Kamerrean

by Karen Binnie

  Chapter 15

  I really should do more sport I think as I'm panting my way up to the opening through the great pines up ahead. I stop to catch my breath, the climb had been quite hard on the slippery snow and I was glad of the boots Cooper had given me. Al’ice strides effortlessly as we climb along the ridge until a break between the mountains, which has revealed a dense copse of trees beside. He stands in front of me as I appear in the sunlight. We are standing on a slab of rock jutting out from the mountain, the ideal platform to witness the valley below, I’ve never seen such a kaleidoscope of colours that shimmer in the sunlight.

  “Wow! How can this be, why do you not live here in this beautiful valley? why is there no snow?”

  “Alas it is just an illusion Jol, created by Eldeen for our people. It is a reminder of our lands, from where we have come. We can only enter for the coming of age ceremony and to hunt. There are many troubled clans of humans which surround us, they fight each other for their lands, we chose the most uninhabitable spot that would sustain us. We have no desire to upset the natives, the less they know of our existence the better, the illusion sustains the deer that we hunt, we are careful not to hunt from the surrounding mountains, it would only anger our neighbours. I dream of returning to our land one day but uncle believes this is all we have left now, this is the land I recall as a child before we came here, you like it?”

  We sit down upon the rock, warmed by the sun, I didn’t much like the sound of hunting deer but I’m not stupid enough to expect everyone to live on berries and tofu. I undo the cord at my neck and allow the cloak to fall behind me, this is worlds apart from where we had just been. Drinking in the vision before me, the valley walls are covered in trees, trees I do not recognise, not green as one would expect but purples, pinks even burgundy.

  Pointing I ask, “Is that a road?”

  Al’ice follows the direction of my finger, “No, it is a river.”

  He watches my expression intently as I drink in the fantastical sight, wishing the look on my face could be captured forever, he did not wish to break this spell with his news.

  I marvel at the golden glow of the river in the sunlight, as it winds across the valley floor, the shimmers of yellow are dazzling, and the grass the greenest I have ever seen.

  I turn and watch Al’ice as he removes his cloak, revealing the modern clothes he wore beneath as he shook out his tied hair, I can’t help but stare at him as my heart stuttered, I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  “It’s you” he was the boy who had me spellbound, “you were at the party, I saw you.”

  “Ah yes, my time with you has opened my eyes to your world Jol, although I am still getting used to those sounds you call music” he smiles although his eyes do not sparkle as before.

  “Do you like Kamerrean?” he asks, diverting his eyes from my gaze.

  “It’s perfect.”

  A slight wind sweeps by throwing my hair across my face, Al’ice lifts his fingers and gently tucks the loose strands behind my ear, my heart leaping at his touch.

  He turns back to the vision as a serious look washes over him, “I have news of your father.”

  I watch his expression, he seems troubled, my stomach flips as I wait for him to continue.

  Al’ice had not been held up by the snow on his return, he had gone to the house he once shared with Jol and her father and sat there in the dark, brooding over his dilemma. Ashamed to admit his failure to execute the plan, he had sat in silence as the pain she would suffer engulfed his body, so connected did he now feel to his precious Jol he wanted to shield her from the truth, to protect her. He had sat for hours until morning came, it was a grey misty morning matching his mood, he had not wanted to leave knowing what he must do. She had no parents now, both gone within a year of each other and both on the eve of her birthday, he knew nothing now would console her but he would try, he would be there for her.

  The intense scream was so loud it sent a wobble across the wall of the illusion, my sobbing heart beating against his chest as he holds me close, the news of my dad’s heart attack was never going to be easy. He rocks me gently in his arms, brushing his long fingers across my hair as the tears flow, soaking his shirt, I hold him tight, holding in the pain, my arms locked around his waist, as we sit in silence but for my sobs. Al’ice would sit by my side for as long as it would take.

  When my sobs eventually stop I do not move, afraid to think about what had happened, I want to stay lost in this moment. Al’ice respects my silence and gently lies back on the rock still holding me tight in a sorrows embrace.

