“You can’t trust her! She’s not one of us!” someone else mocked.
Arabel’s eyed widened involuntarily when, in the middle of the on-going fracas, the tiny albino medium stood up. The fragmented and angry Gypsies immediately fell silent of their own accord and Arabel wondered in appreciative fascination what sway Francesca held over them. The young girl seemed imbued with an otherworldly calm as she moved toward Arabel, one small white hand outstretched.
Francesca’s determined pink eyes bore down reassuringly on Arabel’s bright blue ones and Arabel knew intuitively that Francesca could also see the infectiously negative grey energy as it filled the Lodge with its twin calling cards of fear and anger.
“Arabel, call Jonty now. I will assist you,” Francesca said softly, clasping Arabel’s larger hand within her own small, cold one and then placing her other hand overtop of their joined fingers.
A sense of moving out of her body at faster than the speed of light unsettled Arabel as she felt herself suddenly propelled into space, but she knew she also still remained in the room with the Gypsies. Despite this, it clearly felt as though Arabel and Francesca had left the Lodge completely and that they were right now flying over the trees outside; they had become corvids themselves, and were now hunting their elusive prey.
It was an unnerving sensation and Arabel did not really understand what was going on. Francesca squeezed Arabel’s hand, as if sensing her companion’s discomfort. This was like no sort of astral travel that Arabel had ever experienced before; this was like splitting yourself in two and then astral traveling with only one part of your soul while the other remained locked in a separate reality.
Arabel felt that her eyes had become corvid eyes; she could pick her way through the darkness with ease and no small movement escaped her vision.
“Now,” Francesca suggested brightly and Arabel realized she was once again centered within the Lodge, “let’s focus on Jonty’s image.”
The two girls closed their eyes and in the silence of the room Arabel swore she could hear the nervous, anticipatory breathing of everyone assembled. Simultaneously, however, Arabel was aware of the amazing sensation of flying, of traveling invisibly, like air particles; of moving at what appeared to be light speed, under the stars, and overtop the thickly canopied forest.
Arabel’s mind was now linked with Francesca’s and the two girls focused on the details of Jonty’s face, bringing his energy to the forefront with magical intention while also sending waves of command to penetrate his thieving soul.
Ira cried loudly, Caw! Caw! Caw! His voice pierced the uneasy silence just seconds before the front doors burst open with a wildly dramatic crash.
Arabel jumped and Francesca dropped her hand, startled, as they stared in apprehension at the front doors of the Elder’s Lodge.
To the complete and utter amazement of all assembled, there stood the errant thief, Jonty Governs, alone in the doorway, fastidiously covered in snow, his sly face frozen in abject terror.
“They’re coming!” Jonty shouted ominously, and then fell to his knees, swaying, before crumpling into a small heap of anguish on the floor, unconscious.
A Kind of Innocence
The room erupted.
Chaos reigned as numerous Gypsies raced toward the fallen thief. Arabel stayed where she was, close to Francesca, and their worried eyes met briefly in the melee. Someone rushed forward to shut the large front doors but snow had already blown into the room and a chill permeated the air despite the glowing flames of the well-stoked fireplace.
“He must be tended to properly,” Francesca said quietly, speaking of the collapsed man.
“Yes, and I wonder to whom he is referring?” Arabel murmured. “Who is chasing after him?”
Eli made his way immediately over to Arabel. He took her in his arms and embraced her tenderly. She clung to him for a long moment, waves of colour and love washing over her. Eli kissed Arabel once, twice, three times, lingering in her sweetness.
“Too long,” he said, smiling. He kissed Arabel’s brow. “It’s been far too long.”
Arabel smiled back up at Eli, relief and contentment spreading throughout her body. She could see Mireille and Baltis making their way over to join them and Arabel noticed now that Francesca had disappeared into the crowd of excited Gypsies. Arabel also noticed that Ira was no longer perched upon her shoulder. Exactly when Ira had flown off, Arabel did not know, nor was she sure how she missed it, but miss it she had.
