The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II - 15. Chapter 15

The Brotherhood: Awakening

Chapter XV

By X

 

 

 

As he took off his jacket to examine himself, Sunny objected strongly. “I do not!” He sat down next to me on the large ottoman. “I’m Captain Jack Sparrow.”

“Ah, well, in that case, I stand by my original statement,” I said. “Why in the world are you dressed up like that?”

Once I realized I was lying on a couch, I tried to sit up only to have Sunny push me back down.

“Don’t move,” Sunny instructed, his voice switching from whimsical to a more brotherly concerned tone. “Wait until The Great Mother has had a chance to look you over.”

“But I feel fine.”

“Let her be the judge of that.”

“Sunny….”

“Jacob….”

I knew he wouldn’t relent, so I yielded and stayed down. For the record, I did feel fine, as strange as that may sound, considering that only a few minutes earlier, I felt like I was coming out of a drunken stupor. The fogginess was gone. There was no pain. Everything around me appeared as clear as a bell. The wonders of El’odian physiology, I suppose?

“Fine, but are you ever going to answer my question?”

“Oh, this?” He grabbed the ends of his long braids and waved them at me. Initially, I thought it was a wig, but Sunny used his powers to perfectly replicate the fictional character’s hair. “It’s The Great Mother’s rule. If we insisted on staying here, we had to dress up for the kids and help hand out candy.”

“What are you talking about, Sunny?”

“Halloween, my guy.”

“Halloween? That’s not for another three days. Why start now?”

“Jacob….” Sunny said softly as he placed his hand on my leg. “You’ve been out for three days.”

“What?” I yelled and shot up to a sitting position.

Sunny tried to stop me again, but I slapped his hand away and planted my feet firmly on the floor.

“Three days?” I exclaimed.

“Yes.”

“Three days?” I repeated in disbelief. I grabbed my head and looked around. Suddenly I felt boxed in. Trapped. “You’re telling me I’ve been lying here for three days?”

“Yep.”

“Three days!” I started to get up, but Sunny grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back down.

“No!”

Slipping my hands through my hair, I placed my elbows on my knees and stared at the floor. Balling up a fist full of hair, I looked at Sunny, wide-eyed and confused.

“The answer is not going to change, Jacob,” he said just as I started to repeat my question. “If you want, I can say it’s been five days. No, wait, that probably wouldn’t help, actually.”

“I can’t believe it! It feels like it just happened. Like we just walked in.”

“Well, I’m going to need you to believe it so we can cross that bridge and move on. Besides, now that I think about it, you’re the lucky one.”

“How the hell do you figure that?” I threw out my hands as if to say look at me.

“Well, to you, it feels like it just happened. But the rest of us spent the last three days worried sick about you, Jacob.”

I sat back against the couch, realizing he had a valid point. I’d be out of my mind if it were one of my friends laid out for days.

“I guess,” I conceded.

“No, not ‘I guess,’ Jacob. You have no idea how worried I’ve been. How worried we’ve all been. This doesn’t happen to us.”

“What doesn’t?” I was confused.

“This!” Sunny gestured at the couch by wildly swinging his arms about. “We don’t pass out for a day, let alone three. That’s not a thing, Jacob!”

“Are you seriously yelling at me right now after I just woke up from a coma?”

“No!” he yelled and then took a deep breath. He looked like a parent at wits end with their child. Placing his hands on my head, he pressed his forehead to mine. “I was scared, Jacob. We didn’t know if you’d ever wake up.”

“I’m sorry to scare you like that,” I said softly. “Trust me, it wasn’t on my to-do list. I’m awake now, Sunny, so I’m going to need you to let that fear go. I’m fine. Okay?”

He nodded without saying a word and pulled away. His misty eyes told the tale of someone terrified for his friend. It was touching, yet it felt out of place. I couldn’t share in the sentiment. To me, five minutes had passed. At least it felt that way. Still, I felt terrible for those who lived through that experience.

My God. Q.

“Who’s been here?” I asked.

“Who hasn’t been here would make for a shorter list,” Sunny replied, clearing his throat and nonchalantly wiping at his eyes.

I smiled.

“Why are you smiling?”

“No reason. You were saying something about a list?”

“Everyone came to check on you! It was like a whole damn parade came through here. Zenial and Raz came, of course. A bunch of guys from the house came by. Liam and Elijah have been with me the whole time, basically. They just got called away about an hour ago. They’re going to be pissed they missed you waking up.” A playful smirk appeared on Sunny’s face briefly. “But then you had other Skylarians you haven’t even met yet come by, like Prince Iythaeryn, Prince Aulus, Prince Thon’tas, Prince Eryx, Prince….”

“Okay, okay, I get it. There was a royal procession here, but why, though?”

Scrunching his face and narrowing his eyes, Sunny leaned forward as he said, “What part of ‘this doesn’t happen to our kind,’ don’t you get? Sure, a strong enough blast from a Nave will knock us on our asses and maybe lay us out for a few minutes. Maybe ten? Twenty? But three days? That’s unheard of, Jacob, so yeah, you were the talk of the town. Many of them took the time to sit with you alone for a little bit.”

“Seriously?” I’m not going to lie. It felt intrusive having people watch me while I was unconscious.

“Yeah. Prince Iythaeryn spent two hours with you yesterday.”

“Doing what?”

“How the hell would I know? He was alone with you.”

“Right,” I nodded. “It seems so weird that they’d go to all that trouble just for me. I’m a nobody to them.”

“Wrong!” Sunny's tone showed a hint of anger and shock, but it was quickly replaced with a softness that conveyed the sentiment he was trying to portray. “You’re our brother, Jacob. That makes you everything to us.”

I nodded. I understood.

With that being said, I stared at him suspiciously as he conveniently left out a whole bunch of people I knew were also here at some point. He tried to look innocent as if he was oblivious as to why I’d be staring him down, but he knew.

“Anyone else stop by?” I inquired.

“Ms. Cynthia came by with hot chocolate from Antonio’s for everyone. God, I love that woman. She sat with you, too, by the way.”

“That was very kind of her. I’ll thank her for coming by the next time I see her.”

“Yeah, the hot chocolate was super tasty.”

“Anyone else?”

“Eolaeis stopped by.”

“I swear to god I’m going to slap you.”

“What?” he protested.

“Are you really going to sit there and not tell me my other friends were here too?”

“Your other friends?” he mused, massaging his chin as he looked around as if he was at a loss as to whom I was referring.

“Sunny!”

“Okay, fine!” He rolled his eyes and let his tongue hang out for a moment. “They were here too.”

