by Karen Binnie
Chapter 25
Dawn could not come fast enough for the inhabitants of Kamerrean, for years they had prayed to the goddess of two moons for salvation, such was their devotion they never questioned her presence, if it existed at all in this foreign land. The chosen one would one day arrive, the promise their great Eldeen had kept. The excitement of the gathering evident in every home, all in their own way disturbed by events and the anticipation of what was to come.
The young man slumped, paralysed with the pain from his beloved, his wife's body beside the silent pool of the river. Once the hold on him subsided, he held her once strong frame in his arms rocking her gently against his chest as the grief took over. His beautiful wife, his life and soul now taken, taken by the curse which had befallen young Gredon and the others. The night air so still and cold as the full moon shone down on the pitiful sight, she had not warned him the disease had begun to take over her body, how could it have taken her so quickly when she had only just returned from the travels of her inner soul? Even more disturbing, the absence of the cascelet, he began to suspect there was more to the disease, her corpse tainted by evil. It was many years before he began to realise the truth, truth lost that night the troubled young Davide disappeared across the timelines, never to be seen again.
Following the hardest day of his life so far as he had watched her body burn accompanied by the soft wails of his people over come by grief, he had put his granddaughters to bed hugging them both tight. Their resolve urged him to continue, he would not lose the fight, his people looked up to him, he had to be strong. Hugging the jewel encrusted urn in his arms it was at last time, time to take his beloved to where she belonged, as the darkest of night fell with the silence of the village.
The image faded into nothing and the grief fell like waves against the sleeping mans chest, to lose someone you loved so deeply stabbed at his heart like a knife, this love was different, he would not let that happen again. His heart was bleeding, he watched as the red oozed from the wound dripping onto the growing stain, the stain grew larger as a small aperture opened at its centre, a window onto the following image.
Beside the glowing river within the illusion the others came to witness and welcome her on the final journey. Taking the lid from the urn and placing it in the plush grass beside him, he drank in the smell of burnt roses from the ashes within, unable to contain himself further, a solitary tear rolled from his cheek and sank onto his wife's ashes. Gently he tipped the urn on its side and watched as the contents flowed effortlessly into the water, at last her soul was at peace and able to swim the waters forever more. Washing the last remnants from the bottom, her ashes flowed on the surface, swirling around as if caught in a whirlpool, slowly they sank deeper into the water.
Several minutes passed as he sat slumped at the water’s edge, the witnesses now gone, retreated into the shadows of his world, when her image rose from the depths, her arms outstretched to embrace him.
The dreams had disturbed the one sleeping, was it a sign of things to come? Beads of sweat built on his forehead as the smell of roses wafted through his senses once more, he did not want to witness further pain and shook his head to dispel the scent. It came at him again, stronger this time as he forced his heavy lids to open.
“Grandfather, please wake up.”
“Cooper? What time is it? Aaagghhh!”
Eldeen grabbed at the throbbing pain in his head, trying to magic it away.
“What is wrong? You are ill, please grandfather, it is not like you to sleep for so long.”
He watched her anxious face through his darkened eyes as he focused on healing the pain in his head, old age did not allow him the luxury of doing two things at once, she would have to wait.
At last the drumming slowly ebbed away and he regained his senses.
“How long have I been sleeping?”
“The sun is at its highest point, it is nearly time, but you are not up to it, we must cancel the gathering.”
“No, No we cannot, it is too late, do not fret so, I will manage but wait,” he lifted his hand to her temple, “there is something you are not telling me, what has happened?”
The others had awoken early that day unable to contain their anxiety over what lay ahead. Jez was the first to rise as the sun barely edged over the horizon, the nights shared dreams nagged at him, he would have to confront Jol, but how? For now he was ravenous again and weary from his broken sleep, the pot over the fire held that yucky porridge, the festering smell and look of it made him want to heave, he grabbed his jacket and found one broken crancake from the day before. The hunger ravished his insides like he had not eaten for days, he removed his jeans and lowered himself into the cool river, if he did not eat soon he would faint from hunger, fishing was his only option right now, if he could manage it.
I had woken late this morning, only to find Cooper sat on the end of my bed resting against the wall. She appeared awake but lost in her thoughts, her face stern and worried, I want to ask her about the silver plants but she looks so fierce I think better of it and try to shift my weight gently, to ease myself from bed without disturbing her.
