Chosen (14 page)

             
“Seventeen!?”

             
“Seventeen,” Tina repeated for the second time with a little tone of annoyance.

             
“Seventeen,” Phoebe confirmed, still skeptical of Tina’s claim.  She was hardly convinced that the legal drinking age in Cyprus was four years less than in the U.S.

             
“Except for people named Phoebe,” Carmen teased her. “They’re only allowed sippy cups full of chocolate milk.”

             
“Hey, I like chocolate milk,” Phoebe shrugged her shoulders with a twinkle in her eye. “Especially with Bailey’s in it.”

             
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that…” Natasha muttered as she perused the menu.  The oceanfront Sienna restaurant had made a table for us next to the windows, overlooking the pristine and currently dark waters of the Mediterranean Sea.  The serene blanket of night seemed farther away than just a pane of glass, amongst the bustling sounds of the restaurant.  Tina had suggested Sienna for its relaxed, but upscale atmosphere.  White tablecloths covered the tables, while small candles on each created a romantic, but cozy ambience. 

             
Not until after our very tall waitress with a slight mustache took our orders and provided us with bread did I realize how hungry I was.  I supposed that swimming twenty miles up the coast and back will do that to a girl.  The celebratory mood at the table eased my nerves and put a smile on my face, as I began to relax and have a good time.  Or it could have been the Tequila Sunrise that I was drinking.  Either way, I was ecstatic by the time an overflowing bowl of chicken and mushroom cannelloni pasta was presented to me. 

             
In the chair next to me, Finn barely took the time to breathe before inhaling his Lamb and Leek Soutzoukakia (Tina had to pronounce that last word for us).  Across from me, Phoebe was already on her third mojito and was becoming more and more flushed as the minutes passed.  Beside her, Carmen and Ricker had barely touched their entrees. They were more concerned with each other and the details of their hushed conversation.  My heart warmed at how obvious it was that their love/hate relationship had transcended to a new level. 

             
Dessert consisted of Greek coffee, which Phoebe completely ignored in favor of her fourth cocktail.  I saw Elina raise an eyebrow at Natasha, before clinking her fork against her glass to gain everyone’s attention.

             
“Who among us has heard of Kafemandia?” Elina asked with heavy dignity.

             
“Kathemannia?” Phoebe proceeded to butcher the beautiful Greek language.

             
“Almost,” Natasha inserted with a smile. “Kafemandia is Greek for Tasseography.”  After several blank stares Elina continued; un-phased by our lack of culture.

             
“Kafemandia is the art of reading one’s future in the grounds of coffee or leaves of tea.  It originated from the Chinese monks of old.  The residual coffee grounds left within the demitasse, or small cup, can be interpreted to explain your past and present, as well as to predict your future,” she explained mysteriously.

             
“I’m pretty sure mine are saying I need another round of Jack Daniels,” Ricker eyed his tea cup with a sneer.  He jumped as Finn kicked him under the table, making sure that Finn saw the middle finger he was dramatically scratching his eyebrow with.  Thankfully, Elina ignored him with unabated grace.

             
“Kafemandia has been passed down for generations in my family.  If you would like, I’d be happy to read your grounds once you finish,” Elina said with a twinkle in her eye. 

             
“I think I’ve had enough supernatural shows for one day,” Carmen muttered stubbornly.  I could see the tiny wheels turning in Willow’s head as she drank hers in one long sip.  I downed my small tea cup of foamy, rich liquid in a matter of minutes and saw the leftover coffee grounds settling around the bottom.  No wonder it was so potent! I wondered why they even bothered creating a drink.  A person could chew on the coffee beans and achieve the same result.  With everything weighing on my mind, I decided that the chances of me allowing Elina to read my future were slim to none.  I knew all too well what my future held, and I didn’t want to be reminded.  Tina gleefully finished her cup and handed it to Elina dutifully.

             
Elina silently took the cup, tilted it on its side and twisted it clockwise three times, allowing some sludge to drip out onto her empty plate.  I was trying to pay attention, but the realization that I had just drunk something that resembled a mud pie made my stomach churn.  Elina proceeded to set the cup down and placed her hand over the top.  She closed her eyes for a split second, and then peeked inside.  Tina leaned over as far as she possibly could, as Elina inspected the contents.

