Chapter Twenty Two – The Hike
It was easy enough to find a sporting good store. She used the credit card her parents had given to her for emergencies only to make her purchases. She also picked up a back pack and a few other supplies that she thought she might need. She filled it with a couple of bottles of water. The clerk asked her if she was going to do any hiking on a specific part of the island. He told her that the weather on the island was never predictable.
Grasiella didn’t share with him where her destination was. She wasn’t sure if he was someone who might know Kana’i. She told the clerk that she was going to check out Akaka Falls State Park. It was close enough to Hilo to be true.
Grasiella changed her shoes out in the car. ‘Rainbow Falls, what are you hiding?’ she wondered to herself.
Looking into the rear view mirror, she couldn’t help but notice that across the street was the Hawaiian Culture and Astronomy Education Center. The name on the building read ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i’. There was a red and black banner that read ‘mineral exhibit’.
Without realizing what she was doing, she was soon out of the car and heading towards the culture and astronomy center. As Grasiella entered the center, she was greeted by a Hawaiian girl dressed to go hula dancing. She said to Grasiella with a sweet smile on her face, “May the stars above lead you as they led the early Polynesians.”
She then handed Grasiella a pamphlet. ‘Where the lightning falls’ it read. It listed the times for the shows which were held in a one hundred twenty seat planetarium.
Checking the time on her cell phone, she saw that she would have time to make it into the showing. They had issued her a pair of 3D glasses as she walked into be seated. The moment she put them on, her eyes were greeted with another world. Grasiella heard the excited gasp from the lady next to her as the film began.
A voice began to speak from within the walls, ‘Twenty two years ago during a lightning storm, an asteroid fall to the earth.’
Lightning began to flash within the Planetarium. The voice continued, ‘The asteroid fell here on the Island in Mauna Loa. This wouldn’t have been any different from any other asteroid but for what was found wedged into the deep pockets of the asteroid.’ An asteroid was shown above the audience. ‘A mineral was found. A mineral thought to exist only on earth. The mineral is known as Painite. Painite is extremely rare. Only twenty four pieces have been found to exist on earth.’ The Painite on the film glowed red.
‘How strange,’ Grasiella thought as she looked at the image of the Painite. Thousands of years ago her relative’s enemy had implied that there was something ominous about the Painite stone. Now Mnemosyne was after it, and 22 years ago another piece had fallen from the sky. Could all these things be related?
‘The Painite disappeared a few days after it was discovered,’ the voice in the film continued. ‘It is a mystery that may remain forever unsolved.’
“Where is Pele hiding you and why does she want all the Painite stones for herself?” Grasiella wondered to herself. How many of these stones might she have? Grasiella was sure that it was Pele who was behind the disappearance. Grasiella was the first to leave the planetarium as the film came to an end. As she exited the Planetarium, she read an advertisement for a day trip to the Mauna Kea volcano. It read, ‘Come explore Hawaii’s most sacred Volcano, Mauna Kea.’
Kana’i found Grasiella gone from his club, as was his car. He had left her alone for a moment. He had been trying to avoid her. He knew she was anxious to get started. It was not like he could have told her his reasons for keeping her at the club. Pele was on a warpath. She had learned of Mnemosyne escape from the crystal. Pele wasn’t pleased and she blamed Grasiella, and Kana’i knew this would mean trouble for Grasiella if Pele found her before he did.
Kana’i took Inoa’s Jeep to find her. Inoa hadn’t been too happy to loan Kana’i his Jeep, but once he saw the look on his face, he knew nothing would keep Kana’i from taking the jeep to find Grasiella. The boy had it bad and that was obvious. He had told Kana’i of Trisha’s visit but Kana’i hadn’t seemed to care. He was to intent on finding Grasiella.
Kana’i drove right by the Planetarium. He was going straight to Rainbow Falls. He had lied to Grasiella when he told her that Pele kept her treasures at the falls. He had planned on taking her to Rainbow Falls and show her that it was empty, hoping that she would give up on her quest for the Painite. Pele would not give the Painite up easily.
She would not give it to Grasiella, especially after Grasiella let Mnemosyne escape. Kana’i had tried to talk Pele into giving him the Painite for safekeeping. Pele refused, saying that the Painite was only safe with her. She would not share with him why it was so important to Mnemosyne. He had no idea what she had planned to do with it if she were to ever possess it.
