Chapter 149: The Angry Woman

Friday, June 18, 1971

Friday nights at the ranch were traditionally dance night, sometimes with a live band. But tonight, it was just records, on a turntable with big speakers. Jaye approached me and asked if I would do another ballroom dancing demonstration for the guests, like we had done a few weeks ago, but I explained that my previous partner, Liz, was not there.

“Isn’t there anyone else in your remarkable family who you dance with?” Jaye asked, beseechingly.

“Why don’t you ask my mom?” Ileana suggested. “You and her looked so beautiful when you danced at the party in New York.”

“I’ve never done any exhibition dancing,” Kalani said, hesitantly.

“Then what was that you did with Michael at the party?” Debbie asked her.

Finally, she gave in, mostly to stop the girls from badgering her. However, I knew she was a little thrilled.

“Why don’t we go on over and run through a couple of numbers?” I asked her. Most of the rest of the family decided to come witness our rehearsal, so we all headed out for the Pavilion together.

Sunset was still over an hour away when we left the Dining Hall. But as we covered the short distance between the two buildings, I noticed a weird darkness began to settle around us. It wasn’t like an approaching storm, but more like an eclipse. I looked and could still see the sun, just above the tops of the western mountain range, but it was as if I were looking through sunglasses.

The music was playing as we entered the open Pavilion. Bucky and a girl he introduced as Pam were checking out the sound. I took Kalani’s hand and led her into a quick step to the beat of the lively music.

We ran through a foxtrot before taking a break as the other guests had begun to arrive. Kalani and I joined our gang at a couple of tables they had pushed together. Vickie and Amy had two glasses of water waiting for us.

After a welcome from Jaye, she turned the dance over to Bucky and Pam, and the music began. There were over a hundred guests and staff members in the pavilion, but only a handful were dancing. So after the second song, Sandy got up to make an announcement.

“Since I don’t see everyone out on the dance floor, I am forced to believe that you don’t know how much fun it is. So, I’d like to ask my special friends, Michael and Kalani, to come show you just how much fun dancing can be,” Sandy told the guests.

As Sandy introduced us, I stood and offered Kalani my hand.

“It’s showtime!” I told her softly with a big smile.

When we started, I could sense a lack of enthusiasm from the other guests, but as we danced our way around the dance floor, you could hear the murmurings move through the crowd as the conversation and table noises died away. The second dance followed the first without a break, so there wasn’t very much time for applause. Kalani sensed the crowd’s interest now and poured her heart into the sexy foxtrot. By the time we finished, the applause was deafening.

“Should we have them do an encore?” Sandy yelled in the microphone to be heard over the noise.

The noise just got louder as the guests all yelled and cheered.

I looked at Kalani, raising my eyebrows in question. She smiled shyly as she nodded.

“Do you have ‘Moonlight Serenade’?” I thought to Sandy. After conferring with the DJs for a moment, she turned back to the microphone.

“While they get the music ready, I guess I should take a moment to properly introduce the couple who has so graciously agreed to dance for you tonight,” she said into the microphone.

The first bars of ‘Moonlight Serenade’ wafted through the pavilion as she continued, “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Queen Kalani, of the Island Nation of Tapato, and her escort tonight, Prince Michael.”

A surprised applause rippled through the crowd as I set the frame for a classical waltz. I was surprised when Kalani closed her eyes and melted into my arms. Suddenly, it was as if we became one person as we glided around the floor. I could read her and saw that Kalani was reading me. She was not worrying about where I might lead, simply because she knew just as quickly as I did. I realized what she was doing after just a few steps, and relaxed. In all the dances I had ever danced, this was the first time that I had ever danced with someone who was in perfect rhythm and step with me without my actually having to lead them. I began to let the music flow through me, becoming one with it, much as I became one with the nature around me when I tried.

It was as if I were outside my body observing the two of us as we glided elegantly to the music. I wondered if anyone else could tell we were dancing in a trance. When the music neared its end, we finished our waltz in a classic ‘hold’ as I clutched her to me, our faces only inches apart. Then to the final silky strains, I bent my head slightly and kissed her. I could feel her passions and desires. The crowd was generous in their appreciation, but for that moment, it was as if Kalani and I were all alone.

I’ll probably never know for sure what happened next. One minute I was kissing Kalani with all my heart, the next I was lying on the floor, looking at the ceiling with blurred vision.

