Quantum Heights: Book one of the Dead Path Chronicles
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Fetrona didn’t seem to be in tune with the harmonious environs, though, and, unprovoked, began a rant. “Andromin can be quite aggressive. He has to have everything his way. And, I think he uses me as his security blanket.” She snorted. “He chats up other women everywhere he goes—even when we’re together. But, when I try to break up any conversation he’s having with them, he always smiles, shrugs, and says to them, ‘Thorns and roses, whatever comes my way—it’s all nature!’” She sighed, her breath clouding up around her face. “I often wonder whether Andromin actually does love me,” she said. “He says he does on occasion, but I’ve started thinking he only says it to keep me around and keep me quiet.”
Melina rolled her eyes. She felt sorry for her friend, but Fetrona had a way of complaining that made Melina want to stick a sock in her mouth. “I understand,” said Melina sympathetically. “But, it is certainly a beautiful day, isn’t it? Hard to think about negative things in such a divine setting,” Melina said sweetly, trying to change their conversation.
Melina’s horse snorted and shook its mane. “That is a beautiful horse you have there, Melina. A fine white stallion,” said Fetrona.
Melina smiled and patted the steed’s neck. “He was a gift from Caprius. A token of love,” she said. “And, last night… was wonderful. So wild!” she smiled impishly.
“Oh, Melina, I see what’s happening here,” Fetrona said somberly, nodding her head. “Did he melt your wintering frost and set your heart aflame with his passion only to throw you to the cold like a spurned cat?”
Fetrona was smirking, but Melina widened her eyes, and her face grew hot. “Fetrona! My husband would never cast me aside, and he certainly wouldn’t reject my loving affection. You take that back this instant!” Melina huffed.
Fetrona laughed loudly and waved her hand. “Oh, Melina, you should know me by now. I’m only teasing.”
“Sarcasm is something I’m not accustomed to hearing in my station, Fetrona. You should be more careful about the things you say.”
“Alright, alright, I’m sorry, Melina. No harm intended.” Fetrona smiled sincerely. They continued riding along the trail. After Fetrona’s remark, their conversation grew as cold as cast-aside porridge. Ten minutes went by without a word. Fetrona grew bored and figured Melina needed some time alone. “I’ll see you in a bit, Melina.” She clucked her tongue and turned her horse around. “Don’t wander off too far. See you at dinner. And, watch out for potholes!” She trotted away back to Castle Elysium.
Melina continued to slowly ride along the trail. She loved her friend, but sometimes, she was just too much to take. Now on her own, she felt lighter and unencumbered. She began to sing. “Through wind - and rain - and sleet - and snow, he travels so far - he knows where he goes. He journeys by night - he travels by barge. Love has him calling - heaven so far. In my bed, I’m slee - ping. I’m so sad I’m wee - ping…” she let the words trail away as she hummed the tune.
When she came to a clearing, she got off her white stallion and stood beside a large rock. She decided to sit down. Glancing around, she hummed the same tune. Suddenly, a red cardinal bird approached hovering near her. As the bird now was in front of her, Melina noticed the bird had a bobble head of Caprius Seaton. This was Caprius’ flight communicator, which he had sent to find Melina and have a word with her. It was also capable of transmitting visuals. It was customary for many people in Elysium to have one of these flight communicators. It was the latest gadget, and people were purchasing them. When one would place an order for it, they would send photographs of themselves to the Department of AL Flight Communicators, and they would assemble the device for the purchaser. It came with a wrist watch, where one could see and communicate with the other person.
The flight communicator hovered in front of Melina. “Oh, hello Caprius,” said Melina. “Are you keeping an eye on me, again?”
“Just wanted to have a word with you. I’m going into mission headquarters. I’m having a combat assessment. So, I’ll be late for supper. It will take about two hours for this assessment. But, I’ll see you when I get back.”
“Why this assessment so late in the day, Caprius?” asked Melina. “Couldn’t they have had this test done earlier?”
“It’s out of my hands. The agency makes the arrangement, and I have to show up when they ask me to. Every agent is taking these assessments. They do these tests every once in a while.”
