Heaven's Children (Earth Totem)

A sudden breeze parted the flowers, creating the illusion of someone running in the direction of mountains. His first thought was of Nevaeh.

Jin, c’mon, is Nevaeh here? Is that why you brought me? Is she okay? Worry sweeps through him making him draw in his breath. He looks at the flowers again, someone is definitely walking towards him and this time, he doesn’t have to wait too long.

Hawk, you are not finished…you have to fetch her. Hearing Jin’s voice surprised and comforted him. Just knowing that he was close, made him feel stronger. He focused on the parted flowers in front of him, imagining his friend. This time, he spoke.

‘Jin, I don’t know what to do, help me.’ Hawk knelt closing his eyes. He was fighting for her life.

I can’t lose her

Open your eyes, Hawk..

Aponi stood in front of him, smiling, creating an emotion that flooded through him with such an intensity, he wanted to cry. Questions, he had so many questions. Aponi touched his hand.

‘Hawk, she is living in perfection, a place so difficult to leave.’

She stared into his eyes, cupping her hands, reminding him of the cocoon.

‘Only your love will bring her back.’ Her hazel eyes became serious. ‘To save her, you must sacrifice, to keep the balance.’

He stared at her blankly until she unclasped her hands again. Inside were golden scales, and he thought of Quinqui. He gasped, they weren’t empty, lying on one side was the image of Nevaeh, and the other the round shape of Gaia herself. He looked back at her in confusion, she seemed in balance. Aponi shook her head.

‘She is now, but if you want her back, you have to keep the balance, you have to give something back to Gaia.

‘What?’ he whispered, almost sorry that she closed her hands again. Her eyes were serious, and she gave him a look, he had never seen before and he felt fear take hold.

‘Only a true born child of Heaven can replace her.’

He listened as Aponi explained and the pain felt as physical as knife wound. Goddess Gaia, give me the strength, he thought centreing himself. He breathed in the warrior spirit of the Hawk, preparing for an immortal battle.

38

Butterfly

I see her now. She’s sitting with her back to me, in the long grass. On her head is posy of bluebells. I look around, she’s alone and I know I don’t have much time.

‘Nevaeh…’

‘Hawk?’

How did you get here? I can’t believe it,’ Nevaeh gasps. Hawk feels his entire being tremble but remembers the scales and grabs her shoulder. He was determined to make her see sense.

‘Hey!’ She cries out trying to scramble away. He pulls her to him, and kisses her hard.

When she pulls away, Nevaeh, looks at him in shock. His jaw is clenched, and the softness of his eyes have disappeared. They are hard, and in that kiss, she see’s their lives together, her parents, and little sister and feels the agony at the separation. His strong arms surround her, whispering gentle words in his ancestor’s tongue. Part of her, the human part, almost crumbles – she misses him. Angered by these feelings, she tries o pull away, but Hawk won’t let her.

‘I don’t want to be human again. I’m not like you, can’t you see that?’ She feels his arms relax and pushes him away, separating herself from him. He watches the way she looks longingly at the garden.

In there, she felt safe, in there, she belonged. She regretted sending the vase of flowers and the butterfly. She just wanted to say goodbye. She wanted to be with Mika. He had shown her how to watch humans, to see beyond the mist. Her corpse wasn’t real anymore, not for her. She steps further away, holding her hands out in warning.

‘Stay where you are, I’m not coming with you, you can’t make me.’ Her face pouts and Hawk narrowed his eyes.

‘This isn’t a game Nevaeh. We are out of sequence with you, you need to come home. So much has happened.’ He added. Hawk watched the way she hesitated.

‘Home?’ Her voice is soft and he shivers, feeling her very essence brush over him - something wasn’t right. Desperation fed his anxiety. She was sounding vague, distant and he knew then that it was only a matter of time before she had forgotten everything from her human life.

‘Nevaeh, you might die.’ He adds.

Leaves scream round him, stinging his face and he finds himself turning in circles trying to face an unseen assailant.

‘Nevaeh, cannot die…she was never born.’ The voice is cold.

Hawk freezes. Mika.

‘Until you release her body, she will stay here. You are but a son of the totem; we are children of the gods – Heaven’s children. Hawk laughs, his breathing shallow.

‘You? A child of Heaven? Of Nirvana herself? You come from the depths of Khaos, go back below and leave her be.’