Mother of Darkwaters: Book one of the Vessel series

by Tony C. Skye

  * * *

  Tamara follows Julianna up the stairs to the second floor. As they walk down the hallway, Tamara grins.

  “Nice she-devil.”

  The subtle reference to her butt, via the she devil on the rear pocket of her short-shorts, causes Julianna to smile.

  “Devia helped me to get these,” Julianna confesses, “You all are going to love her. She can get any kind of clothes in the world. That’s where that dress came from.”

  “For real?”

  “She picks up the phone and people listen.”

  “Becca would lose her mind with a connection like that. We’d never see her again.”

  “It might be fun to watch.”

  “Or terrifying.”

  Julianna laughs. But it is brief as she approaches the door to her bedroom. She nervously takes hold of the handle.

  “Wait,” Tamara says while gently touching Julianna’s outstretched hand. The woman with black hair stares at the oak wood door.

  “We don’t have to do this right now.”

  “I’m scared this is a dream,” Julianna answers, “I’m afraid that I’m going to wake up and start crying…like I always do.”

  “I’m really here, Julianna,” Tamara replies, “And I will be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. I will be here until you make me leave. But not before then.”

  Julianna turns the gold handle and eases the door open. She steps inside. Her eyes widen – her words stolen away.

  “It was tough getting those girls in the blue dresses to go along with this,” Tamara says while walking across the door’s threshold, “I thought one of them was going to have a stroke when I asked her to open the door. Captain Woods helped me to convince them.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Julianna barely whispers out the words. She looks down. Beneath her bare feet, red rose petals separate her skin from the hardwood flooring. She follows the trail of petals with her awe-stricken eyes. They lead to her bed located in the room’s center near the far wall. The red petals cover over the entire king-size mattress. The only evidence left of her blue bedspread, is found on the edges where the spread overhangs. She finds it difficult to breathe as long fingers intertwine with her left hand. She, slowly, looks up. Tamara smiles back with inviting eyes.

  “Do you like it?”

  Julianna looks back at her bed. Two sticks are tied with a blue ribbon – one a switch, the other thick and unforgiving. They lay diagonal across the bed’s center. Julianna remembers them from the farmhouse.

  Tamara watches Julianna stare at the sticks with distant memories. She gently sweeps Julianna up in her arms and cradles her while walking towards the bed. Julianna searches her eyes for answers. Tamara can still see the doubt on her face of whether or not she believes this is even real. She stops by the bed’s right side and carefully lays Julianna down on her back.

  Tamara reaches over the speechless woman and takes hold of the sticks, “We don’t need these. Not this time.”

  Julianna staggers in another nervous breath while Tamara lays the sticks upon the floor. The woman stands and slips her dress off – the offering of her present now exposed. Julianna refuses to move her eyes from Tamara’s gaze. But her peripheral vision still reveals the scar’s reminder of Tamara’s living nightmare.

  Tamara lies down by the love of her life. She softly caresses her long fingers up Julianna’s left leg.

  “We can take it slow,” Tamara whispers, “We have the rest of our lives.”

  She lifts Julianna’s white tee shirt enough to expose her belly. She lowers her head. A small hand fingers through the back of her short bleach blond hair.

  Julianna closes her eyes with a quiet sigh as Tamara kisses her belly – a kiss that is gentle within its intent.

  * * *

  Chapter 24

  Family Bonds

  “Look who decided to join us,” Rebecca announces to everyone in the pool room.

  “Hello you two,” Gale grins knowingly, “You both look exhausted. You must be ready for bed.”

  Julianna’s wide smile turns into a giggle. Alexandria grins as Tamara and Julianna walk towards the bar on the other side of the pool.

  Rebecca taps the top of her empty glass sitting on the bar.

  “Yes, ma’am,” a man wearing a white tuxedo says from behind the bar. He pulls the glass and puts it in a tray beneath the bar. He places a clean glass back onto the counter’s surface and begins making a Tequila Sunrise for the blond hair woman.

