Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Icouldn’t go back to my bedroom. Not yet, even if I was soaking wet.
“I have to see Kiki,” I said. “I have to tell her everything.” Alohi hesitated, but after begging him, he agreed.
After I knocked on her door, I was surprised that nobody answered.
“Kiki?” I knocked again. The rain continued to pour so how could she hear me? After finding the spare key hidden under a nearby pot, I unlocked and opened the door.
“Kiki?” Lightning illuminated outside.
“Oli is that you?” The voice, along with a warm, cozy light came from the living room. Kiki emerged, a big smile on her face. “I’m so glad you’re back and safe, Oli!”
Why was she smiling so wide?
We hugged and when we pulled away, she grabbed my arm, the smile disappearing as she realized it was me–still in my dark, soaking wet mourning dress.
“Peter is here,” she said, dragging me into the living room and sitting me down. Peter nodded to me, and though he looked tired, he seemed… peaceful. Like after all that happened, especially with the murderer revealed and in prison, he could somewhat relax.
“Tell us everything,” Kiki said. And I did. But as I explained the riddle–how Keanu served willingly in the afterlife, how I lit the flame at the heiau, and how my own sacrifice broke his curse–I couldn’t help but notice how happy Peter and Kiki looked together.
They sat side by side on the settee, their arms touching. Kiki’s attention remained riveted on me, while Peter kept glancing at her, a tender look settling on his face.
He really does love her. And, suddenly, I realized that I would not take the bargain back. I would do it again and again just to see my sister happy with a man who would love and care for her.
This is why I did it, I thought. For Kiki, for mother. And somewhere in the process Kiki found the man she loved and I did too. I could live with that.
When I finished, Kiki sighed and took my hand. “I suppose breaking the curse didn’t return him then?”
“It wasn’t really part of the riddle,” I said, accepting that I’d be a widow with nothing but memories of our time together. Acceptance didn’t take away the fact that I missed him. Deeply.
“We’ll always be here for you,” Peter said.
“We?” I gave them a look and Kiki nudged him.
“Not now, Peter. She just lost Keanu. It’s–”
“It’s alright,” I reassured her and opened my palms. “Well?”
“Peter proposed to me!” Kiki burst. “And I said yes!”
We both jumped up to hug one another. I didn’t know how I could feel so happy and sad at the same time, but the feelings somehow coexisted. I loved my sister, and the fact that she could get her happily-ever-after with Peter, Keanu’s closest friend, filled me with more peace.
After we celebrated with one another, it grew late and Alohi told me I really needed to return to the palace.
“Get some rest,” Kiki said, not caring if her clothes got wet from embracing me.
As I walked through the rain with Alohi, I couldn’t help but look back at Peter telling Kiki goodnight.
Golden light came from the windows, casting a cozy glow on the rain outside.
And, in the light of the door, stood Peter and Kiki, holding one another’s hands and looking into each other’s eyes.
I smiled to myself. Kāne had been so, so good to us.
When the bedroom door closed behind me, I sank to the floor and sighed.
We are at peace. And, I vowed to live in a way that I could be reunited forever with Keanu in the next life. Of course I wanted him with me now, but I was also willing to accept Kāne’s decision for me.
The smell of ginger tea roused me from my thoughts. But the tray was not by the bedside, in its usual place. I wiped my eyes and looked around. The tray sat on a stand by the balcony. Why did the servants put it there?
I swallowed hard and began walking towards the tray, ready to place it on Keanu’s nightstand, when I froze.
Someone was standing on the balcony.
I blinked.
I’m dreaming. The thunder and lightning rolled on outside, drowning out all the noise. But it seemed as if I could hear nothing anyways. My ears rang from the delight growing inside of me. Could it be?
I stepped outside, my clothes still sopping wet, my hair plastered to my face. Fresh water dripped down my skin.
A man stood there, wearing a black suit with golden epaulets, his side towards me, his hands clasped behind his back. He overlooked the kingdom, his hair dripping wet. He was still as handsome as ever, but there was something different about him.
