Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (4 page)

             
"
Sounds great.
"

             
Aylin and Eliana sat on the back patio of their home. Two sides of the yard were lined with trees; the other side was a view of the ocean. There was a slight decline between the fence and the sandy beach. Their view of the ocean was littered with small wooded islands, with rock outcroppings that waves crashed into sending spray high in the air. At the right time of year pods of orcas could be seen making passage through.
             
Eliana refilled her glass of wine, and topped off Aylin’s. 
"
I saw her again,
"
Aylin said, watching the waves lazily roll in. The sun began to set, making the sky radiant in pinks and oranges and the bright colors of her flowers dimmed to a warm simmer.

             
"
Did she run away screaming again?
"
El snickered.

             
"
No, it was too public of a place for that,
"
Aylin slightly smiled. She didn’t find humor in frightening the young woman, but the thought of someone being scared of the sight of her was a little amusing. Nothing about Aylin should have been intimidating, but if the woman saw the current around Aylin, as Aylin saw it around her, that would make anyone that didn’t know a little nervous.
"
She wouldn’t even look at me this time.
"

             
"
That’s because you’re so hideous.
"
El winked at her.

             
"
I’ve only seen her twice, and whatever I am doing is wrong. It is scaring her away. I feel like I don’t even need to talk because just the sight of me has her on edge. Am I really that intimidating to others? How am I supposed to get her to warm up to me? To see past the current?
"
Aylin sighed and took a long sip of her wine.

             
"
Okay.
"
El turned toward her, turning serious.
"
I’ve been thinking. What if she didn’t have the same upbringing as we did? What if she really has no clue what is happening to her? If she grew up with normal, average parents that didn’t give her a hint that there is more to life than what most people know, she would be scared silly of what is happening to her. Then you come along, glowing the way you do, and it just tops it off for her.
"

             
Aylin looked at her.
"
Why would her parents not clue her in? At least hint at it?
"
She frowned.

             
El swirled her wine around the goblet, thinking about what the right answer would be.
"
What if they didn’t know?
"

             
Aylin laughed.
"
It doesn’t work that way,
"
she shook her head.

             
"
Maybe they wouldn’t say anything because they didn’t want it to be true,
"
El said.

             
Aylin reached over and touched El’s knee and smiled. She squeezed and let go. She knew that El didn’t have the easiest time with her parents, since El’s parents basically threw her out after she turned eighteen. It had been a hard time for El. Her body and mind were changing and she lost the support of her parents who were afraid of what she would become. Fortunately, Aylin came along and took her under her wing. El had been a scared teenager and blossomed into a confident and beautiful young woman under her care. They both knew that El’s parents turning their backs on her was probably one of the best things that could have happened to her, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t one of the most difficult.
"
I guess we will just have to wait and find out,
"
Aylin finally said.

             
"
Maybe I could give it a go tomorrow?
"
El asked.

             
Aylin laughed again.
"
No, I don’t think she is going to melt under the spell of your charm right now.
"
She shook her head.

             
"
Okay. I tried.
"
El stood up. She smiled at Aylin who looked up at her questionably.
"
Charles called yesterday, he’s back in town for the weekend. So, don’t wait up for me.
"
She winked and headed into the house.

             
Aylin followed her inside.
"
Which one is Charles again?
"
She uncorked the bottle of wine and refilled her glass.

             
El turned in the doorway with a smirk.
"
I met Charles last summer in the cove. You know him, he’s the one that built us the fire pit in the back?
"
She nodded towards the back door.

             
"
Ah, yes. Make sure you tell him I say hello.
"
Aylin was amazed at how many men El had collected in her time that they lived together. Never once had
El
been accused of cheating or lying, because she never committed herself to one man. To her the idea of committing yourself to one person seemed quite boring. She thought then there would be no surprises.

             
Aylin
stood at the sink, looking out the window that gave her a view of her gardens. There were two small clay pots on the windowsill that held white orchids. One’s petals were turning brown on the edges, making Aylin frown. She always took special care with these delicate plants. But sometimes they needed a little extra love. She rubbed her index finger and thumb together until her skin warmed, and then gently pinched the base of the stem of the plant. The brown edges seeped away, dripping into the soil like water, leaving the petals pure white.
"
Much better,
"
she said to herself.

