Witch out of Water

by Aiden James

  “Yep, and more are on the way, according to Adrian and Attila. We could have quite a spectacle on our hands by nightfall. Radus and Mateis acting on centuries of foolish anger and hatred that should’ve died long ago, while the prize they seek slips out of here under their noses.”

  He eyed me knowingly, and suddenly his eyes were aglow with lively humor.

  “I’m not following, Grandpa,” I said. “What prize?”

  “You and Daciana, Bas,” he replied, laughing. “I just wanted to tell you in person that I love you, and will always be here for you. Of course, I gave the excuse to Florina and the rest of the family that I wanted a moment to talk some sense into my grandson.... But if Daciana isn’t here yet, she soon will be. Call me a foolish old man, but I’m betting Sorin Gabon is handling this situation just like he did the message sent your way last Sunday. Probably our current conversation is being cloaked by him as well, I’d imagine. Up to this very moment, no one has said a damned word about what you and I witnessed at the courthouse, Bas. Just you and I know what we saw together that morning... our fun little secret! Otherwise, my sorry ass would’ve been cornered about it by now.”

  He laughed merrily, and I nodded with a slight smile to acknowledge his hunch’s veracity.

  Truthfully, I wanted very badly to tell him that Daciana was indeed here, in this very room! But the risk of what someone else might pick up by unwitting accident once he returned downstairs made it prudent to remain silent.

  “You don’t have to tell me whether she’s here, or not, Sebastian,” he continued, as if prescient to some degree about my internal quandary. “Or, even if it’s merely that she’s been in contact with you since last evening. Logic tells me that the same clever wizard sending notes and clues your way will find a way to make a prophecy that’s almost been forgotten in our small clan finally come true!”

  “I... I don’t know what to say,” I said, frankly shocked by his pronouncement, while feeling my Barbie-sized companion cling more tightly to my neck, as if fearful of what I might do next. She needed not worry. “But, I’m grateful you support me no matter what, Grandpa. I’m grateful, and love you so much.”

  “Well, the same is true for me, Bas,” he said, moving toward the door. “I’m going to miss our continued hunt for the Vulpe/Sorin ring, that’s been cut short, unfortunately. But something tells me Sorin Gabon may well answer that mystery for you. Just make me one promise.”

  “Sure.”

  “Regardless of how long it takes, promise me that one day you’ll share the wonderful details of this adventure you’re about to embark on—including what you find out about the ring, or rings, if it turns out it is, in fact, two rings instead of just one,” he said. “I’ll be waiting with bated breath.”

  “So, you don’t think I’m headed back to Purgatory?”

  “Nah... not today, anyway.” He laughed.

  “Thanks, Grandpa.” I shot him a grateful smile. “And, however this turns out, I promise to one day tell you everything.”

  “Excellent!”

  With that, he left, closing the door quietly behind him, as my mother had done the previous evening.

  “I think we should be prepared for more visitors, huh?” said Daciana, after emerging from my hair to sit on my left shoulder.

  “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing,” I agreed, shaking my head at the images of being visited like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve.

  “That’s funny!”

  “What?”

  “You... I love the way you think, Bas—I really do!”

  “Well, I guess that’s a good thing, eh?” I chuckled.

  “Yes, most definitely!”

  “Not to change the subject, but what do you know about the ring Grandpa mentioned?”

  “The Vulpe/Sorin ring, as he called it?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve seen it, Bas... Attila von Stroheim showed you Sorin’s photograph, and of course the painting of Sorin.”

  “So, it really is a two fingered ring, then?”

  “Sorin referred to it as a special ‘double-ring’ when I asked about it, not long after he first visited me some years ago,” she said. “But that’s the only time I’ve ever seen him wear it. When he appeared to me right before our move to Denmark, I noticed he wasn’t wearing it. Before then, he addressed me with his hands behind his back, so I don’t know if he still had it with him during those visits, or not.”

  “So, he no longer has it, perhaps?”

