Whispers Under Water, page 46
And though she was harboring a massive secret, the pressure from discovering her element had lifted and her anxiety diminished. She spent her days outside of classes laughing with her roommates and soaking up every moment with Oliver. And there were a lot as they’d practically become inseparable since their date.
The colors in the world around her felt brighter, though not in the headache-inducing way they’d been before. The vibrancy acted as a contrast to the darkness that she now noticed. Shadows were everywhere and her attention snapped to them like magnets.
This was disorienting as she walked through the woods with Alaia, keeping her roommate company as she hunted for a specific plant.
“So how have you been feeling?” Alaia asked.
“Eons better.”
“You seem better. And things are good with Oliver?”
Caitriona’s smile widened. “They’re really good.”
“I ask because sometimes I notice you get a little sad when he’s around.”
“Sometimes I think about saying goodbye to everyone when we all leave and I wish I hadn’t spent so much time being so miserable.”
“But that wasn’t your fault. You were sick. And it’ll only be goodbye for a short time. We’ll see each other again soon.”
Caitriona’s heart squeezed painfully and she looked away to hide the emotion in her eyes.
“I’m not sure if I’m even going to go home over the summer.”
“What? Really?”
“I don’t know.” Alaia shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, I miss my family. But it’s going to be hard. I used to be so close with them. But when I came here, a lot of that changed. Because of my stepmom, my life was pretty sheltered and regulated. It was hard enough to convince them just to let me go to a normal college. And I’m worried that if I go home, I won’t be able to keep up the lie. I had a hard enough time explaining why I’d lost so much weight when I went home for break. And I’m worried they wouldn’t let me come back.”
“You really think they’d do that?”
“Oh yeah. The people my mom knows are pretty powerful. And kind of scary. If I told them about ELA, they would honestly think I’d lost my mind. I would have to go into counseling. And I’ve seen a few people that went into ‘counseling’ with the Church,” she made finger quotations around the word counseling. “They don’t come back looking the same. And I imagine they’d have a pretty similar reaction to me coming out to them.”
“I’m really sorry, Alaia. I know it can be hard to hide who you are from those that you love.” Caitriona kept her eyes averted from her friend as she spoke a truth that she’d come to understand in the marrow of her bones.
“It’s okay. I’ve thought a lot about it and I don’t really blame them. They believe that what I am, what I feel, is a sin. It’s a sin against nature and against God. And it would be like I was asking them to support me condemning my soul to hell.”
Caitriona let out a low whistle. “That’s pretty heavy.”
“Yeah. And the way I see it, I can’t exactly demand support and understanding from them, without giving them the same respect. My parents aren’t bad people, they’re just rigid in their beliefs.”
“In the words of Dusha, that is shamefully gracious of you,” Caitriona said, and they both laughed.
“Don’t get me wrong, it makes me sad that I can’t really be myself with them, but then I figured, that’s sort of what this place does to all of us. It turns us away from the rest of the world because we can’t really be ourselves around everyone else. It really makes you appreciate the relationships we have here.” Alaia smiled at her.
She tried not to let the sadness spilling from her heart show. She wanted so badly to tell her the truth.
Alaia was one of the most loving, compassionate, and kind people she’d ever met. She cared for and accepted others without any expectations in return. The only thing that had changed about her during their first year on the island was that she’d gained more confidence in herself that relied zero percent on the acceptance of others. She deserved a Sainthood in whatever crazy religion her family was involved in.
“So, speaking of relationships…” Caitriona wiggled her eyebrows. “Anyone you’re particularly going to miss over summer break?” But she didn’t need to ask.
The budding attraction between her and Dusha had been growing for months. Caitriona and Justine had both noticed that Chitzi had been coming around a lot less. And Alaia perpetually blushed in Dusha’s presence.
The same blush crept across Alaia’s face, followed by a shy smile. “Maybe.”
Caitriona laughed and bumped her shoulder against Alaia’s. “Thought so.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Caitriona cocked an eyebrow.
“You won’t say anything, will you?”
“I don’t think it needs to be said at this point, A. If it’s obvious to the rest of us, it’s obvious to her.”
Alaia let out a huffy breath. “Then why hasn’t she said anything?”
Caitriona chuckled. It was remarkable to be on this side of things. She’d done this same dance with Oliver and understood how clouded everything seemed when neither one was opening up.
“She’s probably waiting for you. How come you haven’t said anything?”
Alaia fiddled with a string on her windbreaker. She wound it around her finger and then unwound it again several times. “I don’t know. I think maybe I’m not ready.”
“Not ready for what? A relationship?”
“Sort of. I think it’s that relationship. It feels…bigger. More important. Does that make sense?”
Caitriona nodded.
“I don’t want to ruin it, or screw anything up.” Alaia blew at the bangs falling in front of her eyes. “Relationships are exhausting.”
“No joke.” She wanted to tell Alaia not to take time for granted. With her last days at ELA approaching, Caitriona would have given anything to have more time with them, with Oliver. The only thing she wasn’t willing to sacrifice, was their lives. She would carry the burden of the truth if it meant keeping everyone she loved safe.