CHAPTER FIVE

             
Terra had woken up early to brew Blake coffee before she left for work. He had crawled out of bed as she was leaving, and she promised him a homemade meal for dinner that night. He tried not to shudder at the thought. Her cooking had always been questionable. Once, she tried to grill steaks and she came back in with charcoal bricks that had twigs covering them. She had tried coating the steaks with rosemary and thyme, without pulling the leaves off the woody stems. They had ordered pizza that night also.

             
Blake had his coffee with a toasted bagel, noting that at least she mastered the art of brewing good coffee, and began to feel restless sitting inside the desolate house. He set out to walk around the island. He had seen just a glimpse yesterday, but his tired weary eyes had blurred everything together. When he stepped outside he knew it was going to be a warm day because the air already felt sultry at nine in the morning. Good thing he had packed shorts.

             
After locking
the door with the extra key that Terra gave him
,
he
started walking down the road. At the end of her block the road ended, meeting a small parking lot for the public beach. The beach had a few patrons that looked to be searching for shells. There was a small child with his mother, and the baby was throwing sand into the air. Each time the sand landed on her the baby squealed with delight.

             
He continued on, making his way to Main Street. The first shop proved to be a drug store, at least that was close in case he needed to pick up more items, depending on how long he stayed. He passed a floral shop, and wondered if Terra would like some more flowers to brighten her house. It seemed it was the only thing she held onto in her new life here. On the way back he would pick up something cheerful and bright for her.

             
He stopped in front of the bookstore and peeked in. The bookstore wasn’t busy, only a few customer
s browsing in the front.
Terra
stood
at the front counter speaking to another woman. He waited until she looked up and smiled at him. She waved and the woman she was speaking to turned to look at him. He returned the wave and then continued walking. He had only taken a step when he saw the beautiful woman from the café walking toward him. He felt his body tense and he stepped out so he blocked her way.

             
She looked up a few feet from him and slowed down to a stop. Her hair was swept back today, and a few tendrils escaped around her face. When she looked at him he had to ignore the thud his heart made.
"
Hello.
"
She wasn’t smiling today, and her eyes were cautious of him.

             
"
Hello.
"
He crossed his arms. He felt the anger bubbling inside him. He didn’t need to know what happened between this woman and his sister, but he sure wasn’t going to let someone intimidate her. Though, this woman didn’t seem all that scary to him.

             
She stepped to move around him.
"
Excuse me,
"
she mumbled, but stopped when he stepped in her way again.
"
Is there something you needed?
"
she asked, irritated.

             
"
Yes. I just wanted to tell you that you could leave my sister alone,
"
he said.

             
She frowned in confusion.
"
Sorry?
"

             
"
Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You just need to leave her alone.
"
He pointed his finger accusingly at her.

             
She looked sincerely taken back.
"
Excuse me? I really don’t know who you or your sister is.
"

             
"
Really? You were talking to her yesterday in the café.
"

             
Her mouth dropped open and she quickly started shaking her head.
"
Oh, you don’t understand.
"
She took a hesitant step closer to him.
"
I’m only trying to help her,
"
she lowered her voice.

             
"
With what?
"
he demanded.

             
"
I can’t explain it to you. I-
"

             
The door to the bookstore flung open.
"
Blake! What are you doing?
"
Terra ran out of the store.

             
"
Talking to this woman about leaving you alone.
"
He began feeling a little worried that he overstepped the line. Or he should have just waited until Terra wasn’t anywhere around when he confronted this woman. He didn’t care how beautiful she looked, he wasn’t going to let some stranger get his sister all worked up.

             
"
And I am trying to tell him that I can help you. I can help you understand who you are, and why you came here. I can explain all this to you more than anyone can. There is no need to be frightened of me.
"

             
"
Who said I was frightened?
"
Terra exclaimed, her voice raising a few octaves. The woman only looked at Blake.
"
Blake!
"
Terra’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

             
"
I just want to help you, that’s all.
"
Blake took a step away from her.