  For some reason, this idea inspired worry, like it could be an unfortunate development—and not just because of my grandfather’s assumption that Wizard Gabon knew exactly where the ring, or rings, were at this very moment. What if Sorin was now as clueless as Grandpa and me?

  “I don’t have an answer on that subject... largely because Sorin never mentioned it again, after we first talked about the double-ring,” she said. “If we make it to midnight, we can ask him then, I guess.” She added a hopeful grin.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” I said, worried even more after her ‘if’ comment about making it to midnight. “I suppose it’s best to focus on what’s critical right now.”

  “I’m starving,” she advised, while sliding down my arm. She jumped down to the floor and headed for the open armoire. “Since it won’t be long before more visitors come to call on you, why don’t you go ahead and get ready for the day while I eat some breakfast?”

  “What, don’t I look ready like this?” I teased.

  I pointed to my sweats and t-shirt attire that I had slept in, since when I went downstairs to round up some food items, I had thought maybe I might encounter my family only, and wasn’t expecting the EEC interrogation I received. I would’ve showered and dressed in my usual jeans and either a fresh t-shirt or sweatshirt, depending on the weather.

  “You could dress un-showered in a burlap sack and still look gorgeous to me,” she countered, shooting me a flirtatious wink. “But, I know what makes you comfortable... so hop to it and I’ll see you in a few. I’ll close up the armoire and hide in my little apartment until you’re done getting ready—just in case someone comes looking, like Orpheus’ apprentices and the Hausner brothers did when you were downstairs earlier.”

  “Yeah, that was a little unnerving seeing them emerge from upstairs... glad you evaded their search.”

  “Just one less obstacle to go through from here to midnight. See you in a few!” She smiled, and jumped up into the armoire, blowing me a kiss before closing the door.

  Worried that we could be visited at any moment, I hurriedly took a shower and dried my hair just enough to where it wasn’t a sopping mess—in case Daciana decided to hide inside it again. When I returned to my bedroom, the armoire was open once more, and she sat near the door with her legs dangling over the edge.

  Miniature or not, I realized each time I had seen her that morning momentarily took by breath away. Like a dream in some ways, where I feared waking up to a cruel reality of her presence being a mirage at any moment.

  May this dream last forevermore!

  “Hey, why don’t you show me the latest Madden version you have in here.” She pointed to the box I had kept from when I first opened my birthday present. “I’d love to help you solve Aaron Rodgers!”

  “You’ve played the earlier versions of Madden?” I asked incredulously.

  “What? Because I’m a girl, you think I don’t know a thing or two about the NFL, be it from a game or watching the real games?” She stood, placing her hands on her hips—just like my kid sister was often wont to do. “I have a brother and uncles who are Bears’ fans too, you know!”

  “Oops... yeah, that makes sense.” My face reddened with another sheepish smile, while considering how Alisia had sometimes served as an opponent when I couldn’t access the online options. “Sorry, but I only have one controller... unless you can shrink one of my older ones.”

  “I’m fine with ‘coaching you up’ for this assignment,” she teased. “I’ll be r
ight there!”

  Before I could turn on the game console and gather my controller, she sat waiting on the bed’s edge, springing up to my left shoulder again once I rejoined her. Kind of weird, feeling like Gulliver again, with this tiny creature giving tips to me like a literal football coach in my ear. But it proved to be a great way to take my mind off all the bullshit going on around us. The perfect distraction, really.

  For me, it’s easy to get lost in my games, and before I knew it, damn near four hours had disappeared. She and I took the current Bears’ team through an entire season—twice, and one additional round for the Tennessee Titans, since my hunch is they’ll be more likely to get further in the playoffs than my cherished home team from up north.

  Not sure if it was my stomach’s lunchtime growl or the fact I suddenly realized it had been awhile since Grandpa’s visit to my room, but once noon approached, I paused the latest contest to listen for anything going on outside my room.

  “Good catch,” Daci whispered. “We’ve got company again!”

