Entry: 2
- Questions
“What’s her problem?” The stranger asked while he ate his ice cream.
Sage rolled his eyes and groaned.
“Her ‘problem’ is you! Idiot. Wow you are so thick.” He stated with a chuckle.
“Hey don’t get all snappy with me dude. You’re like what? Nine?”
“Eleven. I’m eleven.”
“Whatever. Who is she?”
Sage smacked his forehead.
“That’s Almera! I mean come on! It’s so obvious!”
That stopped him dead in his tracks. Jay’s eyes grew wide and his jaw locked.
“Yeah. A.K.A Finnley Leavenworth you dolt. The girl you’ve been denying for the past year! The thing is…She could see all that. Nice going. Come on.”
He hopped off the stool and grabbed Jay by his arm, towing him out of the parlor and up the street.
Almera was across the street in a park taking photos of what ever she felt like it. She was focusing on a rock, but her hands were shaking so bad that she dropped the camera.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and bent over to pick it up. Sitting down on the rock, she held her head in her hand and her shoulders shook as the sobs choked in her throat.
“Look what you did.” Sage said, giving Jay a glare as he made his way across the street and over to her.
Jay watched in torment as the eleven year old, short kid pulled out a tissue and handed it to Finnley.
She glanced up at him and managed a sad smile.
Sage gripped her hand and knelt down next to her. She wrapped her arms around him and cried into his shoulder.
A shock of pain ran through Jay’s chest. He lowered his eyes and shoved his hands into his pocket.
“Just promise me one thing…that’s all I ask.”
That’s all she ever asked of him. One simple thing. And he blew it. He made a massive mess out of everything.
He wasn’t there to catch her when she fell, he didn’t hear her when she called. He just caused more pain for her.
And now here she was right in front of him, broken and in tears.
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and tried to figure everything out.
He never wanted to hurt her. That was the last thing he wanted to do. But he found it to be the only way to protect her. To keep her safe. But…maybe he was wrong.
“Come on. Her mom wants to talk to you.” Sage was standing in front of him and he gestured with his head to the apartment building.
He let the kid lead the way as they entered the building.
Jay took a glance over at the girl on the rock who met him with bright green eyes.
A wave of shame washed over him as he walked up the stairs.
Upstairs he was prepared for a mad driven mother that would beat him, and tell him to leave and never talk to her daughter again.
But Mrs. Leavenworth always surprised him.
Coming into the room she sighed and looked him up and down.
“Well looks who’s back from the dead.” She muttered. “Here to break her heart again?”
Jay shook his head.
“No ma’am. I didn’t know she was here. Honest.”
She gave a sigh as she put the dish towel down.
“I know. But tell me Jayson. Or who ever you are. Why did you go and hurt her like that? She could see everything. She still can.”
“I-I was just trying to protect her.”
“One lousy job.” Sage muttered. Mrs. Leavenworth glared at him and he left the room.
“Oh Jayson. You shouldn’t have had to break her heart for that. She knew what you were trying to do. But doing it in the way that you did was wrong. If you truly wanted to protect her, then you should have stayed with her.”
“I couldn’t! She…she would have changed. And no I don’t mea for better. But I mean…she would have became a…a-”
“A Hyven? Yeah we know. She already is one.”
Jay’s eyes grew wide.
“What?”
“Yes darling. How do you think she knew you would be in the mall at the exact time you were? She can see the future. Which is how she knew what you were doing.”
Jayson groaned and ran his hands through his hair.
“This wasn’t suppose to happen.” He murmured.
“Honey, lots of things weren’t suppose to happen. But that’s what God’s for. He’s there to guide us through the dark. To turn on the lights. Now get out there and apologize.” She pointed to the door with a determined look and he knew he had better do as she said.
Jayson walked outside and took a shaky breath. He was born to kill stuff. Not to deal with girls. He was horrible at this stuff!
But he gritted his teeth and walked across the street.
Sage was sitting with her again. But as he came closer, her got up and walked to him.
Sage glared at him and his expression told Jay that if he made one wrong move, he’d kill him.
Sage then left and, Jay walked up to Finnley.
