Starseed (13 page)

“
Liz, please, I'm not in the mood for you, today,” Elle said. She had enough of Liz and her rotten comments to last a lifetime.

“
You should be ashamed of yourself for speaking to me like that,” Liz hissed. “You have a lot of nerve, little girl.”

Kole frowned
. Elle was a good person and didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. She rose from her chair and Kole grabbed her hand. “Easy there, Elle. This woman isn't worth it.”

Elle caught Kole’s gaze and changed her mind
. “You're right. Get out of my sight, Liz, or I might forget I'm a lady.”  She sat down and sipped her coffee, ignoring Liz.

Liz sneered
. “You're nothing, but a small town freak. I'll never come into your shop, again.”  She took her hateful self across the room and sat with some of the men from the Array. Every now and then she pointed toward Elle.

Kole was sure Liz was talking about Elle and he didn’t like it one bit
. So this was what it was like when she was growing up.

“
I have to get out of here,” Elle whispered under her breath. He leaned toward her and sent a warm vibration into her heart to give her courage. She wasn’t the only one who could do that. “Stay put. Don't let that woman chase you out of your favorite restaurant.”

Elle eased back in her chair
. “Of course, you're right. I'm not going anywhere.”

“
Kole is right. Good for you, she's a lost cause, the town gossip and everybody knows it. We're here with you. Let her stew in her own juices,” said Sara.

“
More coffee?” Dotty asked and glanced toward Liz with a frown. “Is she giving you a hard time?”

“
Nothing more than usual,” answered Ella. “I don't know why I let her get to me that way.”

“
You’ve put up with her rants for years. If it was me, I probably would've smacked her a long time, ago.”  Dotty refilled their cups. “I'm proud of you for telling that old biddy off. It's been a long time coming.”  Dotty glanced toward Liz. “Did you know she's dating Benny Savonti? The guy that’s sitting next to her. He works at the Array. Bill tells me, he's a handful. Always trying to get out of work.”

“
Nope, can't say I heard that,” Elle said. “I don't know much that goes on out that way with those people. How about you? Do you know anything about what happens out there?”

“
No more than you. I've heard the stories of alien sightings and stuff like that, but Bill tells me that's the imagination of some of the locals wanting it to be so. There's nothing out there, but the scientists and their work.”  Dotty sighed. “Sounds pretty boring to me, being stuck out there in the boonies.”  She topped off their coffee cups and smacked her gum deep in thought. “He did say some of the guys are exploring the caves on their days off. He said if you go in the cave entrance on Herman's property that it runs through Red Rock Canyon and comes out on the Array side. Some of the guys came out that way and didn't know where they were.”  She laughed a deep belly laugh. “Had to call Bill to come and rescue them.”  She shook her head. “To be so smart, they can be awfully dumb about common sense things.” 

She glanced toward Elle
. “Ignore that old tart, don't let her get to ya.”  She grinned and dashed off to fill someone else's coffee cup.

“
Did you hear that?”  Elle smiled at Kole. “We can go into the cave on Herman's property and get onto the Array land from there.”

“
Good idea,” Kole said.
Thank my lucky stars for this tidbit of information. The universe is working on my side
. “I think we'd better get prepared. Have you ever gone into the caves?” he asked.

“
Yeah, when I was a kid, our girl scout leader took us into them. We went about a mile into one. It became real narrow in spots and then opened up into this large cavern. It was beautiful inside. Stalactites that looked like giant icicles hung from the roof of the cavern.”   “It's good to know you aren't claustrophobic.”  He had a long way to go to get to his destination—the entombed disks.

She laughed
. “Now, that would be a problem. Luckily, I’m not.”

“
I'm going to go pick up the supplies we'll need for tonight. What do you say, I'll meet you at your house at about six and we'll go in on Herman's side of the Array.”  He pushed a twenty under his coffee cup. “Dotty can keep the change. She may have saved the day.”

“
Okay, I'll wait to hear from you.”  Elle watched him leave the restaurant. She was happy he would be going out to the caves with her.

“
You're blessed to have Kole help you with this stuff.”  Sara sipped her coffee. “I'm sorry, I can't go with you.”

“
It's okay. For some reason, I know Kole and I are supposed to do this, alone.”

“
Have you changed your mind about him? I know he likes you. I can see it in his eyes.”

“
Guess I've known it all along. I've liked him from the first moment I set eyes on him. When he told me he wasn't looking for a relationship, I tried to put him out of my mind, but it didn’t work.” 

“
There's got to be another reason why he doesn’t want a relationship. The man is crazy about you. He looks at you like a starving man looks at a roast turkey.”

“
Oh, great, now I look like a dead bird.”  She grinned. “I hope at least it's a skinny bird.”

Dotty arrived with her hands full
. “Girls, the witch left.”  She placed apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in front of both of them. “Thought you could use some comfort food. It's straight out of the oven.”  She laughed and went back to retrieve another order.