  “How’s everyone doing?”

  Rebecca looks at Tamara as she escorts Julianna towards the bar. She observes the unwavering smile upon Julianna’s face.

  “Apparently not as good as you two,” Rebecca gives her response.

  “Wow, is that what it’s like?”, Caroline questions.

  Alexandria and Gale laugh.

  “Not for me,” Rebecca watches the bartender make her drink, “First, he was like I love you. And then he had his fun. And after that, I never heard from him again. I felt like a real champion afterwards. Stupid ass jocks.”

  “Oh,” Caroline replies to her bff’s answer by feeling really awkward. She sips on her drink from the bar stool next to Rebecca’s right side.

  “Don’t get in any hurry about it,” Jennifer speaks. She sits in one of the white lawn chairs positioned by the pool. To her left, Gale and Alexandria laze within the next two chairs. The furniture is positioned so that the ladies can view the pool in front of them and the bar to their right.

  “What do you want?”

  Julianna looks up at Tamara with animated eyes, “Crown Royal.”

  “Heh,” Jennifer amuses while her mind recalls the night in which Julianna changed her life.

  Tamara holds up two fingers while looking at the bartender, “Two shots of Crown Royal.”

  “Better just get the bottle,” Jennifer calls out.

  “Yes ma’am,” the man behind the bar follows Tamara’s order instead of Jennifer’s suggestion. He turns and reaches for two shot glasses.

  “No one asked you,” Rebecca says quietly with her back towards Jennifer. She sips her Tequila Sunrise through her straw.

  “Trouble in paradise?”, Tamara questions.

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “Ohh - kay…”, Tamara answers. She nods appreciatively towards the man who slides the drinks towards her.

  “We might need that bottle after all,” Tamara says while ignoring Rebecca, “It’s a little bit of a downer over here.”

  Rebecca remains silent while watching the man comply with Tamara’s wishes. She shakes her head as Julianna and Tamara walk towards the women lying by the pool.

  “You didn’t have to be that way,” Caroline quietly speaks her mind. “You’re being selfish, Becca. Tamara doesn’t even know why you’re mad.”

  “Because it’s none of her business,” Rebecca gives her final answer.

  “Let me know when I can have my bff back,” Caroline says while standing up from the bar stool. She sways while taking hold of her alcohol. Julianna’s cousin turns and heads towards the real party.

  You all can bite me.

  Tamara shakes her head within her confusion. Julianna and the other women all look at each other after Rebecca projects unknowingly.

  Keep it up and I just might, you spoiled brat.

  Rebecca quickly turns around. She stares at Jennifer with excited eyes.

  “Did I do it?!”

  “Heh,” Jennifer nods.

  Rebecca looks around at the other women. Caroline finds a seat next to her cousin and acts as though she hasn’t heard anything. Gale and Alexandria seem to be completely in the dark. Tamara has very confused eyes while trying to figure out what is happening. Julianna is quietly speaking to Tamara.

  Jennifer looks over at Julianna, “I want to teach her how to block.”

  Caroline laughs. Alexandria and Gale look confused. Julianna glances at Jennifer and grins.

  “Not in here,”
Julianna replies, “Use a room with carpet.”

  “Do I have to?”, Jennifer questions pleadingly.

  Julianna smiles. She looks at Gale and Alexandria. You two need to make your vows to me by saying it.”

  “Okay,” Alex shrugs her shoulders, “I vow myself to you.”

  “I vow myself to you,” Gale says the words innocently.

  Julianna watches black ink swim across the med student’s eyes. She looks at Jennifer, “Take all three of them. I’ll work with Tam.”

  “My pleasure,” Jennifer says with a knowing grin.

  * * *

  Julianna watches while everyone enjoys their breakfast. They all sit at a large table with twenty five chairs surrounding it. One chair to represent each stone formed within the foundation of her sanctuary. Every chair that is, except hers.

