Wren slipped behind Devonne and placed her hand on the small man’s shoulder. "What is the latest on the virus," she asked quietly looking at the news.
"Simply put, with these folks in charge we are pretty much screwed," he commented, breaking his intense gaze from the television to smile at the redhead. "As for the weather situation, there is a storm system that will start to affect us here around midnight."
"What a mess," Wren muttered, sitting beside him on the chair as she watched the news anchor go over breaking news. Aghast, she lifted her hand to her mouth as the screen switched to announce the newest numbers regarding infections and deaths in the state.
"My gracious, where you two have been," Jewel drawled, her honey laden voice harboring a suspicious tone. She narrowed her eyes at Erika before giving Wren a sidelong glance. "Is everything ok, Wren-cher?” the woman taunted, “You seem anxious. Why don't you come to tell Momma Jewel all ‘bout it, eh?"
Wren and Erika exchanged a quick glance when the sudden ringing of Erika’s cell phone prevented her from rolling her eyes. Fishing the phone from where she had put it down, she felt a warmth rush through her when she saw who it was calling. "I have to take this, it's Ransom," she mouthed with a smile as she excused herself.
"Hey, Baby," she breathlessly answered the phone as she rushed outside but not before noticing Devonne take Wren's hand and gently kissing it.
"Hey lover," the voice on the other end purred in a deep southern drawl. "Loved the photo you sent. You have got to promise me to wear that outfit for me when I get home," he told her in that deep throaty voice that made her all tingly. She was about to ask him when that would be when his voice switched to his all-business tone. "Look, Erika, I do not have long to talk, but I need you to listen to me. I need you to fill up your Tahoe, get some groceries, and go to ground at home with your mom until you hear back from me."
Time seemed to stop as Erika processed what he was saying. For as long as they had dated, Ransom had prepared her for a call like this. Being an Army Ranger meant that he was privy to information that shaped the world. Sometimes that meant he got big news before it was on the news - if it ever did. He asked her to never compromise his ability to take care of her while doing his day job by asking questions. That she needed to trust him - to believe he was always going to look after her and her mom. Erika bit her lip nervously. She knew she could not leave out without taking care of things given Wren's vision. Weighing her words, she told him, "I will leave here as soon as I get things taken care of. Stuff is happening."
"Erika. Just do it," Ransom's voice growled. She knew from the low tone he was in full-on Ranger mode and meant business.
The sound of a twig breaking captured Erika's attention, turning around she noticed Preacher Tim had come up the pathway behind her. Lowering her voice, she whispered into the phone, "Baby, I love you, and I hear what you are not saying. I will leave as soon as I can. Stay safe. I love you more than anything."
She heard an exasperated sigh in response, "Little Bird, I will call you as soon as I can. Keep your phone charged." In the background, she heard gruff male voices saying his name. His voice got a husky timbre as he hung up, "I love you." For a few minutes, Erika stared at the phone considering her options.
"Everything ok?" Preach asked, sliding out from shadows. The cherry coal at the end of the cigarette he was smoking gave away his hiding place along the house's side. The dark-haired girl looked up but did not reply, busy trying to plot out how to make an easy escape without losing face with her friends. Stepping out of the shadows, Preacher commented sounding smug, "Sounds like Ransom won't be here tonight. Does he ever come through for you, Erika? I mean you are always on your own. If you were my girl, I would never leave you alone.”
"Well, you know being one of the cool kids does keep him busy," she said trying to suppress a shudder at his words. “But it is one of the many reasons I love him."
The look in Preacher's eyes seemed to devour her and Erika suddenly felt unclean. His gaze making her wish she had worn something more toned down. "If you will excuse me; I need to go talk with the others before I head out.”
Like a snake, his arm reached out and grabbed hers, "Where are you going to, Erika? You don't have anywhere you have to be but here." There was a strange humming tone to his voice and with it an oppressive energy washed over her. Unsure of what was happening but knowing it was wrong, psychically she pushed back at his energy. The result was an energetic slap that probably stung Preach as much as the physical one his mother gave Wren earlier. Erika tried to pull her arm back but Preach had a firm grasp on it. Verbally she snapped as she pulled her arm away from him, "Actually, I do. I need to go check on my mom."