Sara took a bite and sighed
. “What would we ever do without Dotty? She's watched over us since we were kids.”

“
Don't want to find out,” Elle said. “I'll never forget how she made my Halloween costume one year. Dad was trying to do it himself and the pumpkin costume looked like a tablecloth. I was devastated until Dotty fixed it.”

“
That must've been before he hooked up with Rose.”

“
Yeah, Dotty and Dad went to school together and have always been good friends. Rose's husband was still alive back then. She and Dad didn't get together until he'd been gone a few years.”

“
Do you think they'll ever get married?”

Elle had thought about that many times
. “Yes, someday soon I hope. The way Dad is pursuing her, she doesn't have a chance. It's only a matter of time.”

“
Good. They make a cute couple.”  Sara ate a spoonful of pie and ice cream. “This is so good.”

“
Dotty always knows which buttons to push. She's like the mom, I never had.”

“
Do you think you'll ever find your real mom and dad?”

“
I haven't any idea. I’ve searched for a long time and I would love to know...to know if she or my dad had ever had visions or this sixth sense thing.”  Until she knew about her real parents there’d always be this empty spot in her heart.
They didn’t want me.
The familiar pain was sharp and deep. She tried to think about something else.

“
I have a feeling Kole is going to help you in a lot of areas. Maybe this one, too.”

“
Kole is special. I've known it since I first saw him.” 
Sara’s right. Kole is a part of my destiny
.

“
I'm happy for you. He seems enamored.”

“
I can't read him. When I think I have a handle on what's going on inside him, he goes off in another direction. It's as if he's blocked me from his true feelings and that's not possible.”

“
It's probably a good thing you can't see him so clearly. It would be boring to know everything that's going on with him.”

“
Yeah, you're right. I have to admit he keeps me guessing and it's nice to be surprised for a change.”

“
What do you want me to do while you and Kole are in the caves? Will your cell phones work in there?”

“
I don't know. We were kids when we went in the caves. We didn't have cell phones.”  She ate her pie thinking it would be for the best that Sara wouldn’t be put in harms’ way. She and Kole needed to do this alone. “We won't stay in the caves the whole time, just long enough to get onto the Array property. I suppose we can call as soon as we get through the cave.”

“
Good, I'll be worried until I hear you’re on the other side.”  Sara hesitated. “I'm sorry, I'm not going with you.”

“
It's okay. Even though I know it wasn’t aliens, I'm shook up about the abduction, too. I'll be relieved to know you are here in town, safe and sound.”  She smiled. “Like Kole said, it makes sense to have you here to call in the troops if we come face to face with trouble.”

“
I'm going to hope and pray nothing goes wrong. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you.”

“
Don’t worry. Things will happen that are supposed to and nothing else.”  Elle sighed. “And I feel certain that if anything should go wrong Kole is there for me.”  It was true, no matter what should happen, Kole would be there to help her. She knew it with every instinct she had ever possessed all the way to the bottom of her soul. “I have a good feeling about tonight.”  She smiled at Sara. It was true. Whatever was going to happen this evening was meant for just her and Kole. There was something on the edge of her mind that she needed to know, but it just wouldn’t come through. No matter how hard she tried to concentrate the vision just wouldn’t come to her.

Damn, I hate when this happens
. I want to know what’s going to happen and know it now. Why can’t I see my own destiny?

Chapter Eleven

Later that afternoon, as the sun was slowly sinking in the southwestern sky, Kole threw his stuffed backpack into the Jeep and went back inside the bed and breakfast
. It was almost time to pick up Elle. Just to be safe he had included a first aid kit, apples, bottled water, a can of chicken noodle soup, a can opener, matches, those Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory bars which he couldn’t get enough of, flashlights and a blanket.

Clicking off his mental list, he knew they were set with supplies, but still he wrestled with an uneasy feeling nagging at the back of his mind
. Not being able to tell Elle the truth about his mission was eating away at him. With only one more thing to do before it was time to go, he resigned himself to the idea that she was a believer and he would be able to share his secret with her soon.

For now, he'd do things the way the Earthlings did, but if push came to shove, he'd have an edge
. Reaching into his jeans pocket he rubbed the five protective stones given to him by the Ancient One. His advantage from the stars.

After entering his room, he raised the window and pulled the white filmy ruffled curtain back to look toward the hill behind the bed and breakfast
. Yes, there, sitting among the lush green scrub oak was Ari, his friend. The wolf stood on the rise watching and waited for his signal. He was glad the Ancient One had let Ari come as his backup. They’d known each other since childhood, and Kole knew Ari was on his side wherever this mission should take them.

His mind melded with Ari
.
It is time for our journey to the caves. I’ll be in contact with you at the destination.”

