The Diamond Bearers' Rising Page 14

  “Are you seriously making this my fault?

  “Come on, Beth.”

  “It sounds like you are.”

  “Listen, if I could get you to understand one thing, without repeating—which by the way I haven’t done in this whole conversation—I’d want you to know you are in control of your own actions. I may have seen many more of your choices than you are aware of, but they’ve all been your choices. I’m not a bad guy. I’m not trying to take advantage of you. I only want you to have the opportunity to see how it feels to be loved and appreciated for your qualities. I can’t make you see it. You have to allow it.”

  “So, it is my fault.”

  “No. It’s the fault of everyone who has mistreated you and turned their backs on you your entire life. They are to blame.”

  “So, I’m screwed up? I can’t let someone love me?”

  “It’s not your fault, Beth. But this is your life now; you choose who you allow in it. If you choose to push me away, thinking I’m trying to hurt you like everyone else has in the past, well, that’s your choice. I’m hoping you’ll see that I’m only acting in your best interests. I’ll even promise to avoid repeating, if that will make you happy.”

  “How would I know if you are or aren’t? How do I know you aren’t right now?”

  “I promise. I haven’t repeated during this whole conversation.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Brand says, “I’m sorry you can’t see my intentions. I feel sorry for you in knowing you don’t believe you should be happy or loved. I want you to know I love you, but maybe we need to take a break from one another while you sort out your feelings. If you find you want to be with me, with my promise to avoid repeating, please come find me. You already know what I want.”

  I hear footsteps approaching so I press my body behind the trunk of a big palm tree. Brand walks by and doesn’t notice me. His head is hung low. I hear Beth crying softly and peek around the trunk to find her walking out onto the beach. I’m torn between which of the two I should go comfort. I should be a good friend to at least one of them.

  I watch Brand walk a short distance on the path, then stop and reach his hand up to a low hanging branch of a juniper tree. He picks something up. I narrow my vision and focus on his hand. It’s a quartz crystal. Could this be his Repeating quartz? With that thought, I enter his mind briefly and see he stashed his quartz in the crook of the tree as he and Beth walked toward the beach earlier. He really wasn’t repeating with Beth. He couldn’t.

  Brand continues toward the main house. I turn and head to the beach.

  I think I understand Beth’s side of the situation a little better than Brand does. I find her sitting on the compact wet sand with her head in her hands. When she hears me, she sits up straight and wipes her eyes.

  She says, “If he sent you to talk to me—”

  “No. He doesn’t know I’m here.” I pause. “I overheard some of your conversation.”

  “You mean fight.”

  I don’t respond to her words. Instead I say, “I know what it feels like to find out you’ve been manipulated by the Repeater power. Brand has used it on me on many occasions to try to get me to react a certain way. More recently, Chris secretly had a prism in his possession from August to January that he used on me several times.”

  “What? Did it make you mad to find out?”

  “Oh yeah! At first I saw it as a violation. I’d been manipulated.”

  “I know, right?” she agrees and perks up.

  “Then when I busted Chris, he said a lot of the same kinds of things Brand just said to you. ‘I did it for us, I didn’t want to lose you’ and other things like that.” I turn and face her. “I couldn’t believe he felt so little of himself and was insecure about how I feel about him.”

  “Chris? Chris Harding feels inadequate? I guess his childhood and his father really messed up his mind and sense of self.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Did you two break up?”

  “No. He promised he’s not going to use the prism unless someone’s life is in danger.”

  “You trust him?”

  “Yes. I trust him because he was never trying to hurt me. He’s a guy who has a hard time expressing his feelings without coming across too harsh. I also know from all the many repeats I’ve done with Brand I was always in control of my choices. Yes, Chris manipulated situations and conversations, but he never manipulated me. I still continued to choose him.”

  “Chris is quite serious. Not like Brand at all.”

  “That’s the truth.”

  “I think what you’re trying to do here is help me. But, our situations are a little different, Calli. Chris wanted to make sure he didn’t say the wrong thing to you. Brand wanted to make sure I reacted in the way he wanted me to.”