She sighed and got up, not making eye contact she picked up her bag and walked away from him.
“Finn wait!”
She stopped short and looked up at the sky.
Jay walked up to her, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“No one calls me ‘Finn’ anymore.” She whispered. Wiping the tears away from her face.
“You were the last one to call me that. Now I go by my real name.”
“You’ll always be Finnley to me.” He said quietly.
She scoffed.
“Awesome. More grief for me.” She caste him a dark glance and started walking again.
“You know why I had to do it.” He called after her.
She sighed and turned to him.
“No. I don’t I really don’t. You go around and deny that I ever lived! That you ever knew me! When Tanya asked about me, you just gave her a blank look like you had no idea what you were talking about! The worst part…the sickest part is that you actually thought you were sparring me from pain! I can’t believe I was so naive! I can’t believe I actually fell for you.” She shook her head and walked off.
“It’s not just you Finn!” He yelled. She stopped again and he walked up behind her.
“Every time…I had to say I didn’t know you it broke me down till there was nothing left of me. It’s not just you. You cry every night. You walk around with tears on your sleeve, well mine aren’t exactly dry either. Finn…” He tugged gently at her shoulder. She reluctantly turned around and tried to look everywhere but his eyes.
He cupped her chin and lifted her face.
“I never meant to break your heart. You know me. You know that’s the last thing I ever wanted to do. I honestly never thought I’d see you again. I intended to keep my promise. Honest. I was going to come back. But…you had disappeared when I went back to your house.”
“Then why did you not hunt me down?”
“Because I knew if I did that, I could lead people that wanted you dead, strait to you. I thought about it every night. It’s not just you that’s been hurting. It’s me too. Do you think it was easy for me? Denying the only girl I’ve ever cared about? I wasn’t going to give up. I knew if God wanted us together for some reason, he’d make away. I’m willing to start over. Ok? I don’t want to loose you all over again. Please…”
Finnley shook her head and took a step back.
“Jay I-I can’t just forget it all that quickly. Like it never happened.”
He nodded and shoved his hands back into his pockets.
“I know. I just hope one day you can forgive me. I can make back the hurt if you give me a chance. I’m not going anywhere now. And I’m willing to beg till I break my knees. I’m sorry for the pain…I promise I’ll change. You’re a treasure I let slip through my fingers once…I’m not going to do it again.”
He turned around and walked away, leaving a stunned Finnley in his wake.
She shook her head and fresh tears surfaced. She took off running the opposite way.
++++
She ran as fast as she could, till she finally ran out of breath.
Stopping a long ways into the park. Her heart pounding she burst out into sobs again.
“God…I don’t know what you want from me? Why do you want me to go through all of this? What’s the gain? I’m not seeing it…I-I can’t see it…”
She sobbed and fell to her knees.
“I don’t see the point! I just…I just don’t…”
“Young lady…?”
Almera looked up and saw an elderly man in his mid forties standing over her.
“You have courage.” He offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet.
“If anyone in the world can help you, it’s the Lord. He’s always faithful to those who trust him. I don’t pretend to know your problems Almera, just keep your faith. God is always listening, and he always answers.”
She wiped the corner of her eyes and gazed the man.
“Um…thank you?”
“Don’t forget it, Tinkerbell.”
He gave her a smile and walked off.
Almera stood stunned for a long minute.
“Tinkerbell.”
Only one man in her entire life called her Tinkerbell.
“Dad?”
She turned around to see if the man was still there, but he had disappeared. Like he was never there to begin with.
She sighed and walked back towards her house. A little more relieved now that she had poured her heart out to the Lord. She wasn’t sure she wanted to face Jayson yet, but she didn’t necessarily want to stay away from him either.
Walking around the back of the apartment building, she climbed up the emergency ladder and onto a back patio that was just off her room. She had pretty much made it her own den really. She had decorated it with Christmas lights, with blankets and lots of black and white photographs.
Opening up the window she jumped into her room and looked around for her iPod.
Pausing past the door, she heard hushed voices talking, she didn’t want to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t over hear Jayson and her mom talking.
