When she was shown the death scene of Paris, it struck her that she could feel the emotions of both men. They were conflicted. They knew their love for Juliet was a common bond, but jealousy and greed overcame their sense. There was a sense of brotherhood between the two that was very difficult for Juliet to grasp.
Juliet’s eyes opened. Sophia nodded. “This was just one of many. Do you wish to see the rest?”
Without hesitation, Juliet dipped her head. She needed to understand.
Sophia turned the pages of the book. Each page was a lifetime. As the pages passed, lifetime after lifetime was downloaded into Juliet’s mind. The three of them had lived so many different lifetimes, yet they always appeared to end up together. The backgrounds were vastly varied, but the love of the three of them was filled with such fierceness, it transcended lifetimes and spanned centuries. They changed roles often, too. Sometimes it was Paris she loved most, and there were even times Paris and Romeo were lovers and she was the one filled with jealousy.
In every lifetime, all three of them died sensational deaths. Every. Last. One. Sometimes they were only children.
Her guardian had been right. As soon as they met, it was as if an explosion of uncontrollable emotion ignited among the three of them. How could such a pure love be so destructive? With each new scene, she came to love her guardian even more. He had been through so much attempting to protect her but to no avail. No wonder he was exhausted.
When Juliet felt she’d seen enough, she removed her hand.
Sophia smiled serenely back at her. “As you can see, not much progress has been made in the countless trials. I am sure Zeno told you that you only have one chance left?”
“Yes, but how can we change such a poisonous pattern? Why are we three always together in every lifetime? Can’t we just go two at a time?”
The woman laughed. “That would be easier, now, wouldn’t it? But your soul wanted a challenge, and this is what has been set into place, so this is what we have to work with.”
“What do you mean? My soul wanted a challenge?”
“Think of it this way. When you were born into creation as a soul, you immediately split into two. A masculine and feminine portion. Clearly you are the female portion. You enjoyed the power of the feminine. However, the masculine side, the logical side, of you wanted to expand, so the masculine side split into two. They thought it was a grand idea they could experience twice as much in one lifetime. Obviously, it was not a well thought out plan, because they have been at odds with each other through each incarnation in an attempt to win your love so they can feel whole again. They also have a deep love for one another, that confuses their hatred of one another. The polarity is too much for them to overcome.”
Juliet did not know much about how souls were created but what the woman said made sense. Because she did feel a sense of completeness when she was with either one of them in all of those lifetimes, as if she had found a part of herself.
“So there is no way we can have one of them not come into the next lifetime?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not,” the woman replied. “It was put forth as your soul’s purpose, your lesson of your earthly experience.”
Biting the corner of her lip, Juliet tried to come up with a better plan. There had to be some way the three of them could make it work. The thought of never being with either one of them again left her feeling sick to her stomach.
“Do not concern yourself with the outcome just yet,” the woman added. “We will all come together once Romeo and Paris are back on this plane of existence.”
“Zeno said I had to go to Hell to get Romeo?”
“There is nothing to fear. All you have to remember is that it’s not real. It’s all an illusion he has made up in his mind. Once he breaks free of the illusion, he will be released from the reality he has formed.”
“How do I break his illusion?” Juliet asked.
“You will find a way. You always do.”
Juliet opened her mouth to ask more questions but realized the woman was gone.
The door opened, and in walked Zeno. “It would seem it is time. This is what I need you to do,” he said. “I want you to focus all your thoughts on Romeo. Nothing else but your love for him.”
This was an easy task for Juliet. As soon as she closed her eyes and thought his name, her heart filled with such a longing, it brought tears to her eyes. Every cell of her body oozed with love for him. The desire to be with him was all consuming.
When the feeling became too strong to contain, she opened her eyes. Immediately she cried out.
Flames surrounded her. Their heat seared her hair. Panic clawed at her throat. Frantically, Juliet searched for Zeno but could not see him. All she could see was fire. Screams of pain filled the air. Chains rattled. Knifes scrapped. The sounds were horrifying to her senses.
Every inch of her body shivered despite the heat.
Be centered. Zeno’s voice entered her mind. Remember, it’s an illusion.
His words made sense but the scene around her was telling a whole different story. How could she convince her mind when all her senses were telling her what she witnessed around her was reality? It seemed impossible.
Nothing is impossible. Zeno’s words filled her mind.
“Romeo!” Juliet yelled out. Sweat dripped down her neck. It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. She repeated, but the scene did not change. The smoke and stench of death made her want to gag. “Romeo!”
Why wasn’t he responding? Couldn’t he hear her? It was his creation after all.
She returned her focus to her feelings for him. As the emotion began to overwhelm her, she felt his presence draw near. His heartbeat felt so slow, it was as if he were fading from her.
Please, Romeo, hold on. I am coming for you.
“Juliet? Is that really you?” Romeo called out.
Juliet’s heart quickened at the sound of his voice. She didn’t know if the voice was in her mind or outside of her, nor did she care.
“Where are you?” she called out, turning in circles but seeing nothing but horror around her.