  “Hmm, you have a point.” I don’t want to say anything else. I may have said too much already. Hopefully I’ve given her something to think about. “Well, if you ever want me to kick Brand’s ass you just let me know.” I smile and she gives me a hug.

  “How sweet! You remembered me saying that to you about Chris.”

  “Of course. You’re my friend, Beth. I want you to be happy. Brand is also my friend and I want him to be happy. Your futures may not end up being with each other, but maybe they will.”

  Beth looks off in the distance down the length of the beach. “Looks like Chris is here.”

  Excitement explodes in my body. I turn my head and see Chris standing on the bow of the yacht as it approaches the dock. The boat disappears behind the rocks in the distance as it nears its destination. I look back at Beth not wanting to leave her in this state, but also wanting to be with Chris.

  She says, “It’s all right, Calli. I’ll be fine. Go.” She nudges her shoulder against mine.

  I stand and thank her, then run into the trees to the pathway. I hurry along to the dock and arrive just as people are walking down the ramp. Mary waves to me, then Chris comes into view. I can’t wait any longer. Mary steps off the ramp and I run up it and right into Chris’s arms. He’s ready for me and catches my head with his hands, bringing his lips to mine. I wrap my arms up around his neck and let him take me away with his kisses.

  “I’ve missed you,” I say as I sigh into his mouth.

  He intensifies the kiss and we stumble back against the wall. Pulling his head back, he says, “I’ve missed you, too. Bi-locating is such an empty feeling, not being able to touch you.”

  “I know.”

  “Excuse me,” a voice nearby interrupts us. “We need to return to Bermuda. Are you on or off?”

  Chris chuckles. “We’re getting off.” He takes my hand and leads me down the ramp to the dock. Once we are on solid ground, he wraps an arm around my shoulder and I slip my arm around his waist. I don’t want to let him go. After witnessing Beth and Brand fight earlier, I feel closer to Chris and have a greater understanding of him and what he’s been through.

  We walk to the main house where Chris speaks with Yeok Choo. I remain at a distance, overhearing gentle conversations between Bearers. The overall mood in the house is somber. How could it be anything else? I feel a little guilty that such a sad event was responsible for bringing me such happiness at seeing Chris.

  Crimson enters the room and walks to Yeok Choo. “It’s time,” she says with a heavy level of sadness. She extends her hand and Yeok Choo takes it. Together they walk to the door and exit the house. Everyone else follows in procession.

  The sun is high in the sky and a gentle warm breeze ruffles the trees and bushes. We gather on the large grassy area behind the main house, forming a circle. Yeok Choo and Crimson stand in the center.

  Crimson says, “I met Yeok Choo through Jie Wen during the orchestration of the overthrow of the Qin dynasty. This ushered in the Han dynasty and what became the golden age of Chinese history. I was impressed with her compassion, determination, and intense desire for progression. She became a Bearer through the process of eliminatin
g the last of the Qin Healers and has been loyal and productive as a Bearer ever since. Her decision to surrender her diamond stems from her deep desire to aid progression.” Crimson turns to Yeok Choo. “Do you have anything you’d like to say before your end?”

  “Yes. I’ve had to evaluate my desires to continue as an agent of nature. Do I want to continue? Do I still have what it takes to make a difference? Am I still willing to help orchestrate events in the best interests of humanity? No. The moment Neema’s diamond was removed by humans using obsidian and a weapon, I knew the Diamond Bearers’ existence was forever changed.” She points her finger toward Chris. “I’ll never understand why he is a good candidate to become a Bearer after participating in Neema’s death, or why so many young inexperienced Bearers have joined ranks. We’ve never brought on so many new Bearers at one time. Why now?” She turns to Crimson.

  The crowd is silent. Crimson glances around the circle, then says, “Maetha brought on six Bearers at one time in the beginning. She needed to set up a group of people she felt could do the job. People she felt would honor nature’s will. Three of those six are still with us today. The young group is being assembled in much the same way as Maetha’s original group. Not all will possess diamonds long term.” Crimson leaves Yeok Coo’s side and walks around the inside perimeter of the group while continuing to talk. “Neema knew she was on borrowed time ever since she and Maetha made Henry into a Bearer. I told her she would lose her diamond at a time when nature’s will would be best suited. Losing her diamond was her punishment for going against me. Maetha has also been reprimanded for her involvement.”