She sighed and plugged her earphones in. Turning up Tobymac’s ’Wonderin’ she stepped back out the window.
Outside on the patio she closed her eyes and focused on the beat.
She danced till she was sweating and needed a shower. Pulling out her earphones, she gave a sigh and climbed back through the window.
“Still dance huh?”
She jumped as Jayson showed up behind her.
“Why do you always do that?” She asked as she walked over to her closet.
“Do what?”
She rolled her eyes and pulled off her hat, while she grabbed a green gauze skirt and a blouse.
“You always sneak up on me and freak me out. It’s rather annoying.”
She stated. Undoing the buttons on her shirt, Jayson freaked out.
“Whoa! Finn what the heck?!” He cried.
She gave him a ‘duh’ look and opened her shirt, revealing a grey tank top underneath.
“What do you think I’d actually…?” She chuckled and shook her head as she scooped up her fresh set of clothes.
“In your dreams.” She murmured as she walked past him on her way to the bathroom.
Jay shook his head and walked out of her room.
“Ok…mental note to self: never even think about going in a girls room again.” He ordered.
“Dude. I could have told you that!” Sage yelled at him from his spot on the couch.
“Oh shut up.”
“Boys. Watch your mouths.” Mrs. Leavenworth warned.
Jayson nodded and walked into the kitchen.
“Need any help?” He offered, while Finnley’s mom bustled around the kitchen.
“Oh sure. I can always use help. Uh…here, just cut these up.”
She gestured to the tomatoes that were sitting on a cutting board.
Jayson went strait to work and chopped up the tomatoes in no time.
“Ok, you can chop up the parsley now, and onions. Careful with those they’ll make you cry.” Mrs. Leavenworth instructed.
Finnley came out of the shower a little while latter and pulled a brush through her long hair.
She wore a Mexican styled blouse with a multicolored skirt that flowed out all around her as she spun gracefully around the corners.
“Hi mom-whoa…”
Jayson glanced up and smiled at her.
“I never knew you could cook.” She remarked stepping closer, and peering over his shoulder.
“Well I’ve been on my own for a while now. Kind of need to learn how to take care of yourself.”
She nodded.
“Well that’s nice. By the way, is that actually your hair color? Or is it blond? Or black, or…red?”
She asked, tugging at the ends of his blond hair.
“No, it’s actually brown. Truly.”
“Oh…” A grin appeared on her face as she spun away. “You look better as a blond.”
Jay rolled his eyes and she laughed as she went to her room.
She was only there a second, before she was back again, helping her mom make tortillas.
“So you can bake as well?” He asked.
She smiled.
“Not so well.”
“Oh don’t be silly.” Her mom protested. “She makes a mean apple pie.”
Almera blushed and concentrated on kneading the dough.
“You’ll have to make it some time.” Jay continued.
She chuckled.
“I’ll see what I can do. But not tonight. Because apple pie does not by any means, go with Mexican food.” She took the stack of unbaked round, floppy disks over to the other counter and turned on the stove with a frying pan on it.
Jay chuckled and moved on to the parsley.
“So what am I making with this?” He asked.
“We’re making salsa. Homemade salsa.” Almera said in a song voice.
“Please no more singing!” Sage cried.
Almera slapped the back of his head as she lifted a tray above his head.
“I’m not that bad!” She protested.
“No. But it gets annoying after a while!”
Almera rolled her eyes and set to work fixing tortillas.
“How hungry are you Sage?” She asked.
“Starved!” He said with lots of exaggeration.
“Uh-huh. Jay?”
“Uh…not so hungry.”
She nodded and plopped the dough into the pan.
Time went by fast as they made their food.
They all laughed when Sage started to try and reclaim attention by telling some of the most absurd stories.
They continued exchanging stories as they sat down to eat after they blessed the food.
When they dug in, things died down.
But not for long.
“So…what do we call you?” Mrs. Leavenworth inquired. Jay hadn’t thought about that.
“Uh…”
“Do you have a real name?” She clarified.
“A real name?” He wasn’t sure what that meant. Almera swallowed her bite.
“Like your birth name.”
“Oh! Um…” He hesitated a moment.
