If I Fall..._Will You Remember Me?

by Jennifer Christy

  Chapter 16

  After a five-minute walk, Julia stopped at the corner of Main and Center street. The Bed and breakfast was behind her to the north. The sun was just barely cresting the distant cliffs and a chill breeze rustled the tiny new leaves on the cottonwoods that lined Main.

  Julia pulled the hood of her bright pink jacket over her head and adjusting the earbuds of her mp3 player. Snow still lay in clumps at the base of the dark trunks and in the Northside of buildings that lined the roads. Just a quick 3 mile run and then back to the Inn to shower and get ready for the weekend. 4 couples were scheduled, plus the writer from California. So much to do!

  Julia couldn’t think of a better way to start her day. It had been so crazy the last week with settling in and getting ready for the weekend guests. This route had become so familiar to her now. After a year now of running the same route, she had come to know every dip and turn, crack and lay of the road. a magpie liked to poke around the field just a mile down the road. A squirrel family lived in the last cottonwood tree and chittered at her in the mornings. A prairie dog colony occupied both sides of Main Street.

  Somewhere down the road on the south side, hidden among the pinons and rolling red hills lay the Parker Ranch, which reminded her of Nathan. He had only been gone a week and it felt like an eternity. NO word, nothing. No hint of when he would return. It bothered her. As she jogged past the long dirt road that led to the ranch, she longed to see him again. Longed to feel his muscular arms around her, offering her comfort, protection and assurance.

  Something in the brush caught her attention. Deer? Julia slowed her pace as she peered into the brush searching the depth of the darkness for any hint of animal. There was no other movement. Perhaps she was mistaken, or perhaps what she saw wasn’t an animal. The last few days, she had been seeing dark things darting away at the corner of her vision, but she was never fast enough to see what it was. Of course, with the gift that Drogo had given her, she couldn’t be sure if what she saw was demons or just tricks of the light. But with the recent activities of Quabin’s release, Torrey was fast becoming a hot spot for demons, especially now that the weather was warming and tourists were beginning to pour in from around the world. Demons and their kind would have an easier time tagging along as they congregated.

  But this close to the ranch, Julia worried. She knew the Parker Ranch was a sanctuary and heavily guarded, but her feelings were unsettled and she needed to make sure to satisfy her unease.

  A car whizzed by, startling her. She backed off the road and agonized over what to do. Just a quick jaunt down the road wouldn’t hurt. Glancing both ways she crossed the road and ran light on her toes to investigate. In 10 minutes she had arrived at the Parker Ranch’s gate. She could see the corner of the ranch beyond the curve of the pinon lined road. She glanced at her watch. She only had five minutes before she had to get back to the Inn to meet Liu.

  She ran. Meagan’s minivan was in the driveway. Roy’s cruiser was gone. A light was on in the main front room. Julia searched the perimeter of the ranch. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Still, her inner sense told her something was amiss. Stuck with indecision, she ran to the house, entered through the front door, calling for Meagan.

  “Julia?” Meagan called back from the kitchen as Julia came bounding in.

  “Meagan, you ok?” Julia asked, going to her friend and hugging her.

  “Yes, what’s wrong?”

  “Oh, I just had this feeling that something was wrong and I had to check on you,” Julia said, still scanning the room and feeling the unease start to dissipate. But she felt something else, and Nathan’s image came to her and it gave her pause. Was he here?

  “We’re ok. Nothing is wrong. I’m about to leave with the kids to buy some groceries. Are you ok?” Megan responded, giving her a look of concern.

  “I’m good. Is Nathan here?”

  Megan shook her head. “Not that I know of. I haven’t seen him since the morning of the ribbon cutting ceremony.”

  “Thanks,” Julia said distractedly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. But there was nothing more she could do. “I have to get back to the Inn. Just wanted to check on you,” Julia said as she turned to go. Meagan laughed as Julia jogged back out. “Ok. Have a good day. I’ll chat at you later.”

  ***

  Amy and Keya glanced at each other as Julia ran past. Drogo gave the Furies a small wicked smile as they crouched at the edge of the opening surrounding the ranch. They watched as Julia looked around, nervous, and unsure.

