Chapter Thirty-One – Likosa has a what?!
Everything smelled of bergamot. It was the most unexpected thing about Kinasha. I had expected more mellow smells, like cedar, jasmine, or even the fresh scent of rushing water.
When Rayna’s magic ended, we stood at the edge of the land. There was an ocean at our back and a forest in front of us. Strange birds with clouds for feathers flew above our heads, and in the distance, a creature sang what felt like a welcome for the woman in my arms.
I looked down at her for a moment, enjoying the peaceful expression on her face before I pulled the blanket away. As soon as I drew the energy back to myself, her eyes opened, and she smiled at me.
“It worked. We're here,” I told her.
“Really?” The joy in her voice actually took away the ache in my heart.
Maybe she wouldn’t be coming back with us, but she would be happy. Likosa deserved to be happy, and I would just keep reminding myself of that until we got the hell back to Earth and I could drown my sorrows in whiskey gingers.
I let her go and focused on this new world, the calming smells and all the distant sounds of life.
The energy of Kinasha was overwhelmingly calm, like there was melatonin coming out of the ground.
I tapped into that energy to help me ease my heartache.
We were only at the beginning of Likosa's plan, so I needed to focus. I couldn’t control the emotions of others when I was swept up in my own.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I could feel so much more than I expected and wondered if it would be different in every world.
Was Kinasha just more giving than the Bane or Earth?
What I could tell was that even in that limited space, there were many beings present.
Each of them vibrated with its own kind of energy and varying emotional impulses.
I felt everything across the spectrum, just like on Earth.
“Is everyone OK?” Rayna asked.
“I'm good.” I nodded. “Just getting my bearings here. It feels so intense.”
“Me too,” Jericha said before checking on Whitney, who simply nodded. “Anyone else smell bergamot?”
We all nodded.
“Okay,” Jericha sighed. “Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t having a stroke or something.”
“Isn’t it toast?” Whitney asked.
“Maybe they don’t have toast here.” Jericha laughed. “Maybe the sign of a stroke is a nice citrusy scent.”
Whitney laughed. “I don’t think that’s how any of this works.”
“Well, I’m just glad you’re all right.” Rayna sighed. “I haven’t had much practice moving so many people at once without Metice’s help.”
“You did a good job.” Likosa congratulated Rayna and turned to look at the trees in front of us. “I’m home.”
We stood there in silence, nothing but the sound of crashing waves behind us as Likosa took a moment to appreciate the feeling of home. When she spoke again, her voice trembled with unexpressed sadness. I tried to tap into her, but her shield was firmly in place again.
“We need to move. It won't be long until they notice we're here, so we're going to have to move quickly.” Likosa pointed to the start of a small path that cut into the trees.
I felt the energy coming from them. They weren't just your average trees. They were living, thinking, breathing beings, and it felt like they were watching us.
“Jericha, this is when you step in, please.”
“On it.” She kneeled, flexing her fingers and sticking them into the dirt. “Oh wow, this is intense.”
“Can you do it?” Whitney asked.
“Yeah, just give me a minute.” Jericha's voice lifted with intrigue. “Sometimes, it takes a little convincing to get them to work with me.”
We stood there, watching as Jericha worked her magic, and I felt her energy shifting back and forth.
I could see the visual expression of her exchange with nature.
When they gave in, Jericha’s light turned a bright green.
As soon as that happened, the trees moved!
They pulled their branches back, clearing a path for us to walk.
“We're good to go.” Jericha looked back at us. “Likosa, your world is fascinating!”
“Thanks.” Likosa smiled. “I think so too.”
“This is easier than I thought it would be,” Whitney said as she marched forward.
“I know damn well you didn't just say that,” Rayna snapped. “Don’t you know that’s the best way to put a damn jinx on this whole thing?”
“It's only a jinx if you believe in that type of stuff,” Whitney fussed. “Show of hands, who here believes in that silly superstition?”
One by one, we all raised our hands, even Likosa.
“Damn, my bad,” she said.
“Let's get moving, please.” Likosa smiled. “We must get Whitney back to Earth before she brings more bad luck to my world.”