“I think we’re getting close to where it’s supposed to be,” Alaia said. She stopped on the path they’d been following and assessed their surroundings.
“What’s this flower look like, exactly?”
Alaia pulled a notebook out of her bag and flipped through it, stopping when she found the correct page. “It’s called Hemitomes congestum and it looks like this.”
Caitriona took the notebook and looked at the sketches. It showed a plant in various stages of growth. In its early stages, it looked like an artichoke, but as it bloomed, it turned into a clustered bouquet of five-star, pink flowers with yellow centers. The flowers then ripened into a berry. Alaia had also written notations in the corners that gave details about how tall they grew, the color and fleshy appearance of the flowers, and the odor it exuded.
“What’s so special about this flower?” Caitriona handed the notebook back.
“Nothing really. At least, it doesn’t have any medicinal properties that I’m aware of. But my dad is sort of a hobby botanist. He loves interesting plants and this one is pretty rare. I wanted to bring him some home. And because it’s not really useful, it isn’t grown in any of the greenhouses.”
“Is it something that grows in Michigan?”
Alaia frowned. “I’m not sure. Why?”
“Won’t your dad wonder how you found it?”
According to Alaia’s parents, she was attending Michigan State University.
Alaia smacked her forehead. “Oh my gosh. Of course.” Her shoulders sagged. “Well, that was pretty stupid of me.”
“Why don’t you just say that a professor was growing some and they let you have a bit of it?”
Alaia thought about it and then nodded. “Yeah, that works. I’ll do some research later. Hopefully, the college has good greenhouses. Course, none of that will even matter if we can’t find any of it. Professor Peiony said it should be in this area. It likes to grow in the leaf litter of the more coniferous areas of the woods, in shade, and moist soil.”
They spent a half hour combing the area for the small plant.
“Maybe we should start heading back,” Alaia said after checking her watch.
“How about just a little further? We’ll go five more minutes, and if we don’t see any sign of it, we’ll leave.” Caitriona suggested.
Alaia nodded and went back to searching.
Fifteen more minutes passed but Caitriona didn’t say anything.
“Oh! I think this is it!” Alaia bent down and held her drawing out to compare it to the plant. “It has to be.”
She pulled out a small burlap sack and started carefully clearing away the surrounding debris. Caitriona knelt next to her and helped. They dug around the roots, being careful not to dislodge the clump of delicate flowers. Caitriona held the bag open so Alaia could toss in some dirt and settle the plant into it. She opened her backpack and arranged the contents to create a safe place for it in the middle and Caitriona stood, brushing the dirt off her knees.
“Well, that was a succ-”
“Cat,” Alaia whispered. She’d finished zipping her bag shut and was getting ready to swing it onto her back but was frozen and stared behind Caitriona.
The fearful tone of Alaia’s words made the hairs on Caitriona’s neck reach for the sky. She made to turn around but Alaia hissed.
“Don’t. Move.” She barely moved her lips to say the words.
Caitriona stood still, her heart pounding in her chest, and spoke as quietly as she could. “What is it?”
Alaia’s eyes were wide, and behind her fear was total confusion.
As Caitriona’s adrenaline pumped through her, she felt her magic stir. They were surrounded by shadows and she tried to send her consciousness out to them. It was the one thing Professor Kamali had instructed her to practice while she was here but despite her many hours meditating, she hadn’t been very successful.
She closed her eyes and put all of her focus into sensing what was behind her. The woods were still, a change from the lively chatter of birds and critters that had been there moments before. The darkness behind her lids remained and Caitriona clenched her fists.
Like a wave washing onto shore, a tiny shift in pressure pushed back against her mind. The darkness swelled and a shadow formed. A creature stalked towards her, four paws stepping in the measured degrees of a hunter moving toward its prey. It stopped.
“Run!” Alaia shouted. She grabbed the front of Caitriona’s jacket and yanked her forwards.
Caitriona’s eyes flew open and her feet moved of their own volition. She called out in pain as she felt something wrenched away, but she bolted through the woods with Alaia. Expecting claws to rip into the back of her at any second, she was surprised to hear a yelp, followed by high-pitched growling and snarling.
Caitriona risked a glance backward. Two beasts matching the massive bulk of Bulat wrestled in the underbrush. But unlike his gray coat, dark sandy-colored fur blurred with black as they tore at each other.
Alaia stumbled and sent them both sprawling to the ground. Unhurt, they jumped back to their feet and took off again, putting as much distance between them and the fighting animals as they could. The terrifying sounds grew faint and faded, but they ran until the stitch in Caitriona’s side became unbearable.
“Hang on,” she panted. She drew in deep breaths and stretched, trying to alleviate the cramp.
Alaia slowed. Her training and exercise routine hadn’t been interrupted by injuries and sickness so she was barely winded from their furious fleeing.
“What…the hell…was that?” Caitriona panted.
Alaia shook her head, pure bafflement shaping her expression. “Hyena. I think?”