It was if a giant, unseen hand had reached out and backhanded me across the face. I almost swore I could hear a muted “How dare you!” as I sailed backwards, landing on my back. Then I heard Kalani cry out and I looked to see if she had been injured in the apparent attack.

Kalani had been knocked in the opposite direction, but her eyes were open, with a stunned expression on her face. I groggily tried to sit up when suddenly I felt it!

Anger! Pain! Total MISERY! I grabbed my head with my hands as I fell back to the floor. Darkness was crowding my vision when I heard Narvenia’s cry.

“Your shield, Michael!” Narvenia screamed urgently. “Use your shield!”

It was touch and go for a moment before my shield began to block out the pain. I looked around me, but no one else except Kalani seemed to be affected. I quickly wrapped her in my shield.

The Pavilion had gone silent when we fell. The DJs cut the music as Sandy jumped off the small stage to run to where I had fallen. Narvenia knelt beside me, holding my hand.

“It’s our friend. She’s getting close,” I thought to them. “Check on Kalani. I’m okay.”

The drama passed as Sandy explained that I had been in a coma just two months ago. She also explained that my doctor was with me and would check me out, but it appeared that we had just overdone it a little. The music started again and this time, there were more people dancing.

The girls all huddled around Kalani and me as Anna checked us over.

“Can you tell us what happened, Michael?” Anna asked.

“We had just finished the most phenomenal dance, when I bent my head to kiss Kalani. The next thing I know, it felt as if I had been slapped silly by a five-ton gorilla. Then I saw Kalani on the floor, looking as dazed as I felt. When I started to get up, there seemed to be the most awful scream, as if someone were going stark raving mad, just screaming all sorts of unintelligible things I couldn’t understand. But I could sense the anguish, and pain, and even anger in the scream,” I explained. “It was so loud and painful, I felt like I was going to pass out, then I heard Narvenia and immediately put my shields around both of us.”

“I don’t think we have to worry about her finding us,” Narvenia stated flatly. “I felt her. Michael’s right. She is upset. So much so, I think she is in great pain. We need to get out of here and go discuss this.”

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“I feel as if I have been penalized,” Narvenia said. “On our world, there is a penalty used that fills a child with pain when they have been bad. This was similar to that, except much stronger.”

“I think Narvenia is correct,” Catherine thought to us. Then aloud she said, “Why don’t we take them both back to the Lodge?”

I felt someone at my elbow. I looked and saw Trealyn standing there, her small hip touching the back of my arm. I smiled at her.

“Are you okay?” she asked in her small voice.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired,” I replied. “Thank you for asking, though.”

“I was worried when I saw you fall down. I didn’t want you to be hurt,” she told me.

“I’m really okay, Trealyn,” I told her again. “I’m sorry if I caused you to worry.”

“That’s okay. I just wouldn’t want you to die or nothing. Momma explained that you and I have a correction...”

“You mean connection?” Kalani asked her gently.

“Yeah, connection. And she said that one day, if the connection’s still there, you might even ask me to marry you!”

I winked at her. “Your momma’s right. When you get older, I might just do that,” I told her. “That is, if you still love me.”

Trealyn bowed her head as she blushed. “I think that...” she started to say, but faltered. Then looking at me, she quickly proclaimed, “Momma says I’m too young to know what love is. But my heart tells me it’s what I feel when I think about you kissing me!”

“I think maybe your heart is telling you the truth,” Kalani told the young girl. “But for now, your momma is also correct. I’m sure she didn’t say that you didn’t love Michael. Just that you should wait a little longer before you decide. As smart as your mother says you are, I’m sure you will agree that this is something that is very special, and very important. And if it’s really true, Michael will be there for you when the time is right for you.”

“You mean he’ll wait for me? Like in the movies?” Trealyn asked Kalani.

“Trealyn, I promise you that I will be there for you when you’re ready,” I told her.

“Really? Cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die?” she asked invoking the most serious pledge her almost-thirteen-year-old mind could remember.

“Trealyn, Prince Michael is a member of my royal court. And Royal promises are not allowed to be broken,” Kalani explained to the now fascinated young girl. She had forgotten that I was a prince.

“I ... I ... can’t believe it! Wait until I tell my friends that a REAL prince has said he’ll marry me when I’m older!” she squealed with glee. That was followed by, “HEY! Does that mean I’ll be a real, honest-to-god princess?” she asked as the thought dawned on her.