  The previous evening had been long and he was tired, he watched Jol’s head rise and fall on his chest with each laboured breath, he closed his eyes and thought about the news Eldeen had given him, the news of his half brother. His chest tightened at the thought and he tried to relax, he did not want to alarm Jol further.

  Al’ice’s father had been one of the brotherhood, the leaders of their people, whose wife had died in a horrible accident back on Kamerrean, he never spoke of the tragedy, so racked with grief for his soul partner and with no children of his own, he had adopted Al’ice at the age of two. Al’ice had no recollection of his real parents, they too were killed in the same accident, crushed by falling rocks so he was told.

  He had been very close to Elsaac until that fateful day he disappeared on their journey to Earth, he was only ten. The feeling of loss washed over him, he knew what Jol was going through, he was roused from his thoughts by Eldeen calling to him, the voice telepathically in his mind.

  “Al’ice, Al’ice, are you there?”

  “Yes uncle” Al’ice’s reply sad and remorseful.

  “How is she coping with the news?”

  “What do you expect, her heart is too heavy with the pain, this may take awhile.”

  “I understand, she needs you but we have little time to prepare her…”

  Al’ice cut in, “what do you mean? we have a whole year before she is ready.”

  “Our kind cannot wait that long, more have the curse as we speak, I have a plan that will accelerate Jol’s potential.”

  “If she is harmed in any way uncle……”

  “Al’ice, do not let your emotions cloud your thoughts, careful, you may wake her, do you not realise I can sense your feelings for her?”

  “I am aware the salvation of our kind is paramount, I would never jeopardise that uncle.”

  “She will not be harmed I can assure you but within the week she will come of age, I cannot say anymore than that.”

  Al’ice’s heart flipped, he would not have to wait, it did not seem right though whatever his feelings for her, “uncle, she must be allowed to grieve.”

  “When she wakes Al’ice, I give my permission for you to enter Kamerrean, take her to the sacred river, it will cleanse her of the grief, we must not delay, then you must return for the preparations, I have another task…”

  Al’ice cut in again, “do not tell me, I can guess, does this task have to fall to me, Cooper is more than capable……”

  “You are brothers, only you can explain what kind of father Elsaac was.”

  “Why should I?”

  Al’ice was angry again.

  I mumble as I re-positioned myself against him, he lays a comforting arm across my body.

  Eldeen had grown weary and struggled with his last sentence, “I will say this only one last time, you are destined to replace me Al’ice as the leader of our kind, our people respect my choice, do not disappoint me in my final hour.”

  Eldeen coughed as he left Al’ice to ponder on what had been said, he had indeed been grooming him to take over, it was quite clear his uncle was growing weaker and would not be able to command for much longer. He was proud to be chosen as leader above Cooper but then Eldeen knew that Cooper would not stay around for much longer, her heart belonged elsewhere.

  The dream washed over my grief and smothered
it, taking over my thoughts, a body emerging from the water, slowly yet purposely, I witness the vision as if the body were my own. Looking towards a human mass slumped beside the water’s edge, just at the mouth of a cave where the darkness crowds the vision, I approach slowly checking the man’s pulse for signs of life. I am staring at the man he is barely alive but still breathing, his white shirt torn from his arm, he did look familiar, I reach down towards his face and the vision clouds, confusing my thoughts.

  When I finally raise my head, it is to rouse myself from the shock induced sleep the crying had led me to, my neck now stiff from the way I had been lying. I feel strange, not from the hurtful news or the wet puffy face I now have but I can sense something else, the dream had seemed so real and the water had left me with a clean feeling over my body. I look down at my hard pillow, my tongue trying desperately to moisten the furry feeling in my mouth.

  Al’ice opens his eyes, “are you ok?” he asks, “need a drink?”

  The sun was still high in the sky and warm against my skin but surely I have been asleep for hours, my worn and tired eyes nod in reply as he reaches for my school bag and hands me a leather pouch filled with liquid.

  “A gift from Eldeen” he says as he removes the wooden stopper and hands me the pouch.