Arabel searched the room and spied Ira hovering a few feet above the excited crowd clustered around Jonty. The black bird seemed overly enthralled and Arabel sent a quick message asking the bird what it could see. Arabel received the distinct return impression that the entertainment had actually just begun and that the naughty bird was preparing to settle in to enjoy the upcoming events with a saucy, irreverent glee.
Xavier pushed through the throng to examine Jonty. Arabel could see his crouched figure but the mass of people around him made it impossible to tell exactly what was going on. Eli placed his arm around Arabel’s shoulder as a shiver ran through her lithe frame. Baltis and Mireille finally reached them and they each kissed Arabel’s cheek.
“You did well,” Baltis said, giving Arabel a reassuring pat on the back.
“Yes,” Mireille chimed in. “You were very clear.”
Xavier now stood and all eyes were once again upon him. He motioned to two Gypsies to carry the fallen man to the front of the room, nearest to the fire to warm him, and to wait for him to regain consciousness. The slight man was transported easily and laid upon the bench, where his eyelids fluttered restlessly, but did not open.
Xavier addressed Arabel.
“Arabel Spade, you have summoned Jonty Governs to us, and for that, we thank you. I will reflect upon your statements with the Elders and we will offer our deliberations within the next day. Thank you again for responding to our inquiry with your presence.”
Xavier offered Arabel a small bow and she sensed it was her cue to leave the Gypsies to their business; she had just been politely dismissed. Arabel remained an outsider, no matter how much she loved Eli, or how involved she became with the Gypsies, it was very clear to her now; she would always be an outsider.
Arabel dropped a respectful curtsy to Xavier and did not speak; she had nothing left to say. She made her way with Eli, Mireille and Baltis to the large rack where their coats, capes and outerwear hung. In silence the four of them donned their heavy outerwear and braced themselves for the winter-like conditions outside.
Arabel peered inquisitively at Ira. The bird flew through the room at breakneck speed to land once again upon her shoulder. Arabel knew the bird was keen to witness the ensuing excitement and drama but Arabel’s invitation to the Lodge seemed to have expired and so the bird would leave as well. For now.
“Sorry, Ira,” Arabel murmured softly. “You’ll have to find out later what happened.” The bird cooed into her ear and Arabel knew he preferred to be with her, no matter how much drama he might be missing. And of course, he could always sneak in a return visit.
Baltis pulled one side of the elaborate, double doors open and held it as the small group exchanged the warm building for the cold and snowy landscape. Arabel pulled her hood closer around her head and was glad for Eli’s strong arm around her shoulders. The snow continued to fall in thick sheets of dancing flakes and it had become near white-out conditions.
Baltis and Eli had horses tethered in the small stable at the back of the building, Arabel was relieved to note. She knew there was no way the carriage she’d arrived in would be able to make it back to Crow’s Nest Pass in this snowstorm. Arabel hoped that the horse would be able to brave the blowing drifts but she wasn’t certain at all that she was going to make it home tonight.
Arabel bit her lip. If she was caught out at night even one more time, she would literally be house-bound forever. There existed no chance at all that Amelia Bodean would allow her only granddaughter a free pass to what
she would consider amorality. Arabel’s timetable seemed slightly off and she wasn’t sure if this was a freedom week or not; being so ill for so long had confused her internal clock.
“What’s wrong?” Eli asked, sensing her mood as he un-tethered Jovah and readied the sleek black stallion for their journey.
“My grandmother- “, Arabel paused, watching Baltis assist Mireille up onto their mount. “She’s quite likely to have a fit if I don’t make it home before she’s finished at her club.”
Eli boosted Arabel up onto Jovah’s strong back. “I’ll see you safely home,” he promised.
Baltis appeared to have heard their conversation as he turned toward Arabel and offered her a quick grin of reassurance.
“You won’t get caught, dear girl. I can see your granny – she’ll be stuck in town tonight or at least, will come home much later than you. She’ll not be making it home in this squall anytime soon. You needn’t worry.”
“You are most welcome, of course, to stay with us tonight if you’d prefer to journey home in the morning,” Mireille spoke up.
