See You Soon (See the Moon)

16. New Moon

"We think we've figured out what the tower of light might be made of."

We were gathered in the living area of the cottage, watching as Lewis setup is rented lab equipment on the kitchen island.

Lewis stepped forward and jiggled a canteen, "The key is the new waterfall in the moon cave."

"Yeah what about it?" Rikki shrugged.

Lewis grinned, "It flows directly from the rock."

Cleo grin mirrored her soulmate's, "The very magnetic rock." She jiggled a water canteen in her hand. "Lewis has water from the waterfall and I have normal tap water but when we combine them..."

Lewis placed a large beaker in the center of the island, pouring the water from his canteen in before Cleo did the same with hers.

"Nothing happens." Rikki looked at the still water while Lewis and Cleo grinned almost maniacally.

Cleo took up the beaker and threw the contents towards Rikki.

"Watch it!" Rikki's voice metered out as she saw the contents float in the air in front of her. "What in the world..."

Bella clapped her hands, "Brilliant!"

Lewis pushed the mini dormant water tentacle back in the beaker before putting some weights in the cup showing off how the water tentacle kept floating despite them.

I leaned forward, "How fascinating. So this is its dormant state before the moon activates it. Have you tried your powers on it Cleo?"

Cleo bent over to her backpack and brought out several raincoats.

"Someone came prepared." Bella looked over at the two scientists in training.

Rikki raised her hand, "No time like the present."

I quickly put her hand down, "I don't think that's a good idea. What happens if you evaporate it and then we can't control the condensation."

Rikki laughed, "Really how likely is that."

Lewis moved the beaker away from Rikki, "Well to be safe lets just have Cleo and Bella give a try."

What we learned was the water didn't obey the like normal water would, it would jellify when Bella used her powers and get heavy enough to contain but when Cleo did it would move more chaotically around the room.

"So what have we learned?" Lewis looked at the girls.

"We need the full moon." We all chimed. Then somehow with the full moon's help we'd use our combined abilities and the water tentacle to form the tower of light.

It was when I was singing one non full moon night...in the shower when I opened my eyes to find myself in a bathroom that was not mine....naked.

"How?" I double checked my mental calendar, "A new moon?"

The bathroom was subtly ornate. Silver accents on otherwise black interior. I knew it was my soulmate's immediately. A moon in eclipse a staple decoration around. A bathrobe was hung on the door in front of me and I took it, quickly putting it on before burying my nose into the collar. The cool smell mint and a warm slight musk came from it. I smiled into the soft fabric, before carefully opening the door and looking around.

A dark wood framed bed that was simple except for the soft looking dark grey and black sheets and comforter. Gray molding around the walls and dark wood armoire stood out in the room before my gaze drifted to pair of black doors at the center left of the bedroom. I walked over to them, my hand hovered over the door handle before I decided to knock on the door. It felt silly doing so but I didn't want to surprise my soulmate too badly remembering all to well how his mother reacted when surprised.

"Come in." A familiar deep voice spoke in a more simplified version of the old tongue.

I cracked the door open and found on the other side a large study or office. To the right was a large heavy desk with my soulmate's dark head bowed over it as he scribbled listlessly across the page. His hand supporting his cheek as his eyes perused the paperwork in front of him.

I cleared my throat and he stilled, but didn't raise his eyes.

"Hello Aleksandr." It came out as a whisper but I could see how his frame tensed that he heard it. Still he didn't move his head up, I walked closer. "Nice place you have. I like the symbol, a lunar eclipse."

This time granite eyes lifted from the page and looked up into mine, his face blank.

I ignored my instinct to shuffle nervously under his gaze, "You seem to be in a better situation than last I saw you."

I looked around at the finery around him. A sinking feeling in my gut. I knew I jumped through time with him, our ages not matching as others might have. The more I looked around to see the volumes of journals and books collected the more I began to worry.

I nibbled the inside of my lip before my lips parted to ask, "How long has it been?"

He looked back down, setting his pen back in its stand.
His voice came slowly as if each word was deliberate, "Fifty years."

"What?" My eyes widened looking over his features, "But your..." I stopped as I remembered something in my Babya's journals telling of how our kind and the summoners shared a common characteristic. The stronger you were, the longer you lived. "How old are you?"

A wry chuckle came from him, "Much older than you it would seem."

I stepped forward, "I'm sorry."

His gaze this time was surprised as he looked over my features.

"I didn't know. If I could control when...I'd..." I sighed.

"You are already stronger than you once were, my Darya."

My tense shoulders relaxed as I heard him say my name. I still hated the idea of him being alone for so long. I walked to his side, careful that the long robe didn't show any inappropriate bits before I leaned against his desk. My fingertips reached out hovering by his face when I saw him tense again, I dropped my hand only for him to grab it. His fingers intertwined with my own and I looked down upon them.

"I missed you."

He chuckled, it always had a sad sort of depth to it. "How long has it been for you?"

I winced thinking of the comparison, but then raised my head looking him straight in the eye. "It hasn't been long since I last saw you. Barely two weeks, but that doesn't change that I missed you."

He raised my hand that was in his and bestowed a lingering kiss upon it.
"I hope it won't be long until I see you again, my Darya."

Then with a blink I was back in my bathroom, my soulmate's robe getting wet beneath the cold rainfall shower.