“Was that so hard?” I asked.

“Maybe.”

“Is it so hard to admit that my friends might care about me just as much as you do?”

“I admit nothing,” Sunny answered defiantly.

“You’re an idiot,” I snickered. “Did everyone get along okay?”

“Yes, mom, we were fine.”

“Really?” I looked past Sunny at the spot where they all gathered around Q before he teleported them out. “Then why did I hear you and CJ going at it?”

“Hmm, which one is CJ again?”

“Dude….”

“Oh, him. It was nothing, Jacob. It was just a misunderstanding from before. Nothing to get your undies in a twist over.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Can we not dwell on that and focus on the fact that you’re finally awake.”

“Who else is here with you?”

Sunny looked genuinely puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?”

“How is this a difficult question? You said Laim and Elijah were here but had to leave. Is there anyone else with you?”

“Oh, it’s just me and….”

As if waiting for his queue to appear, Zac opened the door and rushed me the second our eyes met. “You are awake!”

The boy would have tackled me to the ground if I wasn’t already sitting, which would have been appropriate, considering what he was wearing. Instead, he knocked me on my side, his helmet bonking me in the head when we hugged. His loving embrace warmed my heart. I erupted in laughter at his youthful enthusiasm. Seeing our bond grow stronger with every tick of the clock was nice. The bond with my brothers was vital and real to me. Important. Nothing can diminish it, but it is inherent to being Skai. It comes baked in. My relationship with Zac, on the other hand, felt special in its own right. I had earned it. And like an echo from my past, I was the new kid hoping to find that one person who’d like me for me; I’d found that in Zac.

“Hey, watch it, you brat!” Sunny scolded as he slapped Zac on the butt. “You’re going to give him a concussion. That’s the last thing we need right now.”

“Nice try, but you guys don’t get concussions,” Zac retorted.

“We also don’t go all Sleeping Beauty, but three days later, and here we are.”

“I’m fine!” I insisted as I peeled Zac off to get a better look at his getup. “What’s all this?”

Zac immediately stood up, popped his hip to the side, and struck a pose. “What do you think?” he asked while grinning from ear to ear. “Wicked, right?”

Zac wasn’t wrong. He was dressed from head to toe in a red and white football uniform but with a twist. The helmet was busted open on the top, with realistic brain matter oozing out. His jersey - number 69 of course - was a crop top displaying his slim waist and developing abs with bleeding lacerations across his stomach. He had a knife sticking out of his shoulder pad, and the rest of the costume was stained with grass and blood. It looked frighteningly realistic.

“What are you supposed to be? The twink from Halloween past come to terrorize all the straight jocks in their nightmares?”

“Or fulfill their dreams,” Zac said with a raised, seductive brow. “You never know.”

“Stop!” Sunny and I said in unison.

Playfully kicking my leg, he sat next to Sunny on the ottoman. “I’m a zombie quarterback. You like it?”

“It’s wicked,” I nodded.

“Thanks!” His powdered, rotting, zombified face lit up like a jack-o-lantern. “I designed it myself, and he whipped it up for me.”

“No wonder it looks so real,” I said, poking my finger thru the face guard to touch the “rotted” flesh. “Hold up. You can do all this for Zac, but the best you could do was a gay pirate?”

“See!” Zac jumped up and pointed down at Sunny. “I said you looked like a gay pirate! Didn’t I tell you?”

“I do not!” Sunny grabbed Zac and forced him to sit.

“Okay, okay, let’s stop teasing the homosexual pirate,” I teased and winked at Zac.

“You’re both lucky this is a violence-free zone,” Sunny warned ominously.

“Oh yeah, speaking of which, Jacob, your friends were….” Zac allowed the unfinished sentence to linger in the air while he thought of the least offensive way to finish his thought. “Nice?” He cocked his head to the side as if he wasn’t sure that was the best word to describe them.

My ears perked up as my curiosity was instantly piqued. “What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Sunny answered with a dismissive wave.

“You didn’t tell him?”

“Zac, let it go.”

“Tell me what?” I looked between the two, waiting for answers. When none were forthcoming, I punched Sunny in the leg. “Tell me what, Sunny?”

“It’s nothing, Jacob, don’t worry about it.”

“Fine, I won’t,” I said, then turned my attention to Zac. “What happened, Zac?”

“Your friend slammed Sunny against a wall!”

“Zac,” Sunny groaned as he tried to cover Zac’s mouth, but the face guard blocked his hand. “You weren’t even there.”

“I know, but like I keep telling everyone, I hear things,” Zac smirked proudly.

“Who? Which friend?”

“The ‘bro dude,’” Zac said thoughtfully. “Which one was he again?”

“You mean CJ?”

“Yeah, him,” Zac replied with a snap of his fingers. “Your friend CJ straight-up tuned him up against the wall.”

“Okay, slow your roll, kiddo,” Sunny interjected.

“Okay, Grandpa,” Zac rolled his eyes.

“You’re making it sound like he beat the shit out of me. He only shoved me against the wall. That’s it.”

“Why, though?” I asked, thoroughly confused. “When did this happen? Just now? Is that why I heard you two yelling at each other?”

“Oh, god no,” Zac laughed dismissively. “That was because they called us a bunch of savages.”

“What?” I exclaimed and stood up in shock.

“Sit!” Sunny ordered and pushed me back down.

“Can someone please tell me what happened?”

Sunny and Zac shared a glance.

“Don’t look at me,” Zac shrugged innocently. “I’m not one to gossip.”

Sunny was about to snap at Zac, but I interceded before he could utter the first syllable. “Sunny, you can murder Zac later, but for now, can you tell me what’s going on?”

“You should listen to that man,” Zac nodded toward me.

“Look, Jacob, it’s not a big deal. The day you went supernova and passed out, your friends showed up right after. Don’t ask me how they got there so quickly, but they did. The ‘dude guy’ must’ve seen you in Qua’quelle’s arms and got all worked up. I was getting back on my feet, my legs felt like Jell-O, and the next thing I knew, I was being thrown into a wall by this scrappy blond.”

“He’s super-hot, though,” Zac added with a smirk.

“Do you mind?” Sunny snapped. “I thought you weren’t going to comment?”

“I just want the facts on record, is all.” Raising his hand over his head, Zac did a rather flamboyant and funny flourish. “You may continue.”

“That’s about it, Jacob. He pushed me into a wall.”

“Slammed a couple of times and took a swing at him,” Zac added quickly, his words almost a blur, and looked away when Sunny glared at him.

“He punched you?!”

