“It was amazing,” I managed. Finn patiently waited for me to continue; allowing me time to put words to my thoughts. “I was her. I was watching through her eyes. I witnessed my own birth.”
My sentences came out choppy and slightly deadpan, but the important thing was that they came out.
Now it was Finn’s turn to be shocked. I felt his breath catch against my back as he released me and I turned to face him. A giggle snuck out when I saw the same deer-in-headlights look on his face.
“You…saw the past?” he searched my eyes; stunned. I nodded. “And you were seeing it through your mom’s eyes?” I nodded again, waiting for him to tell me I had gone stark raving mad.
“Do you know what that means?”
“That I need anti-psychotic drugs?” I guessed, with heavy sarcasm.
“It means you have Antiquity.” He stared at me with wonderment.
“Is that some sort of disease?” I cringed, but when he laughed, the knot in my stomach loosened.
“It’s an ability. An amazing and rare ability, I might add,” he winked at me.
Another rare ability? I was going to end up on the endangered species list at this rate. My face must have mirrored my thoughts because he laughed again.
“The memories of our ancestors are passed down from person to person. But you wouldn’t know it because most people can’t access them. You, however, do have that ability,” he brushed back a piece of blonde hair that had blown across my cheek, “You were seeing your mother’s memories.”
“Her…memories? And you’re saying she passed them down to me?”
“Just like she passed down her eyes to you. Same thing,” he confirmed. The blood drained from my face as I remembered the most important thing I had learned.
“Finn…I know my true birthday,” I said slowly and his eyes widened ever so slightly. “It’s January 1st.” As I said it, an unsettling realization dawned on me. I would be taking my essence journey very, very soon.
Chapter 10
“No, the marshmallow goes on first,” Phoebe declared, as she closely inspected the melting blob of marshmallow on her stick that was hanging precariously above our makeshift beach fire pit.
After my semi-successful afternoon searching for my true birthday, we had decided to celebrate at precisely Smores-thirty with a beach bonfire and blankets. The night was cool and refreshing, with a light breeze blowing off the ocean. The smell of sea grass and salt swirled amidst the embers, tickling our noses with a warm brew of seductive fragrances. The thickening clouds above warned of thunderstorms, but we had volunteered Phoebe to do an anti-storm dance if warranted. We were gathered around the fire, roasting the first marshmallows of the evening while we watched the flames dance and light up the night. The reflections of our shadows flickering across the sand sent my imagination running wild. I could almost picture the first explorers arriving here several centuries ago, cooking their food in this very same fashion. Unfortunately for them, Smores hadn’t been invented yet.
“No, the chocolate goes on first, and then you squish the marshmallow off the stick with the crackers…like this.” Carmen tilted forward and stole the marshmallow blob from the end of Phoebe’s stick between her graham crackers.
“Hey! That’s mine!”
“Noth amymore,” Carmen grinned as she stuffed the entire sandwich in her mouth.
“I hope that goes straight to your butt,” Phoebe muttered in a huff.
“Nothing wrong with a little extra cushion…” Carmen shrugged and began preparing the ingredients for her next Smore. I caught a fleeting glance between her and Ricker that involved grinning and a wink, but it could have been a trick of the flames. I still hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to her alone about seeing them cuddled up on the swing last night. I glanced beside me at Finn, who had been unusually silent and thoughtful all evening. Phoebe and Ian were next to him, then Carmen, Ricker, Cage, with Liam and Willow on my other side; completing the circle.
“Well you’re both wrong,” Cage piped up; his dark curly hair bouncing as he talked, “First, you pop a graham cracker in your mouth, then the chocolate goes in.” He carefully blew on his roasted marshmallow and proceeded to pull it off the stick with his teeth, “and them you adth amother gwaham cwacker…dewicious.” We all doubled over with laughter as he smiled; sending crackers crumbling and marshmallow dripping out of his mouth and down his chin. I could tell Finn’s laugh was forced, so I squeezed his hand and leaned my head on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him. He peered down at me and grinned, but his blue eyes were despondent and sorrowful. Before I could ask him what was wrong, he scrambled to his feet.
“The game should be on by now….ya’ll coming?” he addressed the other guys, who eagerly jumped up too. He bent down and kissed me softly on the lips, before glaring out at the obscure ocean and turning on his heel to follow the rest of the guys to the house. There was a highly anticipated football game on tonight that they wanted to watch, which left us girls to our own devices. I watched him saunter down the boardwalk dejected; head down and shoulders slouched forward.
“What’s wrong with Finn?” Willow asked, following my eyes.
“I’m not sure. I thought he’d be happy that we figured out my birthday, but he’s been quiet and distant all night.” I ran a finger over my trace absently, watching it shimmer in the firelight.
“Maybe he’s just worried about you,” Phoebe offered with consoling eyes.
“Yeah, maybe so,” I agreed, not really convinced.
“Well I’ve got an idea that’ll take your mind off of him,” Carmen leaned in with a diabolical smile, “I think we should do a séance and see if we can figure out who your ghost girl is!”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good-“ I started.
“A séance! Oh my God, that’s the best idea I’ve heard all weekend!” Phoebe squealed.
“Do you think it would really work?” Willow wondered aloud, biting her lip.
“Beats me, but what can it hurt?” Carmen answered flippantly. I could think of a few things it could hurt; my already unstable sanity being one.
“What do we need?” Phoebe hopped to her feet, anxious to gather supplies.
“Really guys, I don’t know if we should do a séance,” I shook my head in doubt.
“Come on Stasia! It’ll be fun, plus maybe we’ll figure out who she is and what she wants!”
Phoebe advocated. As always, her enthusiasm was infectious.
“If it gets too weird or freaks us out, we’ll just stop,” Carmen urged. I looked at Willow for backup, but she just shrugged her shoulders; leaving the final decision up to me.
“Okay, but I don’t feel good about this,” I warned, but they ignored my dismal tone.
“Okay Phoebs, we’ll need some candles, a lighter, some sea salt, and a flower from the garden, since that’s where Stasia’s seen her.” She inclined her head at Phoebe who ran off in a flurry of anticipation, and then began to tidy up the bonfire site.
“So Carmen….” Willow raised a conspiring eyebrow at me, “what’s up with you and Ricker these days?”
“Me and Ricker?” Carmen’s eyes shot to me in a flash.
“I didn’t say anything, I swear!” I pleaded.
“It’s pretty obvious, Carmen. You could cut the sexual tension with a butter knife,” Willow snickered.
“There is nothing going on anymore. He’s the last person I’d want to hook up with. He is so annoying and talks too much. Plus, he’s too sarcastic and tries to push my buttons all the time. It’s so annoying. He is so annoying.”
“You said that already,” Willow chuckled again.
“Well, that’s because it’s true. He’s….annoying,” she made a face in disgust.