Path of Descent: Ambrosine

by Noreen Harrison

  “So, why the need to see Phillip?”

  “I have to see what he showed Shayla.”

  “Why didn’t she show you? I know you can read each other.”

  “That is true,” he said, touching the breast pocket of his jacket. “But I have some questions. So, where is he?” He looked down the hall that leads to the ballroom. I walked up to him, sensing how much more tense he became when I got close.

  “He is here. But I’m curious. Why can’t you wait for tonight, to ask your question in front of the Ancients?”

  “I need to speak to him first…”

  Alixia, do you want me to come in?

  No! I will handle this.

  I placed my hand firmly and threateningly on his chest.

  “Well, that’s not going to happen. I suggest you leave right now, or I will push down on the vial you have so nicely concealed in your pocket here.”

  His eyes shifted back and forth as if he was hoping someone would come to his rescue.

  “Alixia, please understand.”

  “No!” I took him by the throat. “I told you to leave.”

  He went to his knees, terrified and gasping for air. I stared down at him coldly.

  “I don’t need to understand anything. You do. Go back and tell the Pure Ones that I am the Supreme now, and I will protect the Family from all threats. Now, leave! ”

  He got up, tripping over his own feet to get to the front door. I watched him get into his car.

  “Tell them not to test me.”

  Phillip put his arms around me.

  “I have to find a safe place until Gathering tonight.”

  “I know one.”

  ”Where?”

  “In a cave.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “A cave?”

  “Yes, the one where we hid mother, but there is a drawback. It’s in the Pure Ones’ sanctuary.”

  He stood up, shaking his head.

  “No, I’m not that crazy. If I try to enter their realm, I will die for sure.”

  “Yes, maybe you’re right. Even if I blocked your thoughts, they could easily pick up on your scent. Okay, that was a bad idea.”

  “Yeah, I’d say.”

  “Okay, give me a minute. Oh, wait. Maybe…”

  What?” he asked, wondering what insane notion I was conjuring up now.

  “I wonder if Mother knows how.”

  “Alixia, what are you going to do?”

  “We are going to see if Mother can help us by calling the Ancients before the Gathering. She has to know the ritual. She is a spiritualist.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Sofia came into the foyer with three of the staff.

  “Alixia, I thought I heard you two in here. Do you want us to start preparing for tonight’s Gathering?”

  I looked over at Phillip.

  “No, I want you to cancel it.”

  “Alixia!” Phillip looked staggered.

  Let it go, I will explain.

  It had better be good.

  “Sofia, will you take care of that? Let the heads of the Families know, and tell Michael we are withdrawing. Wait, don’t call him – I will take care of the Pure Ones myself.”

  “Alixia,” she asked suspiciously, ”what is this?”

  “I’m not discussing this with you, Sofia. Please do what I say. There is no Gathering tonight.”

  “If that is what you want.”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  She motioned to the other staff to leave with her.

  “Sofia.” She turned back. “Phillip and I will be leaving for a while.”

  “Very well.”

  “I thought you wanted to end this,” Phillip said.

  “I do, but let’s not talk here. We have to go to the swamp.”

  “What! Why?”

  “Because that’s where the Ancients are going to be.”

  Dissipating

  Marcus came out of the trees, shaking his head.

  “She is not in the cave.”

  “I know she is close,” I said. “She had to have heard me call out. I will find her.”

  “Are you sure you want to do that, Alixia?” Phillip asked. “Traveling could be dangerous now.”

  “I will be fine if you two watch over me.”

  I closed my eyes and concentrated, picturing her in my mind. Traveling, I entered a room and focused. I saw a painting of Charles on the wall. I was in his study.

  Why is she here?

  The room was dimly lit with a small amber lamp. I gazed around, not seeing her.

  She’s here. I can smell her scent.

  I went toward a slightly open door, listening. I heard mother and Charles laughing. They were sitting close to each other on a white couch. I watched them for a few seconds through the gray mist, not believing the intimacy between them. Then my mother sensed me.

  “Alixia, are you here?”

  Yes. I need you to come to the ritual grounds in the swamp.”

  She jumped up.

  “We have to go, Charles!”

  “What is it?”

  “Alixia needs us.”

  They rushed to the door, passing right through me. I felt their souls explode in me like a lightning bolt, ending my altered state.

  I woke up in Marcus’s arms.

  “Alixia,” he said. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, seeing his blue eyes looking down at me with worry. “

  I started to get up.

  “Let me help you. Did you find her?”

  “Yes, she is on her way.”

  “Where was she?”

  “With Charles, at his estate.”

  Phillip stared.

  “She was with him?” Marcus asked. “Why?”

  “Well,” I said incredulously. “Apparently, they have reconciled their differences.”

  “Reconciled? But he loathed us.”

  “Well,” Phillip said, “we will soon see. Here they come.”

  “Alixia,” Mother called. “What’s going on?”

  Charles nodded at me, and then took Phillip aside, speaking quietly in French to him.

  “So, what is it?” Mother asked.

  “I need you to bring the Ancients here.”

  She stared at me, taken aback. “You want them to come to the swamp? Now?”

