A Circle Of Crows

by Brynn Chapman

  "Rae! Where are you!” called Rachael, somewhere upwind from her.

  Rae turned to try and locate the sound of her twin's voice. She moved out of the forest and held up her hand to shield her eyes from the sun.

  She quickly blinked her eyes at what she thought must be a trick of the light, but upon opening them, it was still there.

  A flock of crows, flying in an odd pattern, hundreds of them, flew from the area where Rachael's voice had come from. They all changed directions back and forth so quickly, it was as if they had one mind.

  They all flew east as if they were fleeing some unseen foe.

  Rae ran down the hillside and proceeded to slip on the loose slag abundant in the quarry, succeeding in bloodying her hands as she attempted to catch herself.

  She could see Bella heading over the hill, running to the place where Rachael's voice had called from.

  The foreboding feeling appeared again—or was it a panic attack?—and sweat broke out over her forehead while her heart began to race wildly. She was thinking of the tea trolley in her room which housed her stash of alcohol...

  "Bella?!” she called as she ran toward her younger sister.

  As she reached the top of the hill, she almost ran over her sisters, who stood huddled together halfway down the embankment.

  Whichever way they turned to look, the entire hillside was full of bird nests, literally thousands of them. Rachael stood holding one in her hand. As Rae approached, she could see Rachael was trembling.

  Inside the nest were broken eggs and ... small children's toys; a jack, a superball, ribbons and ... Rachael held up a small bone, which Rae surmised was the size of a child's finger.

  Chapter 18

  Mount Morte'

  The train of covered wagons clambered down the dirt road. The children were packed tight inside them and the queen's guards raced up and down the procession on horseback, just like border collies herding their flock. Fifteen guards, Morgana counted as she poked her head out the back of the wagon.

  Colin road up and back, checking to be sure everything was in order. Christian rode behind the train long enough to get Colin's attention.

  As Christian rode alongside Colin, he whispered, “The men faithful to the rebellion are ready. I held a meeting before we departed. They await your word to begin the uprising."

  "We will have to be patient; only half the men on this expedition are loyal to us. The time must be right to free the children. We must not reach Mount Morte', or I fear all may be lost."

  "You have seen the beast on previous journeys, sir?"

  Colin's lips set in a thin line, pressed so tightly they became white. “Yes, I have. A sight I shall carry to my end. Hyde they call it. I have not witnessed the sacrifices, as I would surely have lost my own soul to attempt to prevent it. One man is insignificant to this cause. We will need as many as we are able to recruit to make the slightest bit of difference."

  "Do fifty children go each time?"

  "No, in the beginning, the beast was satisfied with twenty or so, and that would hold him at bay from scorching the earth and farmlands. But he is getting greedy and lazy and demands more each passing year."

  In his memory, Colin returned to the day of their abduction and the face of his dear mother as she screamed while Hyde laid siege upon their cottage and all those nearby. Colin's brother had been inside, and his mother fought her husband as he restrained her from entering the burning house to save her son. Colin could see his sister, barely five, running out of the door as her skirt caught fire and she began to howl in pain. Colin, the eldest child at fifteen, flew to his sister's aid and rolled with her on the earth to extinguish the flames while his mother's screams echoed in his head.

  "He came through the time doorway then? Like all the outlanders we see?"

  Christian's voice brought him out of his reverie. Hatred, cold and steely rose in his chest.

  "That's what the lore reports. That he burned everything in sight and was undefeatable, with scales as hard as diamonds, then he would fly away when cornered. The queen struck a deal with the beast after she discovered The Dark Book. It is said to have taught her how to communicate with it. And then the sacrifices began ... When I was a lad, my own da died trying to defeat it. He knew we would never be safe till it was slain."

  "We have all heard the stories of your father, sir. He was of stout heart."