He looked… peaceful. Content.
“Keanu?” I took a hesitant step toward him. I hoped if this was a dream that I wouldn’t wake up. There he was, the love of my life. So close and yet… was he real?
He turned towards me and smiled, his golden eyes so warm, I was sure I could fall into them and never find my breath again. In one long stride, he stood in front of me, pulled me into his arms, and kissed me. I threw my arms around his neck, kissing him back.
It was the best kiss, full of longing, desire, all the words we wanted to say but didn’t have the chance to…
“Is it really you?” I asked between kisses. We were both soaked through. The rain pelted on us, the cold wind like ice against our skin. But it didn’t matter. I was warm in Keanu’s embrace.
It seemed as if my king was not in any mood to stop showering me with his kisses, but my head reeled with questions.
“How?” I asked, finally pulling away. He planted a kiss on my cheek and my jaw.
“You lit the eternal flame, a selfless plea at the place that had once been defiled and destroyed. And when Kāne asked once more if you would truly give up everything, you completed the final step in making all things right. All because of your love for me…” He pointed upward. “And for him.”
I smiled. “So you’re not going to be a night marcher again?”
“If someone kills me again, I’m really done for,” he laughed, then his expression turned serious.
“Oli, I was wrong about so many things. I am so sorry for taking your father’s days.
And then for taking yours. I was wrong to pressure you to give them to me, or to even marry you through a bargain… you deserve so much better.”
I looked at him. Really looked at him… this man who had changed so much. Who had recognized his wrongdoings more than once.
“Thank you for that,” I said. I could only imagine his guilt, knowing that everything he said was true. He was guilty of coercing me into marriage, of taking my father’s days, of being selfish.
But he had changed. And I now realized, if it had been any different, I would not be here. I wouldn’t have bargained with Keanu to end my betrothal to Pulu.
Miraculously, everything had worked out.
“Kāne knew what had to happen. He knows what he’s doing,” I said, amazed at how I was starting to sound more like Kiki and her fervent nature in speaking of the god of life.
“When I finally learned what an honor it was to serve Kāne, everything changed,” Keanu said and gently brushed my wet hair from my face, his eyes pouring into mine, like he couldn’t get enough.
“And when you asked Kāne to give me one last chance, he granted that, especially after I escorted Kalani home. I realized that we’re all just here doing our best. Kalani deserves compassion too. We’ve been through a lot.”
I couldn’t help but stroke Keanu’s cheek. I would never question his loyalty to me. He had proved, time and again, that he really did love me, and that he would do anything for me: die for me, forgive his enemies… anything.
He started kissing me again, when an owl hooted nearby and perched on Keanu’s shoulder. My husband looked a little vexed at the interruption, but still smiled.
“Hey Malu,” he said, stroking the feathers. I petted the owl too.
“He missed you.”
“I missed Malu, but it pales in comparison to how much I missed you, Oli.” Keanu lifted Malu into the air and the owl flew off. “I would do anything for you, moon of my tide.” He kissed me again, then held my shoulders. “You’re shivering.”
I hadn’t noticed, because I was too ecstatic to see my husband, alive, standing before me. I would never tire of seeing him or being with him. Keanu glanced at the tray of tea sitting by the glass door.
“Should we drink our ginger tea before it gets cold?”
“I think I’d rather just be here with you.” I snuggled into his arms, not caring how the rain continued to pour on us.
“Must I bargain with you to get you inside?” He pressed his forehead against mine. His fresh sandalwood scent filled my senses.
“No more bargains,” I said with a quiet laugh.
Keanu smiled as he leaned in and agreed.
“No more bargains,” he said and kissed me.
The rain continued to pour around us, and we finally parted to step inside, greeted by the ginger tea.
While the richness of its scent filled the room with warmth, it was nothing in comparison to the way Keanu warmed my heart. Now I knew better.
A life with Keanu was the life I dreamed of, and while I did love ginger tea, our true love would keep us warm for the rest of our lives. And it did.
THE END.