Cooper rose from her reverie and slaps my leg.
“Good you are awake, I shall attend to breakfast.”
The image staring back at me from the tiny compact mirror is frightening. I look tired and drab and my hair, arggghhh, I have got to do something with this hair, where’s the local shop when you need it, charging over the odds for a pot of strong gel, I’m willing to pay anything just now.
I’m distracted by a sound behind my wall, the same place from where Jez had been chopping wood, I can hear a muffled voice and lean closer pressing my ear against the cold stone and listen.
“Where?”
“He is in Jesveril's cottage.”
“What? He has brought him here and the girl!”
I jump back from the wall as there is a thud against my ear, as if a large clump has been thrown down in haste, something is wrong.
I forget how rough I’m looking and shove on my boots, the only footwear I have left now since losing my pumps in the mud yesterday and run from my room desperate to find out what’s going on, the cottage appears empty.
Running to the entrance I have to stop, temporarily blinded by the strong sunlight stinging my eyes. Blinking at last I see Jez climbing awkwardly from the river in just his boxers and t-shirt, water droplets glistening on his arms. A half naked man would normally have me embarrassed but I have no time for that now, he’s wrestling with something as he shouts my name.
“Hey Jol, I got one look” he see’s my confusion, “what's wrong?”
For a second I just stand there and stare at him as I remember the kiss from my dreams, my cheeks flush as I come to my senses and realise why I rushed outside in the first place.
“I think Dallon has returned, but something's not right, are you coming?”
Jez looks from my look of terror to the slippery fish, jumping about on the river bank, his stomach groans. 'Damn it' he thinks as he quickly knocks the fish on its head and reaches for his clothes.
I’m already stomping off in the direction of the village aware of his reluctance, this is no time for eating, I know something is wrong. Behind me Jez is busy trying to pull on his jeans, his body still wet as he stuffs his bare feet into his boots, chasing after me.
“What is it?” he calls.
I stride on, rambling, “I don't know, it’s just Cooper, I know something is not right.”
“Where are we going?”
“Jesveril's cottage.”
“Where's that?” he asks, struggling with his zip as he jogs alongside.
I stop dead, catching him by surprise, “I DONT KNOW!” I shout back, my frustration building.
“Whoah! I'm only trying to help, I left a fish for you!”
“Thanks!” I can’t help being sarcastic.
Jez is suddenly the voice of reason.
“Look if Dallon
's back lets go to his place, Al’ice spent the night there didn't he?”
I hate it when he’s right, why couldn't I think of that!
Cooper came running up to us as we were about to knock the door of Aijins cottage.
“There you are. Come, Dallon has returned and Tadge is eager to meet you.”
Jez looks at me as I stare in wonder at the beckoning Cooper, he invades my thoughts.
“She seems alright to me are you sure your dreams of last night have not got you on edge?”
I shoot him one of my glares, “and what is that supposed to mean?”
He just raises his eyebrows, waiting for an answer, as Cooper already ahead, turns, “Come on, there is little time to waste.”
I can’t deal with his accusing eyes right now and erect the barrier to any more invasions.
Jez realising what I had done, didn’t follow, I can feel his eyes burning into my back as I chase after Cooper.
So, there goes the barrier again, he hated it when she did that and watched her body language as she stomped after Cooper and up the hill towards the tree line which led the way to Kamerrean.
Jez wondered whether he should follow, his stomach growled, he could just go back and cook the waiting fish but then curiosity had him gripped. Jol had infuriated him, how easy she could block him out like that, toss him aside like a mechanics oily rag, just as she had done in the dream, no he would get to the bottom of it.
Just to the right of the tree line that led the way to Kamerrean, at the edge and hidden in shadow, stood another cottage just like Eldeen's. Jez ran to catch up as they stopped at the door, Cooper turned to warn them both of what was inside.
“Jol prepare yourself, Kate is inside and she is not well.”
The words barely registered as I pushed passed her into the room, behind me Cooper placed her hand on Jez's arm before he followed and whispered, “be gentle with her, what-ever it is that troubles you, it must wait.”
