Chapter Five
After stopping by the drug store picking up the painkillers Dr. Hyoko had prescribed, Adnama zipped off on her bike down the highway. She didn't really know where she was headed only she was going faster and faster. The feelings, emotions that she did not want to deal with swelled through her and she angrily tried to shove them aside. She bit her lip fiercely, tasting blood but ignoring it as the air whipped at her jacket and jeans, her hair snapping behind her from the helmet. Even through the tinted glass she could see how fierce the sun looked as it set. She blinked away angry tears and accelerated more.
She was going way too fast, but she didn't care. She just wanted to escape, run from the reality, and let it vanish behind her. She knew it wouldn't happen but she just kept going. Before she knew it she was zipping down the coastal road which was thankfully more or less devoid of traffic this time of day.
As she kept going, she felt that something was close behind her. Chancing a glance she saw another motorbike roaring closer, the rider wearing red helmet with tinted glass as well. As they ended up beside her, they glanced over to her. Adnama felt a challenge rush through her. Yes, she was still alive and damned if she let something like this stop her from taking risks.
Just like the old days, dad. She thought of her foster father and all the races they had and how much she had raced off when trouble had hit her. Like the day her dad's cop friends came over in their plain-clothes duty wear, carrying something in their hands.
Flashback.
She'd been home alone, mom and her brother out to pick up her sister and family from the airport to visit. She remembered opening the door, seeing their faces and then… her fathers badge. The air had left her and all she could do was back away, shaking her head.
'No. No this can't be. This isn't happening!' Her father's friends had tried to give comforting words but she had fled from the house, not caring about leaving the door open or saying anything else. She had just ran, ran like the wind to near by park, hitting the ground in anger, feeling every blow as her fists bled from hitting the trees, hot tears stinging her eyes. No! She slammed her fist into a tree, hearing a mighty crack.
No! Punching a brick wall, stone crumbling, as her fist ripped apart, blood oozing.
NOOOO!!! With all her strength she screamed at the sky, her fists tightening till her nails dug into her skin. She had remembered the surge that had raced through, like electricity ready to explode. In her anger she thought she had even radiated with her sorrow and rage. She had thought that a nearby lamp had burst like an explosion and that the very wind and whipped at her hair, as if to lift her into the very air. Then just as suddenly, it was gone, she lying on the ground breathless and exhausted.
It had been then that small headaches had begun, every so often but nothing more. She would take off back to her house, jump her bike and disappear for days, leaving her family worried about her safety. Where she went, she didn't remember. Only she would come home, ragged and exhausted to her very relieved family. She knew risks were what made her go on. A challenge, it was what made life worth living.
End of Flashback.
And here was this other rider, obviously looking for a challenge as they glanced at her. Adnama nodded, You wanna race, buddy, you got one!
With that she hit the throttle, roaring like a dragon and speeding beyond boundary. This had obviously taken the other by surprise but soon they joined in, coming close behind. Adnama gave a wicked laugh.
So you do have guts. I'm impressed. Let's see how far you'll go.
She took a sharp turn to a higher road leading up into the coastal cliffs. Here the road would be rather narrow and very bad if traffic did appear around sudden corners. Passing was just not allowed here. Yet soon they were almost neck and neck beside each other, taking the death race to a higher level.
Adnama let out a laugh as she swooped in, cutting them off a little. Let's give you some spice! She nipped the corner of the road, skimming the guardrail in the opposite lane. She looked forward and suddenly there was a truck coming. She heard the horns and could tell from her fellow rider not far behind, that they grew concerned, if only for a moment.
All I need. Adnama began to chicken race with the very worried trucker and then at the last minute zipped to the side, cutting in behind him and jumping the rail. For a few moments she had the glorious feeling of soaring through the air before her bike began to descend to the ground far below. She could barely hear the screech of tires as the other rider halted just before the rail. All Adnama felt was the adrenaline rushing through, the feeling of electricity building as she took her life in her own hands again. She glared and gripped her bike as she hit her target.
A sharp corner of the cliff not built over by the road further on but beside it. Dirt filled the air as she spun her bike around, coming to a sharp halt. She was now looking in the direction of her fellow racer, almost half a kilometer across the very deep gap. She grinned in triumph as she stood there, the bike not parked. She let the evening air whip at her hair, flexing her gloved hands from their hard work. The other rider had taken and continued along the winding the cliff road around the gap to where she was and parked their bike just outside the guardrail toward the off hanging where Adnama stood. They took gave their hands a rub as they approached, stopping about two meters from where she stood.
