Madness or Purpose (18 page)

In the farthest corner of the compartment is a metal box. I pull it out and set it on the floor between us. Though it has been below the floor for years the box still shines like new.

Well, there is a light layer of dust covering it, but no rust or visible damage. Upon examining the metal box we notice a key hole. Looking at Zoe I ask, “you got any ideas ZZ?” “Um…let me think…” With our hands still lying on the box she closes her eyes and I can feel her concentrating. I close my own eyes and focus on her thoughts. She is running through snippets of memories and sound bites of conversations. There is a female voice that is not familiar to me and though there is no face to go with it I can feel the emotions it stirs in Zoe. I think it’s her mother, though she doesn’t even know her. “Will she know it’s the key?” a man’s voice asks. “She will be much smarter than you think. She will figure it out,” the female voice answers. Then the only image in Zoe’s mind is the necklace Zoe has worn her entire life.

We open our eyes and just look at each other for a moment or two. Then Zoe reaches out and takes the metal box. The instant both of her hands touch the box it begins to glow the bright colorful mix that her aura does. An intricate design begins to appear in the metal identical to her necklace. After a few moments the light dims and only the etching gently glows. Zoe’s eyes lift to mine. “I think I need your help. Something doesn’t feel right. Give me your hand.” As soon as our hands touch the box erupts in light and the entire cabin is so bright we have to close our eyes. Once the light dims and we open our eyes we are both temporarily blinded. As our sight returns, though it is a bit hazy, we both notice my version of our mark is also etched in the box. It remains closed but the key hole is also lit up in a dim glow. Again we find ourselves staring at each other wondering what to do next.

Then it hits me, her necklace is the key. Without a word she reads my thoughts and slips it off over her head. It doesn’t look like it will fit the lock; it’s too large and not quite the right shape. Just as Zoe is about to give up she drops her necklace.

Once the necklace comes in contact with the box it begins to glow and the metal begins to shift and change. Her eyes dart between the key in her hand and me and back again. “Well, go ahead. Try it already.” “Ok ok, I will. Just don’t rush me ok!” “Ok ZZ, no rushing.” I laugh and shake my head. She glares at me and slowly places the key in the lock and turns it. The mechanism clicks and the lid pops open. Inside is an envelope sealed in wax, and another necklace with the same symbol stamped in the wax seal. Zoe removes them from the box and breaks the seal with her fingernail. It’s a letter and a picture falls out into her lap from between the pages. It’s a photo of a woman who looks very much like Zoe with a very young boy in her arms.

I pull Zoe into my lap as she unfolds the papers and begins to read aloud:

My Dearest Zoe,

I want to first tell you that I am sorry that I have not been there for you. I am sorry that we only shared a few precious hours together. I will never forgive myself for leaving you alone and placing a cloaking spell on you. One day I hope to meet you and hopefully get to know the woman you have become.

Your father is not like you or I. He did know and I know he will spend his life trying to protect you and keep you safe. I never wanted to walk away and I never wanted leave your father. I didn’t get a choice and every day I wonder just what my life might have been like if I could have stayed. I dream about you each night and I dream of the woman you will grow to be. By the time you are able to find and open this letter, you will know your true nature. I do hope that you have found your other half, he will be able to help you in ways not even I could have. What am I saying; you must have found him in order to open this box. Please take care of yourself. You are meant to do great things for our people and the people of this world. Never take your heritage or gifts for granted, each makes you who you are.

In the picture I have included in these pages are myself and your step brother. He was born when you would have been 16 almost 17. We were together for only a year. Your brother was kidnapped and we have not yet found him. He has found ways to send letters and call me at odd hours here and there to let me know he is alive. I have no idea where he is or if he will even be alive when you receive this letter. I am so sorry I cannot contact you in any other way. After Leo was taken from me I was terrified you might be next if I contacted you.

Every day I regret leaving you and every day I regret keeping Leo with me. I can’t seem to do anything but hurt the ones that I hold dear. For that, I am sorry. If you do choose to find me or find your brother I wish you well.

If you haven’t already noticed and I am sure you have, the world is not as it seems and individuals like yourself and I have great responsibility thrust upon us whether we choose it or not. I would hope that you take on your destiny with honor and pride for the individual you are and the world you were born to help protect. If you ever doubt who you really are simply hold your necklace in the palm of your hand and repeat these words:
Remove my blindness. Uplift my soul. Reveal to me nature’s truth.