The most frightening beasts walked through the fire as if it were not there, headed straight for her. She’d never seen anything like them before. Their heads resembled those of a bull, but they stood on their hoofed hind legs like humans. They bared sharp teeth. Each step they took caused her to back closer to the fire. Soon she would be consumed by it.
“You can’t escape us, Juliet. We’ve already locked up your precious, Romeo. There is no way he can save you now,” one of them taunted her.
Zeno, help me! She cried out in her mind.
You can do this, Juliet. He reminded her. Mind your thoughts.
How in the world was she to mind her thoughts, when monsters were walking straight toward her, and Romeo was locked up and unable to help her?
But if she was already dead, they couldn’t kill her again, could they? Relief trickled through her.
She continued to talk to herself, you’re dead Juliet, you’re already dead. This is not real. Romeo made this up. You do not have to join in his illusion.
The more she believed her words, the fainter the images around her became, until they faded away. Not completely, but enough that the fear subsided inside of her. She took a deep breath.
Once again, panic rose from within. If this place faded, would Romeo disappear, too? The more she worried, the more sharply the images returned. How could she escape and still save him?
Think, Juliet, think!
The heat became unbearable. The hideous monsters were only a few feet away, sneering at her as if they couldn’t wait to eat her for their next meal.
That was not happening!
She had to deal with Romeo’s made up Hell, but she could do so on her own terms.
Instead of focusing on Romeo, she decided to concentrate on the beasts in front of her. They were the biggest threats. Mentally, she visualized iron chains wrapping around their mou
ths and bodies.
Large poles appeared behind them, and chains snaked around their bodies, trapping them against the poles. The monsters thrashed and roared, but the chains were unbreakable.
Relief washed over Juliet. She was starting to understand what Zeno and Sophia meant about her thoughts controlling her reality.
Frightened by the Hell Romeo had created, she imagined she was standing in a sea of wild flowers, the sun warming her skin, a soft breeze across her face. In the blink of an eye, she was there. It didn’t take her long to realize even though she was in paradise Romeo had not joined her. Somehow she had to navigate through the world he’d made and save him from himself.
Intently she concentrated her thoughts on Romeo and walked back into the flames. She did not fear being burned, because she knew the fire could not hurt her, if she willed it not to. The howls no longer scared her; they were not real, either. Once she accepted that she could – with a mere thought – escape back to the field or anywhere else she wanted to go, she no longer feared anything in this Hell. She couldn’t dwell too much on this insight, or wonder about the power she had over her situation. Not until she had retrieved her love.
“I’m here, Romeo,” she called. “I’ve come to take you away from this nightmare.”
The scuff of shoes against the hard ground alerted her of someone’s approach. Juliet turned quickly to the left. She could not see anything through the smoke, so she willed the smoke to clear. To her amazement, it did as she ordered it to. As the fog dissipated, she saw a large cage, filled with hundreds of humans. They were mere skin and bones. Their eyes were soulless. Were they real or made up by Romeo’s expectations?
Frantically, Juliet searched for Romeo’s handsome face. He was nowhere to be seen.
“Romeo!” she cried.
Labored breathing filled Juliet’s ears. She sensed it was Romeo and glanced around, trying to find the source of the sound.
Closing her eyes, she felt for their connection once again. She was pulled to her right. Juliet moved through the darkness, ignoring the chaos, the screams, the heat, and allowing her intuition and connection with Romeo to guide her.
She was compelled down a small winding road, which led to a doorway with bars over it and secured by a huge padlock.
By now, she understood the rules of the game. With nothing more than a thought, she unlocked the door. The padlock dropped to the ground with a thud.
She entered the darkness beyond the doorway and found herself in an eerie cave with at least one gaping hole leading into more darkness.
“Juliet. Is that really you?” Romeo’s voice echoed in the open space.
Juliet entered the gaping hole and gasped in surprise. Romeo slumped against the rough rock wall which he was shackled to. Blood smeared his skin, and broken bones had pierced his skin to protrude at strange angles. His attempt at a smile revealed missing teeth.
Juliet’s heart thudded loudly at the sight. To see the man she loved in such agony was unfathomable.
“Yes, it’s really me, Romeo, I’ve come to get you out of here,” she whispered. “Why did you do this to yourself?”
“Why?” he cried out. “I caused your death, Juliet. I might as well have killed you with my own bare hands! And Paris …” He shook his head. “I’m so tormented, Juliet. I hated him, but I grieve his loss nearly as much as yours! I must be hallucinating. You cannot be real. But I will accept it. Sit and tell me a story, Juliet.”
Juliet slid to the ground near him. She cast her gaze away from the horror of what was done to his body. “I will tell you a story. I want you to feel as if you are there with me as I tell it, okay?”
“I can be nowhere else. Please take my mind away from this pain.”
“Close your eyes, my love. The room around you begins to fade away. Feel the warm caress of the wind on your face. Remember my laughter and smile. Can you feel my warm hand in yours? Your skin is so soft and sensual. I can think of nothing else but your touch. I can feel your lips on my neck, my pulse jumping in expectation. The pleasure is so overwhelming, I groan beneath your touch. Your hands roam down my arms and encircle my waist. I hear a bird singing in the distance; it’s singing our song. Do you hear it?”
