Remember Me (Weaver Series) (16 page)

“We’re in the mine, on your property.” He said.

“Why would she put us here
?”  Pepper asked. 

“Because it’s the place where…” Kalan began.

“It all started.” I added.  It was all beginning to make more sense to me now.  I recalled the conversations that I’d had with my Papaw and those I’d had with Kalan when we met.  I also recalled the lessons from him.  Some of them more interesting -- or should I say, more exciting than others.  Kalan had been my mentor.

Understanding flooded through
me at the same time the words fell from my lips.  Railey had wiped any connection to Kalan from my mind, which had included Genessa.  The only things I could remember about my gift were fragmented bits and pieces of information offered from memories of my Papaw until now. 

“
When my Papaw Levi was a boy he saved a young girl who was trapped in this mine.” I said.  “Unbeknownst to my Papaw, she was a very special little girl.”

“That young girl was named
Genessa, and she was my mother.  She was lured to this quartz mine by a dark weaver, and trapped within the threads of the weave that sent her here.  Of course, the only thing that saved her was the essence of purity from the person who saved her.  She gave Jo’s grandfather a very special gift as a token of her appreciation for what he had done, but he never used the gift,” Kalan said.

“He gave it to me instead.” I said with a sigh
.  Memories rushed into my mind, some lovely, others like shards of pain.  “I didn’t know anything about weaving until my Mamaw passed.  It was then that my Papaw decided it was time to use it…but he was so afraid.” I remember seeing him standing in the kitchen, clutching the small vial in his shaky hand. I remembered my determination to swallow the contents when he told me that it was the only way to help Mamaw and he couldn’t do it. “I triggered my new ability by drinking the elixir Genessa gave him and I saved my Mamaw.  After that I knew
what
I could do, I just didn’t understand
why or the extent of my abilities
.” 

“Levi was a good man, but he wanted to keep Joey removed from the weaver community.”  Kalan said.

My
Papaw did his best to explain things, but he was a simple, God-fearing country man.  I don’t know that he really liked all of the “hocus-pocus” as he called it.  He was just glad to have his wife back.  I accepted my new existence, but not much made sense to tell you the truth.  That is until Kalan and I met after my Papaw died.” I said. 

Pepper turned her attention to Kalan,
“So your mother told you about Jo?”

“Yes, she did
.  Just before she passed, she explained that she had given the gift of weaving to a very special boy.  She admitted to me that she fell in love with Levi that day, but she already knew that she was not destined to be with him.” Kalan said.

“How did she know that
?”  Pepper tucked her coppery hair behind her ears and leaned in like a little kid at story time.

“Well, my mom was
a descendant of royal blood so she was obligated to marry a full-blooded weaver.  She was betrothed to my dad.  It’s a blood-line thing.  Besides, Levi was much younger than her.  My mother was having her second childhood, by choice.  Of course, the gift could have changed that, but Levi wasn’t comfortable with the gift.  In fact, he wasn’t comfortable with our ways at all.  It confused him from what I was told.”

He
shrugged his shoulders at this as if he found it just a little awkward to discuss.  I guess talking about a person your mom might have been with would be somewhat weird.

“
So your mom was like a princess then?”

“Something like that.
” Kalan looked away and I knew this was painful to talk about.  In an effort to ease his burden, I continued to explain. 

“Because she chose to give the gift to my Papaw, she died when he did
.  It is the sacrifice that a weaver makes to continue the bloodline beyond the boundaries of their own offspring.” I said.

Oh, that is just
wild! I have no idea where Peter and me…well, if you can really even count me, got our gift.” Pepper said as if we were talking about the traits of hair or eye color.  I looked up at her and smiled. 

“I don’t know either Pep, but I do know that you are one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met
.  I’m sure that has something to do with it.” I said.

“So Kalan, if you are dead then does that mean that—
“ I started to finish but Pepper cut me off.