Preach lowered her head, his voice tight, "Stop fighting it, Erika. We are destined to be together. Imagine the things we could do… together. I would never leave you alone. Not like Ransom does. I would always be here for you.” His voice held that same compelling hum only this time, thicker, clouding her thoughts. His dark eyes were full of desire as he bent to kiss her.
Feeling sick at her stomach, Erika recoiled trying to distance herself from the vile man, “I don’t know what kind of game you are playing at, Preach but you need to get the fuck out of my personal space. Now.”
She watched as a dark fury escalating on his face. "Why can't you ever go along with the script in my head," he demanded and began to hit himself in the head.
Erika stared at him in disbelief, “What the fuckity fuck?” she muttered as she turned to walk away.
"We are destined to be together," he called after her, madness in his voice. "You and me. Together we will rule countries.”
Confused, she rushed towards the backdoor of the farmhouse, "What does that even mean?" Opening the door, she almost collided into Wren. Taking a deep breath, she looked over her shoulder to see if Preach was following her, “Sorry," she apologized to Wren, breathing hard. "Don't leave me,” she told her friend, “I just had the scariest exchange with Preacher Tim. It was so crazy; I really don’t want to be alone.”
The strange eyes stared into hers and Erika felt a chill run up her spine at the peculiar look in Wren’s eye. The redhead stared at her a moment too long before saying in a creepy little girl voice, "I noticed Preacher is very taken with you but that is not all I have noticed." Dropping her voice to just a whisper, she giggled, "The man I love is a ghoul." She brought her pale finger to her lips as though to keep her secret and skipped off into the darkness leaving Erika to stare after her and wonder what the hell was going on. “Have you been drinking?” she called after Wren, but the redhead just turned around and gave her a faraway smile before wandering off towards the grove.
Chapter 4
"Preacher Tim did what?" Becca, Millie, and Roxi asked in unison when Erika recounted the exchange with Preach in the courtyard.
Shaking her head in disbelief Millie added, "Did that boy get dropped on his head as a baby or what?"
"Well, this is just one more reason not to do the bonding ritual. At least one of them is mad or suicidal." Becca offered taking Erika's hand in hers. "Preacher is bound to know that when Ransom finds out, he is going to hurt him and hurt him bad."
Nodding her head in agreement, Roxi laughed, "Girl, he must have been out there smoking something besides that vape juice.”.
"I honestly don't know what to make of him," Erika admitted. "I mean, what did I ever do to make him even think of me that way? I have barely spoken to him since they moved here."
"You didn't do anything," Millie told her sternly. 'Why do we women have to shoulder the blame when some psycho gets obsessed with us? You were nice to him, but you made it clear you were in a committed relationship with Ransom. It was clear and there was no room for misinterpretation. I was there, remember?" Millie told her, reminding her of the time when Preacher had been prodding Erika about a date. "No means fricking, no!"
Roxi stopped the others, "The more I have time to consider how everyone feels, I think we sh
ould all be careful. Each of us has recognized that there is something off with Jewel, Preach, Devonne, the Standingfoots, and of late, the Professor.” She rubbed her baby bump before continuing, “I thought my pregnancy hormones were making me read more into the scenario but guys, I walked in on Jewel kissing Preacher the other day and it was not a motherly kiss."
"WHAT?" The girls squealed in disgust, turning to stare at Roxi with wide eyes, "And you are only telling us this now?”
"I was afraid I was being histrionic.” Dropping her voice, she added, "I mean they aren't related by blood. But still."
A brisk wind had kicked up, rustling the pavilion’s flaps, the smell of rain thick in the summer air. Erika’s eyes drifted towards the river. There the stone circle stood by an ancient ash tree overlooking the water. As the last bit of daylight faded on the horizon, the moon was starting to rise over the grove. Thousands of fireflies seemed to weave in and out of the forest of trees making the place look even more enchanted. Erika took a deep breath and a moment to ground. She knew she still needed to say her goodbyes and get home as Ransom had asked.
"Ladies, we need to tell Papa Doc we aren't going to do this tonight and I promised Ransom, I would go home and look after my mom."
