by S L Zammit
Noticing the color visibly drain from her face, I wonder if maybe I should have asked them to drop by another time.
“What is this about?” she asks brusquely.
“We’ve been talking to your friend here about the robbery in Valletta and the professor,” says the female detective sweetly.
“We have some questions for you,” adds the male detective. “I think you should drive down to the station with us.”
“I’ve already told you everything I know,” says Aurora curtly.
“You failed to mention that you had the old manuscript the professor was working on the night he died in your possession until very recently,” snaps the female detective, her voice sharp.
“We have some questions about your whereabouts the night of the professor’s death,” says the female detective, a triumphant look on her face. “A woman fitting your physical description was seen jogging in Valletta on that very night.”
Both detectives rise from their chairs and move slowly towards Aurora who has an exhausted, defeated expression on her face.
“Aurora had no reason to steal anything,” I interject, feeling responsible for the misunderstanding. “The old book I mentioned belongs to Andras. You can ask him yourselves. She had no reason to break in anywhere and steal anything. I’m sure there’s been a terrible mix-up.”
“Just stop talking,” says Aurora in a small, tired voice. “Could you call Esmeralda Montfort and tell her that I’m at the police station and need help.”
Feeling thoroughly confused, I watch as the two detectives escort Aurora out of the apartment and into their car.
3
After overcoming her primary reservations upon hearing my voice on the other end of the line, Dame Esmeralda Montfort seemed very eager to help Aurora when I explained the situation. But although I’ve called her a few times since then, to inquire about the state of affairs, she hasn’t picked up her phone.
Aurora has been gone all night. I drove to the police station to inquire about her at around eleven in the morning, after visiting Zia Marie at the hospital. Everyone at the station was very tight lipped about the subject, and one of the officers said he would call me when requested to do so by the investigating detective on the case. The only information I could glean was that Judge Joe Montfort was present during Aurora’s interrogation at the time of my visit.
Zia Marie looked so much better this morning. Most of her tubes have been removed, and she is eating solid food. The color is gradually creeping back to her bony cheeks, and she is communicating verbally. She still looks terribly frail from the pneumonia and septic shock, and not wanting to worry her unnecessarily, I didn’t mention anything about Aurora.
It’s now three in the afternoon and I haven’t heard a word. My stomach a knotted mess, pacing frantically around the apartment, I literally pounce on my cell phone when it finally rings.
“Come get me,” says Aurora’s small and miserable voice.
I hardly recognize her as she walks out of the police station. She doesn’t look anywhere near the version of the fabulous Aurora I know and love.
“I’m so sorry,” I say as she climbs into the car. “I have no idea what I said, but I feel like I got you in all this trouble.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she says softly. “This mess is of my own doing.”
“What happened?” I ask horrified. “Were you really involved in the professor’s death?”
“I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re asking,” she says dryly. “But they’re right. I was there the night he died.”
Glancing over at my perplexed face, “I went there in the afternoon to ask for Andras’ book back. I was just trying to protect you since you signed that confidentiality agreement and then went ahead and removed the marquis’ personal possession from the property. I was trying to protect you, and myself,” she admits.
“How does that make you guilty of anything?” I ask.
“Well, he wouldn’t give the book up,” she says. “He seemed obsessed with it. Wanted to involve all these people to contribute their opinion about it. I was at my wits’ end with worry. So I went back in the dead of night, and broke into his shop.”
Having known the professor quite well, and having witnessed first-hand his excessive excitement upon coming across something he deemed worth noticing, I know what she’s talking about.
But still, “Are you kidding me?” I ask incredulously.
“I wish I was,” she says softly. “He was in the shop sleeping, and I was halfway across the room before I found out. He was sleeping on the sofa and my presence woke him up. Filled with horror to see a burglar in his shop, he had a heart attack.”
“This is such shocking news,” I say gasping. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking of protecting both of us,” she repeats sadly.
“So what are they accusing you of?” I ask my eyes wide open.
“Well I didn’t help him or call an ambulance,” she says. “Which makes me guilty of something I guess. But Judge Joe managed to smooth the whole thing over with the police inspector.”
“Oh gosh Aurora!” I say. “This is horrible. I don’t know what to think. I know you so well that deep down I know you had the best intentions. But the man is dead! You should have called someone for help!”
“I panicked and ran away,” she says simply.
“Are they charging you?” I ask, fearful of her response.
“Luckily Joe was there and vouched for me,” she says. “They won’t be pressing charges at the moment.”
“Joe wouldn’t even make eye contact with me,” she continues sadly. “Before he left, he told me to keep my distance until things blow over. But I know what he means. I know that look on his face. I’m finished Graziella. Esmie didn’t even pick up when I called her. They might as well have charged me with murder, put me in a jail cell and thrown away the key. It’s over for me.”
Putting her worn face in her hands, she sobs uncontrollably during the whole drive to the apartment.
4
Early next morning, just as I’m getting ready to go visit Zia Marie at the hospital, impertinent knocking at the door interrupts me. Again.
