BERYLLIUM
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written
permission in writing from the author.
For information regarding permission, write to
beryllium.hata@gmail.com.
ISBN-13: 978-0-983-07760-2
Copyright © 2011 by Kristen Hata
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Michelle S. Kim
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any
similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not
intended by the author.
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For mom
Beryllium would not exist without you.
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Every step and every movement of the multitude,
even in what are termed enlightened ages, are made with
equal blindness to the future; and nations stumble upon
establishments, which are indeed the result of human
action, but not the execution of any human design.
-Adam Ferguson
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PREFACE
There was a time when Earth was pure, land was
plentiful and harmony cloaked the surface of the planet.
Celestial entities continuously teleported to Earth from
different dimensions and back. After inhabiting Earth’s terrene
for billions of years curiosity led the Celestial to develop the
desire to taste, and feel the vibrations of life just as animals do.
They attentively observed the magical properties of
plants; coaxing them to reveal the secret of subsisting with only
water and sun. The plants willingly shared their knowledge
and opened a door that would eventually become their
misfortune.
Slowly the Celestial focused on constructing energy to
form a mass that could be used to explore—creating five senses
essential to connecting with the planet’s vibrations. They
continued to fill themselves with the purity of water for
millions of years—concocting a molecular build of ninety nine
percent water and plasma.
Communication consisted of one language composed of
electromagnetic waves; work was required to maintain balance
and unceasing research expanded knowledge at incalculable
measures. However, their growing curiosity and
experimentation befouled the Celestial studies—studies of
wildlife in particular which initiated a toxic change in their
diet.
A dauntless institution of Celestial researchers
proceeded to eat plants, and slowly progressed to a carnivorous
fare of bugs and fish. When they started to feel a flux in
emotion—gravely mistaking aggression as strength and
power—the experimentations turned catastrophic. The
Celestial pallet adjusted to a favorable taste for raw meat and
larger animals.
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The molecular composition of the researchers gradually
transformed and mutilated their peaceful souls into amicable,
but selfish physical bodies.
The flesh eaters became outcasts and recognized as a
group called Vamiens. These outcasts were locked away until
cured of their carnivorous diet. Restless with their
unquenchable thirst for knowledge, the Vamiens peacefully
fled the Celestial community, and created a nonpareil Vamien
Empire of immortal creatures with newfound power. They
thrived and grew stronger through studies of energy
manipulation with the natural magnetic spheres of Earth.
Celestial entities continued in attempts to save the
Vamiens for thousands of years with unfaltering hope that
water and sun would prevail—only to find that the Vamiens
begun to replace water with meat, plants and energy absorption
entirely.
Vamiens lost the ability to travel between dimensions
and their origin in the boundless galaxy was slowly forgotten.
Their purity was devoured by darkness.
Despair descended upon the Celestial spirits—dividing
land between the Celestial and the Vamien Empire—bringing
an end to peace on Earth.
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Chapter 1
“THIS TRIP WILL CHANGE YOU HALIMA
ALEXANDER, I CAN FEEL IT,” she said.
“But why Venezuela…I don’t want to go there,” I
hold my head in one hand and stuff a heaping spoon full
of oatmeal squares in my mouth with the other. Here
mom goes again with another one of her crazy notions.
My yellow lab Nanu eagerly waits for pieces to
drop.
“Halima, I never ask you to do anything! Come
on, it’ll be fun. I promise,” Mom says, pleadingly.
“Pleeaase?”
Ugh. It’s so hard to say no to mom. She hardly
asks for anything, so when she does—there’s usually a
good reason.
“Fiiiine,” I let out a long sigh of defeat.
Mom slaps my butt triumphantly. “Woohoo!
Angel Falls, here we come!”
“Ow!” I gasp, pouring the leftover milk into the
sink.
My mother, Beryl Alexander had a difficult
childhood. She was found as a baby on a farmer’s
doorstep somewhere on the east coast and put up for
adoption. You’d think that a couple who couldn’t have
kids would spoil their adopted child rotten.
Unfortunately, mom got the exact opposite—all she was
to them was a poster child. She was used as something to
show off to friends, only to make themselves look good to
the community—nothing more.
That’s probably why she moved out at seventeen,
finished college in three years, then attended nursing
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school, and had Cayce and I at a young age. She always
promised to give us the life she never had—and she has,
wholeheartedly.
“So what’s with these waterfalls?” I begin packing
veggie tofu stir fry in my Nightmare Before Christmas
lunch box. “Is there energy radiating from them or alien
sightings?” I ask and hum the Twilight Zone tune.
“Very funny,” Mom rolls her eyes. “I had a dream
about Angel Falls.”
Throughout the past fifteen years, mom’s
fascination with metaphysics has exponentially grown
with age. Soon enough, understanding the world in every
aspect, from the nature of existence, to the study of
causality started to really catch my attention in high
school because it’s a subject that’s usually avoided.
Actually, I think it’s forbidden in all public schools.
Hmm…now why would that be?
“You did?” I exclaim in excitement. “So did I!”
“Really?!” she clasps her hands together—hopeful
that I’m inheriting her visionary gift. Mom has an acute
sense of knowing what’s going to happen in the future,
through dreams mostly. I guess you can call it a super
intense gut feeling or a freakishly strong form of a
mother’s intuition, but whatever it is—it works.
“Just kidding,” I chuckle.
“Oh my god, you’re such an evil little gremlin,”
Mom pushes me out of the kitchen and gives me a quick
peck on the cheek. “Hurry up and go to class, you’re
going to be late.”
Rummaging through my backpack I find my car
keys and the lip balm that has been missing for weeks.
Leila, our faithful pest controller, pounces toward me and
rubs up against my jeans.
“Hello my little tiger,” I say, taking both sides of
her face and scratch behind her ears.
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“Halima! Good morning!” a heavy New York
accent says.
I look up and see Mr. Minkowsky loading his three
sons into the car for school. Each one had a different
Marvel super hero on their kippah—so cute.
“Mr. Minkowsky! Did you save me any latkes like
you promised?”
“Of course! Come over anytime and my wife will
make it for you, fresh!” he says with a big warm smile
and climbs into the driver’s seat.
The three little boys wave good-bye through the
back windows, and I wave back as I watch the van
disappear down the street.
Sometimes I envy those kids because they have
such a cool father. When mom talks about dad it’s
heartbreaking. She claims he was the only man who
understood her—so well in fact, that she believed he was
able to read her mind. I think he was the only guy she has
ever really loved, but immediately after I was born, he
disappeared without a trace.
Cayce offered to help mom look for him once, but
she said it was a dead end—evidently there are no records
or documents showing that our father ever existed. As
weird as it sounds, it’s almost as if he was a figment of
mom’s imagination.
She said he treated her like a queen and loved
Cayce wholeheartedly, doing everything in his power to
keep them healthy, safe and happy…until I was born.
Mom never blamed me for dad’s sudden
disappearance, but any outsider looking in would find it
strange for a perfectly happy couple to be broken up after
the birth of their daughter. Literally—it was barely an
hour after I took my first breath that my father ran away.
But rather than despising my father for leaving us,
I’ve always given him the benefit of the doubt. There has
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to be a good reason why mom fell in love with him in the
first place. Who knows? He might have been a secret
agent for the government and the only way to protect us
was to leave.
The idea isn’t entirely farfetched because mom said
all he could tell her about his occupation, was that he
helps save and protect the lives that will positively affect
the future. But his disappearance always made me
wonder if we weren’t worth protecting anymore.
I guess you can say my mom’s best friend, who we
call Uncle Benny, has been a true father figure. He’s there
for us no matter what, so maybe that’s why I never had a
complex about my biological dad leaving.
Regardless of the situation, watching mom work
hard to take care of Cayce and I has taught us a lot.
Laziness in our family of three is considered unacceptable
and we’re never allowed to say that we’re bored. If we
have time to be bored then we’re not utilizing our time
wisely.
I start the car for school and sit in silence while the
engine purs against the cold morning air. I bring my hand
to my mouth for warmth to stop them from shaking. My
eyes stare blankly at the garage door remembering the
things mom just said about her dream.
Could it be the waterfall that I’ve been dreaming
about since I was little? I look in my rear view mirror, my
blue eyes stare back, and I laugh to myself. There’s no
way.
I shift the car into reverse and head toward the
freeway.
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Chapter 2
Los Angeles traffic is the worst—especially when you
drive with manual transmission. However, I always try to
remind myself that the traffic is definitely worth being a UCLA
Bruin. It took a lot of hard work to get the grants that I did,
and I didn’t want mom to stress about the tuition so I took as
many AP courses I could. Now, there’s really only three years
of college left, and thanks to financial aid, things are looking
up.
Unlike my brother, I was always kind of a loner—not
by default, but by choice. Besides my passion for basketball,
kids my age were interested in other things. Parties, sex, drugs
and rise in social status seemed to be the favorable trend in
high school. Basketball, documentaries and books were my
forte, so it was difficult to relate to them.
Plus, I was born with these weird birthmarks on my
body that look a lot like burn marks, so I usually just call them
scars. The one on my neck looks like a tomahawk nailed me. I
knew it freaked people out at school, but they were too nice to
say anything. I always got a kick out of watching people try to
focus on the areas of my face that that aren’t scarred, but it’s
like when someone has a huge zit on their face…you can’t help
but stare at it.
The one thing I’m grateful for is my long black hair and
bangs. It hides most of the marks on my face, but I still pretty
much keep to myself to spare everyone else the awkwardness.
Besides, all I really care about is knowledge—about
everything, so the social aspect of my life never bothered me at
all. Especially because I have three amazing friends and a
really cool brother, Cayce.
We used to fight a lot about stupid stuff, but he’s
twenty three now and has matured a lot. Cayce was the typical
popular jock in high school and played every sport but
badminton. It’s uncanny how people are drawn to him in a
way that’s almost hypnotic, but it’s funny because he’s so
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oblivious to his wit and charm. He was always and still is
really lucky too. Powerful business men and women willingly
took him under their wing throughout high school and
college—teaching him everything they knew.
Cayce always looked for ways to make money for the
family. Growing up without a father made it hard on us
financially so in high school he would order clothes and toys in
bulk from random wholesalers, then sell them at swap meets or
yard sales. As soon as he saved enough money for a laptop, he
became an e-trade guru and was able to cover the rent and most
of the food.
Now, after many successful business endeavors, he’s
the president of his own event coordinating company.
I rarely get to see him, but he calls all the time to check
in. Especially, since I started college. Sometimes when I get
upset or stressed he calls—even if he has already called that
day. It’s like he has a sixth sense.
Which reminds me—I should let him know mom and I
are going to Venezuela, or he’ll be pissed if we wait and tell
him last minute.
I reach for my phone.
It rings once.
“Yo,” Cayce whispers. He’s probably at work.
“Sorry, are you in a meeting?” I whisper back.
“No.”
“Liar.”
“What’s up Hali?” He sounds a little annoyed. “I can’t
shoot the shit right now.”
“Sorry, mom and I are going to see the Angel Falls in
Venezuela.”
“What?” his whispering got louder.
“I said, mom and I are going to Venezuela to see…”
“Why? When? Just the two of you?” he cuts me off.
“Yeah, next week for spring break. You know mom
and her dreams,” I pull into the parking lot.
Cayce takes in a slow deep breath. I can imagine him
probing at his temples even though he’s never once
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experienced a headache. He only does it when a hundred
things are running through his mind at once.
“Okay, let me talk to my partner and let him know I’ll
be taking next week off.”
“You’re going to come?” I shriek with excitement. It’s
been so long since I got to spend a whole week with my big
brother.
“Well, who else is going to save you from falling on
your face when hiking up a big ass cliff?”
“Speak for yourself mister I-trip-on-pinecones-whilejogging and eat shit,” I laugh.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. It was dark outside,” he says.
“Anyway, I’ll have my assistant arrange the trip for us. Tell
mom not to worry about it.”
“Alright,” I pull into a parking spot, “but you know
mom is going to get mad because you always pay for
everything.”
“She’ll get over it. Call me later.”
“Alright,” I say. “Bye bro.”
“Later Hali.”
Yessssss! I knew Cayce wouldn’t like me and mom
traveling alone. Now we get to spend a whole week with him.
Besides, he works too much anyway, and deserves a break. So
does mom—working thirteen hour shifts at the hospital takes a
toll on your body no matter what anyone says.
I reach for my lip balm and fix the rear view mirror so I
can see myself. The light brown birth marks on my face look
more pronounced today—especially the long one on the side of
my neck. Luckily they’re not nearly as bad as the ones on my
feet and legs. Mom still can’t figure out why I was born with
them and every visit to the dermatologist has left us in the dark.
All they ever do is repeatedly ask, “are you sure she
didn’t burn herself?” and judge mom with crossed arms and
suspiciously raised eyebrows. So I’ve just come to accept my
unexplainable skin condition. Besides, Cayce always tells me
that beauty is found in imperfection, and above all, thinks the
marks look badass. Boys.
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I hurriedly stuff a bunch of books from the backseat
into my backpack and step out of my car. When I go to lock
the door, the latch on my lunchbox comes undone and tofu
splatters everywhere. Great, now what am I going to eat?
As I get down to scoop up the stir fry I hear footsteps
from behind running toward me.
“Five second rule!” someone shouts.
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Chapter 3
I look to see who made the stupid comment—
annoyed—because now I don’t have lunch. As I try getting up
I lose my balance and fall backward. Big strong hands catch
me by the shoulders and pull me up.
“Whoa!” I gasp.
“Damn, you must drop your lunch all the time,” he says
playfully. “You weigh less than my nine-year-old nephew.”
Un-amused I slowly turn to face my hero. My jaw falls
open. I could feel the blood from every inch of my body flow
to my face. Aiden Knight. The senior star basketball player is
looking down at me with a huge smile plastered on his
gorgeous face.
I’ve watched every basketball game throughout his
college career—implementing his fundamentals into my own
game. Watching him helped me lead my high school
basketball team into becoming freeway league champions for
three consecutive years. Annual UCLA basketball tickets were
always graciously placed under the Christmas tree with my
name on it.
Standing at 6’5” he towers over most of the students at
UCLA—always standing out in a crowd—as if his model-like
face wasn’t enough to draw attention from every girl on
campus. Aiden is chiseled to perfection but not to a point
where he looks pretty. There is definitely a rugged look to him
because of the short scruff that always hugs his face. His hair
is always cut short and carries a light brown tint that makes his
green eyes look like there are flakes of gold in them.
“Er, thanks,” I instinctively put a hand over the
birthmark on my neck. It’s a bad habit when I feel uneasy.