             
“The grounds on the bottom of the cup represent your past.  The middle or sides of the cup represent your present, and the top rim of the cup represents your future.  The grounds will form certain symbols, which is what I will use to discern the meaning.”  We watched on eagerly (and skeptically) as she continued to decipher Tina’s coffee grounds.

             
“It would appear someone has been slacking on their studies…” she began with a telling frown. Tina’s face shaded bright red as Elina continued. “You’re extremely happy and feel much gratitude for being in your present company.” Tina’s smile widened, but her face turned an even deeper shade of red. “It would appear that a new love interest will soon come under a revelation that will alter their path in your direction.” The white of Tina’s eyes became visible as they grew larger. 

             
“Do mine! Do mine!” Phoebe waved her cup at Elina, taking the attention off of a relieved Tina.  Elina somehow snagged Phoebe’s waving tea cup and repeated the motions of spreading out the coffee grounds.

             
“At the bottom of your cup I see a tree on fire.” Phoebe gasped, but Elina continued steadily. “This means that you have gone through a period of change and growth…a renewal of sorts.” Phoebe let out her breath and squeezed Carmen’s arm.  “I clearly see a waterfall on the side, which means you’ve had enough to drink.” She raised an eyebrow at Phoebe.  I had a feeling that whatever symbol she had found on the sides of the cup represented Phoebe needing to be cut off.  “And in your future I see one continuous ring, which means much happiness in friendships and love.”

             
“Wow!” Phoebe delicately took her cup from Elina and peered inside. “Can I keep my cup as a souvenir?”

             
“I think petty theft is frowned upon in most countries,” Ricker snickered.

             
“Do Stasia’s next!” Willow exclaimed, stealing my cup and handing it to Elina.  Unable to snatch it away from her, I could only await the inevitable.  My stomach gurgled again as she went through the motions and inspected the remaining contents.

             
“You have experienced so many traumas at the hands of others.” She furrowed her brow as she continued, “But the phoenix I see tells me that you’ve gone through a rather amazing transformation; well on the way to becoming a beautiful, powerful creature.”  I felt my own face heat up as everyone turned to smile knowingly at me.  Finn put his arm around me and squeezed me tight.

             
“Anxiety and immense pressure fill your current reality, as seen by the herd of elephants running around the sides of your cup.”

             
“Herd of Elephants?” Phoebe giggled.

             
“That’s not what you’d normally want running around your cup,” Ricker quipped, “or anywhere for that matter.”

             
“Whoa, who are
they
?” Willow interrupted with a loud gasp, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the restaurant where a large group of people had arrived. 

             
“Auras,” Tina answered with a scowl.  The entire restaurant appeared to glow in the group’s presence.  Made up of five rather obvious couples, they followed the hostess to a table near ours. I’m surprised that I didn’t see the tether of a leash on each of the guys, as the girls gripped their arms with an air of ownership.  Their dark brown hair was offset by startling pale skin and light silvery-gray eyes. Something tickled at my memory, as I watched the first girl walk towards us.  Her slender frame easily maneuvered between the tables as her calculating eyes swept over us.  Her shoulder length hair fell perfectly around her face, and the glittering silver top she wore matched the silver of her eyes.  Black skinny jeans were topped off by silver high heels and a black clutch. Still looking down her nose at us, she lifted her chin ever so slightly, not bothering to smile or acknowledge us.  Each person behind her followed suit, completely ignoring us.

             
Besides their pretentious, imperious attitudes, the other things that struck me were the glass orbs that hung from the silver chains around their necks.  It instantly reminded me of the woman in the soul-stealing vision I had on the plane.  She had the same type of necklace, except that hers pulsed with light. 

             
“What’s an Aura?” Phoebe whispered to Tina with saucer-shaped eyes.

             
“They’re one of the orders at Eventide,” Tina explained dryly. “Descendents of the moon goddess Selene.  As you can see, they don’t believe in associating with lesser beings.  A.K.A., everyone else.”

             
“Seriously?  An entire Order of snobs?” Phoebe scrunched up her nose in disgust.

             
“Pretty much.  They only date and marry other Auras, too.  They believe that having offspring with someone in another Order diminishes the purity of their essence.”

             
“They sound like well-adjusted, open minded people,” Ricker chuckled with sarcasm. “Think they’d want to join us at the Inferior Beings table?”

