Do you want me to come by later?”

  “Only if you want to,” she forced a smile on her face. “You should probably study for the Advanced Chemistry test.”

  “Talk to Miss Ghita,” he reminded before he walked away.

  Ari watched him walk, slightly limping from her punch, the three doors down. She watched as his dad remained seated on the step and Sasha spoke to him. Sasha didn’t actually look at her but she felt by both of their postures that they were talking about her. Kleisthenes hadn’t even moved, but something about the air around him seemed to tense.

  Kleisthenes felt Ari’s eyes on him. He didn’t move or gesture that anything was wrong. He knew she would be able to read the move as easily as a book. She was extremely observant.

  “How did it go?”

  Sasha wanted to hit something. He wanted to shout. But he knew as well Ari still watched. And he knew da would be disappointed with his lack of control. “How did you know?”

  Kleisthenes did smile. “Nasya went to converse last night remember? Who else would she have conversed with that Ari would have found so quickly?”

  “She’s got something for sleep. That’s about it.” Sasha muttered slightly angry. “She needs something more. Ghita’s rules are ridiculous. This is completely unfair to Ari.”

  “You can’t protect her from the Tainted.” Kleisthenes murmured softly. “You know that. If you could, if I could, I would say the hell with Ghita’s rules. But right now she has us in a head lock. Anything we do could potentially endanger Ari further. Adapt the pace of nature...”

  “Her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Sasha couldn’t prevent rubbing his hands over his face. He was suddenly as tired as Ari. “There is someone among us that can protect her. I’ll ask Nasya to take care of it.” Sasha stepped passed him into the house.

  Kleisthenes looked over at Ari a
nd waved before following Sasha into the house.

  Ari waved back then sighed and looked up at her house. The handicap ramp that Sasha and Kleisthenes built blended into the grace of the single story Victorian. Ari wheeled up the driveway and onto the gentle ramp that the men had built into the covered porch. She had been told by Nasya that Ghita has been dead set against the ramp but Kleisthenes broke her down. Which Ari was grateful for, otherwise she would have had to open the garage and go in through the kitchen door.

  The cool dark inside was an announcement that Ghita wasn’t home from work yet. When Ghita arrived home first she always had all the curtains open until the sun set, and then all the lights on until bed. Ari had joked once she was afraid of the dark but Ghita’s completely serious reaction had taken all the humor out of the joke. Ari never joked about it again.

  Since the light to the answering machine was blinking frantically she rolled over to it. Ghita was against cell phones so it was potentially possible she had left a message of tardiness or whatnot. Generally, Ghita always checked it first; Ari was never home in time. However since she was home and Ghita wasn’t, she would check it and make notes if needed.

  “First new message,” the computerized voice announced when Ari hit the play button. “Hello Ghita, this is Ira at the Saint Jerome Mental Health Center. We’re calling about your sister. She seems to be a bit high strung today and is insisting on seeing someone named Ariadne. Since you’ve never mentioned her before, I’m not entirely certain if this is someone you both knew at one point or this is another one of her delusions. Please call us so we can have the psychiatrist informed and her treatment adjusted for this new development. Thank you.” The message ended and Ari was too stunned to hit stop before the next one was announced. “Next new message.”

  “Hello Ghita this is Dr. Clairvaux.” The man announced. “It’s been several hours and still no word from you. I’ve taken the liberty and have had Lyris’s medication adjusted. She was being erratic and violent. I know how much you love your sister; it’s obvious with as often as you are here checking on her. I must apologize for being unable to discuss this with you beforehand. Lyris has made mention of both someone named Ariadne and your mother. I believe she’s under the impression your mother is coming for her. I know this may upset you to hear it, but it’s very important you contact us as soon as possible so we can curb any more delusions. Thank you.”