  Rather than retreat to the back of my neck, this time she drifted swiftly toward the bed’s headboard, and might’ve resembled an actual faerie had she spawned wings for the short trip. A moment later, several swift knocks resounded from the other side of my bedroom door.

  “Hey, Bas? Can I come in?” Alisia called softly.

  “Sure, sis.”

  I caught a glimpse of Daciana slipping under the covers beside my pillow, just as the door opened.

  The aroma of a grilled chicken sandwich and fries drifted into the room as Ali stepped inside. It appeared someone else stood in the shadows outside my door, and the warm smile shining within ebony skin told me it was Harris.

  “I’ll just be a sec,” she said, and not sure if this was directed to me or her beau, but he gently closed the door as she brought the Chick Delight bag over to where I sat. “Mom says you haven’t emerged since the EEC brigade was here this morning. I figured you might be getting hungry.”

  She eyed me thoughtfully, holding the bag out.

  “Actually, I am,” I said, taking the bag from her and peering inside. “Two sandwiches? Are you joining me?”

  She shook her head.

  “Uncle Manny told us you barely ate anything this morning—just an omelet and a glass of milk,” she said. “Harris suggested the double order. The Albrights escorted us there and back.”

  “And the Mateis let you by without a challenge?”

  “They and our cousins from Europe are mirroring each other’s moves. All the way to the drive-thru and back here, a contingent of Radus floated around us like hornets protecting their nest.”

  “Sounds like an escort through a war zone,” I said, setting the bag down beside me before returning my attention to her. Her sapphire eyes that often mirror my own were aglow. Reddened eyes, I should say, inspiring a fresh dose of painful guilt. No doubt, she’s shed tears for me more than once since this morning’s confrontation with Wizard Bagley!

  An awkward moment ensued, where she scanned the room in silence. As Mom had done the night before, she sniffed the air before returning her sullen gaze to me. Still, she said nothing.

  “How is the rest of our town dealing with the current occupation?” I asked, hoping to get Ali to talk. Best to get the elephant in the room out into the open, since regardless of her avoidance of saying anything, I already knew my sister was dying to talk about Daciana Matei and, likely, Sorin Gabon as well.

  “They are unaware of the occupation, believe it or not,” she said. “I’ve confirmed this with the Deans and Crawfords.... Although both families know we are a bit different from most human beings, and Grandpa recently revealed our status as warlocks and witches to Harrison Crawford, they’ve already moved on to plans for Halloween, having moved past Oktoberfest without any questions. No mention of a bevy of angry warlocks and witches patrolling our blessed little town on broomsticks! It’s like they can neither see them nor sense their presence.... Just Harris and the Mays are fully aware, and ‘in the know.’ Of course, any close mortal friends of the Mateis would be too—if they have any in this town.”

  I smiled while cringing inside, hoping Daciana wouldn’t take any offense to this personally. After all, my sister’s Matei view has been fed by decades of hostility towards us from the American Mateis for as long as any of us ‘youngsters’ from both families have been alive.

  “It might get weird if the Deans or Crawfords ask anyone in the family to venture outside of the neighborhood,” I said. “As for the Mateis, Serghei is still pals with Horseshit Harry. Right? That’s one friend... if you can call him that.”

  “Well, funny you should mention Harry Turner,” she said, chuckling, despite her unchanged sullen expression. “He and his family have returned, and he is just as clueless about the war-hungry Mateis sweeping through the air above his nasty place. Oh, and he still glowers at us all whenever we look his way—what an ass-hat!”

  “Yeah, I imagine that idiot will never change,” I agreed, chuckling for a moment... until I saw that she was glaring at me. “What?”

  “Speaking of ass-hats, Bas, why are you being such a dick about everything?”

  “Huh? In what way?”

  Yeah, I knew this moment would come. But did she have to call me out so gruffly?

  “I can smell a light lavender fragrance in the air... and unless you’ve turned over a new leaf you’re reluctant to tell us about, Daciana has been here,” she said, evenly. “She’s probably still here, too—maybe invisible! Mom smelled the same thing last night.”

  “What in the hell are you talking about?” I responded angrily. “What lavender smell?”

