“You’re telling me we should just give up?” My throat tightened.
“No, we’re telling you that you must find another way.” Hadassah rubbed her fingertips across her lips. “I know you are young – the youngest ruler we’ve ever had. But you inherited the memories and teachings of every ruler before you. Have you attempted to access them?”
“Yes, I have.”
Aletheia’s eyes grew wide. “When?”
“In Moorea just after I found out.”
“You don’t wait around, do you?” Hadassah smiled warmly.
“I thought rulers were supposed to do that.”
“No, they will take a moment to think. You must think before you act, otherwise you will not be a good ruler. Many times, problems will solve themselves.”
“Yeah, so I’ve learned.” I felt defeated before I began.
Thayde’s cell phone rang, filling the pause in conversation. “I’m sorry!” He pulled it from his pocket and regarded the screen with trepidation. “I’ve got to take this,” he said and left the room as he answered the phone.
I looked back at my aunt and Hadassah sitting elegantly on my parent’s white couches. Aletheia wore the same attire she always wore; silky, flowing, colorful dresses. This time, she was clad in ice blue.
Hadassah was wrapped in yards of magenta fabric that popped against her skin and the couch. With their strange eye color, they were a magnificent looking pair.
Lars plopped down beside Aletheia. As usual, he was a definite contrast to her. Clothed in blue jeans and a white long sleeved shirt, he looked from a different time all together. He pushed his sun glasses further back on his head, clearing his long blonde hair from his face.
“So Morgan,” he began, his Australian accent heavy, “how’s the honeymoon been?”
“Good Lars, how’ve you been?” I threw the question back, annoyed to make small talk.
“I’ve been very good. You’ll be happy to know I’ve stopped hunting for sport.”
This was a surprise and I couldn’t help but smile. “Really? What made you change your mind?”
“Not what, but who,” he retorted and poked Aletheia in the side.
Aletheia had changed his mind. Clearly, she was able to control Lars’ uncontrollable behavior – I would have killed him by now. Don’t get me wrong, Lars was a good guy, but he irritated me to no end.
“Thank you Lars, many good creatures will thank you as well.” I said and he nodded. “Okay, let’s get back to the problem at hand.” Both women glanced at each other. “What can we do to stop this? I’ve searched through all the memories and I’ve come up with nothing. Is there nothing in your teachings, no gossip I can use to try and save Naira?”
“All I can suggest is meeting with Naira,” Hadassah said leaning forward. “This you must do while in limbo.”
“A meeting? Just what exactly am I supposed to do in this ‘meeting’?” I asked, amazed she was suggesting such a thing.
“You must ask her if she wishes to continue living,”
“What? Of course she’ll want to continue to live! Are you crazy?”
“You must let me finish,” Hadassah’s accent grew stronger. “Sometimes, being in limbo is easier than dealing with the pain. You know this.”
She was right. Limbo was painless and an easy way to maneuver. Hadassah continued.
“But you also know the longer you are in limbo, the quicker your body dies. If she wishes to stay in limbo, she shall die for certain. If she chooses to come back, she may live longer, but regretfully, I do not foresee her getting better.”
“And she’ll be in agony the entire time? That’s it? Those are the choices?”
Both agreed.
“That’s not good enough,” I stood, the weight of the world breaking my shoulders. “It’s not good enough.” My voice rose with my despair.
Hadassah watched me pace the room. Her next comment brought me to a complete stand still.
“You must also consider, not everyone you meet will necessarily need or want your help. Not everyone wants to be healed. Not everyone is as unhappy as they seem. As a ruler, you must think before you act. This situation with Naira is not all it seems. Think before you act, always.”
It was too much too soon. I crossed my arms and closed my eyes. I wasn’t able to focus.
“Sorry about that!” Thayde stepped back into the living room, slipping his cell phone into his pocket. “Morgan, we need to go. Now.”
I didn’t want to go anywhere.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
Thayde slid one of the glass doors open. “I have to go to Limus’s house.”