There was a deep silence before Becca commented, "Once Velvet gets here, we can go as a group and tell him." Everyone nodded their heads in silent agreement as they started down the moss-covered path.
On the outside of the clearing close to the trees, some of the group had put up some pavilion tents to spend the night. The path led to a small, open clearing where earlier in the evening three large farmhouse tables dressed in lace and velvets had been set up. One table had nothing but food for their feast, the second laden with sweet wines, iced tea, fruit cordials, and buckets of iced down beer. The third was set in the middle of four elaborate, golden candelabras. It had been set with Professor's great-grandmother's china that had traveled all the way from eastern Europe. Separately everything was a little too goth, shabby chic, or Victorian opium den-like, but together, it created a magical feast for the eyes and mouth. Overlooking it all was the stone circle of rocks standing before the Ash tree that dominated the bluff's highest point.
Underneath the moon, the ancient tree stood tall and proud. It was so wide that the girls could barely hold hands around the great tree’s trunk. The tree’s branches reached up to the heavens, down caressing the earth. Erika always thought of the tree as a southern lady in a big, antebellum skirt - graceful and proud. Depending on the season she seemed to say hello with a deep curtsy or grow stark and scary in her harshness. Erika could swear sometimes when the winds rustled its leaves; she could hear the tree’s laughter.
Over the last few months, the girls and Hermit had worked hard to create a stone circle based on the Professor’s sketches of the one at Glastonbury. There were four stones which held space for the four directions, North, East, West, and South, with a single large stone in the center. Within the circle, there were 16 large flagstones.
Erika watched as Z and Becca went to hang and light oil lanterns on the boundaries of the stone circle. The lamps illuminated the darkness yet beyond their reach, the darkness and shadows seemed to get grow more ominous. That was the thing about the light, it made the things hiding in the dark even harder to see. That was why Erika loved the darkness. She preferred the mysterious and unknown. Give her the light of the moon over a candle or lamp any day. Peeking out into the shadows, Erika felt a shiver of excitement run up her spine as the ley line energy began to crackle and pop. A soft smile played on her lips as she looked to her sisters. Each now dressed in their black and white ritual finery. Well, everyone except Wren, she thought with a chuckle. Wren's red and white apron dress was a middle finger statement.
The unmistakable deep thunderous rumble, Erika heard in the distance could only be the sound of Harley Davidsons announcing the arrival of their missing sister, Velvet, and her husband Buck. When the headlights cut through the night Erika saw her window of opportunity. "If you girls will excuse me, I need to catch Velvet before Jewel gets to her." With a briskness in her step, she headed over to where the couple was parking their motorcycles.
Dismounting the 2014 Harley Davidson Softail Slim, Velvet gave Erika an easy smile. The statuesque woman pulled her helmet off, letting her long brown hair cascade out. Wearing a pair of black biker leggings, tall bike boots, and a white crop top she looked amazing. If it were not for the black and gray tattoo sleeves that covered her arm and chest Velvet would have looked like a gothic Barbie Doll. In fact, it was because of her that the members of her husband's bike club jokingly referred to their charter as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
When most people met her, they could not get past her good looks. Velvet was not just pretty -she was naturally fricking gorgeous. And she was not just smart - she was rocket scientist smart. She was not just a loyal friend - she was the kind of loyal ass friend who helps you hide the body. But Erika's favorite thing about Velvet was her honesty. The first day of class when they went around the room introducing themselves, Velvet announced that she was paying for her mechanical engineering degree by dancing at a Gentleman's Club in Fort Rosalie. She went on to say to them that she figured she needed to put it out there herself, so if anyone wanted to talk about it, they could ask questions. Erika admired her grit from that day forward.
"Erika," Velvet warmly greeted her with a hug. Erika was about to ask Velvet how their ride was when she was grabbed from behind and twirled around. "Feathers!" a jovial male voice teased, referring to the feathered capelet she wore. "How you love your feathers, Little Bird."
"Put me down, you big oaf," she cried, feigning displeasure, her green eyes sparkling in gleeful protest.
"As you wish, milady, " Buck joked, "Now, where is my hug."