  I allow the liquid to refresh my mouth as I savour the taste, it is the tea but it tastes even better than before, I let the good feelings counteract the bad as I drink and rub the sleep from my eyes, trying to ignore the aching feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  Al’ice watches closely, “do you have any questions?” he asks.

  I think carefully before I reply, “where are we Al’ice?”

  “I believe you know this land as Scotland.”

  I nod my head, I had been to Scotland before and the land did look vaguely familiar, “what year is it?”

  “You ask such strange questions, do you not have any about your father?”

  I pull my knees to my chest, picking at the dry skin around my thumb, I am trying to avoid the issue of dad, if I can just ignore it then, then maybe it will not be true, “how long have we been here?”

  “Time does not exist, when visiting the valley, I have no idea.”

  “What do you mean time does not exist?”

  I stand too quickly, disorientated by his statement and stumble, my head woozy. Al’ice watches as I stagger towards the trees knowing too well I will not find my way on my own. I stop at the entrance and lean against a tall pine, trying to get my bearings, I peer into the darkness of the canopy.

  “Al’ice, the sky is so dark, I can see the stars up ahead, I don’t understand.”

  He is behind me now, taking my arm and leading me back.

  “As I said, time does not exist here in the valley, in the corner of our world, Kamerrean. The sun always shines, the birds always sing and the darkness will never fall on our land again, thanks to Eldeen.”

  We sit back upon the rock in the heat of the sun.

  “But what day is it?” I ask, “time seems to pass so quickly here.”

  Al’ice thought for a moment, then sprang to his knees, all excited, his eyes sparkling once more, I revel in his enthusiasm as he reaches for my bag.

  “I almost forgot” he said “if it is night beyond, then hopefully I have made it in time, in your world it should still be your birthday, happy birthday Jol.”

  He hands me the bag to open.

  “Eldeen gave you the drink, he said as you liked it so much he made an extra special recipe. Cooper asked me to collect you some things from the house, things she said you would need.”

  Things I would need, I open the flap and loosen the drawstring, on top a clean pair of jeans from the laundry, and my new turquoise t-shirt with a spaghetti pattern on the front, I’ve not had chance to wear it yet, I find my roll-on and toothbrush and paste.

  “Oh Al’ice I could kiss you.”

  He grins enthusiastically, “Go on, there’s more.”

  He was as excited as Jol and enjoyed her lightened mood while it lasted.

  I recognise the shop branding of the small plastic bag and blush, concealed inside the folded tissue paper the new bra and knickers I had brought on a whim when out shopping for the t-shirt with Kate, too embarrassed to try it on, the bra had turned out to be a size too big. I love going shopping with Kate, hunting for bargains, chatting and laughing, I remember the lunch we had, arguing over what film to watch at the cinema for my birthday treat, I prefer action movies whilst Kate is a chick flick girl. At least Kate is still alive, I hope, as I fold the tissue quickly trying to hide my embarrassment.

  Al’ice watches as my face reddens, “I did not think it appropriate to go through your clothes and caught sight of the bag on my way from your room, I just thought you might like it.”

  It was clear he was trying to ease the moment, I remember showing them to Kate the day I had brought them and remember Al’ice asleep curled up in a ball on my bed, I have no way of knowing now if the sleep had just been a pretence.

  He placed his hand over mine, “Try not to forget, I know quite a lot about you Jol, I did not intentionally invade your privacy, I just find you……..fascinating and I did leave the room every time you changed, your dignity is intact!”

  “Well that’s alright then, I suppose,” I raise my eyes to meet his stare, this time he looks away embarrassed.

  “OOOH you’ve brought my Grans box.”

  “Did I do alright?” he asks.

  “Yes, this is perfect, thank you Al’ice.”

  “But there’s one more thing, this was my idea, check the side pocket.”

  I eye him suspiciously, not more underwear I hope as I undo the zip, inside a large bar of chocolate, a little soft from the warmth of the sun.

  “I know how much you love chocolate.”

  This was the bar from the fridge but that didn’t matter, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, for one awkward moment I feet his body tense, he does not speak.

  “I’m sorry,” I pull back, wondering what I have done wrong, “shall we return to the others?”