“I understand, I just hope this doesn’t happen often,” she said.
“Like I said, it’s out of my control. If I don’t show up, it goes on my record.”
“Well, I don’t want to see you get a point deduction,” said Melina.
“Thank you for understanding, Melina. I’ll see you when I get back.” The Caprius bobble head flight communicator flew into the sky toward castle Elysium.
Melina sat down in the sunshine. She held her face up, enjoying the warmth. “In my bed, I’m slee - ping. Woke up to be gree - ted,” she sang again.
When she opened her eyes, she saw to the east, marring the otherwise perfect day, some dark clouds were forming. A crow flew across the horizon and disappeared into the grey mass. She realized then that her shadow had disappeared and clouds were roiling in the sky, approaching quickly. Their speed is odd, she thought, since there is only this light breeze. Her hair, which had been playing gently about her shoulders, began to whip violently across her face. Lightning flashed close enough so she could hear the sizzle of electricity.
In the now fierce wind, she heard a foul voice, something dark and sinister, call her name. “Melinaaa…”
Melina waited, small prickles of fear beginning in her chest, but then just as quickly as the clouds had arrived, they vanished. The sky was suddenly as blue as the sea and the sun ever as vibrant. Melina looked up, wondering if something had driven the odd weather away or even if she’d imagined the whole thing.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move. A tiny creature had hopped out of the bushes and approached Melina. Suddenly, Melina’s horse began digging dirt on the ground with its hooves. It became frantic. On closer look, she realized it wasn’t a creature at all, but a man, a tiny variety of man known as a trot. Melina stared at him, and when he caught her eye, he furrowed his brow. Melina tried to calm the horse. The trot came closer. Just then, wild as the horse was, the stallion scooted off toward castle Elysium. “Oh no! Come back!” she said to the horse.
The trot put his hands to his mouth frightened at the scene. “Oh, I beg your pardon,” Melina said, blushing.
“No, I’m the one who is sorry. Did I frighten you?” asked the trot.
“Well, you did startle me, but I’m not so easily scared,” she said, laughing. “I must ask, though, if you don’t mind, what a trot such as yourself might be doing in this part of the woods?”
The little man sighed and let his arms flop to his sides. “It seems that I’m lost. I was trying to get to the Mogo ridge,” he explained.
“The Mogo ridge?” she asked. “I know exactly where that is, but it is quite a far way off from here.”
“As I said, I’m lost. But, since you know where it is, would you be able to show me the way?”
Melina started to say, “Oh, I was on my way back to the castle, so I’m afr-”
“Oh, please,” he interrupted, “I’d be ever so grateful.” He smiled winningly.
Melina hesitated. The little trot was indeed charming, and he looked so cute and bewildered that she felt sorry for him. “Well, all right,” she said. “But, we had better go quickly. It will be dark in a few of hours, and I would like to be back to dine with my husband.”
“Not to worry,” he said, linking arms with her. “You’ll get home right on time. I promise you!”
“Let’s go then!” she said, feeling excited suddenly for the promise of an adventure. Melina and the trot walked deep into the forest. “What is your name, little one?”
“I may be small, but I got heart. My name is Grom.”
Grom shrugged. “I went wandering off. There’s a wagon at the Mogo ridge that has all sorts of ice creams and candy.”
“I do love ice cream!” laughed Melina. “Strawberry is my favorite.”
“If you get me to the wagon, there’s a treat in it for you,” he winked.
Melina looked about her in the dense wood. “Let’s see now, I believe we should go this way,” she said, pointing to the left-most path. They veered onto that path and were delighted to see that it was lined with bluebells. “Isn’t it so pretty here,” she murmured. They continued to walk, making their way deeper and deeper into the forest. The sunlight was all but blocked for the tall spruces stretching into the sky above them.
Melina had wandered far off. She heard the rush of water before they saw the river running beside them. “Ah, yes,” said the trot knowingly. “I know where we are. Wonderful! My ice cream wagon is just across this stream. There’s a bridge just further down the shore.”