“Been using a fake name so long, you’ve forgotten your real one?” Sage scoffed. “That’s just sad.”
Mrs. Leavenworth glared at him as they all started to get up and clear the dinning room table.
“You two go catch up.” Finnley’s mom suggested.
“Mom-”
“No. I’ll have Sage help me with the dishes. You two need to get things strait.”
Almera nodded and walked back into her room.
“Behave!” Mrs. Leavenworth growled at Jay. Who nodded with wide eyes.
Finn came back out with one of her many vintage cameras and a leather satchel on her shoulder.
“Well come on then.” She called.
Jay watched Almera from the corner of his eye as she snapped pictures of seemingly random things.
“I’m working on putting together a portfolio for school.” She explained.
“I’d say you have more then enough pictures already.” He pointed out. Meaning her whole back wall of her room, which was covered in various pictures.
She smiled but didn’t answer.
“So, what is your real name?” She asked.
Jay sighed and glanced up at the old movie theater sign.
“Liam.” He said finally. “My real name is Liam.”
Finnley nodded for a moment before she chuckled.
“My name is Almera. That’s my real name as well.” She said quietly.
“Then why did you go by…?”
She hung her head slightly as she messed with the lanyard that hung on the sides of her camera.
“Same reason you didn’t go by your real name.” She replied.
Liam’s brow furled.
Almera sighed.
“You’re going to have to leave it at that. I can’t tell you any more here.”
Liam nodded. Knowing full well what she meant.
“So…did you read it?” He asked.
Almera inhaled sharply.
“Yes I did. Several thousand times over. Each time it’s more confusing.”
“Can I read it?”
She nodded immediately.
“I’ve got it hidden right now, but yes. You can read it.”
There was a moment of silence as Almera warned herself.
Be careful Finnley! You don’t know him. Not really.
It’s been a year. Lots can happen in a year…He’s not the Jayson you use to know.
“What does it say?” He asked finally.
Almera sighed and stopped to take a picture of an old fashioned lamp post with flower pots hanging from it.
“It gives a warning. Talks about the princess, what she’s suppose to do. The Templars and how their suppose to protect her. Something about a husband…or something.”
“What?!”
She took a deep breath and calmed down her nerves.
“Who’s husband?” He hissed as an elderly couple walked by.
“I shouldn’t have told you that.” She mumbled. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you that. I knew you’d…over react. And then gat mad and then…” She went silent suddenly as her eyes glazed over and she reached out and gripped Liam’s arm hard.
The flash past and she let go slowly.
He took a step closer and bore into her heart through the gateway of her eyes.
Knowing herself and him well. Almera knew he would find the answer he wanted.
“Come with me.” She muttered, turning around and dashing across the road.
Liam had, indeed, learned the answers he wanted. But he wasn’t sure how he felt about either of them.
Almera led him across town to the edge of the near-by forest.
Liam walked up calmly next to her.
She noticed his outward appearance of calmness, stopped there. Below that, he was really trying not to freak out.
She smiled.
“Come on. We wont get lost.” She said, reassuringly.
“You sure?” He asked as she walked over the large roots of the twenty, thirty foot tall trees.
“Yes I’m sure. I come in here all the time.” He answered as she continued to walk through the forest.
Liam glanced up at the pink and orange painted sky.
He groaned and followed her.
Almera led him deep into the forest. She knew this path by heart. Seeing as she was the one that made it.
By the third time Liam asked if they were there get, she stopped in front of a large, large tree.
“Yes.” She said, turning to him with a smile. “We are here.
She hiked her skirts up, revealing her brown hiking boots.
She crawled over the roots of the large tree and pulled out her wand.
Bending down she gently tapped a root.
Liam stood back and gapped as the root untangled its self from the others, and the ground.
It didn’t stop till it was curled up like a chameleon’s tail above Almera’s head.
She reached down into the dirt and Liam watched as bugs crawled up her arm, which she calmly disposed of.
Finally, after what seemed like eons, Almera pulled out an old leather notebook. Sighing with content, she rose from her perch and walked over to Liam.