             
“We should pretend they aren’t there,” Elina censured us. “Each Order is free to practice their own beliefs and traditions.  It is not our place to judge them, just as it is not their place to judge us.  Speaking of traditions…let’s continue our reading, shall we?”

             
We tore our eyes away from the Auras, who were barely even speaking to the waitress tasked with obtaining their drink orders.  As Elina inspected my cup again, I recognized a warming sensation at my side where my purse hung from my chair.  I twisted around and searched through it for the source of the heat.

             
“And your future appears to hold….” Elina’s breath appeared to catch in her throat, just as I wrapped my fingers around what I recognized as my moonstone. I had begun to carry it everywhere in memory of my mother.  I pulled it from my purse, but all curiosity was lost when Elina dropped my cup suddenly and stared at me; stunned. “Death.”

             
What did she just say?  Death!? The blood drained from my face and the air left my lungs as my world flipped upside down.  I clenched onto Finn’s arm and tried to steady myself.

             
“Stasia!  Your moonstone!” Natasha gasped.  I looked down at the moonstone still clutched in my left hand, which was now glowing - pulsing a silvery light.  A pulsing light that reminded me of the woman in my vision’s necklace once again.  Feeling eyes on me, I looked up into the eyes of all ten Auras, who were now openly gaping at me.  I gasped at what I saw.  The glass orbs hanging from their necklaces were now glowing; pulsing in cadence with my moonstone.  My last vision came crashing back to me.
A crescent shaped beach
.  Just like the beach at Aphrodite’s Rock. 
White stone boulders.
  Just like the ones surrounding Aphrodite’s rock. 
A full moon.
My eyes flew up to the full moon peeking out of the clouds, which had been building all afternoon. My vision was going to take place at Aphrodite’s Rock.  The next thing I knew, I was running.

             
I ran past the now wide-eyed Auras, past the startled hostesses who unsuccessfully tried to hold the door open for me, over the railing, and across the beach until I finally made it to my destination.  The sea.  The details of my vision revolved in my mind like a ferris wheel gone wild.  The rocks, the crescent beach, the glowing orb, the woman who could only be the Moon goddess the Auras descended from.  The pale skin, dark hair, and silver eyes.  I had no idea what the vision meant, or why it had happened.  All I knew was that I needed to stop it.

             
Death. Elina’s last word also circulated through my thoughts. Torturing my already tortured soul, I pledged silently that it didn’t matter - as long as I could save those people on the beach.  Maybe if I could get to them in time, I could stop it.  I could make a difference!  If I died saving them, then so be it. 

             
The sea’s crashing waves felt like a soft blanket on a cool night, surrounding my heart and energizing my muscles.  I found the moonstone still in my hand and shoved it into my jeans pocket before diving underwater; swimming as fast as I could.  I propelled myself through the water with incredible force and speed, surprising even myself.  As the rain fell on the surface, a frenzy of energy swirled around me.  Schools of fish suddenly came alive, darting back in forth with the cadence of the rain above.  It was as if the sea was feeding off of the turbulent energy from above.  I pulled from it and let it take over, filling every fiber of my being with its strength. 

             
As the bottom changed from sandy to rocky, I knew I was close.  Allowing my instinct to guide me, I darted toward shore.  The grass covering the boulders below danced in the chaotic rhythm of the waves and I could feel the excitement every living being fell victim to at the falling rain.  It was if the sea was celebrating.  Celebrating a part of itself returning after a long journey. 

             
As I made my way on shore, I realized I had lost my shoes at some point during my swim. I clamored over the rocky shoreline that swept the area.  The pouring rain made it impossible to see and even more impossible to walk.  It hadn’t been raining in my vision, but what about when the rain let up?  What about tomorrow?  The next day?  I strained to remember if there was any trace of rain in my vision, but I couldn’t remember.  The more time that went by, the hazier the memory of my visions became. 

             
My feet slipped on the slippery rocks of the beach and I tumbled sideways, landing hard on my side and scraping my leg.  I pushed myself back up and continued, only to slip again.  This time a pair of arms caught me mid-fall, securing me and softening the landing as we both tumbled onto the rocks.  I felt the pain of several more bruises as my legs slammed into a couple sharp ones.