  That’s right, Drogo thought, be afraid. Feel the fear. Invite us in. He closed his eyes, feasting on the faint hint of Julia’s anxiety. A faint aroma that was inviting and pulling him in. Just enough to weaken the protective barrier around the ranch, but not enough to present any harm to it. It would take more than the visitor to crack that barrier enough for Drogo to accomplish his designs. They watched Julia retreat, returning to the Inn.

  Amy glanced at Drogo, her long eyelashes brushing the underside of her delicate arched brows. “That one bears Quabin’s mark.”

  Keya looked at her sister and then Drogo and said, “She will be a problem if she has connections to this lace.”

  Drogo nodded slowly.

  Chapter 17

  Julia slipped through the back gate of the Inn’s garden and hurried across the well-trimmed lawn and jumped over a flower bed of pansies and petunias through the back door. Jogging past the kitchen, she noted Liu hadn’t arrived yet and dashed for the stairs.

  Taking two steps at a time, Julia flew to her apartment just as she heard the door bang open and her name called.

  “Julia!”

  It was Liu.

  “I’m getting in the shower!” Julia called back and headed for the bathroom.

  “Julia!” Liu was insistent.

  “I’ll be out in just 5 minutes,” Julia called back, stripping off her clothes and kicking off her shoes.

  “Julia,” Liu’s voice was right behind her.

  Julia inhaled sharply, snatching a towel to cover herself. “Liu!” Julia exclaimed, surprised at how quickly Liu had arrived in her room and the look of seriousness on her face.

  “You must leave now!” the older woman exclaimed.

  “What?

  “Things are happening too fast and you are in danger. You need to leave now and take care of those things we spoke of. Now.”

  “I can’t leave now! I have guests arriving and a writer for a review magazine coming!” Julia retreated to the bathroom.

  Liu shook her head, “No time to explain. You leave now. “

  “You tell me why first!” Julia demanded.

  Liu sighed and shook her head. “Because one of Quabin’s lackey paid me a visit last night looking for a very powerful weapon that could upset the balance horribly in her favor.”

  Julia shook her head, “What? Wait! What does that have to do with me?”

  Liu looked at her perplexed. “I don’t know yet until you go to Oahu and talk to Vassago! You’re part of whatever Quabin has planned. You know you have followers right?”

  Julia looked at her appalled. “What are you talking about?”

  Liu poked her in the forehead.

  “Ow,” Julia jerked back, rubbing the spot.

  “You must learn to use your eyes!” Liu scolded her, “You have followers. Come here!”

  She grabbed Julia by the elbow and dragged her over to the window, and looked about, squinting. “There!” She pointed down to the street. Julia looked and only saw a slip of shadow before it disappeared. Were those dark shadows she saw at the ranch demons that were following her? Did she lead them to the Parker Ranch?

  “You are being followed and tracked wherever you go. The False One knows exactly where you are at all times. You are not safe here in Torrey. You should have gone back to LA.”

  “I can’t leave my friends,” Julia insisted.

  “You can’
t leave that Watcher, Nathan!”

  Julia met Liu’s accusing eyes, and shrugged. She couldn’t argue that. It was true.

  “Bad news!” Liu said angrily. “You play with fire! You would tempt a watcher? If you love him, you would go away!”

  Julia looked pained. “Don’t say that!” She turned away and went to the bathroom, and before she shut the door, she turned and looked at Liu, “I can’t leave Torrey right now. Something is happening and I have to stay.”

  Liu threw up her arms in defeat and shook her head, “You are a stubborn girl! Something bad is happening and then it will be too late and you’ll say ‘I should have listened to Liu!’! You want to help your friends? Go to Oahu. Today!”

  Julia slammed the bathroom door, then opened it again, “As much as I would love to, I can’t right now. I’ve got a B&B to manage.” She shut the door again. She knew Liu was right, that she would eventually have to go to Oahu and take care of the darkness overcoming her sight and thoughts, but, she couldn’t leave just yet. Part of her wanted to wait till Nathan got back.

