“Ok, this makes more sense. I followed the golden threads around you, Heather. This is amazing! But the risk of being found, if you do not shield your thread they will attack you.” Elina reminds them.
“When you found us, Elina, It was only because we allowed it,” Jake replies.
“Okay then, I need to think for a minute. This is too much. I came to ask for the help of one Keeper, and you’re telling me I have four?”
“No, you have eight. Scott, Seth, Jake, Makaio, Kale, Loe, Keahi, and Kale” Heather explains.
Elina is shocked silent. “Eight?” she whispers.
“We will be glad to help you, Elina, but first we need to know more,” Kale says quietly.
“Okay,” Elina thinks, let’s see if this will rattle them.
“I have to go to China, five hundred years into the past and save a little girl and her family from the demons. Then return the final pieces of the book to the Ketuwah and save my family from being destroyed. I can’t promise all of you will survive, or any of you for that matter. I can only promise that it will be dangerous and possibly deadly.”
Silence falls over the crowd, as they look at her in awe. Scott, is the first to speak, “Why does this little girl need saving? How does that affect the future?”
“She holds a pen that has power over the Fallen. If the Fallen get to her first, then they will release hell on Earth.” Elina smiles as they all fall silent again.
“I will not need all of you, just a few. I need to find the pen and save the girl,” she explains.
“Why not simply go and move her now? What are you waiting for?” Seth questions.
“Moving through time is tricky and changing the past can vastly affect the future. So, I try not to change too much. Only the things I know for certain that must be changed. In two days I will leave and it will not be easy, but I am sure that with the combined power of the Keepers we can protect them.”
“I’m with you, Elina,” Jake replies.
Seth looks at Heather as she speaks, “We are going with you too,” she replies. “No argument, Seth. A chance to visit the past and see history in action, are you kidding me? I’m in!”
Makaio replies, “I will be joining you as well. Kale you will stay and protect our family with your brother Keahi.”
“I will join you, Elina.” Loe responds.
Elina looks around at the determined faces lit by the glowing fire light, “Thank you. Thank you all.”
“Tomorrow we will celebrate life, because it is the one thing we are sure of. We must balance the good in our lives with the bad or the evil will win,” Leilani replies.
Hours later when the fire has burned down and the family sleep, he sneaks away to share the news he has discovered. Scott knows that wherever Elina goes, death follows. He will not lose his daughter as well as his wife.
The light of insanity glows in his eyes and his hatred for Elina can’t be contained. If she had stayed and protected them, his beloved wife would still be alive. She will pay by losing her family, and feel the pain of true loss, then we will see how mighty her God is!
Chapter 21
Elina rises early and the excitement of the morning flows through the house. She helps Heather dress in the strapless chiffon wedding gown. Heather leaves her hair down in chestnut waves around her shoulders. The ivory wedding gown is a fitted floor length A-line style dress with a small train. The silver beaded sash gives it a sense of understated elegance.
Elina is dressed in a similar style turquoise sundress with a rhinestone sash.
Leilani knocks softly and enters, stopping when she sees Heather. Tears fill her dark eyes, “You look stunning. I would like to give you this to wear, if you wish. It was a gift from Makaio on our wedding day.” She takes Heather’s hand and slides a diamond bangle on her wrist.
Heather smiles through her tears and hugs her soon to be mother in law.
“No more tears, today is for joy. We will take the little moments and savor them.” Leilani tells her, “I will see you on the beach.”
She leaves and Scott knocks on the door. He is speechless when he sees his daughter.
“Your mother would be so proud of you. Are you ready?” At her nod, he takes her arm and Elina follows helping with her train.
They wait on the path leading to the beach and Elina hurries ahead shocked by all they have accomplished.
Jake waits for Elina and smiles at her beauty. The beach is decorated with a beautiful arch covered in tropical flowers. The chairs are covered in white and tied with sashes that hold tropical flowers. The Kahuna Pule or Holy man waits with Seth and he sings a chant as he escorts Seth down the aisle to the music of a ukulele.
Leilani is escorted down the aisle by one of her sons to her husband’s side.
It is a small, intimate wedding and the sun is slowly rising, casting an amber glow on the sand. A soft breeze blows and Seth waits in a white suit for his bride. At his nod, the holy man blows the conch shell three times calling for her.
Heather comes escorted by her Father to the edge of the path. At her consent, he walks to his seat, leaving her to walk toward her future, alone.
The moment Seth sees her his smile fades and his eyes begin to glow