             
“Nice night for a swim,” Finn’s sarcastic voice tickled my ear, momentarily hypnotizing me. 

             
“Let me go, I have to find them!” I yelled back at him, attempting to stand back up.  Unfortunately, he easily overpowered my efforts.

             
“You’re not finding anybody in this weather.”

             
“I have to try!” I struggled against his strong arms to no avail.

             
“Stasia, calm down.”

             
“I’ll calm down when I figure out why the hell I keep having visions that don’t make sense!” I yelled at him, tears burning behind my eyes. “I have to watch a bunch of people have their souls ripped out of their bodies with no clue as to who they are, where they are, or most importantly
when
they are!”

             
“Just because you have a vision about something doesn’t mean you are supposed to hunt to the ends of the earth to find it and prevent it,” he said calmly. “Some things are meant to happen.  Fate and destiny are stronger than any vision, any essence, or any ability.”

             
“Then why do I have them?  Why can’t I have a vision about something good?  Why do I have to watch people die!?”

             
“It just takes time-“

             
“I don’t have time!” I yelled back at him. “All of this!  You’ve had time to figure all of this out!  I’ve had months, Finn!  Months! And each day I’m closer to my eighteenth birthday.  Each day I’m closer to confronting Keto.  Each day I’m closer to-“

             
“…fulfilling your destiny.” Finn interrupted. “Why can’t you see how special you are?  If your mother didn’t believe you could do this, she wouldn’t have Chosen you.”

             
“Well being Chosen isn’t as great as it’s cracked up to be, if you ask me.”

             
“Welcome to my life,” Finn muttered and chuckled in spite of himself. “Being Chosen isn’t supposed to be fun or easy.  It’s hard - it’s very hard…which is why it’s not given out freely.  Only those who can handle it are given the responsibilities and pressures that come along with it.”

             
“I feel like my abilities work against me half the time.  They distract me or backfire on me!  How can I concentrate on what I’m supposed to do when I’m having visions constantly about people dying and horrible things happening?  How can I concentrate on what I’m
supposed
to do, when I know Nadia is out there, waiting for me to stumble so she can kick me when I’m down?”

             
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but you’ll figure it out.  Once you begin to control and harness your abilities, it will all begin to fall into place,” Finn explained. “You have to trust me on that.  When we return to Lorelei, Mom will make sure your only priority is to practice your abilities. I have a feeling the new Maven will not disagree.”

             
I gave up my fight and sagged against him, leaning my head back on his shoulder.  I let his darkness wrap around me and soothe my heart.  “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I murmured.

             
“You’d probably have a broken leg,” he joked. “These rocks are no joke.  Let’s get you someplace dry.”

             
He helped me up and we delicately made our way across the rocky beach, toward a rock that was shaped like a giant letter ‘n’ stepping into the ocean; one leg on the beach, while the other was underwater.  Beneath its arch the waves were slowly crawling toward the other leg, so that the sand beneath was wet, but we were still shielded from the rain.  I sat down on the wet sand and stretched my legs out, allowing the water to slosh over them again and again.

             
“We could be in one of those Giorgio for Men cologne commercials right now, and not even know it.”

             
“I was in a commercial like that once,” Finn contemplated. 

             
“You were!?”

             
“No,” he smirked.

             
“I hate you,” I splashed water up at him.

             
“Aw, you don’t mean that,” he mewed, moving closer to me.  I inched away from him and crossed my arms.

             
“Oh yes I do.”

             
“I bet I can change your mind.”

             
“I doubt it,” I retorted, instantly regretting it when I saw the knowing look in his eye.

             
“Challenge accepted.” He grinned at me like a panther about to go in for the kill, and I was fully aware I was the kill.  What I wasn’t aware of was the fact that it had started to storm.  Lightning struck nearby, sending a shockwave across the beach that lit up the night with its flash.  I shrieked out and instinctively moved towards Finn, who pulled me close.

             
“I knew I could change your mind,” he chuckled.  I didn’t miss the smug smile on his face. “You didn’t know I could control lightning, did you?”

