Jackson, Deborah: Heaven's Children (Earth Totem)

‘Daughter’ they all heard her whisper, as Nevaeh took her hand. And before anyone could move, or say anything, they both dissolved into air. There was a stunned silence and the lights flickered in the hallway. Something fantastic had just happened, and Hawk knew that they would be telling their children about this.

‘Daughter?’ The twins whispered. They were the last to release their totems and stared in awe. They grabbed hold of Gabe and Garren in shock. The stark reality of artificial lightning hit them in the face and they all groaned covering their eyes. It signalled movement - computers, people, everyone was moving except Hawk. Mika was staring at the cloak on the floor in shock.

‘What’s wrong – didn’t work out the way you planned?’ Hawk’s voice was like steel.

Mika stared evenly at him.

‘You’re no match for me human. I am meant to be with her.’ His voice was filled with hatred and Hawk remembered Quinqui’s vision of scales. If he is Nevaeh’s other half, he has the dark heart.

‘You’ll see me again,’ he snarled, and before Hawk had time to react he was gone, in a similar trail of mist. Fear rushed through him when Nevaeh’s body was dropped, but arms reached up through the floor catching her. It was Quinqui himself.

Everyone moved at lightning speed, wheeling her bed back, returning the nurse to her station and even laying hands on those patients that had witnessed the commotion. Jo-Jo, Jay and Paul were dealt with by the Ecos who whisked their sleeping bodies away.

They lay Nevaeh’s still sleeping form back in her bed, the familiar beeps of the heart monitor reassuring everyone that she wasn’t dead. Hawk kissed her hand. For him, it wasn’t over and the cold fury towards him was growing. Where were they? Where were they all?

37

Balance

The town of Tidwell was in turmoil. News crew turned up to see evidence of the ‘Freak weather.’ Images were splashed over newspapers. The worst hit was the church, now a crumbled ruin. Search parties were sent out to find Seth, Nettles and Amber, but the mudslide on the side of the Harp made it difficult. Totem families gathered together, young and old, retracing the steps from the now empty fort. The drones were taken in by families until they worked out how to reverse their brainwashing. On the third day, the Ecos found them. They had traced their energy to the hill where the mudslide created caverns. It was a day of good news and bad news.

Seth and Nettles were found half frozen and it took two hours to dig them out from under a mountain of soil. At first, they had started digging near a single trainer that jutted up from the ground. Beneath it sounded hollow, but inside, there was nothing, although it did look like something had been sleeping there from the indentations. They were taken to a nearby hospital and were under observation in intensive care. Amber was still missing and Andrea was leading that search party.

Hawk had not left Nevaeh’s side, and he gave an agonised groan, guilt rushing through him as he stared at her pale body. He damned himself for not protecting her like he was supposed to, and wished for one moment to feel her in his arms. Pushing his hands through his hair, he damned his abilities. What advantage had they been to her? The last few days were affecting him, and he was exhausted. He should have been happy, the danger was over and from what he had learned, no-one had heard from Anna. His mind drifted to the other one – Mika and he prayed the legend wasn’t true.

‘Look after her Jin,’ he whispered. Since the near abduction of her body, he hadn’t left her and he didn’t want to trance, it made him too vulnerable. A press on his shoulder answered his question, maybe he could sense for her. He closed his eyes, his heart pounding; he was not ready to face failure, not yet.

Nevaeh, if you can hear me, let me know that you’re safe.

Hawk slumped back onto the bed waiting, and the silence only seemed to remind him that maybe she had returned to Nirvana. He was startled by a giggle followed by a flash of light whizzing past him and for a split second wondered if it was one of the Ecos. Another side of his mind argued against this thought, only another trancer could make contact. He went on alert, scanning for others, but he could feel none in the vicinity. Confused, he forced his energy open again and felt something touch him.

Hawk couldn’t help but smile, and wished he could see her. His eyes caught something floating above her body and he gasped at the sight of a golden butterfly drifting rhythmically over her. Was that Nevaeh’s butterfly, free from the cocoon? He thought of the vision and wondered if it was a sign?

Nevaeh?

He shook his head in amazement at the appearance of a vase of flowers. The smell was intoxicating and he wasn’t certain if it was his breath, but the purple flower seemed to sigh ever so slightly. Every petal radiated a light, pulsating like a heartbeat. He knew then that they were there specifically for him. It was her gift to him. An alarm triggered - was she saying goodbye? A nurse walked past and put her clipboard on the side table – through the vase. He almost screamed in joy. It had to be her.

He stood in the room, trying to sense her.

Nevaeh

Hope bubbled up when he felt hands move to his eyes. He wished he was certain, but he felt disorientated. Whoever it was, if it was her, she was closing them. He paused when he felt a squeeze on his shoulder, and only then did he realise it was Jin. He should have been elated, but instead, he felt hope drip away. He tried to open his eyes, but the hands held them fast and he felt irritated. He so desperately wanted them to be her hands and if they weren’t - the news wasn’t good. If Jin was trying to contact him, then Nevaeh must have chosen to stay. The thought filled him with anxiety and he almost shouted in relief when they were finally released. His first view was of a field of flowers. They took his breath away.

Jin, what’s going on?

Whatever was going on, Jin had brought him here for a reason.

Is this Nirvana? He asked again.

A sudden breeze parted the flowers, creating the illusion of someone running in the direction of mountains. His first thought was of Nevaeh.

Jin, c’mon, is Nevaeh here? Is that why you brought me? Is she okay? Worry sweeps through him making him draw in his breath. He looks at the flowers again, someone is definitely walking towards him and this time, he doesn’t have to wait too long.

Hawk, you are not finished…you have tofetchher. Hearing Jin’s voice surprised and comforted him. Just knowing that he was close, made him feel stronger. He focused on the parted flowers in front of him, imagining his friend. This time, he spoke.

‘Jin, I don’t know what to do, help me.’ Hawk knelt closing his eyes. He was fighting for her life.

I can’t lose her

Open your eyes, Hawk..

Aponi stood in front of him, smiling, creating an emotion that flooded through him with such an intensity, he wanted to cry. Questions, he had so many questions. Aponi touched his hand.

‘Hawk, she is living in perfection, a place so difficult to leave.’

She stared into his eyes, cupping her hands, reminding him of the cocoon.

‘Only your love will bring her back.’ Her hazel eyes became serious. ‘To save her, you must sacrifice, to keep the balance.’

He stared at her blankly until she unclasped her hands again. Inside were golden scales, and he thought of Quinqui. He gasped, they weren’t empty, lying on one side was the image of Nevaeh, and the other the round shape of Gaia herself. He looked back at her in confusion, she seemed in balance. Aponi shook her head.