*****
Darkest Dawn
Maya is standing and waiting for me by the russet garden gate when I make my way outside. The fog is so dense, I can only make out the shadowed outline of her hand as she raises it to call me closer.
Dusk is breaking over the ocean, which casts long shadows over the entire garden. Their cottage is nestled in the nape of the Minoan valley where the mist and shadows seem to cling to the ground and bushes with more force. This makes it very difficult for me see if anyone is watching us. Subconsciously, I shake my left leg to feel the comfort of my dagger in my boot. Buttoning up the top of my jacket, I turn to wave goodbye to Anaya. She bows and gently closes the door.
A gust of wind blows across the porch and the pottery wheel starts to turn by itself in its wake; a gentle, squeaking sound that merges beautifully with the ringing of the wind chimes hanging from the porch roof. It’s a haunting sound, one that sends a shiver over the skin of my arms. I shake it off and make my way through the overgrown path toward the gate.
Maya grabs onto my shoulder, places a foot on a wooden post and jumps the fence. I’m taller than her, so I don’t need help to scale it. We don’t use the rusty, old wooden gate on Saturday mornings, because it screeches something awful―and you never know who could be listening. The last thing we want to do is upset the chief. If he knew about Maya mingling with the city dwellers, Arriana, Kronan, and Anaya, would lose their place on the council, and it won’t matter that the sisters are two of the last Pures. To defy the chief, is to deny and shame our entire race.
“Would you come on?” she whispers to me.
I can hear her, but can’t see the expression on her face through the thick, gray haze. Not that I need to in order to know she is growing impatient with me. I bump into her as my mind starts to think up of ways I can tell her how I feel and wonder, if by telling her, I am being completely selfish of the position I will be putting her in with the chief. Can I really expect her to shun the treaty for me?
Maya links her arm in mine as we take the narrow cobbled path toward the village market. We hardly say anything to each other. I can almost feel her question, can hear her ask it―but she doesn’t, and I wonder why she keeps so silent.
“Maya,” I finally say.
“That’s what they call me.” She attempts to lighten the mood.
I pull on her to stop behind the huge boulders―which separate the village from the market place―hiding us from the wind and view of any Scouts for just a moment longer. “About earlier, when you found me snooping―”
“You don’t have to explain. I know.”
“You do?” my voice comes out as a shrill.
“I am not a total loser, Rion, I know my brother is up to something, I’ve known for a while now. Mom and Anaya suspect, too.” She stares at the ground. “Kronan has them so wrapped up in this prophecy thing that as Truthseekers, they have to let things go in order for the path to be revealed.”
“I guess so.”
“It’s stupid.”
“What is?”
“All of this. I don’t want to marry him.”
“Why are you telling me this Maya? You can’t say it―”
“What? Out loud? I am not scared of him, or anyone. I am a person with feelings and thoughts, with desires and dreams, and no old age tradition will take that away from me. Besides,” she straightens, lifting her chin in defiance, “Mom and I agree he is way too old, and far too ugly for the likes of me.”
Consumed with relief, all I can do is stare at her. The heavy feeling I experienced earlier has lifted from my chest. I am too happy to even speak, but I shouldn’t be. It’s bad to defy the council.
“You look confused.” Her hand comes up to cup my check.
Through the fabric of her gloves, I can feel the warmth of her palm on the cold skin of my face.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise.” Her eyes are big and adoring on mine. She turns and pulls me forward.
The wind howls past the boulders’ shelter, the gust wicked as it blows across the market place from the ocean, kicking up dust and forest debris.
“We have to hurry, or I’m going to be late for the finals.”
We start jogging, but the end of the cove wall hits us too soon. Looming before us is a narrow path leading to the bridge that crosses over into Vista’s border. The forest sings and branches bend back in protest.
“Please don’t go today!” I blurt out and pull her into my arms.
“Rion, please, what’s going on with you? You’re all weird and stuff…”
“Just don’t go today. Please, for me?” And I hope dearly she doesn’t decline, because it will crush my heart to be rejected by her.
Maya looks to the bridge and then back up at me. “I have to go today.” Her hands rest on my chest as she lets out a deep, mournful sigh.
“You feel it, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t, Rion.” She pushes me away, adjusts the strap of her bag and starts to take off toward the bridge.
I step onto the bridge; it’s the furthest step I’ve taken out of the village. I stare at my feet and back up at her.
“You know nothing will actually happen to you if you do cross over?”
I take another step; the bridge sways under my weight, my stomach feels hollow and sick as I take another step, and then another. “Please talk to me.”
She turns to me, then looks back over the bridge into the forest. “Everyone can feel that today is the day, but I can’t, Rion. I can’t feel anything. All I know is that today I will find her and it won’t be through my own choice, but something I will do because that is what is expected of me.”
I clear my throat. “You never told me that.” My eyes search hers.
“I have to go.”
“Tell me.”
Maya just stares at me, her brows furrowed.
“Tell me why you can’t feel it―”
She doesn’t give me a chance to finish.
“I am not like Mom, or Anaya, not anything like Kronan, either.”
“Sure you are.”
“No, Rion, I am not. I’m not Minoan, my parents didn’t abandon me in the caves.”
“What are you saying?”
“You know what I am saying. You must have realized I don’t look anything close to Minoan.”
“So you’re a little shorter than the rest of us.”
She sighs. “I am very, very short, shorter than any Minoan. And my dark complexion―its fake, cosmetics, chemicals I rub on my body every night to hide my pale skin. My hair is dark but not dark enough, so Mom gives me this poison that makes it grow out black.”
“I am sorry.”
“Don’t be, it keeps me safe from preying eyes.”
“So, are you Kronan’s kid?”
“Do I look like the kid of a warlock?”
I shake my head. “You were tested for that.”
“Well, now you have your answer.”
“So, where did you come from?”
“I have my suspicions, but they’re mine to have.”
“I understand.”
“I have to go, okay? I’ll be back later.” She smiles, walks over to me, stands on her tippy toes and kisses my cheek. “It’s okay if you’ve changed your mind about me.”
“No.”
“Gotta go!” She takes off, so fast, that in the space of a few seconds the forest’s shadows swallow her whole.
The kiss blindsided me to such an extent, all I could get out was a no? Urgh. I hit myself on the head. I meant to say, “No, it does not change how I feel about you. I love you more for telling me.”
“I’ll be right here when you get back!” I shout into the darkness.