             
“I hope the next one hits you.” I rolled my eyes at his phony claim, inwardly relishing the feel of his arms and the comfort of his body beside mine.  As if on cue, another bolt of lightning shot across the sky and sent the resulting thunder over the water and onto the beach; rattling my insides with its tenor.
              “Careful Pasha, you never know what you might be capable of.” He grinned, leaning towards me and nuzzling my neck. “Burnt-to-a-crisp-Finn was not on the menu for tonight.”

             
“I’m pretty sure I can’t control anything that powerful,” I laughed his comment off and shivered at the feel of his breath on my neck.

             
“I beg to differ,” he whispered in my ear.  As the warmth of his mouth met the rain-soaked skin of my neck, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to become lost in his touch. As his lips ran along my collarbone, I suddenly needed to feel them against my own.  I leaned forward, pushing him off of me and against the rock.  I let my knees slide on either side of him as he pulled me closer.  I ran my fingers through his wet hair and clenched it tightly in my hands as I leaned down to kiss him.  As the storm intensified, he ran his hands up and down my back as he pulled me against him and deepened our kiss, sending me into a world of sheer bliss.  The energy of the storm had nothing on the energy and heat we were producing.

             
With his hands on either side of my waist, he put a slight distance between us; taking a moment for his eyes to linger on mine before they roamed down to my lips, along my shoulder and finally to the shirt that now clung to me, accentuating everything underneath.  His hands migrated to the bottom of my shirt when his eyes met mine once more, before he pulled it up over my head and discarded it onto the rain-soaked sand.  (Thank goodness I’d worn one of my more lacy bras.)  His eyes drank me in as they widened slightly, and a sweet grin danced across his lips.  Chills popped up on my skin as I tugged off his shirt, which ended up next to mine on the beach. 

             
He slowly traced the skin around my bra with a light finger, sending even more chills down my skin.   Once done, he leaned forward and his lips followed the same course; his tongue occasionally making an appearance, raking my insides with warmth.  His teasing touch drove me insane as I felt myself swell for more beneath the lacy fabric.  I reached back and unclasped my bra, slowly shrugged it off and slung it aside. 

             
“Wow…” he muttered breathlessly.  Nervous giggles escaped my lips, and I suppressed the urge to cover myself as I sensed my cheeks flush. “You’re so beautiful.”

             
He wrapped me in his arms, and the feel of his firm chest pressing against mine unraveled me.  Every part of me suddenly came alive - warming and pulsing with desire.  He kissed me softly and slowly, as his hands gently investigated the tender skin of my chest.  As he cupped and caressed me, his kisses deepened and an intense feeling of closeness and safety warmed my heart.  Allowing myself complete vulnerability to his touch, his acceptance, and his love freed me of the abusive words and judgments of my troubled past; healing something inside me I didn’t realize needed healing. 

             
Feeling way too restricted by the heaviness of my soaked jeans, I stood.  Never breaking his gaze, I slipped them off and kicked them aside.  As he stood I noticed he was biting his lip, almost nervously waiting for me to make the next move.  I grasped the waistband of his jeans and pulled him towards me.  As I unbuttoned his jeans and let them drop to the sand, he tucked my wet hair behind my ears and smiled.

             
“I think I’ve had this dream before,” he smiled down at me, alluding to our last beach encounter on Shackleford Banks.  I didn’t miss the way he stumbled over his words nervously. “I keep finding myself half-naked on a faraway beach with the most amazing girl in the world.”

             
“That’s funny,” I grinned. “I’ve had that very same dream!”

             
“On a faraway beach with the most amazing girl in the world?” he raised an eyebrow.

             
“Okay, so maybe there was one slight difference in my dream…” I giggled. 

             
“Shew,” he wiped his brow. “I was starting to get worried there for a minute.”

             
My laugh came out a little too spastic, and I realized that our rambling was an effort to hide our nerves.  But I was in uncharted territory, and I had no idea what I was doing.  All I knew was that I didn’t want to stop.  We gazed at each other in nervous silence, before he took a step towards me and his face turned serious.  He wrapped one arm around me and swept me up into his arms, gently lying me back down on the sand.  The chill of the ground below me was quickly erased by the heat of his body as he lay down on top of me.  At the pressure of his weight, a sharp pain erupted beneath one of my butt cheeks and I cried out in pain.  Finn jumped off of me so fast, I almost missed it.

             
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

             
I searched for the sharp culprit beneath me and produced a sharp piece of something brown.