ORDER OF SEVEN (13 page)

“Wassup, chica?”

“Not much.” I point to his crotch. “Can you cover up a bit? I can see.”

He grins and folds one leg over the other, amused.

“Where’s Jamie One?” I ask.

He points toward her bedroom.

“Ah. Okay. You guys work tonight?”

“I’m bar-backing for a few hours. J-One’s off.”

I plug my nose. “What’s that smell?”

“The eggs J-One made.”

“No, it’s not eggs.”

“Then it’s probably the megalithic dump I just let loose.”

“Ewww. You’re disgusting.” Thank God I have my own bathroom because he’s a pathological shitter and a total slob. This arrangement would be out of the question if I had to share a bathroom with him.

“You asked...”

“Whatever. I guess I’ll see you later. I’ve got homework.” I turn toward my bedroom.

“Shake that ass for me,” he calls.

“You’re such a perv.”

If anyone else talked to me like that, I’d sic Ben on him, but Jamie is harmless. He’s a good guy with a warped sense of humor.

In my bedroom, I shut the door and sit at my desk to call Baron. He answers right away and I tell him about the vision.

“Well, that seals it then,” he says.

“Seals what?”

“The part of the tattoo I’m missing. It’s an elephant.”

I gasp. “You really think so?”

“I’m inking it Saturday night. Will you come with me?” he asks.

I know how sacred a ritual this is for him. To say I’m honored is an understatement. “Of course I will.”

“Good, because I’m gonna need your help on this one.”

“You are? Why?”

“Because you’re the only one who’s seen her.”

The hair stands up on my arms. “You’re tattooing the elephant from my vision?” I begin to pace. “How? I don’t know if I can describe her well enough.”

“You have nothing to worry about.”

“No doubt, I’m not the one getting it tattooed.”

He laughs. “Just trust me, okay?”

I sigh and sit on the edge of my bed. “All right. I trust you.”

“Good. Now get some sleep. You’ll be here in thirty-six hours.”

Flurries charge through my stomach.

•◊
12
ץ

FIRSTS

I
t’s Friday. Baron has been gone five days. Although we’ve spoken on the phone, I am acutely aware of our time apart.

He calls again Friday night as I’m packing. Just hearing his voice sends a purr of warmth through me. Nodin and I leave tomorrow morning for Ardmore and I don’t think I can stand the wait.

“How are you?” I ask, waving hi to Jamie One as I walk into the kitchen.

“I’m good. How are you?” Baron says.

“Surviving.” I crave to touch him, to hear his thoughts.

“I thought it might be worth asking Hahn about tribes in Africa. He’s studied just about every culture.”

“What did you tell him?” I peer into the fridge. There’s leftover pizza, a bowl of strawberries, sliced American cheese, milk, and salad dressing.

We need to go shopping.
I take the strawberries and bottled water. Surveying the pantry, I see there’s a hundred different brands of chips and a bag of almonds. I grab the almonds. I’ve had way too much fast food lately and I know I should eat healthier.

“Nothing. At this point, I can ask him anything because it all falls under you two looking for your birth father. I don’t have to give any information that would be a risk to us.”

“Cool. What did he say?” I go in my room and shut the door behind me, setting up my little dinner at my desk.

“A lot, actually. He says in many African regions, the man’s last name is the tribe they belong to.”

“So it
is
his last name.”

“Wait ‘til you hear this. Hahn’s been there.”

“To the tribe?” I almost screech.

“No, no. He’s never heard of the tribe. He was in that area of South Africa. The town with the long name, Bronk-something?”

“Bronkhorstspruit, but I’m sure I’m butchering the pronunciation.”

“Yes, there’s a huge Buddhist temple—”

“Yes, we read about that online. It’s one of the biggest in the world or something.”

“That’s the one. He did an apprenticeship there years ago, before I was even born, but this is what’s interesting. He said the Buddhists use herbs locally grown by tribes for healing and medicinal purposes.”

“Wait, I swear I read that the Mahtembo farmed herbs and sold them in town.”

“They’re probably not the only ones, but if the Buddhists are friendly with local tribes, they could know of the Mahtembo.”

“Holy shit. This is huge,” I say, standing and pacing.

•◊•◊•

I finish packing for the weekend, careful to pick a cute outfit for Saturday night when we go for Baron’s tattoo.