“No, it never came to that. He took a swing but was stopped before it was too late.”

“Did you stop him?” I would’ve been worried about CJ’s well-being had I not heard him just before Q and the gang disappeared.

“No, Jacob. I didn’t touch the guy. He attacked me.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m Skai, remember? There’s nothing he could’ve done that would’ve hurt me.”

“Are you okay?” I repeated.

Our eyes met, and I held his gaze for an instant.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he answered, trying to hide the little smile on his face.

“I’m sorry he did that,” I said softly. “It’s not like CJ to act that way. I’m not trying to make excuses for him; I’m just saying he probably wasn’t thinking straight. He’s normally a fun-loving goofball who doesn’t know when to shut up.” I looked at Zac suddenly. “You’d love ‘em.”

“Hmm….” Leaning forward, Zac narrowed his eyes and looked at me suspiciously. “I don’t think I like what you’re insinuating.”

“I’m saying they’re a good bunch of guys. I’m just sorry that first impressions haven’t gone over as smoothly as I’d hoped. From both sides.”

Sunny rolled his eyes and avoided eye contact.

“What was that?” Zac asked as he looked at us. “Oh wait, you’re talking about that Envoy business, aren’t you?” He snickered suddenly. “Yeah, Raz chewed his ass out for that one, and not in a good way.”

“No, no,” I said, wagging my finger. “No sex jokes in this house. Especially from you, Mr. I Don’t Even Have A Driver’s License yet.”

“Agreed!”

“Did anything else happen?” I inquired.

“Well, I’m sure your friends also got chewed out,” Zac answered with a shrug.

“What do you mean?”

“After CJ tried to punch Sunny, they all got taken into a room for a talk. The same room Raz took Sunny into, actually. I don’t know what was said, but they didn’t look happy when they came out.”

“Taken by who?” I asked, though I was confident I knew the answer already.

“Qua’quelle!” Zac practically swooned as he wrapped his hands around his right knee and leaned back. “He’s soooo sexy! I had no idea!”

“Here we go again,” Sunny sighed heavily, contorting his face in annoyance.

“I’ve heard some of the guys talk about him before, you know, how much they’d love to be the ones to kill him and all that jazz, but no one ever talks about how hot he is, at least not in a way that does him justice. And seeing him through a memory also falls short. Holy crap! He’s hot!”

I could barely contain my stupid grin.

“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” Sunny sneered.

“What? I didn’t say anything. Homeboy over here is the one drooling all over the place.”

“Of course I am. He’s so fine!”

“Okay, enough!” Sunny demanded. “He’s not even all that. Cool your shorts.”

“Oh, please!” Zac mocked. He leaned back again, but this time, Sunny pulled his other leg up and over the ottoman, causing Zac to roll off and hit the floor. Luckily, the football padding kept him safe, so he didn’t miss a beat from the floor. “He’s like Zenial, just a darker, broodier, more murderous version, you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I have an idea,” I laughed.

“I’ll tell you what,” Zac said as he got up and sat beside Sunny again. “He can murder me anytime.”

“Zac!” Sunny pushed him right off the ottoman, and he landed on the ground with a loud thud.

“Okay, that’s enough out of you,” I said, kicking Zac’s foot.

“You’re just mad because we had a moment!” Zac pointed at Sunny accusingly from the floor.

“Oh, give me a break. You said hi to him, and he nodded – if that even counted as a nod.”

Zac swooned. “A nod I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

“You’re dumb,” Sunny assured him.

“Whatever!” Zac exclaimed. “Let’s not sit up in here in The Great Mother’s house and tell lies. I wasn’t the only one checking him out. You were too!”

“My interest in him was purely tactical,” Sunny insisted with a scoff. “I was analyzing, looking for any weakness or vulnerabilities in case anything went down.”

“Really?” Zac sat up and looked at Sunny quizzically. “What exactly were you analyzing when I caught you checking out his butt when he walked by?”

“Haha!” I blurted out involuntarily before covering my mouth to try and hold it all in.

“You, be quiet!” Sunny pointed at me with a scowl.

“Okay, enough about Q,” I said, throwing my hands up in surrender.

“Q….” Zac mused. “You think he’d mind if I called him Q?”

“Yes!” We said simultaneously.

Zac got up with a mischievous grin and sat next to Sunny again. I could only imagine what nonsense was going through his mind and how much it concerned Q. It was funny watching Zac fanboy over him. I was reminded of my reaction when I saw Q for the first time during orientation. So much had happened since then that it seemed like a lifetime ago. I could only hope my reaction didn’t come off as embarrassing as Zac’s.

For a brief moment, Zac gave me a glimpse of a future where both sides could see beyond their nature and admire each other for their splendor, beauty, and shared history, even if that admiration was from afar. Sadly, reality set in, and I remembered Zac is but a boy, a very human boy with a superficial infatuation typical of someone his age.

The wounds between Skai and Nave run deep and are anything but simple. To think otherwise only showcases my naïveté. Am I wrong to cling to a sliver of hope for another way? Is it delusional to look at a boy like Zac, a human who has yet to receive the Gift, and think he could be our future?

Of course, it was. But my god, what a future that could have been.

“All right, all right, let him go, Sunny.” I had to come to Zac’s defense as Sunny playfully roughed him up. “What about this ‘savage’s’ thing you mentioned? What was that all about?”

Sunny released Zac from a headlock. “Well, your buddies called us a bunch of savages.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re Nave adjacent,” he replied harshly. “What other reason do they need?”

“Sunny….” I implored.

“Well, it seems they believe this….” Sunny said as he waved his hand in my face, “This thing going on with you is somehow our fault.”

I just blinked at Sunny.

“Don’t look at me. That’s what they think.”

“The way they see it, you were fine with The Brotherhood,” Zac said. “You didn’t develop these mysterious issues until you joined us and returned home. They used the word ‘suspicious.’”

“So obviously, that means we did something to you as a punishment or some shit,” Sunny added. “After all, a bunch of savages bent on eradicating the human race wouldn’t think twice about inflicting pain and suffering on one of their own.”

“They said that?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Zac answered somberly.

“You know, as opposed to the benevolence of their forced enslavement of humans,” Sunny continued. “I’m sure that will go over….”

“I’ll talk to them,” I interrupted. I was disappointed and a little heartbroken over their choice of words. I’m sure emotions were running high, but I’d hoped our conversation would have put a dent in their perception of my people. I suppose that was my naïveté shining through again. To think one conversation would change their way of thinking, their training, or their biases was beyond foolish on my part. I love my friends dearly, and I understand that they were defending me, but it was an attack on my people. What was I supposed to do with that?

