Isla

 

Gold flakes swirled across the page as I blew on it and gazed down at the sketch of a lion I’d just drawn. Big cats, especially lions, had been haunting my dreams and thoughts lately. I wasn’t sure why, but something about Balt and the lion shifters itched in the back of my head. And I had no idea why, but it created the heady sensation of trying to recall a long-lost dream.

Flipping through my pieces, I hesitated before I got to the bottom and glanced around. Kai was outside somewhere and I felt somewhat guilty as I pulled out these ones. Sketches of him surfing or napping, as well as some in his shifted form.

Looking back at some of the earliest ones, I wondered how I didn’t realize I was in love with him then. Every line sang with feeling.

Sticking them back into their hiding spot, I cupped my chin in my hands. I didn’t know why I was so reluctant to show Kai those – I’d shown him my sketchbooks and paintings with no problem. But a wave of shyness came over me at the thought of showing him his portraits.

What if he doesn’t like them? Or laughs? Or thinks I’m weird…er?

Things were good right now. No need to rock the boat.

Kai came jogging up the stairs, his hair flying and burst into the house. “Isla, I just realized something. Your birthday is in less than a week! What do you want to do for it?”

Standing up, I stretched and shrugged. I’d never been into birthdays. It always seemed like whatever the plans were, they always and inevitably fell apart.

It was because of birthdays, I’d thought I was a jinx for so long.

“You have nothing you want to do for your day?” Kai continued, raising an eyebrow. “Not one thing?”

“Maybe sushi?” I suggested half-heartedly.

“Sushi! Okay. We could get dressed up.” Kai ran a hand through his hair. “I should probably get a haircut at some point, though.”

“No, keep it simple,” I said, walking over and wrapping my arms around his torso. His scent of suntan lotion, warm skin and ocean filled my nose. I sighed. “Not big on birthdays.”

“Maybe we can change that,” Kai said, hugging me back.

“If anybody could,” I said slowly and leaned back, “it’d probably be you.”

“Uh oh, what’s that supposed to mean?” Kai asked with a laugh.

“My birthdays are where I got the idea I was jinxed. No matter what, every birthday, something always goes wrong. Or something bad happens.”

“Not on my watch, Isla DeLuca,” Kai said with a fierce smile. “Not on my watch.”

I wanted to believe him, but my heart sank a little. I hoped he wasn’t asking for trouble.

 

He was.

The next morning Kai came storming in and I jumped up from my desk as he strode over.

“What is it, what’s wrong?” I asked.

In response, he held up a phone and said one word. Or rather, a name.

“Piper.”

“You have a phone?” I asked, a little stunned. Modern technology and Kai were incongruous to me. Seeing him drive had been weird, but a phone was something else.

“Yes, hello, Isla, how are you?” Piper’s voice came from the phone and I jumped again.

“Hi, Piper.” I looked searchingly at Kai and his face became more thunderous. I trailed him as he walked us over to the couch and threw the phone down, then himself. "How're things? Balt?"

“Fine, fine.” Papers were shuffling and Piper sounded distracted.

“Sis, if you’re gonna call to talk to Isla, maybe you could give her at least a quarter of your attention,” Kai said in a harsh tone and I gazed at him in surprise. “Please.”

“Right, I’m sorry. Isla, this is unexpected, but we need to move you out of Maui.”

“What?” I asked, my heart sinking and chanced a look at Kai, who was glaring straight ahead. “Why, what’s wrong?”

“That is a long list, unfortunately,” Piper sighed and I rolled my eyes. The Weslark siblings were more alike than they realized. “It’s only temporary.” Her voice became amused and sharper now. “Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself out there. Even thinking about a move, I hear.”

I flushed and tucked my feet up under me. “Um, yes. So, where are we going?”

“Who’s we?” Piper asked, sounding annoyed and bemused.

“Oh,” I blurted out. “I’m sorry, I assumed–”

“I’m going with her, Piper,” Kai said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Piper was silent for almost a full minute. The hair on the back of my neck raised as Kai glared down at the phone, as though gearing himself for a battle. All the cats had fled.

“You’d leave the cats?” she asked.

“The cats can fend for themselves for a week.”

“Or two?”

“Or two, Pi.”

Piper heaved a sigh and said, “Fine. Why don’t you go to Japan and stay with Kuwe? It’s a perfect place since Isla was supposed to go there anyways – it’s the last place they’d look.”

“Do they know I’m here?” I asked, my mouth growing dry.

“No,” Piper said in a confident tone. “Of course not. Merely extra precaution.”

“Some TLO’ers were spotted on the big island and Piper’s getting worried,” Kai said.

"Oahu, too," she sighed. "It seems like it's unrelated, but better safe than sorry."

“I’ll start packing,” I said, smiling reassuringly at Kai.

“Alright,” Piper said. “Kai, the tickets will be at the airport for you to pick up. And for God’s sake, get a damn haircut before you fly to Kuwe. He’s old – you don’t want to scare him.”