“I don’t recall there being a bridge around here,” said Melina, looking upstream.
“Oh, there is. Just a little further down,” said the trot, waving his hand. And, indeed, as they approached, there was a bridge. “Here it is!” the trot said excitedly. He hopped toward it and then turned to Melina. “Hold my hand,” he said. For as lovely as the day was, the bridge was covered in ice, which glinted in the sun.
Melina began to approach the trot, who was standing at the edge of the bridge, and had to shield her eyes from a sudden piercing light. Her head swam, and she felt dizzy. “What’s happening,” she muttered. Around them, the landscape began to change, and a castle appeared at the other side of the bridge. “Where am I?” she asked woozily. “This isn’t the Mogo ridge. I don’t recall there being a castle here.”
The castle loomed tall, its spires reaching so high the tips were shrouded in dark grey clouds. This was not Castle Elysium, her home, but Castle Plaphorius. The trot held Melina’s hand firmly and brought her across the bridge to the castle doors, which were made of solid ice and taller than three men standing atop one another. Melina was trembling terribly.
The door cracked open, and a large hand, covered in frost with ice for fingernails emerged. It reached out and grabbed Melina’s other hand, yanking her toward the door. She tried to struggle, but the hand held tight and pulled her to the door. When she hit it, she felt it give way, and suddenly she penetrated the door as if it were made of freezing cold water and found herself on the other side. She heard an ugly giggling outside of the door: the trot. Within seconds, he too came through the door and then, before her eyes, transformed into his true self: a gruesome changeling, a creature able to adapt its size, shape, and overall appearance into anything it wanted. It looked at her and laughed. A gust of wind appeared along with black smoke, which began to circle the changeling’s body. Something from inside the tornado of black wind spoke. “You have done well, trot. You will be greatly rewarded.” The tight circle of smoke blew faster and faster until it created a thin tail that blew into an open window high up one of the castle’s turrets. Watching with horror, Melina then felt as though she were falling. Light encircled her and suddenly she was careening backwards through an icy ceiling.
Her fall, however, was soft and cushioned. Melina cracked an eye open to see where she’d landed and realized she was on a large bed with a satin coverlet and pillows, all bedecked in a fierce bright white. The large opulently furnished room smelled of the most fragrant camellias and was cozy warm. Exhausted and confused, Melina lay back on the bed and, within seconds, drifted off into sleep.
The room may have been lovely, but evil lurked inside. From above the bed where Melina lay, the ceiling began to bulge until it cracked. Through the fissure appeared a very large face wearing a black shiny mask. It stared down at Melina with eyes of glimmering gold. It narrowed its eyes admiringly as it took in her beauty, then dissolved, the ceiling returning to its unblemished state.
When Melina awakened, she was alone. She looked around at the room, which now was dark and desolate in contrast to how warm and inviting it had been earlier. She wished she knew how much time had passed. A chill ran through her, and she hopped up, with the hope that she could get herself out of this place and back to Elysium.
Melina rubbed her eyes; noticing a stone basin in the corner, she went to it, hoping there was water inside. A folded white towel was set beside the basin, so she splashed the cool water over her skin and paused over the water a moment. There, suddenly, was a masked man staring at her. Melina recoiled in fear and looked around. “Am I dreaming?” she thought. She peered back into the water and saw only her own reflection. She waited for her heartbeat to calm before reaching for the towel to pat her face dry. But, when she looked down at the towel, it was covered in blood.
Melina screamed, dropping the towel on the floor. Frightened and angry, she flipped the stone basin over. It crashed onto the marble floor, shattering into pieces, water streaming everywhere. She ran to the door and tried to open it, but the knob wouldn’t turn. Terrified, she turned back to the room. The basin’s rim was still intact, and on it lay the white towel, again perfectly folded. “Now, I know I’m dreaming,” she said. Again, she tried to open the door, and this time, it opened easily. She fled the room and went out into the great hall, the walls twice the height of those in Castle Elysium. The ceiling was gold and reflected a pure light into the otherwise gray and sodden-looking hall.
