Jaheim
“…is that okay?”
Hell, it depends what you’re gonna show me. This girl with the swirly eyes and black and white hair is making me fucking anxious. They both did. That ‘Aura’ knew shit about me that had me all creeped out.
And now this one’s just offered to show me my parents’ death for fuck’s sake, but what shocked me more was the fact I refused. I didn’t wanna see. I thought I would, but I can’t bear to see them take their last breaths. That would hurt me even more than learning for certain they're actually gone.
I hadn't realised how much I'd gotten my hopes up that they were still alive until she confirmed it. All these years I was holding onto the possibility they were out there somewhere, but now I know they aren’t.
They fought in that war; the war Harmony told me all about. And what’s even more crazy is that our families were linked even before she was born. My parents fought alongside hers and helped to save all those wares…
“They did. They fought honourably, Jaheim. You should feel proud.”
I sigh. “I am, but it hurts.”
“I understand that.”
I look at Harmony frozen beside me and then back to Ariella. “No one is gonna die in what you’re gonna show me?”
“No. I promise. I have no reason to lie to you. An Elder’s job is to guide and protect life, not hurt or distress you.”
I take a deep breath. “Alright. Show me.”
She steps closer, and then my parents appear in an old-looking kitchen with a young girl with amber eyes…
“Mia, we want you to go to one of the James’ holds in Canada,” Mom says, in french. “Just until all this is over.”
The girl appears to be my age, and she looks fiercely like my dad. Same eyes, same nose, wavy curly hair…
The hell…?
Mia looks distraught. “Why can't you come, too?”
Dad rests his hand on her shoulder. “Because, Samson has GiGi, and we can't leave her there.”
“But…” Mia begins to cry. “It’s so dangerous…”
Mom holds her other shoulder. “I know, Sweetie, but we can't leave her with him. The holds will be safe until we return.”
The three of them hug for a long time. “I don't want you to go.”
“We wish we didn’t have to,” Mom says. “But we have no choice.”
Mia pulls out of their arms. “What about Jaja?”
“He's fine where he is. Evette’s agreed to look after him for a few days. If anything should happen... She'll take care of him.”
“But I should be the one to take care of him.”
Dad holds her at arm’s length. “He doesn't know you, Mimi. He'll be safe where he is.”
“But he could.”
“An Elder visited us,” Mom butts in. “She told us that if anything should happen to us, you should stay at the holds until he finds you. He will find you.”
Mia wipes her eyes. “How will he? He’s only eight. He doesn't even know what he is.”
Mom appears upset now. “We couldn't tell him. It wasn't like it was with you. It wasn't safe for him to know. We were going to tell him when we moved back to Alaska.”
“I should’ve visited. I shouldn’t’ve travelled so much. Jaja should’ve known who I was, and GiGi.”
“This isn’t your fault. You will both have plenty of time to get to know each other. If everything goes to plan and we return, we’ll tell him,” Dad says. “I promise…”
The memory fades and I’m stunned. “I have a sister?”
Ariella nods. “Yes. She’s at one of my parents’ holds with your grandmother, GiGi.”
“Grandmother?”
“Yes. Your mother’s Mom.”
“How old are they? How long have they been there?”
“Twenty years. Your grandmother is seven hundred and ninety-three, and your sister is one hundred and seventy-seven.”
“Then how old were my parents?”
“Your parents were both in their five hundreds'.”
“What the hell? I've had family alive all this time? Family like me?”
“Yes, but I haven’t long been aware myself. Your parents saved your grandmother but were killed during the fighting. I'm sorry. I truly am.”
I shake my head, unable to grasp what I've just seen. Seeing my parents in that vision has rattled me, too. I look at Harmony again, wishing she wasn't like this, this frozen statue.
I need her.
‘They’ve heard everything,’ I hear Ariella in my mind.
“Boo?” Harmony says as she jumps off the stool. I pull her into my arms and she holds me tight. “I’m so sorry.”
I inhale her scent and feel instantly calmed by it.
Clarence turns to face Ariella, but he soon returns his eyes to mine. “Mia and Francis? You're Jaja?”
“I think so...”
He shakes his head. “They arrived at hold three after the war, said they were told to wait for someone. They never said who, but Abriya and I heard them talking about Jaja so many times...”
“Jaheim?” Harmony says, pulling out of my arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah... I'm just…”
She holds my hand. “I know. It's okay. Do you want to go to them? Do you want me to take you?”
“I can take you both now,” Ariella says. “It's up to you.”
I nod. “Yeah. Please.”
“Alright. I should warn you; the smell is intense down there. Hold three holds almost seven hundred wares.”
Shit...
“Dad, did you wanna say anything else to Jaheim?”
“Did you have any more questions?” he asks.
“I don't think so.”
“Alright. I don’t know if Harmony’s mentioned Abriya’s blood, but she’s just asked me to offer it to you.”
“She has, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to have it yet. Not while Harmony is still human.
He nods knowingly. “Of course. Then it’s there, when you’re ready.”
“Thank you, both of you.”
“If you need anything, please let us know. No matter what it is.”
“I will.”
“Are you ready to go?” Ariella asks.
“Yeah.”
Harmony holds my hand tighter and then the three of us are suddenly in a dimly lit corridor and the scent of wares overwhelms me. I cough, feeling like my sense of smell is overloaded.
“I did warn you,” Ariella says. She walks ahead and Harmony pulls gently on my hand to motion me to follow her.
I don't know how many corridors we pass through, but we eventually stop outside a brown door. The scent inside from the females is familiar, but before I can raise my hand to knock, the door opens and the girl from the memory I was shown appears, along with another woman who looks like my mom.
“Jaja?” Mia gushes, covering her mouth at the same time as my grandmother.
I’m suddenly nervous. “Yeah...”
“Oh, my God!” She bolts forward, and I feel Harmony release my hand as I'm enveloped by arms.
“We have waited so long,” my Grandmother cries. “So very long.”
I hold them back as best I can, suddenly feeling emotional myself. I have family... “I'm sorry it took so long for me to find you.”
“You have nothing to apologise for,” she says. “Nothing at all.”
They finally release me, smiling now. “I can't believe it. My little brother…” Mia looks up at me, wiping her eyes. “…not so little.”
I smile. They’re both short like my mom was. “I guess not.”
“Come inside. We have so much to talk about.”
“I'll know when you're ready to leave,” Ariella says. “I'll return to take you home.”
I turn to Harmony, and she wipes her eyes. “Go. I'll come back with Ella.”
“Stay...”
She shakes her head. “Honestly, it's okay. You get to know your family. You can tell me all about it later.” I feel uneasy about her leaving me, but she gives me a quick kiss and smiles. “Go, Boo.”