by L P PATERSON
"Mother Annie!" shouted Sue. We were approaching a small building which looked like a sort of hut set into the wall of the bridge. The wall, which was made of tightly packed red bricks still glowed a shiny blue and in this was set the outline of the hut. "Mother Annie!" Sue shouted again.
"Maybe she isn't home." I whispered. Beneath the bridge was dark and cold. Water dripped down the wall and moss climbed from the bottom of the wall to as high as I could see. Plastic bottles, drink cans and all sorts of other debris lined the bank in front of the outline of the hut and as the waves of the river lapped against the bank, I could swear that I heard a moaning as if someone was in a lot of pain. I felt my gut tighten as fear crept up on me. Just who was this Mother Annie and why was no one answering?
"Oh Mother Annie is always home. We just need to gain access." said Sue while still smiling. "Mother Annie!" she screeched again.
"Who the hell keeps bawling out my name?" an angry voice called out.
"See. I told you she's always home." said Sue, turning to me with a grin. "Now don't say anything until I have introduced you."
"Okay." I answered. I hadn't planned on saying anything at all.
"Make sure that you don't." Sue said in a hushed voice. "I don't want her to eat you."
I felt my muscles instantly tense and sweat filled my palms. My nostrils flared as I looked at Sue in shock. "Only teasing." she said as she burst into a fit of giggles. I did not laugh.
"It's me Mother Annie. Sue. Daughter of the River Lord. I need your help. Please give me access."
The outline of the hut creaked and swung open. Sue pulled it wide and hopped over the threshold. I followed behind at a slower pace. We entered into a dark space and I could smell damp earth and wood. It smelled like a forest, the same smell that I had which had led me and Cymon to the Blackwood. Sue walked forward and I followed her. We were on a narrow path and I could see faint light at the end of it.
The path opened up into a large clearing in which a large wooden house stood. The earthen ground was clean and solid as if a thousand feet had danced on it for a thousand years. There wasn't a single blade of grass or a solitary stone. Just hard tight earth. A few chickens roamed the yard with their fluffy yellow chicks following behind them. Just to the left of the house was a rabbit hutch and I saw a fat grey rabbit sitting inside it. The hutch was set in front of a tall tree which had such huge leafy branches that it provided shade to the house and the whole yard. Shade which was welcome because wherever we now were, was bathed in a bright sunlight which was in contrast to the early evening sun we had left by the Thames.
Sue walked across the yard briskly and I shouted after her "Sue. How come it's daytime again?" she stopped and looked back at me, again with that scrunched up mouth. Somehow, every time I asked a question of the River Maidens, that look they gave always made me feel like an idiot. "What's going on?"
"It's always daytime at Mother Annie's Audrey." she replied.
"What do you mean it's always daytime?" I asked in surprise.
"It's just a glamour. She doesn't really like the dark." Sue whispered.
"Oh. Okay." what else could I say? We approached the house. It was set on stilts and had a large wraparound porch. It reminded me of houses from the deep south of America that I had seen in pictures. I wondered if Mother Annie was American. It was painted a deep red and the roof was made of corrugated metal sheets. I shuddered to think how hot it must get during very hot weather, but the large hammock which spanned the porch told me that Mother Annie probably did not waste the good weather inside the house.
Sue ran up the five steps which led from the ground to the porch and burst through the front door. Wafts of smoke escaped through the doorway and immediately I smelled the pungent smell of sage. Beyond the door was dark and I entered slowly. Sue was clinging to a tiny woman who looked like she might break if Sue hugged her any tighter. Finally, Sue released the woman from her grasp and turned to me. I remembered her warning and although I didn't think that I would become Mother Annie's meal, I still kept my mouth shut.
"Mother Annie this is my friend Audrey. She needs your help." Mother Annie looked at me and nodded ever so slightly, she then returned her gaze to Sue. "She is looking for a scythe Mother Annie. She is a Loci." At this Mother Annie looked at me again. She seemed more interested now and her glance lingered a little longer before again returning to Sue. Sue pressed on. "Cymon. You know Cymon, the reaper. He is my friend too.”