  Charles turned and looked at us alertly.

  “Mother, we can’t wait. The Pure Ones have already tried to take Phillip.”

  “What?” she asked, looking at Charles in a worried way. “Where did this happen?”

  “At the mansion this morning. I stopped it this time, but I need to talk to the Ancients again. I don’t want to have to go after the Pure Ones.”

  “I agree. You need to try again before another Pure One or Family member dies.” She eyed Phillip and Charles, walked over to the rock circle, and stared up into the sky.

  “Alixia, come join me. You are going to call them. You have the power, but you’re going to have to travel again.”

  “I don’t care. Let’s just do it.”

  She took my hand, leaned in close and whispered three words. Then she warned me not to say them aloud, just think of them. I nodded, stepping away and raising my hands. I looked up at the moon, saying the words in my mind over and over again. I began to feel a numbing sensation. My body swayed in a transcendent state, hearing the same drum beats as I had in the West Indies. The moon took on a red cast and its hue descended around me, along with a sweet scent. It engulfed my nostrils as I went to my knees, looking up at them hovering over me a few feet off the ground. There were more than the four this time. They stayed outside the circle surrounding me. I got up slowly, knowing that I had traveled into their world. I noticed they were not wearing the black masks, as before. They were all in hooded red robes. Their faces were lined with age, and leather in color. Some had dark eyes and others had clouded eyes, as the old man in Baton Rouge.

  They spoke collectively in my head.
>
  You called on us?

  “Yes.”

  You are here to protect?

  “Yes, Phillip,” I said turning slowly in the circle and looking at each one of them in turn.

  Phillip destroyed Marguerite. He killed a Pure One.

  “Yes, but he was justified. Marguerite took her revenge on the innocent. You were at the mansion. You all saw and heard their dead souls that day.”

  They began to communicate with each other in their native tongues.

  You knew that we had seen?

  “Yes, I sensed your presence when I pulled Phillip away from Marguerite, and again upon entering the mansion and seeing the butchery inside.”

  I paused for a few seconds.

  “That’s why I’m here. This has to end. I‘m the Supreme of the Families now, and I will protect all of them, including Phillip. Marguerite got her revenge, and her punishment. So, let it be done now.”

  You can leave. We will consider it.

  “I need an answer.”

  Leave!

  I was pushed back into the darkness.

  I came out of the trance and stepped from the circle.

  “How did it go?” Marcus asked.

  I shook my head, and looked toward Phillip.

  “I didn’t get an answer yet.”

  “They are still coming, then?” Marcus asked.

  “They said they would consider it. I didn’t get an answer.”

  Suddenly I was anxious, looking around.

  “Where are Mother and Charles?”

  “They took off, but they will return.”

  “Where did they go?” I asked suspiciously.

  “I don’t know,” he said, looking over at Phillip. “They had something to do before tonight’s encounter with the Pure Ones.”

  “They didn’t say what?”

  “No.” Marcus put his arm around me. “I guess we will find out when they return.”

  “I don’t know what they can do, anyway,” Phillip said with a cynical attitude. I let Marcus reassure him.

  “It might still work. The Ancients didn’t say no.”

  “They didn’t say yes either. Let’s just end this ourselves.”

  “I agree with you. If the Ancients don’t show tonight, we will do just that. Marcus, you need to go to Michael and let him know that the Gathering is not going to happen. Tell him to meet us out here tonight.” They stared at each other, and then at me.

  “Alixia, you want Michael to come here?”

  “Yes, just in case the Ancients don’t go for it. We have to make him see.”

  “He won’t back down,” Phillip said.

  I walked over to the water’s edge, seeing a snake slither by me, going after a bullfrog. Then, in one swift move, it engulfed the creature and swallowed it whole.

  “Then I will show him a vision of his own death, and the danger he puts the rest of the Pure Ones in, if they come for us

  Arrangement

  Marcus returned from visiting Michael at the same time that Mother and Charles came back.

  “So, what did he say?” Phillip asked.

  “He’s coming, but not to the swamp. He wants to meet on neutral ground. He chose that old theater building on Bourbon Street, the one that’s been abandoned for a couple of years.”

  “No,” Charles said. “We can’t trust him.”

  “Charles, don’t be fool,” I said, moving out of Marcus’ arms. “We all need to stay together. Didn’t you hear Marcus? Michael denied sending Ashen. So, there are Pure Ones that are moving on their own against us.”

  “Uncle, I’m going,” Phillip said. He walked over by Marcus and I. “Alixia is right. We need to stay together

  “No, we need to leave! I fear what will happen tonight. You think the Pure One will not strike us? They are probably planning their attack now.”

  I look at Mother.

  “Can’t we keep him safe? Don’t you have any rituals that you can use?” She shook her head, looking out at the water.

  “No. We will not use black magic. That how this all started.”

  “But Mother…”

  “No. No more talk of it. Now it’s time we leave. Will you come with us, Phillip?”

  “I’m staying.”