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Jie Wen turn his head my direction. His voice enters my thoughts. You must have her Blue Shard. She surrendered it to you, didn’t she?

  What makes you think that?

  Too many clues. Crimson is not going to tell the whole group, I assume.

  Tell the whole group what? I keep up the pretense I don’t have the Blue.

  Crimson continues. “We mustn’t forget Hasan. He was taken out by the female repeater without having gone against nature. Henry, Rolf, Neema, and Marketa were all examples of forgetting nature’s will or misjudging what can happen if you go against it.” She looks back to Yeok Choo. “You see a disturbing increase in young Bearers. I see a sharp decline in old Bearers wishing to continue following nature’s will. One constant remains: the need to further humanity. The youth of the current generation are the future. They know the technology. Their minds are open and accepting to advancements and change. Too many of the Sanguine Bearers have hidden away, buried their heads over the last century, and are not up to performing what needs to happen. If you, Yeok Choo, have identified your inability and lack of desire to continue, then your willingness to surrender your diamond to someone who will be able to use it is the best choice. It is the only choice to best aid progression.”

  Yeok Choo nods. “That is my choice. I am grateful for the extended life I’ve been given, Crimson. I’m honored you believed in me enough to approve me as a Bearer. I respect your requirements of continuing to be a Bearer and know I no longer qualify. I am ready for my Surrendering.”

  “Very well.” Crimson walks back to Yeok Choo and pulls out a small metal canister. She opens the lid and empties what looks like a necklace into her hand. The shine of the slim gold chain against the midday sun is offset by the small ominous black stone that can only be obsidian. A personal sized piece of power removing obsidian.

  Crimson stands behind Yeok Choo and opens the clasp on the necklace. She reaches forward over Yeok Choo’s head and places the necklace around her neck, securing the clasp at the back. I can no longer feel Yeok Choo’s diamond. My pulse quickens with anticipation. I don’t know how Crimson is going to remove the diamond. If it’s anything like Marketa’s removal, I don’t want to watch.

  Maetha walks toward Crimson holding a small tray. Crimson reaches and grasps onto a syringe from the tray, then turns to Yeok Choo who nods in approval and extends her arm toward Crimson.

  Chris interweaves his fingers with mine and gently squeezes my hand. A subtle reminder he’s supporting me, and I him.

  As the thin needle of death punctures Yeok Choo’s skin, she closes her eyes, points her chin to the sky, and takes a deep inhale. Crimson finishes injecting the serum and removes the needle. A small trickle of blood streaks down Yeok Choo’s forearm as she lets her arm hang lifelessly.

  Crimson places the syringe back on the tray, dismisses Maetha, and turns to face Yeok Choo. She takes hold of Yeok Choo’s elbow and pauses.

  My eyes dart right then left looking at the nearby faces of Bearers. Their expressions tell me they don’t know any more than I do about what’s happening. My attention is drawn back to Yeok Choo as she crumples sideways. Crimson catches her and eases her to the ground. Yeok Choo places a hand on top of Crimson’s, then closes her eyes like she’s going to sleep.

  Crimson removes her hold on Yeok Choo’s body and lays her all the way down on her back. She then straightens Yeok Choo’s lifeless legs and arms. Lastly, she removes the obsidian from around Yeok Choo’s neck.

  The intense strumming of a diamond without an owner reverberates around the circle. I feel it as if my heart stopped momentarily then restarted. The sensation makes me cough and my eyes flood with tears.

  Around the circle, I hear gasps, weeping, and whispering. I also see a few who have a complete lack of visible emotion on their faces.

  Crimson addresses the group as she inserts the necklace back into the vial. “Yeok Choo personally asked for this method of death. Her body will now be carried up to the prepared pillar to be cremated.”

