Of Gaea (6 page)

Kleisthenes did smile. “Nasya went to converse last night
remember? Who else would she have conversed with that Ari would
have found so quickly?”

“
She’s
got something for sleep. That’s about it.” Sasha muttered slightly
angry. “She needs something more. Ghita’s rules are ridiculous.
This is completely unfair to Ari.”

“
You
can’t protect her from the Tainted.” Kleisthenes murmured softly.
“You know that. If you could, if I could, I would say the hell with
Ghita’s rules. But right now she has us in a head lock. Anything we
do could potentially endanger Ari further. Adapt the pace of
nature...”

“
Her
secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Sasha couldn’t prevent
rubbing his hands over his face. He was suddenly as tired as Ari.
“There is someone among us that can protect her. I’ll ask Nasya to
take care of it.” Sasha stepped passed him into the
house.

Kleisthenes
looked over at Ari and waved before following Sasha into the
house.

Ari
waved back then sighed and looked up at her house. The handicap
ramp that Sasha and Kleisthenes built blended into the grace of the
single story Victorian. Ari wheeled up the driveway and onto the
gentle ramp that the men had built into the covered porch. She had
been told by Nasya that Ghita has been dead set against the ramp
but Kleisthenes broke her down. Which Ari was grateful for,
otherwise she would have had to open the garage and go in through
the kitchen door.

The cool
dark inside was an announcement that Ghita wasn’t home from work
yet.
When Ghita arrived
home first she always had all the curtains open until the sun set,
and then all the lights on until bed. Ari had joked once she was
afraid of the dark but Ghita’s completely serious reaction had
taken all the humor out of the joke. Ari never joked about it
again.

Since
the light to the answering machine was blinking frantically she
rolled over to it.
Ghita
was against cell phones so it was potentially possible she had left
a message of tardiness or whatnot. Generally, Ghita always checked
it first; Ari was never home in time. However since she was home
and Ghita wasn’t, she would check it and make notes if
needed.

“
First
new message,” the computerized voice announced when Ari hit the
play button. “Hello Ghita, this is Ira at the Saint Jerome Mental
Health Center. We’re calling about your sister. She seems to be a
bit high strung today and is insisting on seeing someone named
Ariadne. Since you’ve never mentioned her before, I’m not entirely
certain if this is someone you both knew at one point or this is
another one of her delusions. Please call us so we can have the
psychiatrist informed and her treatment adjusted for this new
development. Thank you.” The message ended and Ari was too stunned
to hit stop before the next one was announced. “Next new
message.”

“
Hello
Ghita this is Dr. Clairvaux.” The man announced.
“It’s been several hours and still no word
from you. I’ve taken the liberty and have had Lyris’s medication
adjusted. She was being erratic and violent. I know how much you
love your sister; it’s obvious with as often as you are here
checking on her. I must apologize for being unable to discuss this
with you beforehand. Lyris has made mention of both someone named
Ariadne and your mother. I believe she’s under the impression your
mother is coming for her. I know this may upset you to hear it, but
it’s very important you contact us as soon as possible so we can
curb any more delusions. Thank you.”

Ari
deleted both messages.
It was a small, petty act, but it was the only thing she
had at the moment. Not only was Ghita keeping secrets, but her
secrets were far bigger than anything Ari had even imagined
possible.

She had
an aunt.
And she was in
a mental institute. The fact that Ari had living family was news
enough; that she was within driving distance of home was even
bigger news. Why hadn’t anyone told her? There hadn’t even been a
whisper of it.

Ari
pushed a chair away from the dining room table and set up her
school books.
She would
attempt to do homework and wait for Ghita. Something told Ari her
mother had a lot of the answers she was looking for.

G
hita was later
than Ari
had thought she
would be on a school night. She bustled in from the garage door,
grocery bags in hand. “Ariadne! I’m home.” She shouted even as Ari
flicked on the light switch.

“
Welcome
home.”
Ari replied
woodenly. “I’d offer my help but, you know.”

Ghita
waved it off. “It’s alright baby. I’m sorry I’m so late. I’m making
tacos to make up for it.”

“
I’m
assuming you stopped at the Mental Health Center.” It sounded like
an everyday question, except Ari shouldn’t have known about it, and
her icy tone was hint enough to her anger.

The
tomato that had just been pulled out of the bag dropped from loose
fingers to the counter top.
It rolled slowly and came to a halt next to the head of
lettuce. Complete silence filled the room.

“
There
were messages.”
Ari
continued after she realized Ghita wasn’t going to speak about it.
Her voice had become clip with Ghita’s silence. Surely her mother
would have
something
to
say. “I checked them. I thought maybe it was you announcing you
might be late. Since we don’t carry cell phones, it was a logical
thought.”

“
It
was.” Ghita nodded absently and finished unloading the bag in
silence. She had hoped never to have this conversation with Ari.
Lyris was her responsibility and the child was just an innocent
bystander. Why should she be punished for sins of the
parents?

