by Karen Binnie
Chapter 6
I’m lying on a soft blanket, it feels warm and cosy, so, so soft, my thoughts of Alice and his soft fur brings tears to my eyes. Distracting myself from the pain I concentrate on my surroundings, the bed smells of pine, like sleeping on a forest floor of soft pine needles, the room smells earthy too, with my eyes closed I can easily imagine being outdoors, lost in the countryside walking beside my father and brother on one of our famous walks. I don’t remember much about mum when I was little, Dad was our main caregiver, when the weather was fine we would head off into the country where he would teach us about the plants and trees, it was only later he admitted he had no idea where we were going but somehow always managed to find his way back to the car.
I don’t want to join the others just now, lost in the comfort of my memories. I can only remember a blinding flash followed by the conversation when I arrived here, wherever here is. I’m dreaming of course, I must be if I have two men fighting over me, perhaps that’s my deepest darkest wish, to be wanted. Dad always told me that dreams were a confused snippet of what you had witnessed during the day, weird, I don’t know where any of this could have come from, I can’t remember what happened today. ‘You should pinch yourself.’ But was this a nightmare? To wake from nightmares I pinch myself awake, I ready my right thumb and forefinger and placed them next to my thigh. I can’t do it, there are bits of this dream I long to remember, the strong arms that hoisted me aloft and carried me here to this soft bed, the dulcet tones of the man named Alice, how strange he should be called that.
I sit bolt upright, my eyes wide as they drink in my surroundings, so it’s true, I feel ashamed, I had not been dreaming at all, I had deceived them all with my eyes held shut, my consciousness told me the reason was to hide the embarrassment that my eyesight is so bad I cannot see without my glasses. Damn it! What happened to my glasses? I try to remember, a hand on mine, I saw a leather band fashioned the same as mine yet different, the flash that brought me here.
I listen in wonder at the voices through the wall, trying to figure out where I ams and what’s happened. I don’t feel threatened in any way, quite calm really as I listen to the soft melodic voice of the man named Alice broken with the deep tones of anger from the stranger, he doesn’t say much but I can detect a tinge of pain in his voice, I wonder how bad his injuries are.
As I listen, flashbacks come to me of what had happened, the séance, had this man with the anger in his voice saved my dignity, was he the one with the piercing blue eyes, I remember now, but who is he? The anger in his voice, it’s not really anger I can tell, he seems confused and hurt, in so much pain but he’s trying to hide it and who are the others? The woman, whose strong arms had carried me, her voice seems powerful, the warmth and tenderness strangely familiar, I wonder if I have met her before. I lie back on the bed, much more comfortable and concentrate on what the voices are saying.
“So you are a friend of ours it seems but we are at a disadvantage, I am afraid I had not foreseen your arrival or we would have been better prepared to greet you.”
Eldeen shot a look of disdain at his nephew.
“My name is Eldeen, my family are a little more gracious usually with visitors, for that I am sorry, your name friend?”
Jez sat and looked at the old man who stood before him, he normally would have stood in respect for someone of this age but he was in great pain he was keen to hide, the old man spoke well but did not show emotion, Jez could not read him, it was clear from his manner he was in charge of the situation, this did nothing though to lighten Jez’s mood.
Eldeen soaked in the wariness of his visitor, age had taught him to be patient, unlike young Al’ice who paced back and forth by the door, the anger evident from his expression.
“For goodness sake Al’ice will you sit down or leave us” snapped Cooper who stood beside the fire.
Al’ice hesitated, glared in Jez’s direction then continued pacing, his eyes never leaving their unwelcome visitor.
Jez heard the sigh from the woman’s lips and smiled to himself, ‘Al’ice, such a girl’s name!’ he thought.
Wincing at the cut on his lip as he spoke, “my name is Jez, what do you want with the girl?”
“Ah! so you cut to the chase already, for me to explain, you must explain also, this seems fair does it not?” replied Eldeen.