  Maetha steps into the circle carrying a lightweight frame with ornamental straps and what I assume are symbolic designs and pictures on them. Jie Wen, Kookju, Mary, and Avani step forward and together they help move Yeok Choo’s body onto the frame. They pick up the four corners and begin following Crimson toward a trail at the edge of the grass. Everyone follows in procession.

  Chris never lets go of my hand.

  Chapter Eight - Changing of the Guard

  Yeok Choo’s willingness to surrender her diamond was not easy to watch, but it was quick and clean. However, her cremation set me on edge. I’ve never seen a body burned. I wish I could unsee and unsmell the whole event. The high amount of heat from the fire prevented us from being closer, thank God, but I’d rather not have seen it at all. Then again, I wish I never saw Marketa’s chest blow open, or General Harding shot nearly in half, or Chris shot repeatedly, to name a few. This type of bloodshed might be commonplace among the older Bearers, but I’ll never get used to it.

  Something else I’ll never get used to is discovering new abilities that Crimson possesses. She actually entered the fire area once Yeok Choo’s body had burned away revealing her skeleton. Crimson reached into Yeok Choo’s ribcage and took the diamond. As she moved in the flames, I noticed a force-field around her body, preventing her from being burned from the heat. I can only assume this was a display of the Elemental power of controlling fire.

  A reminder of the upcoming blast I need to prepare for.

  As Chris and I stand a little away from everyone else, I pick up on a hushed conversation between Anika and Ruth. Anika questions the correctness of choosing when to die versus letting nature dictate when our lives will end.

  Ruth replies, “The rules, laws, and moral code you are familiar with were not created with Immortals in mind.”

  “Well,” Anika states, “I’m not sure I’m ready to toss aside everything I’ve ever known and believed.”

  “No one is going to force you to. No one forced me to give up my beliefs or spirituality.”

  “What? Are you a religious person?”

  “In my own way. I find peace and fulfillment in following my heart and extending kindness to others. Anika, you are approved to become a Bearer, meaning you have the right state of mind and way of thinking to be able to properly handle the power associa
ted with a diamond. This puts you on a higher level than many other people. You should be honored by the fact your good nature passes the strict qualifications of Crimson—a twelve-thousand-year-old human who has seen civilizations come and go.”

  “I am honored. But I don’t think immortality is for me.”

  “You have your whole life to make that decision.”

  “I know.”

  Movement on the other side of the pyre draws my attention. Using my Hunter’s vision, I see several Bearers digging in the ground. I squeeze Chris’s hand.

  “Come on. Let’s go see what’s going on over there.” I pull him with me as we meander through the other Bearers.

  Maetha directs the digging being performed by Amalgada and Avani. To the side of the plot are small headstones in the grass.

  I let go of Chris’s hand and walk over to get a better look. Many names are chiseled into many stones, some of which I recognize: Neema, Henry, Rolf, Gustave, and Hasan. Another rock lays atop the grass with Yeok Choo’s name inscribed.

  I turn to Maetha. “Is this the Diamond Bearers’ cemetery?

  “This is the Field of Remembrance. Not all headstones have bodies below.”

  “Is this where Gustave’s diamond was harvested?”

  “Yes.” Maetha says with a grimace. “His removal was a bit bloodier than Yeok Choo’s.”

  Chris steps forward. “Where are the unclaimed diamonds kept?”

  Crimson joins us. “No diamond is unclaimed for long. But until it is, the diamond is kept in the securest place on Earth.”

  My mind swims back to a moment when Crimson referred to where she keeps the other pieces of the Grecian Blue diamond—inside her body. I guess she’d always know where the pieces are. Technically I should be able to feel those individual diamonds, but I can’t. More mysteries about Crimson.

  Other Bearers step up to take their turn in helping dig in the dirt. Even Chris and I take a turn in what feels like has evolved into a ceremony of its own. Yeok Choo’s remains are put into a cloth bag and gently placed in the deep hole, then buried. Once Chuang positions the stone with her name on top of the mound, a feeling of completeness settles over me. I can’t explain it any other way. I hardly think I’m the only one to feel the sensation.