Of Gaea Read online

“Ghita isn’t my mom.” It blurted from her lips before she could think about what bothered her most. “And you knew. Kleisthenes knew. I don’t know if Nasya knows or not.”

  His exhale was pained. “I’m sorry. I’ve always known da isn’t my birth parent, but it’s different for you because you never knew. I can’t imagine what you feel.”

  “I’m not sure what I feel. It’s not sunk in yet, I guess. I suppose I’ll cry later or scream. Shoot some arrows.”

  “What else did she say? We have an almost two hour drive.” His fingers tapped the steering wheel, “unless you want me to turn on the radio?”

  Ari started at the beginning and told him everything from the time they had parted at school. There was no reason not to. Ghita probably told Kleisthenes and he would tell Sasha anyway. Sasha didn’t interrupt. He listened in the way that she knew he was absorbing and calculating.

  “Truth is rarely what we think it is. The question is: what are you going to do now? How will you let it affect you?” he asked quietly.

  “You could have told me.” She retorted angrily. “You could have done something. Anything. You could have helped.”

  “I have. Do you think what I deal with is easy? Do you think I like seeing you in pain and tired and hopeless. Do you know what that does to me?” Sasha replied mildly. “I’ve been by your side since we met. I’ve protected you in the only way I knew how. I have rules I must follow as well. All I’m supposed to do is protect and I’ve done a piss poor job of that. There’s not much the Guild can do since they don’t know where we are but when da checks in he gets a lot of heat for my mistakes. Otherwise if they knew where we were there would be someone else sitting here.”

  “No, there wouldn’t be.” Ari jerked angrily and gasped at the sharp pain that radiated from the motion. The pain inflamed her anger further. “I don’t know how it works in Sparta, but we’re in America and I don’t replace friends like worn shoes. Are you even my friend because you want to be or because it’s required of you?”

  “I made a promise at four years old, before I knew what it meant. I helped you write when letters were difficult at seven years old. I demanded the right to be your guardian at twelve when the boy that was supposed to be refused to sacrifice his life for anyone else. I demanded, because I was not originally trained as a guardian but as a scholar, a historian even. I was a paper pusher. I changed everything I was supposed to be for you; all because I wanted nothing more than to be with you for as long as you would let me.” There was something in his voice that was almost bitter as well as angry as if he’d done things; things she didn’t know about; things she shouldn’t know about, to stay at her side.

  “Sasha, there is more to life than protecting me, than staying by my side. You could have done, said anything to change your fate.”

  “No. I didn’t want anything else.” He reached across and squeezed her hand. All of his anger seemed to vanish at the simple touch. “If you believe nothing else from today, believe this; I am exactly where I want to be.”

  “What about Nasya? Did I really see her in some outdated dress with her hair not braided? That’s a bit farfetched even for me.”

  “I can’t speak for Nasya. You could ask her. I suppose if you want to rationalize it; it could have been a hallucination from lack of air.” His fingers drummed a tune she didn’t know on the steering wheel. Ari knew it must somehow be important because it was steady and measured, not the random drumming of nervousness.

  “I suppose.” Tired of the conversation she reached out and turned the radio on low enough that they could still talk. Still, she knew Sasha wouldn’t speak over the radio no matter how low it played.

  Ari turned her head to look out the window at the darkness and shivered. Ghita’s fear of the dark had more meaning than it had before. Ari didn’t think she’d ever joke about it again.

  Ari ran. She ran as fast as she could. Her feet mercilessly pounded the soft earth and her breathing whooshed out in a harsh but steady rhythm. The air was warm and beautiful. It was a stunning, carefree afternoon.

  She knew the forest she ran through as well as her backyard. It was her backyard in a sense. This was where she and Sasha came to hunt, to rest. This was where Ari had been taught how to listen to the sounds of life and become one with the forest. This was where she learned what it meant to be a predator.

  The trees were silent as she ran but that was expected. The animals were always silent when the hunter appeared. Even the wind through the trees barely made a sound. The only steady noise was the pounding of her feet.

