Chapter 33
“The island’s essence wanes. You have arrived just in time.” My skin prickled again at her ominous tone sounding in my mind. The other two were still quiet. I assumed the one speaking held some sort of status. I had no clue what she was talking about, but I knew these sprites were my ticket onto the island, so I was willing to say or do anything to ensure that happened. I tried to focus on the reason I was here; Kira. I needed to find her.
“I need to find Kira. She’s in trouble,” I told them.
“As you wish.” Face to face with me, I could see how magnificent she really was. Her entire body sparkled from the sunlight streaming through the water above. Her skin was almost translucent, shimmering lightly. She touched my shoulder and the world turned to a blur. As the water rushed by me the only thing I could see were her sparkling eyes full of exuberance. In less than thirty seconds, the world was still again. She nodded her head at me respectfully and smiled widely.
“Welcome to the Fortunate Isle , Anastasia.” Before I could ask her how she knew my name, she disappeared and I was alone. I kicked to the surface. The sprite had taken me to some kind of cave. I pulled myself up onto a smooth ledge and looked around. I wasn’t claustrophobic, but if I stayed in that dark, menacing cave much longer, I would be. I sensed I was actually beneath the island. Jagged stalagmites hung above and more water trickled down the walls. The eerie echo of my every move sent chills down my spine. I searched for an exit, but had trouble seeing anything distinct in the low light. Hidden in the shadows, I saw a small tunnel tall enough for me to walk through. I crept along slowly, expecting vampire bats or giant rats to eat me alive at any moment. Thankfully, the only thing I heard was my own ragged breathing as I stumbled through the thick blackness. After about twenty yards of steady incline, a ray of sunlight up ahead had me picking up my pace.
I emerged from the tunnel and my senses were immediately assaulted by a litany of sights, smells, and sounds. I was suddenly soaked in the sun’s rays, warming my skin and drying my wet shorts and tank top. The smell of mangos and oranges cleared my head and I took a deep breath, cherishing their fruity aroma. I was standing at the edge of the forest, facing the beach. Just like in the ocean, everything had a surreal quality to it, each color more vivid then the last, the flowers and trees appeared to be dotted with diamonds, and the water itself felt magical. A collage of blues swirled and crashed toward the beach.
As I stepped onto the sand, a low hum began flowing through my veins. It increased with each step and became so overwhelming I had to sit down and close my eyes. It was similar to the sensation I got from the dolphins, but much more intense. Remembering how I had blocked it out on the boat, I focused my attention on my own thoughts, my own feelings and slowly the humming fizzled, slowing my heartbeat and allowing me to think clearly again. I slowly ran my hands over the velvety, white sand beneath me. The lagoon from my vision stretched out in front of me. The same white beaches and lush forest circled it, all of it preserved by the jagged mountains protecting the island. I could feel the wind blowing through my hair and the sun bronzing my skin. There was a distinct vibration of energy flowing through everything, connecting it all together. I knew from the lightness that filled my heart, the same energy flowed through me. I was just as much a part of the island as the trees growing from its soil.
Across the lagoon, I could just make out the small wooden canoe, which told me I was on the wrong side of the island. I decided the best course of action would be to find the little-big house because I knew for a fact Isadora would bring Kira there at some point. I just hoped I wouldn’t be too late. Unfortunately, I had a long way to go if I was going to make it there before dark. I skirted the forest, hiding in its shadows as I walked. After several hours, my stomach began to growl and my throat became parched. Thankfully, there was more food growing on the island than one person could ever eat. Glimpsing over my shoulder every few seconds to memorize my path, I maneuvered through the forest looking for fruits or berries. I could immediately tell something was wrong. Not only did I not hear any birds, but most of the flowers had shriveled and several trees were dying; their branches bare. An all consuming sadness weighed on my heart and I walked farther and farther looking for food. Finally, I came upon an orange tree. Plucking several ripe oranges, I peeled them and devoured their sweetness in minutes. The tangy juice soothed my dry throat and gave me much needed energy.