“Yes.” replied Mother Annie. “I do know Cymon.”
“Well Cymon has lost his scythe. I don't know why or how he lost it Mother Annie, but it's gone. And I think I saw it last evening. Well I didn't just see the scythe, I saw a death riser and he was carrying the scythe, and I guess it had to be Cymon's scythe, because death risers don't carry scythes and no other reaper would lose their scythe would they? So it had to be Cymon's scythe right? Right Mother Annie?"
I exhaled the breath that I didn't realise I had been holding, as Sue rattled off in the way only a river maiden can and I gave thanks to the universe that her sisters were not there also. I glanced at Mother Annie and saw a glazed look descend over her eyes as if she was remembering something, she then shook her head slightly as she tried to keep up with Sue.
"Anyway." Sue continued. "I saw that death riser last evening when I was coming down the Westbourne. It's close to the Knights Bridge Mother Annie, did you see or hear anything? Because Cymon is sick really bad. The death riser let him have an arrow and it went right through him. Our healer is trying to save him but he needs his scythe. Or he's going to run out of time. Did you see anything Mother Annie? Did you?" Sue had reeled this off in under a minute and my ears were still trying to catch up with her words.
I looked across at Mother Annie. "Come in Audrey." the tiny woman said. Sue had already crossed the room and was now lounging on the wooden floor on something that looked like a moving beanbag. I remained standing. I took a few steps further into the room. It was dark and shadowy. The only light came from a small window set in the back wall. There were pots and basins everywhere. A small table was set in one corner and it was piled with glasses and bottles which were filled with unrecognisable substances. Some solid and some liquid. Everything was in shadow and I felt as if I was being watched but I could not see beyond the small circle of light which only illuminated part of the room.
Sue had said that Mother Annie was a very powerful witch and I guess she must be if she could make her home, including house and yard, inside a bridge and maintain daylight all the time. But I wondered if she could help me find the scythe. "So you are a Loci." said Mother Annie. It wasn't a question but I nodded anyway. "Don't you speak?" I glanced over at Sue who nodded while grinning.
"Yes. I am a Loci. Or so I have been told." I replied. She looked at me with hard eyes, maybe trying to understand something. I knew how she felt. Her light blue eyes seemed strange staring at me from a light brown face. But they didn't seem unkind or cruel. She was scrawny, there didn't seem to be enough flesh covering her bones, but I doubted that she was as fragile as she looked. The simple red tunic that she wore engulfed her tiny frame and her long grey hair was secured in a single plait which fell behind her almost to the floor.
"Have you seen Agatha yet?" My mouth dropped open at this question and I could not find the words to form an answer. She clucked her tongue as she turned away "Maybe you have."
"Did you see the scythe Mother Annie?" I asked.
"No child. I did not." she replied. "But the maiden is right. The Necromancer did pass by the bridge, others saw him. And he did carry the scythe."
My heart leapt at this news. Nero didn't have the scythe when he was at the riverbank so he must have left it somewhere or with someone. But how was I going to find that out. "Where did he go? Did anyone see where he went?" I asked.
"I thought you said you are a Loci?" asked Mother Annie. " You're the one that is supposed to find the thing that you are looking for isn't it? He probably used the G
ates." I pulled my head back in shock and a heavy feeling dropped in my stomach. She wasn't going to tell me. I would have to go back to Cymon without the scythe.
"Cymon is dying Mother Annie and if I find the scythe then it will heal him. I don't have much time."
"But that is not the only reason you need to find the scythe is it child?”
I was confused. The bigger picture was way too big. Now was not the time to be dealing with balance and reaping and killing. I just wanted to save Cymon. I let out a long drawn out breath. "We don't have time Mother Annie. He will die without his scythe and his time is running out." I said.
Mother Annie did not respond. I never heard the door open but the sound of slow deliberate footsteps behind me pricked my ears and I saw Sue jump up from the beanbag as if it had suddenly erupted in flames, and stand with her head bowed.