  A shudder went through his body as my lips brushed his cheek and caught him off guard, it took a few seconds for him to compose himself.

  “You wish to return in the dark? no I have other plans, Eldeen has given me permission to allow you to enter the valley, we cannot avoid what has happened Jol.”

  At first I thought he referred to my impromptu kiss and then it hits me, like a ten ton truck, my dad.

  Al’ice stood and commanded “come, let me show you our haven, Kamerrean.”

  He takes me by the hand and steps towards the outer edge of the rock as I wonder what he expects me to do, he steps forward through the wall of the illusion and onto stone steps which appear miraculously, still holding his hand I follow him down into the surreal valley.

  The descent was incredibly easy, the stone steps were like walking on air and the grass, velvety to the touch, with each step my feet sank into the deep pile. I look around in wonder, on each side of the river large strips of the deep pile grass are flanked by the most incredible trees, I’ve never seen trees so tall and such a wondrous colour almost different shades of burgundy which flow across the bark as if in a gentle breeze. The rocks along the edge of the river are like polished ebony, yet the pebbles under the water are a brilliant white. I sit on the grassy bank mesmerised by the shimmering light, the water looks so clear up close, I can see every form of life sustained within. There are little fish darting back and forth like neon lights and crab like creatures which pick their way across the bottom and there is something else, I can see movement amongst the pebbles but cannot see what it is.

  “Fancy a swim?” asks Al’ice.

  I look back at the creatures under the water, not so sure it is a good idea.

  “Come there is a deeper pool up ahead, we can swim there.”

  Al’ice has already removed his shirt and vest revealing his slender yet toned body,
wow! To my relief he keeps his shorts on and dives into the pool, not a splash as his body spikes gracefully through the water. The sun is so hot the water does look inviting but I’m not so sure, I mean the water looks transparent, what am I supposed to wear? I can’t swim in my jeans, my top is long enough and I do have clothes to change into but….

  Al’ice must have sensed my hesitancy and called, “It is ok, look.”

  He stands chest height and spins quickly like a dancer on ice, I can hardly believe my eyes as the water turns into the golden colour I had seen from above, I cannot see any of his body beneath the water.

  “No Looking” I order as I take off the boots and put them beside my backpack. After carefully removing my jeans, I lower myself gently into the inviting water still wearing my underwear and party top.

  “Ok, you can look now.”

  The water as warm as a Jacuzzi is strange to the touch, not like water at all more like the texture of milk, I begin to swim towards Al’ice, careful not to swallow any of the precious liquid just in case. I am not a strong swimmer and the breast stroke is really all I can manage but as I move a feeling of calm engulfs me, as if everything will be fine. I duck my head under the water to wet my hair and begin to giggle, Al’ice swims up behind me and puts his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder he smiles that dazzling smile and I giggle some more, swimming away from his grasp, I feel so happy yet I don’t know why.

  Al’ice began swimming around me in circles revelling in my laughter, his Olympic strokes powerful, then he dives under, I can’t see him through the milky surface but feel the rush of water as he passes me by and emerges behind as I swirl around trying to locate him. He slaps his hands upon the surface splashing my face and begins swimming in circles again as I try to recover. I’ll show him! But as I attempt to catch up with him to retaliate he suddenly stops and stares back towards the river bank and at the tree line, he stands, droplets of water running from his chest. I follow his gaze to a group of deer feeding on the grass at the edge of the wood, they must all be females because none of them have antlers. In succession each one lifts their head as if alerted to danger, they fix their stares on me. As Al’ice emerges from the river, do they all dart off quickly, back into the wood.

  I swim towards him at the edge of the pool and lean on the grassy bank to haul myself up, forgetting my inhibitions from earlier. Al’ice just stands, staring into the trees.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, worried by his reaction, “aren’t they beautiful, did we frighten them?”

  It took a while for Al’ice to turn and face me, he looks puzzled, “the deer never come into the open like that when we are here,” he shook his head, “I shall tell Eldeen of this, it is most strange.”

  “Perhaps they didn’t realise we were here” I add, wondering what all the fuss was about.

  “Hmmmph!” came his reply.