Cayce always gets mad at me when I do it. Says it makes me
look weak, but I can’t help it sometimes.
“Where are you headed?” Aiden slings his back pack
over his shoulder.
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“Sociology 101 with, Zimmer,” I ruffle my bangs to
make sure they’re covering my forehead and slowly begin to
walk toward campus.
“Mind if I walk with you?”
“Sure,” I move my hair to the side to cover the
birthmark on my neck. My heart is fluttering as fast as a
hummingbird’s. Get a hold of yourself, he’s just a person. But
Aiden’s track record begs to differ. He’s a beast on the court—
leading the western conference in points, steals, assists and
rebounds for the past four years. Not to mention the heavy
stack of offers he’s received from the NBA.
“My name is Aiden Knight,” he says, holding out his
hand.
“Halima Alexander,” my palm reaches his. It’s so
warm and despite his giant figure he is careful when shaking
my hand. I catch him looking at the birthmarks that cover my
skin and I quickly pull away.
“You have a beautiful name,” he says in a deep
soothing voice.
You are beautiful. I think to myself. Every time I see
his parents at the games I want to thank them for creating such
a masterpiece. Obviously, I never would though.
“It means gentle in the ancient Egyptian language,” I
look up at him.
“Are you sure it doesn’t mean clumsy?” Aiden
chuckles. The corner of his hazel eyes crease as he focuses on
my face. I blush again like an idiot.
“Watch yourself, it’ll mean dangerous if you keep it
up,” I raise an eyebrow trying desperately to keep my cool.
“You? Dangerous?” Aiden says with a deep hearty
laugh. “Are you going to beat me to a pulp with that cute little
lunch box of yours?”
I give him a dirty look then smile and shake my head in
defeat. This guy can get away with murder.
I scan him from his retro Jordans up to his warm up
gear.
“Do you have a game tonight?” I ask even though I
know the answer.
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“Yeah, do you watch basketball?”
“Sometimes,” I lie. “I’ve played since I was nine.”
“Nice! “ Aiden says looking surprised. I know what he
is thinking. How could such a clumsy girl play basketball?
“Don’t look so shocked. I was getting recruited from
the coaches here too,” I say with my head held high. “But I
hurt my shoulder senior year of high school and was out for the
season. So the letters stopped coming.”
“Now you can watch my games and live vicariously
through me.”
Aiden gives me a sarcastic grin—I roll my eyes.
“Come on, I’m just messing with you. It’ll be fun,” he
nudges me. “I’ll have two floor seats at half court waiting for
you.”
Did he just say two floor seats? I feel like I just won
the lottery! Not only will I get to watch my favorite players
dunk ten feet away, but a personal invitation from one of the
best players in Bruin history. Why me? There are thousands of
prettier girls who would die for an opportunity like this…
Wait a minute. Maybe this is how he runs his game on
girls, and I’ll be damned if I fall into his trap.
“I’d love to, but I have tons of preparing to do for my
trip to Venezuela,” I say nearly flooring myself from the agony
of turning down the greatest gift of all time.
Aiden’s cheerful disposition falls flat and his body loses
its will to stand tall. It might be just me, but he genuinely
looks disappointed. Then again it’s probably because he’s not
accustomed to getting turned down.
“What’s in Venezuela?” he asks making an effort to
sound enthusiastic.
“This place called Angel Falls,” I say nonchalantly. “I
don’t know anything about it so it should be interesting.”
As we walk into the quad I can see my friends staring
wide eyed in disbelief. The others around them are staring
too—probably wondering why Aiden is walking with me of all
people. As I’m about to turn to Aiden and thank him for the
invite, three girls run up to him for a picture and an autograph.
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“Will you take a picture for us?” the blonde asks me
without smiling—then runs to Aiden’s side before I have time
to respond.
Aiden doesn’t smile when I count to three. The girls
persist on getting him to sign their binders and one is even bold
enough to ask for one on her chest.
“You must be good,” I say with a grin and turn to walk
toward my friends. “Good luck against SC tonight, Aiden.”
“Wait! How will I get a hold of you again?” he says,
trying desperately to get away from his pin-up girl fans.
“I’ll be around,” I wave casually.
Hope he remembers me…
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Chapter 4
As soon as I motion to give each of my friends a hug
they all speak at once.
“Impressive,” Zachary commends me with a handsome
smile. A perfectly tailored sky blue shirt fits snug against his
broad shoulders. “What’s your secret?”
“Don’t give me that look Zachary,” I roll my eyes.
“There is no secret.”
“How are you still standing right now?” asks Zachary’s
twin sister Zoe excitedly. “You’re Aiden Knight’s biggest fan!
I literally stopped breathing when I saw you walking with
him!”
“Well, if you would just give her a chance to explain,”
Nami says through a long sigh.
These are my three best friends and we’ve been
inseparable since freshman year of high school.
Our insatiable thirst for knowledge brought us together.
All of us want to find answers. It sounds nerdy, but we
secretly created a club to find ways of reaching a higher level
of intelligence. So, rather than attending parties and getting
wasted like the other kids all the time, we buried our noses in
books.
It was our primary goal to be accepted into UCLA or
any university that accepted all four of us—so we did
everything in our power to make it happen. It was an arduous
process but anything is attainable if you will it.
Zachary and Zoe Behr are a rare and unique set of
twins. Zachary was born white, with blonde hair and golden
brown eyes—Zoe was born black, with light coffee cream skin
and green almond shaped eyes. The only thing they really have
in common is an immaculate smile and really cool parents who
work for DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project
Agency. Sooo, basically they get to research and develop new
technology for the military all day, everyday—totally rad.
If I had to describe Zachary with one word it would
be—fabulous—in every way. A lot of girls look for that one
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good token gay friend. Someone who will tell her the ugly
truth, and give her a man’s honest opinion when shopping—
well we found him. Zachary’s demeanor is far from
flamboyant but he is our Jack and we are his Karen.
His twin sister, Zoe, is a firecracker. The entire
undefeated high school football team tried their luck in asking
her to the prom, but she was notorious for breaking their hearts
with a broken record response of “Maybe next year.”—every
year. However, the boys on the debate team always came up
victorious in this game. It was and always will be brains over
brawn with this gorgeous emerald eyed vixen.
Then there is Nami Suzuki Montgomery who watches
the sand in an hour glass not fill, but slowly empty. Although
personality and emotion is almost non-existent in her, she has a
heart of gold and loyalty beyond compare. Most people
mistake her as cold and distant, but Nami just doesn’t
experience emotions the way most people do. She was found
mysteriously on a beach near Tokyo and adopted at the age of
eight by a loving and extremely wealthy couple who owns
famous art galleries around the world. This explains her
extraordinary talent and love for the arts—not to mention her
outlandish sense of fashion. Nami may have been found in
Japan, but she doesn’t really look like the average Japanese
person. Her racial ambiguity always attracts a lot of attention
and she hates it.
Despite our love for the indoors, each of us excel in
numerous sports. According to the jury, Zachary is lethal in a
dry fencing bout. Lucky for his opponent it’s an épée wielded
in his hand and not a real sword. Zoe, his twin sister, was
always the rough one and took up every type and form of
martial arts there is. If registering your hands as a lethal
weapon were true, you would definitely find Zoe on this list.
Nami primarily focused her talents in the art
department, but took a similar route to Zachary’s and honed in
on her Kendo skills. She is really good, but never had a
passion for the sport. Her obsession with water sports or
anything that has to do with water sparks most of her interest.
She will spend hours watching surfing documentaries, National
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Geographic shows about the ocean, and painting bodies of
water.
Ironically she’s deathly afraid of all of these things.
Her toes have never felt cold wet sand when the tide flows up
and down the shore, her feet have never playfully dangled in
water while sitting on the edge of a pool, and she constantly
has nightmares of drowning. Some think she’s a masochist,
but I think it’s oddly intriguing. When I observe her intently
watching surf documentaries I believe she’s trying to
understand what her hydrophobia stems from.
As for me, mom never had the money to put me in
fancy sports besides basketball, so I focused a lot of the extra
energy on the importance of balance and becoming more in
tune with myself. I’ve found that when I’m internally synced
everything else comes naturally.
“So,” Zachary crosses his arms, “is Aiden Knight a
good kisser?”
“I just met him today,” I give him a dirty look.
“Besides, that’s only something you would do.”
“I second that,” Nami raises an immaculately
manicured hand.
“Is his personality as beautiful as his face?” Zoe
smoothes her dark brown hair into a bun and it unveils her
elegantly high cheek bones.
“Well, he made fun of me most of the time,” I shrug.
“That’s such a typical way for males to flirt,” Zachary
says.
“He invited me to watch his game tonight against SC,”
I solemnly say. “Courtside seats.”
“What?” everyone shouts at once.
“Are you going? How many tickets did he give you?
This is going to be one of the biggest games of the season,”
Zoe says in one big breath.
“I told him I needed to pack,” I close my eyes and wait
for them to tackle me.
But all there is, is silence. I slowly open my eyes and
find them dumbfound.
“You’re kidding,” Nami raises an eyebrow.
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“Why would you say such a stupid thing?” Zoe
disgustedly throws her hands in the air.
“Because I taught Hali well. It may be a ploy to get her
in his bed.” Zachary’s voice grows deep with dignity.
“Besides, you don’t want to be so available in the beginning.
Men are hunters. What fun is the chase if the game willingly
dies at your feet?”
“Exactly,” I nod in approval.
“You can’t assume that Hali,” Zoe scolds. “What if
Aiden is different?”
The clock tower chimes nine times. Students start to
scurry to their morning classes.
“Whatever anyone says, I think you handled it fine,”
Nami sighs and kisses my cheek. “Ciao.”
“Bye lovers,” Zachary effortlessly slings his heavy
backpack over his shoulder.
“Interesting morning eh?” Zoe nudges me.
“Seriously, it was weird enough that mom asked me to
go to Venezuela for spring break,” I say as we walk toward our
class.
“You’re going where?” Zoe’s voice went up a few
octaves.
“Yeah, long story.”
“Thanks for the invite,” Zoe teases.
“I don’t think I’m going to sociology today. Tell
Zimmer I’m sick will ya?”
“Why?” Zoe looks confused.
“Because I want to do some research on Angel Falls.”
“You’re so strange,” Zoe shrugs. She doesn’t probe
any further because she’s used to me being weird and doing
random things all the time. “I’ll give you the notes later.”
“Cool. You’re the best,” I give her a hug goodbye.
“Why don’t you just come over for dinner? Mom is making
your favorite portabella mushroom burgers.”
“Totally there,” Zoe starts walking backward. “Do I
get to see that sexy idiotic brother of yours?”
“Shut up.”
Zoe laughs as she turns and runs to class.
[Type text]
The library is deathly quiet—the high ceilings and noncarpeted floors make it impossible for even a mouse to go
unnoticed. I unzip my backpack, pull out my laptop, and crawl
beneath the desk to look for an outlet.
As I go to plug in my charger, a tiny bolt of electricity
surfaces. It shocks me and my body jolts up into the table.
“Ow!” I rub the back of my head and quickly turn on
the computer without looking up to see if anyone is giving me
evil looks.
I quickly type Angel Falls into the web browser.
Thousands of listings appear on the screen. I click on images
while rubbing the growing bump on my head.
My fingers freeze on the keyboard. Slowly the
computer screen narrows and looks like its ten feet away.
Breathe.
Blinking rapidly my eyes scan the room for any sign
that this may be a dream. Maybe I hit my head harder than I
thought. I mean, I definitely could be dreaming because there
was no way Aiden Knight invited me to his game tonight.
Slowly I get up, and walk around the table a few times
to shake off tension—then streamline to my laptop with the
image still there. It can’t be.
This waterfall has been the center of my dreams for
almost ten years now. There’s no way this thing really exists!
It doesn’t make sense. We don’t have family or friends
in Venezuela, and we’ve never traveled anywhere near the
country.
My cursor rolls over several links and freezes over a
brief description of the falls. Apparently, it’s the world’s
highest waterfall—so high that the wind vaporizes the water
into mist before it reaches the base. Angel Falls is called
Kerepakupai merú in the indigenous Pemon language, which
translates to "waterfall of the deepest place.”
“How’s your head?” says a familiar voice trying to hold
back laughter.
I look up and for the second time today my face feels
like it’s on fire. Someone shoot me.
“Are you stalking me?” I angrily whisper.
[Type text]
“You’re the one creating a ruckus in here, pacing
around and talking to yourself,” Aiden chuckles.
“Every time you’re around bad things happen,” I look
up into his deep green eyes. Damn him for being so handsome.
He grabs a chair nearby and gently places it next to me
without making a sound. I turn my attention back to my
computer.
“That’s not fair Halima. I saved you from falling
today,” he says placing his backpack next to mine. “I just
couldn’t save you right now because I wasn’t with you.”
He smells so good—not cologne, but of fresh laundry.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” my eyes stay focused on
my computer screen. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he grins. “You just need me to be
around more so I can protect you.”
Protect me? Wow, I have got to give this guy credit for
being so persistent, but can’t he see that I’m busy doing
research? Not that him being here is a negative thing, it’s just
that I have a lot on my mind. And he’s not helping.
“Then again, maybe you don’t need my protection,”
Aiden says as if he knows what I’m thinking.
“Oh, no. I mean yes!” I my voice echoes throughout
the library. People shush me.
He shakes his head and smiles.
“Relax,” Aiden soothes. I watch his eyes actively scan
every part of my face—his pupils dilate with intensity.
Gathering every detail as fast as possible for fear I might
disappear again.
Damn my awkwardness. I don’t know why I’m acting
so stupid around him. It’s not like me to be so nervous, but
there’s something about him that intimidates me. His body
language is confident and the dominant energy radiating from
him puts me on edge. Maybe that’s why he’s so powerful on
the basketball court…
“What are you researching?” he asks—snapping me out
of a trance.
[Type text]
“Angel Falls in Venezuela,” I blink rapidly focusing my
attention back to the screen and swallow hard to keep the
butterflies from escaping my stomach.
“Oh, right, you’re going there for spring break,” he says
recollecting our conversation. “It looks gorgeous.”
“Mhmm, I’m actually starting to get really excited,” my
eyes light up and I begin to ramble on about what I’ve read so
far. He calmly watches me again in silence—his expression is
hard to decipher. It’s almost as if he’s analyzing and observing
me.
My hand moves straight to my neck and covers the scar
shaped like Excalibur. I hope he doesn’t catch on to my
nervous antics.
“Who did you get those from?” he draws a circle in the
air around my eyes.