I try to get sleep, but instead have fitful dreams of running through fields, sweaty and panicked, looking for something in the trees. At two in the morning I sit up, frustrated. Something gleams across the room. I squint to see through the darkness.

It’s the hematite skull Joe gave me. I walk over and pick it up, surprised by its warmth and weight. I snuggle back in the sheets, the plum-sized skull tucked in my fist, and drift to sleep. A hard, deep sleep that lasts until my alarm goes off at five.

By quarter to six, I’m sitting in the family room with my suitcase, ready to go. Just as I see Nodin’s Bronco pull up out front, I realize I’ve forgotten something. I run back in my room, get the hematite skull and shove it in my suitcase before walking out the door. I no longer doubt its ability to calm my energy.

Nodin drives the first half. I nap a little and then drive the second half, determining this distance is bullshit and suggesting we meet halfway next time. He laughs, but I don’t think he disagrees.

“It’s a lot to wrap your brain around, isn’t it?” Nodin says. “The magnitude of this, everyone who’s involved. It’s...”

“Fucking mind-blowing,” I say.

“Yeah. That.”

“Will Ben be meeting us?”

“Maybe late tonight or early tomorrow morning. I booked you and I separate rooms. Mine has two doubles, so if he gets into Ardmore tonight he can crash with me.”

“He’s still blocking me?”

“Absolutely.”

“How does that work?”

“I don’t know, but from what I’ve pieced together, I think it’s by combination of telepathy and meditation. He goes into a state of relaxation and envisions a force field of energy around that area of your mind. It acts as a road block for anyone trying to read you.”

“And he can do that once and it holds?”

“I asked him that. He said he meditates each morning, and during the day he has to do mind checks to reinforce it.”

“Sounds exhausting.”

“I’m sure it is.”

“So, the block only intercepts information from being seen, but not received, right?” I say.

“Yep. It makes your mind like a two-way mirror, but anyone trying to read you doesn’t know it.”

“Huh. Pretty cool.” It’s bizarre to think there’s a mental force field around my mind.

As soon as we cross over the Texas-Oklahoma border, the landscape changes. Dense forests flank either side of the highway in vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. The road hugs curves, rolls over hills, even passes through mountain tunnels. Oklahoma is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. Then again, it’s the only place I’ve ever seen outside of Odessa.

We aren’t meeting Baron until two. It is quarter to one when we arrive in Ardmore and we’re starving. We stop for lunch in the historic downtown before checking into our hotel.

“You didn’t tell me Oklahoma is so cool,” I say.

He smirks. “You should leave home more often.”

We leave and check into our hotel. We’re on the same floor, but Nodin’s room is down the hall and around the corner from mine. I freshen up and meet Nodin downstairs ten minutes later to head to Baron’s apartment.

I’m so excited, nervous, and anxious to see Baron I can’t sit still. “How long of a drive is it?”

“Just a few miles.” He glances at me. “You seem awfully giddy.”

I pause before speaking. “Remember when you told me Train and Emilet were a part of you?”

He nods.

“Baron is a part of me.”

Nodin remains silent on the drive to Baron’s apartment.

As we approach Baron’s apartment on the second floor of a complex, the hum resonates and the air pressure closes in on my ears.

Baron opens the door before Nodin knocks.

I want to run to him but can’t. The energy field is charged and whipping around us. He backs up to let us in, staying a comfortable distance from me until the energy settles.

I scan his efficiency apartment, a family room and bedroom separated by a half-wall. In the family room, there’s a small reddish couch, a chest for a coffee table, a TV on a small cabinet across from the couch and a funky, gold wingchair.

“How was the drive?” Baron asks. His hair is held back with a black headband. He looks delectable.

I ache to touch him.

“Good. Long, but good,” Nodin says. “Don’t forget to bring water and a towel.”

Baron points to a backpack on the floor by the door. “I’ve got us covered,” he says. Next to the backpack is a tall, wooden coat rack with at least four rock climbing harnesses, several coils of different colored rope, and other climbing equipment I don’t know the first thing about.

“Let’s get going then,” Baron says as he slings his backpack over his shoulder.

Behind him, I notice along the top of the half-wall there are rocks and crystals of all colors and sizes. I see the foot of his bed peeking out and lose myself thinking about how good it would feel to curl up in sheets that smell like him.