The powers greater than all of us will open your eyes and remind you of the path we are to take to protect the innocent. Please, don’t shun your gifts and your talents. Be courageous and do what others have failed to do. With you and your other half lays our world’s hope, our future.

If you choose to find me your heart will guide you and your mind will unlock the secrets untold. I have great faith in you my child. I am only so lucky to have been allowed to give our people two leaders.

There is a false bottom in the box.

Love,

Zeta Nadia Jones

Zoe drops the letter in her lap and with a shaky hand picks up the photo. She traces the two people’s faces with the tip of her finger and a tear rolls down her cheek. Zoe begins to tremble and the single tear turns into many. She starts sobbing and turns her face into my chest. I have no words to comfort her. My heart aches for her and if I could take her far from here and make her forget everything I would. I knew we were here for something and everyone has made a big deal, but I never imagined anything close to this. I really do hope that for at least a while longer the guys are lost on their way here. I don’t even know where to begin. Zoe’s trembling becomes violent and her tears fall like they will never stop. Drops of salty tears drip to my arms as I cradle her and she electrocutes me over and over though the pain is excruciating I dare not let her go. Eventually my body can’t take it anymore and I collapse.

Invisible

“Gavin, Gavin, can you hear me? Are you ok?” Oh, no. I think I killed him! If I did, I don’t think I can forgive myself. His face is pale, his chest is still and I feel no pulse. I quickly straddle his waist and lean over him. I try to remember everything I learned in my CPR class. I place my hands in the right place and open his mouth. Alternate between compressions and breaths the whole time yelling for him not to leave me. “Come back Gavin, come back! Don’t leave me. I need you.”

With those words I notice I’m giving a small shock to his chest with every few compressions. I seem to be on some sort of auto pilot. Everything appears to be going much slower than it really is. I check his pulse and his heart beats one faint time. I resume the breaths and compressions in combination with shocks. I swear in any hospital they would have declared him dead already.

I can’t seem to stop though.

I can’t give up. I could have imagined the beat, but I won’t give up if there is any chance. I take a deep breath and everything around me becomes fuzzy. I can only make out Gavin and I continue the CPR. “Breathe, Gavin, breathe! I can’t lose you now. I’m so sorry. I lost control. I can’t do this without you.

I can’t do this without you. I need you…” My arms are like jelly and I haven’t heard a single beat of his heart in minutes. I collapse on his chest and the tears that have been damned up behind my eyes pour down. My own sobs fill my ears and the cabin begins to feel cold and devoid of life. I have handfuls of his shirt in my fists and I mumble through my own tears. Over and over I say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me Gavin.”

It feels as though I have been begging and pleading with the corpse under me for ages when I feel my own tears roll over my hands and his chest rise and fall quickly as though he has been shocked again. I hear air being sucked into his lungs and I quickly pull away starring at him in shock.

His eyes fly open and he gasps several times. Gavin’s breathing is labored and slightly erratic. He places his hand to my cheek and rubs his thumb over it in circles. Though I am still sobbing with happiness that he is alive I cover his hand with my own and press into it.
“Zoe, it’s really ok. I never left. I was here the whole time. You were so brave, such quick thinking. I am lucky to have you looking after me.”
His words comfort me, but I am still so angry at myself I could throw up. I hear truck tires outside and we both stand. I hide the box and its contents in my bag.

I quickly compose myself and make sure Gavin can stand and walk on his own. Everything seems semi normal by the time I hear shoes on the small porch. “You two in there,” Dean’s voice calls out as he bangs on the heavy wooden door.
“Let’s talk about this on the way home.”
I think at him. “Come in Dean.” I answer to his calling. He slowly pushes the door open. I’m not sure what he expected to see or walk in on. “We are clothed. Don’t worry Dean,” I add with a giggle. “By the looks of the area I wasn’t sure.” He answers running his weathered hand through his hair.

I notice the glances he gives Gavin and pretend I don’t see them. I have no idea what they spoke about on the phone earlier, but I’m not ashamed of us nor am I afraid Gavin will tell anyone about the letter or my brother until I decide we need to talk to someone.