“Um, I’m not sure,” I look up at the ceiling as if I’d
find an answer there. “My older brother Cayce and I are the
only ones who got blue eyes in the family, so our mom was
shocked.”
“Interesting,” a row of perfect porcelain white teeth
show through his smile. “But they’re not just blue. They’re
like fiery glacier blue…if that makes any sense.”
I raise a quizzical eyebrow and let out a brief chuckle.
My arms fold over the table in front of me.
“Don’t give me that look, it’s true,” he nudges me.
“The amount of light that flows through your eyes changes the
color from either a crystal light blue to a darker ocean blue.
Just like a glacier or a frozen waterfall.”
“Really?” I smile and place a hand over my neck again.
“That’s the only way I can describe them,” he shrugs.
“But despite the color they’re comfortingly warm.”
I sit and stare at him for a moment. No one has ever
taken the time to give a detailed description of my eyes. Why
is he so interested in me all of a sudden?
“I don’t know,” he whispers.
“What?”
“Nothing, I’m just thinking aloud,” he clears his throat.
[Type text]
It’s strange hearing Aiden Knight say these things when
all I’ve heard him talk about is basketball during the post game
interviews.
“Thank you,” I quietly say. “No one has ever taken the
time to really notice.”
“They’ve noticed,” he says. “They were just too
nervous to say anything.”
“Why would anyone be nervous around me?”
“The same reason you make me nervous,” Aiden says.
I watch his Adam’s apple silently plunge—his jaw tightens in
regret of his honesty.
An awkward silence begins to loom—well for me at
least. Aiden turns toward the desk and grabs his backpack.
“Sorry, for interrupting your research. I just came to
print out a few power point slides for today’s lecture,” he clears
his throat again.
Maybe I really do make him a little nervous.
“Thanks to you I’m going to be really late,” he gives a
taunting grin.
“Whatever, you can blame it on me. Tell your
professor you had to be a hero for the day,” I say. “Besides
I’m sure your teachers let you do whatever you want. Mr. Star
Basketball Stud.”
“For your information, I attend every one of my classes
and study my ass off,” he cocks his right eyebrow. “I don’t
ditch class.”
“I’m not ditching…” I start to say defensively.
“Save it sweetheart,” Aiden cuts me off and ruffles my
hair. “One more thing.”
“What now?” I sigh. His hand is still on top of my head.
He leans in close to my ear. “How will I protect you
without a way of contacting you?”
I remove his hand from the top of my head and give in
to his hero act. A look of triumph washes over his face when I
scribble my number on a piece of paper.
“I will not fail you,” he bows.
“I don’t doubt you will,” I can’t help but smile and turn
to face my computer as I listen to his footsteps fade. It’s so
[Type text]
strange how Aiden just appeared out of nowhere, suddenly so
interested about plain old me.
Trying to slow my heart rate I turn on the Pandora
station, and put on some headphones. The image of Angel
Falls illuminates through my computer screen. I look at it for a
while—chin in hand, trying to figure out the strange link I have
with the damn waterfall.
The soothing instrumental of Thomas Newman always
brings me to a calm. I let my head ease down onto the desk
and shut my eyes—letting sleep pull me into its world.
Gradually, tiny wet droplets of water begin to gently
blanket my skin. A cool mist blurs my vision, and the smell of
damp wood and rich citrus of Lantana flowers fill the air. My
lungs rise and fall in deep slow waves, filling themselves with
the purest oxygen.
My finger tips gently trace soft petals of purple Princess
Flowers as I glide toward an opening beneath the canopy of
trees that are stretching toward the sky, yearning for the sun’s
kiss.
Streams of golden light wisp across my face while the
gentle sound of flowing water grows louder. As I reach the
clearing smooth pebbles beneath my feet move—the clear
sparkling water flowing past my ankles look as if crystals have
melted so they may travel to their destination with speed and
grace. I look up and find myself at the base of a nonpareil
waterfall—I close my eyes and let its magnificence humble
every part of me.
The waterfall is painted with streaks of color,
brightening then fading against the sun’s rays within the mist.
The roar at the mouth of the waterfall turns into a murmur of
soft rainfall at the base.
I pass the clearing and enter through another canopy of
trees into one of the many hidden lagoons. Wild animals of all
types excitedly chatter among my presence as little white
butterflies gracefully pulse through the air around me.
Something begins pulling every molecule in my body
toward it—probing lovingly, assuring me it is safe to come
[Type text]
closer. The feeling is overwhelming. I have no control—my
body responds willingly, craving something I do not know.
My eyes sweep across the crystal water and fall on the
silhouette of a man. His broad muscular back stands strong
with confidence and the textile that clothes him is strange, but
appealing.
What is he doing here alone?
And in an instant, almost as if he hears me, the man
slowly begins to turn…
[Type text]
Chapter 5
“Excuse me,” a girl taps my shoulder looking upset.
“Huh?” I slurp.
“You’re talking in your sleep,” she says with disgust.
“And we’re trying to study.”
“Sorry,” I gather my things together as she stomps
away. How embarrassing. I wonder what time it is.
My watch reads a quarter to twelve. I should thank the
girl who woke me up in time for my next class.
I run toward Biology trying to get my blood pumping
so it’ll wake me up in time for lecture.
Professor Lansky inserts a DVD about bacteria as I
walk to my usual desk. I stare at the TV and let it blur a couple
times—concentration is definitely not on my side today.
Who was the man in my dream? He was never there
before and I’ve been having this dream for ten years now.
Maybe it was Aiden—no, it couldn’t be—this man had darker
hair and he was a little more tan and muscular.
Despite the intense energy I feel around Aiden, the
feeling I experienced in my dream when I saw the strange man,
surpassed anything I’ve ever felt in eighteen years. I wanted so
badly to cry out to him, but why? How could I feel so strongly
about someone that doesn’t even exist?
The movie ended and class was dismissed. Thank
goodness the professor didn’t lecture today.
I walk to the cafeteria thinking about the mystery man
the whole way. Why does it feel like I love him? This is
ridiculous. I’ve never been in love before—at least not in this
lifetime.
“Hey guys,” I walk up to our usual table.
“Hey,” they all speak in unison.
Nami scans my face. “You look awful.” I guess I never
fixed my hair after Aiden ruffled it into a mess before he left.
“Where’s Zoe?” I ask and tie my hair up into a messy
bun.
[Type text]
“She’s picking up a book on adaptive
unconsciousness,” Zachary says. “I get to read it after her.”
“What?” Nami protests, “she agreed to lend it to me
next.”
“I live with her, so I’ll get to it first,” Zachary grins
triumphantly and pops a baby carrot in his mouth.
“Proximity’s a bitch ain’t it?”
Nami mutters something under her breath and takes out
a mix of almonds and dried cranberries from her bag. It’s her
favorite snack and she always has them on her. I drop my
things and slide into the booth.
“What’s wrong?” Nami asks as she picks out all the
dried cranberries.
“Nothing.”
“Something is,” Nami looks through the corner of her
eye.
“What did Aiden do to you?” Zachary asks—his voice
deepens with anger. Anyone who doesn’t know Zachary
would never imagine he’s gay.
“He didn’t do anything,” I say. “Aiden is actually
pretty sweet.”
“Oh,” Zachary’s face returns its calm expression and he
pops another carrot in his mouth.
“Then what’s up?” Nami asks. Even though she comes
off cold to most people, she’s always had a soft spot for me.
“You know that dream I’ve been having since I was a
kid?”
“Yeah, with the weird waterfall,” Zachary takes a
goliath bite of his sandwich. “What about it?”
“Well, I fell asleep in the library today and had the
same exact dream,” I fiddle with a pepper packet, “only this
time, there was a man.”
“A man?” Nami finishes the sandwich in her mouth and
gulps down hard. “What kind of man?”
“His back was facing me so I couldn’t see his face.”
“Okay, so?” Zachary waves a yellow baby carrot
nonchalantly in the air. “Maybe it was Aiden.”
[Type text]
“No, it definitely wasn’t Aiden,” I pause and take a
deep breath. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Here, drink something,” Nami pushes a bottle of water
toward me. “You look pale.”
I drink some water and watch them eat for a few
minutes. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest in
anticipation for what I’m about to tell them.
“It felt like I was madly in love with this man. Like
every part of me wanted to hold him. It was as if every
molecule in my body reacted to his—like we were…created for
each other. I know you’re all thinking I’m being cheesy, but
trust me, I wouldn’t be telling you all this unless I really felt
something because it’s embarrassing.” I pause to catch my
breath.
“But it’s not until now that I really feel…alive.”
Zachary and Nami gape wide eyed. I let them register
what I said for a few seconds. They probably think I’m going
crazy because I rarely ever talk about my feelings let alone a
man for that matter.
“Now, he’s all I can think about,” frustration rises in
my voice. My fingers pull at the roots of my hair.
Zachary suddenly bursts into laughter, and I can see
Nami holding back a grin.
“Whew, that’s deep Hali,” Zachary wipes away a tear.
“Seriously, all I can say is, he must’ve had a really nice ass.”
Nami continues to maintain her indifferent expression.
“Thanks guys.”
“Shut up Zach. Hali, I believe you,” Nami lays a hand
on my head. “We’re just not use to you being so…sooo…help
me out here Zach.”
“Soppy?” Zachary chuckles and takes another bite of
his lunch.
“Yeah,” Nami agrees. “I mean, for as long as we’ve
known you, we’ve never even seen you hold hands with a guy
Halima, and now all of a sudden words of poetry are swooning
from your mouth just at the thought of this guy.”
They’re right, despite the fairly large number of boys
who have asked me out in the past, I never really took interest
[Type text]
in them. It’s not that I wasn’t attracted to them—they were all
the type that girls would be proud to bring home, but there was
always something missing.
The rest of the day becomes a blur, and before I know
it, I’m at home in the driveway.
“Hey mom, did you get my message about the trip to
Angel Falls?” I walk to the fridge.
“Yes, I called your brother,” Mom sighs. “He didn’t
have to do that.”
“I know ma, but he wants to,” I say and reach for a
juice box. “Besides, aren’t you excited we get to spend a
whole week with Cayce?”
Spending time with family is one of my favorite things.
They’re my anchor, because despite the differences we may
have or the arguments we run into I know my family will
always be there for me, no matter what.
A lot of people don’t get along with their parents or
siblings, but never stop to understand why. Some people wait
until it is too late, and unfortunately bear the burden of regret—
wondering what could have been for the rest of their lives.
“Of course I’m excited,” Mom says as she begins
preparing dinner. “You’re lucky to have an older brother that
loves you so much.”
“He loves you just as much,” I point to her with my
piece of celery—her face lights up with a smile. “Oh, by the
way, Zoe is coming for dinner tonight.”
“How is our little Zoe bear?” Mom asks as she places
big pieces of portabella onto the grill. “I miss her.”
“Ask her when she gets here,” I shrug and place my
laptop on the kitchen counter.
“Anything interesting happen at school today?” Mom
lifts an inquisitive brow.
“Nope,” I lie and type away.
Beryl chops the lettuce in silence. Should I tell her?
She probably already knows something’s up, and I don’t want
to tell the story twice.
“Actually, I’ll just tell you when Zoe gets here,”
distress fills my voice.
[Type text]
“Okay,” Mom says nonchalantly without looking up
from the cutting board, then slides me some vegan artichoke
dip for my celery.
If only I could take my wariness and coat it with a calm
and cheerful veneer like mom can…
The front door opens without a knock and Nanu rushes
from beneath the kitchen table without barking. I follow her to
the front.
“Whattap,” I give Zoe a high five.
“Long time no see,” Zoe jokes as she walks over to my
mom and kisses her on the cheek. “Hi mama Alexander.”
Zoe and I are not related, but we might as well be.
She’s like the sister I never had, and I’m grateful because it’s
hard to find good friends nowadays—people that you can trust
wholeheartedly.
“Hi Zoe bear,” Mom smiles. “Help yourself to anything
in the fridge.”
“One step ahead of ya,” Zoe pulls out a bottle of Acqua
Panna. “Want one Hali?”
“No thanks, but can I copy those notes from you?”
Zoe pulls them from her backpack.
“I photocopied them for you on the way home from my
dad’s office,” she says smugly.
Zoe and Zachary’s father is the director for DARPA’s
tactical technology department. He’s in charge of overseeing
the advanced weapons, platforms and space systems for the
U.S. Military and God knows what other special forces
protecting our nation. Other than that, we’re not really sure
what he’s working on because the main office is in Virginia so
he’s not around very often.
Zoe has always wanted to follow in her father’s
footsteps so her goal is to get her doctorate in software and
chemical engineering so she can work under her father at
DARPA. The only thing Zoe is worried about is that the men
working there won’t take her seriously. I’m assuming it’s
because of the way she looks. Unless Cylons really exist, it’s
not every day that you have a brilliant and drop-dead gorgeous
woman working on weapons and defense.
[Type text]
“You’re the best!”
“Yep, I know,” she says twisting off the bottle cap.
“Dinner is ready,” Mom places a tray full of portabella
patties on the kitchen counter.
We each make a mushroom burger and bring it to the
dinner table.
“So anything else happen today,” Zoe stuffs her mouth.
“I didn’t get to see you during lunch.”
“Er, yeah, kinda,” I look at Mom. She grabs the water
and starts filling our glasses without looking up. “Two things
actually.”
“Yes, finally something juicy,” Zoe manages to say
through a mouthful. It’s funny to watch Zoe eat at home.
Whenever we eat out, she eats with impeccable manners and is
usually the last one to finish because of her small birdie bites.
“Well, you know how I went to the library to do some
research?” I ask looking at Zoe—she nods. “I ran into Aiden
Knight again.”
“No way!” Zoe yelps and covers her mouth to keep
food from falling out. “Twice in one day?”
“Wow, it’s like meeting your all-time favorite
celebrity,” Mom grins.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Okay, go on,” Mom says.
“To make a long story short I gave him my number.
Well he sort of asked for it—but not really. I don’t know it
was weird—he just has it now,” I ramble.
“Are you serious?” A wide smile crosses Zoe’s face.
“This is insane! You’ve watched this guy on TV a million
times, followed his college career, and now he has the hots for
you.”
“Er, I don’t know about that,” I say. “Finally getting
the chance to meet him hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
“This is such exciting news!” Mom’s eyes light up.
“I’m so happy for you Halima.”
“There’s more,” I add. “But it involves another boy. A
man actually.”
[Type text]
“Damn,” Zoe looks shocked. “I guess it’s true that
freshman girls are a hot commodity.”
“No, he doesn’t go to our school,” I say as I try to think
of a way to tell them without sounding crazy.
“Where did you meet him?” Mom asks.
