Part 3- Chapter 2

Part 3 Chapter 2 Maybe it happened because you were thinking about it Or maybe you were thinking about it because it happened. As everyone looked at Maia in utter disbelief, she was lost in her own world. Well, her own bubble. Completely unaware of anything, she hung suspended in a pearly bubble of Water. They could see in, but she could not see out. But she could see in her heart and head. And that was what was important now.  Sydney’s chiseled jaw hung open. Phoebe was clutching her mother's arm with a desperate hold. Likewise, mother clung to daughter. Benjamin stood shockingly still, his eyes riveted to the bubble that held his blood. Tim held his father's shoulder, as his knees trembled beneath him. But if one was present, it would be Anna’s face that held the most astounding picture and countenance. Her blue eyes were squinted narrowly as she gazed unwaveringly at Maia. Her face wore an expression of mingled triumph and pain. Shock was present there too. Sydney perceived this, and tearing his eyes off of the strange scene unfolding above, fixed his eyes upon Anna.  As he stared he noticed something. Being a vain boy, he had spent a good deal of time in front of a mirror. He saw that Anna’s eyes and his own were the same color. As he looked deeper, he noticed that the wrinkles permanently etched in her face were precisely in the same places and designs as when he expressed emotion, causing the lines to appear.  *** Hello Maia. Welcome. It is time I introduced myself. I daresay you are pondering who the mysterious voice can be. Anna knows. Her and I correspond regularly. She fears your lot will be the same as hers, so desperately tries to stop you and I from meeting. She knew it would be to no avail! As soon as you started the process, and your mind was considerably weakened and vulnerable I joined you to offer salutations. And to tell you your lot. Silly Anna! To think she could prevent me from speaking with you, rambled the voice. Maia was not conscious of her body. All she felt was her brain. You could have pressed a knife into her stomach and she would not have felt a thing. She noticed the absence of feeling, but blamed the voice for it. And who are you? Who are you to think that you can outwit and be stronger than Anna? Oh! You think Anna that strong? Let me tell you, girl, there are many, many, many people stronger than your precious Anna. Many! And to answer your question, who am I? You'll see! Soon enough. Now, concentrate.  The words spoke reverberated around in her head. With each exclamation a dart of pain shot in her head. Feeling returned to her body, clearly given back to her by the voice.  She wondered for the briefest of seconds what the people down below thought. But there was no time to dwell upon the thought, for the voice spoke again.  Create Water upon your palm. Maia replied, Talk to me. As long as you speak I feel as able to control Water as I can control my arms. Second nature.  No, Maia. Think of me and create Water. I challenge you.   Maia felt being returned to her body. Her eyes opened, but she could see nothing except for her own body and the pearl walls of her prison. Beneath her, she knew, stood all she loved, but she could not see them. Maia steeled herself and then thought of the voice. Soft, silvery, slippery. Her body began shaking and she thought she heard her father scream “NO!” A sharp pain pulled in her gut all the way to her two uplifted palms. With a tug in her brain more painful than anything else she had experienced, Water appeared on her palm! I knew it! Oh! Oh! Bless, bless! Cried the voice with real joy and relief. A rush of warmth ran through her brain. It cleared the pain. It was like a reward for doing the right thing.The voice was happy. In a whisper to himself he added, perhaps the savior has come. I hope so. But alas, we have been mistaken before....  Maia wondered what he could mean by savior, but her newfound power was too thought consuming. She moved her fingers, but the Water remained on her palm. It did not move to her fingertips, as she wanted it too. Maia told herself to stop the Water, and it flickered and died. She commanded it again to start, and it did. But it would not move to her fingertips. She concentrated hard, but something was resisting. A soft, high voice rushed though her and said, Maia. I hold you back. We will meet soon, but work with him now. Try to ignore my presence. Ah, hello my dear. Thank you for joining, but I thought we all made an agreement? You and I each will work with her alone. said the original voice.  We did, but Maia needed an explanation for the resistance. It would have held her back. She replied. Please dear, come later, when it is your time! Now, Maia, you have realized that all you can do is turn the Water on or off. But you can not move it or create things without a proper teacher. It will take you triple the amount of time to learn all of that alone, but it will be quick with a proper teacher. I will be your teacher. I surpass anyone who controls the Elements of Water. Here the voice paused. He needed to act cautiously. If subservience was demanded of Maia, she would rebel. But, if the voice presented it in a way that she would be gaining, -which she would, tremendously, but she also would be serving- then Maia would accept in a heartbeat. He continued. If you accept me to teach you, you will rise above all Water Masters. If Anna agrees, she will teach you too. Will you have me? How could Maia turn down an offer like that! Just turning the Water on and off made her feel right. Imagine how much more she could find herself if she had a teacher! A voice speaking in her head made no sense- Yes Maia, it makes no sense. And thank you for accepting me. You will not regret it. As soon as you figure out who I am, it will all make sense. Can you guess, Maia Stevens? Maia thought long and hard. The voice was silvery and silky. Like when she touched Water. She felt like the voice embodied Water. The essence of Water. Was Water. That’s right, dear. I am Water. To my readers: I do not know who reads TEH weekly, and would like to know. Please, if you do, leave a comment below by the orange "blogger" icon with your name -and if you have siblings/children, leave their names too-. Thank you a hundred time over!! ---Kaila M.S