Jez glared back at Al’ice, his staring was beginning to bug him, if he could manage to stand he would love to punch him again, he directed his next reply at the smug son of a bitch!
“I saved the girl, not you, you’re no friend of mine, ALICE.”
The pacing stopped and in the blink of an eye, Eldeen was in front of his nephew, his hand on his chest, speaking in a strange language which seemed oddly familiar to Jez. Al’ice replied with fire in his eyes, it appeared he was arguing with the old man, the woman then stepped forward and intervened, the unspoken look from her was enough to send Al’ice back out the door and away from them.
Eldeen reached down and steadied himself upon the stool nearest him, he suddenly looked less imposing and frailer as he nodded in gratitude at the woman.
She poured a liquid from the cooking pot into one of the wooden mugs and handed it to Eldeen, then returned to pour another which she offered to Jez.
He looked down into the warm liquid, the strange smell reaching his nostrils, he looked at her questionably.
“Do you think I would poison you with the same drink I have given my grandfather, you will like it, it is not dissimilar to what you would call mead, perhaps?”
Jez took the mug and sipped the drink which tasted surprisingly good, he had heard of mead but wasn’t sure what it was, from medieval times or something like that, maybe he should have paid more attention in History.
The woman sat opposite him, he marvelled at her muscular yet athletic legs that seemed to go on forever and wondered how old she really was, at least 10 years older than him he guessed.
“My name is Cooper, my grandfather here has agreed to let me talk to you and explain, this is not our way, we have always known all the answers in the past, except one…………”
She paused as if distracted by her thoughts, “that is no concern of yours, but you must understand, we have no knowledge of you and how you came to be here, I believe you when you say you were saving Jol but I want to know why?”
“Is that her name, Jol?” he replied dabbing at the blood from his mouth with the cloth.
“Yes, you do not know her?”
Eldeen leaned closer to listen, curiosity etched on his face, this distracted Jez and unnerved him, but he continued, “No, how do you know her, Cooper?”
Cooper glanced at Eldeen who shook his head in one fierce nod, “she is family.”
Confused is one word for it, how can these strangers be my family? I sat up so fast the blanket fell from my shoulders, I shudder at the sudden cold and quietly push myself to the edge of the bed to listen, pulling the rug back around for warmth.
Jez heard the slight movement behind him, he had always had fantastic hearing, that’s how he had never been caught back in his wilder days, he sensed now that Jol was listening to the conversation.
“I don’t believe you, the old man wants you to hide something from me, what do you want with her?”
Cooper looked back to Eldeen her eyes pleading with him, his steady gaze did not falter, whatever it was he would not let her tell.
“She is like family to us, she carries a gene like ours.” Cooper glanced frequently at Eldeen as she explained, it was clear with each word, she was checking she had not gone too far.
“Al’ice was protecting her, keeping her from harm, like a brother with his sister or a sweetheart protecting his intended, do you understand?”
I stifle a gasp, this Al’ice, could it be the same? No! That’s not possible, surely? I loved my cat, cuddled him and slept with him on my bed, revealed to him all my innermost thoughts and secrets, no it’s insane, it’s just crazy, how
could the man with the gorgeous voice be my cat? Oh shit! My nerves get the better of me and I start to nibble at the dry skin around my fingernails.
Jez had heard the gasp from the room behind, so this Jol didn’t know about any of this, interesting. He didn’t know the girl, but already sensed her shock at this revelation and he had to admit, the sweetheart idea didn’t sit well with him either.
“So they are an item? Does she know about this?”
“No, I didn’t mean, you’re getting it all out of context.”
“Then why did he attack me?”
“When the séance began, Al’ice had to act fast, there was an evil, an evil that had detected her presence and then you took her, he was acting on impulse.”
“He was jealous you mean that I got to her first, protecting his sweetheart, remember?”
Eldeen banged his staff on the hearth, making them all jump, “Enough, I am tired, you will leave me to rest, it has already been a very long day, I bade farewell to a very good friend of mine this morning young Jez and I am perhaps not well enough for this conversation. You will leave me to grieve and compose myself for the rest of the story you will tell later.”