“I didn’t really meet him,” I reply. “I just saw him
from the back.”
Okay now I sound like a crazy stalker.
“Okay, so where’d you see him?” Zoe looks confused.
“And you’re not sure what he looks like?”
“Um, the thing is, I don’t know if he actually exists,” I
stare at my untouched portabella burger. “But at the same time
I can feel that he does.”
“What do you mean?” Mom asks with concern.
“Well, you know that dream that I always have of the
waterfall?” I look up—they both nod.
“It’s Angel Falls.”
“Wait, what?” Zoe asks.
“The waterfall in my dream really exists. It’s identical
to the one in Venezuela.”
“Are you positive?” Mom asks.
“Yes, one hundred percent. Then today, I fell asleep at
the library and had the dream again. Only this time it was
different.”
“He was in my dream. It’s the first time I’ve seen him
there.” I look up at mom. “The waterfall that he is standing
beneath is, is…”
I pause for a long moment and play with my food.
“Is it Angel Falls?” she asks with intensity.
“Yeah,” I whisper.
Zoe looks from me to my mom.
“It’s where we’re going for spring break,” I tell Zoe.
“Mom had a dream about Angel Falls too.”
“What the hell? That’s weird,” Zoe says. “You
dreamed of the same waterfall Mrs. Alexander?”
“Apparently,” Mom answers wide eyed. The crystals
hanging from the chandelier above us began to sway from the
wind flowing through the window. Our house is full of
[Type text]
chandeliers and crystals in general. Mom never spends money
on herself, but if she does, she invests it in crystal—a lot of it.
I guess it’s something that she’s always loved, but she
especially fills my room with a ton of it.
There’s crystal under my bed, across my window sill,
sewn into my duvet cover, and she even had a lamp and clock
specially made from crystal. I’ve asked her what her
fascination is with the stone, but she simply says it is her way
of protecting me while I sleep.
Mom is so weird, but I love her, so I never make a huge
fuss about it.
“Geez, I just got the chills,” Zoe bites the inside of her
cheek.
“Me too,” I shiver. “I’ve been getting them all day.”
“We’ll just have to be extra careful Halima,” Mom
says. “You’re not leaving our sight while we’re in Venezuela.”
“It’s not like I can sneak away with Cayce around
anyway,” I say. “Besides, I don’t think this mystery man is
dangerous.”
Should I tell them how I feel about mystery man?
No, I better not, or they will really think I’ve lost it.
“You can never be too safe,” Mom begins gathering the
dishes. “Halima, you didn’t touch your food”
“I’ll take it for lunch tomorrow,” I say.
After cleaning the kitchen and having coffee ice cream,
Zoe went home. I looked at mom and knew she had something
on her mind.
“Alright, what’s up?” I ask. “I know you’ve been dying
to tell me something all night.”
She laughs. I think she appreciates my ability to read
her. Sometimes.
“You know how I’ve always told you that I was born to
have you?” she asks.
“Mhmm,” I nod. “You tell me ALL the time and I
always wonder why.”
“Well, a long time ago before you were born, a woman
came to me in my dream. She called herself Clio,” Mom
[Type text]
continues. “She told me that I was going to have a daughter
who would save the planet.”
The acids in my stomach begins to boil.
“Something bad is going to happen, I’m not sure what
exactly,” concern fills her eyes. “But Clio told me that you will
be the one to stop it.”
A few moments of silence pass.
“You know how ridiculous this sounds right?” I ask.
“How the hell would a normal girl like me possibly save the
planet mom? I don’t have magical super-hero powers!”
“Calm down Halima,” Mom hushes.
“No, I totally have the right to freak out a little right
now, and why didn’t you tell me this before?” my stomach
begins to hurt.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” her eyebrows
crease together. “You already think I’m crazy, so why should I
give you more reason to believe that?”
“Ma, I don’t think you’re crazy. Just a little weird with
some of the things you do and how eerily on-point your visions
can be.”
“I know,” Mom sighs. “I wish I can explain them…”
“And who is this Clio lady?” I gulp nervously. “And
why me?”
“With the dreams you’ve been having, and your
upcoming trip to Venezuela—I think you’ll be finding that out
really soon,” Mom says. “That is why you must be very
careful, but always let your instincts guide you.”
“Who do you think the man is in my dream?” I ask.
“Do you think he’s dangerous?”
“What do you feel?” Mom asks.
I paused for a long moment. “Well, it sounds crazy, but
it feels like…like.”
“Like?”
“I love him.”
Mom clears her throat. “That’s the last thing I expected
to come out of your mouth.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s ridiculous.”
[Type text]
“Interesting,” Mom says as she put a kettle of water on
the stove. “Want some tea?”
“Yes, please…wait, that’s all you have to say?” I
frown.
“Well what do you want to hear?”
“Nothing in particular, I guess.” I fiddle with my place
mat. “Do you think he has anything to do with Clio?”
“There isn’t really anything we can link between the
two of them, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Mom says. “After
all, why would I have a dream about the same waterfall that
you have been dreaming about? And isn’t it interesting how
right after the trip to Venezuela is booked, the strange man
visits you in your dream?”
“Yeah, and now he’s the only thing I can think about,” I
say in a daze. “Do you think it’s a trap?”
“No, I’m sure Clio would have warned me about this
man if he was dangerous,” Mom says confidently. “And I
would’ve gotten a bad feeling scheduling the trip. But I
haven’t felt anything yet.”
“Who is Clio exactly?”
“I’d love to know,” Mom shrugs. “She only gives me
certain information.”
“So what made you decide to trust her or believe in
anything she says for that matter?” I ask.
“At first I didn’t,” Mom says. “But when she visited
my dreams more frequently, telling me about events that would
happen in advance, I couldn’t help but to believe her. She
saved my life.”
“Really?”
Mom nods. “I had a few checks ready to deposit at the
bank and I usually always went during my lunch break at
around noon.”
Mom poured hot water into two mugs and added a tea
bag to steep in each of them.
“The night before, Clio sent me a horrific vision of five
men robbing the same bank. They did it with flawless speed
and didn’t say a word.”
[Type text]
“Three of the men gathered everyone together—making
them sit upright on the floor with their backs against the wall.”
She closes her eyes and winces.
“Then shot every single hostage in the head.”
I stop breathing. “Why?”
“I don’t know sweetheart,” Mom’s eyes begin watering.
“Did you try to warn the bank the next day?”
“Yes, I called with a payphone,” a tear runs down her
face. “But they didn’t listen…”
“I’m so sorry…” I hold Mom in silence for a few
minutes.
“How many times has Clio come to you?” I ask.
“Numerous times,” Mom gently brings a napkin to the
corners of her eyes, “but most of her visits were after you were
born.”
“What did she tell you after I was born?”
“To teach you what I know and protect you until it is
time,” Mom says.
“Until it’s time?” I ask nervously. “For what?”
“I have a feeling you will be finding out very soon,”
She reaches for my hand. “Why do you think I’ve been so
protective over you? Cayce too, however he has no idea about
Clio.”
“I think I had Cayce to help me protect you,” Mom
says. “The crystals around the house help a lot too.”
“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask you about all of this
crystal,” I look around. “I didn’t want to tease you, but it’s
pretty strange.”
“Many of them were sent to me to protect you,” Mom
says. “I’ve been instructed to place them in specific areas of
the house to create a barrier or a shield of some sort.”
“Protect me? There are people are after me?”
“I don’t think they’re…people,” Mom says touching
my shoulder gently. “But don’t worry—they haven’t gotten to
you yet, so we must be doing something right.”
I feel like I’m going to pass out from the sudden weight
of stress.
[Type text]
“This is crazy,” I run my hands through my hair.
“What about when I’m at school and stuff? Doesn’t that make
it easier for whatever is tracking me?”
“No, because while you are in the house the crystals
help alter your magnetic energy making it difficult for them to
detect you. The pendant you wear around your neck also helps
with that,” she points to my necklace.
Mom gave it to me when I was a child. Now that I
think of it—I’ve worn this necklace every day of my life
without questioning it. “For some reason, these things that are
after you don’t like crystal.”
“I’m not going to lie, this whole conversation is
freaking me out a little.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“How are you so calm? You don’t think any of this is
strange?”
“At first I was scared, but I realized quickly that it made
me very weak. And as soon as Clio told me your life was in
jeopardy, I promised to do anything and everything necessary
to protect you. I didn’t stop to think if the situation was crazy
or not because as soon as I knew your life was on the line, that
was the only thing I needed to know to stay strong and level
headed.”
I sit and stare at mom dumbfounded.
“Oh, loosen up,” Mom hands me my mug. “Drink this.
You’re beginning to make me nervous again.”
“So what is this pendant made out of?” I pull it away
from my chest to get a better look at it.
“It’s a Beryl stone,” she smiles.
“Like your name?”
“Yes, it has protective powers and heightens your
ability to react to things—increasing your intellect too,” she
says. “Why do you think you excel in sports and get straight
A’s in school?”
“Genetics?” I cock an eye brow. “Come on mom, you
can’t believe that it’s just the stone giving me power.”
[Type text]
“No, but it helps tremendously,” she says proudly. “If
it has protected you for this long, I wouldn’t deny its power if I
were you.”
“I’m not denying anything. This is just a lot to take in
at once.”
“That’s why I’m here to help,” Mom says in a cheerful
voice handing me two pieces of biscotti.
“What a day,” a long sigh escapes me and I take a sip of
green tea.
Mom walks to my side and gives me a big hug. The
type of hug that makes you feel like everything will be okay no
matter how bad things get.
“You’re going to be fine, Halima. You don’t give
yourself enough credit for how powerful you really are. Never
doubt your strength.”
“Thanks mom,” my eyes begin to water.
“I’m going to get ready for bed,” mom kisses me on the
forehead. “Do you want to talk more?”
“No, I’ll be okay,” I swirl the tea around in my cup.
“Actually, I have one more question.”
“Hm?”
“What are you?” I whisper. “And how did you get your
name? Was it just coincidence?”
“It’s a mystery to me,” mom grins. “I was adopted,
remember?”
“Oh, right,” I say. “But, definitely human right?”
“I think so!” she laughs. “Anything else?”
“Clio didn’t happen to give you any leads about where
my weird birthmarks come from did she?”
“Unfortunately no,” Mom sadly replies, “but I think
they make you even more beautiful than you already are.”
“Thanks,” I smile. “And mom?”
“Yeah sweetie?”
“Thank you for protecting me.”
“I would risk anything for you and Cayce,” Mom says
lovingly. “You two are my life.”
[Type text]
I walk to my room, jump on my bed, and turn on the
TV to watch the recorded basketball game. Almost a second
later I hear a text notification from my cell.
Unknown – This is the first home game you’ve
missed in four years…
I stare at the screen and read the message ten times
before responding.
Me – Aiden?
Two seconds later…
Unknown– Yes, so what happened?
I add his number into my phone. How in the world
does he know this is the first game I’ve missed? Five minutes
pass.
Me – I told you I had to get ready for Venezuela.
I’m watching it now.
Aiden Knight – 12 turnovers, 11 missed shots and I
fouled out. We lost.
Me – Are you serious!?
Aiden Knight – I was distracted by the two empty
seats, first row, in section 205A.
My heart sinks and I feel the heat rise under my skin
from embarrassment. Those are the seats mom and Cayce buy
me every year for Christmas. I had no idea Aiden even knew I
existed, and there I was earlier today, pretending that I didn’t
know who he was. How humiliating.
I lay in bed for a while trying to get over the
overwhelming amount of awkwardness until my phone starts to
vibrate—I answer.
“I’m sorry,” I say into the phone.
“Were you surprised?” Aiden’s distinct voice streams
through my cell.
“Well, you have thousands of fans,” I begin to say, “so
how on Earth would you…”
“The loudest fan who never wears blue or yellow
attracts a lot of attention you know,” he chuckles on the other
end. “Remember my first home game? You wore this bright
red Snoopy sweater and yelled at the Ref for me throughout the
entire game. It was hilarious.”
[Type text]
“I can’t believe you remember that,” I say, astounded.
“Zoe spilled tomato soup on me, and lent me her little cousin’s
sweater. That was so long ago…”
“I’ve looked for you every game since,” Aiden casually
says. “Hali, you never missed a single game, and it helped
drive me to become the player I am today. We play to win.
Because when we do—I get to see you smile.”
Aiden keeps me on the phone a little while longer until
I promise him a date. Didn’t take much convincing—besides,
how could I refuse him at this point, and why would I want to?
So much is happening so fast—but why now? Slowly,
I drift off letting the TV blur. The squeaking of basketball
shoes along the wood floors begin to fade and the sound of the
commentators grow faint. The cool night air flows through
my bedroom window and gently caresses me to sleep.
“Halima!” Beryl shrieks with terror. “Hurry, we need
to leave now!”
[Type text]
Chapter 6
Uncle Benny was in a car accident and is being held in
the Intensive Care Unit at Cedars Sinai—mom and I rush to the
hospital. When we arrive I see Cayce filling out paperwork in
the waiting room—relief sweeps over me and I run to give him
a hug.
“How’s Benny?” I ask. “Did you see him yet?”
Cayce’s hair is a mess and he’s still in the work clothes.
“No, they only allow one person to go in at a time,” he
says. “Mom, go in and see him, I’ll take care of this stuff with
Hali.”
“Thank you,” Beryl plants a kiss on Cayce’s forehead.
She walks calmly to the front desk and shows them her nurse’s
badge.
Benny isn’t really our uncle, and isn’t blood related to
Mom at all, but he’s been her best friend for over twenty years
now. She said they met randomly when he came into the
hospital to donate blood. Cayce and I know Benny loves
Mom, but after dad left, she vowed never to love so
passionately again.
But Benny doesn’t seem to care if Mom gives him her
love or not. He’s there whenever she needs him and helped
Cayce and I with whatever we needed as kids—Benny is the
closest thing we have to a father and we’re the closest thing he
has to a family since his wife passed away.
I watch Mom talk to the nurses. She points to Cayce
who is filling out paperwork to assure them that the waiver has
been signed and disappears behind the doors—running.
“Did the doctor tell you what happened?” I ask.
“A drunk driver hit him,” Cayce’s jaw tightens with
anger. He glances over at another family sitting nearby. “The
drunk driver’s family is waiting right there.”
I look up to see a young boy around the age of ten and
his younger sister. The little girl is barefoot and carrying a
grey teddy bear—poor thing has no clue what is going on. She
keeps looking at her older brother with concern—touching his
[Type text]
face with her tiny hands to help calm him. The children’s
mother is nowhere in sight.