Likosa led the way, but Jericha remained close to her.
Her position told nature that Likosa was okay.
She acted as a physical shield, just in case the world realized Likosa wasn’t supposed to be there.
Whitney dropped to the back of our group and lit her hands with fire.
It wrapped around her palms, and she took a guarded stance as we moved.
I’m not sure what I expected to find as we walked through there.
The trees were not exactly like the ones at home.
They sported fur coats, and the leaves were more like tendrils that waved in the wind.
At times, it felt like they wanted to reach out and grab us, but Jericha clearly prevented that from happening.
“It’s not much further,” Likosa alerted us. “Whitney, come closer.”
Whitney approached Likosa and dropped her flame.
“No, bring your flame back, please,” Likosa said, and Whitney did.
Likosa took out that familiar little bottle and coated her hand in the watery glove before she put her hand into Whitney’s. The flame and water danced around their hands until Likosa pulled back.
Whitney’s hand became trapped inside a void as water and flame bounced back and forth. It lasted just a few moments before it settled.
“Call the water to you, just like you would the flame,” Likosa instructed. “Feel it in the air and in the plants. Water is in everything. Just focus.”
Whitney confidently nodded. With a deep inhale, she focused, and her first attempt produced a sprinkle from his fingertips. The second was more powerful. The third was a full blast.
“This is insane.” Whitney looked at her hand.
“You’re a collector.” Likosa smiled. “You can pick up on all forms of nature if you have a conduit. It’s something you share with your sister.”
“Holy shit,” Whitney said as she shot off another blast of water. “You think Raymond will lend me some shadow?”
“Absolutely not!” Jericha rolled her eyes. “I’ll lend you my shoes, but hands off my shadows!”
“It will come in handy for what we have to do next,” Likosa replied.
“Can I do the same?” Rayna asked.
“No, your abilities aren’t like theirs.” Likosa shrugged. “A bloodline thing, I suppose.”
“Dang, that would have been nice to have.” Rayna crossed her arms.
“At least you can still blast things with your energy.” I chuckled and waved my fingers in the air. “Better than being the mission’s mood control.”
We continued, and as we did, Whitney practiced her new abilities. By the time we made it to the tree line, she was much more comfortable.
“Shontae,” Likosa said, and my heart skipped a beat.
Focus, girl!
“Yes?” I asked as I stepped to the front of the group.
“We’re at the back of the structure. There is a doorway nearby, but there are always people watching it. Can you feel them?”
I inhaled and reached out. Just like that, I felt them all. “Yes, I can.”
“Place your hand on the tree there. Jericha, please make sure it accepts her.”
We did as instructed. When I neared the tree, those tendril leaves shivered, but they didn’t hurt me. I placed my palm against the trunk and understood why Likosa wanted me to do so. My eyes snapped shut, and colorful dots appeared on a translucent map.
“Oh, my God.” I smiled. “I can actually see where they are. This is too freaky.”
“I’m telling you, this world is far more open to magic than ours!” Jericha’s voice sounded next to me.
“Shontae.” That was Likosa’s melody. “Target them and put them to sleep.”
It took some effort, but I managed it. First, I focused on one of the dots. When my method of calming it worked, I expanded the effort and covered more of them. With each one, the dots of varying colors all turned a deep blue, and they stopped moving.
“It’s done.” I opened my eyes. “I can almost hear the snoring.”
We continued moving forward, and each time I felt a new energy spike, I targeted it and put it to sleep. Likosa led the way out of the trees. We stood at the back of a massive stone wall.
“How do we get through this?” I asked. “I thought you said there was a door here.”
“Looks like some things have changed,” Likosa said and then turned to Jericha, quickly pivoting the plan. “Can you use your shadows to get us through?”
“I can try. I haven’t done much with them.” Jericha nodded and stepped forward. She touched the wall, and darkness seeped out from her palm, creating a shadowy door.
“I really have to get a better understanding of what y’all can do,” I gawked.
“We’ll teach you everything you want to know.” Rayna smiled and grabbed my hand.