Although I’m quite hesitant to open this time, for fear of causing even more problems for the ones I love, I’m anxious to stop the noise caused by whoever it is.
Aurora has been up all night, and the silence in her room indicates that she’s finally getting some much-needed rest.
The man at the door asks me to sign for some very neatly packed boxes containing all Aurora’s belongings from the Montforts’ law firm and properties.
Feeling quite indignant about the whole situation, I furiously dial Dame Esmie fully intending to give her a piece of my mind, only to find that the phone number is no longer in service.
Putting away the boxes in the storage room, I leave to visit Zia Marie. When I return to the apartment a few hours later, I find Aurora in tears, staring at a letter she’s holding in her hand.
“The legal ethical board is suspending my license to practice law pending an investigation into all the cases I was involved in,” she sobs. “Every single one of them since I was an intern. It will take forever. I’m ruined.”
At a loss for words, I lean over to hug her. We both rock each other and cry for a long time.
5
Aurora has been moping around the apartment for days. I doubt she’s been outdoors since the whole ordeal at the police station. She’s looking skinnier than ever.
I’ve been spending most of my days at the hospital, so without me around to egg her on, I’m pretty sure she hasn’t touched any food.
“Zia Marie is doing so much better. She’ll be discharged tomorrow,” I say. “She’s been asking about you.”
“That’s great news,” says Aurora. “What have you told her?”
“I haven’t said a thing,” I reply. “I didn’t want to worry her. I just say you’ve been busy working and that you se
nd your love.”
“Thanks,” says Aurora in a small voice.
“The nurses at the hospital were talking about this great new place in Paceville,” I say tentatively. “Maybe it would be good for us to go out tonight and have some fun.”
“Sure,” says Aurora after a moment’s silence, surprising me since I half expected her to refuse. “I need to get out of this horrible funk I’m in.”
6
Paceville is the smoky, neon mayhem it always is.
Having been finding solace in sleep, where Andras visits my dreams, I’m not thrilled to be out. Although the very notion sounds silly even when I myself think about it, it’s absolutely true. Every time I drift off, he’s there waiting for me, on that side of consciousness. So real are my dreams, that I can actually feel and taste him. Yesterday, I woke up with his smell all over me.
So tangible is his presence in my sleep that I’ve been toying with the idea of cutting my wakeful hours. So much so that I find myself contemplating whether to solicit the illicit-looking men lingering around the street corners of Paceville obviously selling drugs.
Maybe I’m being touched by insanity’s backhand, but the nagging gaping hole in my heart knows no reason. It is only when darkness closes in on my senses that I feel at ease.
But I’m glad that at least Aurora looks her usual gorgeous self.
My heart drops when I see the queue winding all the way around the building.
Spotting a man exiting a car from a distance and walking straight into the building, Aurora grabs my hand, proving that old Aurora is mostly back to normal.
“That’s Mark,” she says, smiling that beautiful smile I haven’t seen in a while. “Remember Mark? This must be his new place. Let’s rush up there and have him walk us in. I also know the guys at the door. This is perfect.”
“Hi guys,” she says jovially, walking up to one of the men.
“You need to move to the end of the line miss,” says the security guard gruffly, without even looking at her.
“It’s me, Aurora,” she says indignantly. “Could you tell Mark I’m here with a friend?”
“Please move to the end of the line miss,” he says looking stressed.
The other security guard moves in on the conversation.
“Mark’s wife is here,” he whispers. “I think you should leave.”
Observing her closely, I see Aurora’s face drop for a split second, but quickly restoring her composure she spins around. “Let’s get out of here,” she tells me. “This place doesn’t look that great anyway.”
“I’m sorry about that,” I say, following Aurora down the street.
“Don’t worry,” she says smiling. “I’m all right. Mark never told me he was married by the way.”
“Don’t pretend with me,” I insist. “That was pretty embarrassing back there. You can be real with me.”
“I am being real,” she says emphatically. “I’m fine. That was no big deal. I never really liked Mark anyway, he has the dampest palms,” she giggles. “And I’m sure his new club is not that great. His old one was a complete flop.”
Although she looks unfazed by the event, she must be hurt deep down, and I feel sorry for her.
“Things will turn around,” I assure her. “You’re just going through a rough patch.”
“I know,” she says smiling. “But it’s so busy here tonight. I haven’t been out in ages and I’d hate to waste time waiting in lines.”
“Where would you rather go?” I ask, eager to turn the evening into a success.
“To tell you the truth, I’d rather go change and go for a night-time jog,” she admits. “I haven’t been working out and I feel lousy. But if you want to stay out, it’s totally fine by me.”
“No,” I say immediately, hardly able to contain my excitement. “I’d rather go home and sleep. I’m feeling pretty tired.”
Aurora glances at me with a suspicious look on her face, but then shrugs and looks away.
“Let’s get out of here then,” she says smiling. “I’m so over this place.”
PART FIVE
AURORA
Enfin
Chapter 25
Status Exhausted
1
Aurora’s feet pound the moonlit pavement. Her vision blurred, tears streaming down her cheeks, cars swerve and honk at her but she hardly notices.