The first thing I see is a stranger, a man in his thirties I guess, he is positively glowing, I mean a gentle glow radiating out from his body, was this my grandfather? He is holding his arms out to embrace me as I catch myself staring at his features, it’s hard not to when he’s glowing like that.
His hands touch my shoulders, he’s still glowing.
“You are far more beautiful than your mother ever was, I think you must possess my genes after all. We need to do something about your hair though.”
I like him, of all the things he could have said and he came out with the perfect statement, I smile at his kind eyes and decide we’re going to get along just fine.
Instinctively I wrap my arms around him as we hug, he smells strongly of lavender, it reminds me of Gran. I’m drowning in his warm embrace, lost in the re-union with the man I have never met when I remember, Kate.
I pull back and look into his eyes, fear taking over my voice, “where's Kate?”
He steps aside and behind him a vision, not a dream this time but a ghastly vision. To the right of the fireplace Al’ice is standing behind the ghostly image of Dallon, holding his shoulders as they both look down at the bodies in front of the fire, two Kate's, both sleeping.
I feel my mouth open in confusion, I can’t speak, Kate looks peaceful, too peaceful, one image more solid than the other, at last I manage to ask, “Oh my God, what happened?”
Falling to my knee’s beside the Kate’s I touch the cheek of the nearest one, the one not so whole and she feels cold, too cold. I can feel the tears coming as Tadge places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“I am afraid Kate has met with great misfortune, her life taken in such a way that her troubled soul took off, much in the same way as young Dallon here, she will leave us soon.”
“How long?”
“A few hours at the most, there is nothing I can do.”
“No’ooo.”
I pull back the hair from her face as the tears break free, I lean forward and whisper in her ear, “I'm Sorry.”
It’s pathetic really but what more can I say, if I hadn’t become her friend on that first day of college then this wouldn’t of happened. I didn’t know, didn’t know what my future held but I am to blame for what’s happened, I can hear her mischievious laugh from my memories, “I’m sorry Kate.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing there is a life I can save, death has drained me, I want no more. I look up at Dallon’s tortured face, to the one of concern on Al’ice and turn to my grandfather, “You will save the boy though?”
“The boy wanted me to save your friend! I understand you have promised my gift to him, this gift is yours and yours only Julianne, I will not waste it on another.”
His words explain the tortured look on Dallon's face.
“Dallon was Kate able to speak when you met her?” I ask.
His face lights up as he nods, Kate has this amazing ability to touch those that she meets, that's why she wants, wanted to become a nurse, I reflect on those thoughts, she would have been good at it.
My grandfather has a look of sorrow around those kind eyes, what do I call him? Granddad doesn’t seem right, he looks too young, although I realise he is probably as old as the mountains around us.
Al’ice is clearly distressed at the events, he knew Kate as well, he must surely be upset. My heart still leaps when I look at him, if we could just hold each other and make all the hurt go away but there is still Dallon. Al’ice is still staring at Kate, he does not plead with me to save the boy and I admire him for that, he knows how much pain I am already in but watching him now, I know I love him more than ever, there is no way I will go back on my word.
I need to be alone with my grand......, well Tadge. I turn to the others, “please go, I wish to speak to Tadge alone.”
Al’ice glances my way, concern etched on his face but I manage to return a wink through my wet lashes, probably not appropriate under the circumstances but I have to let him know it will be ok, I will fight for my promise.
With the others gone and the door closed, Tadge says nothing as I sit in silence beside my best friend and cradle her dying face in my hands. I can feel death coming, surrounding the cottage, suffocating the stale air, there is no time to grieve, time is ticking away.
“How much do you love my Gran?” I finally ask.
“More than you will ever know.”
“Would you do anything for her?”
Tadge chuckles to himself, “you have not been told the story?”
Damn it! That was the wrong thing to say, of course he would, he was chucked out of heaven because of Gran.
“Alright! I didn't mean it like that”
I pause frustrated with myself, what I have to say is embarrassing, he may be my Granddad but I hardly know him.
Tadge watches as I rub my eyebrows, “I wouldn't do that if I were you unless you wish to look like Dennis Healy!”
“Who? Look I don't want to seem ungrateful but I don't want your gift, if I'm going to die then I'm going to die right! What I'm trying to say is that I love Al’ice and want to be with him, I've promised him that Dallon can have your gift, to go back on that promise will tear me apart, do you understand?”