The skies above dropped heavy rain. The left rear tire blew out. Kana’i had to pull off the road. After checking for the spare, he found that there wasn’t one. He couldn’t get a signal on his cell phone. He would have to set out on foot. Grasiella wouldn’t be able to climb the falls in this weather. She might get stuck out there.
Grasiella had no idea that Kana’i past her on the road. She was concerned with the heavy rain. It made it difficult to see the road. She had to slow the car down to keep it steady. Fortunately for her, no one else seemed to be driving on the road. She kept her fingers crossed and hoped that she wouldn’t get pulled over.
There were orange lights flashing up ahead. The road had been blocked off. Kana’i’s car was not meant to be driven off road. She knew that if she tried it, the car might get disabled. Grasiella parked the car off to the side of road onto the shoulder.
It was wise of her to listen to the clerk and invest in a jacket. He did tell her that the weather on the island could be unpredictable, and it looked like he had been right. She swung the backpack over her shoulder, and with a quick look at her map, she set out on her trek.
To be on the safe side, Grasiella cast a charm creating what could be referred to as a navigation system. When Grasiella was assured that she could find her way up to the falls on her own, she set off.
The rain didn’t make it easy for Grasiella. She slipped several times on the way up to Rainbow Falls. The white shorts she wore were filthy.
Just as quickly as the heavy rain began, it stopped. Grasiella could hear birds as they called out to each other. Taking a drink of the water she brought along, she decided to give herself a break.
Soon she began the hike again. It didn’t take her long to hear the water from the falls.
When she reached the top, she knew why it had been called Rainbow Falls. A beautiful rainbow arched over the falls. The water moved powerfully as it fell into the large pool below.
As the water broke, she saw that a cave was tucked away behind the falls. She took another drink from her water bottle before securing it in her backpack.
Out of the pool of water emerged a young woman. Her hair was platinum. Her skin was very pale. As she approached, Grasiella saw that her eyes were silver in color. She had a sly smile on her face. The bushes rustled as birds flew out of their hiding places. Grasiella wished that she could escape as easily as they did. She was not looking forward to meeting the young woman who did not look at all friendly. Grasiella felt the air, ebb out in warning.
“Aloha,” the young woman called out a greeting to Grasiella. The woman’s eyes slowly inspected Grasiella, which made her feel uncomfortable. “What are you called?” the young woman asked, mildly interested.
“Grasiella,” she said cautiously.
“Only Grasiella?” The young woman now had a mischievous look on her face.
Grasiella shrugged her shoulder, “Grasiella Najera.”
The woman raised both hands and gestured to herself. She said, “You may call me, Hina.”
“Only Hina?” Grasiella asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, that would be my name,” the woman answered, i
gnoring Grasiella’s sarcasm. She held both hands out to Grasiella. “I was about to take a walk around the falls, will you join me?”
Grasiella nodded her head. Hina held her hand out to her so that she would take it. Without giving Grasiella a choice, she clasped her hand down over hers, bringing her close, “Do you know of me?” Hina asked.
Grasiella shook her head. The falls had grown quiet around them. Hina sniffed her nose on Grasiella, “You smell of Pele. Are you one of hers?”
“No.” she said warily, as she tried to take her hand out of Hina’s grasp.
Hina tighten her hand, “Then why do you smell of her?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I never met Pele.”
Easing her grip, “Maybe it’s the other one I smell on you.” Her face gave a disgruntled look. “Oh well. Here, let me put something on you so that you may at least smell better.”
Hina reached to take a flower from the blue jade vines that grew nearby. Placing one of them in Grasiella’s hair she said, “There, now that is much better.”
Grasiella reached to take it out of her dark hair, Hina stopped her. “Let it be.”
“It’s doing something.” Grasiella said as she again tried to remove it from her hair. “What did you do?” She was growing afraid.
“I plan to keep you here, with me. The very least you can do is smell a bit better.” Hina made a face.
Grasiella pulled at the flower. It was no good. It had firmly attached itself into her hair. The vine was beginning to travel down her body. As it did, the vine grew tight like a rope. Grasiella could no longer stand. She fell to the floor, trying to break free of the binds.
“I despise all things Pele. She goes about these islands as if they are here just for her. While the rest of us have to fight for what little pieces of land we are able to get. Can you imagine what that is like for us?”
