DESCENDANTS (THE DESCENDANTS SAGA) (16 page)

-33-

A
ndrew quickly got on the radio and explained to Phoebe what happened. She sounded relieved to know they were safe. But Sollara couldn’t help but hear traces of worry still in her voice.

“How many of the driver rules did I just break?” he
teased
as he hung up the radio receiver.

“Oh shut up Andrew!” Her heart still beat rapidly after their close encounter with death, and she wasn’t in a mood for his taunting games.

“I hate to say this but we probably have to ditch these wheels; they know what we are driving. And we have no knowledge of how many are after you. It could be more than the men in the Camaro.”

“Oh my god, you're right,” she said as she ran her fingers over the dash.

He turned to face her, a cheeky smile spreading across his face. “You know for a
young lady
you sure do say 'oh my god' a lot. You should try using some creativity when you speak.”

“You’re right,” she agreed, hoping to get him to look back at the road and not at her.

“Well, that was easy.” He crinkled his brow as he thought over his victory.

Neither of them spoke for the next few minutes. Sollara watched out the window at the beautiful scenery that passed them by, and And
rew finally focused on driving.
When they came to a small town called Jordon River, Sollara started looking for another car.

“Oh my Zeus that's it!” she said as she pointed to a parking lot they were about to pass. “Andrew pull in there!” she demanded.

“Oh my Zeus, really? Wow Sollara, wow!” He laughed as he did as she instructed and turned into the lot.

She offered him a proud and cheeky grin as he pulled the Quattroporte up next to a group of young men. Maybe joking wasn’t such a bad thing. Humor could cover up a lot of other feelings.

The guys whistled at the car, one of them bent down to Sollara’s window, “I don't know what I will dream about tonight, your beauty or the car’s.”

“Why thank you,” she purred. This caused Andrew to snap his head to her, wondering what she was doing. Was she flirting with this guy?

             
“Whose beautiful car is that?” Sollara pointed. Andrew turned, and his mouth dropped open as he looked across the parking lot at a black car with white racing stripes. It was a ‘72 Super Sport Chevelle.

“Well little miss, it seems you know your cars. That just happens to be my car.”

“I would like to trade you your car for mine. How does that sound?” She flashed him another big smile and tossed her curls.

Andrew smiled. Now he knew why Sollara had been flirting with these strangers.

“That would be an unfair trade for you. Why would you even consider such a deal?” the Chevelle owner asked.

“Well, my car has a nasty little scratch on the rear end, so it helps even out the deal.”

“Okay, am I being punked? Did you guys set her up?” He looked at his friends for answers. But they just stood there and shook their heads. Noticing the keys hooked on his waist belt, she grabbed them, got out of the Quattroporte, and tossed him her keys.

“Do we have a deal?” she cooed.

“Yes miss, we sure do.” He jumped into the driver’s side of her car. She watched him look over the leather interior and hug the steering wheel.

After trading ownership papers, Sollara
took one last look at her car.

“Be good to her; she is special,”
she said before
she trotted over to the Chevelle. “Andrew grab the two-way radio,” she called over her shoulder. He had been standing by the car, curiously watching her interactions with the men.

Reaching back into the Quattroporte, Andrew grabbed all he could before heading over to Sollara in the Chevelle. As they left the parking lot, they took one last look at the Quattroporte and laughed as they could hardly see it through all the guys swarming over it.

“Uh, were did you learn how to flirt?” Andrew asked as he came up behind her with his arms full of the radio and bags.

“I just mimicked what I saw the girls at the school do to Kai,” she explained.

“The do tend to gravitate to him.”

She didn’t want to talk about Kai; in fact, until now she had been way too distracted with being followed to remember her hurt feelings.

So trying to change the subject, she went back to the cars. “That was a beautiful car and a lovely gift from Phoebe,” Sollara said as she opened the door and climbed in. “But this is more to my taste.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Andrew said as he reclined his seat and put his arm out the window.

After a few moments of driving, he pulled over and set up the two-way radio. At first they listened to a lot of static. Then Andrew changed channels and a loud, piercing voice filled the car.

“Hello, hello! Sollara, Andrew? Come in anyone.”

“Hello?” Andrew answered.

“It’s Hannah, whatcha doing? We lost contact with you for a bit there. We were getting worried.”

“We’re fine. Andrew was just installing the radio in a different automobile. How are the three of you?” Sollara asked as she pulled the radio receiver out of Andrews’s hand.

“Oh we’re good. Kai is still having, err...um... you know dreams. He is doing well though. We just pulled over because Phoebe got a call from Coeus. Apparently one of the students is missing. I don't know any more; when I do, I’ll let you know. Wait a minute, did you say a different car?”

“Yeah, we figured they knew what Sollara was riding in so we decided to make a change to be safe,” Andrew said.

“Phoebe is not going to be happy; she spent a lot on that car!”

“Hannah, maybe I should break the news to her personally.”

