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Mother Gaia
ZOE DAWN
“Their machine has broken through the barrier,” Malcolm said, his face large on Jax’s screen. “We need Zoe Dawn and Kia Lynn here to complete the unification. It is only a matter of time before they clear the debris and excavator.”
“We are nearly there,” Jax replied, his fingers flying across the table.
I could not see what he was doing, but I was beyond caring at the moment. Alex’s mother, Adina, had brought us food and drink. She was now using a cylindrical silver device to mend Covyn’s gash and swollen eye, along with her cracked rib. It was fascinating to watch her wounds heal right before my eyes.
Kia Lynn’s head lay in my lap. Her one eye was black and blue but not as swollen as Covyn’s. She had her other eye closed, resting after a long day of little water and food.
“What does he mean when he says unification?” Adina asked. She had turned her focus on me.
I brushed my hands together. “Would you trust me if I said it is something you have to see to believe?”
She stared at me for several long moments, then looked back at Covyn. “This is my daughter we are speaking about,” she whispered as she held the silver object just above Covyn’s eye.
I snapped my fingers. “Adina, this is what I mean.”
She glanced at me, and her eyes widened when they landed on my tiny flame. “How are you doing that?”
I pressed my fingers together and smothered the fire. “It comes from within me. Your daughter is connected to Kia Lynn and me through a higher frequency. I do not understand it, but it stirs deep inside me, and I cannot deny it any longer. We are destined to heal our world.”
Covyn opened her now-healed eye and our gazes met. “She speaks the truth, Adina,” Covyn said and leaned back against the cushion behind her. “Your daughter saved my life with her ice storm. It is like nothing I have seen before.”
Adina’s gaze fluttered over to Jax, and they exchanged a guarded look. They were not convinced, but they would be when we were finally together with Alex.
Scooting closer to me and Kia Lynn, Adina held the cylindrical object near Kia Lynn’s bruised cheek and eye. I felt an energy pulsating from it, like it was magic I had witnessed inside the sanctuary. Adina’s gaze lifted to meet mine, and I saw a realization wash down her face. As living forces of this world, we were capable of emitting a similar energy from the very source that created us, just like the healing object was doing right now.
The sanctuary came into view. Malcolm had lowered the shield. We sank in between two buildings and landed next to the other ship.
Kia Lynn’s eye was healed. I nudged her and her eyes sprang open, then she sat up and looked around.
“We made it,” I said, patting her hand. “Let’s go meet the others.”
Kia Lynn helped Covyn to her feet and the three of us followed Adina, with Jax right behind us. The bay doors opened toward the overgrown vegetation and a crowd of smiling faces. Alex and Dax were front and center.
“Mom,” Alex cried, rushing into Adina’s arms.
Jax moved around us and encircled both women in a tight embrace. He was nearly as big as Malcolm and seemed to crush them with his massive arms.
“We are running out of time,” Malcolm said, stepping through the crowd. He waved at me and Kia Lynn. “We must make our way to the cave fountain.”
Alex unraveled herself from her parents’ arms. I held out my hand for hers, then took Kia Lynn’s as well. Aly and Malcolm led the way, with Dax, Covyn, and Alex’s parents circling us on all sides. I did not know how we were supposed to revive Mother Gaia, but Malcolm’s instructions had not failed me yet.
We gathered inside the cave. A pool of water splashed gently at our feet. Several yards into the pool, a large rock protruded from the surface. Malcolm pointed at it.
“You three must circle the rock. There are handprints embedded in the stone. Once you connect with Mother Gaia, the unification will begin.”
“What does that mean?” Jax said, stepping forward and wrapping his arm protectively around Alex.
Malcolm shook his head. “I am not entirely sure, but it must happen and soon.”
A scream echoed in the large space. My eyes shot toward Kia Lynn, but she was no longer beside me. I whirled around and watched as Rork dragged my sister from the cave entrance. Completely stunned by what was happening, her arms flailed around her and she kicked frantically, trying to break away from him.
“Kia Lynn!” I shrieked, racing after her.
The ground trembled and a few stones fell from the mouth of the cave. I fell forward, but Dax steadied me, then he tore off after Kia Lynn. Alex was hot on his heels, and I followed right after.
How did he sneak past all the guards? It was all I could think about as my feet pounded against the dirt.
The massive hole from Tatum’s excavator loomed ahead of us, hidden only by tall trees and buildings. The ground shook again, this time so violently I could not stop my fall into the vegetation. I tumbled through flowers and knocked my head against a boulder. Dazed, I shot back up to my feet but had to grab a tree to stop myself from falling again.
“Zoe Dawn, can you see me?” Aly said, her urgent tone slicing through me.
I blinked and nodded as two of her came spiraling into view. “I am fine, Aly.” I brushed her hands away from me just as she snapped into one person. “We have to save Kia Lynn.”