Ari stretched to his full height and sniffed the air
.
As it will be. I’ll be guarding outside the caverns
. He turned and ran off into the scrub oak.

Not liking the idea of taking Elle into the deep recesses of the caverns, Kole mentally made peace with the situation
. It had to be done. And after all, Ari was there to help protect her. She was the key to the Ancient One’s orders. Under no circumstance could they let any harm come to her.

Only one thing left to do
. He had to contact his people and let them know it was time to go into the caves. The ritual to prepare his mind, body and spirit for the journey ahead was at hand. Kole pulled five softly glowing dark blue stones from his jeans pocket and placed them on the bed. Each was about the size of a marble. He removed his shirt and sat on the edge of the bed and breathed deeply preparing his mind for what was to come. Sweat began to glisten on his brow and across his shoulders and muscled chest as he concentrated on the job at hand. It was time to proceed.

Standing, he picked the two largest stones and held one in the upraised palm of each hand facing the open window
. The stones began to throb and grow warm in his hands. Tiny vibrations of warmth sprinted up his arms and down his spine and through his entire body. A golden aura surrounded him as he held his arms toward the heavens, opening the channel to send the signal to his people.

A soft humming sound filled the room, increasing in volume by the second
. The red light blinked out on the digital bedside clock radio. An electrical power surge swept through the bed and breakfast. Then there was complete silence as if time stood still. He sighed. There was just no Martian way to describe what was actually going on with him and Elle. After all, she was the Chosen One. How could he possibly convey the unfamiliar feelings and subtle nuances of his new emotions and explain them to the Ancient One? Yet, there was no way around it—the mission was all-important. He had to get on with it and let them know his status.

“
Oh, Ancient One, tonight I call to you. I and the Chosen One are preparing to go into the caverns to retrieve the Dropa stones and the ashes of the one who has protected the secrets of the universe for eons.”  He lifted his head and swallowed. “Unknown to the Chosen One, from afar I have felt the guardian’s essence calling out to me. He is there. May his remains be kept pure in the crystal and may I carry him in a state of honor back to our home planet.” 

Kole grew dizzy from the concentration and felt nauseated
. He paused to let his body catch up to what was happening in his brain. The humming sound seemed to lessen in volume and the nausea passed. Taking several deep breaths he stood tall with his outstretched arms and controlled his human emotions once again becoming calm.

“
Give me the proper guidance and insight to prepare the Chosen One for the truth of her destiny and that she has a sister. With great certainty I feel that she, the first sister is a true descendant of the Star Children and my Starseed.”  He swallowed. “May she find it in her star soul to accept her journey with the wisdom and grace of the ones who have come before. When the time is right, she will learn of her sister and we will find the second Chosen One.” 

He swallowed again and collected his thoughts
. “May I possess the strength of will and courage to fulfill my destiny. Please keep us safe on our mission for you. Bless us, oh, mighty Ancient One. We are at your service.”  The golden aura compressed back into a single small dark blue ball and flew through the window faster than the speed of light. The bedside digital clock clicked as the power came on. Kole lowered his arms and sat on the edge of the bed for some time reorienting himself. The cool fresh breeze blowing through the window caused the curtain to flap against the wall catching his attention. Getting up he closed the window and put the curtain back in place. His head pounded. His skin was still warm to the touch and tingled from the experience.

Going into the bathroom he turned on the tap and let the
cool water fill the sink. Adding sea salt he stirred the mixture with his hand. With a damp cloth he began washing his face, arms, and chest feeling the gritty salt lifting the left over residue from his skin. The headache lessened with each passing of the washcloth over his fevered body. After drying off with a white fluffy towel, he sat on the bed and regained his strength. Then he put his shirt back on and left the room. Tonight is the night to tell Elle the truth.

* * *

Elle's heart sank to the pit of her stomach when she saw the charred remains of Herman's home as a back drop to the early evening sunset. A telephone pole with a large white platform holding a huge blue birdhouse perched on top was towering into the air. A reminder of what had been. Herman had loved taking care of his birds and building his bird houses.

“
We’ll park in Herman’s barn. That way nobody will know we’re around.”  Kole slowly turned into the driveway.

“
There's hardly anything left of his house.”  A tear slipped out of the corner of one eye and Elle quickly brushed it away.
Herman is beyond tears
. The thought only made her heart ache more.

“
It went up fast,” he said and pulled into the open barn door and shut off the engine. “Someone must have used an accelerant to get it going.” 

“
That’s what Dad thinks, too, but I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt Herman. He never did anything, except try to warn people about aliens.”  She sniffled one last time and twisted her hands in her lap. Then she began to pull herself together. It was time to stop whimpering and figure out who did this to Herman. She sat up with renewed determination to find Herman’s killer. “Do you think what or whoever is causing the glow in the caves is involved Herman’s death?” 

