"You read patterns. You see things in patterns others can't. It doesn't make sense to us, but it would to you. That isn't going insane, Airiana, it's your element manifesting itself in a larger, more complicated way," Blythe explained. "Because you're so highly intelligent, your brain needs continual work to keep it satisfied. But first and foremost, you're bound to air. You simply mistook your brain's ability to see patterns in mathematics for your element's need to communicate with you. Two different things are going on."
"But . . ." Airiana trailed off. Could it really be that simple? She was smart. "If that's the case, why couldn't I figure it out?"
Lexi shrugged. "When we're too close to a problem, sometimes the answer's right in front of us but we can't see it. And sometimes the answer is just too simple when we're used to dealing with something much more complex."
"So you think the patterns I see on the walls, in the ground, in the waves of the ocean are air's communication with me." She wanted to believe them, believe that answer was so simple, but her mother . . . She couldn't help but doubt them. She'd seen her mother's slow deterioration.
Blythe and Lissa both nodded.
Lexi shrugged. "It's possible, isn't it? The ground communicates with me. I know what it needs at all times for my plants. If air is the source of communication, of course it would want to find a way to speak with the person bound to it. Your mind sees in patterns. What better way?"
Airiana felt stunned. Absolutely stunned. She had always thought she would eventually go insane. Everything pointed to that. She had all the same signs her mother had. Marina had given her the signs to watch out for, and she had every one. Had her mother been bound to air and didn't realize, like Airiana, that her mind was seeing mathematical problems in patterns but her element was communicating as well?
Was it really her element trying to warn her when danger was close? She could feed her mind data and keep it happy, but seeing patterns everywhere that no one else could see made her certain she was mentally ill and would eventually succumb to the illness.
"What did you see today that upset you?" Blythe asked, using her gentlest tone.
"In the fog, when I looked out the window, I could see danger coming at us. I know it's coming, just as I knew when I walked up the steps to my house when I was a teenager. I didn't know my mother would be dead, but I knew something was dreadfully wrong."
Lexi and Lissa exchanged a long, alarmed look. "Rikki and Levi are diving today. And Judith and Thomas went to an art show in New York. They were flying out this morning from San Francisco."
Airiana shook her head. "No, it's here. On the farm. I could see the layout of the farm, but it doesn't make sense."
"No tractors today, Lexi," Blythe said decisively.
"So you don't think I'm crazy because I see patterns all around me?" Airiana asked, drawing her knees up to rest her chin on top of them.
"No, I think you're perfectly sane," Blythe said. "A little mixed up, but that's to be expected given what you've been through."
"Let's not go that far," Lissa teased. "She's got it in her head that we're all going to find ourselves with a Prakenskii man in our laps."
Lexi nearly spewed her tea across the room. "Don't say that. Good grief, Lissa. This is Sea Haven. You can't put something like that out into the universe and not expect repercussions."
"It wasn't me," Lissa denied, holding up both hands. "Airiana said it first, and I told her the exact same thing."
Blythe kept her head down, her thumb pressed into her palm, not entering the banter.
"Well don't even think it," Lexi reprimanded. "I love Levi and Thomas, I really do, but seriously, they're both a force to be reckoned with. Did you know that even though we warned them we might have to move once Elle Drake and Jackson return, they put in a bid on the property neighboring ours?"
Airiana could hear the secret pleasure in her voice. None of them wanted to sell the farm and move, least of all Lexi, who had poured her heart and soul into it. Unfortunately, Lev Prakenskii, working undercover, had been unable to help Elle Drake escape from a human trafficking ring. The leader, Stavros Gratsos, had held her prisoner for some time before her sisters and husband, Jackson, had been able to mount a rescue operation.
All of them worried that when Elle and Jackson returned from their honeymoon and trip to Europe, Jackson would object to Lev's presence on Elle's behalf. There was no way to hide who he was from Jackson and Elle, nor did Lev want to hide from them.