“This, I believe, is what you are looking for.” She said kindly. “But you can read it once we get back home. I don’t like being out here in the dark.”
Liam agreed as he watched her place the root back to where it belonged.
He was surprised by the fact that (if possible) Finnley had become more graceful as she glided across the forest floor.
But not only that.
She had become more beautiful as well.
But not because she wore makeup, or had changed her hairstyle.
He realized it was really her soul.
She had been so lost in the Lord this past year, and she had matured so much in her spiritual life that it glowed all about her. And it was something, he never wanted to see go out.
“So you’re in photography now huh?”
Liam asked as they walked back into town.
Almera nodded and looked down at her black and silver camera.
“Yeah…”
“When did you get into it?”
“Right after you left. Things got real topsy-turvy. I see things better through a viewfinder. Always have, probably always will.” She said with a chuckle.
Lifting the camera to her eye, she snapped Liam’s picture.
“How do you know if you got a good picture?” He asked. Seeing as there was no digital screen. This question made Almera laugh.
“You don’t, till you get them developed. All of my cameras take film. So when I fill it up I send it off to the camera store that has a dark room.
So…the remedy to taking good photos…”
She lifted the camera again and Liam heard the shutter close and open as she captured Liam once again.
“…Is to take lots of them.”
She finished.
“May I?” He asked, gesturing to her camera.
“Oh. Do you know how to use one?”
She slipped the multicolored lanyard off her neck, and gave him a quick run down on how it worked. She was surprised by what a quick learner he was. Once Liam took a few practice shots, he spun on his heel and took a picture of Almera walking next to him.
As he did, a pleasant, small smile passed across her lips. Liam caught several more till it wouldn’t take anymore.
“Uh-oh…” He murmured. “Did I break it?”
She laughed and reached up for the camera.
“No. The film is just out. Come on.” She took the camera from him and lead the way to the camera store.
A small bell chimed as they walked through the door.
“Good evening Mr. Jackson.” She cried cheerfully as she skipped over to the front counter.
An elderly man looked up, through his thick, bug eyed glasses that magnified his eyes ten times then they actually were.
“Good evening miss Almera. Do you have more pictures for me?” He asked.
“Yes sir. Here you go.” She handed over her camera with a wide smile.
“Thank you. I’ll get them back to you in a jiffy!”
“Alright. No hurry. Bye!”
“Good-bye.”
Almera ushered Liam out of the shop and back out onto the street.
Outside, Almera let out a hearty sigh with a content smile.
“I love filling up a roll of film. It’s like-like…” She struggled to find the right words.
“Like seeing your dreams before your eyes when they’re not closed?” Liam suggested.
“Yes! Yes! That’s exactly it!” She exclaimed. “My pictures…those are my dreams.”
Liam knew she had just reviled another one of her deepest secrets.
One he would do well to keep.
“Come, you have lots of questions.” She said slowly. “I’ll do my best to answer them, but I have to go back to the house.”
Almera walked lazily down the street as she felt herself slip into the all too familiar, warm, fuzzy feelings.
God…Give me the strength to do what is right. Lead me to make the right decisions Lord please. She prayed.
Back in her room, she gestured for Liam to sit down on the garden bench she had positioned near her bed.
She walked over to the wall and plugged something in.
Her room lit up by a garland of butterflies that were positioned around the perimeter of the ceiling.
The butterflies gave off a soft glow that always made Almera feel secure and comforted.
Kicking off her hiking boots and socks, she placed her shoulder bag on her quilt covered bed, and pulled out the leather book.
She walked over to the garden bench and tucked her feet under her skirts.
Carefully, she unwound the leather cord that was wrapped around the book.
“This is all of the things I have found out about the prophecy, my being a princess, and anything else I could find out that might be somewhat related.” Almera explained.
“I also documented lots of stories that collided with the history I know about this prophecy and era it has been written in.”
Liam was impressed when he realized how stuffed the small notebook was filled with precious information.
He gently flipped through the pages that was filled with sketches, printed pictures that she had pasted in, but the writing was everywhere. Every empty space was filled with notes and scribbles.
A browned envelope fell onto his lap.
