Anaka walked down the tree lined street that led to her house, kicking pebbles as they got in her way. She felt sad. Sadness was not a common emotion for the sweet young girl. Her most prominent emotion was always empathy. As a mere infant her proclivity to being empathetic and sympathetic to others was evident. This strong personality trait had followed her through her early years and made her the girl everyone wanted to be able to call friend. She was loved by all who met her.
Today, however, sadness had started stealing it’s way into her heart since she had awoken from a very disturbing nightmare. In the wee hours of the morning she had found herself shocked from her slumber, by visions of demons. She had spent hours trembling in her bed, the covers drawn up to her chin, waiting for daylight to burn away the fear. She was having trouble managing this new emotion.
Her parents noticed the difference at the breakfast table. They tried to get her to talk about her concerns, but she feared they would only laugh. Who would believe in demons? Anyways it was only a dream, a dream that was hanging over her like a nasty storm cloud waiting to burst.
School had been a chore. Normally she loved going to school, seeing her friends, and being able to see the goodness in the world. Today she was aggravated by every tiny thing. The clattering lockers, the chattering kids, the arrogance of the guys, the flippant flirtations of the girls… all grated on her nerves. She made it from class to class by sheer rote movement, and could not recall a thing said in any of them. Her friends all expressed concern for her, but she brushed them off, almost rudely. She had no patience for anything, or anyone. She was trapped in a fog, created by the nightmare.
The images of the dream had seared themselves into her mind, and nothing she did could erase them. She had never seen such pain, such evil. The worst part, she had played a starring role in the dream. Her role is what had startled her the most, torn her heart in pieces, and scattered them to the winds of memory. She continued to ask herself one question… why? Why me?
Christine slammed the box of new romance novels on the counter next to Greg’s hand.
“Careful there, sweet cheeks! These hands are very special.” He said with a chuckle. The laughter caught in his throat when he saw the look that marred the beauty of his beloved wife. “What’s the matter?”
“I’m worried about Anaka. Isn’t that a mother’s right?” She said gruffly.
The couple had adopted Anaka when she was six years old. They had fallen in love with the little girl, the moment they laid eyes on her. Her rich chestnut hair was a bundle of adorable curls. Her eyes a glistening golden green. Her tiny frame, adorable but strong. Her smile a magnet that called to their souls.
They never questioned or doubted that decision. She was their daughter, by heart and soul, if not by blood. They had raised her well, and could never find fault with her. She was the perfect child. Any parent would be proud to call her their own. They cherished every second they had with her, as she brought sunlight into their darkened hearts. The grief they had suffered, had cemented itself solidly they thought, until Anaka broke through it. Her smile sent a rippling explosion through them, and they found that they could be happy. Seeing their daughter unhappy, was not something Christine could handle.
“She didn’t smile this morning, did you notice that?” Christine asked Greg.
“Yes, I did. You do realize she is a teenager, right?”
“Really smart ass?” She said with a smirk. “She’s just never been a typical teen. Moody doesn’t suit her.”
“I think we can handle a few mood swings. Most parents deal with much worse.”
“I suppose you’re right. She will be sixteen tomorrow. A few changes are to be expected.” She slapped her husband on the ass and walked back to the stockroom. Someone had to keep the books for the bookstore.
Anaka arrived home from school, her thunder cloud hanging lower and lower. She desperately needed to shake this dreadful mood, she now realized what her friends meant when they complained about mood swings. She had never dealt with anything like this, and was not eager to start now. As she put her key into the lock, she noticed something nestled on the bushes under the mailbox. A package. She snagged it with her free hand, saw it was addressed to her and smiled for the first time that day. She rushed inside, kicked off her shoes, tossed her coat on the hook, and dropped her book bag and the package on the dining room table.