The offer was tempting. Arabel would love to make her way to the Frankel’s caravan, which was situated only a short distance away, and to curl up there with Eli, content, safe, warm. But the desire to make it home was stronger, if only to settle the unease in her belly, and so Arabel smiled and thanked Mireille for the offer but declined, and the two couples went their separate ways.
Alone now with the blizzard, the horse, and the crow for company, Arabel and Eli commenced upon their one hour journey toward Crow’s Nest Pass, although the adverse conditions would surely add time to their travels. The wind had picked up and a strange keening was upon it.
“It’s the Ondines!” Arabel exclaimed excitedly as she recognized the chants.
“The Ondines? Really? You saw them?” Eli asked her quickly, marvelling at her disclosure.
“Yes, on the way here,” Arabel replied. “They are most enchanting!”
“Their sound is…sorrowful,” Eli decided, after listening for a long moment.
“Yes, it is,” Arabel agreed. “It is old sorrow, pain of the past, mixed with uncertainty for the future.”
“How can you decipher it so easily?” Eli asked Arabel in wonder. “I can sense the sadness, and feel the uncertainty, but knowing it is old, that I cannot fathom.”
Arabel shrugged in the dark. “I feel a connection with them,” she said simply and then described the earlier encounter she and Mireille had shared with the bright, blue-white creatures.
Eli was fascinated. “I’ve always wanted to see them,” he admitted.
“It’s doubtful we’re going to see anything in this snow,” Arabel remarked. “Are you certain you’ll be able to find the way?”
“Truly, you doubt me, sweet Arabel?” Eli teased, bringing Arabel’s gloved hand to his lips for a quick, stolen kiss. “So soon within our illustrious acquaintance?”
Arabel smiled and laughed softly. “No,” she replied contentedly, “I don’t doubt you at all; it’s quite lovely actually.” Arabel snuggled into the warmth of Eli’s back, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest, and surrendered herself to the moment.
They rode in silence for some time and Arabel quietly watched Ira gallantly flying ahead of them in the snow and she reflected upon the night’s happenings.
“Who do you think Jonty was so terrified of?” she pondered.
“He said ‘they’re coming’”, Eli repeated, “so it might be a group or it could be just one or two people.”
“Somehow I don’t think mere people would terrify him so thoroughly,” Arabel mused, her calmness giving way to a vague, un-named irritation. “I think it must be some other force driving him, some unknown entity - I only wish I knew what it could be!”
“Well, don’t vex yourself on Jonty’s account. Xavier will let us know everything, as soon as he himself is clear on what it is that’s going on. You can trust him. Xavier isn’t swayed by anything but his own integrity and inner knowing, both of which, I must say, after having seen him in action before, are most formidable. ”
Arabel suddenly felt like gnashing her teeth, and probably would have, if only she could figure out exactly what gnashing your teeth actually was. All Arabel knew was that it sounded like an appropriate activity to loosen some of the pent-up energy that was suddenly threatening to overtake her, and at this point, she was willing to try anything.
“I know Xavier can be trusted,” Arabel reluctantly said, once she felt she had her tone and energy under control and evened out again. “But I feel we are only now getting close to ascertaining what the grey energy consists of and of knowing who the mastermind is behind the killings! It’s so hard to be patient with our progress! Jonty is somehow a key piece to the puzzle; I just know it!”
Arabel fidgeted as they rode, shaking her head in the dark. Ira swooped Arabel’s hood, pulling it down to expose her black hair to the falling snow, his playful action designed to distract her. Arabel pulled the hood back up, glancing briefly at the merry crow, refusing, somewhat irrationally, she realized, to fully let go of her vaguely outlined irritation.
“I don’t want to wait – I really want to figure it out now!” she exclaimed.
Arabel felt the keen edge of mounting frustration and she bit it back; it would not help her seek answers.
“The grey energy tonight seemed strong, as if it is gaining momentum,” Eli observed and Arabel agreed with him.
“Did no one else notice it?” Arabel wondered aloud and Eli shrugged.
“I did, you did, my parents did, and for sure Francesca and Xavier would have.”
“But no one speaks of it? No one does anything to destroy it?”