“You don’t have to talk to them, Jacob,” Sunny insisted. “Especially on our behalf. We’ll be just fine. It’s just posturing.”

“When were you going to tell me about this?” I asked.

“You just woke up from a three-day coma, Jacob. I didn’t want to drop all this on your lap after saying hello. I was afraid it would weigh on your mind and could risk triggering another episode.”

“Oh….” Zac said sheepishly.

“Now he gets it,” Sunny said.

“I’m sorry….”

“It’s okay, Zac.” I shook his leg to reassure him he did nothing wrong. “I understand why you held back, Sunny, but I’m glad Zac brought it up because I’d want to know. You both did right by me, so let’s leave it at that.”

They nodded in agreement, and the subject was dropped. I smiled as I stared at my two loving brothers, grateful I was developing a special kinship with them to complement the rest of my dysfunctional family, and I’m not talking about the one I left behind in Maine.

But then I had a terrifying thought. “Oh my god!” I sat up on the edge of the cushion and grabbed Sunny’s legs in a panic. “Our brothers! The exchange! Did it happen? What happened to them? They were human. Did I hurt any of them? Are they….”

“Relax!” Sunny grabbed my hands and squeezed tightly. “Take a deep, unnecessary breath because you’re not human, and relax.” He waited a moment for me to get a grip before calmly continuing. “Yes, you could have killed all of them….”

“What?!”

“But you didn’t,” he smiled brightly as if he was delivering a sunny and clear weather forecast. “Xazzumir was with the delegation, and Zenial had him take them home long before we got there.”

“Oh, thank God!”

“And what God is that exactly?” Zac inquired.

“Huh?” I asked, bewildered.

“I’m just saying. We keep using that phrase, but what God are we really talking about here? Is it the one we all grew up hearing about or the one we know existed millions of years ago?”

“No one likes a smartass,” I declared.

“I beg to differ,” Zac countered with a giggle. “Everyone likes ass; whether it’s smart or not is a totally different matter.”

I reached over and smacked his helmet as Sunny started poking his ticklish sides. He tried to escape our onslaught, but Sunny created a band of Askyli around his legs that pinned him to the ottoman.

“No fair!” he protested through the laughter. “That’s cheating!”

“Well, isn’t this a lovely sight?”

That soft, thoughtful voice cut through the noise and ended our roughhousing. Sunny freed Zac from his restraints, and the three of us sat back perfectly still as if nothing had happened.

“Laughter has long been absent from these rooms,” The Great Mother mused, surveying her surroundings as if this was her first time stepping into the room. “It was nice.”

Her smile was warm and inviting, not that the two knuckleheads would know since they had their backs to her. They looked a bit panicky, which was amusing to watch, if I’m being honest. Seeing her now, dressed as she was, sparkly tiara and all, made all the sense in the world.

“The cookies are done, and the next wave of kids should be coming through The Village any minute now.” She approached with her hands clasped together in front of her poofy dress and stood beside Sunny. “Why don’t you boys put them out and get ready to hand some candy? I’d like some time with Jacob.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Sunny roared, standing as if he was addressing his drill sergeant.

“A little much, bro,” Zac teased.

Suddenly, Sunny got serious, his expression remorseful as he turned to face The Great Mother. I was waiting for him to say something, but he didn’t, even though I could tell he wanted to, but it appeared the words would not come out.

“What is it, dear?” she inquired, tilting her head slightly as she cleared the braids from his face.

“I’m sorry for the mess I made,” he said sincerely as he tried desperately to avoid eye contact. “I know I can be a little chaotic at times, and more than a handful, but I just….”

She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her, gently shaking his head with the loving affection of a grandmother. “You listen to me, Sunny. Do not apologize for being who you are. Not ever.” She pulled his face closer. “Do you understand me?”

He nodded. “But your things….”

“Everything is as it should be,” she assured Sunny, her warm smile reappearing as she caressed his face. “Besides, a little chaos now and again is exactly what this old woman needs after spending countless lifetimes alone.”

I smiled.

So did Zac. “Sweet! Does that mean I can….”

“No!” The three of us said in unison.

“Ugh!”

“Now go prepare for the kids,” she said.

“What kids?” I asked curiously. “This is a college town. The Village is all college kids. Who exactly is trick or treating around here?”

“Oh, you silly dork,” Zac said. “Lots of families drive from all over to have their kids do their Halloween in The Village.”

“Why here?”

“Wait until you step outside,” Sunny said. “The Village goes hard during the holidays thanks to….” Instead of finishing his sentence, he nodded toward The Great Mother.

“And, not to mention, it’s the safest place on the planet to trick or treat in thanks to, you know….” Zac made the same gesture toward The Great Mother. “Just saying….”

“That’s enough, you two; preparation time is running short,” she said, pointing at the door. “Oh, and Zac.”

“Yes?”

“Remember, you’re fifteen, so behave yourself.”

“What did I do?”

Sunny laughed and pointed to Zac’s exposed mid-riff. “I think she’s suggesting that some guys might want more than candy from you.”

“I can’t help it if I bring all the boys to the yard,” Zac smirked.

“Zac!” The Great Mother scolded.

“Don’t worry!” Sunny grabbed Zac, pushed him out the door, and bowed for some reason. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“She’s not a feudal lord, you nit!”

“Yes, well, I’ll be leaving now.”

The Great Mother shook her head as she watched Sunny take off after Zac. With a simple flick of her wrist, the ottoman moved back, then melted into an ooze of golden light, and morphed into a black and brown armchair. It was appropriate for someone of her stature, but I wouldn’t call it fancy. She sat down and smoothed out her dress, fanning out the sides in a way that almost made the chair disappear beneath her before she set her focus on me.

“Let me guess,” I said as I admired the sparkle in her costume, “Fairy God Mother?”

She chuckled and asked, “Too on the nose?”

“I think it suits you perfectly.”

“Well, don’t think your lack of a costume has gone unnoticed, Jacob. I’ll give you a pass this year, all things considered, but I’ll expect something spectacular next year.”

“Deal,” I laughed.

“So, it appears….”

“Hey,” I interrupted her without meaning to. “If your rule about wearing a costume for Halloween applies to everyone, does that mean Q had one on? I couldn’t tell.”

Again, she chuckled. “He certainly did.”

“And I missed it?”

“No need to worry, Jacob. You didn’t miss much. He wore bunny ears.”

“Bunny ears! That’s it? You’ve got to be kidding me! You let him get away with that?” Despite my protest, the thought of Q in bunny ears was everything. I’d give my firstborn to have that little gem as my phone’s screen saver.

