Aya's POV
When we came around a bend in the walkway through the trees, there it was. The Ocean. The salty smelling breeze hit us head on and we loved it. So refreshing.. It was the most majestic thing I had even seen. Now don't get me wrong, I had seen the ocean before, just never close up like this. It's immense size frightened me. Best way overcome one's fears.. Confront them. So I did.
Walking through the sands, Diamon and me kicked off our sandals and stepped into the clear blue water. I watched as it covered my feet, smiling as my toes sank into the sand. "It's incredible!" I called out to her bending figure. Rising up she presented a soft white shell. "Yes, it is!" her voice filled with laughter. Suddenly she kicked her foot up spraying water all over me. With much mischief in mind, I gave chase.
We ran like a couple of kids. Splashing the water until we finally gave in and had a long relaxing swim. We rushed up onto shore and slipped back into our now dry kimonos. Diamon laid back off to my left and relaxed with the sun shining on her face. While I sat with my knees drawn up, staring off into the distance.
"Is there something wrong?" I turned my head and looked down at her noticing the creases in her brow. Offering up a small smile, I looked back at the beautiful ocean. "No. Just thinking." Evidently Diamon figured there was really something wrong.
She sat up and straightening her kimono, placed her hands on her knees, leaning forward. "Aya, don't do this to me. We are friends, and friends talk, they don't shut down. Come on.."
When I looked at her, I knew there was no getting around it. "Just something my mother used to say.. About having a destiny. Never mind, it doesn't really make sense.."
I could see the questions in her eyes as I turned toward her. "Please?" she asked as she tilted her head to the side.
Struggling with the few things my mother had said, and how to explain it all, I said it all in a bit of a rush. "Well, Enikil has been watching me since the day I was born. My mother used to say: "You have a power inside of you that is unique, Aya. The Gods will always be watching.. You will travel from ocean to ocean many times.. On your back, you carry the balance that will help us all. You must conquer your fears Aya, all of them. Or your fears will destroy us."
Letting the words sink in, I watched as many emotions crossed Diamon's sweet face. "Okay then.. Uh.. What do you fear right now?"
"Right now? Nothing that I can think of." looking down I reached out and touched the super softness of her kimono. Never having seen a material like it before. It was her red one with the cranes on it. "Diamon, where did you get this material?"
Blushing in embarrassment, she looked up and grinned. "Oh, I know I did a terrible job with embroidering the cranes.. They look kinda bad.. But the material I got across there." Lifting a slender arm, she pointed toward the horizon. Her brow raised as she looked at me. "Why? Is there a reason you ask this?"
Having paled slightly, I nodded. Taking her hands in mine, I smile brightly. "I think destiny is calling me.. As if on cue, I heard the voice of the old man in my head.
His voice had the tones of scattering gravel, and I loved to hear him talk. He helped me keep my sanity to a degree. ~Aya? I hope you don't mind, but I need to rest tonight. My old bones are too weary.~
Smiling softly I answered him back as if talking with an adopted parent. ~It is fine, my dear Good Father. Though, you will be missed. I do have some news though.. I will finally be coming to see you.~
I had to shut off part of my mind so I wouldn't feel the overwhelming exhaustion in him. ~Your destiny.. And mine too. Very well. Enjoy what's left of your day, sweet girl. Goodnight.~ His tone had changed at the end. He was thrilled. Too thrilled. It worried me. The connection of the mind-link was closed.
I was worried for him. He seemed to be getting more and more tired lately. Age considered, I still worried.
As soon as I could I had to make the trip and find him. There was an actual feeling similar to a physical pull. It had been there for many years.
We headed back toward her home just as the billions of stars came out. Talking the entire time. "I will have to leave here in a month or two, Diamon." The words just rush put quickly due to my wish not to upset her.
She stops and smiles as she talks to me. "You know, I'm going to miss our talks.. Like, can you please tell me what was wrong with Enikil? That was weird to say the least." I laughed softly as I shook my head. "Him? You don't know the half of it. Diamon, don't you know you're not supposed to 'touch' a God without their express permission?" Laughing, she squinches up her face at me, over her shoulder. "Well, I guess I do now.."
Cracking up with laugher, we both ran side by side back up up the path to her home.
I looked to Diamon and studied her. She was an extremely happy type of person. A bit of a smart ass, plus completely outrageous at times, but sweet, kind and caring too. That she was able to hold on to most of her emotions through the centuries amazed me.
As we slowed down and entered her hut, I followed her inside as she walked straight to the fire pit and got a fire going. Instead of sitting across from her as I usually did, I slowly lowered myself down on the mat next to her. When she turned her head to me and smiled, in that moment, be it instinct or what have you, I knew I could trust her with anything.
"If at all possible, we must stay in touch with one another through the years." Picking up the small silver knife next to the stones by the pit with a steady hand, I raised my arm and placed the sharp blade right above the veins in my arm. "Do you accept?" Her eyes went wide as comprehension hit.
"By the Gods.. A mind-link? Of course. I should have thought of that." I cut my skin to the veins allowing the blood to rise and drip off my arm. Then Diamon cut hers', with a hiss and she winced. Fangs elongated and gently pierced soft white flesh. Until this point in time, I had never tasted anything like her blood. It was thick and rich, tasting like vampire ambrosia with a touch of honey as it flowed down my throat. Carefully, I extracted my fangs from her arm just as she did same with me. Our eyes met and we knew each other's thoughts.
Not a word was spoken out loud that night.