  The trees thinned out and then faded completely leaving her standing alone on their favorite camping ridge. It was large enough that their tent sat comfortably in the center of the space yet small enough that the trees still cut the wind. Highland valley sprawled out below; postcard perfect.

  As she approached the edge to better admire the view a deafening high pitched wail pervaded the air. She dropped to her knees and clamped her hands over her ears. It was a vain effort to block out the sound.

  The air began to swirl violently much like it had in the little glade with Lyris. The sky grew instantly dark and lightning flashed across the blackness. Ari couldn’t hear it above the scream or the wind but she saw it. And fear began to gnaw at her.

  An enormous black cloud swooped up over the edge of the ridge. To call it a cloud was generous. It was more of a flying ooze of darkness. It dripped; and what it landed on immediately wilted and the land around it turned brown and dead. It swirled in the sky for a moment before it turned its attention to Ari.

  A face, Lyris’s face, formed in the misshapen cloud; it’s mouth wide and screaming. She swooped down on her. “Choose!”

  Ari woke with a start and a scream in her throat. She swallowed, and choked on the dryness of it. Her heart pounded rapidly in her ears and she felt like she had run a marathon. Her chest heaved in uneven breaths but she was scared to close her eyes and take deep calming breaths.

  It had been a dream. It was only a dream. It had felt completely real, but it was just a figment of her imagination from everything that had happened. She wasn’t entirely convinced of it, but it made her feel slightly better.

  She glanced around wildly for anything familiar. Anything that would be comforting. Ari was alone in the Porsche. She took deep breaths, without closing her eyes, and slowly surveyed the location.

  The engine was off but the key was still in the ignition. The radio still played but so low she knew Sasha had turned it down to prevent from waking her. Out the window Highland Valley sprawled out below the guardrail that Sasha leaned against… and the apparition that paced in the open air in front of him.

  They looked like they were talking. She gestured with her hands and he nodded silently. When she stopped speaking he began gesturing and talking.

  Ari prayed they talked loud enough that the window being cracked open wouldn’t be heard. After what had already happened tonight she was not ashamed to eavesdrop. She wanted to know what was going on. And she was going to find out. By any means necessary.

  “I don’t have the strength to keep doing this.” The apparition’s voice was fluid and feminine and vaguely familiar.

  “I’m sorry.” Sasha ran a hand through his hair. “How many times do I have to say it?”

  “I thought it would be easier being here, close to her, but her ignorance is draining not supporting. And… he just…” The apparition turned to face Sasha directly and Ari saw who she was. Even in a ghostly apparition she could recognize Nasya.

  “Be patient,” Sasha sighed. “It’s only a matter of time. He’ll come around too.”

  “Time is running out Sasha. You must force her hand.”

  “I won’t.” His tone was flat and final. “My job is to protect.”

  “You have the responsibility of the guild. That means you act as every member would act. You are not just a guardian, Sasha, not with the axe Ghita holds over the guild. They have no knowledge of what goes on here
. You must be both the guard and the teacher or I fear all will be lost. We won’t just lose Sparta. You know that. So much more rests on her.”

  “I will not force her hand. She’s very close. A few more days, just give her a few more days.”

  “Do not leave her alone with either the light or the dark, Sasha. Her decision must be hers and not influenced by any other.” The apparition gestured to the Cayenne and faded.

  Sasha didn’t even look over his shoulder. He sat for a moment longer before coming back to the car. He didn’t say anything as he climbed in and buckled his seat belt or started the engine. He still didn’t speak as he turned on the headlights. He looked in the mirror, began to back out, and then suddenly put the SUV back in park and shut the engine off. He swiveled in his seat and looked at Ari. “Aren’t you going to ask?”

  Ari shook her head. “I’ve had enough of weird for one day Sasha. I don’t think I can handle anymore right now. Can you please take me home?”

  He gaped a moment and looked like he wanted to say something before he finally nodded curtly and turned back properly in his seat. “You know, if we keep walking on the road we’re on, it’s only going to get weirder.”