“
I’m not sure, but we’ll soon find out.”  He pulled the backpack from the rear seat of the Jeep. “Don’t look so worried. We’ll be in and out before anyone knows we’re there.”

“
Oh, look.”  Elle pointed toward the field at a wolf running across the road. “He’s so beautiful. Sara and I saw him the last time we were out here.”

Kole laughed
. “Yes, I’ve heard the wolf is a sacred animal in some places.”  He watched the wolf trotted off toward the caves.

Elle and Kole hiked through the red sandstone as the sun began to drop behind Pikes Peak leaving a beautiful sunset with streaks of red and gold clinging along the mountain range
. It wouldn’t be long until dark.

At the entrance to the cave Elle ran her fingertips over the ancient writings on the sandstone
. What kind of person had placed them there? A vision flashed before her eyes. A tall thin man was leaning against the rock, etching the symbols into the stone. He was injured and breathing hard. When he turned his face to the sun, he looked like an older version of Kole. In surprise, she pulled her hand away.

Kole walked up behind her
. “These are quite old.”  He touched the sandstone gently and instinctively he knew his ancestor had written the message. He quietly read the inscription to himself.
Starship and Dropa stones are in the heart of the cave among the crystal. I’m leaving signs to lead the way. Starship has lost power. Too ill to get the energy crystals revived. Losing strength. Will be with the stones. Counting on my starmates to bring me home. Blessings
.

He felt overwhelmed at how close he was to his people’s history
. An inner pain twisted his gut. He would miss Elle, apple pie, Rocky Mountain Chocolate bars and the beautiful things Earth had to offer. Mostly, Elle.
I must prepare her for the visit from the Ancient One
. She deserves to know about her past. How will she feel about having a lost sister, about being a Starseed? My Starseed?

Elle entered the cave close behind Kole
. Shale rock crunched under their feet as dust filled her nostrils.

Kole turned and handed her a flashlight
. “Stay close.” 

The cave was silent
. A deep silent darkness filled every nook and cranny. Elle shivered, not knowing what was in front of her in the pitch black. She wasn’t scared, but the idea of creepy crawly things had her cringing.

“
Watch your step. Sometimes there are drop offs. We must be very careful.”  Kole shined the light around them as they proceeded deeper into the belly of the cave.

She followed him for what seemed like hours,
then all of a sudden, an overwhelming feeling of dread consumed her. This was part of her destiny, she knew it. However, at the moment she wished she were anywhere else, but underground in this deep dark hole. She tensed and fell to her knees, dropping her flashlight. She fought for each breath. Something bad was coming their way. She sensed it with every breath she took. An overwhelming rush of adrenaline shook her to her core.
Evil is here
.

In her mind’s eye she saw the shadow of someone in dark clothes pushing against rocks above them
.
We’re in danger. Have to save Kole.
Reaching forward, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him back seconds before tons of rocks rumbled down in front of them like rain on a cloudy day.

Clutching each other in the dim glow of the flashlight, they huddled behind a huge boulder as dirt, rock and dust settled around them
. Nearly choking on the filthy air, she sensed the dark presence was gone. For now, they were safe.

“
You saved us.”  He held her close whispering in her ear. “Thank the stars for your quick thinking
.” 
She was wrapped safely in his arms. “Are you all right?”

“
I’m a little shaky, but I’m okay.”  She wiped dirt from her face and stared into his intense gaze in the light of the flashlight. Dirty face and all he was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
Kole will get me out of here.

“
Someone started that rock slide,” he said. “We can’t go back the way we came. It’s blocked.”

“
At least we can go forward on through the cave.”  Elle sighed and took in their surroundings. Looking over his shoulder in the thin stream of his flashlight she saw that they were trapped.

Kole waved the flashlight around some more searching for an exit
. “We’re lucky. We have the backpack and supplies.”

“
I lost my flashlight,” she said.

“
It’s okay. I have more in the backpack.”  He handed her another and pulled her close linking his fingers with hers for a minute giving her comfort. Pointing the flashlight in front of them, he pushed forward through the cavern with Elle following close behind. The sides of the cave became narrower in places. “It’s getting tight in here.” Kole got down on his hands and knees. “Can you make it?”

“
Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’m right behind you.”  Silence filled the air as they crawled forward inch by inch. Thinking positive, she knew that somehow Kole would get them out of this mess and someday they would laugh about it. Until that time she concentrated on putting one knee in front of the other.

“
We can’t go any further.”  Kole stopped. “The passage is too narrow.”  He sat in the middle of the small tunnel and turned to Elle.

“
What are we going to do?” she asked. Something cracked in the distance and she jumped.

“
It’s nothing, just a rock falling somewhere. We have to see if we can find another way out.”  He held her hand and gazed into her eyes. “I will get you out. I promise.”  He kissed the back of her hand. “Trust me?” he questioned her.