Lining the hall were bronze statues of winsome men and women striking elegant poses. Though she was very frightened, Melina couldn’t help but admire the artistry as she ran past. “How real they look!” she muttered. She didn’t notice one of the statues she’d gone by turn to look at her.
Melina ran down the hall until she came to another that intersected the first. After looking in both directions, she went right, again walking quickly past statues evenly spaced along the side of the hall. Another turned to watch her.
The black marble floor was cold on her bare feet, and Melina shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. The statues all looked so young, so sylph-like. Toward the middle of the hall, Melina saw one woman whose resemblance to herself was striking. She paused and put her hand on the statue’s face to touch the contours. It was simply so life-like that she couldn’t stop herself. A hissing sound started up around her. Startled, she tried to pull her hand away, but her hand was stuck, as if glued.
Suddenly, the floor beneath her cracked, tiny black fissures webbing out in all directions. Vines began to grow up from the cracks and wrapped themselves around Melina’s feet, then up her legs. Melina squirmed but stopped at the sound of a loud roar, fierce, as if from a tiger. In the noise, she was able to wrench her hand free, and when she did, the vines withered and released their hold on Melina, retreating back through the floor as quickly as they’d come. Melina looked down, and the floor was normal again, the marble unblemished.
Another noise from behind Melina startled her: this time it was footsteps. Slow and methodical at first, then faster and louder, as if whatever it was was coming for her. Melina didn’t bother looking to see what it was; she broke into a sprint. Her gown bunched up around her legs as she ran, but she pushed on. When she came upon another hall, she turned left and continued running. With one more step, though, her foot became tangled in the abundant material of her dress, and she tumbled to the floor. When she got up, she saw the tear in the fabric. Realizing this wasn’t a time to worry over her appearance, she tore the rest of the material off, freeing her legs.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something scarlet shimmering beneath the gold ceiling. A mannequin in the corner was wearing a deep red dress and a pair of lovely red shoes. Melina turned to check on the thing following her. Not hearing anything, she paused and caught her breath. She stared up at the outfit. “These are beautiful,” she whispered, captivated by the attire. Melina approached th
e dress, as if propelled by an outside force. She touched the fabric and stood, stroking it as if there were no urgency or anything were amiss at all. At once, as if the fabric were responding to her touch, a bright red light flashed from within the dress, and inside of a few seconds, the dress was on Melina. She looked down and saw the dress on her body and the shoes on her feet and smiled.
The sound of the footsteps then came into focus and seemed headed directly toward her. Melina looked down the hall, and all together, every one of the bronze statues turned to look at her. Melina gasped and put her hands to her mouth. “What is this place,” she said to no one, backing away. After a few steps, she bumped into something alive. She turned and was face to face with the man wearing the shiny black mask from the water basin, a black cowl over his head and shoulders. The man grabbed Melina’s wrists with a fiercely strong grip. Melina trembled, “No, no,” she said, trying to fight. After letting her struggle a moment, he released her and took off his mask. It was Melina’s husband, Caprius Seaton. “Caprius! But, how…” she stopped when Caprius’ handsome face transformed into that of a horrific vampire. Melina screamed and instantly fainted, falling right into the creature’s arms. It stood, alone in the hall among the all-seeing statues, holding her in his arms before carrying her off.
The creature brought Melina into another decadently furnished room filled with mahogany and walnut pieces topped with velvet and satin brocade. He laid her on a plush ottoman. Melina had been expected: the room was scrubbed and perfectly appointed in preparation for her arrival, with maids and servants standing at the ready to ensure her every need be taken care of. The masked creature had been on hand to personally inspect every phase of the preparation.
Melina woke up to find herself in a familiar room. She quickly sat up looking around. The masked man came over to her. “Here, drink this,” he said to her. Melina refused to take it, shaking her head. “It’s just ice water, I assure you.” Melina accepted the glass and began to drink. And, sure enough, it was water. Melina gulped it down. She handed him the glass.