Tadge says nothing as I continue, forcing the words out through my tears.
“It's even worse now I know Kate is dying as we speak, my father is dead, this is the worst bloody nightmare and I wish I would wake up any minute but that's just not going to happen. If I could save my friend too then I would but my heart has been broken enough, I've had enough! I will not lose Al’ice over this as well.”
Tadge nods at his granddaughter with the fire within her soul, she reminds him so much of Jesveril, if only she were here now to guide him.
“I understand your torment Julianne but if Al’ice loves you he will forgive.”
“I believe you are right, of course you are right, how could you be wrong?” I reply, defeated.
He has worn me down with barely a word spoken from his li
ps.
“How can I argue, you are an angel after all.”
“A fallen one at that! Do not forget” he adds.
I am near to collapse, I am exhausted from my outburst, so many emotions to fight all at once. I must be resolute, I feel the calm surround me and force it to invade my body as I finish in barely a whisper.
“Al’ice will forgive me, I could never forgive myself and that is the difference.”
Silence hangs in the air between us as Tadge digests my statement, I can almost hear the non-existent clock ticking across time.
“You are sure this is what you truly want?” he asks, tenderly.
I look at him through my swollen lids, perhaps all hope is not lost, “Yes.” I reply.
Tadge can sense his granddaughter’s pain, an echo of the pain he felt when faced with abandoning Jesveril forever, a task he could never have completed. How could he refuse her request when he knew all too well how she felt, for all these years he had protected her, ready to save her when the time came. His special granddaughter, the one who inherited his talents, she does not realise just how special her gift is, how he has strived to keep her hidden not only from evil but the heavenly forces that control the earth’s equilibrium. She has a kind heart, the love and warmth radiates around her body, she is so unlike her mother. Juliannes future now uncertain from her exposure, it would not be long before her presence alerted his former brethren, at this very moment in time the best he could ever do for her would be to grant her wish.
“Then come, you must heal the boy's body before I can restore his soul.”
“You will do this for me?” I ask, in shock.
“Only for you.” he replies.
“I can't leave Kate here, on her own.”
“Do not worry so, she will not be alone, you may return once my final gift has been taken.”
Tadge thought of the other body in the adjoining room, of the deception from her beloved Al’ice and Tilly, sometimes a sacrifice was worth the truth but he was not the one to shatter her dreams. He looked at his beautiful yet sad granddaughter, he could not be the one to deliver more pain, he only wished to see her happy, he may not agree with the deception but he could not deny her request.
As we walk back towards Aijin’s cottage, we are holding hands and I feel a warmth from him, it is comforting despite my distress. I am more worried now of my supposed healing powers, a tattoo is one thing but a whole life? I am so grateful to Tadge, what he does now means more than he will ever know, I feel very proud to have him as my Granddad.
“You know Julianne, I think you are just a little crazy.”
“Am I?”
“Yes, just like Jesveril, she would have been very proud.”
“Would have?”
Before he has time to answer, Al’ice appears at the door, the smile slowly creeping along his face as he realises the significance of our approach. He brushes his lips beside my cheek, tasting the saltiness of the solitary tear remaining, and whispers gently, “I love you.”
There it is again, the flutter in my heart, I feel his warm breath against my neck but do not look at him, the apprehension of what is to happen, too much.
“I know” I whisper back.
Inside the cottage, Aijin looked terrible with her sunken red eyes and I realise I probably look just as bad. We all watch as Al’ice kneels before Dallon's body and begins the ritual to reverse the gendaris.
The butterflies in my chest betray my nervousness, “what do I do?” I whisper to Tadge.
“Place your hands over the boys chest, the rest will happen naturally. There is still time to change your mind?”
I manage a wry smile, “never.”
The coffin disintegrates with Al’ice's words, I can see Dallon's soul return to his body, it was now my turn.
I kneel beside the boy’s body, the ground is rough against my knees, gulping back my fear I place my hands on his chest as directed by Tadge and wait, nothing seems to be happening.
Al’ice kneels on the other side of the boy’s body, looks me straight in the eyes and nods his encouragement. I can’t fail him now, I concentrate on the calm I must find, allowing it to wash through me as before and push my hands hard against Dallon’s body, closing my eyes to the silent room.