“Well, it’s Qua’quelle, so getting him to wear them at all is equivalent to putting him in a full rabbit suit. We take our wins where we can find them, Jacob.”

“I’m giving him so much shi…uh, stuff when I see him,” I stammered. “I’m sorry. I think I interrupted you.”

“It appears you’re getting along well with your newfound family. It pleases me to see you settling in so well. Everything is going okay, yes?”

“Everything is great,” I assured her. “Sunny has been amazing from the get-go. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to help me through this….transition, I guess. He’s been a rock. Zac is sickeningly loveable. More and more, he’s becoming like the little brother I never had.” I trailed off for a moment, thinking of all of Zac’s silly antics, and smiled.

The Great Mother smiled back.

“Liam and Elijah have been so welcoming. It feels like I’ve known these guys all my life, so I have no complaints. Really.”

“Such is the power of El’odian bonds,” she said thoughtfully, almost like she was reminiscing about an event that had long passed and was nearly forgotten. “And it shows.”

“What do you mean?”

“They would not leave your side. Sunny outright refused, no matter how many times I assured him he could go home and that I’d contact him the moment you opened your eyes. But he would not leave his brother alone. None of them would.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“And that stubbornness was not limited to Skai.”

My eyes instantly locked with hers. I already knew what she meant, but I wanted to hear it.

“Arsen, Anthony, CJ, and Paul were camped outside this room the whole time you were unconscious. Making for an interesting and tension-filled three days.”

No Troy.

“I heard about the drama,” I said. “I’m sorry to bring that into your house.”

“Better in here than out there, Jacob.”

“Well, it sounds like a street brawl almost broke out in here.”

“But it didn’t,” she said simply. “For a moment, CJ acted on raw emotion against his better judgment. Luckily, he was stopped before he crossed a line that could not be undone.”

“That sounds ominous….”

“I can forgive many things, Jacob, but as you know, this is neutral ground—a sanctuary for all. I do not tolerate violence within these walls, and though I was not happy CJ put his hands on another, I can forgive his transgression because he’s new to this life and has much to learn. They all do.”

“And if he had punched Sunny?” I inquired cautiously.

“That I would not have forgiven. Not from CJ, Sunny, Razual, or even Qua’quelle.” She leaned forward and placed her hand on mine. “But CJ was remorseful and came to me for absolution, which I gave freely. You need not worry, Jacob. My love for CJ has not diminished.”

The relief I felt could not be understated. The last thing I wanted was for one of my boys to be on the “outs” with The Great Mother. I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant for The Sanctum or The Brotherhood to ‘be out’ with The Great Mother. Thankfully, I wasn’t given the opportunity to find out.

“Thank you for stopping him,” I said, squeezing her hand gently before she pulled it away.

“You’re thanking the wrong person, dear.”

“Oh, Q, then. I’m sure he wasn’t happy. I can only imagine.”

“I would have to agree with that assessment, but it wasn’t Qua’quelle either.”

“Then who? One of the other guys?”

“Zenial.”

“Okay, not the answer I was expecting, but I’ll have to thank Zenial next time I see him.”

“Why are you surprised, Jacob?” she asked, tilting her head to the side as she observed me. There was a curiosity in her gaze, but it was intertwined with a sense of suspicion that made me uncomfortable. “Do you think so little of his character that you can’t believe he’d prevent a human from making a grave mistake?"

“No! God no! Never!” I went straight into panic mode and practically started hyperventilating. Until, of course, I saw the impish smile on her face.

“I’m only pulling your leg, Jacob. Us old ladies like to have our fun too, you know.”

I fell back against the couch and let out a long, exaggerated sigh of relief. “The Great Mother has jokes. Perfect.”

“Not bad for someone of my advanced years, wouldn’t you say?”

“You’re not funny!”

“Well, let us agree to disagree on that,” she said as if she had just dropped the mic on me. “But I’m curious to know your honest thoughts on Zenial and Razual. These are the leaders you’ll probably spend most of your time with if I had to hazard a guess.”

Now I was the one who was suspicious of her, and I’m sure the way I looked at her conveyed just as much. Was she sitting me up again? Her serious demeanor convinced me she was back in Great Mother mode in two seconds flat. And I doubted she ever had to ‘hazard a guess.’

“They’ve been great,” I answered cheerfully. “They seem like leaders who care for those they lead. Very honorable. I can learn a lot from them. And honestly….” My thoughts wandered and got away from me for a moment.

“Yes?”

“They’re not so different from my leaders in The Brotherhood.”

“Interesting. You referred to those in The Brotherhood as ‘my leaders.’”

“Um, I meant their leaders.”

She nodded thoughtfully and left it at that.

“Did a lot of people really come here to see me?” I asked, desperately trying to move away from the subject.

“They did.”

“How embarrassing. I feel like such an idiot.”

“Why is that, Jacob? Why should you feel anything but the love and concern your brothers hold for you?”

I didn’t have an answer for her.

“Do you feel unworthy of their adoration?” she pressed.

Again, I offered only silence as my answer. Afraid she might press even harder, I took the conversation in a different direction. “Well, there’s one person who definitely thinks I’m not worth the trouble.”

This was The Great Mother, and she knew what I was doing. Luckily, she was kind enough to let me get away with it.

“Kaylec is one voice. He does not speak for the whole, Jacob. You know that.”

“Yeah, still, the guy hates me,” I offered half-heartedly and with an unconvincing laugh.

“He hates the void in his heart,” she responded sympathetically and put a balled fist to her chest. “You remind him of a life that could have been.”

“It’s been thousands of years; you’d think he’d get on a dating app and move on already.”

“How long would you mourn for your beloved, I wonder?”

That felt like a sucker punch to the gut, and rightfully so. I was being flippant. I wouldn’t risk linking with my people for fear of losing my love and affection for Q. If death were to claim him, I can’t even….

“An El’odian’s love runs deep, Jacob,” she said. “Deeper still is the depth of our grief. You could stack a thousand oceans into one, and it would be shallow in comparison.”

“I’m sorry. That was thoughtless.”

“Still, grief does not excuse his recent actions toward you. His sorrow blinds him to the fact that you are his brother. One can only hope Kaylec pulls himself out of his despair and finds his way back to reason.”

I didn’t have anything more to offer on the whole Kaylec situation. I could feel her eyes as I looked down at my feet. I understood what she was saying, but it’s not like I was ready to give the guy a “bro hug” and let bygones be bygones. Kaylec was still a dick. If our love can run deep, so can our disdain. I don’t believe she was trying to push me in that direction, but like any great referee, she looked at the situation from both sides.