  Ensnared

  Even after sundown, it was hot in the streets in New Orleans. We made our way to the old theater through the back streets, hoping Charles’s assumption about the Pure Ones was wrong. The tourists in town were a nice diversion, and I listened to their thoughts of normal, everyday life as we passed them. I heard shopping and dinner plans, and music on the waterfront. I missed this so much.

  “This way,” Marcus said, pointing to Phillip and I. We went down a side street off the main drag, stopping in front of the old theater. The years of abandonment were evident. There were chunks of mortar and brick missing, and most of the windows were boarded up. Posters advertising old movies hung half-torn and faded, and street garbage was everywhere as we moved toward the back of the building.

  “The entrance is here,” Marcus regained my attention by taking my hand.

  A pungent odor of musk and mold, peeled paint on the walls and cracks in the ceiling defined the space. There was a filthy candy counter with its glass broken, and frayed red velvet on the walls.

  “They’re here,” I said. Marcus walked up to the door, pulling back the curtain. We slowly walked down the dark aisle with our senses on alert, not knowing what to expect. Then a light appeared in front of us, hitting the stage. Ashen walked out, his expression showing distain.

  “I see you brought Phillip. That will make it easier to finish the punishment. Is Charles here, too? I would like to wrap everything up tonight.”

  Marcus stepped forward.

  “Where is Michael, Ashen?”

  “Michael? He’s…” He looked at the other Pure Ones, and then spoke acidly.

  “He’s indisposed. Michael won’t be attending this little Gathering tonight.”

  “What did you do him?” Marcus cried out, jumping at him and picking him up brutally by his throat.

  “Marcus!” Shayla called out of nowhere. “Stop, or I will kill her.”

  The theater curtains opened slowly, showing Millie lying in a drawn out circle, motionless. Shayla stood over her with legs spread, ready to strike.

  “No!” I yelled, going for her, with Phillip behind me. We leaped on stage. The other two Pure Ones came in front to block us, and Phillip and I each took one by the neck.

  “No,” Marcus yelled out angst. “Don’t, Shayla.”

  I looked over, seeing her holding a vial. I pushed the Pure One to the side.

  “Shayla,” I said, “I am begging you not to take her from me.”

  “Then stop.”

  I looked over at Phillip holding the Pure One tightly.

  “Let him go, Phillip.”

  He looked at me with disgust, shoving him across the stage. Shayla sneered, enjoying her control over us.

  “Good. Now that we have you attention…”

  “Why are you doing this?” I asked.

  She kept the vial over Millie, watching all of us.

  “I don’t want to take Millie. This is just insurance because your attitude this morning was less than hospitable to Ashen. You didn’t turn Phillip and Charles over to us.”

  “And I still won’t let you have them.”

  She looked over at Ashen with concern, as if their plan was backfiring. He glared at her.

  “Do it!”

  “Okay, then. I guess we say goodbye to Millie.”

  “No!” Phillip said, coming to my side. “I will not let you take her.”

  She smiled.

  “Well, it looks like Phillip understands. Come on, Phillip, I will make it swift.”

  “Stop,” Marcus said, tightening his hold on Ashen. “You’re not going to take anyone unless you want to see your lover here dead.”

  Her blue eyes turned to ice as she gritted her teeth.

  “We’
re not bargaining here, Marcus.”

  “Then you’ll all die.” He nodded at us, ready to bite into his neck. Ashen yelled out, begging for his life and diverting Shayla’s attention.

  “Don’t kill him!” she yelled. I accelerated at her, knocking her out of the circle and putting my elbow into her throat, cutting off her air. I grabbed the vial from her. She shook violently, her eyes bulging as she gasped for air.

  “Alixia,” Marcus said. ”We need her to save Millie.”

  I controlled my anger, and released my grip a little. To my right, Phillip was keeping the other two Pure Ones at bay. I grabbed Shayla one-handed, and then she bit into me. I slapped her hard, making her lip drip blood on the front of her white blouse. I looked over at Marcus, sensing his thirst.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes.”

  I looked back at her with a smirk.

  “You are lucky he isn’t thirsty.” I picked her straight up into the air.

  “You’d better save her!”

  I dropped her to the ground, hard, and heard a bone crack.

  “You bitch! You broke my leg!” she screamed.

  I glared at her. “Again, you’re lucky that’s all.”

  I went to Millie and knelt down. She was lying very still with her eyes closed. I kissed her forehead, noticing no breath came from her. My heart plummeted in anguish.

  “She took her from me!” I was enraged and went over to Shayla, raising my hand to finish her.

  “You killed her!”

  “She’s not dead. She can be brought back.”

  “Tell me how, or I will finish you!”

  She turned her head, not answering me. Phillip walked over with the other two, throwing them next to her, beaten but still alive. He put his hand on my shoulder, and I handed him the vial. He walked over to Shayla, opening the bottle as Marcus brought Ashen over.

  “So, Alixia asked you a question. Are you going to answer it?”

  “No. Get away from me, you bâtard!”

  “Now, who’s the one not being hospitable here?”

  “Get the Hell away from me.”

  “You’re not going to answer?”

  He held up the vial.

  “Then maybe I should use this on Ashen here. What do you think, Ashen?”

  Marcus held him tighter as he struggled to get away.