Earth(50)

"Safe," I responded. He had a gun in his hand, pointed down this time. I stepped forward, counting until I reached him. Five paces away. His gun now pointed at my knees.

Why there?

I stepped back once, and mist swirled around my ankles. Something was there, in front of him. The harder I looked, trying to piece it together, the more it evaded me.

"Kaitlyn, is the baby mine?"

I blinked, now that was different. He asked instead of declared who the baby's father was. Was that how it actually went down? I couldn't even remember anymore. Akasha burned bright behind me, trying to distract me. But the puzzle was right in front of me. I just needed more time…





Chapter 29





Tainted





"What a waste," Shawn said.

"Sir?" David trailed Shawn, notebook open, pencil at the ready.

"All that energy last night, left to disperse on its own."

"Did you lose the Athame?" David asked.

Shawn continued walking the old, dilapidated power plant for the last time, checking to see if anything else could be salvaged before their trip home. "No."

"Then why did you order the gala last night, if you weren't going to absorb the energy?" David tripped over a piece of laminate, curling up from the floor.

"Last night was a test. The energies in the area lately have felt off, and I needed to know why. If anyone significantly strong was nearby, that energy would have naturally gravitated toward them."

"So did it work?"

"We are clear." Shawn nudged at a door. "Why won't this open?"

David flipped through his notebook, as if the answer would be there.

Shawn rolled his eyes, took a step back, and drove his shoulder into the door. It still didn't budge.

"Oh, yes – I have it here." David held up the notebook, pointing. "This door is locked."

Shawn looked at the notebook, then back at David. He turned away before he followed his better instincts to strangle the man. Shawn drove his shoulder into the door again.

David closed the notebook. In between Shawn's pounding, he asked, "So do you want to go back to camp before we leave?"

Shawn paused, rubbing his shoulder. "If I have time tomorrow. We need to focus on breaking camp and getting everyone on the move before that storm gets here."

Shawn turned, and aimed for the door with his left shoulder. The door sprung open into a dark room. Shawn lit a match and stepped inside.

The small flame glinted off large, metal barrels. Bright white lettering along the side of them read, 'Fuel Oil'.

David stepped up beside Shawn, "Enough to get us to Denver – I dare say, sir."

Shawn nodded. "Get a working party; put all the barrels down in the engine room. I'll be in my quarters, and I'll need some privacy. No interruptions."





* * *





Shawn stood on the platform once again. This time there were no shimmery forms flying through the air, nor swimming below. They were all in solid, human form, waiting in line patiently on the stairs. It was eerie. Shawn held up his hand, tightly wrapped in bandages from his experience two days earlier. The skin was trying to mend itself, but every time he moved his fingers, barely-healed wounds tore open.

He sighed, rewrapping his right hand. He lifted his left, gesturing the first in line forward and said, "Come on. Let's get this over with."

She was an Earth Shade – and Chinese. Energy swirled around her feet as she stepped forward, revealing her unchecked excitement. Dust and grime from the dirt floor lifted to join the fray.

Shawn coughed, covering his mouth with his bandaged hand. "In love and in trust, in peace and in wisdom, I release you. So mote it be."

The Chinese woman nodded once at Shawn, and her silky-white skin grew even brighter. Shawn grimaced as the familiar burn touched his good hand. He wasn't going to be able to hold on to his bike handlebar for weeks. Was this Sarah's way of delaying his plans? If only he could talk to her…

As the Chinese woman disappeared in a puff of smoke, Shawn glanced up at the cove high on the wall. It was dark.

A sudden blast of wind hit Shawn. He squinted, protecting his eyes from the sting as his hair and clothes flapped.

Once the wind died down, someone giggled. "Oh – sorry."

He opened one eye, then another. An elderly woman—an Air, obviously—stood hunched before him.

"I have been waiting a long time to return to the open arms of the Goddess," she said.

Shawn ran the back of his hands over his hair, trying to tame it. "May your return join together body, spirit, and Shade, giving back to the Earth what was borrowed."

The woman grinned from ear to ear and the wind started up again. Shawn stuck out his hand, turned his head and said the chant quickly before he was blown off the ledge.