Gently picking it up, he noticed the twine had been retied around it, and the seal, broken.
He gave Almera a questioning glance and opened it once she gave permission.
The crackle of old, dried out parchment paper was the only noise to be heard aside from frantic heart beats and heavy breathing.
But what surprised Liam the most, was that he couldn’t read the writing.
“What’s this?” He asked.
Almera smiled.
“Yeah don’t worry. I didn’t get it either. It’s written in the Persian language. Which we all should have expected. English wasn’t exactly a very popular language back then.” She rambled.
“Ok. So how do we read it?” He asked. Seeing as the dots and lines made no sense.
“Look at it. You can read it.”
Liam shot her a look.
“No. I can’t. It’s as clear as day.” He turned the paper around and she saw the now familiar hand of a Persian.
“Look at it…and you’ll see.” She persisted.
Liam sighed doubtfully, but did as she told him.
Starring the page for what seemed like hours (which, in reality, was only minutes) nothing changed.
“Finn, it’s not-” He cut his sentence short when the lettering suddenly shifted.
“What the…?” He murmured. For there, right in front of his eyes, was the prophecy. But in perfect English.
“For life and peace
One may seek.
All is lost upon a
Dark, dark day.
Through the eyes of the
Persian Princess,
Hope is found.
Though some asses
The fall of all
She shall rise
And save us all.
Yet alone, she is not.
For three are bound to her.
The three cannot be bought
With riches, or power, or love.
Two Templars and a prince,
But in time of need,
One shall leave.
The world unite,
Through lover’s plight.
A marriage shall see, the world in flight.”
There was a long, long silence as Almera waited patiently for Liam to say something.
“Ok. None of that made sense.” He finally stated.
Almera laughed at his befuddled face.
“You will understand in time. Prophecies, so I’m told, hardly ever make sense. Till it unfolds.”
“Oh please! Not you too.” Liam groaned mockingly.
She giggled and took the notebook.
“I still am not sure who wrote this, but obviously we only have a portion of it.” she emphasized her words by running her forefinger along the ragged edge of the parchment.
“Well it seems complete enough to me.” Jay pointed out.
“Well yes. I know but…here.” She jumped up and walked over to her bedside table and picked up a magnifying glass.
“Look at the bottom of it.” She handed the magnifying glass and pointed to the bottom of the page.
Liam took the glass and held it in front of his eye.
He let out a sigh when he realized she was right.
At the bottom, he could just make out the tops of letters.
“Ok…so…now what?” He asked. Looking up at Almera who sat in front of him.
“Honestly?” She asked. “I have no idea. But right now I think we should put this away for now, and focus on trying to get these two completely different worlds to at least be civilized with each other instead of creating World War III.”
Liam nodded in agreement.
“Alright sounds like a plan. But first,”
He set the papers down on the floor and turned his complete attention to Almera.
“Tell me what you can do.”
She took a deep breath.
“I’m…more powerful then an average Hyven. My wand lets me absorb other Hyens powers. Not their mental one just their physical one.”
“How did you get them?”
“When a Hyven attacks me, Sage and I-”
“Sage?! What does he have to do with this?”
Again, Almera took a calming deep breath.
“Sage is one of us. He’s not just some orphan that we took in. He’s the second Templar.”
Jay’s jaw dropped.
“Him?! An eleven year old?!”
Almera smiled.
“Sage!” She yelled. “I know you’re right outside the door. Have been for…” she glanced at the clock. “…the past ten minutes.”
The bedroom door opened immediately and Sage’s head peaked into the room.
Almera took up the role of big sister and fixed him with a stare.
Sage got a guilty grin on his face.
“Come here.” She gestured with her head. He walked into the room, cool and slow with his hands in his jean pockets.
“Yes?” He asked.
“You’re going to have to prove it. He won’t believe me. Not that I’m surprised.” She muttered as she slid off the bench and walked to the window. The feeling of despair and sadness washed over her once again. She realized, looking into his eyes again, she knew he had changed so much over the year. She didn’t know how deep his hurt went, or what he had gone through. And she was now learning that opening back up to him, might be a little harder then she first thought.