Even though their drunken parent is the reason why
Benny is in the ICU, I still feel sorry for them. No matter how
much I want to blame them, these kids have nothing to do with
the actions of their father or mother.
After watching them for a little while, I get up and walk
to the front desk for some small shoe covers and head over to
where the children are sitting—I can hear the little girl talking
to her brother.
“Please be happy, Johnny,” she says holding his face—
he takes her into his arms and hugs her.
I hesitate for a moment and let him calm his breathing.
“Excuse me,” I say. “Hi there, I’m Hali.”
The little boy lets his sister go—he hides his face with
his hands. The little girl turns and faces me with a bright
smile.
“Hi,” she holds out four fingers. “I’m four years old.”
“Wow,” I say wide eyed. “You’re a big girl, and very
pretty too.”
“Thaaank you,” she says with another heartwarming
smile.
“What are your names?” I ask.
“Kaylee,” the little girl replies.
“Johnny,” the little boy wipes his eyes.
“Is it okay if I put these little covers on your feet
Kaylie?” she nods and delightedly holds out her tiny feet.
“What happened, Johnny?” I ask putting an arm around
him. He looks at me and begins to cry again.
“Our…daddy…” he has a hard time controlling his
breathing from crying so hard and it’s getting difficult for him
to speak. “He’s…gone…”
The pain radiating from Johnny is almost unbearable.
Acid fills my stomach from the stressful thought that Benny
may have the same fate at any moment.
“What’s that?” Kaylie asks pointing to my forehead.
Her eyes light up in wonderment.
[Type text]
“What?” I touch my forehead, but feel nothing. Maybe
she is pointing to one of the birthmarks I was born with.
“You drawed on your head?” her tiny fingers gently
graze my forehead as she coos with delight. “Prettyyy…”
I look over at a full length mirror nearby, but there is
nothing there. Kaylie must be just looking at one of my scars.
“They’re birthmarks from when I was born,” I smile at
her. Johnny continues to keep his face down in the folds of his
arms.
“Mawks?” Kaylie looks confused. I nod. “Ohhh, why
does it glow?”
I look over to the mirror again, confused. I don’t see
anything glowing.
“They don’t glow, but sometimes they just get a little
red,” I explain.
“You must be reeeally special,” Kaylie keeps looking at
my forehead. “Are you a princess?”
She stares at me with hope in her eyes. I’ve never been
asked a question like that before, and it catches me off guard
for a second.
“Yes, from a place far away,” I smile. “Is that what
you want to be when you grow up too?”
“Oh yes!” Kaylie nods enthusiastically. “Will you
teach me please?”
“What are you doing to my kids?” their mother snarls
through missing teeth—coughing violently from too many
cigarettes. “Get away from them.”
“I just brought your daughter something to wear on her
feet,” I explain.
“She doesn’t need those,” the mother pulls Kaylie up
into her arms, yanking off the shoe covers, and pulls Johnny by
the neck. “Come on you brats.”
“Nooo, I want stay with Hali,” Kaylie reaches out for
me squirming to break free.
“Shut up!” the mother yells—a silent tear rolls down
Kaylie’s cheek.
“Bye Hali,” Johnny waves with his head held low.
[Type text]
I wave goodbye and turn to walk back to my brother. I
sit next to him and stare blankly at the double doors where
mom disappeared.
“They don’t deserve that,” I say to Cayce.
“I know,” Cayce says with anger. “I was about to cuss
that woman out.”
We sit in silence for a while. I feel a lump form in my
throat.
“Cayce,” I tremble. “That little boy said their father
died.”
He looks at me—his eyes dilate. I know he’s thinking
the same thing I am. Usually the drunk driver survives and the
sober one dies.
We sit quietly waiting—Cayce begins probing at his
temples. Please let Benny be okay. The sound of the
emergency doors open.
Mom walks toward us with a soft assuring smile.
Relief overwhelms me and tears begin to stream down my face.
Cayce rubs the tension from his face. His eyes are red with
fatigue and worry, but he smiles back at mom.
She takes us in her arms and kisses us both.
“Uncle Benny is going to be okay. He’s a very strong
man,” she says soothingly. “He would never leave you two.”
Cayce goes in first while I sit with mom until my
nerves settle. When it’s my turn to slip through the emergency
doors, the hospital smell fills my nose and I shiver from the
cold.
I turn a couple corners and find the bed with the last
name Collins. Benny is connected to a bunch of tubes and
wires. I close my eyes for a second to stop myself from losing
it again.
“Hals, it’s not so bad,” he whispers with a smile, and
holds up a wire with a red button. “Look, I get all the
morphine I want.”
“You’re a mess,” I laugh and let pent up tears flow
freely. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Of course I am Hals,” Benny closes his eyes. “I’ll be
damned if I leave you, Beryl and Cayce anytime soon.”
[Type text]
“How many bones did you break?” I ask.
“Three,” he winces. “My foot, ankle and the airbag
broke my nose.”
“You must have super powers,” I say, “because you’re
the only one who survived.”
“You bet your ass I do,” Benny fights to keep his eyes
open. “Only problem is that I only have eight lives left.”
“I love you so much,” I kiss him on the cheek goodbye.
“You better get some rest.”
“Love you too Hals,” he begins to drift off. “See you
tomorrow.”
[Type text]
Chapter 7
I finish packing the last of my things for the trip to
Venezuela. Cayce waits down stairs for me while the taxi
driver loads some of the luggage into the van. Mom can’t
come with us anymore because she wants to take care of
Benny—so Zoe is filling her spot.
“Hali, hurry your ass up!” Zoe yells from down stairs.
“You always lag.”
“You’re always too damn early!” I yell back.
I run to Cayce’s old room upstairs and jump on the bed
giving Benny a big hug.
“Geez Hals, take it easy. You’re going to break another
bone,” he winces and hugs me back. “Have fun visiting the
waterfalls. I know how much you love them.”
“I’ll bring you back something cool,” I say jumping off
the bed. “Love you.”
“Love you too Hals, be careful,” he ruffles his short salt
and pepper colored hair. “It’s your turn to come back to me
safely.”
“I will,” I smile. “Cayce will make sure of it. I’ll have
mom bring you up some ice cream.”
“Good call,” Benny chuckles. “See you in a week
munchkin.”
I run down stairs and pounce on Mom—squeezing her
in a massive hug.
“Love you ma,” I say. “Oh, Benny wants ice cream.”
“He always wants ice cream,” Mom rolls her eyes. “I’m
going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too,” I say. “This is the first time we’ll
be away from each other for a whole week!”
“Don’t remind me,” Mom cringes. “I’m going to be a
nervous wreck. Thank goodness Cayce will be with you two.
And don’t forget what I told you! Always be aware of your
surroundings, don’t be looking around without watching where
you’re going, and if you feel anything weird you better trust
your…”
[Type text]
“Hali lets move!” Cayce yells from the taxi. “Mom
stop stressing!”
“Instinct and intuition,” Mom pushes me toward the
door. “Call me as soon as you land!”
By the time we went through all the security pits we
arrived at the boarding gate fifteen minutes late. Dirty looks
follow us as we take our seats, but I don’t blame them. The
fasten seatbelt sign chimes and the flight attendants begin their
safety demonstration.
Take off is my favorite part. It’s strange but the
turbulence of the plane trying to make its way through the
clouds is soothing.
The sunset is breathtaking above the nebulous
blanket—like only a dream could create such beauty. It’s been
five days since I first dreamt about the man while I was in the
library. Every day since then, he stands at the waterfall—
waiting. My stomach churns every time I think about it.
“Venezuela, here we come,” Zoe opens a book about
D.A.R.P.A. “I’m so excited.”
“Me too,” I close my eyes. “Thanks Cayce.”
“No prob,” Cayce puts on headphones. “I’m pretty
stoked too.”
We end up having a short layover in Colombia, but
before I know it, we are landing at the Caracas Maiquetia
International Airport. The eleven hour flight wasn’t as bad as I
thought. My skin is uncomfortably dry, but I know the
humidity will take care of it as soon as we step off the plane.
Our cab to The Gran Melia Caracas Hotel gives us the
chance to see the perimeter of the city. Looking through the
taxi window—beyond the wires and cables, is a concentrated
array of housing along the hills with windows guarded by
metal bars—similar to what I’ve seen in Brazil. Trees
randomly separate the multi-colored shacks and buildings,
along with hanging clothes and blankets.
A woman washes her sheets on the side of the road in a
large silver bin that is being filled with water from a crack in a
nearby wall. Stray dogs and children run along the streets,
while men and women barter various goods.
[Type text]
I haven’t been as fortunate as Zoe, Zachary and Nami
when it comes to traveling, but I’ve always made it a priority to
study about as many different cultures as I can. Observing and
experiencing a different culture first hand is like a dream come
true.
The more I read, the less I take for granted. Every night
I am thankful for hundreds of things—dental floss, water
bottles, witch hazel, toilet paper, pens, vitamins, Q-Tips, and
my journal among other simple things—things that normally
people don’t stop to appreciate because they are not aware they
are considered luxury items in many other countries.
When we reach the hotel it’s like entering an entirely
different world. Bellhops eagerly help us out of the vehicle
and happily carry our luggage into the resort while offering to
fetch refreshments. We went from poverty to riches in a
heartbeat, but I guess it’s a lot like Los Angeles in that sense.
One minute you’ll be driving through Skid Row and the next
you’ll be surrounded by million dollar lofts and five star
restaurants.
The grumbling in our stomachs is becoming unbearable
so we make a quick visit to our rooms and have breakfast in the
hotel restaurant.
Our bus departs for Ratoncito Island in three hours
which gives us enough time to call mom, freshen up and take a
nap.
“The tour description says we’re going on a river
excursion through the Carrao and Churun Rivers,” Cayce says.
“So we’ll be having lunch with the natives in the forest.”
“That sounds awesome!” Zoe bounces excitedly in her
seat. “What comes after that?”
“Then we hike a few miles through the forest to the
base of Angel Falls,” Cayce looks at me. “You ready for this
Hali?”
I look at Cayce, uncertain. Am I ready?
So much has been going on that I haven’t had the time
to think of what I will say or do if this mystery man really does
exist. But what could I possibly say to a stranger that I’ve been
constantly dreaming of without sounding crazy?
[Type text]
After breakfast we walk to our rooms. Zoe and I are
sharing a room and Cayce got one for himself—he thinks Zoe
and I are too loud when we’re together.
“Hali these rooms are legit,” Zoe claims one of the
beds. “Cayce hooked it up.”
“Yeah, we always stay at the nice places with Cayce,” I
begin to unpack my toiletries.
I take a longer shower than normal and hop into bed for
a quick nap.
As soon as the man in my dream began to slowly turn
to face me again the phone rang. Damn!
“Rise and shine ladies,” Cayce says into the phone.
“Hurry up and get ready, don’t lag.”
“Alright, alright we’ll meet you in the lobby,” I rub my
eyes. “Zoe wake up, it’s time to go.”
The river excursion is one of the coolest things I’ve
ever done. Floating through the trees and listening to the
sounds of the rainforest is almost surreal.
A rainforest is such an extraordinarily balanced system.
Every living organism has a gift, and with the help of water
and sun—the organisms magically cast their spell to create this
wondrous place. The rainforest’s beauty is so powerful, it
can’t help but stir emotion in even the most lifeless people.
This is a place where artists, photographers, writers and
dreamers alike bask in tranquility and only hope that their gift
of words, wisps of paint and wide lenses can capture its
magnificence for those less fortunate to experience.
“This is why we live…” I whisper and take a deep
breath in, “for moments like this.”
“Seriously…” Zoe says in awe. Cayce looks up in
astonishment like a tourist visiting New York City for his first
time.
“We’re getting closer to the water fall,” Zoe grabs my
hand and squeezes it with anticipation. “Do you think he’ll
appear?”
“Who’s he?” Cayce instantly snaps back to reality.
“Mind your own business Cayce!” Zoe grunts. “I asked
Hali if my heel appears too cracked and dry.”
[Type text]
I hold back laughter because of how stupid that
sounded. She shrugs with a smile because her lie worked.
Cayce continues to look up at the canopy of trees.
“Everybody please exit the raft slowly,” the tour guide
says. “We will now proceed to carry on by foot.”
Walking through the rainforest is tough. It is ninety
degrees and humid—everyone is anxious to reach the waterfall.
Our tour guide consistently promises a bunch of private
lagoons so it makes the trek easier, knowing that fresh cool
water was waiting.
When we reach the camp site of the natives, a
tremendous local meal is prepared and ready for us to devour.
In Venezuela, the largest meal is served during lunch or
midday, which is lucky for us because the small pastry and tea
for breakfast wore off hours ago.
The friendly natives make us their national dish made
of rice, black beans, and banana covered in stewed and
shredded meat called Pabellon, then serve Arepas which are
various meats, cheeses and jams stuffed inside fried corn flour,
and a soup called Hervido that has either meat or fish along
with other regional vegetables.
In situations like this it kind of sucks that Cayce and I
are vegetarian, but I guess we can live vicariously through
Zoe’s taste buds when it comes to the meat dishes.
After everyone has their fill, the tour guide hands us
water bottles and proceedes to guide us to Angel Falls.
The five mile hike is a great way to burn off the heavy
lunch.
“Stay close Halima,” Cayce warns. “You too, Zoe. I
don’t want to have to be looking for your squirrely ass in this
huge rainforest.”
“Don’t get your panties tied in a bunch Cayce,” Zoe
punches him in the arm. “Lighten up, we’re on vacation.”
“Well, it’s hard not feeling like a babysitter with a baby
around,” Cayce flicks Zoe’s head. “I wish I had leash for you.”
“I’m a grown ass woman,” Zoe says. “I know more
about life than you ever will.”
[Type text]
“Ha! Please—enlighten me oh wise one,” Cayce says
sarcastically.
Now is my chance to get away from the group. Cayce
and Zoe will go at it for a while—their bickering usually lasts
for an hour or two. As we reach the bottom of the waterfall
people begin to disperse—throwing clothes everywhere and
jumping into the water.
“Hey guys I’ll be right around here,” I motion to a
rocky area.
“Kay,” Zoe says and returns to lecturing Cayce about
adaptive unconsciousness.
Angel Falls is magical. It’s as if the giant rocks were
hand placed in perfect spots so the water moved with ease.
Some of the rock piles appeared as if they were hanging in the
air—how did they not fall?
I look up at the glorious waterfall—how is it possible
that it looks exactly like it does in my dream? This is so eerie.
Maybe I’ve been here in a past life. I do believe in
reincarnation after all.