We both sat in silence for a few minutes. She sat comfortably. I, on the other hand, could hear myself breathe, and it felt like it was getting louder.

“I have something for you,” The Great Mother finally spoke, and my breathing returned to normal. She reached out, and with a surge of golden light, a note appeared between her fingers. “I was asked to give this to you. Apparently, it’s quite important.”

I took the note. “Who’s it from?”

She sat back without answering.

The note read:

 

Jacob,

You must wake up.

I miss our movie nights.

Plus, you owe me a rematch!

XOXO

(I do not know what that means, but I was told it was customary and a good thing.

I apologize if I was misinformed.)

Soullen

 

I cracked up! No one can pull off ‘oblivious’ like that boy. It was simple, to the point, and 100% Soullen. Instantly, the memories of our nights together watching TV and playing video games came rushing back. The rant he went on when I tried to explain “slang” to him was epic and Oscar-worthy. He couldn’t wrap his head around why anyone would create new words that meant the same thing as existing words. To Soullen, it was “repetitive and cumbersome” and reinforced his belief that the Nave were doing the right thing by taking over the world.

“He didn’t come by?” I inquired. “Soullen, I mean.”

“He wanted to visit, but Qua’quelle would not allow it.”

“Really? Why not?”

The Great Mother did not answer me. She obviously took pleasure in watching me figure out the obvious answer on my own. I thought for a few seconds, and then it hit me.

“Q didn’t want to stir the pot. He knew there’d be a lot of Skylarians coming through here. The last thing he wanted was Soullen’s intentions being questioned, especially after he tried to infiltrate The Sanctum.”

The Great Mother’s smile did not help to confirm or deny anything I had just said, and she didn’t offer any more details. Yet she obviously took notice when my smile faded away. She read my anguish as easily as reading the cover of a book; such was her Gift.

“My dear boy,” she said warmly. “You walk on the edge of two worlds. A balancing act our oldest, wisest, and most practiced would find difficult to accomplish. Yet, here you sit, desperately hoping to stitch the fabrics of your two families together. An admirable goal.”

“Futile might be more accurate.”

“Perhaps.”

“So, you agree with me?”

“I would agree anything worth having is worth fighting for, Jacob. You may be the thread to bridge the gap between both sides, or you may fail spectacularly and widen the divide in ways not seen since the days of Sol and Juyx.”

“You know what I missed about coming here? Your pep talks. Somehow I feel hopeful and discouraged simultaneously.”

“Yes, well, be grateful I don’t charge you boys for my time. The bill would be astronomical.” She scooted forward in her chair, and a soft golden hue engulfed her hand as she reached for my head. “Now, how are you feeling?”

Instinctively, I leaned forward to make it easier for her to do whatever she meant to do. “I feel fine.”

A stream of golden light flowed from her palm to my forehead. The energy felt cool against my skin and tickled like the tip of a fine brush barely making contact. As she “examined” me, I got to thinking…

“The source of our power is our Askyli,” I said, my eyes fixed on the golden light. “The Nave’s is Anavi.” I left it at that, so I didn’t have to ask her explicitly what I wanted to know.

“Yes, that’s right,” she said, ignoring my blatant attempt to get information from her. “Now, stay still and be quiet.”

Yes, ma’am!

I did what I was told. It was fairly easy since her light basically held me entranced - not by magic or power - just by my own fascination. I probably looked like a drooling idiot until she snapped me back to reality.

“You are indeed fine,” she declared.

“That’s….good,” I said hesitantly. “Do you know what’s wrong with me?”

“Yes.”

I waited for a more extended, in-depth response but got nothing. “Do I get to know?”

“You are powerful, Jacob,” she smiled proudly.

“Uh, I am?”

“Very much so,” she continued. “You’re one of the stronger El’odians alive today.”

“You’re messing with me again, aren’t you?” I asked suspiciously as I eyed her up.

“I am not.”

“When you say ‘powerful,’ how powerful are we talking about here?” I beamed. “Like, could I take Q one-on-one?”

“You’re certainly welcome to try,” she said; her lack of confidence was not comforting.

“Fine,” I whined. “But why am I so….powerful?” I felt silly saying it, considering I once ended up naked in an alley wearing nothing but socks.

“Your fathers didn’t just keep you alive with their Askyli; they transferred all their power to you during your long slumber.”

I was taken aback by this revelation. “That’s a thing we can do?”

“Not usually, no. The power one El’odian holds is immeasurable, let alone two. Only the Gods had the ability to pass on their power to their sons safely and in a relatively short amount of time. Your fathers wanted to keep you alive and make you stronger in the process. To do what your fathers did would have taken an enormous amount of time to do it safely, especially while you were still a human child.”

“A long time, like being stuffed in a cocoon for some sixty-five million years?”

“Precisely,” she nodded.

“I guess not everyone has a few dozen million years to spare,” I joked half-heartedly.

“I should have seen the signs sooner,” she confessed.

I didn’t like the idea of The Great Mother coming down on herself. “How could you have possibly known? Like you said, their actions weren’t normal.”

“I have seen this once before,” she said softly.

“When?” I asked excitedly.

“A long time ago, Jacob.”

“Who?”

“I’m afraid that is not my story to tell.”

Never lucky!

“Fine, but why would my parents do this? Why go through all that trouble to make me stronger if it would kill them in the end? Why?”

The desperation in my voice must have struck a chord with The Great Mother. Suddenly, sadness overtook her; her world-weary face appeared darker and more distant. “I don’t know, Jacob.” Her voice sounded fragile for the first time, which surprised me.

“Please, don’t hold back on me now, ” I said frantically. “Not about this.”

“I am not,” she said earnestly. “Only one person can give you the answers you seek.”

I leaned in and basically whispered, “Who?”

Her long, wrinkled finger pointed at me.

“Me? What are you saying?”

“Jacob, your fathers did a curious thing,” she stated.

“That seems to be their MO,” I snapped bitterly, though it was not meant toward The Great Mother, and I certainly meant no disrespect. I was sure she knew that.

“They not only empowered you but also locked away all knowledge that should naturally be passed down to you during your Awakening.”

“Really? I thought I was doing that. I was not linking, to keep from….” I dropped the matter altogether.

“Well, your resistance to the knowledge certainly isn’t helping, but what your fathers did in locking away the memories is what’s causing your painful headaches.”

“I don’t understand,” I confessed.

“I know, dear,” she smiled. “Why don’t I show you?”

