Page 42 of The Dysasters

Eve’s dark eyes widened. “You mean stop using amethyst all the time like I have been.”

“What are amethyst’s properties?”

Eve answered by rote. She knew the properties of every crystal, stone, jewel, and rock that rested in the bosom of earth so well that her response was as easy as breathing. “Amethyst is a stone of spirituality and contentment. It focuses energies on calming and soothing. It also facilitates stability, strength, and true peace.”

“I can see why you choose that crystal for him. But if I told you that along with being soothed I need help focusing on my analytical reasoning and protection against fear, envy, rage, as well as a mental boost—something that would help get rid of my sadness so that I could think more clearly—what crystal would you conjure from earth if I neededthosethings?”

Eve chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully and then said, “Well, there are a few that would work, but my instinct says carnelian would be best.” She studied her brother. “Mark, I would let you syphon from me. You know that, don’t you?”

“Oh, little sis! No, no, no. I struggle with my own demons enough. I don’t need anything added to them. There’s a reason Father’s addicted. He’s not bonded to earth. He wasn’t meant to share the element with you. But youareearth. Conjure carnelian and hold it close to you for as long as you can. He can last another few hours.” Mark stood, also brushing sand from his tall, lean body. “I’ll go to him now, buy you some time.”

Eve hugged Mark tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered into his shoulder.

“We’re in this together. Don’t ever forget that,” Mark said.

Eve found the true center of the island easily. She had, of course, been there countless times over the past thirty years. She’d been the first to move to the island—several years before her brothers joined her. Unlike her, each of the boys had had parents, though they had been eager to grant the great Dr. Rick Stewart full custody of their children after the boys began showing signs of what was diagnosed as acute early onset schizophrenia.

Eve had never known any other father except Rick Stewart, and the closest thing to a mother she’d had was Cora Stewart, but she’d only had her for a few years and Cora had never known the truth about Eve. Not about her bond with earth, nor about her conception.

Eve shook herself mentally. It served no purpose to allow the past to torment her. It couldn’t be changed. It could only be endured.

But how much longer could Eve endure?

The centermost spot of the island used to be marked by a cluster of poinciana trees and a small park that held a wisteria-covered gazebo and a fountain that was a replica of the mermaid mother and child fountain in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square. The poincianas were in full flower, filling the abandoned park with the scent of caramel. The fountain had been dry for five years and wisteria had devoured the gazebo—though Eve thought that made it charming and magical.

Ducking inside the curtain of green vines and fragrant, grape-like clusters of purple flowers, Eve felt as much at peace as she was able to on an island.There was a long metal box under the dilapidated bench seat that ran along the inside circle of the gazebo, and from it Eve took a thick meditation pillow. She went to the center of the gazebo, placed the pillow on the wood floor, and sat on it cross-legged. Then she closed her eyes and spread her arms wide as if she was expecting to wrap someone within her embrace.

And Eve was embracing someone—she embraced Earth.

It was an understatement to say that she reached with her mind to find the thick curtain of vines that covered the gazebo. It was more accurate, and yet incomplete, to say that she reached with her mind, her spirit,andher body to join her essence with the growing plants. She felt them and her full lips lifted in a contented smile. Wisteria might look like a delicate blooming vine, but there was nothing delicate in its nature. She could feel the plant’s strength and tenacity. Eve joined with it and followed it down… down… down… As deep as she could go before hitting the water table.

Eve rested there a moment, surrounded by the fecund earth, drawing comfort from its beautiful mysteries. When she felt ready, Eve sent out her call. With every fiber of her spirit and the altered DNA that bound her to earth, Eve focused on what she sought. When she spoke her mouth did not open, yet her voice echoed eerily all around her from the leaves of the wisteria as the vines swayed with the weight of her need.

“Come to me, carnelian.

I need your protection against

Envy

Fear

Rage

I need your clarity. Stimulate my

Intelligence

Inquisitiveness

Instinct

I need you to dispel

Apathy and passivity

In return I give you my body, for you are mine and I am yours.

Come to me, carnelian!”