Jez looked at him in surprise, he had not been expecting this, but he sensed the old man was telling the truth.
Listening to the silence behind him, he wondered why Jol did not come out of the room, she was clearly awake, perhaps the shock had been too much, he wanted to check if she was ok but felt the boring eyes of Cooper upon him.
“Please leave me now young ones, the girl will be fine, perhaps you would be so kind young Jez to allow my granddaughter to see to your rib, I cannot stand to see you in such pain any longer.”
Cooper motioned for Jez to leave and moved forward to help Eldeen to the bed behind the curtain. Jez held his arm across his chest as he rose from the chair and emerged into the morning sun to assess the lie of the land, the air was still bitter cold though and he wondered as he stood outside how Eldeen had sensed the pain he had been trying so hard to conceal.
It had been much like the gym at college, Kate loved gymnastics and loved climbing the high wall bars, although once or twice she managed to dislodge a book from its housing much to Stanton’s annoyance.
“It’s ok” he would shout retrieving it from its undignified landing, “the spines a little shaken but it’s going to be fine.”
As if she cared about some dusty old book, “Sweet! What about me then?” Kate replied smiling, as she teased him.
“No you’re fine, I can see plenty from here, and you’re definitely looking fine to me.”
Kate felt her cheeks flash hot and she didn’t look back as it dawned on her what she was wearing, he would be copping an eyeful.
Nearing the top, it wasn't that easy and with each step the window seemed to get further away, how high was this bookcase? Running on adrenalin, she looked up to her destination, forging on. She paused, her knuckles tense with fear gripping on to the shelves as the first crash of thunder broke over head, followed by an almost instant flash of lightening.
“You ok hon?” shouted Stanton, concern in his voice.
“Oh! So a flash of my legs and I’m your hon now am I?” she replied.
“What?”
Maybe it was just as well he couldn’t hear her above the thunder, this wasn't the kind of adventure she had in mind whilst chatting with Jol over their future. Kate wanted to travel the world and meet all those different people out there but her part time job at the coffee shop didn’t pay much and it was taking forever to save up the air fare. Jol had promised to go with her if she promised to stick in at college next year to gain the grades to get into nursing, her second dream once the OE was over.
Kate had finally reached the top and the relative safety of the small window ledge, she sat back on her legs, there, no ogling up her skirt now!
Experts would tell you to keep away from windows during a storm but Kate never listened, she loved storms and could always be found leaning up against the biggest window to watch. This was no different except the windows were tiny, Stanton shouted something about getting down, she ignored him.
It took a while for her eyes to focus on the scene before her, she could see the sweeping driveway, the trees either side were swaying violently and heavy rain began to lash against the windows. The two gargoyle statues at the entrance remained on their plinths whilst some rubble had been scattered across the drive, she couldn’t make out where it had come from, in amongst all the debris she could just make out a car with its head lights still on. She perched in the corner and peered through the rain soaked glass towards the lights of the town below, there seemed to be no sign of destruction down there. All around looked pretty calm except for around this house, debris was flying around in circles outside as if dustbins had been lifted and emptied of their contents, bits of tree as well, it was as if they were inside some kind of tornado.
Kate shouted to Stanton what she could see, but he couldn’t hear over the deafening roar of the thunder. He was shouting back, he seemed fractious but the words were lost on Kate as she looked back to the car parked out front. She could just make out a body inside slumped over the steering wheel, a strange thing then happened, the swirling dust cloud outside seemed to part revealing a calm still night above them, the awful noise of the storm had dissipated and they were left with the whispering howl of the wind as it caressed the side of the building.
Looking back to Stanton they both agreed in unison, “the eye of the storm.”
Kate could see the outside clearly now, the sky had a kind of bluey/orange hue which cast the strangest shadows across the driveway and up against the house.
