Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
We returned to the kingdom by the next evening, so I carried a lantern as I made my way to the heiau. It was still not finished, but there were priests sitting at the entrance, white kahili marking that the place was sacred to Kāne, and that it was a place of refuge and safety.
The priests stood and bowed to me. “It’s late, Your Highness,” said one.
“I must enter,” I said. “For Keanu.”
They gave each other a look, then moved to the side.
I walked ahead, feeling a surge of power as I stepped on the sacred ground.
The salty sea air whipped my hair around, but I didn’t hesitate to walk to the altar at the end of the grassy area. The two torches by the altar were dead, further proving to me that this might work.
Words from a book in Keanu’s room resurfaced: The torches at the heiau should always be lit, an eternal flame that welcomes all to worship the gods… Someone who willingly lights the torches again can make restitution for the one who put out the light.
I placed the lantern on the altar, then took a torch nearby and lit it using the flame from the lantern. I used that torch to light the other one.
I looked up to the heavens, though the clouds covered the waning full moon.
“I am as guilty as Keanu,” I said, hoping that Kāne was listening. “I want to become one with the shadow. I am willing. Let me take his place. He deserves to live.”
It was so out of character for me to do this. Every logical thought told me this was a terrible idea, and how could Kāne hear me? I never outright spoke to him before, so why would he listen now?
As if in response, it started raining. It wasn’t a light rain, but a thunderous one, and lightning began to explode in the sky.
“We need to get out of here!” Alohi had followed, but kept a distance so as not to disturb my prayers. I was a mix of emotions. Was this a bad response from Kāne? Was he telling me that my husband would forever be a night marcher? That my selfless plea at the rebuilt heiau was not acceptable?
“But he did his part!” I exclaimed to the sky. “Give him one last chance!” But the thunder only rumbled louder and the waves grew larger.
“Come on!” Alohi grabbed me just as a wave exploded over the edge of the heiau, even the sea becoming torrential.
We rushed back to the palace, both of us soaking wet, but my lantern was still lit. I was crying again. Alohi gave me a look of pity, and I wondered if he had heard my prayer.
“Kāne works in mysterious ways,” he said as we walked the lonely halls. I should’ve gone to my room to change out of my wet clothes, but I was too distressed. I didn’t–couldn’t–go in that room. Not when Keanu was still gone. Not when lighting the eternal flame had not worked.
Ginger tea would haunt me for the rest of my life if he were gone forever.
I stopped at the library and stood by the window overlooking the kingdom. Rain fell down the stained glass panes, and thunder rumbled softly in the distance.
I lit the eternal flame, I thought, looking up at the dark sky. Could Kāne hear me?
I cracked open the window, allowing a few raindrops to trickle onto the sill. A chilly breeze wafted through the crack.
I remembered how Kiki always used to pray… and how I did not.
She was right. I had stopped believing. Stopped turning to him in gratitude for the life I had, imperfections and all. Relying on myself became my survival.
But there was so much more to life than survival.
Memories resurfaced, the few wonderful experiences I’d had with Keanu in our brief month together: his apology after the ball, the court room and his confidence in me, the aftermath of helping the men in the field, our first mutual kiss, the way he laughed and played with the children…
Oh how I miss him!
A tear streaked my cheek.
Please, Kāne, I begged. Take me instead. I had lit the flame at the heiau, the place that Keanu had rebuilt to repent of his wrongs. He deserved to live.
So do you.
I blinked. Had I heard something? It certainly was not my voice in my head.
And then it dawned on me. It was him–not Keanu. Kāne.
Please, I prayed once more. Please, I was as wrong as Keanu. Please let me take his place.
You would live an eternity as a cursed ghost? You would sacrifice yourself for him?
I nodded and wiped my tears. I’d never been so certain in my life. This was not the practical thing to do. But it was the right thing.
And the right thing, acting out of love and hope, was always more important than anything else. I had somehow missed that along the way.
I would, I said, speaking from the deepest part of my heart.
Lightning flashed in the sky, so bright and striking, I gasped and stepped back.
You have lit the eternal flame. Well done, Oli.
Kāne?
Silence. Was I going to turn into a night marcher? Had he accepted my plea this time?
The rain continued to patter. The thunder rolled away in the distance.
“Your highness?”
I jumped at Alohi’s voice, coming from the library entrance.
“You are wet and it might be best if you change into dry clothes. It’s also late and preparations must be made for the tribute as soon as tomorrow.”
I quickly wiped my tears and nodded. Perhaps I’d find out in the morning whether I’d switched places with Keanu or not. Kāne had said I lit the eternal flame, so I completed the riddle.
Which meant, Keanu’s curse is broken.
Every part inside of me sank as I walked the hallway with Alohi.
“His curse is broken,” I said, my voice quiet.
Alohi gave me a look.
“But it doesn’t mean he’s coming back.”
As I said the words, another thought came. Kāne said “well done.” That meant it was finished.
Keanu’s curse is broken and he is free in the afterlife. Even if I had to carry nothing with me but that, it still gave me peace. Because he would be at peace, and that was something I could live with.