I bend down to pick one of the orange and yellow
lantana flowers and place it behind my ear. I can hear the
sound of leaves rustling to my right. Slowly I walk to the bush
and find a strange opening.
As soon as I enter through the canopy of trees, a
beautiful white German shepherd stands to face me. Its coat
glistens like the moon as her ears twitch forward and
backward—listening for her owner all the while focusing on
me. The dog crouches in a protective stance—watching me
warily as her tail twitches from side to side.
I begin to move forward without hesitation. She
watches me approach then trots away—disappearing into
another lagoon. I follow her—sweeping away vines and leaves
from my face as I enter another hidden lagoon. The bright sun
shining through the trees blinds me for a second.
When my eyes regain their sight I can feel a knot
forming in my throat as the sound of the rainforest disappears
against the pounding of my heart.
[Type text]
The beautiful white dog sits next to a man facing the
waterfall—his back tensed. The shepherd watches me with her
wolf-like eyes frozen on my face.
It’s him. I can feel my heart pounding faster. What do I
do? My mouth goes dry and for a second I worry that I am
going to lose it and break down into tears. I rarely ever cry, but
for some reason I feel overwhelmed with happiness—a feeling
of relief that he actually exists, and I’m not losing my mind.
The shepherd softly whimpers.
“Hush, Iah, everything is going to be alright,” the man
says. My heart stops at the sound of his voice.
Slowly he turns to face me. Flashes of my dream cloud
my vision, mixing with reality. The beat of my heart grows
louder in my ears—oxygen fills my lungs in short rapid bursts.
My body begins to react to him, just like my dream.
When his deep green eyes lock onto mine a rush of a
hundred emotions blanket me. I walk toward him,
unblinking—hypnotized.
His eyes pour deep into my soul—scanning desperately
for answers—answers that I need just as much as him.
Why does my head feel weird? A tingling sensation
spreads across my scalp.
The wind whirls around us—gently bringing us closer
to each other. Tears begin to form in my eyes—I close them to
keep from filling. What’s happening to me? The cool caress
of the wind fades, and is suddenly replaced with the warmth of
his hands. I open my eyes, but he’s still 50 feet away.
Impossible.
Space between us closes and I can feel his warmth
grow. Sweeping the hair from my face he traces his fingers
across my forehead, along the side of my jaw and down my
neck against the long line that scars my neck.
“Iah...” he whispers.
I open my eyes—locking them with his. His hands cup
my face and the soft tingling begins to flush from the left side
of my brain to the right—scanning, searching. A mixture of
confusion, fear and curiosity sweeps across his face.
“You’re back,” he says in disbelief.
[Type text]
“I’m back?”
He shakes his head. “I must be hallucinating…”
“But I don’t even know you, or have any memory of
you,” I say.
I watch the knot in his throat plunge.
“My name is Reid,” his eyes are glued to mine. “You
knew me as Re.”
My head spins while I dig deep into my memory. How
could I possibly forget about this man? He has the body of a
Greek statue with marble green eyes and jet black hair—like
mine. Only his is cut short enhancing the sharp contours of his
facial structure. I probe deeper into my memory. Still
nothing—just recent dreams.
“Why are you here?” I take a step away from him. It’s
hard to concentrate with him so close.
“I was waiting for someone,” he watches me carefully.
His handsome rugged features are intimidating. His
jaw is strong and his hair is disheveled, but gives him a
refreshingly boyish look, and the color in his eyes are soft—
balancing the intensity of the rest of his features.
Looking at a stranger never felt so…familiar.
“I’m Halima,” I say pulling the Lantana flower from
my ear. “If I once knew you as Re, who was I?”
“Iah,” the name flows from his lips like a poet in love.
He’s still looking at me like I’m a ghost or something.
“I was the dog?” I ask looking at the shepherd.
Reid bellows aloud—his laugh is contagious. “I
named her after you. Well, the old you.”
“Oh,” I join him in laughter. “It’s beautiful.”
“It means moon in the ancient Egyptian language,”
Reid says.
“And Re translates to God of the sun,” I smile looking
up at him. Reading countless books about ancient Egypt was
my passion in high school.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Reid stares down at me.
“It’s weird how it turned out that way. I was your
moon and you were my sun.”
[Type text]
“We’ve had this discussion before,” Reid says. “You
know what your explanation was?”
“What?” I ask—anticipating embarrassment.
“You said that we were born to love each other. That
without one, there is no balance,” he says. “That must be why
you’re here. You’ve come back to me.”
I can feel the blood rushing to my face.
Reid let a deep hearty laugh echo throughout the
lagoon. “Some things never change.”
“Why?” I look up confused.
“It was always difficult for you to hide your
embarrassment. Apparently it still is.”
“What do you mean when you say, the old me?”
“Well, I have reason to believe you carry Iah’s spirit
inside you,” Reid says.
So mom has been protecting me because the spirit
inside me screwed up in a past life. Great.
“How are you so sure?” I ask trying to laugh off the
gurgling feeling of dread welling in my stomach.
“I can feel it, the connection between us is too strong to
ignore,” Reid pauses. “Do you not feel internal balance now?
Like the weight on your spirit has been lifted?”
No matter how hard I try to fight it, I feel it and there’s
no denying it. Every time he looks at me a shot of adrenaline
swells my heart, and when he speaks I can’t help but close my
eyes to listen harder.
The feeling is so intense it’s almost surreal. I’ve never
felt this way, and it terrifies me.
“Yes, I feel it,” I answer cautiously. “Do I look like
her?”
My hand covers the long birthmark against my neck.
“You have some similarities like those beautiful blue
eyes and jet black hair,” he says as he takes my face in his
hands. Instead of flinching, I close my eyes in solace as his
skin burns passionately into mine. The rocks beneath my feet
begin to disappear—like we’re floating. His lips brush against
my forehead. I held my lips tightly together—afraid to open
my mouth in case the sound of my drumming heart escapes.
[Type text]
Why does he make me feel this way?
“Hali!” Cayce’s voice echoes. “Halima!”
[Type text]
Chapter 8
“Oh no, I have to go,” I fix my hair. “How long have I
been gone?”
“About thirty minutes,” Reid’s eyes dilate. “Is he a
friend?”
“He’s an overprotective brother.”
“Halima!” Cayce yells. I can hear anger building in his
voice.
“Haaali,” Zoe calls.
“I have to go.”
“May I see you again?” Reid asks.
“Sure,” I hesitantly answer. “Here?”
“No.”
“But how will you find me?”
“I just will,” Reid takes my hand. “Follow me.”
He leads me through a short cut to where Cayce and
Zoe are. They’re frantically asking the people in our party if
they’ve seen me. Cayce looks so scared. He’s going to kill me
and it’s only the first day.
“Thanks for…” I turn around, but he’s gone.
“There she is!” Cayce yells. “Zoe, she’s over here!”
“Where the hell were you?” Zoe asks through ragged
breaths.
“I told you guys I was going to be right around here,” I
say innocently.
“Why did you take so long to respond?” Cayce asks.
“Couldn’t hear you,” I shrug and casually scan the area
for any sign of Reid.
“The group is gathering again,” Cayce pulls me toward
the others. “Let’s go.”
[Type text]
Cayce holds me by the arm for two miles. I guess I’d
feel overprotective too if I had a younger sibling to look after
in a foreign country. He and I used to fight a lot when we were
little, but as soon as I turned fourteen the fighting stopped. I
realized that the aftermath of yelling at someone you love or
care about isn’t worth the stress.
The idea that went through my head was this…
What if the last thing I said to someone was, “I hate
you,” and they died the next day? I mean, the idea is a little
over the top, but it could happen, and I can’t imagine how
crappy I’d feel—a heap of regret would weigh on my shoulders
for the rest of my life. So, I just choose to get into arguments
when it’s absolutely necessary, and make an effort never to say
anything I’d regret.
Pretty much everything can be solved with logic—
people who scream or yell are using loudness to
overcompensate for their inability to prove their argument, and
it makes them look crazy.
I look up at Cayce and smile because the only time he
yells is when he can’t find me.
“What?” Cayce looks down at me.
“Nothing,” I say. “What do you want to do tonight?”
“Let’s go to the Suka Bar,” Zoe says with excitement.
“The drinking age is eighteen here!”
“Yeah!” I say. “Can we?”
“Yeah, as long as you promise not to pull any more
disappearing stunts,” Cayce growls.
“Promise!”
“Alright,” Cayce sighs. “I can use a beer anyway.”
Thank God, Cayce isn’t a prude. He’s definitely
protective, but lets me have fun. Knowing that I don’t drink
sets him at ease most of the time, so he never gave me crap for
going to the very few parties I did attend.
“Let’s get wasted!” Zoe hops on my back.
“Let’s not,” I catch her. “We make fun of those girls
who are puking on the side of the street, with their makeup
looking like the Joker applied it for them.”
[Type text]
“True,” Zoe laughs. “Alright, just a little buzz then.
We have to look cute for all the local boys anyway.”
“Yeah, I guess.” The only local I want to impress is
Reid, and I feel stupid for it because I barely know him.
“I’m just saying Hali, all we do is study and read,” Zoe
says. “Being mature doesn’t exclude playfulness.”
“True,” I say. “But I don’t drink, remember?”
“Yeah, lame,” Zoe rolls her eyes. “I highly doubt
you’re allergic to alcohol.”
“You want me to drink to prove it to you?” I
defensively say. “I’ll be in the hospital for the rest of the trip
because of you.”
“Hali is an old soul trapped in a young body,” Cayce
says. “She always has been. There’s nothing wrong with
that.”
“I am too! In a hot body,” Zoe winks at Cayce.
“You wish, Oompa Loompa,” Cayce booms with
laughter.
There they go again. I zone them out and think about
what Cayce just said. Is there really an old soul inside me?
Reid seems to believe so, but I won’t be convinced until I have
proof. There are so many questions in my head that need
answers.
Meeting the man of my dreams—literally—was strange
to say the least. I mean, anyone would have walked away from
the moment he began talking about the rebirth of his ex-lover’s
spirit, but I stood there and listened to every word he said. It
didn’t even occur to me that he might have been an accomplice
to my death.
If the spirit inside me truly has returned there must be a
reason. And what the hell killed me in the first place? How
long has he been waiting for me? How did he know I was
going to come back?
I’m going to drive myself crazy if I don’t see him
soon…
We arrive at the hotel as the sun begins to set. My
stomach feels like it’s going to eat itself. The three of us
freshen up and get ready for dinner and drinks at Suka—it will
[Type text]
be the first bar experience for Zoe and I. This should be
interesting.
As we get ready for dinner I gather the courage to tell
Zoe about my meeting with Reid.
“Hey, I have to tell you something,” I say trying to talk
over the blow dryer.
“What?” Zoe yells. I walk over to the bathroom where
Zoe is drying her hair.
“Something happened today at Angel Falls,” I cover the
scar on my neck and look at Zoe. “I met mystery man.”
Zoe turns off the blow dryer and looks at me through
the mirror with wide eyes.
“Are you serious?”
I nod. “His name is Reid.”
“Wait a second, is that why you disappeared on us?”
Zoe asks as she turns around to face me. “How the hell did he
find you?”
“His dog, Iah found me,” I say. “She led me to him.”
“What’s going on?” Zoe asks scratching her head.
“Are you trapped in some sort of fantasy novel or something?”
“Let’s hope not,” I take a seat on the edge of the
bathtub.
“How are you not freaking out?” Zoe frowns. “Because
I’m freaking out…”
“Trust me, I am,” my hand smoothes the tangles in my
hair. “I just need to keep a level head until I figure out what’s
going on…”
“So what did he say to you?” Zoe asks as she digs
through her makeup bag.
“He said he felt me coming,” I say. “I think I was his
girlfriend or something in my past life.”
“His girlfriend…in a previous life?” Zoe asks dropping
her blush brush. I nod. “Remember that episode on Oprah
with the people who were hypnotized revealing their past
lives? Are you experiencing something similar?”
“Um, not really,” I watch Zoe fluff her cheeks with a
light pink blush. “I think hypnotism is the rookie way to find
out about past lives.”
[Type text]
“Okay expert, how else would you do it?” Zoe asks
sarcastically.
“Telepathy.”
“Telepathy?” Zoe arches her perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Really now Hali…”
“I’m serious,” I flatly say. I hate it when Zoe questions
me.
She bites the inside of her cheek and studies my
expression.
“Alright I’ll back you up on the possibility. It’s
actually not entirely farfetched,” Zoe leans against the sink and
faces me. “I did some research on telepathy a couple years
ago. It goes into the same category as mind reading or mind
probing. Pretty interesting stuff, but there isn’t any solid
evidence telepathy is possible. Humans don’t have the brain
capacity for telepathic communication.”
“Humans do, but they don’t know how to hone in on
it,” I say. “They don’t care to.”
“True, it takes too much effort,” Zoe shrugs. Then her
eyes suddenly light up. “If telepathy really is attainable we
should study up on it and practice. We’d be unstoppable.”
“Yeah, then the secret service would catch on and
capture us for experimentation,” I laugh.
“So what did he look like?” Zoe asks brushing on
mascara. That’s all she really ever needs—lucky girl looks like
a model.
“Let’s just say Aiden has some major competition,” I
say.
“Wow, that’s a pretty big deal,” Zoe says. “Hope I get
a glimpse of Aiden’s competition. What else happened?”
“He kissed my forehead,” I blush.
“You let him do what?” Zoe gasps. “What’s gotten into
you Hali? You barely hold hands with a guy that you’ve been
dating for a month.”
“I can’t help it, no matter how hard I try,” I hopelessly
reply. “Every part of me is drawn to him. It’s the weirdest
feeling.”
[Type text]
“Maybe he cast a spell on you,” Zoe says jokingly.
“Some voodoo shit.”
“At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
We make our way down to the lobby. Cayce is sitting
at the bar and being friendly with a googly eyed tourist. Poor
girl probably thinks he’s interested, but that’s just Cayce being
unknowingly charismatic and charming.
“Hey Cayce,” I say. “Who’s your friend?”
“Hey girls, this is Jailen,” he says cheerfully.
“Nice to meet you,” Zoe says smiling—nearly
laughing. I know she pities the girl too.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you ladies,” Jailen says with a
fake smile—eyeing Zoe and I from head to toe. She probably
feels threatened by us because she doesn’t know I’m Cayce’s
sister and Zoe might as well be too.
“Jailen was giving me some cool suggestions on places
to go,” Cayce says excitedly. “I’ve got a list of fun things to do
the rest of the week.”
“Nice,” I say looking at Jailen, who continues to give
me a fake smile. Her eyes keep falling to the long birthmark
on my neck.