I tore off at a dead run, racing by Malcolm and Alex’s parents, then overtaking Dax and Covyn. Alex was ahead of everyone, closing in on Rork and Kia Lynn. Someone else was with them. They glanced back and I nearly tripped again, right as they disappeared into the tunnel.
Sister Nikita.
Rage thundered through my veins. I pumped my arms harder and flew past Alex. Soon she was next to me again, keeping with my stride. There was something about our abilities that gave us added strength and speed. It was astounding, but my fury was overpowering even that.
The tunnel was dark. I snapped my fingers and threw the flame that emerged farther ahead of us, one after another lighting our way. I could no longer see the others behind us and realized we were on our own to stop Nikita and Rork.
The tunnel dipped downward, and as we hit the curve at the bottom, the earth shook again. Dirt broke away from above, showering us as we ran. An alarm rang in my skull. If we did not turn back soon, we could all be buried in here.
Up ahead, three shadows poured from my latest flame. Kia Lynn was fighting back and slowing them down. I picked up speed, drawing closer. Nikita turned toward me as she held Kia Lynn’s legs together, preventing her from kicking. That was short lived, as I dove at the woman and threw her to the ground. Alex tore past us and ripped Rork away from Kia Lynn.
The earth trembled again. I froze, staring down at Nikita. The only light I had was the flame dancing on the tips of my fingers, which illuminated her icy look of disdain. From behind Rork I saw another figure racing toward us. We did not have time. I pushed Alex and Kia Lynn, and we raced back the way we came.
“You failed again!” Someone yelled at Nikita and Rork.
We did not stop to find out who it was, but I imagined it was the male anaman who had originally abducted my Kia Lynn. As we passed by Dax and Covyn, they turned around to join us, followed by everyone else until we were nearly to the mouth of the tunnel. Then someone tore passed us, skidded to a halt, and turned to block our way.
“Beatle,” Alex squealed, throwing her arms out to stop us.
The girl’s chest rose and fell with deep breaths, staring wild-eyed at all of us. “T-T-Tatum ne-e-eds Kia L-Lynn,” she stuttered as she stomped toward us. Her frame was small, but her energy was overpowering.
I pressed Kia Lynn behind me. “Over my dead body.”
“T-that can b-b-be arranged,” Beatle hissed, curling her hands into fists.
I had no doubt this girl could fight, but we no longer had time to battle it out. The ground quaked and more dirt poured around us, but Beatle did not budge.
“Good girl,” Tatum said, laughing as he neared our group.
We outnumbered them, but I imagined there was an army not far behind him.
“What are you doing, Tatum?” Jax asked, standing in between Tatum and us. “These girls are none of your concern.”
“But that’s not true, and you know it. Doesn’t she look like her?” Tatum stared pointedly at Kia Lynn.
Jax did not turn to look but nodded. “She is my family, not yours. Leave it be.”
I held out my hands for Alex and Kia Lynn to take. They did and we leaned in to one another.
“She will return. You already know that.” Tatum stepped closer and removed his laser firearm from its holster. “And when she does, she will want her by her side.”
The earth shifted below me. My gaze dropped, and I pulled the two girls closer when I noticed the dirt swirling around our feet.
“We have to do this now,” I whispered to them both. I pointed at the building whirlwind. “She is calling to us.”
Kia Lynn and Alex both nodded and reached out for one another to complete the circle. When all our hands connected, a force of energy swept through us, blowing in every direction, then shot deep within the dirt. My feet were rooted to the ground, but as the wind surrounded us and a fire ignited within it, I knew we were safe.
A puddle of water formed at our feet, and a deep sense of peace washed over me as we were pulled downward. I could no longer see anyone but Kia Lynn and Alex. The wind, water, and fire encircled us, invoking a protection far more powerful than any rune could provide.
Then from the earth, she arose in the middle of us, a figure of stunning femininity. I stared at her in dazed silence. She pulsated with a light radiating love and acceptance, and I recognized her, soul to soul. Her light expanded, reaching through and around us.
“You have done well, my beloved daughters.” She breathed the words and they filled the space, echoing all around us.
A spark of intense energy detonated between us and I relaxed into it, our own essences expanding and ebbing and flowing as the ocean’s tides. Light swirled in, out, and all around, filling every cell in my body with Her brightness. Euphoria blossomed from my core and unfolded as we settled back onto our feet and the light dissipated.
My gaze drifted to Kia Lynn, then to Alex. Both women were lit up brightly like the sun, our palms pressed into the rock that rested inside the cave we had been in earlier. The water sparkled as if it were fresh rain, and the cave walls glittered with precious stones and crystals that had not been there earlier.
Mother Gaia had transported us away from the chaos and into the light.