  The red wood of the furniture is glossy with its finish. The center of the table has her family’s emblem meticulously engraved with gold outlining. Above the long table hang two chandeliers. They are each made of clear crystal with accenting deep blue diamonds. Their lighting dances around the dining room like magical fairies in a child’s movie.

  Julianna sits at the head of the table. The love of her life, Tamara, sits in the first chair to her right. Next to her, in order, sits Caroline, Jennifer, Gale, and Larry Richards – one of the security guards from the hospital in which Julianna was admitted for her suicide attempt. To Julianna’s left, Rebecca sits. After the haughty goddess, Alexandria is followed up by Cole Quincy – another security guard from the hospital. Sitting next to him is Charles Stevens, the guard who was in charge over the other two at the hospital. He sits quietly with his impartial stare.

  Nine stones have now been placed to begin the foundation. Fifteen are left. And since Tamara’s wonderful arrival, Julianna is back on track again. She is ready to continue following the beckoning call emanating from the Place of the Dead. The subtle nature of the magnet of the unseen pulls her forward in perfect synchronization to the wall’s writing.

  “I have something I need to talk to you all about,” Julianna says. The clinging of forks, the sounds of small talk and laughter, and the sipping of drinks all come to a stop as eyes turn to look. Julianna looks at everyone with a worrisome gaze.

  “What’s wrong?”, Tamara questions with a concerning tone.

  “I’m not sure how to even say this,” Julianna confesses while not looking at anyone in particular.

  The room’s patrons look at each other, but no one speaks.

  “See,” Julianna says while looking at Tamara, “I thought you were dead. And - uh...I kinda went over the deep end.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  “No,” Julianna shakes her head, “Not like that.” Her ensuing reluctance brings a curious look from the others at the table.

  Julianna inhales and lets out a quick breath. “Okay. I guess there’s only one way to say this.”

  “You know when David Snow hung himself?”, Julianna questions while explaining herself to Tamara.

  “Good riddance. Sick bastard,” Rebecca speaks up.

  Julianna turns her head to the left and looks at the woman with long blond hair.

  “That’s the thing,” Julianna continues, “He sorta lived.”

  “What?!”, Tamara panics, “No. He died. He has to be dead.”

  Julianna glances guiltily at Tamara before looking around the table of troubled faces.

  “What are you not telling us?”, Jennifer questions.

  “Um – I kinda had that whole thing setup.”

  “Why would you do that?”, Tamara sounds scared, “If he’s on the loose, you’re in danger. I’m in danger. We all could be in danger.”

  Julianna glances at Tamara before looking down.

  “I believe Julianna has him. Is this correct?”

  Julianna raises her head as all the faces in the room look in the direction of Charles Stevens. She nods with an appreciative smile.

  “Why do you have him,” Caroline questions.

  Julianna looks at Gale, “You and Alex are probably going to freak out. I’ve not exactly been caring for him like his mother would.”

  The two medical students look at each other with understanding. Gale looks away. Alexandria turns her attention towards Julianna.

  “We signed up for the good times and the bad. You do you. We will always be behind you,” Alexandria says. She glances across the table at her bff, “But we might not participate in something like this. We have other vows, too.”

  Alex looks at Julianna, “If that’s okay?”

  “I wouldn’t even consider asking you guys to do that,” Julianna confirms.

  “Participate in what?”

  Julianna turns her attention over to Tamara, “I have been sorta paying him back for your murder. And I haven’t been exactly gentle about it. I mean, I thought you were dead. I wasn’t about to let him live his life. I didn’t have it in me.”

  “Whoa,” Rebecca says quietly with a retreating head. She looks at Caroline who seems to be freaking out as much as she is.

  “Are you mad?”

  “No,” Tamara answers, “I would have tortured him much worse than you could ever do if I thought he had killed you.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  Jennifer arches her right brow, “What’s the damage?”

  “He has one leg and the other is in bad shape from the bear claw.”

  “Bear claw?”

  Julianna looks at her cousin and nods. She, then, glances to Jennifer.