Erika grumbled something about giving him a hug, but it was all for show. She was fond of Buck. He might be a big redneck but he was always quick with a joke to make her laugh. She took one look at him and knew Velvet had dressed him since he wasn't wearing his usual grease-stained jeans and Metallica tee shirt. Nope, tonight he was wearing black leather pants and bike boots, and under his skull embossed motorcycle jacket, he had on a crisp white linen shirt.
"Hey Guys," she started slowly, trying to find the right words. "I wanted to give you a head's up about a few things that are happening." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "First off, Jewel wants the lot of us to have a 'bonding' ritual instead of what we had prepared for tonight." She stopped there, not totally feeling comfortable telling them everything without the rest of the crew there so it would not seem it was just her who felt this way. Instead, she stood in silence, allowing her words time to sink in.
In the firelight, she studied their faces, observing as both Velvet and Buck processed the news. A low whistle came forth from the biker as he stepped back and scratched his chin. Then Erika noticed a shadow had fallen on the woman's pretty face and watched as the husband and wife team shares a meaningful glance. The three stood in silence for what seemed like forever before
Erika asked, "Hey guys, I saw that. What gives?"
Velvet looked at her, her eyes cold as steel, "Erika, you know. Do we need to explain?" Erika felt chill bumps rush across her skin as Velvet added flatly, "They have got to go." Nodding in agreement but saying nothing further, Erika wondered how they were going to get out of this mess. Heading to join the others, Buck put a protective arm around Erika and Velvet, and they walked to the tent.
Chapter 5
By the light of the fire Roxi looked like Demeter, the Greek goddess of fertility and life. Squealing Velvet’s name, she hurried to greet the newcomers as fast as her pregnant body would allow, embracing Velvet and Buck in a tight hug. The pregnant girl glowed with the fresh, dewy earth motherliness and it was easy to see why she was everyone is darling. Since Erika had seen her earlier, she had changed into a gown of crisp white linen chiton which rippled in the wind of the coming rain. The gold and black trim
on the chiton complimented Roxi’s mahogany-colored hair that she had elegantly pulled up with the same trim.
In stark contrast, Becca, sitting on a rug at her husband's feet. She looked as though she had stepped right out of some teenage boy's Arabian Nights fantasy wearing a simple black halter top with a chainmail bikini top over it. Layered over the top Becca wore a fitted black and silver ghawazee coat that emphasized her tiny waist and ample bosom. To top off her look, she wore a coin headdress with a sheer black veil over her face. The only thing left showing was her kohl-lined dark brownish-green hazel eyes giving her a sultry mystique. Despite the humidity, she wore her long, honey-colored hair straightened and hanging down to the curve of her hips.
Sitting like a king in a hand carved chair, her husband, Z sat stroking her hair. A medically retired air-force recon pilot, Z had been introduced to the group shortly after he and Becca met at a Renaissance Fair. The two quickly fell in love and within months got married. A medieval re-enactor, Z was dressed in a chainmail shirt and a long black linen tunic with a large red cross painted on its chest. He looked every inch the authentic Templar Knight.
Over his shoulder, stood Millie. Her reddish-brown hair unbound in waves around her arms and shoulders. She wore a pure white Indian Sari with gold trim, an antique gold necklace with matching earrings, and a tikka headpiece adorned her head. The only member of their ragtag family who was missing was Hermit. When Velvet asked, Millie explained that he had a family emergency, and he left early. No one had heard from him, but it was assumed that it was virus related.
Erika turned her attention to where Wren sat alone. She was sitting on a hand-carved ornamental chair made by Hermit for the Professor's 50th birthday, gazing into the flames. Erika remembered when Hermit was making the chair. It was a true testament of the love and affection Hermit had for the older man. Hermit painstakingly carved the armrests into great wolf heads and the high back was topped with two ravens representing Hunnin and Munnin, Odin's ravens, their names meaning Thought and Memory. The chair was inscribed with a runic script with his favorite passage from the Poetic Edda. Sitting there Wren gave off the same air of strangeness that had alienated her from her peers growing up in small-town Mississippi. She told Erika once that she had more friends amongst the dead and nature beings than her classmates. The folks in her town thought she was touched or eccentric and, while tolerated, was alienated as a result.
Tapestry of Worlds : Part One - The White Raven Awakens Page 4