Soulmates Beyond Time
The return trip home from China was less eventful than the trip to the first Temple. Peter and Mai Chi again played the parts of husband and wife but this time, something was different between them. When others would see them, the interaction between the two could only be described as "newly wedded" and yet, there were no outward symbols. Lo Si again acted as Mai Chi's father and chaperone; joking at every turn with the solders and guards that would look in their direction with suspicion to throw them off the track. Their days together while they traveled home from China were spent in getting to know each other. There had been no opportunity until now. They shared their lives as if they had never been away. Peter told of his life at the temple in Braniff, it's destruction and the day he thought his father died, meeting Paul Baisedell and becoming part of his family, then his greatest joy at finding his father alive. Mai Chi listened with wrapped attention and soon she told her story as well. Soon they found themselves on a plane bound for California and all breathed a sigh of relief. When they finally landed the next day and in reality it was the previous day, Mai Chi had to part company. She had gotten word that her uncle had died and she needed to get his things in order. Peter offered to go with her but she declined. She said this would give her an opportunity to gather her resources, rethink her plans, and to join them later.
"I already miss you." Peter said.
"I will return. You cannot get rid of me that easily my Shaolin. Will you write me?"
"Every day." Peter gave Mai Chi a long and lingering kiss. This lady was indeed worth waiting
for. He had waited over1500 years to see her again, he could wait a few more weeks.
Before they boarded the plane for their final trip home, Peter stiffened.
Lo Si grew concerned, "are you all right young Caine?"
"We can't go home to Chinatown yet Lo Si. There's another home we need to visit."
"And where may that home be?" as if Lo Si did not know.
"Braniff. I'll arrange to rent a car."
"I have not been back to the temple in many years."
"You won't like it much. Ever since the destruction, no one has come forward to offer to rebuild. Nature has taken over. It would take a miracle to restore it, if it ever does get restored."
"You seem saddened by this."
"Yeah, it was the only home I ever knew until Tan took that away from me. Did you know I was real mad at you for lying to me about my father for a long time after we reunited."
"Yes. I did not want to do it but I had no choice. You and your father are very special and you
each needed to survive. There were many things written in the book of Shambhala that if you
would not have survived would have been lost forever."
"You mean like the First Temple."
"Yes, among other things. Peter, how is it that you are able to rent a car?"
"Paul put me on his credit card account. He said that if I needed anything I could use it so long as I don't spend too much. I do have a special account that I set up when I was working at the precinct. That money is for emergencies. You can't expect me to live the life of an impoverished priest too soon. I need to get use to the simple life, again."
"You know we could walk."
"I know but I guess I'm not ready yet. There will be journeys that I'll have to make but not right now. I have this feeling I'm needed and I have to get there quickly."
Peter went to the counter, and within 10 minutes, both he and Lo Si were walking to the parking slot containing the rented car. It was a blue Barretta. Peter was relieved that he was able to get one that was similar in size to his Stealth. They packed their small amount of belongings in the trunk and were soon headed up the coast. It was going to take a few hours to get to Braniff and Peter was going to have to do all the driving. The drive was pleasant enough and Peter found himself settling into a semi-meditative state. In this state, he could feel someone's overwhelming sadness. He discovered it was his father. Peter marveled at this new awareness and at that moment understood what it was that his father felt whenever his father would sense him. Peter quickened his pace and was glad that the speed limit in this part of the country was at least 65. Soon Peter began to recognize the area around the temple and the small town. Peter parked the car some distance away from the temple and the lake and decided to go on foot. Lo Si decided to walk up to the temple at that point and relive old memories. Peter knew his place was down by the lake. Suddenly the overwhelming sadness nearly engulfed him. *Pop!* Peter thought as he quickened his pace. The sun was slowly setting and Peter needed to be careful where he walked. It would be easy to
stumble in the darkness. The shadow of the temple ruins had covered this part of the lake. Then Peter saw him; kneeling on the ground with his back hunched and his face buried in his hands. Never before had he seen his father stricken so. The truth had been finally revealed. Laura, his mother was dead but had somehow called out to Peter in his dreams. The warning was for someone else.
Peter reached for his father. Caine grabbed onto Peter like a lifeline. Peter could feel his father's shame and the anger at having been tricked into thinking his wife was alive. And now the pain of all those years without her was coming to the surface. For Peter, the hope that he had was kept in check from his experience as a cop. The photo and his dream had been the only evidence that suggested that Laura could have been alive. But now the truth was evident. The marker that had been placed by the Lake would be forever a reminder at what they both had lost. Peter held his father close letting the emotion pour out. The only time he really witnessed his father crying like this was when his chi had been poisoned. Outwardly, during that time Caine had been reacting to Laura's presence within the Bardo. Seeing and talking with her had brought the reality of loss so deeply. Now that reality was again trying to engulf him. Soon Peter found he also could not hold back the tears. They held each other through this bittersweet reunion until all emotion had been spent.
Darkness settled in and a yellow flame could be seen dancing it's way closer. Ping Hai had gone back to the car only to find that Peter had not returned. He had grabbed a chard branch, lit it with the powers of a Shambhala master, and followed Peter's steps. He soon came upon a site that he had not seen since the temple. Father and son had fallen asleep together. Peter sitting in a half lotus up against the marker with his father's head cradled in his lap. Ping Hai did not wish to disturb them but the night air was growing chilly. Then he thought better of it and came back with a couple of blankets from the car. He placed one over Peter's shoulders and one over his father. This way they would both stay warm. Ping Hai then went back to the shelter of the temple ruins and lit a fire and waited till morning.
*****
Mai Chi marveled at her connection to Peter Caine. She could feel sadness around him and yet, it was for someone long gone. Mai Chi gathered her uncle's papers, read the will, and tried to ignore the nagging feeling that something was not right. An entry puzzled her. There were references made of someone named MC but she could not tell who it was. The reference made was to a box that was left in her uncle's keeping when he had been a young man in China. The will stated that the box had been left in a safe deposit box and that after his death, it was to be delivered to it's rightful owner. With the will was an envelope that contained a key. Mai Chi wished she could have seen her uncle one more time. He was quite old, almost as old as the Ancient. Mai Chi put the will aside. Tomorrow she would go to the bank and find out exactly what the safe deposit box contained.
*****
Jordan sat in the center of the web. She had failed in her first attempt at eliminating the father. She would not fail a second time. There had to be a way to draw Caine to her so it would make killing him all that sweeter. Maybe she was going about this the wrong way. If she were to try to attack him outright, she would simply lose. The spider's bite would be the only way Caine could be drawn in. The dose must not kill but it must leave him weak to where he cannot act and in doing this, the son will be drawn to her just as the spider is attracted to the fly when it lands within the web. For now, there were other plans that needed to be made. She needed to return to Chinatown and set up her web there. A suitable place needed to be found. Then she could begin planning on drawing her mate to her. She would have to weave a spell that would entrap him and intrigue him enough to have him make love to her. And if that would not work, she would force him by trapping those he loved. After she succeeded in creating her own descendents, only a female will do, Peter Caine would die. But not too soon. She would have to be sure that the process had succeeded. And even if she was to give birth to one female, why not more? Peter could be caught within her web for years. The thought was delicious to Jordan. Just think, all that Shaolin power under her spell. With that thought, Jordan began to laugh.
End Part 15
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2000.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
Synopsis / Next Part
Back to Temple Tales Contact
Alisa