Looking towards the car she realised, it was Mr Serason, there was the telltale dent in the front bumper, with Kate’s encouragement Jol had taken her dads car keys whilst he was having one of his migraines, she had wanted desperately to have a go at driving. In her excitement she hit the gas when she turned the key and the car lurched forward straight into the front door step. That was the end of driving for her. Kate had repositioned the car as before and they never said a word, neither did Mr Serason, he either hadn't noticed the bump or thought that he had done it himself.
She looked towards the trees in the drive, she felt as if someone was watching but she couldn’t see properly, turning back to the dent in the bumper, lost in her thoughts, awoken to reality at the sight of her friend’s father, he had suddenly sat bolt upright grabbing at his chest as he appeared to scream in pain. He slumped forward and fell against the horn, the sound muffled with Kate’s screaming from inside the window.
“What is it?” shouted Stanton, there was no response.
Kate sat and stared in disbelief at the apparent dead body of her best friend’s dad, it looked like he had suffered a heart attack, his face still, she could just see the white of one eye staring, tears began to stream down her face, the sadness of it all, finally taking over.
“Kate, honey, what’s wrong?”
Down by the lake Kroil ceased his search for the boy, supposed to be searching for the light pulse that he and Clarintor had detected, his mind had been distracted by the boy’s disappearance, the storm in his mind echoed around the house. He had his own motives, Clarintor unaware of the bond between him and the boy as he had fought so hard to disguise it.
Before his death many centuries ago, he was about to become a father, his wife did not cope with the pregnancy well and at six months, the spasms of birth had begun, the fight too much for them both he had buried them the next day, his wife and still born son. Grief had sent him on the rocky road to ruin, slowly the decline in his character took a hold on him until his eventual demise.
Such had been his crimes, he did not get to join his family in death, there could be no heaven for the likes of him. Lost in the darkness between life and hell, he came across many others like him, wandering in anguish at their fate.
Magore had taken his soul, groomed him into the demonic
slave he become, he would do his masters bidding, there were no choices now, this was his eternity. The underworld was a constant fight to the death for power as the demons jostled for position and acceptance from the Grand Master, second in command to the High Lord.
Clarintor inherited his talents when she disposed of Magore, a powerful and crazy demon, he wondered what she must have been like in life, a callous and evil female, he had been surprised when she took a liking to the boy though, he was jealous of her divided affection.
The boy had become an asset, slave to them both and over time, Kroil elevated in status, partner to his mistress he had progressed to visiting the living, devouring their bodies and soul for enjoyment.
Aware that any emotion was a show of weakness, he hid his fondness for the boy who had re-awakened memories of his past, he wondered how good a father he would have been. They became close and had worked on a project together. One the boy had been all to interested in, transfiguration of the body. They had achieved their goal and were biding their time to use this new found power to dispose of Clarintor.
Where had the boy gone? He could not just disappear like that. He walked with the dead now, unless another demon had taken him? No, that was not possible, he had known of no other ready or willing to cross the path of Clarintor.
There was the faint trace of an energy lingering within the summerhouse at the lakeside. Had the boy somehow managed to follow the others? Kroil could not understand where they had gone, the likes of his kind could wander the world, track their enemies with ease, only an angels touch would give protection, this was very unlikely as the heavenly beings rarely wandered in the same circles as his own kind without good reason.
Forty five minutes were left before Clarintor’s return, he already knew that tracking the pulse was impossible, the beat so faint it seemed to dart in all directions from within the house, no, he would have to leave the search for the boy.
Moving gracefully towards the house, he hoped the boy was safe and would find a way to return, he now had little time to search the whole house, no point in tracking the pulse as it moved too quickly, he would have to search every soul within until the source of the pulse was detected.
It must have been all too much, the shock that Alice was really a man because I had fallen asleep, now awake I had no idea of the time but could detect daylight from the room beyond, as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes I saw my bag still slung across my shoulders. I opened the small leather pouch and looked for my compact, great! my face just a blur as I hold up the tiny mirror, I must look like shit. I lick my fingers and attempt to rub away what looks like mascara marks from beneath my eyes, so much for water and smudge proof, I should write a letter of complaint to the company, the blackness proof of its failure to comply.
