Today is Sunday, so Kenna's top priority today seems to be sleeping in! I tried to get her up this morning around six to go up to the volcano with me, and she wasn't too nice about telling me no. Maybe she just needs some sleep she really has been working hard. But something is bothering her, I don't know what, but something. When she came back yesterday from her trip with Julie something was weighing heavy on her mind, and I even tried our telepathy thing and I couldn't seem to break through and figure out what it is. More than anything I want Kenna to be happy, I would also really like her to move here, but I am not too sure that one is gonna happen. Well, it is almost nine, better head back down off this mountain and wake her sleepy butt up.
"Morning sleepy head, are you all rested now?"
"Absolutely, how was the volcano?"
"Great, you should have come with me though."
"Another time, shopping is exhausting, especially the way Julie shops."
"Oh I know, that is why it is great to have you here, when you weren't it would have been me following her around all day yesterday."
"So that is why you want me to stay, so you don't have to go shopping. I see how it is."
"Ha ha very funny, you know why I want you to move here."
"I know, I did have a good day with Julie yesterday though, she can be a ton of fun. I saw her watch yesterday too it is beautiful, she said it was passed down through her family?"
There it is again, is it something about Julie that is bothering Kenna? "Yeah, I guess it has been in her family for a couple hundred years or something, pretty cool huh?"
"That is cool; it would make our lives a lot simpler if what our family passed down was something we wore."
"No kidding, but our powers can be fun, you just have to practice with them."
"Yeah, and not get caught using them."
"Well true, people would lock us away and throw away the key if they knew what we could do, or science would experiment on us."
"That is the least of our worries."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you a little part about our family history. I didn't want to bring this up and worry you needlessly, but it really is something you need to know. Ever since our bloodline was created there has been a faction of people that want us dead. They think we are abominations and that no one should be able to do what we do."
She failed to mention there are people out there that want us dead, nice thing to leave out Kenna! "You are telling me someone is out to kill our family because of something that happened forever ago?"
"Yeah pretty much, Granny talked about it in her letters to me, and that is why she moved me so far away from everyone else. They wouldn't let her have you guys so she had to protect the one that she had. But they go by the name Restorers and they are all supposedly marked by a tattoo of the elements with an R in the middle of the tattoo."
"Seriously Kenna, you are starting to get way to into the movie side of this." This is it, this is what is bothering her, could it really be true, are there people out there trying to get us?
"Come on Aidan, do you honestly think I am making this up?"
"So anyone who has that elemental tattoo thing is someone we have to be careful of. Not let them know who we are kinda thing?"
"Yes but Aidan, I think it is best if no one ever knows who we are. You never know who the Restorers are and telling anyone could put us and that person in danger."
"Kenna, I know you are worried about us, and probably the others out there we haven't found yet, but I have been using my power for 8 years now, I think we are ok."
"But you haven't shown anyone but your parents what you can do have you? And even showing them puts them in danger, but that couldn't really be helped."
"True, if Julie and I get married someday like I am hoping we will I will tell her, I love her Kenna, and she really needs to know what she will be getting into." Surely she knows Julie can be trusted. Julie is a great person, she would never do anything to hurt anyone.
"Aidan I really don't think that is a good idea. I mean I know you love her, and she seems to really love you, but."
"Kenna you're scared I get that, but I know Julie, and she will be ok with this."
"You are probably right, but telling Julie can also put her in harm's way, do you really want to do that to her?"
"Kenna come on, we have lived for 25 years now and no one has tried to kill me yet, I am pretty sure we are pretty well hidden from them."
"You don't understand, you didn't read the letter and the fear it instilled in me Aidan, if these people ever find us I don't think there is anywhere far enough for us to run."
"Julie won't tell anyone, I trust her with my life. Do you trust me Kenna? Besides it isn't like I am going to ask her to marry me tomorrow. I figured a few more months before I pop that question. "
"I do trust you Aidan, just really think about it before you tell her ok?"
"Ok, ok, I will think on it, but if her and I ever get married I am not keeping that kind of secret from her."
"Fine, I can't stop you, but remember when you put yourself out there you are putting me out there too."
"Don't be so dramatic, everything is going to be fine. Besides today is gonna be a fun day, I found a great place for you to practice your water element, and no one is going to be around anywhere." Kenna is scared, I can understand that, all this has pretty much just been thrown at her, and with these Restorers out there after us as well she has even more reason to be scared. More and more I feel I need to protect her, she doesn't deserve to have this all thrown at her and have to deal with it by herself.
"Really, where?"
"Oh, I rented us a boat for the rest of the day, and I know a spot that I go fishing that no one ever seems to be around, so what do you say?"
"Well, since you already rented the boat I suppose I have to. Let's get some food together because you are not gonna starve me while we are out there."
"Aidan the ocean is truly beautiful!"
"It is nice today."
"Nice doesn't even begin to describe what this looks like, you are such a guy!"
"Well I would hope so."