“Perhaps it is what chases Jonty. Perhaps it has infected you as well this eve, Miss Spade.”
“Perhaps.” Arabel spoke a tad petulantly and Eli grinned to himself, determined to lighten her mood and chase away the last remnants of the dark force in Arabel’s energy field.
“At least it didn’t try to choke you to death, eh? Small miracle, that. If it wants to latch onto Jonty instead of you, I say let it!”
Eli patted Arabel’s hand in silent reassurance. He knew there was nothing more they could do this evening except to make it home safely.
Which they did, although it was much later than they’d expected when they finally reached the back gate of Arabel’s home. The house was dark except for a solitary, flickering candle in a glass holder on the back porch and Arabel knew Morna must have gone to bed and Amelia Bodean was either staying in town at her club, coming home quite late, as Baltis had predicted she might do, or was soundly sleeping within already.
Eli dismounted easily and reached up a hand to assist Arabel to the ground. She landed within the circle of his arms and he brought his lips down to hers hungrily. The air around them swirled with cold and snow but neither noticed. Lost in the warmth of each other, they submerged themselves in a heated embrace, desperate to kiss, to hold, to reacquaint themselves with the other.
It was Ira that broke the spell with a loud chortle. Arabel and Eli both laughed at the bird’s antics and Arabel took Eli’s hand within hers, unlocking the door and leading him into the dark hallway. Arabel spoke a telepathic goodnight to Ira and knew the crow would return now to the Copse to see what was going on. Her little spy would send her mental images and so Arabel relaxed and brought Eli into the front parlour after depositing their outerwear into the small back cloakroom. The grey energy had departed and Arabel felt calm again.
A rosy fire still burned in the grate of the parlour so Arabel surmised it had not been that long since Morna had taken to her bed. Arabel sank onto the small sofa, pulling Eli willingly down with her. He ran his hands down the long length of her soft black hair and then kissed the tips of her cold fingers. Arabel let out a contented sigh and traced her fingers across his amazing cut-glass cheekbones.
“You know you really are quite beautiful,” Arabel remarked with a self-sati
sfied smirk, her fingers lingering over his wide, generous lips.
Eli kissed Arabel’s wandering hand. “You, however, are most incandescently beautiful,” he replied earnestly and leaned in to kiss her heartily for a good, long, succulent moment of bliss.
They cuddled together on the sofa and Arabel presently felt an unwanted drowsiness falling upon her. She fought it vehemently; she desired only to be with Eli all night, and to kiss him endlessly until morning’s light broke through the snowstorm.
Eli was struggling to stay awake as well. Despite his thirst for Arabel’s lips, it had been a very long day for him, one that had started well before dawn, and tomorrow would be the same.
“I must take my leave,” Eli spoke with real regret. “Although truly I desire nothing more than to remain in your presence, always.”
Arabel pulled Eli’s body tighter to hers. “Then stay with me,” she cajoled him.
“You are a mighty temptress,” Eli replied, as lightly as he could muster, ignoring the needs of his burgeoning desire which greedily enticed him to accept her offer, “but I must report for work in less than three hours and it will take me a quarter of that to even reach Murphy’s land in this blizzard.”
Arabel kissed Eli with a womanly confidence she hadn’t been aware she possessed. “Don’t go,” she entreated, running her hands across his back and nibbling on his ear.
Eli moaned in dismay and regret. “Beautiful Arabel,” he whispered softly, kissing her again, “I must leave, but I promise to see you tomorrow, as soon as I am done.”
Arabel sighed. She knew she was being selfish, if not completely and utterly emotionally immature.
“But I haven’t had my fill of you,” she said to him winsomely and he smiled broadly.
“For that I am glad,” he retorted, reluctantly getting to his feet. “I hope you never do.”
Eli stared at the bright fire, crackling merrily in the grate. He didn’t want to leave but knew he must. He pulled Arabel up from her reclining position on the sofa and they clung to one another in a long, intimate embrace. Arabel walked Eli to the cloakroom where he collected his coat, which was now dry, and then to the back porch where Jovah waited patiently.
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