by Rona Go
"Of course," Hugh said and exhaled a long breath. He stretched out his arms and legs as far as they can reach. "Does the program have your own predators here?"
"Oh, yes!" Jenssen said. She lowered her voice secretively and added, "We've got people who caught smugglers of hyenas. But they are preparing to bring back the beasts back to their habitat soon. And some of our volunteers may be on the same ship by then. Of course, it is a hush-hush thing so that the media will not catch on. Otherwise, what will people think of hyenas in the US?"
"Well, some may think that there are hunters here," Xavier said knowingly and Hugh caught on to his meaning immediately.
At the precise moment, the door opened and came in Fr. Ulysses. In his late thirties, Fr. Ulysses was about six feet tall and gangly. He was garbed in a crisp lawn shirt and a pair of button-down jeans. Anybody would barely recognize him as a priest. He looked more like the typical guy-next-door desperate housewives will throw themselves at.
As Fr. Ulysses saw Hugh and Xavier, he extended his hand towards them in a greeting. He went directly to his table and rummaged for a few documents.
"I am so sorry, boys! I am all over the place today," Fr. Ulysses said. "With the new program and without my own office." He chuckled charmingly.
"I told them about the program, Father! And that we are renovating " Jenssen spoke up. "I also mentioned there is no schedule for confession today."
"You are becoming an all-rounder here, Jenssen! A really big help!" Fr. Ulysses said while he continued to search his drawer.
"I'm glad to be of help, Father!" Jenssen replied and beamed. "I will leave the three of you now while I check how the other office is doing. Thanks for listening, guys!" she added and ran off outside like a little girl with her cheeks flushing pink.
"So how can I help you, boys?" Fr. Ulysses asked without looking at them. He held up his right hand and mouthed silently, "Just a sec!" He took out his phone which was vibrating and answered it.
Hugh signaled for Xavier to step outside. However, Xavier pretended to ignore Hugh and continued to look over the leaflets Jenssen had given them.
Fr. Ulysses lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth, "Please don't do this—!" He covered the mouthpiece momentarily and told Hugh and Xavier, "I'd like to take this call privately, if you don't mind, boys!"
"Of course, Father!" Xavier said and stood up. He and Hugh left the room silently.
While Xavier and Hugh were waiting outside for Fr. Ulysses, they debated whether to pursue what they had in mind or not.
"Just ask him directly about the healers," Hugh said. "Let's see how he will react!"
Fr. Ulysses was quick on the phone. It only took him five minutes before he stepped out of his office and ready to go again. The priest started walking and the two boys fell in step with him. "Gosh, I'm terribly sorry about this, boys! But I need to be some place really important! A matter of emergency!" Fr. Ulysses blurted out.
"It's okay, Father! We understand," Xavier said keeping up with Fr. Ulysses while Hugh hanged back a couple of steps away. "I heard you talking about the healers and hunters and we wanted to ask you about them," Xavier continued and slackened his pace a bit.
Fr. Ulysses did a 180-degree-turn and completely halted. "What do you know about them?" he asked Hugh and Xavier, eyeing them suspiciously.
"That's why we came here, Father!" Xavier said. "To ask you about them!"
Fr. Ulysses looked at his watch and said, "Ride with me and I will tell you all I know about them. Then, tell me what you know. Is that a fair deal?"
Xavier and Hugh exchanged looks for a moment. What will they tell Fr. Ulysses—the truth? And what will they discover about the healers and hunters that they hadn't known from Gilda yet? Will it help Jonah in any way? Or will it only put everybody in danger?
Xavier and Hugh accepted the offer. While Fr. Ulysses was backing out of the parking lot, Hugh and Xavier were trying to map out half-truths and half-lies to tell Fr. Ulysses in their own respective thoughts.
Chapter 24
The Black Scarf
"Ma'am Judith specifically instructed me not to use the car," Damian said. In between scratching his head and looking outside the window once in a while, it was very evident that anxiety was seeping through the man by the minute.