             
"
Let me help you.
"
The woman took a step closer to Terra.
"
Come by my home when you are ready to understand everything you’re questioning about yourself.
"
She pulled a card out of her purse and wrote an address on the back.
"
I promise you, no harm will come to you. But don’t delay too long, time is a precious thing.
"

             
Terra looked down at the card and was quiet for a few moments. Then she sighed, giving in.
"
Terra,
"
she finally said,
"
Terra is my name.
"

             
The woman smiled, lighting her entire face.
"
It’s a beautiful name, and very fitting if I might add. It’s nice to meet you, Terra.
"
She shot a dark look at Blake, then stepped to the side and walked around them, leaving them alone.

             
That night Terra attempted dinner, and when she burned the chicken to a crisp, Blake pulled out the pork chops that he had marinating, just in case. He made quick work with the grill and soon enough they sat down to dinner. She hadn’t said much to him since she had gotten home, and he knew she was angry with him.
"
What do you want to do tomorrow on your day off?
"
Blake asked her when they finished eating.

             
She set their dishes in the sink and turned to face him.
"
Blake, you shouldn’t have done that today,
"
she said evenly.

             
"
Look, I know I embarrassed you, but she’s obviously done something to you.
"

             
"
Embarrassed me? Not at all,
"
she said sarcastically.
"
I can take care of myself,
"
she said and turned to start the water to wash the dishes.

             
He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the fridge.
"
Yeah, I can see that. Your idea of taking care of yourself is running away. Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking of leaving here and finding somewhere else to hide. Maybe that’s why you’re living lik
e this. So, if things get
too difficult, or a family member comes to find you, you can pack up in less than five minutes and bolt.
"
He crossed his arms.

             
She shook her head and gave a chuckle. She tossed the rag in the water and turned back to him.
"
That’s great. Make fun of me.
"
She glared at him.

             
"
I’m not making fun of you. I’m trying to make sense of you!
"
He pushed off the fridge.
"
For the last year I have gone through so many scenarios of what is going on with you. There were times that I thought the only reason you were around anymore was for me. And I was right, because as soon as I was gone you hightailed it out of town. You never gave me or mom a chance to help you!
"
All the hurt and anger came to the surface and was pouring out of him, and there was no stopping it now. She needed to know what she did to them.
"
Mom has been going crazy with you disappearing. I finally took her to the doctor to get something prescribed to her so she could sleep. She had been up every single night waiting for you to call.
"

             
Tears were welling up in Terra’s eyes.
"
Stop,
"
she pleaded.

             
"
No. You need to know what your selfishness has done.
"
He took a small step into the doorway so she couldn’t escape.
"
As soon as I got back it took Owen and me three weeks to find you. Three weeks Terra! You could have been dead for all we knew. With the way you had been acting, to be honest, I was half expecting that you had gone off somewhere and ended it.
"
She was crying now.
"
How should I have known any different?
"
He hadn’t said everything he needed to, but he couldn’t go on anymore. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, and he wanted to reach out and hold her. But he couldn’t, she had hurt him so deeply. He turned away from her and went out the front door.

             
An hour later Terra walked out her front door and out into the empty street. The island wasn’t large, but she could have spent the rest of the night looking for him. Her fingertips tingled slightly as her heart sped up. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In her mind she saw the faint trail. It was like a light mist swirling in the air in front of her. She took another deep breath and picked up the smell of sawdust. Her brother always smelled of sawdust to her. She opened her eyes and turned left.

             
She didn’t hurry as she walked down the block, trying to sort her thoughts out in her head. She knew Blake wouldn’t understand what she’s going through, and the only reason she knew that was because she didn’t understand it. Something about Aylin had her thinking the woman knew exactly what was happening to her.

             
Before she could stop her mind from wandering she was brought back home, to an early spring day:

             
The morning sun sparkled through the trees; the buds just visible as on the lower branches. The air, rich with the scent of the damp earth, felt humid from the spring rainfall the night before, and sprouts peaked their heads out of the black dirt. The yellowed blades of the grass had begun turning a rich green. The earth felt soft and moist, still wet from the melting snow. Soon the forests would be lush green and the wild life would find it easier to hide from their predators.