Hyena? Caitriona looked over her shoulder. What?
“Let’s keep moving,” Alaia said.
They walked on, neither speaking.
A hyena fit the profile of the shadow that had formed in her mind, but what had a hyena been doing on this part of the island? And why had it been poised to attack them? Animals on Phanysos were placid. They existed as a natural part of the ecosystem but didn’t interact with elementals. And what was the other animal? It had been covered in black fur. Was it Shango? Had Professor Kamali set him the task of following Caitriona to keep her safe?
She felt the blood drain from her face. Was this the danger Professor Kamali had warned her about? Had someone sent the hyena?
As they neared the edge of the woods, Alaia broke the silence. “What the fuck just happened?”
Caitriona was so taken aback by her use of a swear word, that she stopped walking and smiled.
“What?”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard you swear.”
Alaia’s cheeks pinked. “There’s a first for everything. Like a hyena. In the woods. Attacking us. What?”
Caitriona rubbed her temples. She had a blinding headache.
She stopped.
She had a headache.
She checked her wrist, but her bracelet was still there. She thought back over everything that had just happened and remembered the flash of pain she’d felt when Alaia pulled her away. It had felt like something was internally ripped away from her.
“Cat? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is your ankle bothering you from the running?” Alaia watched her.
“No, I’m fine. I just have a headache.” Caitriona tried to shake it off, but the pain flared and she gripped the sides of her head. She squeezed her eyes shut and the world disappeared into blackness.
Two large, emerald green eyes blinked at her in the dark space of her mind. They were the almond shape of a cat and glowed like they were reflecting a beam of light. Another agonizing pulse went through her and vertigo turned the world around. Now she blinked through the darkness at herself. Her silhouette drifted like smoke at the edges and a shadowy form lay across her shoulders. A scaled tail fell off one shoulder and curled itself across her chest while a small snout poked from around her neck. A matching set of green eyes peered from the curtain of her hair, but reptilian in appearance with a vertical pupil.
A sharp pain in her knee broke the spell and Caitriona opened her eyes to see her hands sinking into the mud.
“Caitriona!” Alaia’s voice boomed in her ear as the sounds of the wood returned.
She straightened up, sitting back on her heels. She’d fallen to her knees on the ground.
“Are you okay?” Alaia helped her to her feet.
“Yeah.” She still had a headache, but it was fainter now. “Come on, let’s get back to campus.”
Caitriona left Alaia at their dorm and hurried into the Village. She sent a text to Salvia, saying she needed to talk to her. A response came through a minute later.
Salvia
I’m at the shop.
She climbed the tree as quickly as she could and was out of breath again by the time she pushed through the door of The Casual Cryptic. Bertie cawed loudly at her.
“Caitriona?” Salvia hurried from behind the counter and knelt in front of her. “What is it? Is everything okay? Did something happen?”
She nodded as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Here, sit down. Do you want some water?” Salvia ushered her into a chair set against one of the walls. Bertie fluttered down from his perch and landed on Salvia’s shoulder.
“No. I’m fine. Headache.” Caitriona took a deep breath. Where did she even begin? “I was in the woods with my friend, Alaia. We were…it doesn’t matter,” she sucked in another deep breath, “there was a hyena. And then something attacked it. And then I had this awful headache and I saw eyes in my head, and then myself, and then-”
“Okay, slow down.” Salvia put a hand on Caitriona’s shoulder. “What do you mean something attacked a hyena?”
“There was a hyena, in the woods. It was…I don’t know, stalking us. It was behind me, but I managed to focus on it in my mind and I saw it. And just as it was about to pounce on us, my friend grabbed me and we ran. Something else attacked it though and we were able to get away. Then…” She dug her fingers into her temples. “Headache.”
Salvia assessed Caitriona for a beat, her two different colored eyes filled with concern. Bertie shook out his feathers, the ones around his neck fluffing out. Caitriona looked at the bird and realized that its eyes, instead of being the regular beady black of a raven, were light gray.
“I think…” Caitriona swallowed, her throat was dry from all the running. She’d been about to say something but changed her mind. “I think I’ll take that water now.”
“Of course.” Salvia stood up and went into the back, returning a few minutes later with a glass of water. She handed it to Caitriona and then went to the door of the shop. She checked out the window, before flipping the small sign on the front to read ‘closed’ and turned the lock.
“Bertie, keep watch.”
The raven flew back to his perch and she returned to Caitriona, kneeling in front of her.
“Okay, Caitriona I want to try something.” She held out her hands. “Take my hands and close your eyes.”
Caitriona looked from Bertie to Salvia.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I want to do a memory share with you. It’s one of our abilities. I’ll be able to see everything that you saw.” Salvia held her hands closer towards Caitriona.
“You can see my memories?”
“Yes, but I promise I won’t go any further than what’s necessary. I’m not doing it to pry, I’m doing it to fully understand what happened, okay?”
Caitriona set the glass down and wiped her clammy hands on her pants before setting them into Salvia’s.