I heard a soft laugh. "I can give you all the time in the world Loci." said a voice. I turned slowly, keeping my eyes down to the floor. I saw the red boots first, clean and gleaming, and as my eyes looked up, I saw the shifting and swirling within the blood red fabric. Once again, I was dwarfed by the presence of a Horseman.
In front of me stood War.
I quickly took two steps back and found myself leaning back into Sue. She did not budge, clearly welcoming the barrier that I made between her and the Horseman. I felt a tingling at the back of my throat and a wave of dizziness overcame me as I tensed my body in anticipation of the noise and smells that would soon assault my senses. But nothing happened. War took two steps towards me and leaned in close. She smelled of summer grass and rain and I inhaled deeply to fill my empty lungs. I then smelled the blood and my nostrils flared as the stench of battle hit me. I then saw the dark pupils of her eyes expand to fill the space until I was looking into darkness. And an image formed but I didn't see soldiers or battle or any scenes of war. Instead I saw the Time Master.
War pulled back and in one stride she covered the distance of the small room. She leaned her tall frame against the wall and waited. Watching me. I watched her back. The tiny plaits of her hair were pulled back into a high braid, exposing her high cheekbones and the flawlessness of her rich brown skin. War cocked her head to the side and continued to stare at me. I dropped my gaze and glanced at mother Annie and then at Sue. Both of them were staring at me. I turned back to War and shook my head slowly.
"I don't understand." I said. I looked at the three people in the room who were all now watching me. "Really." I shrugged my shoulders and lifted my palms. "I don't understand."
"Oh sweet lord." barked Mother Annie. "The Horseman has given you a gift child." she said. "What did you see?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, shaking my head. "I didn't see anything." I looked to Sue hoping for some guidance and I got nothing.
"In her eyes! What did you see in her eyes?" asked Mother Annie.
"Nothing.” I wailed “No. Wait! I saw the Time Master. But why would I see the Time... Oh my gosh! He can give me more time. I can get more time for Cymon!!"
War shook her head slowly and with a deep sigh looked at me with what I am sure was pity. But I didn't care. I could help Cymon. I could get more time for the healer to work on him and then when he was better, we could find the scythe together. I felt my mouth spread into a wide grin as I realised that everything might just be okay. Then almost instantly my smile faded.
"I need coin." I whispered. I looked at Mother Annie and War. "Rogier won't let me use the sphere without coin." I said. "I don't have any coin." I whimpered.
"You won't need coin." said War. "Tell Rogier that Oshun is back."
"Oshun is back?" gasped Mother Annie, all of her interest in my problem now gone as she glared at War and trained her focus on this person called Oshun.
"Oh yes." said War with a slight smile, if Horsemen actually did smile. "And I know where she is."
"What is going on?" I asked
"Ask Rogier for access to the sphere. Just tell him that Oshun is back and that I can tell him where she is."
"Is that it?" I asked. I expected more. I wanted an explanation from her. Who was Oshun and what did she have to do with Rogier? Was this information actually going to help me? What if it didn't? And most importantly how was I going to get across London and back before our time ran out?
"What more do you want Loci?" asked War. She raised an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly as her lips slowly spread into a smile. In that moment I hated the bitch. I didn't care that she had helped me more times than she had hurt me. In fact, she had never really hurt me but I didn't for one second believe that she wouldn't. I hated her presence, her beauty, her height, her status, her power, her ability to be almost omnipotent and, in that moment, I hated her most because I knew that I was jealous of this Horseman. I wanted to be like her in this world, not some new person who knew nothing and at the bottom of the hierarchy. But for now, I needed answers and so I asked the question that I really didn't want to.
"Will you tell Death?" I tried to be calm, not quite sure how my question would be received. I wished that Cymon was here to debate and ask the hard questions, but he wasn't and he was probably a lot closer to dying than he had been when we left.
War threw her head back and gave out a barked laugh. She shook her head slowly as she watched me while grinning. "Oh Loci. Death already knows. She is a Horseman... We know everything." She said this quietly and calmly and her tone sent a chill through me to the edge of my bones.