It was funny how family could get under someone’s skin. Kai glared down at the phone, his fists clenching and unclenching. But he said nothing.

“Thank you, Piper,” I said quickly.

“Yeah thanks, Piper,” Kai echoed snidely.

“Watch your back, Kai,” Piper enunciated each word slowly. “Okay?”

“Okay,” Kai muttered. The phone clicked off and we looked at each other. Kai reached over and took my hand. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll be with me.”

“What about the cats? I don’t mind going alone, Kai–”

At that moment Zuku jumped up next to me. The cat gave me a hard look, then slid his eyes to Kai, who smiled slightly.

“Cats will eat me if I stay here, sorry,” Kai said. “Now I have to go. For my safety.”

Squeezing his hand, I petted Zuku and then stood up. “I guess I’ll go pack.”

“We’ll be back in no time,” Kai said, standing up as well. “And you’ll like Kuwe.”

“I’m sure,” I said, smiling at him brightly. But once alone, the smile slid off my face and my hands shook as I began to pack. I’d barely been in this room since I was sleeping in Kai’s – it served as a kind of closet now, since the door was still broken – yet I couldn’t help worrying I’d never see it again. Anxiety had clawed up into my chest and rooted itself there.

And I couldn’t help but feel like the same old story was playing itself out.

Jinx.

 

We’d left the house at sunset. Kai had contacted a friend of his to check on the cats in a few days after leaving out tons of bowls of water and food. They’d aligned themselves on the porch railing, watching as we descended and Bonsi had let out a sad meow.

Kai had glanced up at that, a look of guilt crossing his face and then gave me a half-smile. “We’ll be back in no time. A little adventure never hurt, right?”

I’d nodded stiffly, following him down and across the patio, up the path. The beach seemed quiet and forlorn, the sunset murky and the waves listless. It was like the island knew Kai was leaving. Then, at the car, I had experienced a temporary moment of pure terror as Kai loaded up the bags. Breathing hard, I’d held onto the car handle and stifled a surge of tears.

Please let Kai be okay.

And that’s when I’d realized I didn’t want Kai to come. I was afraid something was going to happen to him and it was a feeling that was still haunting me, four hours later, as we boarded the plane. Even though the Maui airport had a relaxed feel with its old-school feel and open-air layout, I still felt hemmed in. All the technology and phones were jarring to me. It was like I’d landed on an alien planet. And Kai, wearing basketball sneakers, a hoodie, and a baseball cap seemed different somehow, too. His eyes were as hard as glass and his posture erect instead of loose.

I could tell he was keeping an eye on everything and on me. Trying to spot trouble.

Don’t find it, please.

Once we were on the plane, safely seated in first class, he began to relax and I could feel my body unknit in response. Reaching over, I took his hand and Kai smiled at me.

“Nice seats, right?” I asked.

“Yeah, can’t complain. A private jet would have been nicer, though. Surprised Piper cheaped out.” The irony in his tone made me laugh. “You should get some sleep, kid.”

“I’ll try,” I promised, but I knew I was too keyed up to sleep. Instead, I turned and watched out the window as the lights of the island blinked and shimmered. Suddenly the scene warped in my vision. Bending my head, I carefully wiped my eyes and Kai rubbed my back.

As the plane took off, I tried to relax, repeating over and over to myself that it was okay. Everything was going to be okay. But leaving the island hurt. And I could tell by the way Kai’s hands gripped the armrest between us, he was in the same pain.

 

Jerking awake, I sighed and stared at the wavy pattern of the back of the seat in front of me. I kept dozing and waking back up. Next to me, Kai had his hands folded on his stomach and his eyes closed, but I knew he wasn’t asleep.

Pulling up the armrest, I snuggled against him and a strong arm wrapped around me. His breath tickled my hair as he spoke. “Probably almost there.”

A soft ping sounded over the speakers and we both glanced up.

“Good timing,” I whispered.

"Attention, ladies, and gentleman. This plane is being diverted to Los Angeles International Airport due to a schedule conflict at the Kansai International Airport in Japan.”

My blood ran cold as Kai’s fingers tightened around my arm and his entire body went rigid against mine. I stared up at the speakers as the rest of the words ran together in a meaningless jumble in my head. I only caught bits and pieces. We apologize for the inconvenience.

More details as soon as possible.

Landing at LAX.

“Kai,” I whispered. “What do we do?”

“Stay calm,” he said in a low voice, even though I could hear the rapid-fire beat of his heart. “Get on a flight to Japan as soon as we are able. Piper will have planned for this. She always has every contingency mapped out. Woman has no blind spots.”

I opened and then shut my mouth. Kai sounded so sure and proud of his older sister. I couldn’t bring myself to shatter that illusion.

But I couldn’t help but think of how she never seemed to notice the way Balt looked at her. Or how much Kai clearly missed her. Or how thin she was wearing herself.

No one is free of blind spots.

Not even Piper Weslark.