  But in that indignant moment, I suddenly realized there was a faint lavender essence in the air. Even with the more pungent aromas of grilled chicken and fries soon to get cold. The lavender odor wasn’t strong, as from perfume or cologne... but a body wash kind of fragrance. Frankly, I love it on Daciana.... And though I’ve smelled a stronger lavender scent on her in the past, since last night it’s been barely detectible, and I assumed it was too dim to worry about. Apparently, not true when dealing with the women in my family’s olfactory sensitivity!

  Great! Just frigging wonderful!

  “You can’t smell it?” Ali eyed me disdainfully.

  “Lavender? No,” I lied. “I mean, there’s something faintly flowery in the air. But, maybe it’s the bathroom’s air freshener, or a frigging dryer sheet. Hell, it could be anything!”

  She shook her head angrily before looking away. When she returned her gaze to me, a pair of fresh tear streams coursed down both cheeks.

  “You’re impossible, Sebastian,” she said. “I’ve tried to reason with you—we all have!”

  She eyed me expectantly, as if silently praying I would come clean about everything.

  “God, what I wouldn’t give for a peek inside your big fat head!” she whispered, before launching into one last try to get me to tell her what she wanted. “I hate what Wizard Gabon has done to you! And, I know beyond any doubt he’s been in contact with you—it’s the only thing that makes any sense! Your closed mind, along with everything else that’s happened since the verified note he sent to you in the backyard, it all points to him being up to his neck in this shit! Hell, the last honest thing you’ve shared was that note, Bas! Since then, everything you’ve shared has been one never-ending string of bullshit lies!”

  She waited for me to say something, but honestly what could I do without either coming clean—as she so desperately desired—or continue delivering more falsehoods?

  Either I give up Daciana, along with any chance my soul mate and I would ever have of being together in this life; or, stay the course and hope someday things will work out and all will be forgiven between Ali and me.

  Despite tearing like a serrated knife at my soul, I chose the latter... although, I said nothing in response. Instead, I stood up and moved closer to my sister, taking her into my arms when she began to cry.

/>   “I can’t take this anymore, Bas!” she sobbed into my chest. “I’m going to lose you and it doesn’t have to be this way!”

  Her sorrowful outburst attracted Harris’ attention, and he opened my bedroom door, casting a worried glance toward us. I motioned for him to come inside.

  “Take care of my beloved sister,” I told him, choking back my own emotional deluge. “I love you very much, Ali—you’ll just have to trust that things will work out.”

  She looked up into my face angrily, but said nothing—despite her lips trembling.

  “Come on, Babe,” said Harris, taking her gently from my grasp. “It’s okay... it’s gonna be all right.”

  She buried her head into his shoulder as they exited my room together. I felt a sense of relief that Harris is every bit a perfect fit for her as Daciana is for me.

  I also felt the continuing irony of how my day was mirroring Charles Dickens’ renowned holiday classic.

  Grandpa’s visit was like Christmas Past, with us reminiscing on what happened a week ago. Now, Ali’s talking about the pain and suffering I’ve delivered in the immediate moment—Christmas Present.... So, what’s coming next?

  A tall dude dressed in black and carrying a sickle.

  “Hopefully, nothing quite that dire,” Daciana said, coming up next to me. Her Minnie Mouse voice shook me from the spiraling depression threatening to overtake my soul. She smiled, but I noticed her brilliant beautiful emerald eyes were red from tears that had streamed down her face, similar to my sister’s. “I love you, Bas—but I would understand—”

  “Shhh!” I shushed her. “You are my everything, remember?”

  She nodded, smiling with quivering lips. “I know... you’re my everything, too!”

  “Then that settles it,” I said, forcing a confident smile—a look I hoped would override the churning thoughts and emotions threatening to pull me apart from the inside out. “Here... I’ve got two chicken sandwiches and some fries. Grab a glass and plate from your kitchen and I’ll shrink your sandwich and some fries for you. And, there’s also a large Dr. Pepper.”