"But you promised us time and help." I said. My hands balled into fists as I screamed at her "You said that we had fifteen and three. You promised!"
I felt my feet leave the floor as I flew across the room and landed in War's grip. Her large hand was wrapped tight around my throat. "I never promised you anything Loci." she whispered. "We never make promises. And..." she said slowly while still squeezing my throat "You needed some motivation. Motivation to find the scythe quickly, before the impact is felt. You still have three hours and one grant of aid. Now go to Rogier's!" This last part was almost a shout and as she said it, she turned and flung me across the room. I screamed as I saw the panels of the wooden wall coming towards me and then a dark light formed and I fell through. In less than a heartbeat I landed on the dirty tarmacked ground in the car park of Bertran’s Bar.
CHAPTER 19
Luckily, I had not landed on one of the expensive cars which were neatly lined up. I scanned the vehicles and quickly noted that there were no motor bikes parked up. I had no desire to be dealing with another Horseman anytime soon. I placed my palm on the ground and stood up. Dusting the dirt from my jeans I headed towards the steps leading up to Bertran’s Bar.
I felt my insides twist just a little bit and my palms were slightly sweaty but there was no turning back. I had to get into the time sphere and the only way to do that was to confront Rogier. My mind drifted back to the advice that Agatha had given me. It was true. The Horsemen ruled this world. They could do whatever they wanted. War had given us time and help, but what was the point if Death already knew our secret? Why were we even bothering to find the scythe? If Death already knew it was missing then surely Cymon was doomed and so was I for helping him. Did it matter that this could bring about a shift in the balance as Cymon kept warning me about? Why wasn't War more worried about the loss of the scythe? My head was spinning.
"Why are you back here again?" I looked up to see who was speaking to me and I saw the waitress Clarice, leaning against the side wall of the building, her limp brown hair clung to her skull desperately trying to hide the thinning patches. Her eyes were sunken hollows in her thin sallow face but they shone a brilliant silver grey, as if they held a burning secret. She looked ill and I wondered what could have caused her to look so bad in only a few hours. Then I remembered the Revenant.
"I need to speak with Rogier." I replied.
"Why? Didn't you speak with him earlier?"
"Yeah. Well I need to speak with him again."
"About what? And Where's your fr
iend the Reaper?" she grinned as she asked this.
"Is Rogier inside?" I asked. I had no intention of telling Clarice why I needed to speak with Rogier. But I also thought that she might be able to help me get to him. The man didn't like me already after I had insisted on seeing the true face of an angel.
"Yeah. He's inside. Do you want to come through the back?" again that slight grin when she spoke. What was wrong with this woman? A slight tingle drifted down my back and I felt the tiny hairs on my arms lift just a little bit. I tilted my head slightly and bit down on the inside of my lip. Something didn't feel right and I remembered seeing Clarice in the car park when Nero had attacked me. No. The poor woman was probably just trying to be helpful. It looked like she really needed a friend. I gave myself a mental shake and promised not to be so judgmental and paranoid. But still, I was going through the front. I decided that I would have to do the work myself in order to talk to Rogier.
"That's okay. I'll go through the front." I turned to head up the steps but not before I saw the grin on her face turn to a scowl and the silver grey of her eyes darken to almost black. I hopped up the steps praying that the bar would be full and I wouldn't have to see or speak to Clarice again.
I was in luck. The bar was packed. It seemed that supernatural beings and entities didn't have much to do other than meet in bars to drink and talk. Rogier was behind the bar serving drinks to a young woman who looked as human as I did. But I was fast learning that that did not mean that she was. Her skin was pale and smooth, and her brown hair fell to her waist. Rogier must have said something amusing to her because she tilted her head back and laughed, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on him. When she placed her hand on his and leaned in to whisper something to him, I almost gagged. I didn't need any more flirting women interfering with my mission to get home after what I had witnessed with the river maidens and Cymon earlier.
I pushed my way through the crowd heading towards Rogier. When he looked up and I saw his shoulders droop I knew that my task to gain access to the time sphere had just become a lot harder.