  "Christian, there is one more important thing you need to know about the beast. Its eyes. They are yellow, but it can smell a person's soul, who they are, their countenance. Its eyes will change colors, indicating it is about to attack. They will be black if it deems a person unfit to consume; scarlet if it deems the soul pure, and it has been legend that when its eyes turn emerald green, it is gazing upon a soul so pure, it would add many years to its filthy lifespan. And also, that soul may have the capability of destroying it single-handedly. That has only happened precious few times according to the lore. Its eye color changes before it attacks to consume."

  "Begging your pardon, but what is your meaning by ‘attacks to consume'?"

  "It will kill men, to be sure. But most are deemed impure by it. So it will incinerate them, but will not devour them. Only those pure of heart will prolong its life, and the beast will consume them. Be ever watchful of the beast's eyes. I must ride up before we arouse suspicion."

  "One more question. That was why the queen used the book then? To open the doorways to take children—outlander children from other realms—when all the folk stopped having them, knowing their fate if they were born into our time?"

  "Yes, she mastered the use of The Dark Book for that grim purpose as well. I must go."

  He clucked to his horse and advanced.

  * * * *

  Four weeks had past and October had come to Rhinebeck. It was beautiful with all the leaves changed into browns, golds, reds and yellows. The sisters attempted to continue on with life the best they could. Every minute of the day was spent trying to unravel the mystery of Morgana's disappearance.

  They sat at the dining room table after the evening dinner crowd had departed and discussed the week's progress. The local police had been of no assistance and just yesterday, a federal agent had called in an attempt to help.

  Rachael gathered the chicken salad she had placed in a huge crystal bowl and set it on the table within reach of the gathered family.

  "Were you able to find any new information on the computer files at the library today?” inquired Rachel.

  Raena eyed her sister intently. Rachael looked ill having lost ten pounds in the past month, and Raena was often awakened by her twin's footsteps on the creaking floorboards at night. Raena wondered how many nights it had been since Rachael had an uninterrupted night's slumber. Rachael's eyes had the look of something lost. Having once read that the eyes were the window to the soul, Raena now believed it. Once alive and fiery with determination, her twin's eyes now had the look of a woman who prepared for the onslaught of grief, the one simple act of awakening laid upon her.

  It was obvious that hope for her child was ebbing away, and with it, her determination to continue on.

  "No,” she said with a furtive glance in Bella's direction.

  "I'm going to lay down. I'm not feeling well,” was Rachael's reply. She slowly departed the kitchen for her quarters.

  "Rae, what are we going to do?” Bella asked. Tears welled in her blue-green eyes and Rae felt her own face become wet with tears as well.

  "I don't know, baby girl."

  Sam placed his hands over his face and sighed audibly.

  "Do you want me to stay home instead of going to Byron's this weekend, Bella?” asked Sam, placing a hand over his wife's.

  "No, of course not,” said Bella, wiping her tears away. “We'll manage. If something happens, we'll call."

  "All right. I have to go now, or I'll be stuck in traffic. I'll call you when I get there.” Sam went out through the kitchen door and strolled toward their cottage with Solomon beggi
ng for attention as Sam walked by him.

  "I'll make tea. Let's go over the documents again, as there's no chance either one of us will be sleeping tonight,” said Rae decidedly.

  "Yes, let's.” And she got up and started to sort the huge pile of papers on the kitchen table.

  Hours later, Raena's eyes were red and watering. “I'm going to bed. I'm so tired, all the words are beginning to blur."

  * * * *

  "Okay. I'll be over tomorrow morning.” Bella got up and walked out the door, then untied the dog, who had gone to sleep many hours ago, giving up any chance of being let into the house.

  She walked into the kitchen and noticed a note on the table.

  It read,

  I'll be thinking of you. I pray everything will work out and we'll find Morgana alive and well. If we don't, know that I'll do all I can for you and the other women in my life. Call if you need me.

