Encompassing Women: Book Four of the Encompassing Series

by Richard Lord

  Destiny lowers her own at him in return. “If my grandmother could do that to your face, this is a good distraction. At least you’re not getting yourself killed going after your wraith.” Destiny focuses on the conversation going on between Illumna and Solstice.

  Renfield reaches to grab Destiny’s arm as he says, “Stop it Destiny!” Again, they appear in the same place and nothing has changed.

  Harmony approaches. “Hey Renfield. You don’t understand yet, do you?”

  Tomorrow looks at Harmony, “We’re trying to help. Back off Harmony!” She notices Harmony is undressed and can smell other personal facts.

  Destiny looks at her grandfather, “You do understand that now that you are here, you are stuck here with the only way out being what Harmony can do, don’t you?” She gestures to Harmony. “She is a different line, grandfather. For all your miracles, you must accept that she can do things none of our line can.”

  Solstice grabs Harmony and pulls at her hair until she locks an arm around her neck and pulls quick and to the right.

  Destiny screams, “No! You bitch!” She kneels next to Harmony’s body and then yells out, “Now we have no way out of here and we all die!” She looks up at Solstice as she lunges.

  Solstice smacks her back down as if she were a sack of potatoes being thrown at her. “I’m not an idiot. Even if you all block your thoughts from me, I realize I am already dead from the looks on your faces.”

  Renfield kneels to Harmony as Tomorrow says, “Please don’t do what you are about to do. You can’t do that anymore.”

  Renfield ignores his wife and places his hand on Harmony’s midriff. Harmony coughs and looks up at him with bloodshot eyes.

  Harmony continues to cough as she can feel her body again. “Thank you.” She is a bit surprised that of all people Renfield would save her.

  Renfield looks at Solstice hard. “You are out of line, lil one.” Then he falls backwards.

  Solstice and Tomorrow run to him. Destiny holds Harmony.

  Tomorrow yells at her husband, “Is it your plan to die here? If you do we will all die here. Get up, old man!”

  Adam opens his eyes and looks at his wife. He grins. “No one is dying here.” He looks at Solstice looking down at him worried. “Solstice, temper. Tomorrow, go check on Harmony, I need to talk to Illumna and Solstice, please.”

  Tomorrow realizes her own daughter must have agreed to the plan with Solstice. She thinks quickly to Illumna, “You almost killed your father with that stupid move.” Then she walks over to Harmony, blocking her mind from any response Illumna could possibly give.

  Solstice looks down at her father noting he hasn’t just jumped up yet. “I’m sorry, Dad. You all seem to know a lot more about what’s going on than I do.”

  Renfield laughs and pulls her in tight for a hug. “I’m glad to see you. And I am glad that I got the chance to know something you don’t!” He chides her.

  Solstice warps her arms around her father and whispers in his ear, “You have a plan.”

  Pulling her head closer to his own Renfield remarks, “Don’t I always?”

  Solstice pulls back to show her smile to her father. “I’m sorry.”

  “Solstice, you understand time. Believe me when I say that you become far more sophisticated.” Renfield kisses his daughter on the forehead.

  Solstice ask, “Well that’s insulting!”

  “Perhaps, but true. You are amazingly smart. So I wait for you to see that. You are a sight to see in years to come.” Renfield hugs his daughter again.

  “So I do reach perfection before I die?” Solstice asks sarcastically.

  “You become who you are meant to be. Plus who said you die?” Renfield puts his fingers on her eyelids and pushes them shut.

  Solstice thinks to him, “Everyone here is thinking it. Even my sisters are trying to block that from me.” Solstice leans on her father, noting he still hasn’t risen. “Why do you call her Tomorrow?”

  “That, dear, is a long story. Now is not the time. But I changed a few things.” Renfield responds while he starts to get up.

  Solstice holds his arm as he does. “What happened to never changing the timeline?”

  “That too is a very long story. Go apologize to Harmony.” Renfield feels the weight on himself as he plants his feet on what he knows isn’t even ground. He considers the absurdity of the situation, but he knows it’s time to step in and make sure everything is at least thought out.