I sat down on a flat, sturdy stone while I ate and rested my legs. That’s when I noticed it wasn’t just one stone. It extended out on both sides. A wall. Almost completely covered with thick green moss, it was made of sandstone and only stood about four feet tall. I abandoned the oranges and followed it through the forest, dodging low hanging trees and overgrown sage bushes. I recognized the trees as willows; their cascading branches hanging down gracefully and silently blowing in the wind. The tiny leaves tickled my skin as I parted its curtain, making my way through. The wall brought me to a large iron gate rusted by time and weather. It, too, had succumbed to the dense forest. It was covered in thick vines that coiled tightly around its intricate patterns. Past the gate was a rolling meadow of yellow, purple and blue wildflowers. I was inspecting the gate for a lock when I saw something that would change my life forever.
Amongst the twists and turns of the iron was a small upside down triangle, with one spiral extending from each corner. I had only seen one other design like that…my trace. Was it just a coincidence? The voice in the back of my head was telling me what I already knew. No; this wasn’t a coincidence. Utterly stunned, I forced my body to move. I stepped closer, tracing the spirals with my fingers, just as I’d done so many times to the ones decorating my left wrist. A searing heat beneath my fingers made me pull my hand away and I watched as the iron design actually started to glow. My trace burned too, and began pulsing with a light blue color. Astonished by this turn of events, I definitely wasn’t expecting what happened next. A bolt of lightning struck the middle of the meadow and I automatically dropped to my knees, covering my head. I didn’t hear any accompanying thunder, so I peeked through my hands but didn’t see anything amiss. Hoping I was just hallucinating, I stood slowly and cautiously glanced around. Time stopped along with my pounding heart when my eyes scanned the meadow. Or what used to be the meadow.
A majestic, sprawling estate had appeared out of nowhere; the meadow replaced with gardens and acres of Bermuda grass. The manor itself was constructed of sandstone and just like the wall, was aged and worn by the elements. It could have belonged in medieval England with its high walls and regal turrets. Although the house was absolutely magnificent, the overgrown gardens and wilted trees dampened its grandeur. It was obvious that the estate had lost its owners, and along with them, maintenance of the grounds. I felt like I was seeing an empty shell; the forgotten leftovers of a once prosperous and glorious paradise hidden beneath the imposing dark green mangrove trees. Something tickled at my memory. The third stanza of Nicolet’s poem.
I tentatively pushed the gate open, which gave way easily leading to a worn stone path. As I stepped onto the grounds, the humming vibration returned to my veins and waves of energy pulsed through me. It was exhilarating! Instead of fighting it, I closed my eyes and welcomed the thrumming sensation coursing through every fiber of my body. Eventually, it centered in my chest, swirling and leaving me breathless. I felt a warming on my skin and realized I was still wearing the aquamarine necklace Finn had given me. The stone was very warm to the touch. Instead of the normal tingle, a warm glow spread from the pendant throughout my limbs, renewing my tired body and strengthening my weary mind. I closed my eyes and silently thanked him again for the necklace. Not just a gleaming stone, it must have some kind of healing quality.
I opened my eyes and tried to figure out what I was looking at. If this was the house of Thetis, then whose house did I see in my vision? Is this where they were keeping Kira? Either way I knew I had to find out. As I approached the rustic, wooden carriage doors of the manor entrance, they creaked open of their own accord. To say I was freaked out would be an understatement. I glanced around waiting for someone to appear, but the only thing that greeted me was the dank smell of the abandoned interior. I peered through the doorway into a dark, murky foyer full of dust and cobwebs. I took a step inside.
I started to take another step when a slight breeze blew across my arms, giving me chill bumps. The breeze swirled around the rest of my body, lifting my hair and tousling my clothes. It became so strong; I had to brace myself against the door frame. The second my hands touched the worn paint, a gale force wind blew into the house. If I hadn’t have been holding on, I would have been thrown across the room. It stopped abruptly and I regained my balance, brushing the hair out of my face. I glanced down at my clothes to make sure they were still intact, and then noticed the floor. My gaze shifted upward; my breath caught in my chest and my jaw dropped