"Ah, you know what I mean, I bet you think that volcano up there is beautiful."
"That is different Kenna, nothing will ever be as beautiful to me as fire."
"Ha, not even Julie!"
"Ok now you are asking for trouble, that is not what I meant."
"I know, but the way you feel about fire is the way I feel about water. Well it is also the way I feel about fire too and earth and I suppose air too, but I have never thought of air as beautiful."
"I would imagine that one would be kinda hard, but I get your point, and the ocean is b-e-a-utiful!"
"Ha-ha, where is your fishing spot anyway?
"Hold your horses we are almost there."
And within about five minutes we pulled into one of the most beautiful coves I have ever seen. "I lied, this place is unbelievable, there isn't words to describe it."
"Ya ya, I get it. Help me get the boat to shore and there is a cave with a pool in it we can hike to, that way we don't chance anyone seeing you."
"Ok."
It took a good fifteen minutes to get the boat tied off, and hike to the cave, but Aidan is right, it is perfect. We will know if someone is coming way before they even know we are here. "Nice find bud. This is great."
"I thought you might think so, I really can't help you with this part though, you have been doing really well with all your elements, but unless it is fire I am all thumbs and can't really help you."
"I know, but what are you going to do while I play with the water?"
"I have a research paper I need to write so I will just work on that." And with that he pulled his laptop out of his bag.
I really don't think it is a good idea to have your laptop in a salty old cave with sea water nearby, but who am I to complain I have water to make dance!
I have actually gotten pretty good at playing with the water, but I need to do things more complicated than cause ripples and little waves in the water. I think today I really will make the water dance again, just with a little more control. Like it does in my dream almost every night.
It took some time, and a ton of concentration, but once I got the water to dance it was easy, carefree even. Maybe that is what I need, to just let loose, and stop trying so hard to make sure everything is right.
I can still hear Aidan typing away on his computer, but it almost seems farther away than before, like it is almost a dream that I hear him at all. The water is almost pulling me to it as it dances, like it is trying to transfix me. Water has a very calming effect on me, this is simply beautiful.
Wait, is there something in the water dancing with it? I can't quite make it out. I am being drawn to it, it looks like a person, or the shadow of a person. "Who are you, why are you dancing in my water?"
"Your water child? You may be making it dance, but the water is not yours."
"Who are you?"
"To you, I am many things, to your family I am one of your Great Grandfathers with many many greats added on."
"What do you mean? I can't even really see you, I am just talking to a shadow. Can you come closer?"
"I may frighten you, are you sure?"
"I am, please come closer." As he came closer I could make out more water, like part of him is made of water, it flows continuously over him and reshapes him. Like he doesn't have a set form at all, "You do not seem to be frightened that is good."
"What are you? I don't get it, I don't understand."
"Of course you understand child. You are figuring it out no matter how much it may frighten you."
"You can't be, it is impossible."
"Child, you know it is possible, after everything you have discovered about yourself you think I am impossible?"
"Your him? Really?"
"I am him, I am the all powerful lord of water. The one who gifted you with part of your powers. But to make things easier you may call me Nereus."
"Nereus that is the name Halaina had in her journal."
"I have many names, but that is what you may call me as she did."
"Ok, um why are you here?"
"We admit it is unusual to do something like this, but we feel it is time."
"What do you me We?"
"Me and the others, the Lord of Fire, Wind and Earth. You are going to need our help child, and we have decided to give it."
"What on a whim? Why haven't you helped anyone before? Maybe I wouldn't need your help if you had stepped in and helped before!" Ok Kenna yelling at an elemental is probably not the greatest idea you have ever had.
"Remember who you speak to child, we do not do things on a whim, there is timing in everything we do! You do not question us!"
Yep, I was right, do not yell at Nereus! "I'm sorry."
"Having watched you I do not believe for one minute that you are sorry, and I would make you sorry but we don't have time for that. You must prepare yourself child, a battle is coming, and you must be ready for it."
"A battle? What do you mean a battle?"
"That is all we have for you now, but it is coming, and you must prepare. We will help where we can, but even the Elemental Lords have their boundaries."
"A battle with who?"
"You must find the others, you will need them for this."
"The others, you mean my brother and sisters?"
"Find them child, and as quickly as possible."
"Wait, where are you going, that's it? What am I suppose to do? Where will I find them? Hello? Wait." He's gone, what am I suppose to do now?
"Kenna, Kenna can you hear me?"
"Aidan?"
"Kenna? Oh my God, can you open your eyes?"
"What are you talking about, my eyes are open?"
"No they aren't Kenna, please open your eyes."
Well this is weird. How do I open my eyes when they are already open? I guess just sit down and close them. Maybe that will work.
"Oh my God Kenna! Are you ok?"
It worked, but what am I doing laying down with Aidan kneeling over me? "What's going on?"
"Maybe you could tell me that, you collapsed about ten minutes ago and I haven't been able to get you to wake up."
"Ten minutes ago, but I was just making water dance just a few seconds ago."