  “I know.” Ari yawned against her will. “But I have a quota of weird. Consider it a learning curve. I just can’t deal with anything else today.”

  She turned to the window and watched silently as the rolling fields turning into blooming crops. In a few more miles they gave away to the small suburban neighbor that surrounded Main Street. It was a small comfort to see the familiar sights.

  The landmarks were prominent in all of her memories, but instead of comforting it made her sad. This wasn’t supposed to be her home. Everything she knew was a lie.

  What would her life had looked like in Sparta? Would she have family she didn’t have here? Would she still be who she was? Would she have friends like Sasha at every turn?

  The doubt and pain was mind numbing. Ari’s reality may have been crashing down but her face revealed none of the inner turmoil. She didn’t want Sasha to see her weakness not when he’d carried the burden far longer than she had. He had been so strong, so could she.

  Ari could see her house from the top of the street. Every available light was on. She was thankful for it, but at the same time wary. Ghita wouldn’t have left the lights on in the middle of the afternoon when they had left for Darentown.

  “I asked Nasya to walk over and turn the lights on.” Sasha spoke quietly. “I thought you’d prefer that to a dark house.”

  Ari simply nodded at first. She shouldn’t still be surprised by the way Sasha thought of her first, but it did. “Thank you.”

  She stared at the house as they approached and leaned forward suddenly. There was something in the light spilling from the windows. Something impossible.

  “What’s wrong?” Sasha slowed the car.

  Ari glanced at him and then back at the porch.

  Nasya stood in the porch light waiting patiently. Her hair was unbound and flowed gently down her back. The old fashion dressing gown surprised Ari briefly but it wasn’t outside of possibilities for Nasya’s wardrobe.

  “Nothing. Seeing things I guess. It’s been a long day.”

  “I hope you don’t mind the liberties I took.” Nasya said sleepily when they finally joined her on the porch. She gestured to the house with a hand. “Sasha said it would be okay.”

  “It’s fine, thank you.” Ari reassured her.

  “If Sasha can bring you in, I’ll help you change for resting while he gets your spare chair out of the garage.” Nasya offered.

  “That’s fine.” Sasha maneuvered through the door Nasya held open. “Anything exciting happen while we were away?”

  Nasya shrugged in Ari’s peripheral vision. “There’s blood on the moon.”

  “Lovely.” Sasha walked swiftly down the hall.

  “What’s that?” Ari shifted to look at Nasya directly. “What’s that mean?”

  “It’s a sign of coming danger, or war potentially.” Nasya motioned at Sasha’s back. “If this one had bothered to watch it’s rising he would have noticed and been ready.”

  “I’m sorry.” Sasha mumbled as he entered Ari’s room and set her down carefully. “Nasya will help you. I’ll knock to check if you’re dressed before I come back in.”

  Ari watched him close the door before shifting to focus on Nasya. She was at the dresser rooting around. With the way her hair cascaded around her the image Ari had seen in the tree grove came back with brutal clarity.

  “It was you, wasn’t it?” Ari asked. “In Darentown.”

  Nasya didn’t even pause in her search. “Yes. Could you undress please? I want to check your injuries as well. I wish there was an Aether Envoy or Thaumaturge here, but for now, I can make do.”

  Ari slowly pulled off what was left of her shirt and carefully wiggled out of her jeans. The aches returned with the slight movement. “How did you do it?”

  “You shouldn’t take everything at face value.” Nasya turned around with an oversized shirt in one hand and a small round jar in the other. She tilted her head critically. “It looks like someone was slashing at you with a knife.”

  Ari looked down at her torso and was dumbfounded. There were dozens of thin shallow cuts going down her torso and her legs. Ari held out her arms to look and they hadn’t been spared either. “But, it was only wind.”

  “And I am only a Greek exchange student.” Nasya retorted and set down the shirt. “Here, let me.”

  Ari let Nasya rub the sweet smelling ointment from the jar all over. It felt good. The ointment soothed the angry cuts. Ari could almost feel them fading away.