A faint pulse begins to throb under my fingertips, is it mine, my adrenaline maybe? The pulse emits warmth, which spreads along my fingers and up through my hands, it jolts my arms, pinging my elbows and shooting up to my shoulders, the force sending me flying against the wall behind, jarring my back. My elbows feel the worst of all, I remember tennis causing me much the same pain.
Tadge is on the boy in a second, he opens his mouth as if to do resuscitation, but none like Jez had ever seen before, he breathes slowly into the boy until at last Dallon begins to sit up and rub at his eyes.
“Where are the others now? Asks Eldeen. It has been a long time since Tadge was last here, any news of Jesveril?”
Cooper ignored her grandfather’s second question, “Tadge has returned with Mr. Serason's body, Jol is with her friend at the cottage, Dallon is tucking into a hearty broth with his jubilant mother and Al’ice has taken Jez to prepare for the gathering.”
“Uh, no I am here.” replied Jez from the other side of the curtain.
Cooper was startled, “Jez, what is wrong?”
“Nothing, Al’ice sent me to tell you he has everything in hand and no need for his uncle to worry, he said you are just to prepare yourselves, I am off now to check on Jol.”
“Is that wise?” she asked.
Jez considered her words, “I know, be gentle.”
I must look as if I’ve been to hell and back with my face streaked with the salt of my tears but I don’t care what I look like.
I’m holding Kate's stony hand, “I am so sorry I got you into this mess Kate, I wish I knew what had happened to you, I have asked Tadge to return you home, back to the party, where there will be an investigation but the verdict will be a tragic accident, or so he says. Tadge is my grandfather, it’s hard to understand but I wish you could have known him, he’s like a thousand years old or something but doesn’t look it. And get this he’s a former angel, none of the powers anymore but he is still magical, has even returned your body to the clothes from the party, I don’t know how he does it with only my memory to go on, you know I think he could do just about anything, imagine what he would be like if his powers were fully restored. He has shown me how to use mine, your angel Jol remember?”
I barely hear the door as it creaks open, “Uh, you ok?” asks Jez.
I look up at him and nod, “she was such a good friend to me you know when I first came to New Zealand, we had nothing in common, we just seemed to connect, I'm going to miss her.”
Kate's sleeping soul began to rise and lower itself into her body, the final act, I wish it had not come to this.
Jez felt my pain, he had lost a parent and best friend and understood the numbness of my loss, it must be hard though to lose them both within a few days, he felt the need to comfort me but did not know what to say or how to say it, showing your emotions was just too complicated. It could send her over the edge, he thought, no he would be firm, he would act like a man.
“We have to go Jol and prepare for the gathering, villagers from the surrounding mountains have already descended.”
He watched me as I bent forward to kiss Kate's cold face, a final goodbye, my tears falling on the grey skin of my dead friend. As I look down across her body, I see my mum’s signet ring on her finger, it’s hard going but I have to remove it, she didn’t have it on at the party. I cannot bear to return the ring to my own finger, it does not seem right, “I'm sorry” I whisper once again as I rise to leave.
Outside I shiver as the sunlight touches my skin.
“Look at your skin, why's it like that?” asks Jez.
I hold out my arms, my skin is cold and clammy to the touch, white and puckered, I shiver again, it must be from
the damp in the cottage.
“Looks like I've been in the bath too long that's all, I don't like the idea of Kate in there all alone in the cold and the damp, where's Tadge?”
“He has taken your father’s body back home, stroke of luck finding Kate in his car with him, eh!”
“WHAT!”
Tonight his angel did not come, there was to be no injection this evening.
He was alert, every tiny sound echoed in his ears as he puzzled over the old woman, she was so protective over him, like a grandmother would be, she wore the uniform of a nurse and was never questioned as to her presence at his bedside but then had there been any one else around when she was there? Maybe not, he could not be sure, but surely if you're in a coma there would be, wouldn't there?
Confused over his thoughts he heard a whisper travel across the still air, it sounded like his angel but he could not see her. He took the risk and opened his eyes to the half lit room, there seemed to be a glass screen shielding the person in the opposite bed, the image was fuzzy but he could see someone sat beside his roommate. The person stood up and leant over the body, hovering for an eternity, the body didn’t move, what were they doing?