Without warning, The Great Mother leaned forward, her fingers glowing in a golden hue, and touched my forehead. The room began to spin, and then everything went dark. When I opened my eyes a few moments later, I was standing in a vast, empty space. The Great Mother stood before me. The fairy godmother costume was replaced with a simple, white linen dress that went down to her ankles and a red shawl draped around her shoulders. Her white hair was pulled back into a bun that hid its actual length.

It was darker beyond the unknown light source that illuminated our immediate surroundings. There was no floor, and yet we were standing.

“Where are we?” I asked as I looked to either side.

“This is your mind.”

“Is it?” I said sarcastically as I took another look at my sides. “It looks pretty empty to me.”

“I know.”

“I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”

“What better way to illustrate your accumulated knowledge than a vast emptiness?”

“Hmm, okay, I can get behind that.”

She shook her head as she approached. “Look behind you.”

I turned and saw a door just a few feet away. It was a simple wooden door with a large plank of wood across it and several chains wrapped around it. I touched the metal links as I walked around it. While behind the door, I stuck my head out the side to look at The Great Mother.

“I don’t get it. It’s a door.”

“All the knowledge and experiences of your people, including the memories of your parents, are all locked behind that door.”

I poked my head back behind the door for a second before popping it back out. “But there’s nothing behind it.”

“You haven’t opened the door.”

“Yeah, but I’m literally standing behind the door, and there’s nothing here.”

“Jacob….”

“Okay, fine, I’m just saying,” I said, throwing my hands up and walking out from behind the door.

I stood next to her as we both stared at the locked door.

“You’re saying this is what my fathers did to me? They locked everything behind that door for whatever reason?”

“Yes.”

“And this is what is causing my pain?”

“Not exactly.” She looked up at me before continuing. “Every time you try and use your powers, or you hear our spoken language or try to read our written word, this happens.”

Something loud and terrifying crashed against the door. It was like King Kong merged with Godzilla, and it was on the other side, trying to bust through. Like a little bitch, I jumped behind The Great Mother, and it happened again. The door flexed and rattled. I swear I heard it splinter and even give out a scream of its own, but it stayed intact. Still, I was convinced that without the chains and wood slat, the door would've easily succumbed to the prisoner inside and flew open.

Another loud crash hit the door, and I grabbed The Great Mother’s shoulders as if using her as a shield. She never flinched, but the darkness around us shook as if an earthquake had struck the universe. Then everything settled, and the calmness returned.

I let go of The Great Mother.

I ran my hands across her shoulders and cape as if straightening her garment. “Sorry,” I offered humbly, then stepped out from behind her.

She simply nodded toward the door.

“That’s the cause of your pain. The knowledge is there. The information your subconscious mind needs to understand our language or even create a pair of shoes is locked away behind that door. It tries to force it open, but the chains your fathers put in place – their seal - fight back.”

“Like a tug-of-war.”

“Yes. As long as their seal is in place, you’ll never be free of the pain or reach your full strength as an El’odian Skai.”

“But why would they do this to me?” I asked hopelessly as I stared at that fucking door. “Why would they do this to their newborn son?”

“I wish I knew, Jacob. I truly do. They had their reasons, and the knowledge of why lies behind that door.”

I turned to look The Great Mother in the eye. “So, what are you saying?”

She met my gaze and held it. “You have a choice, Jacob. I can remove the lock, freeing the knowledge that’s rightfully yours, allowing you access to the answers you seek.”

“But if I do that, I could….”

“Yes,” she confirmed softly. “Your love and affection for Qua’quelle may wither.”

“It ‘may wither,’” I repeated anxiously.

“Yes. Or it may not change at all or very little.”

“Is there a way to know for sure?”

“I’m afraid not, Jacob,” she answered, then turned her eyes back to the dark space of my mind. She lifted her hands up in front of her, palms up as if presenting an invisible gift. “It’s millions of years of history, memories, experience, happiness, strife, love, and loss, ” She sighed heavily. “I’m afraid there’s….”

“I get it,” I interrupted, not wanting the point pounded into my head. “You said I had a choice. This doesn’t sound like a choice to me.”

“I can remove the lock and remove all the knowledge contained within.”

“What? You can do that?”

“While everything is still contained behind that door, yes,” she assured me. “Once it’s opened, it would be like retrieving a drop from an ocean. But if you do this, the memories of your fathers will also be forever gone. You will never know their names or their faces. You will never know their smiles, love for each other, or love for their child.”

My legs suddenly felt weak and wobbly. “I need to sit down,” I mumbled.

“My poor boy,” she said, grabbing me as I fell backward.

The room spun, and everything went black again for a moment before I found myself sitting on the couch across from The Great Mother. She was back in costume. My mind was overloaded.

I’m supposed to choose between what could very well be the love of my life or the memories and experiences of parents I never knew. The answers to so many questions would forever be beyond my reach. Why sacrifice themselves by giving me their power? And then turn around and lock away all knowledge that would explain their actions?

I suppose, in a way, I should’ve been grateful. This whole time I thought I was holding back the torrent of memories to preserve what I had with Q. Had it not been for the seal they placed in my mind, I could’ve lost him that night.

I don’t know how long I sat there, silently staring into space. It wasn’t until The Great Mother offered me some tea that I snapped out of it.

“Here, drink this,” she offered with a smile.

Was I so far gone that she had time to brew tea, or did she conjure it out of thin air?

“Uh, thanks,” I said meekly.

We sat silently, staring at each other as we sipped the tea. The staring contest started to get uncomfortable for me. I knew The Great Mother couldn’t be beaten at this game.

“Go on,” she jumped in as I asked my question.

“What happens to me if you remove the memories?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do I just stay a mediocre Skai who can’t use his powers because I gave up the knowledge?”

“Of course not, Jacob,” she said matter-of-factly, giving me a “don’t be an idiot” look. “You can reach your full potential with or without the knowledge locked inside your mind. It’s true; the special thing about being an El’odian is how knowledge is passed easily from one individual to the next or one generation to the next. It’s certainly faster, but not the only way.”

“Then what’s my other option?”

“Jacob,” she sighed, shook her head, then readjusted the tiara. “How did you learn how to ride a bike? How did you learn how to play football or baseball?”

“With training and practice, and in some cases, years of hard work.” I was really expecting some other secret way. Something more fantastical.

“Precisely. You will practice and train with your brothers. They will teach you all they know. And with the mind of an El’odian, you will be up-to-speed in no time.”

I wondered what the words ‘in no time’ meant to a woman who’s lived for millions of years. I wasn’t sure we had the same sense of passing time, but I played along.