"We saw you last night," Jervais said. She could not keep her annoyance anymore. To go directly to the point and pin the man, she was concocting the story as if she had witnessed being followed. She was already annoyed the moment Jonah woke her early in the morning with the mission to ask Damian and let him confess the truth. And it was one thing which Jervais knew will keep her in a bad mood for the rest of the day. She did not like being roused from her sleep. Her body knew when it was going to wake up. "Why were you following us?"
"I wasn't following you, Ma'am! I swear." Damian answered. He was starting to sweat in his forehead. He took out a handkerchief and wiped them away with shaking hands.
"So where were you last night?" Jonah asked.
"I was driving Ma'am Jane to and fro the whole day, Ma'am!" Damian insisted. "I used her car. You can verify from her," he added hesitatingly.
Jonah and Jervais looked at each other momentarily as if debating if the man was telling the truth after all.
"Damian was with me the whole day," Jane said from behind them. "From the hospital to the church to the grocery and finally home and back to the hospital again. Why is it so important for the two of you to know?"
"Thank you! You may go now," Jonah dismissed Damian who looked relieved when Jane appeared.
Jane sat on the tall stool at the kitchen where the two were having their late breakfast with a helping of pancakes, bacon and eggs. She placed her bag on top of the bar.
"So? Mind explaining what that was all about?" Jane demanded. She took Jonah's fork, cut into the bacon and put a small size on her mouth. "This has too much fat on it. I have been ignoring the kitchen for so long now. I'm sorry!"
"What are you talking about? These are okay! Although, you're right—I miss your cooking," Jervais said. "But we're not complaining. You have a lot on your plate and we understand!"
"Oh! That's so sweet," Jane said and squeezed Jonah, who was nearest her. They were cheek-to-cheek "So, what's with Damian?'
"Jonah was being followed by a black car just like your mother's on the way to the hospital last night," Jervais blurted out.
"No, way!" Jane said. She was shocked to hear about it. "But it couldn't have been Damian. He was with me all day."
"That's what we are trying to find out!" Jervais said. "Actually, that's what the brat is trying to find out," she corrected herself, meeting Jonah's eyes with a scowl.
"Did you get the plate number?" Jane asked.
"Of all the things the brat failed to do—that's one thing she successfully did—failed to get it!" Jervais chuckled.
"I was so nervous, I couldn't think anymore," Jonah said defending herself.
"Of course!" Jane said reassuringly. "I wouldn't be able to think straight myself if it were me!"
Jane dug from her bag and took out a black scarf. The stole was a lightweight wool gauze which was almost six feet long. She spread it out with the gold metallic lace ends dangling from her hands.
"Brice!" Jonah and Jervais both said at the same time.
"I thought so, too!" Jane said. "I found it among the mess in my room. By the way, everything is all tidied up. And I bought a new settee. But it is not an invitation for persons to share my room," she added with a wink at Jonah.
Jonah took the scarf from Jane and muttered, "We will give this to Brice. But I don't need an invite, right, Jane?"
Jane smiled and kissed Jonah on the cheek before she got up. "And I will be at the hospital if anyone needs me! By the way, Aunt Judith has the keys to your mother's car," she said.
Jonah gaped at Jane's retreating figure. Could their Aunt Judith be following her? What for? Kill them one by one? Was she also responsible for Jemmah?
"Brice will be so pleased if we give this back to him," Jonah said, diverting her attention away from her Aunt Judith.
"Definitely!" Jervais said excitedly. "He has been looking for this for so long. It's his favorite scarf."
"Yeah, I remember—this was given to him by a special someone who bought this from Italy," Jonah said.
"But he never mentioned who that someone was. Or did he?" Jervais asked.
"He was so mysterious about it," Jonah said. She stood up and unwrapped the scarf from Jervais' neck. She placed it on her head like a veil and it flowed right through her thighs. "Do you know what this means?"
"Brice will be a great company for shopping," Jervais said, sporting a wide grin in her face. She clapped her hands together and took a mouthful of her bacon, her cheeks bulging on their sides.