“So what are you three up to tonight?” Jailen asks
Cayce. Jealousy washes over her face. She shoots Zoe a quick
look out of the corner of her eye, but Zoe isn’t paying
attention; an informational brochure lures her away from us.
“We’re going to Suka,” Cayce takes a sip from his beer.
“Oh! That sounds like so much fun! I love it there…”
I watch Jailen’s expression, waiting for Cayce to invite her to
come along, but he’s clueless and I start to feel a little
uncomfortable.
“Um, Cayce can we go? I’m starving,” I move away
from the bar. “Thanks for the leads Jailen, and it was nice
meeting you.”
“Yup,” Cayce downs the last of his beer, shakes
Jailen’s hand and grabs his coat. “It was very nice meeting
you.”
[Type text]
“Okay…wait, how long will you be staying? Did you
want to hang out again?” the girl asks, desperately trying to
keep Cayce’s focus on her.
“Oh sorry, I can’t,” Cayce says over his shoulder. “I
want to spend as much time with my sister as I can.”
I look back at the girl who is now looking at me in
shock. I’m sure she wished she was a little nicer. Girls
shouldn’t be so insecure—there’s no need. Intuitive people can
see straight through their façade. And this Jailen girl wonders
why she’s still single.
“Jailen wants to marry you Cayce,” I tease. “What’d
you say in twenty minutes that made her fall in love?”
“Nothing,” Cayce shrugs. “I was just being friendly.
Besides, she’s not my type—too much makeup.”
We arrive at the bar half past nine and the place is
packed. I guess it’s totally different from LA—people don’t
mess around here, they start the party early.
Instead of eating in the club we decide to try a little
place nearby so we can eat in peace. Cayce and I order
Pabellon con Baranda, Cachapa and Pavillion with no meat—
Zoe orders Hallaca. The food is unreal.
With our stomachs satisfied we head back to Suka—
which now has a line that wraps around the building. Cayce
slips the doorman a few bolívar fuerte and we walk right in.
“Damn, there were some good looking men waiting in
that line,” Zoe nudges me with a mischievous smile. “This
place is great.”
The bar is embellished in elaborate Moroccan décor—
with the dim lighting and candles, the club definitely gives off
a sexy vibe.
“Zoe what do you want to drink?” Cayce yells over the
music. “Hali I’ll get you a bottle of water.”
“I don’t know surprise me,” Zoe says as she pushes me
to the dance floor.
“Thanks!” I yell and wiggle my way to the center of the
crowd.
“Hey hot stuff,” a guy says grabbing my arm. “Name’s
Chuck, but you can call me Charms.”
[Type text]
“Yeah, okay…Charms,” I say sarcastically trying to
break free from his sweaty hands. “Please let go, you’re
hurting me.”
“Come ‘on, just be cool and dance with me,” he
persists.
“I’m sorry I can’t,” I say still trying to get away. “Let
go, you’re drunk!”
“Lighten up baby,” he says pressing his body up against
mine. The smell of alcohol fumes from his breath—I turn my
face away, desperately trying to get a glimpse of Cayce or Zoe.
I push him away, but he begins laughing hysterically and holds
me tighter.
“Let her go,” roars a man’s voice. The people around
us stop dancing and the douche bag releases me.
“You got a problem asshole?” Charms stumbles
backward—I begin to fall with him but someone catches me
and pulls me close. I look up to see my rescuer.
Reid!
I almost didn’t recognize him. The rage in his eyes
makes him look so different. It almost looks like
they’re…glowing.
“Are you okay?” Reid asks cupping my face in his
other hand. His voice softens and warmth temporarily returns
to his eyes. The people around us begin dancing again.
“Yeah,” I say dumbfound—my heart begins to race.
The pendant around his neck is…glowing. My eyes
strain in the darkness to get a better look. I can feel my heart
plunge and I take in a big gulp of air—it can’t be. My eyes
must be playing tricks on me.
His pendant looks like mine. But rather than a phoenix
encompassing the stone, a serpent-like creature encircles it.
“I asked you a question punk,” the obnoxious drunk
yells at Reid. Spit flies from his mouth as he slurs his words.
“You’re the problem,” Reid says coolly pulling me
behind him. He backs Charms into the corner of the club,
towering over him.
Reid’s eyes begin to glow even brighter. “Do you
really want to test me, human?”
[Type text]
“What the f…?” Charms stutters in disbelief. He holds
his hands up in surrender. “Dude, I didn’t know she was your
girl. Chill out.”
“Leave,” Reid demands. “Or you never will…”
“Whatever, freak,” Charms mumbles under his breath
on his way out. “Watch your back little girl. I always get what
I want.”
“How’s your arm,” Reid gently lifts my sleeve to see
the damage. “I’ll get to him later.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” he says with a smile. “You won’t have to
worry about him anymore.”
“Thanks for helping me…”
“There you are!” Cayce hands me a bottle of water.
“I’ve been looking for you for ten minutes. And where the hell
is Zoe?”
“She’s dancing with some guy in there somewhere. We
got separated,” I say pointing to the dance floor. Cayce looks
at me, then at Reid.
“Oh, sorry, this is Reid,” I say. “He’s um, he’s a…”
“I’m a tour guide here in Caracas during the spring
season,” Reid says shaking Cayce’s hand.
“That’s great! Nice to meet you,” Cayce says
excitedly. “Maybe you can show us around Venezuela this
week.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Reid says flashing me a
quick smile.
“Did you two meet just now?” Cayce asks me.
“Yeah, he saved me from a loser who was getting a
little rough,” I say disgustedly.
“Rough?” Cayce asks angrily. “What’d he do?”
I briefly explain what happened. Cayce looks at my
arm, furious.
“Don’t worry, he’ll get what’s coming to him,” Reid
assures Cayce.
“Thanks for looking out,” Cayce shakes Reid’s hand
again. “It’ll be nice having you around to help keep an eye on
Hali.”
[Type text]
“She seems like a handful,” Reid jokes.
“She is, along with her partner in crime, Zoe,” Cayce
says looking toward the dance floor.
“Some things never change,” Reid looks down at me.
What’s that supposed to mean?
“I’m the best Caracas has to offer. You’ll all be safe
for the rest of your trip,” he assures Cayce.
“Good man,” my brother says patting Reid on the back.
“I’m going to try and find Zoe before her drink gets warm,”
Cayce heads to the dance floor. “Please don’t wander off. The
temporary cell phones come tomorrow, so until then stay where
I can see you.”
“Okay,” I put a hand over my face.
“Did you hear what I said?” Cayce yells over the
blaring music.
“I said, okay! We’ll be out on the patio,” I yell back
laughing. “Common Reid, I don’t want us losing our voices.”
We make our way outside and sit at a beautifully ornate
table. Reid pulls out a chair for me.
“He is very protective,” Reid says. “He loves you very
much.”
“Cayce has always been that way,” I say tearing away
the label on my water bottle.
“I owe him.”
“For what?” I laugh.
“Keeping you safe and bringing you back to me.”
My fingers nervously fiddle with the label. I could feel
him looking at the scars on my face and neck, but I didn’t
move to hide them like I normally do.
His hand reaches toward mine and stops me from
fiddling with the water bottle.
I clear my voice. “How did you find me?”
“You found me,” he smiles.
I shake my head from left to right. “Angel Falls called
to me in my sleep. It was only recently that you appeared in
my dreams.”
“You’ve been dreaming of Angel Falls?”
“Yes, since…” I pause. “Well forever.”
[Type text]
Reid sits in front of me for a while with a hand on his
chin. My heart is pounding like I just took four shots of
espresso. What the hell is he thinking about?
“When I saw you at the water fall, you said you were
waiting for someone…”
His eyes narrow. “I was…”
“Was it me? Were you waiting for me?”
“Halima, I…” he runs his fingers through his hair.
“Honestly, I’m just as confused as you are.”
“Then why are you here?” I ask.
“I guess I was destined to be here,” Reid says. “I’m
almost positive Iah’s spirit is inside of you.”
“You really have no memory of me?” Reid asks.
I shake my head.
“Not even Clio or the Vamiens?”
My heart stops. “How do you know Clio? What are
Vamiens?”
“Because Clio was Iah’s mentor,” Reid says. “She was
the closest thing Iah had to a mother.”
Clio…mother…mentor?
Then it hit me. The impact of Reid’s comment nearly
knocks me unconscious. It can’t be a coincidence that he
knows Clio. There’s no way. She only exists in mom’s
dreams.
“Has Clio come to you?” Reid grabs me by the
shoulders. His hands burn through my shirt.
“No, just my mom,” I stammer. “Sending her messages
on how to keep me safe...and how to use crystals, pendants…”
“Then it is you! It’s really you! Reborn!” Reid scoops
me into his arms and swings me around.
“Ehem.”
The spinning came to an abrupt stop. I look over my
shoulder.
“Are we interrupting?” Zoe giggles.
“No! We were just…”
“Celebrating her becoming a Bruin!” Reid excitedly
shouts. “I’m a UCLA alum ya know!”
[Type text]
“Noooo waaaay!” Zoe shouts with just as much
enthusiasm.
How the hell does he know we go to UCLA? What in
the world are Vamiens?
“I’ll explain later,” Reid whispers in my ear then jogs
toward Zoe and Cayce. “Alright! Who wants a shot?”
[Type text]
Chapter 9
I follow the three to the patio bar.
“Man, I’m sweating like crazy,” Zoe says wiping her
brow with a cocktail napkin. She stops mid-wipe and stares at
Reid. “Are you a model?”
“Nope, just Reid the tour guide,” he smiles and holds
out his hand. “You must be Zoe.”
She freezes for a second—realizing that this is the man
in my dreams, but recovers quickly.
“Yes, Zoe Behr would be me! It’s nice to meet you,”
she says then looks at me—waiving her hand in front of my
face. “Hali, hey, snap out of it. What’s wrong with you?”
I can’t figure out why the urge to hold Reid in my arms
is so strong. It’s taking every bit of self control to keep my
distance. All I can think about is the warmth of his hands
touching mine earlier.
“Nothing,” I pull my attention away from Reid. “I’m
just a little tired.”
“Yeah, me too,” Zoe says unconvinced, catching
another glimpse of Reid. “But your friend kindly offered to
buy us a shot, so we’ll leave after this.”
“Sounds good,” I say. Reid looks at me with a worried
expression. “I’ve had too much excitement for one day.”
“Apparently,” Zoe smiles at me then turns toward Reid.
“So you’re a tour guide eh?”
“Yes, during the spring,” Reid says while Cayce works
on getting the bartender’s attention.
“So what do you do throughout the rest of the year?”
Zoe asks.
“Stop being so nosey,” Cayce turns and flicks Zoe’s
head.
[Type text]
“I’m a software architect,” Reid says with a smile.
“Started up a company in Japan a few years ago—now I have
offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and
Chicago.”
“But you come here every spring to be a tour guide?”
Cayce asks astounded. “Kudos to you bro. I can’t get away
from the office for more than a week.”
“The good thing about what I do is that it allows me to
work remotely, but this will be my last year as Caracas’
favorite tour guide,” Reid says. “My job here is done.”
“Interesting,” Zoe raises her pretty little eyebrow, and
looks at me from the corner of her green cat-like eyes.
Finally Cayce gets the attention of a female bartender
and Reid orders. The bartender is mesmerizing with her fast
and fluid movements. She pours four bottles into one glass all
at once, while removing each bottle in a specific order so the
desired recipe is carefully concocted, then stirs the drink and
adds a mint leaf for garnish—she does this to three glasses,
removing one of the bottles entirely for the fourth glass.
“Alright folks,” Reid says handing each of us a glass.
“This is a Cuba Libre.”
“Mmm,” Zoe purrs in delight. “It’s perfect! Thanks.”
“Very good,” Cayce approves.
I look at my drink and poke at the ice cubes with a
straw.
“I ordered yours special,” Reid smiles. “No rum.”
“Oh, thank you,” I blush and take a long sip. “It’s very
refreshing.”
“Glad you like it,” he chuckles.
“Why are you all red Hali?” Cayce asks worried.
Great. Thanks a lot Cayce—I can feel my face getting
hotter.
“Can we head back to the hotel?” Zoe asks trying to
hide her amusement. “I’m beat.”
Saved by the Behr.
“Reid it was a pleasure, thanks for looking out for Hali
tonight, I owe you one,” Cayce says shaking Reid’s hand.
[Type text]
“We’re staying at the Gran Melia Caracas Hotel. Feel free to
join us for breakfast around nine thirty if you can.”
“Thank you, look forward to it,” Reid says. “I’ll see
you tomorrow Zoe.”
“Countin’ on it!” Zoe smiles then turns to link arms
with Cayce.
I begin to follow Zoe and my brother but Reid catches
me gently by the arm. He turns me to face him.
“Are you upset with me?” Reid asks.
I stare at his chest until he tilts my face up to meet his.
Bright white teeth flash through an alluring grin. My heart
pounds as I focus on his mouth.
“Why would I be upset?”
“I don’t know, but I know you’re frustrated,” Reid
sighs. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“When?” I look up into his bright green eyes.
“When it’s safe,” he assures.
“Alright,” I say and turn to catch up with Cayce and
Zoe. “See you soon.”
“Goodnight Halima.”
[Type text]
Chapter 10
“So that was Reid?” Zoe says locking the door to our
room. She jumps on the bed excitedly. “Geez Hali.
Jackpot!”
“No,” I shake my head. “It’s not like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s different.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Zoe says as she jumps down
from the bed and unpacks her pajamas. “How did he find
you?”
“No clue.”
“Hm, that’s weird.”
“Did you feel anything?” I ask curiously.
“Well, he’s ridiculously handsome,” Zoe says with
amusement. “Almost not human.”
“What do you mean, not human?” I frown.
“Well I’ve never seen a man look so perfect,” Zoe
shrugs. “Have you?”
She’s right, I haven’t, but Aiden isn’t far from perfect
either. It’s a close call between him and Reid.
“Okay, besides the way he looks,” I say. “Feel any
weird vibes?”
“Nothing negative, if that’s what you’re wondering,”
Zoe says walking out of the bathroom. “I mean come on, your
overprotective brother invited him to breakfast.”
“True.”
“And our intuition is almost one hundred percent dead
on,” Zoe says. “But there’s definitely something different
about him—I can’t put my finger on it yet.”
Zoe’s eyes suddenly widen.
[Type text]
“I almost forgot, and I tried not to freak out when I saw
it, but did you see the pendent he was wearing around his
neck?” Zoe’s voice went up an octave.
“Yeah.”
“That’s all you have to say about it?” Zoe asks with
irritation. “How were you not flipping out? I was damn near
floored when I caught a glimpse of it.”