The only other objects the bag contained, my cell phone and old emergency phone that dad insisted I carry. I squint at the screen on the new model as I hold it centimetres from my face, no messages no missed calls, no connection, my eyesight had deteriorated so bad over the past year it was frustrating. Now I remember reaching into my bag and switching it off just before the séance, how considerate of me, well you can just imagine it, ‘is there anybody there?’ and then my cell phone goes off. I allow myself a small chuckle of regret, now how funny would that have been! Maybe it would have been a blessing in disguise saving me from my current predicament but then who would have rang, not dad, he promised not to interfere and not Kate, she was at the party with me. Oh shit! Kate, I have to find out what time it is so I can get back before Dad turns up. I’m lost with no communication, reality dawns that I will have to get up and face the others, all of whom I don’t know.
Sitting on the edge of my bed I pluck up the courage to walk to the open door, a blurred image appeared, I can sense the person watching me as I listen to the voices from the next room.
“How much longer will she sleep?”
It is the lyrical voice of the man called Alice, my heart does a little dance as I blush at the memory of what I had heard before.
“Stop pacing Al’ice” came a woman’s voice from the blurred image in the doorway, “when Jol is ready?” talking towards me now, “I will allow you to speak with her.”
How long could I put off this meeting, the woman quite clearly knows I am awake and listening to the conversation, the butterflies in my stomach were doing cartwheels, better to get this over and done with, I had to learn what was going on from these people.
I look towards the blurred shape in the doorway and nod my head, “I am ready.”
There sounded like a scuffle beyond the door then as quick as a flash he was there walking towards me, was this Al’ice? I could not tell and then he spoke.
“Hello sleepy head, it’s about time, I was worried about you.”
The lyrical voice confirmed my fears, my cheeks were hot, I’m nervous but I have to reply, “I.I.I‘m sorry, I cannot see you, I seem to have lost my glasses, who are you?”
“Jol, it’s me Alice.” He approaches the bed, his blurred image getting larger, “may I sit?”
I edge backwards to allow the man room, careful to put some distance between us as my heart dances in my chest from fear and anticipation, a quick glance at the blurred shapes in the doorway, tell me the others are watching.
‘Be calm’ I tell myself, I have no reason to be scared, I should not fear these people, but that didn’t stop the fear inside as I asked the question.
“Alice, my cat?”
“Yes, I am your, was your cat, please do not be frightened of me Jol, I was sent to protect you, want to protect you…” he held out his hand and touched mine gently.
His fingers are warm against mine, intrigued I turn his hand over and trace the lines of his long fingers placing my palm into his, this was indeed the hand of a man. I pull my hand back, what am I doing? I’m suddenly aware of the intimacy, I can’t do intimacy, the consequences are too great.
“I still can’t see you properly, are you truly a, a man?”
“Please allow me, I can help you to see for yourself.”
He lifts his arms and I can see the blurred shape of his hands approaching my face, I flinch just before he touches me.
“Jol I will not hurt you, trust me.”
He touches each palm to either side of my face, cupping my cheeks, he begins to massage the side of my eyes with his fingers, it does feel good. I relax and close my eyes in response to his voice, the voice is low almost a whisper, such strange words in a language I do not understand. His beautiful voice is singing to me in a foreign tongue, it sends shivers across my body as the goose bumps erupt on my skin.
Jez had joined Cooper in the doorway, he had wanted to enter the room to make sure this Al’ice would not harm the girl but Cooper had barred his entry, as he watched the scene before him, his emotions pricked at the sides of his heart, his mind telling him not to care, she was not his worry anymore, he turned and took a seat by the fire.