  Solstice walks over to Harmony, “I was scared you might choose wrong.” Then she looks at Destiny who she can see is ready to attack her and she hears her for a moment. “My father trusts you enough that he risked his life to save you, so I will not stand in your way.” She eyes Destiny who is quite clearly moving into a pounce position.

  Harmony answers, “I understand. Please than your father for me.” Harmony sits up and grabs Solstice in a hug. “You were trying to protect your sister. I find that admirable.”

  Both Destiny and Solstice are shocked. Solstice hears Destiny’s thought, “See? She’s different. I think she’s crazy, but if she’ll forgive you. I’ll try to.” Destiny looks back to Harmony as she thinks another thought directly to Solstice, “That doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”

  Solstice thinks back, “I already know you can hear everything I think because the entire time we’ve been here I’ve watch your face when you look at me and I think different things. The fact that I was able to do what I did to Harmony, whom your so protective of, means you don’t react to what you hear fast enough. So try me if you want.”

  Harmony says, “The two of you are having some kind of argument. I don’t see how that helps our circumstances or what we need to do.”

  Destiny and Solstice simultaneously think to each other, “Yeah, she’s annoying.”

  CHAPTER 20

  “When we thought we knew how everything worked we learned Einstein was right on several things, but wrong about other factors. Just as Darwin only explained half of the evolution puzzle. How things work in the universe is something we are only beginning to understand. If we are to get further, we must listen to theories other than our own.” – from the Book of Robert

  “Illumna, if we all piled into you and appeared in the sky or something, would you be able to land safely?” Renfield thought to her.

  “I don’t know. It’s a lot of weight. Where would you all sit? You would literally be packed in like sardines, Dad. Illumna knows what he is thinking.

  “We can do that, it’s just a click. We all have to get out of here and you are our only hope. Your body is encompassing, so anything inside it goes with you.” Renfield determines.

  “Who’s click should I listen to?” Illumna understands his point.

  Renfield sighs heavily as he says, “Harmony’s.”

  “I knew you would think that. Solstice isn’t going. She has chosen obliteration. She says she doesn’t want to be doubled, Dad. I can’t talk her out of it.” Illumna slightly moans in her thoughts.

  Renfield lowers his head to stare at his hands. “I’m not surprised, Illumna.” A tear falls on what he considers ground. Then he stands and thinks to Illumna, “We need to concentrate on how we are going to clock out of here once Harmony has chosen.”

  “I understand. I can’t imagine losing my sister again, but I understand both issues.” Illumna tests her jets.

  Tomorrow approaches, “I don’t think this is wise. We have no idea where Harmony’s mind will choose to put this thing.”

  Illumna thinks back to her, “We don’t. However, Harmony has chosen well in the past. I don’t think she even knows where she is thinking, it’s something I don’t think we can explain.”

  Renfield ponders for a moment and then says, “She can access all of space. That’s something none of us can do. How do we know she isn’t doing good?”

  Tomorrow quickly retorts, “And how do we know she doesn’t destroy everything?”

  Renfield shrugs. “We don’t know and I d
on’t think she knows.” He looks at his wife and pulls her close to him, “We first came here to stop this, but I have grown a bit of faith.”

  “Solstice is talking about not boarding Illumna. I know what she means to you. How do you have faith in the face of that reality?” Tomorrow grabs Renfield’s chin to force him to look at her.

  “Solstice is a smart girl. She goes her own way. She is not adverse to guidance but there is no way in all the nine levels of Dante’s Inferno I am going to make her change her mind when it is set on something like this.” Renfield tries to grin, but cannot. The weight of the thought of losing his daughter again crushes any attempt at adding levity to the conversation. “Where is Harmony?”

  Tomorrow laughs, “Doing her thing. I think she showed Destiny her spot. Be patient. They will be back.”

  “We’re about to rip a hole in the universe, but they are off pooping together?” Renfield’s face shows his anger at the timing.

  Tomorrow puts a hand on is forearm, “Dear, I think it’s a little bit more than that.”