"Nope, that was about ten minutes ago, and it was dancing, but then something happened."
Aidan didn't see him, he didn't see any of it. Was it my imagination? Did I just get to caught up? "Aidan are you sure, you didn't see anyone else here with me?"
Awesome, now he thinks I have gone crazy. "Kenna there was no one else here, you just passed out. Are you ok?"
"I am fine," he didn't see any of it. But I am sure it was real, but why would I see him and Aidan wouldn't? "Really Aidan I am fine, must have been dreaming or something."
"Are you sure Kenna, I couldn't even get you to answer me telepathically, it's like you were just gone."
Just gone? What just happened to me? "I promise I am just fine Aidan, just must have gotten to transfixed by the water and fell asleep or something, and a deep sleep at that if you couldn't reach me, but that would explain my dreaming someone else was here with us."
He isn't sure whether to believe me or not, it is plainly written on his face. "Ok Kenna, but maybe we should head home now. You have done really well with the water today, and we don't need to push it now."
"Yeah lets head home, kinda an odd day so far."
We were both really quiet on the ride home. I know Aidan is worried about me, especially now, but I can't explain to him what happened. I don't even understand it myself. Aidan is a part of our family too, so why couldn't he see Nereus? Was I really gone? In another dimension or something? Uh this isn't making any since! And how soon do I need to find the rest of my family? Do I have a week, month, year, or years? Really if you are going to start appearing to me you could be a little more informative!
"Remember to whom you are yelling at child, we do not take kindly to that!"
"What the, how are you in my head? Can Aidan hear you?"
"Kenna we cannot be at your beck and call, and we will not answer all of your questions, but all four of us can easily if we choose communicate with you as we see fit."
"Great so you can just pop in whenever you damn well please, my life just got way better!"
"KENNA!"
"Sorry grandpa, forgot who I was talking to." Kenna you really have to cut back on the sarcasm with this guy, what are you thinking!
Oh my God he is laughing, he is actually laughing in my head, how is this possible? "Child you remind me of Halaina, she had your spirit."
"I remind you of my ancestor you supposedly fell in love with? Yippee for me, don't even think about getting the same idea with me!"
"Must I remind you we are already related, and I do love Halaina, she is a very amazing women."
"Don't you mean loved? She has been dead, well forever now."
"I do not live by your rules of life and death. But that does not matter. You are questioning everything, which is good, but it would seem that when I opened myself to be seen by you I also opened a channel for you to communicate back to me."
"Don't sound so happy about it."
"Believe me I am not, and every time you direct a question to me or a statement, I can hear it now."
Well that is just great, gonna keep that in check girl. "Ok, does that mean you will answer my question then?"
"Some of them, Aidan cannot see me because he is fire, I am water, you will be able to see the four of us if we choose to be seen by you."
"So Aidan could see the fire lord if the lord wanted Aidan to see him?"
"Correct. But Aidan is his business not mine."
"What do you mean his business?"
"As I said, Aidan is fire, he is Aedus' child not mine."
"Aedus? Is that his name?"
"One of many."
"Wait does that mean I am all of your guy's business?"
"Of course you are, you are our child."
"You and your sister are my children, she is the only sibling of yours that can see me, but only if I choose to let her."
"This is way too complicated. I think I want to be done now, can we be done?"
"Almost, we do not know how long you have to find the rest of your family. We just know the final battle is coming, but we don't know when, so the sooner you can find them the better."
"The final battle! What do you mean the final battle?"
"Our family and the Restorers have come to the end of their story together, one way or another this feud will end."
"But you don't know how or when?"
"Precisely, but work quickly child, the sooner you find the others the better off things will be."
"Wait a minute, can't you guys just take it back?"
"Take it back? Your gifts?"
"Yeah I mean you gave it to us, can't you take it away? Then the Restorers won't have any problems with us anymore, and poof war over!" Smart thinking Kenna, that would be perfect, then I won't have to deal with any of this crap and I can go back to being normal ole Kenna.
"Can we just take your arm? Or a leg, maybe you would like us to take one of your lungs."
"Well no, that would make life pretty difficult."
"These gifts are a part of you. They are a part of all that have our blood line. If we were to take them from you we wouldn't just be taking your gifts, we would be taking a part of your soul."
"Oh"
"They are a big part of who you are, we cannot take them without destroying you."
So much for that great idea. "So I just have to deal with things the way they are. Great, thanks for all the good news grandpa."
"Don't pout, it is unbecoming, find your family Kenna, you need them as much as they need you."
Just great, this is fricken awesome, as if I don't have enough to worry about already now we get to add this to the mix too! I am going to need all the strength I can get to deal with all this crap, Granny I really need you, why did you have to leave me?
"Kenna are you ok? You just got really sad."
How does he know that? "I am fine Aidan, just thinking about everything that has happened to me this year, it is a little overwhelming."
"I am sorry Kenna, things will get better, you will see. I am here with you now."
"Yes you are and I am very grateful for that."