Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (199 page)

Claire leaned into me, and I held her close. Her head reached only to my shoulder, but her body seemed molded to mine. I held her and wondered how anyone could think we didn’t belong together.

T
he rust colored
adobe house where my mother lay wounded came into view and our pace quickened. Claire’s hand tightened around mine despite her earlier confidence. We crossed the gravel driveway as the sound of Sophia’s voice carried through an open window. She was singing. I didn’t recognize the song, but the reminder that her gentle healing arts were caring for my mom took a little of the weight off my shoulders.

I was glad Sophia was still at the house. She had said before I left this morning that she would stay with us until my mom got better. It was a lot to ask, though. Having other patients to attend to, it would be a sacrifice to devote so much time to my mom. Her guilt over my dad’s death was probably a big motivation. I felt bad playing on her guilt, especially since it was unfounded, but I really did need her help.

Feeling absolutely no guilt about pulling Sophia into our battle with Quaile, I hurried toward the house. I knew she would side with us. She didn’t seem to care much for tribal beliefs, and was even less enamored with Quaile. Quaile’s opinions on pretty much any matter meant very little to Sophia.

I pushed open the front door, a little less nervous than before. Sophia’s song drifted off soothingly when we entered. Keeping her voice to a whisper, she asked, “The Elders weren’t too upset that you were late, were they?”

“No,” I said shaking my head, “they didn’t care about that.”

Finding the words to tell her what had happened seemed too challenging as I looked down at my mom. I had been hoping to return with news to cheer her up. Instead I was bringing her one more problem neither of us had the strength to deal with right now.

“Uriah,” Sophia said, “what happened?” I didn’t look at her right away. It took her soft touch on my shoulder to bring my gaze up to her. Shifting as her eyes fluttered opened, my mom looked up at me and the answer to Sophia’s question stuck in my throat. I couldn’t tell her.

“Uriah, Claire, what’s wrong?” my mom asked. Her weak voice was the only sound in the room. She struggled to prop herself up, but Sophia immediately settled her back down on the pillow.

“You need rest, Lina. Don’t try to get up,” Sophia commanded.

My mom scowled, but didn’t try to get up again. Sophia nodded and sat back in her chair rather than going back to cleaning. She kept both eyes pinned on me, but let my mom ask the question this time. “What happened?”

“The Elders denied us,” I said slowly, trying to utter the words without screaming them in anger. My mom’s tired face wrinkled in confusion.

Sophia stared at us, her round face hardening into a frown. “They did what?”

“Quaile won’t allow us to be married. She said Claire isn’t my Twin Soul,” I said, anger building again. “As if that even matters. Neither of us actually believes in the old myths anyway. They’re just stories to teach kids how to behave better, or fairytales to help them fall asleep at night. I just don’t understand why she told us no.”

My mom looked down, her hands twisting together as she considered the news. Sophia stood up, scraping her chair across the floor, and stepped closer to Claire and I. “I can’t believe she would do that,” Sophia spat. “Quaile thinks she is the absolute authority on everything. How dare she tell you that you can’t marry Claire.”

Sophia and Quaile had never gotten along. Quaile openly disapproved of Sophia’s attempt to mix traditional medicine with modern science, and Sophia seemed to consider Quaile’s leadership outdated and useless. My mother, however, had the upmost respect for both women. Seeing what Sophia had done for my mom this morning compared to Quaile’s actions at the Council House, I was inclined to agree with Sophia. I would never say as much to my mom, though.

“I can’t stand that woman,” Sophia muttered.

“Sophia, hold your tongue, please. Let me think,” my mother said. Her hand moved wearily to her head. Sophia huffed in irritation, but didn’t comment again.

I stood with Claire, too upset to sit. I waited, not entirely patient, but also not wanting to rush my mother’s decision. Claire fidgeted nervously by my side. I couldn’t leave my mom to fend for herself, but I won’t give Claire up, either. Finally, my mom looked up at us. I steeled myself for her reaction.

“Uriah, what do you want to do?” she asked.

Surprised by her question, I was slow to answer. Claire squeezed my hand, prompting me to speak. “I want to marry Claire, of course.”