He lifted his t-shirt and inspected the bandages wound tight around his chest, Cooper had placed a thick gloopy mixture across the broken area before binding him tightly. Although reluctant at first, her touch had been gentle and he unwittingly enjoyed the attention. The mixture had a strange smell which he could still detect but his ribs had amazingly felt less sore as the day wore on and he found breathing so much easier. Just two days she had said he would need to wear the bandages, he would never had believed he could heal so quick if it hadn’t been for the release of pain he already felt, only some form of magic could perform a miracle like this. Magic such as that which Al’ice was now performing on Jol, he had no doubt that he was healing her eyesight, Jez did not have the stomach to watch him perform this miracle.
It seemed like a couple of hours had passed during which Cooper had tended his wounds and then Al’ice had returned, no mention of what had happened before, neither had spoken to each other, the unspoken glare between them enough to show both how they felt.
&nbs
p; Jez felt even angrier at the apparent normality of Al’ice’s nose, only a short time before, the evidence of his hefty punch which had dislodged it into a bloody mess and now it appeared normal, no one could tell it had even been broken.
Cooper sensing his disbelief explained, “ you did quite a good job on my cousin, no more than he deserved, but we are lucky that we can heal so fast, I sense your disappointment but not to worry a couple of days and you will be better, although the bruise on that eye will take longer I fear.”
“Open your eyes Jol and tell me what you see.”
I feel the most warming sensation behind my eyes like when you lie in the warmth of a sunny day with your eyes closed. The warmth cooled as Al’ice took his hands from my face.
I start to open my eyes slowly and am taken aback at the clarity of my surroundings, the young man sat before me has a mane of shaggy hair, golden orange in colour and tied loosely at the back, his eyes are bold emerald green and seem to sparkle with excitement as he looks at me, “Can you see me now?”
I’m frozen by the handsome figure in front of me, I feel my cheeks grow hot as I open my mouth to speak but words fail me. His skin looks so soft except for the tiny growth of hair across his chin, his face is thin and he looks tired. His frame wiry, he appears to be quite tall even when sitting down but wow what a face, I’m dazzled by those kind glittering eyes as my brain races to catch up with my speech.
“Um yes, quite well actually” I finally manage, “Alice is that really you?”
He gently nods his head and smiles the kind of smile that could melt any girl’s heart.
I open my mouth in surprise and “Oh!” is all I can manage.
He takes my hand, still looking into my eyes with those emeralds of his, I can feel the warm flow from his skin into my body, I feel relaxed almost like taking the first sip of warm cocoa on a cold night, he is magical, like a god I decide.
“Come and meet the rest of the family.”
Jez had been listening from the other room, he was curious to meet this girl but anxious that he felt like an outsider now, he didn’t want to witness the happy family re-union or whatever it was, he felt jealous at the thought and rose from his seat choosing to leave the stone cottage.
As he reached the door to leave the curtain pulled back and Eldeen stood looking a lot refreshed and even healthier if that was possible.
“Jez, where are you going?”
He had already turned his back on the old man and left, he had to get his head around what was going on and the way he was feeling. To the left of the cottage a large rocky outcrop in the mountain looked inviting enough and he set off for the arduous climb to try and get his head around what was happening.
Jez was growing impatient, he desperately wanted to say something but his lips could not move, his brain the only part of his body that functioned.
He couldn't remember anything about why he was like this, just flashes of his past occupied his mind. The nurse checked him again, “vital signs good, still no change” he could hear her pen scratch across the paper as she wrote up his notes, "ok JD I’ll see you later" Jez could hear her voice, she sounded old and kind like what he imagined a grandmother would be like. Her voice a distant echo as he fell back into the darkness.
Jez felt the heavy hands pumping at his chest before he heard the commotion, the long dull continuous beep and footsteps running around frantically.
A jolt passed through his body, the pain unbearable followed by a calming mist, a purple haze that engulfed him and a voice that he recognised.
The pain deep in his chest poked at his muscles, each movement excruciating.
Up ahead he could see the archway close once more and a figure which beckoned to him, he moved closer and the figure evaporated into a thousand bats pouring from the opening towards him. Falling backwards onto a thick carpet, amongst a sweet smell that met his nostrils.
The long dull continuous beep returned to its steady rhythm.