“Well, there aren’t too many trees down, but we will need all the man power we can get to chain them up and drag them out of the way. I brought the truck and Jaron brought his SUV. We should be able to get things moving pretty quickly. Come on Gavin.” Dean gestures for him to come with him. “I’ll just clean up and get things packed. I’ll help when I’m done,” I announce. “Zoe, you don’t have to help. I mean no offense, but what can you do?” Dean asks. “I am completely capable!” I shout tapping my temple with one finger. “Dean, she has a point. Who do you think moved all the trees to begin with?” Gavin chuckles a bit and covers his mouth. “Well, I guess come out when you’re done then.” Dean says before exiting the small cabin. His face was slightly confused and completely flustered. It was rather amusing.

I close my eyes and started thinking about how the small cabin looked when we arrived. I mean we hadn’t messed up all that much, but it wasn’t quite like it was when we arrived. I open my eyes and the entire room is in motion. I see a broom and dust pan going around collecting the dust. The dishes put themselves away and the fire put itself out. The floorboard replaced itself and the blankets folded back into perfect squares. I moved to grab the bags we had brought as the room finishes cleaning itself up. “Nice work. Reminds me of a cartoon or two I’ve seen before,” I hear from behind me. Spinning on my heel I see Dominic standing in the doorway grinning from ear to ear as always. “I’ve been brushing up on my mad skills.” I reply with a smirk. I grab the bags and head for the door.

“Uh…Zoe, can we talk?” Dominic asks. “Now, about what,” I question him. He seems uncomfortable about something, but he has his walls up pretty good and I am unable to pluck it out of his head. “Stop trying that just hear me out. OK?”

“Sure, shoot. You got like three minutes before I plow by you, we got trees to move.”

“Zoe, I, we’re friends right?”Dominic asks. “Well, yeah, I guess so. I barely know you but sure. Go on.” I reply slightly aggravated. “I well, I need someone to talk to, and I know Gavin isn’t too fond of me right now, and well, I need a female friend in town. I thought maybe you could understand what it’s like to be well, surrounded but alone at the same time.” He looks at me pleading with his eyes.

Something isn’t right with him. I don’t mean he’s shifty or anything like that, but he is troubled with something. I am such a sucker for a nice guy and a sad face. Damn! I don’t know if I can deal with someone else’s crazy. I have enough crazy of my own for more than a lifetime. “Can we chat latter? Like tonight, maybe at the bar? A conversation might help me keep focused.” I don’t know what I’m doing. I hope this isn’t his way of trying to get in my pants. I’ll fry his brain if he tries anything. “Ok, thanks.” And with his answer he turns and leaves as quickly as he appeared.

The sun is bright as I step outside the door and all the guys are still trying to figure out what to do.

Gavin and Dean are trying to organize. Jaron and three guys I don’t know are digging for logging chains and Dominic is heading in their general direction. I make my way to Gavin’s truck and I remember I shorted it out. I toss our bags in the back of the cab. I lay my hand on the hood and concentrate.

“Start…start…engine start.” I keep focusing on how the engine sounds. A moment later it starts under my hand. I open my eyes and start laughing. I had no idea I could do that. I actually felt the sparks leave my finger tips and the surge of power from my body before the engine roared to life. Each man in the clearing turned to stare at me with their mouth gaping at least a little bit.

Grinning from ear to ear I ask, “want my help now boys?” I end my question with a wink.

Gavin busts out laughing and Dominic joins him. Dean and the rest just shake their heads. The guys join me by the truck and most just keep shaking their heads. “I can’t be sure I can move them all, but I can probably line them up a bit straighter for the tucks.

I could use some help though. If Gavin and Dominic would be willing, I could use some added juice to get the job done faster. So, we got a plan?” Jaron and Dean chatted for a bit pointing and scratching their heads. The rest of the guys move the vehicles to a safe distance. Gavin’s truck, it is well, sort of trapped. I turn the engine off by the key after a while when I am sure the battery has a bit more charge. “We got it figured out Zoe.” Dean shouted and motioned for me to come over. Jaron and Dean spent the next 20 minutes explaining to myself, Gavin, and Dominic the best way to set the trees up to drag out of the way the quickest.