They were tall whoever they might be and they were obviously as willing to take a risk as Adnama was, only until she jumped the gap. Still wearing their helmets, the other spoke.
"You've got a lot of guts," came a husky voice, "Do you usually have a death wish?"
"More or less," muttered Adnama, "I find life isn't worth living if there is no challenge. Risks make it stronger."
The other seemed to chuckled somewhat, "I think we share the same philosophy." She pulled off her helmet, revealing a sandy hair girl about Adnama height and build. Her eyes were a dark navy blue and she could see an anger or pain there as well. She knew that all to well.
Adnama removed her helmet as well, giving her tied hair a shake as it fell against her body before blowing gently with the wind again. Holding her helmet at her side, she too gave the girl a serious look, "It's seems I have found a fellow racer who feels a need for speed as much as I do." She walked up to her, giving her a close look, "I can tell you revel in the danger as well."
The other raised an eyebrow, "So it seems," she muttered, raising a hand, "Tenou Haruka."
Adnama considered the hand for a moment, then gripped it in her usual tight grip, "Snemeis Adnama."
Haruka seemed surprised by her grip but covered it in a second, releasing her hand, "I believe I've heard of you. Serena has mentioned you from time to time. Naneeka is your niece, correct? She hangs out with Rini."
Adnama was surprised but gave a faint smile, "So, you know Odango too, I see."
At this Haruka's face broke out in a grin and she laughed, "I see I'm not the only one. Well Adnama, I was impressed by your bike skills. I've never seen someone take such a jump and live to tell about it. You must have wings hidden within you."
Adnama chuckled, "The wind decides I'm not ready to die so I am permitted another day."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, "How poetic. Are you a writer?"
"No, only little bits here and there. I'm taking a coarse in acting at KO. I hope to be an actress some…" she stopped, her words cutting into her earlier thoughts. Her face darkened again as she headed back to her bike.
"Gomen. I should be getting home. I'm late."
Haruka was taken by surprise by this sudden change, "Wait. Is something wrong?"
Adnama placed her helmet on as she mounted her bike, kicked it into action and turned to leave by the highway. But Haruka stood before her, her face set.
"I can see you are feeling a deep anger, perhaps pain. I can relate." She said bitterly.
Adnama gave a low laughter of self-mockery, "No, I don't think you can."
Haruka put a hand on the bike's handle, looking serious, "Whatever it is, I hope you find peace soon." She was quiet for a moment before she gave a wry grin from the corner of her mouth.
"Race you another day?"
Adnama was thoughtful but then gave a slow nod; "Perhaps. Should I see another day."
Before Haruka could respond Adnama ripped away past the guardrail and sped off down the highway again towards the city.
Haruka muddled over the meeting, feeling it might be a good idea to ask Darien about the girl. Perhaps he knew what was going. She had though by description that she was a more opening, friendly person. But from this first meeting, she saw an entirely different being.
She harbors deep power.
~~~
Reaching the penthouse, Adnama tiredly opened the door, dropping her helmet carelessly into a closet, removing her leather jacket and tossing it over a couch.
"Mitts? Naneeka? Anyone home?" she wondered to the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing a can of Dr. Pepper. Just as she opened it and began to drink, she heard a soft laughter. Curious she headed down the hall, checking rooms.
"Naneeka? You hiding?" she held the cold can, taking a swing every now and then. Suddenly the laughter seemed to be coming from behind.
'Over here!' came a faint child's laugh. Adnama headed back to the living room, setting down the can and checking in the closet. Then it sounded like it came from by the couch. Spinning around she saw nothing. Becoming somewhat peeved she spoke out.
"All right. I'm in no mood for games. Come out, whoever you may be!"
The laughter became more distinct and then came a tugging from behind. Turning Adnama was surprised. There stood Naneeka grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey Auntie!"
Adnama placed her hands on her hips, staring down at her niece, "Mind explaining where you were? It sounded like you were in the heating ducts."
Naneeka giggled as she plopped on the couch, Adnama taking a seat on another. "Mitts has been training me." She grinned, "I became tiny. And I can appear mostly anywhere! It's so fun!"
Adnama raised eyebrow, "And where is this trouble making Mitts anyway?"
"I find that most offensive, princess." Mitts came down the hall, jumping onto the couch beside her, "Training is not a game. Young Naneeka only made it into one."
Adnama sighed, leaning her head on a hand, "Whatever. As long as it doesn't create me another headache."