“That’s exactly what it means, darling,” Kalani thought back to her with a warm smile, as she stroked Trealyn’s hair. This was not the first time she had dealt with young girls and their prepubescent dreams.

Trealyn looked from Kalani to me and back, twice, her mouth gaping, but no words were coming out, until a small, shrill cry finally escaped. “Oh-o-o-o!” Then suddenly she stopped as she said, “I GOTTA go tell my momma!”

She darted back in the direction of her mom, only to stop abruptly. Then, as she had done this morning, she ran back to me and threw her arms around my neck, kissing me quickly on the mouth. She grinned at me before breaking away, as she sped off in a happy search for her mother.

“You’re doing better, Michael,” Narvenia said as the three of us made our way back to the Lodge.

“I am?” I asked, not sure what she was referring to.

“Yes. You didn’t allow anyone to overhear your thoughts tonight. It could have been very upsetting for Trealyn if she had been able to hear them earlier,” Narvenia explained.

The other girls were waiting on us in the great room and Narvenia, Kalani, and I recounted everything that had happened. Even the part about Trealyn.

“I remember when I was in the seventh grade,” Hanna said. “I had such a crush on my best friend’s older brother. But he never even noticed me.”

“And now you have a crush on my big brother,” Nicky laughed. “Does that make me your best friend?”

“I was just saying I can remember how she feels, and I think it’s great that Michael isn’t ignoring her,” Hanna explained. “But I think I’d like being your friend as well.”

That started a round of remembering first crushes among the girls. I got the feeling that no one wanted to talk about the elephant in the room. I know that I didn’t know what to say.

After a while, Catherine said, “Look. It’s getting late, and I’m heading to bed. Is there anything we need to discuss about what happened to Michael and Kalani tonight?”

I looked to Narvenia.

“I think that she is getting closer, but I have no idea what to expect. It seems that she has zeroed in on Michael’s power, probably because of the almost meditative state he was in while dancing with Kalani. I also think I sensed a feeling of jealousy when he kissed her, but I’m not sure. I don’t understand why, however, I suggest we all be on guard, and if we feel something strange, let Michael know right away,” she suggested.

“Okay, then, I’ll tell you all good night, and see you in the morning,” Catherine said as she stood to leave. She looked at me but I could tell she didn’t want me to read her as she had her old shield in place. I could have gotten around it in a snap, but I respected her too much. I rose and kissed her good night.

Everyone one else hung around and just chatted. Soon, Jeff and Debbie came in. They had stayed at the dance.

“Is everything okay?” Jeff asked when he saw us there. “Is something wrong with Michael?”

I popped my head up from where I was slouched down on the couch. “I’m fine,” I told him. “Just overdid it a little.”

They chatted about the rest of the dance and then bid us good night.

Rose and Eve came up behind me on the couch. Abby and Hanna were beside me.

“Michael, we ... ah, wanted to ask you if ... well, if we could stay with you tonight?” Rose blushed as she asked.

“I’m sorry, Rose, but before you can stay with me, the prophecy says that I have to come to your village first, and then you and Eve will be given to me. Right?” I asked her.

“Ah ... yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just that Eve and I have done nothing but talk about you, and while I wasn’t ready to be with you before, I am now. And, oh, I’m so embarrassed. I sound just like those girls that will do anything to get a man,” she cried, burying her face in her hands.

“Yeah, right!” Eve said sarcastically, “My sister the slut.”

“Eve!” her mother cried.

“C’mon, Mom. You know that Rose never had a slutty thought in her life. She’s just horny! And she doesn’t know what to do about it,” Eve replied.

As a twin myself, I recognized Eve’s effort to soothe her sister’s embarrassment, but as a sister, she also couldn’t resist poking fun at her at the same time. It’s a twin thing.

I turned around, kneeling on the couch where I had just been slouching and reached for Rose.

“C’mere, Morning Star,” I called to her. She was inches out of my reach. When she didn’t move, I said, “Do you dare to disobey the Waharahi?” I said with a twinkle in my eye.

When she stepped a little closer, I pulled her to me and kissed her passionately.

“Just a little while longer,” I thought to her. “Can you wait?”

“What if you die? What if we all die before ... you know?” she thought back. “I mean, I’ve never even done it. And I wanted to do it at least once before I die.”