"No— his credit card will be," Jonah chimed in and laughed along with Jervais who was choking on her bacon.
Jonah was tapping Jervais from behind when they both heard the trademark stiletto steps of their Aunt Judith heading for the kitchen. Before the two of them can prepare for their exit, the old woman was already standing just outside the kitchen looking at them both aghast.
"Good heavens!" Aunt Judith cried out. "Take that thing off your head!"
Without realizing that Jonah was still wearing the black scarf, she felt for her head and took it off just as her Aunt Judith instructed. She rolled it awkwardly in her haste to get the scarf out of Aunt Judith's sight.
"What's wrong with the scarf, Aunt Judith?" Jervais asked boldly. "It's fashionable now a days."
"Fashionable my foot? Not when I have seen flies everywhere and a dead black moth and a dark sky. By then, it is no longer fa-shio-na-ble," Aunt Judith uttered sarcastically. "But a black scarf is a black omen."
Jonah and Jervais both peered at the open window and saw that the sky was indeed dark. Although it could mean nothing but a rainfall in the horizon, Jonah remembered the strange knowing that entered her mind when Hugh gave her the habak. It was the knowing that something terrible happened or will happen which echoed within her once again.
Jervais drank the last of her orange juice and gathered the plates including Jonah's. She placed them on the sink.
"We're off to Brice's place to give back the scarf to him, Aunt Judith," Jervais announced.
"Brice?" Aunt Judith asked looking alarmed. "The black scarf belongs to him?"
"Yes, Aunt Judith!" Jervais said.
Their Aunt Judith went to stand by the sink which was near the window and said no more. She looked outside. She placed one of her hand on top of the counter sink and tapped once or twice.
Jervais left the kitchen silently. She looked back at Jonah and motioned for her to get going. Jonah followed behind her. However, Jonah cast a look at their Aunt Judith, who turned right at that instant to connect with her directly in the eyes.
Brice… Jonah had felt it. She felt the strong presence of Brice right inside the room. It was so real—like he was just standing right next to her that she could feel the warmth of his body next to her. But could a person be in two places at the same time? How can he be here when he's somewhere out there? Unless, it was his spirit…because he was —dead! Jonah shuddered and hurried along in step with Jervais.
Twenty minutes later, Jervais was looking for a parking space just outside Brice's apartment. At the foot of the building, there were about thirty people gathered in circle.
"What's going on?" Jonah asked. She was getting nervous by the minute. Still holding the scarf in her hand, she bit the end of it to keep her from getting into the edge even more.
Jonah and Jervais were almost in a run when they finally got out of the car. They went to where the crowd was and elbowed themselves to see what the fuss was all about. With much effort, they were able to pull themselves inside the circle. In front of them was Brice. Fr. Ulysses was kneeling lowly at his side.
Jonah gave an earsplitting howl when she saw Brice. He was lying on his back on the ground. His left arm was behind him looking disfigured. His left leg was curled at an angle that looked impossible for ordinary reach.
But it was Brice's face which tore at Jonah's heart. He was obviously in so much pain as he cringed. The lines on his face were even trembling as he flinched. His eyes were directed towards the zenith. There was a mixture of what looked like tears and a little bit of blood falling off towards his ear.
Jonah threw herself beside Brice. "Brice!" she cried, allowing her tears to flow freely.
"I hur— so mush!" Brice sputtered. "God, I hur—"
"Has anyone called 911?" Jonah screamed out.
"Yer mm—" Brice said. But he stopped speaking all of a sudden. His breathing also stopped. Even the pulsating movement in his neck ceased as well.
"Brice?" Jonah uttered in a terrified voice. "Brice?" she asked one more time.
Nothing…
Without thinking, Jonah put both her hands above Brice's chest. However, Jervais was quick enough to take both of Jonah's hands and dragged her away from Brice. Jervais recognized what Jonah intended to do.