Juliet glanced up and saw Romeo’s eyes were closed. A small smile played across his lips. Even with all the blood he had the face on an angel. He nodded. The darkness around him faded and turned to light.
“We’re so happy Romeo…” Juliet’s voice trailed off, as the scene before her became her new reality. Romeo’s lips really were on her, his mouth warm and moist. They dropped to their knees.
Romeo hovered over her, balancing his weight above her, as he always did. His face was perfection, fully healed from the ordeal in Hell. She could stare into his eyes forever. His strong right arm slid underneath her body to draw her closer. Their bodies had such life and feeling to them. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Juliet pushed Romeo back.
They were dead. Why did she feel more alive now than she had when she was living? Puzzled, she stared into his stunning eyes.
Someone cleared his throat to announce his presence. Romeo rolled off Juliet, ready to pounce and defend her, if need be.
“Calm down, Romeo, it’s just me, Zeno,” said the bearded man watching them with a smile.
Romeo glanced at Juliet, confused.
Juliet pushed herself to sitting, rose to her feet and then brushed her dress down with her hands.
“We have a lot to plan, so let’s get started. There will be time for enjoying each other’s company soon enough.” Zeno laughed with a twinkle in his eye.
Juliet reached for Romeo’s hand. He grasped it with a raised brow. “We really are in the afterlife, Romeo,” she explained. “It seems we’re on a merry-go-round. We keep making the same mistakes over and over in each life we live together. Zeno says we have one last chance to fix it.”
Juliet turned toward her guardian. “You didn’t explain why we only have one chance left?”
“It’s in your contract. The three of you gave yourselves two hundred and thirty-eight lifetimes to get it right. You thought you’d have it in a dozen. But I’m afraid this was number two hundred and thirty seven. Sophia and I have come up with an idea, but first we must bring Romeo and Paris up to speed.”
“Paris? He’s here?” Romeo glanced around.
Juliet was surprised to see such eagerness when he’d only recently been murderous about his competition.
“Yes, my boy, he is in the hall of records. We’ll join him now, along with your own personal guardian. I do believe this time you will set things straight.”
Juliet could think of no reason why he would think that. If they hadn’t gotten it right thus far, what would make this incarnation any different?
“Have faith, Juliet. A new world has been created. A wondrous world. A world without time. Without time, and a little magick, all things are possible.” A sly grin crossed the old guardian’s face. “All you have to do is not fall down the rabbit hole.”
Despite her concern, Juliet felt excitement stir deep inside of her. A world without time? And did he say magick? That did sound promising….
* * *
Author’s Note
When Anthea asked me to join the anthology, my first thought was that I couldn’t start another series! My short stories always turn into series it seems. But I told her I would think on in my sleep and see if anything came to me. The next day, on my drive to take my son to school, Taylor Swift’s Romeo and Juliet song came on the radio. It still didn’t click, but after I dropped my son off, I had lightbulb moment! I would write a reset for Romeo and Juliet. But how? Their love didn’t last very long, yes, but … what about after they died? What happened then? And the idea bloomed into existence. I got so excited about it, and then remembered again that I didn’t have time to write another series. I had just started the Alice in Wonderland twisted fairytale. Or … maybe I could mix fairytales! That would be fun, right? So Romeo and Julie
t will be joining Alice in “A World Without Time.” I have no idea how they will mesh, but I’m sure it will be fun to write!
* * *
A World Without Time will be released Summer 2017
If you would like updates please sign up for my mailing list HERE!
A World Without Time is the second book in Down The Rabbit Hole it will a have blend of the two fairytales.
www.juliacrane.com
Soot and Stone: A Fae Tale of the Otherworld - Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
“Smudge, where are you?!”
Aisling jerked awake, her heart racing as she struggled to sit up. Instinct suggested she had best look alert because, judging by the tone of his voice, her uncle was in a temper.
A quick glance around told Aisling why her muscles were so stiff and why she was covered in ash. She was lying on the hearth. Again. Groaning, she lifted a hand to brush a stray strand of hair from her face and ended up smearing black dust across her cheek.
“Curse it,” she hissed, dropping a piece of charred wood into the ash of the attic’s small fireplace.
She had been using it to sketch images on the stone hearth the night before. No wonder she managed to get it all over her face. Not that a stain of charcoal would stand out overmuch. Her well-worn clothing was equally as filthy. Hence, her uncle’s less than flattering nickname.
“Smudge!” that voice wailed out once again.
Gritting her teeth, Aisling rose, pulling her hair into a knot and securing it to the base of her skull.
“On my way!” she shouted down the stairs, hoping she hadn’t slept in too late.
Marta greeted her as she burst into the kitchen. The older Lorehnin woman rolled her eyes but donned a look of sympathy, passing Aisling a damp cloth.
Once Upon A Kiss: Seventeen Romantic Faerie Tales Page 23