The Forgotten Island

CHAPTER FOUR:

FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS

-Arya-

The drive was relaxing, the three of us talking easily and making jokes as the time went by. Once Fish had fallen asleep, I dived into a romance novel I had been reading over the last few weeks. It was a bad guy gets the girl type of book, with a plot driven story instead of a character driven one, but I still enjoyed it. My mother began singing when a Selena song came on through our stereos SYNC system, her hands quickly turning up the volume knob as she belted out the words. She threw out exaggerated hand gestures to emphasize the lyrics

"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom!

Bidi Bidi Bidi Bidi Bom Bom

Cada Vez

Cada Vez Que Lo Veo Pasar!"

I smiled to myself as I read, listening to her voice in the background, the view rolling by us through my window. As our drive drew to an end I nudged Fish awake, her blue eyes shining with anticipation and excitement. There was a line to enter the parking garage for our port of call, and I could barely keep myself from bouncing in my seat as the line crawled forward. We got to see the ship in bits and pieces through the openings in the side of the parking garage as we pulled in, careful to avoid hitting other passengers as they rolled baggage's and guided children. Since our car was small, mom was able to slide into a parking slot between two larger trucks that most other vehicles would not have fit in. Careful not the hit the truck in my excitement, I got out and practically threw our luggage from the trunk. Fish giggled when she saw everything already unloaded by the time she got out and closed her door, my mother rolling her eyes at me as she smiled.

The ship was massive, larger than anything I had pictured in my mind, which would look like tugboats next to this giant. I stared up at its impressive figure in awe, wondering how such a large thing could keep afloat without elemental abilities. Twenty stories high, with windows every few feet on the above sea level rooms, and a water slide at the top which curved over the ships side. This was going to be the best week ever, and hopefully I would step off that ship in five days as a hymen-less woman. I felt a presence by my side and looked to see my mom standing beside me, a sad look on her face. “Mom?” I asked, wondering why she looked so lonely. “I’m OK, baby” she said “I just can’t believe how fast you have grown. I thought I would have more time, that I would get to do more with you before you left to find your own life. Your sister and you are all that I have had for so long, you both are my heart.”

Her words filled me with a warm happiness that seemed to radiate all the way down to my feet, and I felt gratitude for having such a strong and loving woman as a mother. “I love you, baby girl. Remember to make good choices and call me over the internet every night; I didn’t pay for that internet package for nothing!” She wrapped me up in her arms and I held her close. She smelled of coconuts and brown sugar, freshly made cookies on an Autumn day “Love you too, mama”. She gave me one last squeeze before letting go with a small sad smile on her face, releasing a small sigh. “I will make good choices, I promise! And I will be back before you know it!” I happily called to her as I headed towards the ship and Fish’s excited bouncing figure.

I hadn't made it more than a few feet before I stopped near some landscaped containers, a sudden idea popping into my head. I veered towards a small patch of weeds in an overgrown planter with a small tree and reached out my hand. I felt the flow of my power immediately, and channeled a small stream of it into the ground ground; I called to the earth with my request and it answered with a happy sigh. Twisting my wrist and moving my fingers in small circles I perfected my work, the colors mixing just how I wanted them too. I reached down and plucked the beautifully brown speckled rose, just open enough to show the dark green coloring at the bottom of the inside petals. It was a mix of my mother and I, something for her to remember me by while I was gone, an echo of our eyes.

Leaving my suitcase by Fish, I quickly ran back towards my mom, and handed her the rose, speaking in rushed words. “Here mom, it will stay fresh till I get back!” Her eyes softened as she took it from my hand, and without waiting for a response I turned and ran back to Fish’s side. “OK, I am ready!” Grabbing our bags, we melded into the crowd, excited people bustling around trying to find the correct entry line. A small wind-born boy sent small gusts of wind through his teenage sister’s hair who was talking on her cell phone, and I could hear her irritated remarks about her ruined hairstyle as we passed by.

Music drifted from inside the ships entrance as we got closer, announcements of those who entered booming over the intercom every minute or so interrupting the upbeat tunes. After showing our ID’s and getting our room keys in the first line, we entered a second that went through a large breezeway. An employee had Fish and I stand next to each other and took our picture in front of a large background of the ship in port. Finally, it was our turn to be announced, entering the ship though its main entrance at the middle of the ship. Handing our tickets to the announcer he smiled at us as he said our names into the microphone, his voice booming like a circus ringmaster “Arya Fialca and Laina Ward!” We were finally on board, the sweeping staircases and crystal framed elevator shafts a sight to behold. The music we had heard from from a live band playing in one of the lobby's large corner stages, the musicians all smiling happily. In one area large neon lights and scrolling electronic lights flashed, announcing the ship's clubs and bars. As I stared, Fish grabbed my hand and steered us to our assigned stateroom on the 7th floor and the start of our adventure.