  Twenty minutes later, dressed in jeans, a button-down white blouse with her favorite pink and yellow striped spring floral scarf, Julia headed for the kitchen. Liu had already prepared breakfast and had it laid out elegantly on the dining table in the great hall, but Liu was gone. Julia heard footsteps on the stairs. She peeked around the corner of the kitchen door and saw Natalie, the writer from California. She wore a camera strap around her neck and a brown and white stripped bag on her shoulder. Natalie’s hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she looked sharp in a white tank top embroidered with multi-colored swirls, a pair of skinny jeans and brown flats.

  “Good morning, Natalie. I hope you slept well,” Julia said with a smile as she greeted her.

  “Oh, I did. That was the most comfortable bed and I’m so excited that I was the first one to enjoy that room. What a gorgeous view of the valley!” Natalie gushed and pulled a chair out to sit down to a breakfast of bacon and leek quiche with gluten free buttermilk pancakes, strawberry glaze, and honey-oat whole grain muffins.

  “This looks wonderful,” Natalie said as she set her bag down and lifted up the camera to snap a picture of the breakfast spread.

  “Thank you,” Julia said. “I hope you enjoy your meal. Mrs. Blackwell should be arriving anytime now to give you a tour of the inn herself. In the meantime, if there is anything else you need, let me know.

  “Sure. Just directions to the park,” Natalie said. Julia gave her the directions as the other guests began to arrive then, and found places at the table to enjoy the scrumptious meal. Julia was kept busy serving and cleaning up when Mrs. Blackwell arrived, huffing and blowing out apologies for her lateness. The woman was as round as she was tall. With her cheeks rosy from her exertion, Julia brought her a glass of water which she took gratefully as she greeted Natalie.

  Chapter 18

  The sound of the garage door opening alerted Nathan that Meagan had returned from her errands. Nathan moved to the window and saw her pull into the driveway. He cloaked himself so she couldn’t see him standing in the window. Glancing back at the bed, he watched as Stacey slept deeply. She probably hadn’t had a restful night’s sleep in ages, he thought.

  As soon as they had arrived at the Parker Ranch last night, Nathan had brought Stacey food. She ate like a starving person. She didn’t say much as she consumed the fried chicken and mashed potatoes he had brought for her. When she was satiated, she laid back amongst the pillows of his bed and fell promptly asleep.

  Nathan spent the night watching her, tormented with indecision about what he should do next. For almost a year, he thought Julia was Quariel, his saving angel. But, to discover that he was wrong and that the real angel was asleep in his bed clothed in mortality presented a very big problem.

  On the one hand, Julia had a clear memory of the day he was murdered by one of Quabin’s henchwomen, but nothing else. Stacey knew him on sight and remembered everything that transpired afterwards.

  Nathan heard the children’s cheerful voices come up through the floor from the garage below, as loud and rambunctious as boys typically are. He hurried out of his bedroom and closed the door softly behind him. He had just got downstairs into the kitchen when Raphael burst through the garage door adjoining the kitchen.

  “Uncle Nathan,” the boy exclaimed, darting across the tile floor and barreling into Nathan.

  “Hey buddy,” Nathan responded cheerfully, lifting Raphael up into the air and spinning him around. “Is your Mom still out there?” he asked, indicating the garage.

  “Yeah, she got groceries.”

  “And you’re not helping?” Nathan chided and set him down, pointing him in the direction of the door. “March,” he commanded playfully. Raphael laughed as he returned to help his mother unload the van. Meagan looked up and smiled at Nathan.

  “Hey, you’re back!” she called.

  “Just for a bit,” Nathan answered and came around, taking the cloth green and purple reusable shopping bags from Meagan. She followed Nathan and the boys inside.

  “What’s up?” Meagan asked when Nathan set the bags on the counter and then took the bags from the boys to set on the counter as well. She began unloading the bags when Nathan answered, nonchalantly.

  “Not much, just dealing with cleanup as usual. Will Roy be back tonight?” Nathan didn’t think Roy would appreciate another outsider in his home, especially when he had a keen sense of detecting anything amiss about his home and property.