  When Nasya finished and stepped back Ari blinked in surprise. The more shallow cuts had faded away completely and the deeper ones faded before her eyes. Ari ran a finger over one of the hairlines. No pain.

  She lifted her eyes to Nasya in an unspoken question.

  Nasya crouched down in front of her and held Ari’s hands in a mimic of Sasha. “Sasha is a protector; he will protect you from anything and everything without worry to the consequence. That is his way. But,” she sighed. “This cannot be for you. I know it’s hard, and it’s confusing. But I believe you to be strong enough to handle it. I have a gift for you. Sasha would prefer if I waited to give it to you. However, he does not command me.” She let go and moved back to the dresser. She came back and dropped a leather bound book into Ari’s lap.

  Ari gasped at the cover image. It was a relief of the thing she had thought she had seen on the porch. It had the body of a horse, but there was an antler sticking out of the center of its dragon-like head. The body was covered in scales yet it still had the full mane of a horse. The tail flicked in a graceful arch shaggy on the bottom side and short haired on the top. The hooves were cloven like a goat’s or a unicorn’s.

  “I’ve seen this before.” Ari looked up at her.

  Nasya tilted her head curiously. “Have you?”

  “What is it?”

  Nasya shrugged. “It has many names. The Japanese call it a Kirin, the Chinese a Qirin, on the European side of things they call it a unicorn, though not in that likeness but close. In Greece it’s called a Monoceros. American’s don’t have this kind of mythology. It’s too young of a country. Though I’m sure the Natives have some they’re not sharing with the world.”

  “This is unlike any unicorn I’ve ever seen in my story books as a child.” Ari traced the relief with her fingers before opening it to find a blank book. She looked back to Nasya confused.

  “Let’s call it a Kirin, then. You know I am Greek. In ancient times when Sparta had its own monarchy we called it Gaea’s οικείος.”

  “What’s an i-key-os?”

  Nasya gave a sleepy chuckle and sat down on the bed next to Ari. “Spartans believe in the pantheon, but more importantly we worshiped the Mother of the Pantheon, Gaea. Without her we would not have the gods that help us in everyday things. If you need a comparison it’
s like praying to Mary for Jesus’s help. She is the mother of all things.”

  “What’s that have to do with the Kirin?”

  “You’re not very good with stories are you?” Nasya yawned and leaned against her. “The Kirin is the familiar to Gaea. There are female children born of Gaea; born with her power; born with the ability to become one with Gaea, Herself. Every time one of these children are born the Kirin appears. She is like the guide to the child until the child chooses what she wants to be. Depending on the path of the child the Kirin stays or the Kirin goes. If the Kirin stays, well… it’s never happened and no one knows why.”

  “It’s only a myth, right?” Ari asked fascinated. “No one actually believes that anymore?”

  “Don’t we? If we didn’t, would you be here? Would Ghita have done all the things she has if some small part of her did not believe? Believe and feared it?”

  The knock on the door rescued Ari from answering. She had no answer. Nasya leaned away and Ari hastily pulled her night shirt over her head. “Come in!”

  Sasha entered and looked around. “Nasya went home I see.”

  Ari turned to where Nasya had been sitting and found the other girl was gone. “I guess so.” Ari looked back down at the book in her lap then at Sasha. “You don’t have to stay. I’m safe here, right?”

  He hesitated a moment then rolled the chair next to the bed where she could easily access it. “Yes and no. I would prefer if you’d allow me to stay at least until Ghita gets back.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be sleeping any time soon, and you look tired.” Ari picked up her laptop from the nightstand.

  Sasha said nothing else but went into Ari’s closet, pulled out his camping mat, and rolled it out. He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. He wasn’t instantly asleep; Ari knew that just by the semi-tension in his limbs. Taking pity on him, she hit the light and watched his body slowly relax into deep sleep.

  Ari watched him sleep. All the tension that normally filled him was replaced with peace. His hands rested on the chiseled muscles of his stomach. He hadn’t kicked off his shoes. If Ari had working legs she would have gotten up and pulled them off for him. She unfolded one of her blankets and fluffed it over him. She smiled as he curled into the blanket.