My mom smiled. “Yes, I know, dear. How do you plan to accomplish that? Will you wait until the next meeting when the Elders reconvene and ask again, or will you leave?” Her last words came out as a whisper. Tears welled up in her eyes.

My heart sank. Could I really leave? Avoiding the second part of her question, I asked, “Do you really think waiting would help? Would Quaile actually give a different answer next time?”

My mom shook her head slowly. She already knew the answer to that question. Quaile never changed her mind about anything, even when everybody knew she was dead wrong. “Where will you go?” she asked. “Claire is still seventeen. You know she can’t get married without her parents’ permission. Will you at least wait until she finishes school?”

I looked at Claire. She had the same questions in her eyes. Remembering Thomas’s promise, I could only stutter out a quick answer. “I…I don’t know.”

Walking toward my mom, I kneeled next to the couch. Claire, still keeping a tight grip on my hand, knelt beside me. As much as I wanted to rush off to Santa Fe, I knew I couldn’t disappear and leave everything hanging on my mom. “I won’t leave you by yourself, Mom. If we can convince Claire’s parents to let us get married somewhere else, we’ll go and come right back here. If her dad won’t agree, we’ll decide what to do then. We weren’t planning on getting married until next summer anyway, after Claire finishes school, and I think we should stick with that for now. We don’t have to rush into anything right now.”

I tried desperately to remind myself of that fact. I felt like my world was tumbling out of control, but nothing had to be decided right this moment. Time, at least, was still on my side. Even dealing with Thomas could be managed given enough time and persistence, and whatever else it was I did. “I’m sure Hale will help with the ranch when we go,” I said, knowing we would certainly have to leave sooner or later.

“Hale can manage the ranch on his own for a few days,” Sophia said. “He’s a good kid, trustworthy. I spoke to him already about staying on full time until you’re better, Lina.”

I flinched at that, thinking of the cost. Having Hale help us out a couple of hours a day was already a stretch on our budget. We would find a way to make it work. I did need the help.

“Thank you, Sophia,” I said. I had expected her to side with us immediately. She always disagreed with Quaile, but I knew she was honestly trying to help in any way she could. I appreciated her more than ever.

“Uriah,” my mom said quietly, “do you believe in Twin Souls?”

I stared at her. Was she going to tell us no? I considered my words carefully. “I guess, in the literal sense, no. I believe in Twin Souls in the sense that Claire is the only woman I would ever want to be with.”

A soft expression crossed my mom’s face. Glancing at Sophia, she sighed. Sophia shrugged her shoulders, obviously unconcerned with whatever my mom was thinking. “Twin Souls are real, Uriah, in the literal sense. Sadly, most people will never find their Twin Soul. When a couple goes to the Elders for permission, they think they are going there to make sure that they are Twin Souls, but in fact, the shaman’s vision tells her whether either of the individuals will ever actually meet their Twin Soul.

“If the vision shows the shaman that neither person will meet their Twin Soul, she will give them permission to marry. However, if even one of the pair will meet their Twin Soul, the shaman must refuse their request.” My mom considered what she had said and perhaps what she had not. Her brows knit together as she struggled with her thoughts. “Did Quaile tell you when you might meet your Twin Souls?”

“No,” I said, irritated that we were even discussing it. Hadn’t she already given us permission? “All she said was that one day we would meet our Twin Souls and we wouldn’t be able to resist them. I don’t believe her. I would never do that to Claire, and neither would she.”

“It wouldn’t even be a choice, Uriah. A Twin Soul is not just the person who is the most perfect choice for you. It is truly the other half of your soul, separated before you were born to this earth. I know you may not believe that, but it’s true. I won’t stop you and Claire from getting married, but I want you to do it understanding that one day you’ll find your Twin Souls and you will abandon each other.”

I could feel the heat spreading across my face. My hand tightened around Claire’s in anger at my mom’s words. “How can you say that? Do you really think I would hurt Claire?”

Her hand reached out and settled gently on my arm. Her face was full of compassion and love. “Uriah, you are one of the most loving and kind people I have ever known. I know you love Claire with all your heart and that you truly believe you would never leave her. I’m just trying to explain that as much as you love Claire, without your Twin Soul your heart can never truly be full.”

