Chapter 26
Chapter-Twenty-Six – Waterfalls
We left the market and headed back up the hill to Likosa’s cavern. I thought we would go back to her home, but instead, the unicorn continued. I fell asleep on Likosa’s shoulder, and when she woke me, I heard the thunderous sound of a waterfall.
“I can't believe you would ever want to leave this place,” I gasped as we sat on a small bench overlooking the falls. “It's so beautiful, and back there at the market, everyone seemed to love you.”
“It's not the worst place I could have landed, that's for sure. When I first got here, I wasn't sure I would stay. It was the eighth world I visited after leaving my own. I didn’t plan on staying. I just wanted somewhere to rest before moving on.” She pointed at the falls. “This is where I landed, right here, next to this waterfall, and my water I’d carried with me came to life. I took it as a stamp of approval.”
“That’s beautiful,” I breathed.
“This waterfall isn’t active all the time.
I haven’t been able to figure out what controls it, but throughout the day, it slows to a trickle.
Sometimes, it stops completely. And then, with such force, it rushes back out.
It feels like the water is playing a game, as if this fall is a child hiding and waiting to be found. ”
I said nothing because I could tell Likosa was deep in the moment. She had more to say; I only had to be patient.
“This spot is the closest to my home. That’s why I couldn’t leave.
Whenever I got homesick, I knew I could just come here, and that feeling would fade.
It took some time, but I got established here.
I had to call in a few favors and promise a few of my own, but I did it.
And this spot is still my favorite in all the Bane.
I thought about moving away. There were so many times I thought of finding a new world, but I'm still here, all these years later.”
“Do you think it's possible that over time, this place has become your world? I don't mean to overstep, but this looks like home to you. It feels like you belong here.” I placed my hand on her arm.
“You think I belong here?” She chuckled.
“I mean, looking at you with those people today, I think so. Is there a possibility you’ve been so focused on getting back home, you never stopped to consider you already were? Are you sure you even want to go back to a world that may not be the same as you left it?”
I thought I’d overstepped when Likosa’s eyes widened. Again, she had shielded her emotions from me, so I couldn’t tell what she was feeling. But her brows lowered, and her expression softened, giving me some relief.
“Maybe, in some ways, this is my world now. I’ve been here long enough that I’ve made genuine connections. I have friendships I cherish. And I am grateful for that. But my family isn’t here. My actual home is not in the Bane. It can’t be, not until I clear things up back home.”
“And then what happens? Once you’ve cleared things up.”
Likosa left my question unanswered. She stared off into the distance, watching the playful rush of the waterfall.
I pulled her hand into mine but remained quiet.
We sat there in silence until the waterfall slowed, the rush becoming quieter.
I waited. I knew what it was like to need silence, to need the world to slow down.
“It’s time to get you home,” Likosa finally said, breaking the silence.
“What? Don’t you want my help?” I looked at her. “Wasn't that the whole point of me coming here, to fix my power so I can help you get home?”
“I brought you here to fix your power. Helping me is a choice I want you to make. Think long and hard about it, because it won’t be easy, Shontae.
” She put her fingers to my lips before I could speak.
“Take your time. Consider the weight of this decision. I still have a few things I need to settle before then.”
“Okay,” I mouthed against her fingers.
Likosa slid her finger from my lips to my chin and hesitated. And then, she kissed me.
“Was that the last one?” I asked as our lips parted.
“No,” she whispered and kissed me again.
I didn’t protest any further. I allowed Likosa to take me home. Once she called Sire back to us, she opened the door between our worlds and carried us through. Sire was not happy about returning to Earth; it meant she had to shrink back down to a reasonable size.
“I promise, we’ll move somewhere you can spread your wings.” I nuzzled her head, and she ticked and flew away from me. “Dang, I’m not the one who showed you how big you could get!”
Likosa didn’t stay after she dropped us off. It felt like she needed space, and I didn’t want to force her to hang around. She explained to me that if I helped her, I would need to leave Earth again. That was why she wanted me to really consider things.
The day I spent in the Bane was about a week on Earth. So, I spent the rest of the day returning messages and calls and getting chewed out by my girls, who scheduled an emergency dinner the next night.