“And if I decided to do nothing?”

She nodded. “That is also an option. Do nothing, and you will remain as you are.”

“I won’t be able to use my powers. At least not without blacking out. I will be mediocre.”

“Only until the seal breaks.”

I snapped my head from my teacup to The Great Mother’s face. “What do you mean?”

“I told you, Jacob, you are powerful. The chains you saw will not hold forever.”

“What do you mean,” I repeated. “How much time do I have?”

“There’s no way to tell, I’m afraid. It could last a few more days or another hundred thousand years.”

“So basically, I have a ticking bomb in my head. Eventually, it will explode, and the choice will be made for me, like it or not?”

“I’m afraid so, Jacob. Although, I would lean more toward the thousands of years.”

I set the empty teacup on the stand and stood up. “I need to go. I need to think. I need some air.” I didn’t wait for a response. I headed for the door.

“I’ll be here when you decide.”

I paused as I reached for the doorknob. I almost looked back at The Great Mother; I wanted to, but I didn’t. I just left. The walls felt like they were closing in around me. I felt trapped. I rushed out of the shop in a panic and didn’t hear Sunny calling out to me as I walked by.

“Whoa there, Sparky!” He grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Where’s the fire? And where are you going?”

He was out front with Zac, handing out candy to the kids.

“I just need a minute.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll come with you.”

“No, I need to be alone right now.”

"No way!" Sunny shoved his bowl of candy into Zac's arms. "Hold this."

Zac looked confused but was more concerned with the people hovering around him, complimenting his “awesome costume and cool oozing brains.”

“You don’t look fine,” Sunny said. “I’m not letting you go alone.”

“Sunny….”

“Jacob, I’m not….”

“Sunny, please!” My voice grew hard and dark for a moment. The air vibrated around us, causing the tables outside the shop to tremble.

“Holy shit!” One of the guys near Zac said. “Did you feel that?”

“I know,” a girl laughed. “I just got the chills.”

Zac’s eyes shifted to me briefly before returning to the crowd. “Weird, I didn’t feel anything. Maybe it was the wind.”

“But you’re outside with us. Didn’t you feel the wind?” the girl questioned.

“Do you want some candy or not? And why are you even here? You’re old enough to be in college.”

I backed away from the crowd, eyeing Sunny to please let me go. He released my arm, took a step back, and looked me hard in the eyes.

“You better call me later.”

I turned and did a swift powerwalk to get away from the shop. I stopped at the Ice Cream Palace to sit on the outside bench. After a few minutes and some deep breaths, I composed myself and relaxed against the cold steel. For the first time, I was able to take in the sights.

Sunny and Zac weren’t wrong. The Village was decorated as far as the eye could see. I’m not talking about a few random pumpkins outside a block of stores. Everything – stores, trees, houses, lamp posts, mailboxes, and even the fire hydrants - were elaborately decorated. The whole area looked like a haunted town in a theme park. It was wild. I wouldn’t be surprised if they shipped in bats and dug up a few skeletons for authenticity.

A young blond guy and his manager stepped out from the men’s store next door, hauling a large box of decorations that clearly wasn’t their first. They were dressed as Oompa-Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of this was due to The Great Mother’s influence.

I got my answer when the manager asked the blonde, “Do you think this is enough? I don’t want to disappoint Lady White.”

The blond caught me smirking and smiled back. He probably thought I was smiling at him. I didn’t want to find out, so I got up and left. I wasn’t dressed up and walked through the streets feeling like the odd man out. I wanted to be alone; that was the whole point, and now I found myself with more eyeballs on me than if I had just stayed put.

I ducked behind a few stores and walked deeper into the woods as if heading back to KU. I removed my hoodie and prayed that the twilight sky and darker forest would offer me some cover. My wings erupted from my back in a blaze of fire and shadow, and I lifted off the ground.

Freedom.

I hovered above the clouds, basking in the moonlight and taking in the night air. For a moment, every problem seemed to wash away. All the noise was gone except for the rhythmic flap of my wings. I could’ve stayed in the evening air forever.

Opening my eyes, I did a fancy little spin and dove back toward Eiyr. I pulled up before crashing into the freezing ocean and enjoyed the water spray over my face and bare torso. I could taste the salt water and smell the ocean as I skimmed the surface. My path was low, hovering just inches above the surf, but I was in heaven. I flew fast, straight, and bullet-like for several miles before I pulled up again to avoid smacking into the cliffside. My wings vanished, but I continued my upward ascent with pure momentum. I overshot the summit by several yards but managed to land gracefully on my feet. And by gracefully, I mean I landed, tumbled, and rolled a few times before landing awkwardly on my feet.

“And he scores a perfect ten from the blind Russian judge!” I raised my hands and laughed as if I’d stuck the landing. That’s when I realized my hands were empty. Somewhere along my journey, I dropped my hoodie. “Fuck!”

At least I made it to our bluff. In fact, I managed to land right around where I stood when Q revealed himself to me.

I closed my eyes and smiled. He was so beautiful.

With a heavy sigh, I turned and walked to the cliff’s edge to take a seat, allowing my legs to dangle off the side. “What am I supposed to do?” I whispered.

For a while, I sat there, staring down at the water crashing into the cliffside, recalling the days when my life was much more straightforward. All I wanted was to go to a good school, join a frat, make some friends, and party like it was 1999 before I had to give in and finally become an adult.

Now I was faced with an impossible decision and felt very much alone.

This place brought the memory of Q bursting into a halo of light above me. Everything about that moment replayed in my mind. I wanted to touch him. To hold something of him.

I extended my hand, and three droplets of light, his luminousness, swirled above my palm. Within seconds, they merged to form Q’s Gift to me – his ivory feather. It glowed bright against the dark sky as it slowly spun in place.

I smiled and lost myself in its twirling light. I wanted to stay entranced like this forever. It was euphoric.

But the spell was broken when three small orbs of shadow appeared around the feather. They swirled around it before joining to form a black feather. My hand began to tremble. Two feathers, the perfect pairing of light and shadow, now circled each other in a silent dance. They seemed alive and joyful and made for each other.

I looked away and looked up. I wasn’t sure my voice would work.

“You found me.”

Q descended from above. His mighty wings were barely audible, but the slight swoosh they made was in perfect harmony with the waves below. As if on cue, the clouds parted, allowing the full moon to hang over his bare shoulders and bathe him in a celestial spotlight. He was ethereal.

And like that night on the bluff, when I saw him for the first time, he was my angel sent from heaven.

“I will always find you….”