Robin D. Owens - Keepers of the Flame

ROBIN D. OWENS

KEEPERS OF THEFLAME

To readers,
May hope always be your friend.

Contents

Acknowledgments:

All my fellowLUNA authors, my critique group,
and the health care professionals in my life who know
what Im talking about, Morgan de Thouars, and Rita Mills,
and Mountain Mehndi for Bris design.

Denver, Last ofMay, early afternoon

H e wasnt worthit. Elizabeth Drystan stomped down the grocery store aisle, pushing her metalbasket hard. The damn thing had a wonky wheel, of course, and Elizabeth reveledin the necessity of using force.

Theman wasnt worth her heartbreak. Heartbreak? More like her heart had beenripped out, leaving a horrible, bloody, aching core. As a newly board-certifieddoctor starting a job in Denver Major Hospital next month, she knew herphysical heart still beat. But, oh, her emotional one was shredded into pieces.

Thejerk, Cassidy, had said she was crowding him. He needed space. Just whenshe thought she could plan the rest of her lifestarting with a wedding. Aftera year, Cassidy had broken their engagement. Because he needed space.

Elizabethhad told him to go to Wyoming.

Andthe inexplicable auditory illusionschanting, gongs and chimeswere taking herto the edge of temper and sanity. Even now she had to block the sounds from hermind.

Shetook a corner fast and crashed into another cart. The jolt sang up her arms.She opened her mouth to spew and saw her twin sister, Bri, who was supposed tobe in Swedenpurple-streaked hair and all. Elizabeth burst into tears.

Brireached for her, hugging and soothing. I knew something was wrong. I had to comeback.

Elizabethdidnt care where her free-spirited sister had been, only that she was holdingher. Her tears were dripping down Bris fallen earbuds and she wondered if saltwater damaged them. The silliness of that thought made her gasp, choke, andstifle the water flow. Digging into her cart for one of the already openedboxes of tissues, Elizabeth wiped her eyes and blew her nose. God, am I gladyou came.

Bripatted her on the shoulder. I knew you were sad. Her jaw tightened. Manproblems, right? That Doctor Medical-Prodigy-Slick-Hunk-Son-Of-A-Bitch. I toldyou he was an arrogant snob of a bastard. Finally showed his true colors.

Elizabethhugged her again. Im glad youre here.

Actually,Im back for good.

Thatwas startling and Elizabeth welcomed the distraction, even if she didntbelieve it. Really? She stepped back to scan Bris face under her spiky hairof brown and purple. There was an unaccustomed seriousness in her hazel gazealong withuncertainty?

Shrugging,Bri flushed. No place like home, right?

Sothey say. But lately Elizabeth had begun to feel a change of venue might begood. She could reconsider her decision about starting at Denver MajorHospital. Take a long break, call around to some of her other offers. Her feetwere actually tingling. She wondered if that was what Bri called itchy feet.

Elizabeth?Bri was smiling. You went away on me.

Thatwas usually Elizabeths phrase to her twin.

Afterone last blow into her tissue, Elizabeth tucked it away into a plastic baggiein her purse, took out an antiseptic towlette packet, opened it and wiped herhands.

Lookingamused, Bri rolled up her earbuds and slipped her player in her purse. Feelbetter?

Always,when youre here.

Brilooked away, then back, hunched a shoulder. You know why Ive been gone. I hadto see if other places were more accepting ofour talent.

Elizabethnever wanted to talk about that subject. The folks will be glad to see you.They were hoping youd come home for Dads birthday.

Thistime the favors I called in were solid. Got here this morning. Everywheresbeen interesting. Denver and home is better.

Touchingthe puffiness under her eyes, Elizabeth winced. My God, look at me, breakingdown in a grocery store!

Briglanced around, You wouldnt be the first, and you picked an appropriateplace. Supplies all around. Tiger Balms right behind your shoulder and aspirinon my side of the aisle. Bri grinned. Elizabeth always thought Bri had gottenthe prettier smile. Bri said since they were identical, Elizabeth had it, too.That wasnt true. Bris smile was special. Maybe because she was such a freespirit.

Scuseme, said a tall, wiry black woman with salt-and-pepper hair, walking down theaisle. Her face showed irritationthat part which wasnt covered with a packageof frozen baby peas. I need one of those instant ice packs. Her visible eyerolled to other items on the shelves. And one of those herbal sinus pillows,too.

Brimoved her cart. Lets see, she said. Im a massage therapist. She tiltedher head toward Elizabeth. And shes a medical doctor. What happened?

Acorner of the womans mouth quirked as she walked past Bri to Elizabeth.Volleyball. She took the peas from her face.

Elizabethwinced in sympathy, checked the womans eye, then carefully felt around thebone. No other head injury?

No.

Blurryvision?

No.

Lookslike a big black eye.

Thewoman snorted. Got that.

Here,Bri said, ripping open the box and twisting the instant ice compress toinitiate the cold. She placed the pack on the womans face.

ThenBri did the unthinkable. Elizabeth saw an aura of green pulse from Brishand through the pack and bathe the womans face for long, long seconds.

Ithink youll find it looks worse than it is, Bri said, releasing the compressafter the woman dropped the peas in her basket and held the pack herself.

Thanks.It feels better already.

Heresyour sinus pillow. Elizabeth hoped her voice was less stiff than she felt.

Thanksagain. The woman nodded and left.

Areyou crazy! Elizabeth whispered. I want to talk to you! She jerked her cartaround and headed toward an empty corner of the store.

Smiling,Bri sauntered after her, tugging her smoothly rolling cart. Elizabeth got hertemper under control by the time her twin reached her.

Whatwere you doing! Elizabeth demanded.

Youknow what I was doing. Just because you deny our gift of healing hands doesntmean I do.

Youused it in a grocery store.

What,you think healing should only be confined to clinics? Bri glanced around. Letme tell you, this store is pristine compared to some of the places Ive been.She lowered her voice. The refugee camps Iveworkedin.

Elizabethclutched the handle of her grocery cart until her knuckles whitened. Someonecould have seen!

Seenwhat? It was only a little burst of energy. Bris smile widened. And welldone, if I say so, myself. That bruise will fade in record time.

AgainBri glanced around. So how many of our fellow shoppers can see healing auras,do you think? Its not even an organic store.

Someonecould have seen, Elizabeth repeated, unable to put enough distress inwords.

Briwas frowning nowmaybe shed come to her senses. You saw how the lady camestraight to you, the doctor. People trust doctors with medical degrees, notthose of us with healing hands. Thats why Ive decided that you got it right,working within the Western medical establishment.

Elizabethstill didnt know what to say, and must have appeared as confused as she felt.

Bripatted her shoulder, but her face went impassive. I promise I wont let anyoneknow you have the gift, too.

Elizabethwinced and rubbed her temples. She could barely hear her sister for thecacophony once again inundated her mind. Sorry to snap at you. These damnedchimes are driving me mad!

Eyeswidening, Bri said, Chimes? You too? Her voice dropped. What about agongand chants?

Elizabethknew her mouth opened and closed like a guppys.