  “I beat him with a whip, sliced him with scissors, poked him with an ice pick, bit him, scratched him, fileted him, then there was a chainsaw, a…”

  “Okay-okay,” Rebecca stops the madness, “We get it.”

  “Is he still alive?”

  Julianna looks at Caroline. She nods. Her cousin moves her shock filled eyes to the table’s surface.

  Rebecca pushes her plate forward.

  “What do you want us to do?”, Tamara questions sincerely.

  “Nothing,” Julianna confesses her intentions, “I just wanted to be truthful to everyone. I’m probably going down there to finish the job. I wouldn’t dream of asking any of you to come along. This is on me.”

  “Down where?”

  Julianna looks at Rebecca, “The dungeon.”

  “Of course,” Rebecca replies, “The dungeon. How could I not think of that?” She looks at Tamara while presenting Julianna with her right hand, “She has a dungeon.”

  “I’m going to help.”

  All eyes look at Jennifer.

  “What?”, Jennifer sounds defensive, “That piece of crap tried to kill my bff. I want mine. I’d do the same thing if it was any of you sitting in this room.”

  Jennifer waves her right hand in a shooing motion, “So you all can just take that garbage somewhere else.”

  Caroline swallows nervously. Her belly grumbles.

  “Cousin,” Julianna speaks, “You don’t need to go. I don’t expect anyone to. I won’t think any less of you. Gale and Alex aren’t going. I’d be a real bitch if I ordered you to get involved. Family doesn’t operate like that. So stop feeling pressure. It’s not there.”

  Caroline lifts her head to view Julianna as she speaks, “That’s the thing. It is there. I want to hurt him...badly. He tried to take Tam from us. We all thought she was dead for six months. I freakin’ mourned her. I wanted to die…”

  Caroline stops as her eyes begin tearing up. She wipes the water away.

  “Well shit,” Rebecca curses, “I guess I’m going to.”

  “You don’t have to, Becca.”

  Rebecca holds out her right palm towards Julianna’s face, “Shut it.”

  She lowers her hand, “You people aren’t making me out to be the bitch.”

  “Heh.”

  Rebecca glares at Jennifer.

  “And you guys?”, Julianna questions the men .

  “If he still lives when the ladies of the hous
e are finished,” Charles Stevens answers, “I’ll break each bone until he is done. A man hurting a woman is unacceptable.” He nods respectively at Tamara. She returns a small smile of appreciation.

  “Same here,” Larry Richards replies.

  Julianna looks at Cole. The man nods.

  * * *

  Beep.

  Snow looks towards the door. Last night was the best night he’s had since being brought here. He was well fed, the lights stayed on – no eerie voices, he took a hot shower, received clean clothes, and slept on a real mattress. For breakfast this morning, Captain Woods gave him steak and eggs before cuffing him naked to the pull up bar. David would have objected to it, but was afraid it would anger the guy. He’s supposed to be restrained by the shackles against the wall – allowing him access to the bed. And he was told that he could keep his clothes on. But to needlessly anger someone because they have made a mistake would be a grievous error on his part. Captain Woods is a decent man in comparison to that crazy bitch.

  click-click.

  The door slides open. Julianna steps inside. David Snow’s eyes widen.

  “I didn’t try to off myself. I…I swear to it. I didn’t.”

  “I know that silly,” Julianna confirms, “I’m not here to harm you.”

  Snow’s facial expression relaxes.

  Julianna steps to the side of the doorway, “They are.”

  Tamara steps inside.

  Snow panics, “You…you’re supposed to be dead.”

  Tamara’s brows narrow as she grits her teeth. She didn’t realize, until this very moment, how angry hearing his voice or seeing his face would make her. She quickly closes off the distance to Snow and begins punching him in the face.

  “Leave some for the rest of us,” Rebecca says whenever she witnesses Snow get knocked out. Tamara punches Snow three more times before Rebecca’s words register within her wrathful mind. Tamara breathes heavily as she steps back. Snow’s nose is broken – leaving a blood splattered face in the aftermath.