PROLOGUE
June15th, 1812
King Kamehameha I sits majestically on his chair. He appears tired, but his regal aura remains. He barks an order to his court, and his servants and nobles all scamper about responding to his command.
“Find me Kapihe!” [pronounced Kah-pee-hay]
He dismisses his audience and everyone returns to their duties. His many wives and children, (except one), retreat to the outside, where a feast awaits.
That exception is young, fair and has long black hair. Her eyes are brilliant and she sneaks to another side of the court, where she stands alone. With no one in sight, she changes appearance and reveals her true self.
“I’ll find you, Kapihe. You old crazy goat!”
She snaps her fingers and disappears.
It doesn’t take her long, but eventually she finds him.
She must hurry to his hut or else she will miss the treasure.
The young wife of the king enters the beachside hut and senses his presence. He is alive, but barely. She only has a few moments before he takes his last breath.
A warm gentle breeze flows through the room, ruffling the curtains, as she tiptoes towards the old withered man laying on a floor bed. He breathes deeper, realizing he is not alone anymore.
He knows what she’s here for.
She kneels beside him and gently grabs his hand, offering him a last comfort. She caresses his hand and whistles a tune, creating a magical butterfly that dances above Kapihe’s face. The old man laughs and is grateful for her small mercy.
He squeezes her hand to let her know he’s ready.
It is time.
She leans over, placing her ear nearly on his lips as he whispers.
“The boy with no father
Who has many fathers
The child of old blood
With the blood of new
Who finds the treasure
While lost
Receives pain
But gives joy
Will protect and destroy
Will hate and love
Brings doom for mankind
200 years from this day
He will be born
12 months
12 times
He will be reborn
When ocean meets mountain
And Sky meets Sea
Gods and men will cease
But the eternal dance remains
Hawai’i may live
Hawai’i may die
Now Dante suffers no more…”
He takes his last breath. She whispers to him.
“Mahalo.”
The riddle confuses her, but at least she’s the only one that knows the secret. She must now decide what she will do. The fate of Hawai’i is at stake.
“CURSES!”
She jumps up and realizes she isn’t alone. The voices of the king’s servants get louder as they approach, but she isn’t concerned about them. It’s the other visitor, quick and unseen, who bothers her. With a desperate lunge, she grabs at the breeze in vain. The curtain flutters and it’s gone.
She takes her secret and leaves the world of mortal men.
She has 212 years to prepare for the coming of Hawaii’s savior or doom.