“Yeah, good luck. I think she may figure out something is different when we catch up to you two and all of a sudden you’re in a different car.”

“Good point. Actually, maybe you should break the news,
gently
.”

There was a shuffling sound and soon Phoebe’s voice came over the radio. “Change of plans. We are headed to Sombrio Beach?”

“Why Sombrio Beach?” Andrew asked.

“Coeus called the twins to set plans into motion; apparently they have taken up residence there in some surf squatters' village. We will stop there, pick them up, and then go on to Cortez.” Phoebe's voice sounded distant, as though she were deep in thought.

“We are about an hour away from Sombrio Beach. How far are you guys?” Andrew asked.

“Look in your rear view mirror. Oh and Sollara, nice car by the way.”

Sollara swallowed the knot forming in her throat as she turned around to see Phoebe and Ha
nnah waving at them in the SUV
. “We thought it would be safer if I was not in the Quattroporte. I really loved that car... I didn't want to...”

“It is all right child. I am just having a go at you. But shouldn’t you have picked a car that was a bit less conspicuous?”

“Yeah, yeah...but then I wouldn't look as good,” Andrew laughed in reply.

-34-

T
he rest of the drive to Sombrio Beach was really uneventful. Sollara enjoyed watching the sunrise over the breathtaking scenery and listening to music. It wasn’t long before Andrew pulled into a dirt parking lot on the left hand side of the road. Somehow they had managed to gain some distance on Phoebe again. So they sat on the hood of the car to wait. Andrew pulled out two apples from his bag and gave one to Sollara.

Sollara watched him devour his apple, fascinated that he, a SOD, ate like humans did. After a few awkward moments, Andrew paused and looked at her.

“Can I help you with something?” he asked.

“Sorry,” she blushed when she realized she had been caught staring. “It is just weird to me that you eat things other than, well you know… blood.”

“We normally don't but on occasion we eat something. Most of us prefer fruit as it is sweet like blood,” he answered.

“While we are asking things…” Sollara let out an awkward giggle, hoping to take some attention away from her prying questions. “Can I ask how it is that you are sitting in the early morning sun? You aren't sparkling or burning. I thought that SODs couldn’t go in the sun.”

“There you go with that name again…SODs SODs SODs! Where are you getting your information on Dark Ones from?” he raised his eyebrows and turned to face her.

“I don't know. I read a couple of books about Dark Ones when I was in the Deep Kingdom.”

“Ah, that explains a few things. You really shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

She threw her apple at him. He caught it with one hand and took out a big bite.

“But seriously Sollara, the reason we don't go out very often in the daylight is not a complicated one. We are pale skinned. Casper looks tanned next to us,” he said with a mouth full of apple.

“Casper?”

“You’re killing me! Casper the friendly ghost? Really, nothing?” He studied her face hoping for a sign of understanding. When he saw nothing, he continued, “I will make you watch
that movie, too. Anyway, if it’
s sunny out and we are the only ones at the beach who are not burning or tanning, or getting any color, people start to talk. We stand out in a crowd. I mean our skin is extraordinarily pale if you haven’t noticed. Eventually, people started noticing our kind more and more, noticing how we never colored, never seemed to age. It just got to be too much, so we decided to become night dwellers.”

“I guess that makes sense. But don't you miss going out in the day like normal people? When I was in the Deep Kingdom that’s all I could think about.”

“Yeah, we do but you must understand what it is like
 
living so many years underground. You get used to it.”

The truck pulled into the gravel parking lot interrupting their conversation. Sollara tapped her fingers impatiently on the hood; she was worried how she would feel seeing Kai again.

Kai was just waking up. And Phoebe had asked Hannah to stay with him while they went to find the twins.

Sollara tried to hide the disappointment of not seeing him, even if she was afraid to. Without complaint she followed after Phoebe and Andrew. They had only been walking for a short while when they came up to a two-story house.

It was constructed out of driftwood and clay. Glass bottles clumped together served as windows, and random other recycled materials were built into its form. The house was painted in blues and greens, and even though it was very much out of place in the forest, it was stunning.

A young girl with frizzy orange hair was playing with an old tire in the front. She wore a colorful piece of fabric wrapped around her like a dress and she was barefoot.

Andrew nudged Sollara and
pointed to the girl. “See, you’
re not the only one with fire for hair.”

The little girl looked up and noticed the three of them staring at her. “Mom, Dad we have visitors!” she shouted.

A bald, older man with a grey beard that hung in long braids adorned with seashells and stones came to greet them. He also wore a colorful piece of cloth but just around his waist.

“Hello, and welcome to Sombrio Beach. What brings you fine folks this way?” His voice was jovial but had an undertone of caution.

“We are here for the twins; I assume you know of whom I speak?” Phoebe said.

“Lily, look after the kids. I’
m going to take our visitors to River Mouth Joe’s,” he yelled in the house. “Follow me,” he said, not divulging any further information.