“Who the hell just leaves Earth without saying anything?” Tayvion fussed the moment I opened the door to let them in. “I mean, seriously! Are you out of your mind?”
“At the time, I was knocked out, so yes?” I joked.
“This isn’t a laughing matter.” she continued. “You tell that girlfriend of yours she had better drop us a note or something the next time she whisks you off to a new world.”
“I hate to pile on, but we were worried.” Cadence looked around me. “Where’s Sire?”
“She’s hiding right now. I think she’s mad at me.” I sighed. “In the Bane, she looked so different. She was massive. She could fly free, and no one questioned her presence. Now she’s back here, she has to shrink herself again. I feel so guilty.”
“Time to move, huh?” Cadene looked like she wanted to find Sire and abandon our dinner plans.
“Yeah, I’ve already started looking at property listings.”
“So, did she fix you for good this time?” Tayvion asked. “Or will she have to come give you a touch up?”
“It’s done. I’m okay, and I’m stronger than before.” I smiled.
“Stronger?”
“Yeah, watch.” I looked at Cadence and picked up the thread of her energy. It was something I’d tried before but never could complete. This was the perfect time to try it. I dragged that energy from her to Tayvion, wrapping it around her. A moment later, Tayvion started sobbing.
“What is this?” she cried.
“Apparently, it’s what Cadence is really feeling.”
“Stop it!” Tayvion fussed.
“Are you sure?” I asked and glanced at Cadence, who looked like she would laugh.
“I’m going to kick your ass,” Tayvion threatened. “Both of you!”
I cut the string because I knew she meant what she said.
“Damn, you really are getting good at that,” Tay huffed as she braced herself on her knees. She looked up and pointed at Cadence. “And your ass needs therapy!”
“Excuse me?” Cadence rolled her eyes. “I’m just fine.”
“Yes, you are,” I told Cadence. “Though I don’t know what Tayvion just felt.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? You didn’t feel it?”
“Nope.” I smiled. “It was one of those skills I tried to figure out when I was younger but could never do. Now, I can. I just took a thread of her emotion and tied it to you. I can even pull out emotional layers people aren’t aware they have.
I mean, things are developing quickly. I wish I could practice more.
If it weren’t unethical, I would incorporate it into my business. ”
“I mean, you could offer the service to other magical beings, a higher “secret” tier only those like us can purchase. I know a few people who would jump at the opportunity to have some shit syphoned out of their heads!” Tayvion offered.
“You're damn right about that!” Cadence said. “Let me know when you set that up, and I’ll send some people your way!”
“Yeah, just keep that mess away from me!” Tayvion took a deep breath. “I’ll stick to my own emotions.”
“I’m so proud of you.” Cadence hugged me. “For too long, you’ve suppressed that side of yourself. It's good to see you working out the kinks now.”
“Do you think someone else would affect you the way Likosa did?” Tayvion asked. “Did she give you an emergency kit just in case?”
“I don’t know, but…” I inhaled slowly for courage.
“But what?” Cadence asked.
“Don’t get weird on me when I say this.” I pointed at Tayvion specifically.
“Okay,” Cadence said and walked over to Tayvion, pulling her hands into hers. “We’re chill.”
“I miss her,” I admitted.
“What?” they shouted in unison.
“Have I ever said that about, well, anyone?” I genuinely couldn’t remember feeling that way about anyone who wasn’t my friends or family. I never missed girlfriends when they were away. Most of the time, I got so busy with my goals, I had to set reminders to check in on them.
“No!” Tayvion gawked.
“Girl, this is big!” Cadence shook their clutched hands.
“I keep trying to distract myself with other things.”
“Okay, well, let’s distract you with food. I’m hungry, and tonight is my cheat meal,” Tayvion cheered. “I need something savory and cheesy!”
We went to a small diner where I told them all about Likosa and the Bane, and they teased me anytime I blushed. The conversation turned somber when I explained Likosa’s goal and then hopeful when Tayvion told me to put it on Likosa so good she would change her mind about leaving.
It was just what I needed.
But when I got home, I opened my door to chaos. Sire was massive, barely fitting in the room, and wrapped in chains!
And standing in front of her, with deep cuts covering her arms and face, was Lyra.