Grasiella could not speak. The vines were covering her mouth and were trying to gain entry. She tried to use magic to release their hold. It was almost as if they could sense what she was doing before she did it. She felt the vines move closer to her ears.
“Do you know who Mnemosyne is? I’m sure you do. You were the one keeping her imprisoned.” Hina knelt down so that she would be able to look into Grasiella’s eyes. “She was here before you. She asked if I would keep you busy. I was only too happy to accommodate her. Are you comfortable?”
Grasiella tried to call out to her ancestor to come to her rescue. Where was she? There was one thing that Grasiella could think of to do. She fainted.
Hina shook her shoulder to try to wake her. With a touch of her hand the vine moved away from Grasiella’s mouth.
Grasiella opened her eyes slowly, moaning. “I can’t breathe.”
Hina loosened the vines a bit more, “Is that better?”
Taking deep breathes, “I don’t know. My hands, they’re twisted against my sides.”
Hina eased the tension on the vines, “How is that?”
“My hands, they feel like they fell asleep.”
Hina eased the tension some more. “Good?” she asked, concerned. Grasiella was a young helpless girl. She couldn’t see why Mnemosyne had been so afraid of her. She said that Grasiella was a fierce fighter who would show her no mercy. Mnemosyne told her to be fearful the moment her eyes flashed green. Her eyes were far from being green. Mnemosyne must have been confused. She was kept in that crystal a long time. Yes, she was confused.
Hina eased the vines more until they were loosely wrapped around Grasiella now.
As the vines loosened Grasiella sat up, rubbing her head. Hina reached to remove a straggling vine. In that instant Grasiella reached for Hina. Grasiella had a part of the vine in her hand. As it touched Hina, it encircled her hand, coursing up her arm as it entrapped her in its tight embrace.
Grasiella jumped to her feet. Without looking back, she ran from the falls. The Painite would not be kept there. Pele would not put it somewhere so close to Hina. Mnemosyne had been to the falls. If the Painite had been kept there, then Mnemosyne would already be in possession of it.
Grasiella stopped half way down the falls as a sudden thought occurred to her. Maybe Mnemosyne and Hina had been unable to reach the Painite. Maybe it had been charmed. Going back would be a risk. A risk Grasiella would be willing to take. She approached the falls cautiously.
A white mist had formed around the falls. Hina was not alone. Mnemosyne was with her and they were arguing. Grasiella remained hidden.
“How could you allow her to trick you?” Mnemosyne shouted at Hina.
Hina had been released from the hold of the vines. “You described her differently to me. I had no idea. You were right. She fought like a wild beast.”
Mnemosyne shouted at Hina, “You were to hold her here while I looked around the island for the Painite!”
“Why do you need the Painite? Why is it so important to you? It’s such an ugly stone.”
“Yes, but it is incredibly powerful, if it’s used correctly.”
“What do you intend to use it for?”
Mnemosyne circled Hina as she furiously spoke, “I will not use it. I intend to give it to a very important man.”
“A man, you intend to give it to a man?” Hina was surprised with this answer.
“He is beloved by all his people. He is a general.”
“Does he love you?” Hina smirked. She already knew the answer. If this general had loved Mnemosyne, then Mnemosyne would not be here going through all this trouble for an ugly stone.
“He doesn’t realize his true feelings for me. Once I give him the Painite as a gift, then I know he will look at me differently. He will look at me with love and gratitude.”
“Why do you want a man who does not want you back?” Hina could not fathom doing what Mnemosyne was doing. She would never put a man above herself.
“I came to this planet thousands of years ago, when I discovered that the Painite had finally been found.” Mnemosyne remembered the day vividly. The day Grasiella had trapped her inside the crystal. “I arrived on this planet inside the lightning. I was so happy, knowing that I would soon be able to give him what he would need to win his war.”
“What war?” Hina didn’t like the sound of war.
“It’s being fought galaxies away.” A far off look came into Mnemosyne’s eyes as she recalled the general’s face.
At the sound of Hina’s voice, Mnemosyne was brought back to reality, “You’ve been in that crystal for thousands of years. I hate to tell you this but the chance of your general still being alive is not good.”
Mnemosyne gave a great laugh. “Time may move swiftly on this planet but it is not so else where. Time moves much slower elsewhere.”
“Where are you from?” Hina asked. She was astounded at what Mnemosyne was telling her.
“The ‘where’ is not as important as the ‘when’.”