“Whoa! What do you mean dead
?”  She held out both of her hands in the universal stop position and looked at us with huge eyes.  I could feel fear creeping up on her, but at the same time a twinge of hope for her brother. 

“Well Joey and I were driving home from school one day (yes we actually attend
ed at the same university I weaved for my folks to believe all over again) and the brakes went out on my car in the canyon.” He added in a low voice. 

Just thinking about that day made my heart quicken
.  I could clearly remember the car rolling and me screaming Kalan’s name over and over as we bounced over hard rocks and earth.  I couldn’t weave us out of it.  Railey had taken over.  She weaved me back into my life in Arkansas to a point just before my Papaw died, and wiped Kalan from my mind completely.  No wonder I was so damn melancholy when I was home! My heart knew something was missing even if my mind didn’t.  I rested my head against Kalan’s shoulder and closed my eyes.  It was too painful to think about the fact that he was little more than a thick mirage.

“So, if you are dead, how is it that you are sitting here with us
?”  Pepper cocked her head to the side and scrunched her nose.  The whole thought just creeped her out.  She half expected him to turn into a gory talking corpse or something.  I had to stifle a giggle at this because I didn’t want to let on that I knew what she was thinking. 

“I don’t really understand that myself
.  I just know that somehow Jo is summoning me and when she does I can respond, though it only works when Railey is asleep, or thoroughly distracted.  It’s like it weakens her weave.” Kalan looked up at me then and kissed the tip of my nose.  When his lips touched my skin I felt his emotions mix with mine.  We both knew just how precious these stolen moments were.  I nuzzled in closer to him.  A part of me wanted Pepper to go away so that I could be alone with him, though that was totally impractical. 

“So Joey is making that happen
?”  Pepper asked.

“Yes
.  She’s manifesting my essence.  My
body
is actually in a cell under Railey’s home in the canyon.  It used to be a wine cellar but she has converted it.” He looked down when he said this, and I knew without him saying the words that this was as disturbing for him to say as it was for us to hear. 

“Is my brother there with you
?”  Pepper held her breath and waited for a reply.

“I don’t know
Pepper.  I have not seen him, but my senses are not complete at all times so it is possible.” He was trying to give her hope but I knew that he really didn’t think that Peter was there.  In the space of a heartbeat I felt the flush of loneliness that was a part of Kalan’s world now.  He was truly a prisoner in a sense that one cannot describe.  Imagine being a hostage in your own dead body.  That’s enough to raise the hair on the back of anyone’s neck.  Mine included. 

I had to shake the thought of his bones
lying in a dark cell some place with his clothes slack and dusty on his frame like a prop at a haunted house.  I shook my head to clear the image and then wrapped my fingers around Kalan’s.  I would not think about his hands in a skeletal form.  I just wouldn’t accept that thought at all. 

Pepper stood and dropped another piece of wood
into the fire.  Her thoughts were on her brother now and I knew that she was wondering if she could manifest his essence in the way that I had.  She was also very afraid of trying (the whole talking-corpse-zombie thing again.) She crossed her arms like she was cold and paced in the small space before asking “Hey are either of you hungry?” 

“I don’t
feel hunger, but I wish I could.” Kalan said.

“Oh
.  Sorry, I didn’t know.” Pepper said.

“It’s alright Pepper
.  But why don’t I help you weave something better for you two?”

“You could do that
?”  Pepper asked.

“Well, I could try.” He smiled and patted the ground for her to come and sit closer to us.

“Okay, concentrate on a really good meal that you’ve had in the past.” He coached.

I watched Pepper close her eyes and scrunch her nose
.  We waited.  I have to say that this was super irritating in a way for me because I could have filled the hole to the rafters with food if I had my abilities.  Better still, I could have weaved us to a restaurant or my own kitchen for that matter.  Pepper opened her eyes and looked around.  Then she jutted out her lower lip in a pout.  “It’s no use.  I’m just a really crappy weaver you guys.” She said apologetically.