  “I know that! Doesn’t take a rocket scientist.” Adam looks at his wife’s face and says, “Okay, I get it. It’s their ‘just in case’ thing.”

  “You’re being impatient as usual.” Tomorrow moves her hand to his neck and strokes his jugular hoping to calm him. “It’s Solstice, isn’t it?”

  Renfield turns and raises his voice at Tomorrow in a way he has never done before, “We aren’t talking about that or thinking about it. Leave it alone!”

  Tomorrow decides not to push the issue as she looks over the rise of the small horizon and sees Harmony and Destiny walking toward them. She eyes the duo as they walk back and thinks to herself, “What an odd pair those two. One who can move them to a place like this and one who can hear exactly what she is thinking at the moment.” She turns to find Solstice, but Solstice is standing behind her.

  “Hey, sis.” Solstice says. She holds her arms out to Tomorrow as Tomorrow rushes into them and holds her tight. Then she pulls herself back.

  Tomorrow looks at her, “I know I look different, but you are still my sister.”

  “You seem the same to me. Demure, always listening to what my Dad says, smarter than you act.” Solstice stops and then adds, “But very loving, Sara. I don’t want to hurt anybody by my decision, I just don’t want to meet me one day like you did.” Solstice realizes what she has said and begins to think of a way to repair her words.

  “I understand, Solstice. If Illumna can accept it, I suppose I can too.” Tomorrow notes the look on Solstice’s face and wonders at her motivation for choosing to die. “You know, you are not like your father. You can’t undo your decision. Are you sure?”

  Solstice looks at Tomorrow sternly, “Don’t. I am not going to change my mind. It’s not an easy decision, but it’s the right one to make. So don’t do that and add insult to what I already have a hard time accepting.”

  “Okay, well quickly while she’s out of range, tell me what you think of Destiny and also of Harmony. Be fast they are approaching.” Tomorrow looks over her shoulder.

  “Sara, Destiny has already heard. I’m not even sure she has a range, but I can hear her thoughts right now and she knows it.” Solstice explains.

  Tomorrow turns and looks back again. “She can hear all of this?”

  “Yes, sis. She hears it all in a way we can’t. Take care of my father.” Solstice turns to walk away. Then she turns back, “He loved you and our mother. I have realized that is extremely honorable. You and she always knew that. That’s why both of you loved him back.”

  Tomorrow nods.

  Illumna thinks out, “I will see you some when!”

  “Yes, little dove, I will see you some when.” Solstice smiles at her sister’s comment.

  CHAPTER 21

  “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” – J. Robert Oppenheimer quoting from the Hindu as the first nuclear weapon ever created was successfully tested.

  “How can we know where here even is?” Renfield comments as they appear in the same place.

  “Dad, she did it. I can’t confirm we actually moved, but I am fairly certain we are not where we were.” Illumna reconsiders her verbiage and then says, “I mean, we are all in the same place in this thing, but I don’t think it is where it was.”

  “And what makes you think that?” Renfield asks his daughter. Then he hears her mind and decides she is correct.

  “We need to click out now. It’s begun!” Renfield jumps from his seat and holds the other three passengers.

  Startled at his sudden actions they each look at each other. Then they are all on a cliff.

  Tomorrow looks at her husband. “How did you know that would work?”

  “I had to think of something.” Renfield grins back to his wife. Then they all look up as they see it. The sun begins to change color.

  Destiny says, “That doesn’t seem so good.”

  Renfield shrugs, “Did you think this was going to be good? You trust in Harmony, so we all agreed to try. All outcomes aren’t necessarily good ones.”

  Destiny turns to Harmony, “No offense.” Then back to her grandfather, “I think I mentioned she was insane.”

  Harmony stares at the sun as it shifts into an orange and then pinkish red hue.

  Renfield notes that Tomorrow is staring at Harmony as he replies to Destiny, “You might have mentioned it, but you didn’t seem to mind her company.”

  Tomorrow looks at her husband, “Stop. Do something!”