  Sam

  She walked into the bedroom, Solomon on her heels. She laid down on top of the comforter with her clothes on and closed her eyes, willing the nothingness of sleep to come. Solomon jumped onto the bed. Normally, Bella would have pushed him off and scolded him, but tonight, she wrapped her arm around the shaggy mongrel and again closed her eyes.

  Bella dreamt. In her dream, she saw a stone corridor and heard crying children. She could hear a crackling sound ... fire, perhaps. She started and screamed so loudly, that Solomon leaped off the bed and whined. She sat bolt upright in bed, and realized she could still hear the crackling sound from her dream. Solomon was standing on his hind legs staring out the window, his ears flat against his head, his hackles up, and he was growling low and menacingly.

  Bella ran over to the window. In the light of the full hunters moon, Bella could see something she had only read about, a moon bow in the sky. And the leaves—the leaves were crackling. In the courtyard between the inn and the cottage, a funnel cloud of leaves was spiraling and spinning dangerously right outside the Autumn Room window. She could see Chloe in the window, who looked identical to Solomon in his fight or flight posturing.

  "It's happening."

  Bella threw on her jacket and shoes, then flew out the door and raced out into the courtyard. She paused for only a second, for she swore she could hear children's voices on the night air. Solomon followed her, barking and she took off again to the inn's porch. The door was already open and banging with the force of the gale.

  "Rachael! Raena! Get up now!"

  Rachael appeared, fully dressed. Her eyes were like blue fire, no longer dull and lifeless as they had been earlier that evening.

  "It's happening. Can you hear them?"

  "The children? Yes. Let's go."

  They took the stairs two at a time, screaming for Rae as they approached.

  Raena was already in the Autumn Room, waiting for them. She faced the mirror and was eerily calm as she turned to face them. “It's the lunar cycle. It's the next full moon, I think that's why it opened."

  The mirror was swirling in synchrony with the wind tunnel outside, silver and smoke.

  "I'm getting some protection,” said Rachael.

  "We don't have time. We have no idea how long it will stay open,” implored Bella.

  Rachael ran from the room and down the stairs.

  "Rae, keep touching it, make sure it stays open."

  Bella grabbed a pencil and paper from the bedside table and wrote:

  Sam,

  It opened tonight. Rae thinks it has something to do with lunar cycles. If we can't come back through right away, look for us the next beavers moon. I had to go ... I had to try and save her. I know you would have done the same. I will love you till my dying day,

  Bella

  She placed it in the hall under the slate doorstop so it wouldn't fly away in the wind.

  The leaves had begun to fly in the open window and were soaring into the mirror now, as if some unseen vacuum were beckoning them in.

  "Rachael, hurry! I think it's going to close!” screamed Rae, her normally low voice screeching in panic.

  Rachael appeared with a shotgun and two of her husband's old deer knives, along with a bull rope and a flashlight.

  Rae and Bella tied the rope to the huge mahogany bed and threw it into the mirror, where it promptly disappeared.

  "Let's go get our baby girl,” said Rachael and she grabbed the rope and fought her way through the windstorm and into the mirror.

  The sisters followed suit and soon, all three were hanging onto the rope in the mirror. They had reached the end of the rope and could no longer hear one another properly due to the howling gale around them. When a voice was heard, it sounded as if it were underwater. Flashes of colors and light were all around them as they dangled precariously. Rachael reached above her and tugged at Rae's pant leg and pulled down, to indicate they would have to let go. Rae followed suit with Isabella, who was above her. Rachael's hand appeared through the color and Rae took it, then she jerked the rope and Bella moved down into sight.

  Rachael screamed, “One, two, three!” and Rae let go of the rope and grabbed Isabella's hand as the force knocked all three loose.

  They fell through the tunnel, but they felt as though they were being pushed through water, rather than the sensation of falling. Images began to appear on all sides of them, bodies of water with children staring down into them, anxious faces of parents calling, then flashing intermittently with burning houses and charred fields. Then a huge, burned pastureland with a group of people running, all looking over their shoulders and screaming—screaming at a huge black winged creature.