  We sit in silence for a while drying off in the sun, to shy to speak, I’m not sure what to say, or even know if Al’ice wants to talk, he seems different now.

  Eventually he speaks first, “how was the swim?”

  His voice rouses me from my lazy daydream, the warmth of the sun on my skin is fantastic, I turn on my side and look at him.

  “It was……….remarkable, Al’ice?”

  “Hhhmmmm.”

  “How did I know to call you Alice that day I found you?”

  “I think you will find that I found you!” he raises an eyebrow, “telekinesis but it failed my name is Al’ice.”

  I think about the voice in my head from the night before, I thought it had been Jez, maybe it had been Al’ice, I could not help but smile at him.

  “I almost got it right, have you tried this telekinesis thing since?”

  He looks at me, I can see disappointment in his eyes, “No.”

  Then it was Jez who had entered my mind, or was it just another dream? I wonder why Al’ice hadn’t tried again but it’s clear from his reaction it was best not to mention it again.

  “Al’ice, how do you change into a cat, can you do it at anytime, can you show me and change now?” I ask changing the subject.

  Al’ice nods as if in agreement but avoiding the issue he adds, “You look great! perhaps you want to change before we leave?”

  My cheeks flush hot, only now remembering my bare legs as his gaze wanders across my body. It would be great to have clean clothes but I can’t tell him my new underwear in the bag is the wrong size, which I had bought by mistake and meant to return. I do feel a little uncomfortable though as if the water has shrunk my clothes, the cloth is cutting into my skin. I grab my bag and head off in the direction of the trees.

  “Where are you going?” Al’ice calls.

  “You don’t think I’m changing in front of you do you?”

  “Don’t go in the trees” he commands.

  “Why not, you still worrying about the deer? come on I’ll be fine I’ll stay near the edge.”

  “Be quick then and call out if……. well if you need to.”

  I am already at the tree line when I begin to feel a little nervous from his comment, as I disappear from sight. I look around, the trees are that dense I can’t see too far but all is quiet and I feel great after that swim, what exactly is his problem?

  I begin to remove my top and see how my bra has already begun to mark my skin from the tightness, I look down at my breasts, I swear they’ve grown larger. Perhaps this place is playing tricks on me, I take out the new underwear and try it on, perfect fit, weird! maybe I had been wrong about the size.

  I freshen up and begin packing my old clothes back into the bag when I hear a sound from behind, I rise gently and turn my body towards the sound. From the trees emerges a magnificent stag, he stops just a few feet in front of me, he stares right at me, his nostrils flaring as if sniffing the air. I’m in shock at the great beast before me and gently back my body up against a tree, the calm I first feel in his presence is quickly taken over by the enormity of his great antlers, each with four points, what if he decides to skewer me against the tree.

  “AL’ICE” I shout, too frightened to move.

  The stag looks out in the direction of the river, then returns his gaze, he bows his head, turns and disappears into the trees.

  Al’ice is already by my side at the tree, “What is it?” he looks around for any sign of danger.

  “I, oh it was just a noise that startled me” I add, worried that he would go off and hunt the stag down.

  Click clack, click clack, click clack………….

  His mind was in fury, stop it, stop that bloody noise!

  Click clack, click clack, click clack……………

  ‘Nooooooooooo’

  Jez opened his eyes, the pain had returned, noises, no more silence, it had all been a dream, but what was that bloody noise?

  His hearing was exceptional, he remembered, he could hear more than the average human.

  Jez had managed to open his right eye just a fraction, the left was too swollen, it still hurt to breathe, he felt as if he had been punched recently. He watched the old nurse sat beside his bed, was she his angel? She must be very old indeed, deep lines were etched across her face but she moved like she was much younger. Her grey hair had been forced up into a bun beneath her head gear with a few wisps of black to one side, had he seen her before somewhere?

  “Hello Jerimiah, how are you? On this fine day, not too shocked at how old I really am are you young man? Well that will do for now, your jumpers almost finished Jerimiah.”

  She could tell that he could see her, but how? Nobody else seemed to recognise any change in his condition but this was the one with the angel’s voice and he knew that there was something special about her.