The package was addressed directly to her, and covered in postmarks from exotic locales. She saw Japan, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and Egypt mixed together in a jumble of ink. She shook it gently, wondering what could be inside. Her birthday was tomorrow, it had to be a present, but from whom? The anticipation was eating away at her, but she knew her parents would be disappointed if she did not wait for them to arrive. She checked the clock, and saw that she had an hour wait before mom and dad would be back from the book store they ran on Main Street. She had to occupy her mind, before she tore into that paper.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so she decided homework would be a good distraction. She skipped down the hall, like a little girl, and flopped onto her bed. She grabbed her laptop from the dresser, and was quickly signed on to the school’s website. She tackled algebra first as she was not a fan of math and decided it would most distract her from the package. Thirty excruciating problems later, and the algebra was done. A look at the alarm clock on her nightstand told her that she still had to wait. She swore the package was calling to her, a soft whisper caressing her mind. She shook her head and opened the economics homework page. Surely studying statistics would pass the time.
“Anaka, you home?” her father called, as they came into the dining room.
“Yes, be right there.” He heard from the direction of the bedrooms.
He noticed the package sitting on the table, and turned to Christine. “Did you order something?”
“Nope, not to be sent here, why?”
“There’s a pretty big package sitting on the table here. Addressed to Anaka. It’s done some serious traveling too.” He said as he inspected the various postmarks that covered the wrapping. “It’s heavy too.”
“A birthday present, maybe?” Christine said as she came out of the kitchen.
“I hope so!” Anaka said with delight. “Can I open it now, please?”
Greg and Christine couldn’t believe the excitement that filled their daughter, to tell her no would be pure torture, so naturally they both nodded yes.
Anaka struggled to restrain herself as she snatched the package from her father and sat down on the nearest chair. She ripped through the brown shipping wrap, tore through the bubble wrap that swaddled the interior box, and stopped. She beheld a box that was far from ordinary. The wooden box was unlike anything they had seen. It glistened with a rich ebony sheen, and was decorated with ornate burnished gold corner pieces and a lock. Attached to the box by a ruby red ribbon was a golden key.
Anaka looked up at her parents in surprise, smiling as she thought they had gotten this for her. Both of their faces registered a distinct essence of shock and awe.
“What is it?” she asked them.
“We have no idea.” They said, almost in unison. “Open it,” they urged.
Carefully she slipped the key into the lock. It glided in with ease, and when she turned it they heard a soft clank as the mechanism opened. She lifted the lid, anxious to see what treasure lay within. The first thing she saw was an envelope. Sealed with a real wax seal, the expensive parchment was impressive and imposing. She lifted it out of the box and opened the envelope with care. A tiny measure of fear rippled through her body as she slid out the single piece of paper within. Unfolding the letter, she was surprised to see only a few words very neatly written upon the page… “Your destiny has arrived innocent one, embrace it.”
Her parents looked at the letter, and both had no clue what the words meant. Greg felt a surge of protectiveness race through his veins, and a shadow of fear slid over Christine’s features. Outside the winds picked up, blowing a gale along the street that shook each tree to it’s roots. The winds of change had arrived.
Lifting the rich purple fabric that covered the item within the box, Anaka trembled with emotion, she felt in her soul that her life was about to change dramatically. Would it be for the better, or for the worst? Only time would tell.
Nestled in a bed of violet satin was a very beautiful pendant. Inscribed with what Greg recognized, but could not read, Coptic script, it was a cross between an ankh and a crucifix. It was solid gold, shimmering in the light as Anaka moved it. A dainty chain was attached and Anaka immediately placed it on her neck.
“Will you clasp it mother?” she asked with a smile.
Christine hesitated, afraid of what this pendant meant. The joy in her daughter’s eyes won her over, and she clasped the chain.
As the pendant fell softly against Anaka’s chest, she felt a surge of energy rush through her body. The world shifted around her, shimmering in and out of focus.
She heard voices in her mind, and they were speaking to her. She recognized the voices. She knew them well.
To be continued…
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the tale of “The Misplaced Goddess” coming soon to a Clever Fiction page.