Blythe sighed. "Levi made it very clear that he would not uproot Rikki. She's happy here and functioning well. He said he'd find a way to make his peace with Elle and Jackson and the other Drakes. Naturally his brother is going to support him."
"So they really put in a bid on the piece of property we've been salivating over for the last four years?" Airiana asked. "Well, Lexi's been salivating over. I presume they plan on joining the two properties."
"That's the plan," Lexi said. She couldn't hide her smile and this time she didn't try. "The soil is really good. There's a very large section of forest that is just awesome as well. I've been talking to Thomas about possibly getting a few llamas. The manure is excellent for plants."
Airiana groaned. "It's too early in the morning to be talking about manure, Lexi, especially in such an enthusiastic tone."
In spite of the fear gnawing at her, she couldn't help but be happy when she looked at her youngest sister. Lexi's wild mass of auburn hair was pulled back haphazardly in a ponytail. She looked a little like a pixie, with her large green eyes and pale oval face. She nearly always wore faded and often holey jeans and a flannel plaid shirt, but she managed to look adorable--at least Airiana thought so.
Lexi smirked. "What do you think we're going to be doing in the greenhouse today, Airiana? Make certain you wear old clothes."
"That's my cue to leave," Blythe said. "If you're all right, Airiana. We'll talk about your concerns with seeing patterns . . ."
"Going insane," Airiana corrected.
Blythe smiled at her. "That too. This evening. I'm certain you'll see that the patterns are all about you being bound to an element and not because you're losing your mind. Think about it logically and try to set aside childhood fears. You're intelligent and you like to learn about things, start reading everything you can about the element of air."
Lissa gave a little sniff of disdain. "Really? On the Internet? Do you think she's going to find a lot of really good data on elements on the Internet? Do we put things on the Internet that we know about our gifts? We don't acknowledge them to ourselves half the time."
"There might be something pertinent," Blythe ventured. "You never know."
Airiana blew Blythe a kiss. "Thanks. You think it will help to keep my mind occupied."
"I do," Blythe conceded.
The phone rang, a loud intrusion in the soothing colors of Airiana's safe retreat. Everyone else looked toward the instrument. Airiana found herself drawn to the center of the room, where the sound took on ominous patterns. Her heart nearly stopped and then began to pound.
"It's Damon. Damon Wilder," she whispered. "And it's for me."
2
AIRIANA placed her teacup carefully on the table in front of her. Her mouth had gone dry. She watched as Blythe casually picked up the phone and greeted the caller in her usual gentle, cheerful voice.
Lexi slipped her hand into Airiana's. "Damon's always been nice, Airiana. Why are you afraid?"
Airiana shook her head when Blythe held out the phone to her. Blythe frowned but resigned herself to being the go-between.
"Damon wants to come out this morning and have a meeting with you."
"I'm working in the greenhouse this morning with Lexi and I won't be able to schedule anything for several hours." It would give her time to think. Damon and Sarah were supposed to be on their honeymoon. What would be so important that they would suddenly return and Damon would want to schedule a meeting with her? Whatever it was, it wasn't good--for her.
; "He says he'll come by around twelve-thirty. That it's important." Blythe had a little note of warning in her voice.
Airiana nodded. That would give her sufficient time to gather her defenses around her and ensure Damon--or anyone else with him because he wouldn't come alone--couldn't convince her to do anything she didn't want to do. "That's fine," she murmured, and looked down at Lexi's hand, shocked that she'd been squeezing it so hard. "I'm sorry, Lex," she added.
Lexi shrugged, flashing a teasing grin. "I'm better off without that hand this morning; after all, you're helping me with the compost."
Airiana found herself smiling again. That was the beauty of family, especially a family as close as hers. One moment she could be completely terrified, and the next, one of her sisters could make her laugh.
"You wish. I'll pull all the beds, but you and that nasty smelling concoction you love so much will be all alone when you start shoveling."
Lexi made a show of rubbing her hand. "I'm injured and the compost has to be mixed in those beds this morning. At least you're capable of sending the odor away, although, really, it isn't that bad."
Airiana and Lissa both laughed.