Naneeka began to look worried, "Are you okay, Auntie?"
She waved off the question, "Don't you have homework?"
Naneeka pouted, grabbing her bag and heading down the hall, "I knew I should of stayed longer at Rini's." They heard her door close and then Mitts turned to Adnama. "Princess?"
"Please, don't bother with that title." She said irritably, "Seeing as I don't remember a thing about such a life, I fail to see why I should take on its name."
"But it's who you are," protested Mitts, "Your destiny. You are and always will be Princess Adnamaia of the Kingdom of…"
"Stop it!" Adnama burst, anger coming with her words, "Just stop! I don't want to hear anymore of this faerie tale or princess or destiny crap! Just…Just leave me to the life I have left!" She hugged her knees as her fist had hit the couch arm hard, banging loudly, sobs raking her body.
This was a complete shock to Mitts, taken aback by the sudden burst. She glanced down the hall to make sure Naneeka had not heard. Then she padded softly to Adnama, jumping up on the back of the couch beside her.
"I feel the appointment did not end well," she said softly.
"No," Adnama spoke quietly as she slowly looked up, her face red but few tears present. "But it's not me I weep for."
Mitts was obviously upset as she padded back and forth, "This can't be happening. There is too much at stake. Quickly, what were you told?"
Adnama explained all that had been said to her and as she finished she could see the realization on Mitts face, even as she began to pace again.
"Why had I not remembered. Something this vital, I should have seen this!"
"Mitts, what difference could you have made? What is happening no one could have known."
Mitts stopped and turned to her, her words like a brick, "I did."
She looked at her, face unmoving but her words soft as if not to be heard at all.
"What?"
Mitts lowered her head before again facing her, "You remember that I told you your home was set in an dimension, phased with this one? Well, a star, very much different from this planet's sun lighted our system. The nebula rainbows also added a very different atmosphere to our planet. Your people had quite a different chemistry, some quite whiter then humans. Even though your mother was not originally of that system, your father was. So you had two different genes combined, making you a very special child indeed.
"Visiting your cousin's system had always been a small danger to you, so your fathers scientists had developed a way so that you were not effected by the suns effects. Your cousin could like wise visit you to no danger to herself or your aunt. I don't know why it didn't affect them in reverse like it did you. You rarely visited them anyway so the question was never answered, as they would see you often.
"How the suns effects you is rather hard to explain, only that it has caused others from your home to slowly go blind, cause sickness and yes… even death."
Adnama muddled over her words but a thought suddenly struck with fear, "What about Naneeka? And you?"
Mitts shook her head, "No, it will not effect us. Naneeka is of the true Fae and I… well, I will just say I'm not effected."
Why did she seem to avoid answering that? "But why now? Why not earlier? From what you've said it happened gradually but couldn't have been over a span like mine if they were just visiting."
"Like I have said, your mothers genes run through you as well. She was originally from this space. It maybe that they fought to defend your body while they could. It would seem your body has become to weary to handle the effect anymore."
"It might also be that living in Canada might have helped. The sun didn't seem as strong up north as it does in the south. (AN: Haha, yeah, I'm Canadian but it's NOT ALWAYS SNOWING!! YES, we DO see the sun and it DOES sometimes get as hot as any other place, even in the North) Hehe, a sunburn didn't happen too often but they could quite easily. I'm guessing those wouldn't help my case?"
Mitts looked at her, "I don't see that you should try to get one. But yes, it wouldn't help. Your theory might support this. But even there, you would eventually gain the effects."
"But you said there is a way to prevent these things from happening. Do you remember how?"
Mitts looked saddened and shook her head, "Unfortunately the methods cannot be reproduced here. The humans here have not the means and are yet to be that developed in science and medicine. Prin- …Adnama, I'm not sure what can be done."
Adnama again felt defeated, "I suppose the winds of destiny have decided my fate. The risks I have taken will never compete with what destroys me from within." She looked to Mitts, "Who I weep for are those I will leave behind. Those who have already suffered so much. I wish to spare them this pain."
Mitts nodded, "I understand." She was quiet before she felt it safe to speak again.
"There's not much time," she said softly as Adnama nodded, understanding, "The crystal must be found. Mistress must be stopped before this system once again sees the destruction it has forgotten."
"Understood," Adnama said solemnly, looking into Mitts' eyes in seriousness, "What must I do?"
Mitts was quiet but her face stern.
"Just…remember."
~~~
Hey Miko, I know you've been anticipating this! ^^ Enjoy! R&R