  Then the texture of the fluid changed from warm to piercing cold, and it began to feel less viscous and the pushing sensation ended.

  There was now water everywhere.

  Raena looked about, but could not see her siblings. The water was black and filled with slimy vegetation. She began to swim in the direction her inner ear told her was up, praying that her sense of direction was correct.

  She breached the top of the pond gasping for breath and saw Isabella ten feet away.

  "Where's Rachael?” she cried.

  "I don't know.” But as soon as the words were out of her mouth, her twin surfaced.

  "Look at the moon!” cried Rachael. It was a deep red-orange color and completely full.

  They began to make their way toward the sandy shore.

  Chapter 19

  Marisol rose early while it was still dark outside. She moved silently through the servants’ quarters attending to the chores she was responsible for prior to walking to the castle to begin her day there. She fingered the band hanging around her neck and was confused. Even though she was terribly happy, she was also fully aware that Colin may not ever return from this mission if something were to go awry. She attempted to push the troublesome thoughts from her head and stoking the fire, hung the pot of water so it would begin to heat.

  Mari walked quickly through the early morning air onto the cobblestone path which led to the entrance of the castle proper. In the distance, she could hear the sound of birds and the hairs on the back of her neck raised as she shivered. She stopped and listened to wait to hear them call to one another again.

  The sound pierced the air once more and Mari poised herself for flight, but straining her hearing, she discerned that these were either robins or blue jays, nothing black and sinister.

  She pushed the heavy oak door open and began to force herself up the stairs, the burden in her heart felt as if it were weighing her whole body down, making it difficult to plod through her daily chores.

  "Maybe I'll steal down to the kitchens first..."

  "'Allo, Mari. Imagine meeting you so early in the morn."

  Captain Dennehy had appeared at the foot of the stairs, his eyes malevolent and shiny. He looked up and down her body with undisguised lust.

  "Imagine that Colin would go and command an expedition and leave a pretty thing like you all alone and unattended."

  Mari eyed him nervously and beg
an to edge backwards up the stairs.

  "Yes, I know about the two of you. I see the way the weak-minded fool looks after you. I think it's time you find out what a man with a proper vision of the world is like...” He began running up the stairs, surprisingly agile for a man of his size, taking the steps two at a time.

  Mari whirled and began to scramble on all fours up the stairs. She was able to make it up six stairs before she slipped and her ribs hit the stone steps with a crack. Hearing him coming closer, she could smell the ale on his breath.

  Panicking, she cried out, “Help me, please!” Just then, he grabbed her ankle and pulled hard. She slid down the stone steps, her ribs cracking again and the pain was so great, blackness threatened. She willed it back, fully aware of her fate if should she lose consciousness.

  "Shut up, wench!” bawled the Captain and he pulled his massive body over the top of hers.

  Mari brought her knee up and connected squarely with his groin, causing him to exhale a powerful stench of old spirits as he swore under his breath at her.

  His huge hands were groping now, she could feel his hands tracing up her leg.

  He began to rip her dress, when whack!

  Something hit him square in the head, knocked him off balance and away from her.

  Within seconds, Mari was standing on his chest and twisted her heavy boots into it as hard as her tiny frame would permit.

  "Touch her again, and I will let the arrow fly."

  Nathaniel of the home guard stood at the top of the open stairwell with his bow aimed directly as Denney's chest.

  "What are you going to do about it, then?"

  "Killing you would be ridding this world of one of its more vile creatures, to be sure."

  Mari had climbed the stairs and Nathaniel could feel her body behind him now, trembling slightly. This angered him even more and he pulled the string back a little further.

  "What is to stop me from crushing you the moment I reach the top of those stairs?"

  "The queen. I am sure she would be pleased to hear of her lover attempting to rape one of her house servants, her handmaiden, no less. We are all aware of the endless love and forgiveness she is capable of."