“
So
we’re not going to discuss this? Are you even going to work during
the day or is that a lie too?” Ari was heartbeats away from
shedding her icy veneer to shout and rage, but that would close
Ghita down completely. “Why wouldn’t you tell me something this
important? Why don’t I know about her at all? Is my grandmother
still alive too and you’ve just been hiding that from me? My
father?”

“
Your
father,” Ghita’s voice was deadly quiet, “is most definitely dead.
I watched him die.”

Ari
flinched from the tone. Surely Ghita had more feeling than that for
her father. “I don’t understand. Why don’t I know
anything?”

Ghita
shrugged uninterestedly, “Because it wasn’t safe for you to know.
It still isn’t safe for you to know. You may do something foolish
and it could cost… a whole lot more than you’ve already lost. Go
wash up for dinner.” She turned away and began pulling out
pans.

“
I want
to meet her; to see her.
I am not alone. I have family. I need to acknowledge that
somehow. You can’t keep hiding these things from me. It’s not
fair.” Ari’s anger clipped her words.

Ghita
remained silent for several heartbeats before finally
speaking.
Her words were
cold and forced. “Go wash up for dinner. We’ll go out there
tomorrow evening, after school.” She didn’t want to say it that was
obvious but there wasn’t an out for her to take. Ghita knew there
was no way Ari would have allowed it to drop.

Ari had
to strain to hear the words. It seemed as if it was something
Ghita’s had hoped never to say; something she was hoping could be
pretended away if it wasn’t heard.

“
Be
careful what you wish for, baby.”
Ghita said as Ari turned away. “Always remember
the truth is rarely what we want it to be.”

“S
he’s keeping
secrets.” Ari muttered
indignantly around a mouthful of cucumber, onion, cheese
and tomato. It was Sasha’s turn to bring lunch so they were eating
what he or Kleisthenes had made. She had never heard of Nasya
cooking, though there was no reason she couldn’t read a cookbook
the way she did everything else, was there? “This is good. What is
it?”

“
A
simple pita, Da didn’t feel like cooking last night.
I made them this morning so
they’d be fresh.” Sasha smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

“
You
always amaze me with what you can do.” Ari swallowed the mouthful,
“but back to the topic at hand; my mom.”

Sasha
shook his head. “You should just wait and see what Lyris is about.
Maybe your mother was ashamed that her sister was in a crazy
hospital.”

“
Maybe
she’s not the crazy one.” Ari muttered obstinately. “Seriously,
though, I’m eighteen this year, and she never mentioned one word of
it, not a single one. All this time
and
she said she watched my father die. How cryptic is
that?”

“
Maybe
it’s something that can’t or shouldn’t be forgotten. Maybe in a way
she caused it.” Sasha gestured with his pita. “Just wait and see
what happens tonight.”

“
I was
kind of hoping you’d come along. I know Mom wouldn’t protest that.”
Ari replied sheepishly.

“
Can’t,”
Sasha’s smile radiated excitement and a little bit of
nerves.
“I’m spending
the weekend with Da. You know how he likes to test his skills
against mine. We’re going out to the ridge tonight and won’t be
back until Sunday, I think. You’ll be two days without me. Can you
handle all the free time?”

Ari
wanted to cry at the unfairness of her life, but knew it would ruin
Sasha’s trip if she did. The ridge was their favorite camping site.
It overlooked their little town in the tiny valley it sat in.
Whenever they needed to get away they’d go out with her bow and his
spear, and live off the land for a few days. Kleisthenes understood
their need to get away and even Nasya didn’t intrude when they went
out. It most always was just the two of them. Now, it would just be
him.

Of
course they hadn’t gone since the accident.
Ari couldn’t prevent the slight bitterness
that rose at the thought she’d never go camping again. She’d never
be able to pitch a tent; never be able to use her spear if there
was no way to cure her legs.

“
Have
fun.”
She meant the
words but they sounded anything other than genuine.

Sasha
looked at her carefully.
“You’ll stand there again. I believe it. I want to ask one
thing of you.”

Ari smiled,
“Only one?”

He
nodded. His face was completely serious. “Don’t go to a healer
without me. I’d add Nasya to that, but she spends more time with
books than people at the moment. Don’t go without me.”

“Want to
witness the miracle?” she joked but he didn’t laugh.

“
Promise, Ariadne.
You won’t see anyone without me. Take the time and do some
research. Have Nasya help if you want. She’s got an entire library
in the basement. She’s bound to have books on anything you
want.”

“
You
need to give me a reason Sasha.” Ari stated flatly. “Why shouldn’t
I try to get healed?”

“
I can’t
protect you if I’m not there. I’m asking you not to deliberately
put yourself in danger. Wait for me. Please.” His eyes pleaded. “If
you don’t promise I’m not going out with Da. I won’t risk you being
in danger again.”