“No you are not
.  Don’t give up.  I think I know what the problem is.  You can only weave for others right?”  Kalan asked.

“Yes, that’s right.” Pepper said.

“You are a Mender.” Kalan said with a wry smile.

“A what
?”  I asked, my voice coming out a little too high.

“I think I remember my brother saying something about that when he was in the hospital.” Pepper’s thoughts allowed me to
glimpse the moment that she was recalling. 

“I saw
.  He always believed in you.” I said in an effort to comfort her.” Pepper smiled weakly at this.

Kalan continued to explain
. “Menders are very special.  Their abilities only apply to other weavers.  Years ago, the dark weavers began to weave the children of menders into other mortal families in an effort to weaken us.  They believed that without the knowledge of their abilities they would either never realize they had the gift, or they would be unable to use it properly.  Because of this they are very rare in our world these days.

“My brother and I were adopted when we
were babies.  We never knew our birth parents.” Pepper said solemnly. 

“I’m sorry Pepper.” I said.

“Don’t be, it’s okay, I think I understand a lot of things that I never did now.” Pepper sounded sincere, but I knew that this last bit of information hurt her deeply. 

“M
y parents always had at least one mender in our kingdom at all times.  They are like doctors in a way.  They can tend to weavers with very special gifts.” I watched as Pepper perked up with pride as she absorbed this news.

“
Try again Pepper, this time think of the same meal that you were thinking of, but instead of focusing on the food alone, think of how much Joey needs the nourishment.  Think of her mental and physical health.”

Pepper nodded and shut her eyes again
.  Abruptly the dark space was lit by a beautiful crystal chandelier and a long table covered with a crisp white cloth appeared.  It was laden with silver trays.  The aroma of roast and potatoes filled my nostrils and I know that my mouth dropped.  Pepper opened her eyes and jumped to her feet.

“Oh no
friggin way! Did I do that?”  She squeaked and looked from me to Kalan. 

“You
friggin did!”  I said.

“Okay, okay, okay, wait a second” she said and shut her eyes again.

In the next moment, I felt the relief of my ribs as I breathed in. 

“
That was truly excellent mending Pepper.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a healing,” Kalan said.

“
The pain is completely gone Pep, thank you!”  I stood up and hugged her tight.  Her smile was heartwarming.  She looked at Kalan and nodded. 

“I
totally understand now.” She took my hand and pulled me toward the table.  “You need to eat.” She said, and we both laughed.  I pulled the cover off of one of the serving trays and steam wafted upward, filling my senses with delight.  The roast was cut in slices and I took a piece with my fingers to nibble as I made my way down the table.  I lifted the covers of others and found mashed potatoes, salad, and green beans.  Behind me, Pepper was busy preparing another table with deserts.  Cakes and puddings, crème brule, and pastries of every variety.  There was yet another table with silver pitchers and glasses, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee followed.

“Oh my God Pepper, stop it already!
We’ll never be able to eat all of this!”  I laughed and shoved a warm roll in my mouth.  She wasn’t even listening because she was so caught up in the newness of her skills.

“
Oh do you like crab legs?”  Pepper clapped her hands when I nodded at her.  “This is way too cool!”  She gushed.  Sure enough, a huge platter of crab legs appeared on the table before me.  Kalan was standing against the wall with a gigantic grin on his face.  I think that he was wholly enjoying himself just watching us.  I smiled back at him but it was half-hearted.  My mind went back to an evening the two of us had spent together at his place eating spaghetti.  He’d done the cooking and it was really good.  My sweetie had no need to eat now.  Caught somehow between current and past events, he was little more than an apparition.  Recognizing the true scope of this, I lost some of my excitement over Pepper’s feast. My thoughts drifted to a myriad of times we had shared. Stolen memories that returned to me like lost children.  The pain and joy mingled until my heart felt like it would explode. I ate with little enthusiasm though my stomach was very happy.  Kalan stayed with me as long as he could.