“How far away is it?” Nodin asks.

“It’s where I practice with Hahn. Not far, but secluded.” He glances at me. “There’s a stream nearby, too.”

“Oh.” It’s all I can muster. I’m nervous it won’t work. I would almost rather try this alone for fear I will fail in front of them. If it does work, I don’t know how I will feel channeling in front of an audience.

“It’s okay. Only try if you feel up to it,” Nodin says. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he feels my apprehension.

Baron and I follow Nodin out the door. While we walk through the parking lot, Baron takes my hand in his. The resounding throb encases us. I’m so drunk with it, I nearly stumble.

We ride together in Baron’s Jeep. I sit in the back behind Baron, reaching around the side of his seat to intermittently rest my hand on his arm. After what seems like a hundred turns, asphalt turned to gravel turned to dirt roads, what looks like a bear Baron swears isn’t, and a short hike that crosses a stream, we arrive at a clearing in the woods.

Baron stretches his shoulders, neck and back, and Nodin takes his place near the edge of the tree line.

A chilly breeze blows my hair. I button my cardigan and pull the collar up around my neck. My mouth falls open as Baron takes his shirt off. “Baron, it’s cold,” I protest, incredulous.

“Not for long. Remember last time?”

“Yeah, I know, but—”

“Don’t worry, I heat up quick.” He grins and steps closer to me, so close our bodies almost touch. I want to run my hands over his chest so bad that my fingers twitch. “I can’t wait to be alone with you later,” he whispers.

Every part of my body clenches with delicious desire. “What time are we going?” I ask.

To avoid the possibility of Nodin asking to join us for the tattoo, Baron had made a point on the drive over to freak him out with talk of needles and blood. Nodin doesn’t do needles and blood.

“Eight o’clock.” His gaze drifts to my lips. “You still cold?”

“Not even a little.” I’m swooning.

“What’s the hold-up over there?” Nodin calls.

Baron grins and takes a step back. He closes his eyes, and within fifteen seconds I feel my energy coursing through my body toward him. He takes a lot, enough that I feel weak in the limbo state.

I’m mesmerized by the fluidity as he grows it, and stumble backward when he returns energy to me. This time, I’m grateful for it. He works hard to compress the orb, straining, sweat pouring off his face and body. When it’s the size of a cantaloupe, he holds it above him and throws it hard and high.

“Where’d it go?” Nodin asks, jogging to Baron with water and a towel.

“Up.” He takes the towel and wipes sweat off his face and body. “I don’t let it hit trees. I’m here all the time, so it would look like a war zone.”

“Where does it end up?” I ask.

“It eventually dissipates and is absorbed into the atmosphere.”

“You took a lot. I felt it that time,” I say.

He looks up at me. “You did? How?”

“I felt weak. I still could’ve moved, but I definitely felt more vulnerable.”

“Did you feel like you’re near the limit of how much energy you can take?” Nodin asks Baron.

“No,” Baron says, then gestures to me. “But she is.”

“Devi,” Nodin pleads, “You’re going to have to try to channel. He needs more to work with.”

It doesn’t take long for me to decide. Letting them see me afraid is worse than letting them see me channel. “Okay. I’ll try it.”

Nodin smiles. “Atta girl.”

“Right now?”

They both nod. I look around. I have no idea where to start. “Should I just pick any tree?”

“I don’t know,” Nodin says. “You tell me.”

Baron steps toward me and takes my hand in his. “I think this will help,” he says. Our energy purrs and I feel more focused. “Just let it all go. Use your gut.”

I relax my shoulders and empty my mind. The first thing that enters my head is the sound of bubbling water from the nearby stream. I feel the urge to go nearer. “We need to go closer to the water.”

We walk to the bank of the stream. I stare into the water, hypnotized by its movement. Hundreds of tiny swirls and eddies are happening independently, but at the same time they are a part of this giant movement downstream. It reminds me of models of our solar system—each planet a spinning world unto itself, but also orbiting the sun, part of something bigger.

“Trust your instincts,” Baron says and squeezes my hand.

I close my eyes and concentrate, picturing myself in the tree. I can feel its energy whir through me and its bark rough against my skin. My eyes open and rest on a large tree just off the bank with a huge V split in its trunk; half of its branches reach toward the sky, while the others are gnarled and bent, hanging over the water.