  “Love, that’s the sun, I don’t think I can do a whole lot to change this.” Adam looks up and considers all of the factors of what they had done that could have caused the color shifting. Then it hits him as he audibly says, “Solstice!” The other three turn to stare at him.

  Tomorrow asks, “What do you mean?”

  “She knew what would happen, she became the thing we were standing on so she could focus the singularity. The girl knows her physics.” Renfield’s grin grows wide as his face shows how proud he is of his daughter.

  Tomorrow considers the concept, “So she’s alive?”

  “No. More than that. She’s immortal.” Renfield puts a hand over Tomorrow’s eyes to shield the sun from her delicate eyes. Then he turns to Destiny, “You’re the only one of us who knows how this all ends. I know you won’t say, but could you give us some idea so we know what to do?”

  Destiny looks at her grandmother. Then back to Renfield. “Find Joy.”

  Tomorrow turns to her, “He asked you a valid question, Destiny. You could give a more clear answer!”

  Renfield clicks.

  Seeing a familiar face, he smiles and tosses her a grape which she catches in her mouth, chews and smiles back at her father.

  “So, does this husband you are always waiting fro know that you run the politics of there towns while also going over the crime syndicates at night?” Renfield asks Joy.

  “Does your wife know you sleep with her mother?” Joy retorts.

  “Actually, she does. Not funny. When are you sleeping these days?” Renfield pierces his eyes at her.

  “You already know how I do it. You wouldn’t have asked that way if you didn’t.” Joy walks to her counter and asks, “What would you like to eat, Dad?” Then she reaches into the refrigerator. “Never mind, I already know you want cow. There isn’t a lot of that here, but I always keep some for you. Where is Mom?”

  “How do you know I’ve even seen her?” Renfield looks at Joy with curiosity.

  “I can smell her, Dad. You were just with her.” Joy begins to heat a pan and throw the meat into it as she tosses it over and over and watches it fall back into the pan. Then she turns off the heat. Without turning around she asks, “Do you at least want some sort of vegetable with it?”

  “Whatever you have. Go green.” Renfield replies focusing on her mind.

  “I have snap peas. I’d make a sauce, but I know you don’t care about such things.” Joy comments without turning to her father
. Then she puts the contents of the pan onto a plate, knowing he prefers the snap peas crisp, turns, hands it to him and says, “So what did you two do that caused that?”

  “Is that why you’re in a mood?” Renfield asks his daughter.

  “My husband is a fisherman. It’s causing issues. Some good, some bad. But anything that changes things that much, I know you are usually responsible for.

  “Actually, it’s mostly Harmony’s doing. Destiny had a hand in it too.” Renfield uses his hands to eat the meal as Joy stares at him.

  “Amelia’s daughter?” Joy averts the fact that he also mentioned her own daughter.

  “Yeah. Her and Destiny seem to have a thing now. Thought you’d want to know so you aren’t surprised.” Renfield picks up the fork. While he finds his daughter’s judgmental look annoying, he doesn’t want to create anymore tension than he knows his presence has.

  “Surprised? By anything Destiny does? Hardly. She’s different, Dad. I accepted that a long time ago.” Joy puts a glass of water down next to her father’s plater. Subtly it’s a reward for him using the fork.

  Renfield gulps down the water and then pushes the plate away. “You’re not wondering why I’m here. You know.”

  “I can hear you sometimes when you are blocking. My sister Solstice is dead again. I’m not happy at that news. But there is something about that”, Joy points to the sky, “that is bothering you.”

  “It’s a singularity. It’s effecting our sun, which means that it is pulling energy towards us. That can’t be good or it could be great. I don’t know. What’s your opinion? Renfield sits back and looks at his daughter across the table as she stares at him.

  After a long silence she leans forward, “My opinion? My opinion is this family gets involved in too many things.”

  Renfield laughs as he says, “That’s an odd statement coming from a woman who is a political genius in keeping three cities alive and a pretty mean killer at night trying to keep those cities safe.”

  “What can I say, I’m your daughter.” Joy mimics his move and leans back in her own chair. Then she sits up and stares at him, “There’s something else! What is this other thought about Solstice?”