I didn’t understand what she was saying. How could I love someone more than I loved Claire? I would do anything, give up anything for her, including my own life. I would give it willingly. I stared at her with questions there seemed to be no answers for. Why couldn’t Claire be my Twin Soul? Maybe Quaile was wrong. I looked at Claire, still pressed against my side. Her face was as uncomprehending as mine.

“Look, none of this Twin Souls nonsense matters to either of us. Will you give us your permission to go to Santa Fe and get married despite the Elder’s decision?” I asked.

“Of course I will, Uriah. I wasn’t trying to change your mind, just make sure you knew what you were risking,” she said. Her voice wavered as she spoke. She was too tired to be dealing with this right now.

“We don’t believe it will be a risk, Mrs. Crowe. I feel the same as Uriah. Nothing could separate us from each other,” Claire said.

I wondered why my mom believed in Twin Souls so deeply. Most of the tribe members considered it only a superstition, a way to have control over young couples eager to marry. I don’t think most of the couples who went to the Elders even knew that they were being checked to see if they were Twin Souls. So much of our beliefs had fallen to the past. Everyone probably just thought they were simply being respectful and asking permission to get married. Twin Souls were only in bedtime stories. Weren’t they?

Thinking of how dedicated my parents had always been to each other, I asked “Were you and Dad Twin Souls?”

Even before getting to know Claire’s parents, whose relationship was beyond me to understand, I had known that my parents were absolutely devoted to each other. I thought their relationship was what marriage was meant to be, but perhaps there was more to it than that.

A sad smile crossed my mother’s face, but only briefly. Her hands folded tightly against her chest. “No, we weren’t.”

I didn’t know what to say. I grew up watching my mom and dad and I knew they loved each other deeply. My dad had doted on my mom, living just to make her happy. My mom had always found joy in helping him and doing what she considered small things to make his life infinitely happier. Was she saying that she wasn't as happy with Dad as it looked like she was? If they were not Twin Souls, I had no idea who else to look for as an example. “How can you really believe that?” I asked her.

The accusing tone in my voice snapped her eyes up to my face, before they settled into a glare. “Do not misunderstand me, Uriah,” she said in a voice equally hurt. “I loved your father as much as you love Claire, and he loved me too, but in the face of true Twin Souls, our love was a candle next to the sun.” Closing her eyes, my mom calmed her emotions. When she spoke again the anger was gone from her voice.

“I’m sorry, Uriah. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m just so tired,” she said. Rubbing her forehead briefly, it took a moment before she was able to continue. “Most people have never met true Twin Souls, so they can’t be blamed for not knowing the difference. Myself, I was incredibly lucky to have met Twin Souls. You never met them, but your father’s parents were true Twin Souls. Before your grandparents died, they came here to live with us so we could take care of them in their final days. The second they stepped through the door I felt it.

“Their love was so strong, everyone around them could feel it, almost see it. They rarely had to speak to each other. They were so in synch that it just wasn’t necessary. Both of them often spoke about the sensation they felt when they finally met. Grandma Saqui said she felt such an overwhelming sense of completion when she met Grandpa Chua that she could not imagine her life without him. She felt that she would cease to exist if they were ever separated.”

Claire looked up at me, the question clear on her face. Was my mom being overdramatic to make us consider our course more carefully, or was she being serious? I shook my head slowly. I wasn’t sure myself. I never knew my dad’s parents, so I had no personal witness to their extraordinary love, but my mom never lied or overstepped the truth, even in the smallest degree.

“I was so confused by this,” Mom continued, “so I went to Quaile, seeking her wisdom. She confirmed my fears. Your father was not my Twin Soul as I had believed.” A tear escaped her eyes, but a deft finger brushed it away.

“I was devastated, but Quaile was quick to reassure me. She told me that, although I would never meet my Twin Soul, your father loved me dearly and would always take care of me. It was her way of saying that he would never meet his Twin Soul either. She said that I should count myself lucky to have been in the presence of true Twin Souls. It was such a rare gift.

“I wasn’t sure about that, as it left me feeling so incomplete, but the more I was around them the more I understood. It was an honor to have known them, to know that such true and pure love could exist filled me with joy and hope. And even though I couldn’t have that with your father, I came to realize that it didn’t matter. Your father made me happy and I knew our love was pure and full, if not as intense as your grandparents’ love.”