  “I expect him home tonight and for the rest of the week. He has had his hands full. You going to be around for dinner?” She hefted a large butcher paper wrapped roast out of one of the bags.

  “Of Course,” Nathan said, leaning over and kissing Meagan’s cheek. “Love your cooking. I’m extra hungry. So, I’ll just grab a snack now and be up in my room till dinner. “

  Nathan snatched a banana from a grocery bag, a bag of baked whole grain chips, and a couple of cheeses sticks before he jogged back to his room. He wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to hide Stacey there. How could he explain her presence? He set the snacks on the dresser and looked down at Stacey curled up under the blankets. She looked peaceful, but he could tell she had a hard life. Thin lines framed her mouth and radiated at the corner of her eyes. He felt the strongest urge to kiss her. Hold her – touch her.

  Don’t do this, he heard a voice whisper through his mind. It sounded like Roy’s voice. Nathan shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, but they persisted. He couldn’t just shut off his feelings for Julia. He had fallen in love with her, mostly because he thought she was Quariel. Nathan felt like his heart was fracturing. He had made a vow to Quariel before she ventured through the gates to mortality.

  Nathan went to the window again and looked in the direction of where the Inn stood. If he concentrated, he could feel Julia’s energy and tap into her feelings. Nathan touched her feelings lightly and felt them for him very strongly. He lowered his head in despair. She’ll be devastated, he thought. How could he possibly break the news to her? How could she possibly understand that all this time, he thought she was someone else? He could hardly wrap his mind around it, but looking at Quariel asleep on his bed, his heart filled with such emotion and feelings for her once again that he was drawn to her side.

  Nathan went to the bed and carefully lay down next to her, so as not to disturb her, floating just an inch about the mattress. It felt so good to be next to her. All the feelings he had for her came flooding back to him. He couldn’t leave her. Ever. Again.

  Stacey stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked and Nathan could tell she was disoriented. “Quariel,” he whispered. Just saying her name sent a thrill through him and made her eyes soften as a smile came to her lips. She reached out her hand and stroked his cheek. “My Nathan,” she whispered. Her touch electrified him. He reached for her and she melted into him willingly.

  ***

  Quabin leaned over the edge of the ravine. Her f
ollowers growing and swelling. She turned her head towards a sound carried by the wind. A sound only slightly different in vibration than the natural voice of the wind, but carrying much information. Satrin also tilted her head to catch the sound. Kema glanced between the two, curiosity on her face. She was yet young and not trained in reading the vibrations of the living. Quabin glanced up at Satrin and then stood erect.

  “It seems that something is astir,” Satrin commented in low tones.

  “What?” Kema whispered. And then they all felt it.

  Quabin nodded, a smile playing at the corner of her lips, “Ahhh, yes. The familiar vibration of betrayal – how tantalizing.” She gloated and chuckled. “And with it comes the unmistakable signature of our dear sister, Quariel.”

  There was no mistaking the powerful vibration of sexual energy rippling through the very fabric of space and time - the most powerful energy in the universe. It had the power to create. It was the ultimate power. And one could become drunk with it, as so many humans and immortals were.

  “Fools,” Satrin whispered, seemingly annoyed with the energy that swept over her.

  Quabin had to agree. Even immortals were not immune to the power of the energy of creation, or the binding of the souls when the creative law was invoked between the lovers.

  “Humans don’t understand the power they have,” Quabin explained to Kema. “They misuse it so abhorrently, so freely. They don’t understand how much chaos they wreck upon themselves when they misuse it.”

  Kema blinked as a grin lighted. “Lucky for us,” she smirked.

  Qaubin laughed. “Yes, so true, Kema. It is a good thing for us that mortals and immortals alike can be so stupid.”

  Quabin turned to Satrin, “Go. Now. The deed is done and the defenses are weakened. Now is the time to attack.”

  Satrin gave a crisp nod, spun on her heel and vanished in a puff of black oily smoke. A shout sounded in the distance as Quabin watched several dozen Furies, Ensnarers, Tempters, and Accusers rose from the milling throng to follow Satrin north, towards Torrey.