Jonah tried to break away from Jervais' stronger clasp. She wriggled her hands and kicked the air. At one point, Jonah knew she had hit Jervais hard on her leg. Then, two muscular arms held Jonah from behind. Without stopping to resist, Jonah was nevertheless, helplessly dragged back to where Jervais parked their car.
It was Hugh who carried her all the way to the parking lot. Xavier was there too. Jervais joined them in a little while.
Jervais went directly to Jonah and hugged her tight. They both cried and cried in each other's arms. They only stopped when they became too tired and too weak to carry on.
After a moment's pause though, Jonah's anger surface."Why did you stop me? I could have healed him," she lashed out at Jervais.
"And seal your fate in front of these people?" Jervais answered. She, too, was getting angry. "What were you thinking? I was trying to protect you from turning yourself into a circus."
"At the expense of Brice's life, Jervais?" Jonah asked.
"He would have wanted it, too." Jervais uttered. "Can you not see him? Do you think he was that selfish not to protect you?"
"You're wrong! Brice would have wanted to live," Jonah said and looked towards where Brice was lying. She broke into a run towards him.
However, Hugh was quicker than Jonah as he yet held her in place and dragged her back to the car the second time. Jonah slapped Hugh's hands, hit him by the chest and kicked his shin.
"Gosh, that had hurt!" Hugh muttered in his breath. He shoved Jonah towards Xavier, who took her in his arms.
"Jonah, you can seal your fate as a healer by giving life to a dying one," Jervais said in between gritted teeth. "Brice is dead! Can't you see?"
"I could have healed him—" Jonah said weakly. Encircled in Xavier's arms, Jonah saw a rush of weak, grayish light coming out from Xavier's body. Then, she sensed her body weakening and saw Xavier curled up in his bed and crying. He was talking to himself. The scene was familiar.
Jonah felt like slipping away. Her body was exhausted. And her thoughts were a jumble of Xavier, the sight of Brice and a glimpse of the black car just like Rebecca's leaving the area.
As if a black scarf covered Jonah's eyes, everything turned dark.
Chapter 25
The Secret of the Earth
Clad in black, each of the Blood siblings kept to their own. Traditionally, family members huddled together during funerals. But for the Blood family, they were seated in different corners during the service. Although, they were all present during the ceremony, except for Jemmah who was still in the hospital, nobody really spoke to anybody about anyt
hing. Even Aunt Judith had not spoken to the siblings.
There were only about twenty people or even lesser who attended the service which was given by Fr. Ulysses. It was a very solemn and heartwarming service. Even the priest could not help shed a tear or two in between his homily. Fr. Ulysses had mentioned that he knew and became close to Brice at one point.
Jane had given the eulogy which was a simple remembrance of Brice as a sibling. The speech did not fail to drive Jonah and Jervais to tears as they both remembered Brice's funny, childlike and brotherly ways.
When Jonah cast her gaze to where Jerone and Jenssen were seated, she saw them wiping a tear or two. Jonah also looked over to where her Aunt Judith was. Even with Aunt Judith's black attire, nobody would have guessed she was attending a funeral. Aunt Judith had looked as if it was just a regular day for her. She was still her stiff self, looking as if she just wanted the whole thing to be done and over with.
Jonah felt angrier at her Aunt Judith by the minute. She couldn't help but suspect the old woman was really involved with the terrible things that were happening around—from Rebecca Blood's death, to Jemmah's freak accident and then Brice's death. Although, the police were not ruling out the possibility of suicide, there was an initial report that Brice was thrown off the building.
Jonah was more convinced of a foul play. Not because she had a glimpse of the black car which followed her and Hugh before she passed out the day Brice died, but also because of her Aunt Judith's omen and odd behavior. And Brice would not have tried to commit suicide by jumping off from the third floor when he could have jumped from the highest landing.
Worse of all, Jonah felt guilty for not having saved Brice when perhaps she could have—if indeed she was the new healer. She still could not understand Jervais' point of view, no matter what angle she considered. Brice could still have been saved if she was the new healer and Jervais did not prevent her.