“No Morgan, finish your meal first.” After a few moments, realization filled his face. “You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?” He asked.
“I have to,”
“Please be careful.”
“I will.” I shoveled an egg into my mouth and sighed, practically spitting the whole thing back out.
“When are you leaving?”
“After I’ve eaten,”
Thayde’s eyes grew wide and he shifted in his seat again.
“I have to,” I didn’t know what else to say. Admitting that he was dying, even to myself, was hard enough without saying it out loud.
Instead of arguing, he just smiled.
I wolfed my food down and once he finished as much as he could, Thayde allowed me to help him back upstairs to his bed. Mom and Aletheia hovered in the doorway, uncertain as to what they should do.
I hugged him as tight as I dared and kissed him as long as I could.
“I love you so much,” I told him. “You’re my life. Hang in there until I get this thing resolved.”
“I love you more,” he answered.
“Na-uh!”
“Ya-huh!” He kissed me once more and I pulled away from him.
I stood in the doorway for one last look and Naira took her place next to Thayde. She placed her hand on his arm as if to try and comfort him.
“Take care of him for me Naira,” I said, blowing her a kiss.
Mom embraced me in the hallway, saying nothing other than she loved me. She knew I was facing the biggest situation I’d ever faced and words just didn’t seem to fit. When I left, she went back into the room with Thayde and Naira. Aletheia followed me downstairs.
“Be very careful,” Aletheia said as we walked outside. “You must listen to your heart and what you know to be true. Don’t doubt yourself for a moment or he will win.”
We reached the beach and I planted my feet, ready for The Leap.
“You must end this for Thayde to live,” she reminded me.
“I know,” I said. She stepped back and smiled hesitantly.
“Step over your fears and move toward the destiny that is only yours. Be safe.”
“I will.” I closed my eyes.
Lord, please be with me. A calm feeling settled over me and as the golden orb began to circle me, I held my breath.
Chapter Twelve
Great Power
This time, Leaping wasn’t nearly as traumatic on my body. I felt nauseous for a brief moment before opening my eyes and taking in the devastated scene around me. I’d ended up right next to Tammer’s beloved pool in Vero Beach. Immediately, the shower of rain soaked right through me and the chilly wind beat the palm trees, bending them at odd angles, making them look as if they’d snap in two. Tammer was very angry – he’d created a hurricane.
Darting around downed coconuts and freshly torn tree branches, I sprinted into the living room, calling for Tammer. The empty hallways echoed back my greeting. After searching the main part of the house and finding it deserted, I focused on Tammer, sending a message of my own – my very first to him. I’m here.
Minutes later, Ezen rounded the corner. The normally laid back self-confessed “lounger” looked as if he’d been hit by a ten ton truck. The grey circles under his eyes were just the beginning. His skin color didn’t mirror the normally bronzed look I was used to seeing. His dreadlocks were gone – cut completely off. He looked angry, sad and tired all wrapped up in one.
“Ez!” I gave him a quick hug. “What happened to your hair?”
“That’s a long story.” Even his voice was tired. “I’m glad you’re here. Maybe you can finish this once and for all.”
“What’s going on?”
“Tammer has Limus in a holding cell where he can’t do anyone harm.” He rubbed his eyes and I noticed that he too, had lost a lot of weight.
“A holding cell? Where?”
“Downstairs.”
He pressed against the hallway wall and a small door I’d never noticed swung inward. Ezen ducked through it and I followed, creeping down a narrow twisting staircase. Once or twice we were forced to duck from spider webs draping dangerously close to our heads. I grabbed Ezen’s shoulder as we descended into the black.
“It’s okay, Morgan. We’re here.” He reassured. He must have thought I was afraid of Limus. It struck me funny that I was more concerned about the spiders.
When we reached the bottom, Ezen squeezed through an even smaller opening into a cavernous room. At the end, leaning against a wall, stood a surly Limus. A clear cell seemingly made of glass held him in a small area all on his own. Tammer sat facing him in an uncomfortable looking metal chair, his back to us.