A man on a motorbike calls out her name, but she can’t hear him over the ambient noises and the turmoil in her head.
The farther she goes, the faster she runs, until her body and mind feel numb, leaving the noise and commotion far behind.
It is not until she reaches the turbulent sea that she stops at the edge of the jagged rocks. The waves break violently against the boulders retreating with an angry sound, foaming at the surface. The signs on the beach warn of riptides and dangerous undercurrents.
Looking out at the peaceful silver path of the moon in the distance, Aurora is overcome by a forceful beckoning, urging her to tread the raging waters and head for that peaceful place.
Stepping over the edge of the rocks, the sea wind whipping her skin, the taste of salt in her mouth, she free-falls and hits the surface of the dark sea. The waters hungrily engulf and close over her, swallowing her body into their humming depths, until the strong currents suck her all the way down to the bottom.
Finally, after days of sleeplessness and mental anguish, she feels peace overtaking her being. But before she can fully succumb to the still watery grave, she is grabbed by the hair and pulled off the seabed.
Opening her eyes, she struggles with the man who is pulling her up, but he’s too strong. Grabbing her firmly, Ariel swims up to the surface with powerful stokes of his free arm, kicking at the sucking force as she struggles to get free.
Breaking the surface, he gasps for air.
“What were you trying to do?” he yells angrily over the crashing sounds of the waves, still gripping her strongly as he swims to shore.
“I didn’t want to be saved,” she shouts, kicking around as he pulls her over the jagged rocks to safety.
“Would you stop hitting me?” he says. “You’re acting insane.”
“There’s nothing left for me here,” she yells. “Let me go.”
“Go where?” he says gently still holding on to her.
“I don’t know,” she screams. “I don’t care. Anywhere but here!”
Stepping back from him, Aurora lifts her wet shirt.
“Look at this,” she screams pointing at her badly bruised skin. “Do you know what these are?”
Extending her arms, she shows him long, thick scratch marks extending from under her arm all the way to her wrists.
“Do you know what these are?” she yells again.
Ariel shakes his head quietly.
“This is what happens whenever I try to sleep,” she screams. “Every time I nod off I’m hunted and attacked by the most horrible things you can imagine. And it’s not just a dream, it’s real as you can see. The marks will be gone by the next time I nod off, but not to worry there will be more! I haven’t slept in days. My days and nights morph into one interminable horror spectacle. The fatigue is driving me insane. I thought that giving back Andras his stuff would resolve this problem and the hellions would leave me alone. But no! Every day is worse than the one before. My life is falling apart. I’m gradually losing everything I achieved, and now I’m even losing my mind. I feel completely insane. During the days, I encounter situations that feel like déjà vu, as if the horrors in my sleep are seeping into my wakeful hours and even the most normal situations morph into a freak show. I’m scared to close my eyes and I’m scared to keep them open. It’s over for me.”
“No, it’s not!” he says exasperated. “This isn’t the end for you at all. I can help you with the creatures hunting you in your sleep. I can teach you how to overcome that kind of invasion. These beings infiltrating your plane of consciousness are after you because they know your power and are trying to
neutralize you. Unfortunately they almost succeeded tonight.”
“Excuse me if I’m not jumping up and down for joy. I have to be honest here, I don’t trust you’ll follow through with your offer to help me. I’ve been abandoned and disappointed too many times,” she says thinly. “When I met Andras all those years ago, the first thing he noticed about me was that I didn’t have a guardian. He mentioned my strength and power and the wonderful things in store for me. I was under his watch, but where was he when I needed help and protection? The one supposed to be guarding me was too busy looking out for himself. I’m alone as always, and now I’m the target of something horrible and monstrous I don’t even understand!”
“You’re right about Andras,” admits Ariel. “He does need to regain his own bearings before he can help anyone. He was assigned to help you and he failed you miserably. For those transgressions, I apologize. He has found ways to buffer his astral descent and conceal his methods, which I’m still very curious about. His negligence was obviously hugely underestimated.”
“All he seems to be interested in is being with various women of a very specific type,” interjects Aurora sarcastically. “I don’t think he realizes how much hurt he inflicts on the people he leaves in his wake.”
“Are you referring to anyone in particular?” asks Ariel, his eyebrow raised, interest peaked.
“My roommate Graziella,” says Aurora sadly. “I helped her get a job at his palazzo. I love her like a sister and can’t stand how heartbroken she seems.”
“I agree,” says Ariel. “His selfishness and irresponsibility landed his dependents in difficult and frightening situations they couldn’t cope with on their own. But he is an essence that has been in operation from the inception of the universe. He has done so many valiant, noble and outstanding deeds that his descent is regarded as a blip in his illustrious record. For a long time I have questioned this reasoning. I admit I’ve been disturbed at times by the eagerness with which his return is anticipated. In consideration of your case, things have become clearer to me. From his ignoble actions something wonderful has stemmed, your true calling.”