Yes, I had to stop myself from snatching away from her. No, I wasn’t proud of that.
Likosa placed her hand over Jericha’s.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Tuning her doorway so we land where I need us to.” Likosa glanced back at me. “It’s ready. Everyone grab hands and hold on tight as we pass through.”
Likosa grabbed my free hand, Rayna grabbed Whitney, and Whitney took her sister’s hand.
Then, Likosa pulled us through the icky darkness.
Walking through shadows was something I hoped never to experience again.
The darkness wasn’t the worst of it. It was the deeply disturbing sounds and the feeling of something touching my legs.
When we stepped out on the other side of the shadowed path, I wanted to drop and kiss the grass beneath my feet. Instead, I tightened my hold on Likosa’s hand, but she didn’t respond.
“Home.” Likosa’s hand was slack in mine as the soft word escaped her.
Following her gaze, I noticed the vibrant colors of the garden we stood in.
Initially, it appeared simple and sweet, but a deeper understanding of its unique qualities emerged as I looked longer.
There are soft flowers in shades of pink along the edges of a walkway.
In the distance, I could see free-standing waterfalls.
They had no source and no end, just the rushing movement of water in midair.
Their sound reminded me of the one she took me to visit in the Bane.
At the end of the path, about three-hundred feet away, was a massive regal structure. If we were on Earth, I would have immediately assumed royalty lived there.
Maybe she is royalty!
When Likosa said the word home, she wasn't talking about Kinasha as a whole; she was talking about that house. I could imagine her living out her days in that garden, spending time at the waterfalls, taking care of this house.
I let her hand go, because seeing her, the way she lit up when she looked at that home, I knew it. She was here to stay.
“So now what? Do we just walk right on in?” Whitney asked, breaking the silence. “Do you think they will let that happen?
“No, I’m thinking this is when we brace for a fight, right?” Jericha sounded like she was excited about it. “Let’s see what you can do with your new gift, little sister.”
“Hopefully, it won’t be that bad.” I glanced back at them. “We don’t want this to turn into a war, right?”
“Yeah, she’s been gone for a while now, right?” Rayna chimed in. “Maybe time has healed those old wounds, and they will be happy to see her return.”
“I doubt it,” Likosa said. “If that were the case, they would have opened the barrier to my signature, and I wouldn’t have needed all of you to help me get back.”
“Well, damn. So much for wishful thinking, right?” Whitney sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s so beautiful here. I can understand why you fought so hard to get back.”
“Its beauty is one of many reasons.” Likosa pointed to the house ahead. “We should keep moving.”
Near the floating waterfalls, halfway through, a voice reminiscent of a dramatic ballad echoed across the garden.
“How did you get here?” Ahead of us, a tall woman with a bald head that matched her dramatic tone appeared on the pathway.
“Niukshi,” Likosa spoke as she stepped further from our group, holding her hand up for us to stop moving.
“Likosa, you are not welcome here.” Her appearance was cool, but her energy was a bright red as she looked at Likosa.
“This is my home,” Likosa said firmly. “It is where I belong.”
“It stopped being your home when you betrayed me,” Niukshi snapped. “Leave, and I won’t make you regret your decision to return.”
Oh, shit. Hold on, girl. It’s about to get real.
“Niukshi, please. I just want to—” Likosa started.
“I don’t care what you want.” Niukshi laughed. “This world is not the same as you left it. You are no longer a part of Kinasha!”
“This is my home!” Likosa’s voice rose, and the waterfalls raged with her. “Your lies have kept me away long enough. I have a right to my home, to my family. I have a right to know her. She is my daughter!”
My heart stopped with that last word. I knew damn well I didn’t hear her say she had a child. In all the time we spent together, in all the stories she’d told me about her home world, she had failed to mention any daughter.
I clearly wasn’t the only one shocked by this information, as the others shot questioning glances between them before each one turned to look at me. I simply shrugged, playing off the situation as if I didn’t care that much.
“You have no daughter!” Niukshi yelled, and then those rushing waterfalls turned to falling lava, and Niukshi energy lit up even brighter as she attacked us with fire.