“Ugh, I can’t explain how I’m feeling right now Zoe!”
“Well try, because I don’t know what’s gotten into you
ever since Reid came into the picture,” Zoe frowns. “It’s like
half of you is here and the other half is stuck in la la land. Give
me something intellectual Hals.”
“I’m forcing myself to believe that everything that’s
happening is crazy! And push myself to not trust Reid
completely, because that’s what the old me would do!” I stand
up. “But in reality, the new me thinks everything is normal,
and that’s why I’m so confused. It’s almost like something
inside me knows all of this is supposed to happen—like my
body is just going with the flow. And it’s tripping me out!”
“Whoa, what do you mean the new you?” Zoe asks.
“I don’t know,” I slump down onto my bed. “I’ve just
been feeling a little different lately. It’s hard to explain.”
“I’m sorry,” Zoe puts her arm around me. “Look, we
can drop it if you don’t want to talk about it. But just know
that I don’t think you’re crazy.”
“Gee thanks.”
“One more question before I turn off the lights?” Zoe
asked nicely.
“Fine.”
“Where’d he get the ouroboros pendant?”
“Who knows,” I exhale. “But unlike mine, his pendant
glows.”
“Glows?”
“Yeah, like a firefly. I don’t expect you to believe me,
but that’s what I saw,” I pause. “What’s an ouroboros?”
“It’s the symbol of the serpent swallowing its tail,” Zoe
explains. “The serpent is believed to constantly re-create itself
and symbolizes eternal return.”
[Type text]
“Eternal return?” I raise an eyebrow. “Well, we won’t
be kept in the dark for long. He promised to tell me anything I
want to know.”
“When?”
“When it’s safe,” I mock Reid’s voice.
“You like him,” Zoe smiles. “A lot.”
“Please Zoe, I’ve known him for less than twenty four
hours.”
“Well, with the way he makes you blush,” Zoe laughs.
“You can’t hide it!”
“Go to bed,” I say pulling the covers over her face and
walk to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I take an extra long
shower hoping Zoe would be asleep by the time I get out.
Unfortunately she’s still awake when I get out—staring
blankly at the wall.
“What now?” I sigh.
“If you truly were his love in the last life…” Zoe begins
talking to herself. “And you’re eighteen now…”
Here it comes. I know what she’s thinking because the
same thing was going through my head in the shower.
“Hali—Reid looks like he’s Cayce’s age.”
“I know.”
“Are you thinking what I’m…”
“We’re dealing with an immortal,” I watch her pale
green eyes disappear behind dilated pupils. “Or something we
can’t even comprehend…”
“Alright, don’t freak out,” Zoe says as she slides off the
bed and starts pacing around the room. I sit and watch Zoe talk
to herself some more. “We might be jumping the gun here.
Even though it’s totally plausible, we can’t assume…”
“I think we’re both tired,” a chill runs up my spine.
“Why don’t we just sleep on it tonight and talk tomorrow?”
“Yeah, you’re right, this is too much to handle right
now,” Zoe looks pale. “We’ve had a long day and maybe that
Cuba Libre was stronger than I thought.”
“Definitely,” I agree. Reid needs to give me answers.
Fast.
“You good?” Zoe looks at me worried.
[Type text]
“Yeah, I just need to sleep.”
“Kay, goodnight girl.”
“Night,” I turn off the light and stare into the darkness.
[Type text]
Chapter 11
Subtle rays of the sun begin to stream through the
curtains—my mind wouldn’t let me rest. The red digital
numbers on the clock show 6:01 a.m.
I put on my glasses and quietly slide open the door to
the balcony—fresh air flows refreshingly against my skin.
I sit in a chair and tuck my legs to my chest—burying
my face in the folds of my arms. So many things are racing
through my head—it’s making me feel disoriented.
What if Reid really is an immortal? I don’t think it’s
everyday that people stop to think about what they would do if
they actually ever met one.
“Why me,” I whisper to myself.
“Because you have unfinished business,” a deep voice
breaks the silence. I jump in my chair nearly falling over—
when my eyes adjust to the light I see Reid standing close,
ready to catch me.
“How the hell did you get up here?” I look around in a
panic.
“You look…” Reid pauses. His green eyes scan me
ceaselessly from head to toe—I blush. “Terrible.”
Wow, I’ve never gotten that before—it’s refreshing but
totally embarrassing. Here I am in a tank top, sweats, tired
eyes, and crazy chic hair while he looks absolutely gorgeous.
“Yeah, thanks to you,” I say turning away, watching the
sunrise.
“Why can’t you sleep?” Reid asks moving so he could
see my face.
“Because my mind is running one hundred times faster
than usual,” I look up at him. He stares at me for a long
moment—I can feel him probing again.
“What are you doing?”
[Type text]
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie. I can feel you doing something weird to my
head, just like you did at the waterfall! And again, how did
you get up here?”
“Shh. Calm down. You’re going to wake up Zoe.”
“Why are you here Reid?”
“To protect you.”
“From what?”
“Not sure yet…let’s hope nothing,” he looks at me
intently for a moment, then directs his gaze to my neck. “What
happened?”
“I was born with them,” I say and lean over to pull up
my pajama pants to show him the birthmarks on my feet and
legs. “Did Iah have them too?”
“No,” Reid shakes his head, his tan skin suddenly
grows pale.
“Who gave you that?” he asks pointing to my pendant.
“My mother,” I say protectively clasping it in my hand.
“May I take a closer look?” he asks. Urgency fills his
voice. “Please?”
I remove my hand and lift my chin.
“That was Iah’s pendant…” he says in disbelief. “How
did your mom get it?”
“It was given to her,” I say. “Are you sure it’s the same
one?”
“Positive,” he nods. “See the tiny engraving of the
infinity symbol? Within the two loops are the letters R and E.
That’s my old name, you had it engraved on there after Clio
gave it to you.”
I look on the underside of the pendant and there to my
disbelief is the tiny engraving—barely visible to the naked eye.
“Clio visited me in a dream and asked me to send it to
some random PO Box address,” he says. “I didn’t want to part
with the only thing I had left of Iah, but Clio said it was
extremely important…”
He looks at me. “I had no idea it was meant for her
reborn spirit.”
[Type text]
I’m not going to lie. It’s getting more and more
difficult to keep cool.
“What are you?” I ask without hesitation.
“You already figured that out with Zoe last night,” he
leans against the rail.
I hide my face in the folds of my arms again. Blocking
him and the sun out. “This isn’t happening.”
“Next question.”
I could punch him for the amusement in his voice.
“You’re not human?” I keep my face hidden.
“Not really…” he says.
“You’re alien?”
“Kind of…”
“Immortal?”
“Yes, it comes with not being from this dimension…”
he says casually.
I take a deep breath in through my nose and slowly
breathe out to calm my nerves.
“I was born a Vamien,” Reid says.
I looked up in confusion. “Homosapien?”
“No, V-a-m-i-e-n,” Reid annunciates. “I don’t know
how you heard Homosapien.”
“Because I’ve never heard of a V-a-m-i-e-n!”
“Why do you keep yelling?” he asks patiently.
“Because you think this is all funny,” I whisper angrily.
“I’m sorry if that’s what you perceive,” Reid stiffens.
“It’s just that I’ve been so happy that you came back, so it’s
difficult for me not to smile around you.”
It sure doesn’t feel like I’ve returned from the dead.
Doesn’t he realize I’m not Iah, or is he in denial? Nonetheless,
all I care about are answers.
“What is a Vamien?”
His smile fades. He looks toward the sunrise with a
pained expression.
“Oh, sorry, let me enunciate,” sarcasm oscillates. “VA-M-I…”
[Type text]
“Vamiens are immortals who became outcasts to the
pure water drinkers, because they took to consuming food,
meat, blood…and.” He pauses.
“And?”
“Humans,” he says.
I laugh. “Sounds like an ordinary human diet to
me…besides the blood. Actually, I take that back, there are
people in Africa and other countries that drink blood from
many different…”
Suddenly mid sentence I realize what he just said.
Vamiens eat humans.
“Wait…you just said they eat humans,” I laugh
nervously.
“Exactly, a flawed and disgusting mortal diet that
consists of toxins,” Reid cuts me off.
“Nasty cannibals.”
“Why do humans eat cows, dolphins, dogs, rabbits,
turtles, monkeys…”
“Okay, I get your point,” I say. “Some would just
argue it’s more in-humane to eat a human because…”
“In-humane?” Reid laughs. “Because all humans are
good in the world? Humans are peaceful creatures that help
the well being of the planet and animals are the ones that are
polluting Earth? A human’s undying loyalty and love far
surpasses that of a dog?” Reid asks.
I look at him for a while. His distaste for the human
species is undeniable. “You’re right,” I say. “I’m sure humans
wouldn’t be eating or abusing a lot of animals if they were able
to speak.”
“That is exactly the reason why the Celestial Kama
Mana have maintained a Pure Water diet. Animals and plants
speak to them, just like we are speaking to each other now.”
Reid says.
I sit there taking it all in. Feeling like I was being
reprimanded for all the wrong doing and selfishness of humans.
Everything Reid is saying is true, humans are naturally
destructive because they are so oblivious to the things that are
truly important.
[Type text]
“So are Vamiens the reason why all the crap about
vampires exists?”
“Probably, because young reckless Vamiens are the
bastards who eat humans, and drink the blood for fun. They
make a game out of it,” Reid says. “They think that re-igniting
the ancient practice of consuming the human body will give
them the power that Vamiens once had.”
I shudder at the thought of it.
“But they stopped years ago, because it was making
them extremely sick.” Reid continues. “Probably because of
all the drugs, vaccines, and polluted food humans they eat.”
Now I’m really confused. “You said Vamiens started to
eat things instead of simply drinking Pure Water, and that’s
what made them the way they are now?”
He nods. “The polluted meat and blood from humans
and animals started to weaken the Vamiens. It was so bad that
many lost their immortality. Then after many years of
exhausting research, they’ve found something stronger.”
I gulp. “And what would that be?”
“Energy.”
I take a second to digest the concept of these things
feeding off energy. “So are you saying that they’re sucking
energy from the living?”
“Yes, they’ve learned to drain the energy from humans,
animals, plants, and so forth,” Reid continues. “And they’re
becoming stronger and stronger.”
“It was my job to prevent the unruly Vamiens from
draining humans to the point of death.” Reid continues. “They
have been for years now because humans have a difficult time
diagnosing the cause of death with energy drained victims.”
“Young Vamiens?”
“Yes, Vamiens age just like humans,” Reid calmly
explains. “They age until the body reaches its optimum state.
Each Vamien is different so one may age until they’re 25 and
another may age until 30.”
“So it’s your job to keep these teen Vamiens in
check?”
[Type text]
“Yes, to put it simply, immortal entities or spirits called
Kama Mana traveled through dimensions billions of years ago
and got stuck on Earth,” Reid pauses to make sure I’m
following.
“Okay.”
“When the Kama Mana began to take physical form,
they thrived on water so pure on Earth, it was mythologized by
ancient people as giving immortality or youth. Back then,
water was so pure on this planet that it’s unfathomable now.”
“What made Pure Water different from water today?” I
ask.
“The water was charged with a form of energy that
naturally doesn’t exist anymore. In order to create Pure Water
now, there are certain steps an immortal must follow in the
purification process,” Reid explains. “Basically the Kama
Mana were able to extract the energy from Pure Water to
enhance their ability to produce an ideal physical form to roam
the Earth.”
“So, humans were pretty much created from water?” I
ask.
“With the help of the Kama Mana,” Reid says.
“Wow,” I look out onto the ocean from the balcony.
“Go on.”
“When some of the Kama Mana began experimenting
with the quote-on-quote, forbidden fruits, like eating plants and
meat, that’s when things started getting bad,” Reid says. “They
began to believe meat was giving them strength and power like
many of the carnivorous animals that roam the Earth.”
“But?”
“But it was making them weaker because they began
losing the ability to travel through dimensions. The more they
experimented, the more and more their spirit took physical
shape.”
“And that’s how they got trapped on Earth…” I whisper
to myself.
“Yeah, pretty dumb, right?” Reid shakes his head.
“Humans assume that aliens are all knowing, but they’re just as
curious. Well, some of them.”
[Type text]
“Oh my God…”
“So the Kama Mana who decided to take the
carnivorous path were nicknamed Vamiens, and formed an
enormous empire. As thousands of years of inbreeding took
place, the younger generations completely lost touch with
where they came from,” Reid says. “They have no idea what
they used to be—thus different religions and cultures were
created to give a sense of origin. We call these lost souls,
humans.”
“Now, the Vamiens are extremely selective on which
humans they choose to give immortality. Those chosen are
mostly humans that will make the Vamiens a lot of money and
give them control to whatever it is they need,” Reid continues.
“All the Vamiens care about is power and knowledge.”
“Are you saying humans were all once aliens…I mean
Vamiens?”
“Yes, except Iah. She maintained the strict Pure Water
diet of a Kama Mana. So technically you’re still…”
“…Alien?” I ask, but quickly rephrase. “I mean,
Celestial?”
“Well, you have the spirit of a Celestial, but you’re still
a human at this time,” Reid moves closer to me. “Evolution
and adaptation is the most interesting thing to observe. Rebirth
on the other hand, isn’t something I’ve witnessed until now.”
“This is too much…” my blood pressure begins to rise.
The shock of everything Reid is telling me is overwhelming.
“Who were you to Iah?”
“I was her best friend and lover,” Reid’s voice softens.
“She was my wife…”
Everything is beginning to make sense. “I
feel…dizzy.”
“You need sleep…” I could barely hear Reid. And in
an instant he’s gone.
The sunrise vanishes and darkness consumes me.
[Type text]
[Type text]
About the Author
Never underestimate your power. You may be human,
but the power of the spirit inside you has the limitless potential
in becoming the greatest there ever was. Never let a minute
pass where you feel it is wasted. Go and do things that will
help change the world. Even if it’s paying for a $2 cup of
coffee for the person behind you or smiling at everyone you
pass (and smile like you mean it). It might save someone.
Positivity is highly contagious and totally addicting.
I cannot thank you enough for reading, Beryllium.
Emails, book reviews, and words of encouragement have
blanketed me with a happiness that I need 1000 words to
describe.
The power of giving and lending is undeniable. If
you’ve finished reading a hard copy of Beryllium, lend it to
your friend and have them do the same. There’s nothing more
depressing than books collecting dust.
[Type text]
Note: The complete novel can be purchased on
Amazon and iTunes. I look forward to reading your reviews!
[Type text]