They passed a series of shelters composed of driftwood, steel sheeting, tarps, and other recycled things. Surfboards where scattered randomly around the squatters village. Children laughed and played, and adults gathered around fireplaces exchanging stories and cooking fresh fish. Others tended the vegetable gardens or milked one of the many goats. They didn’t even bother to stop what they were doing to watch the group pass by.

It was peaceful and unassuming, and Sollara appreciated that they lived off the land and in community. She silently hoped that they treasured the simple joy of living each day for what they are passionate about and not running from whatever problems life would have brought them.

As they passed through the village, they came upon an opening in the forest. The trees to their right started to shift and parted in a perfect row leading to the group. She could feel them bend and crack as if they were her own limbs. The peculiarity of their motion caused the group to stop and stare.

“That’s weird!” Andrew said, directing everyone to the trees.

Sollara’s skin tingled as a fern dusted past her arm. She suddenly felt so connected to the nature around her. The very earth beneath her feet felt like an extension of her legs.

Looking back toward the parted trees, she saw a man standing in the new clearing. He was tall with earth colored skin and long black hair that hung past his shoulders. He wore a simple pair of camouflage shorts. And a drawing of a tree was painted or carved into his flesh. Her eyes ran down to the flames on her hand, and she couldn’t help but wonder if how he got his marking was similar to how she got hers.

She watched him in awe. There was something strangely familiar about the feeling of his presence. When his dark almond shaped eyes held hers, a wave of recognition flowed through her. Somehow, this man, this stranger, was kin.

“Nice of you blood suckers to join us,” he snarled, never taking his eyes off Sollara. “I would like to talk to Sollara privately.” It was not a question; it was a demand.

Phoebe nodded, but gave him a look that read something like,
do not hurt her.

“We will meet you at River Mouth Joe’s Cabin,” he informed, ignoring Phoebe and trudging through the brush to Sollara.

For some reason he did not scare her. And when his large hand took her hand, she willingly followed after him. When they were out of reach of the SODs’ hearing, he turned to talk to her.

“Let me guess, Phoebe convinced you that you need to drink blood to keep your strength?”

A loud crashing sound distracted Sollara from him. She peered over his shoulder through the trees, trying to find its source.

“Sollara?” he asked, his gaze holding hers with a look of concern. He waved his hand in front of her face, and she stepped around him and walked toward the sound.

When she had passed through the trees, she froze in place. She stared out before her in amazed wonder. She could sense him beside her, watching her. But try as she might, she couldn’t bear to take her eyes off the beauty and majesty of the ocean.

“I guess she didn’t bother to mention that Elementals can also get strength and healing throug
h nature. No, I bet she didn't

she would much rather force blood down your throat,” he growled
, ignoring the fact that Sollara wasn’t paying full attention to him
.

“What are you talking about?” Sollara turned towards him and tried to focus on his face.

“Elementals are named after their strongest ability. I am Iresh and my name mea
ns earth. My twin sister is Oya and
her name means wind. Kai means water. Yo
ur name means solar or sun. We’
re above those bloodsuckers. Even though we have blood thirst when we use our powers, our partner’s ability can quench it. Does the sun not make you feel alive, powerful?” He studied her face looking for answers.

“Yes it does. I never knew, I...I....” She was torn between what he was telling her and the overwhelming urge to run to the water. Deciding on both, she grabbed his arm and pulled him with her as she walked toward the waves.

Following behind Sollara, he could tell by the stiffness of her back and lack of response that it was what he expected. “Phoebe tried to trick me once, too, but I wouldn't have it. So she shipped my sister and me off to Port Renfrew. Put us up in this big flashy penthouse. Needless to say it was not our style. So we came here.” He studied her face once more, watching as Sollara stopped walking and crinkled her brow at what he had said.

“She bought you something, too, didn’t she?”

“Well…a car. And a bike for Kai, but…”

“It’s all part of her plan, trying to get you to trust her. She is going to try to trick you just like she did me.”

“What do you mean she tried to trick you? What good would it do her if you were to drink blood?” Sollara asked.

“I'm not sure yet. But I find it really odd that she never told me about my option to self heal in nature. I was lucky to find a letter from my mother in an old childhood book of mine telling me some of the secrets to being an Elemental. When I approached Phoebe about it, she denied ever knowing about the alternative to blood. Things just don't add up for me. Not to mention that she has eaten one of our kind before. Just don't trust her, Sollara. I don't have a good feeling about her. I know you don't know me yet, but we share a special connection through nature, and I really don't want to lose you or Kai. We have to protect our kind.” His face was so stern, desperately begging her to be on guard.

“I will be alert, and I will weigh everything from now on. In my eighteen years I have been very naive about how others operate. Overly trusting wouldn't even begin to describe me. I have learned my lessons. Thank you, Iresh, for your concern.” She was diplomatic and careful, not wanting him to know how deeply she was processing his words. And even though she felt somehow connected to him, she had to start being more wary. The thought of Phoebe being calculating had caught her off guard.