Raven Maid: Out of the Darkness

by Erik Schubach

  Then I covered my mouth to mute my pained exclamation of sorrow. That same sorrow which filled me as I realized what he was. This poor child.

  I glanced back when Shannon said my name, I realized that she had been trying to get my attention as the boy and I just stared at each other.

  I looked up from where I was crouched, and up into her eyes. She brought a hand half way up to her mouth in surprise at something she saw, then dropped it as she seemed to study my face with a slightly wistful smile. She moved her hand like she wanted to reach out to touch me but hesitated. Then she whispered, “What is it?”

  I looked between the two and then made a decision and reached out to take her hand. She cocked her head at me in building curiosity when her eyes snapped over to the boy, and she dropped my hand and covered her mouth. A moment later she was looking at the boy in confusion and timidly reached out to touch me again. Then her eyes widened in comprehension as to what was going on.

  She crouched with me as I turned back to the boy. This child was a spirit, a revenant, which meant only one thing. If we hadn't gone insane, then the poor boy was dead.

  I spoke softly to him, “Hello. My name is Adelaide, what's yours?”

  He sniffled and wiped his tears on his sleeve. “Max.”

  I smiled at him and then turned my head toward Shannon when she touched my scalp at my hairline. She pulled her hand back with an apologetic look as she stared at me, then the boy. I realized she had been looking at the feathers I knew were mixing with my hair.

  I turned back to him and asked, “What happened to you? Why are you here?”

  He shook his head and wiped his tears again and said, “I was with mommy, and there was fire. The fire guys wouldn't listen when I told them they had ta save mommy. None of the growed ups would listen. All the buildings burnded down.”

  He started wringing his little hands and looked almost pleadingly into my eyes. Shannon swallowed hard and asked, “How long ago was that Max?”

  The boy looked at her for the first time and seemed surprised like he hadn't noticed her since I started talking to him. He shrugged. “Lots of days. I hafta go to kinney garden this year.” He said with all the pride a child could muster, “I'm this many now!” He held up five fingers.

  The honey haired girl looked at me and said, “The Nielsen Apartments. It was all over the news last week. Five alarm fire. Four people died, including a little boy. Those buildings are about eight blocks away.” She turned to look at Max and swallowed.

  He shrugged and started to look frightened again as he said, “Nobody will help me, I keep tryin' ta get the growed ups to help me.”

  I nodded. “It's ok now Max. We'll help you. My grandma will be here soon, and she can help. She'll know what to do.”

  Then I looked around as he started to get wide-eyed with excitement. I screwed up my face and asked, “How did you find yourself here?”

  He smiled cutely and looked embarrassed, and he pointed. I looked back to the comic book shop and may or may not have snorted. Then his mischievous smile turned sad as he said, “I can't pick the comics up tho.”

  I inhaled deeply and then exhaled as I stood and held my hand out to him, Shannon kept in contact with me as she stood too. Then I froze as I looked at the little boy reaching out his hand to grab my... talon?

  Where my hand should have been was what could only be described as a three-fingered bird's talon with long curved black claws at least four inches long, and my hand was covered in small black feathers. While I gawked at my hand, Max took it... as well as the breath from my lungs as I saw everything that was Maximilian Harry Sanders.

  I saw his entire life, every moment of it and I experienced it. Seeing all the possible futures that were lost to him and everything he held inside. His thoughts, his dreams, his... fear. And I cried as he stood looking at me hopefully, just as innocent as he had been in life. With that blind trust, that and an adult like me could make everything all better.

  I heard Shannon gasping beside me. Had she somehow just experienced what I had? Was touching me while I was experiencing this paranormal, spiritual stuff letting her share more than just my sight?

  I stared down at the little boy who hadn't had a chance to live yet, and I mourned for him and those possible futures I had experienced like it was my own life. I had felt the balance of his soul. I knew that no matter the outcome, that Max would always be a part of me.

  He smiled up at me and said, “You're a pretty bird lady.”

  I cocked my head at a severe angle as I smiled at him, ok that was odd and not at all freaky that I was moving like a bird.

  I looked from him to Shannon who was crying silently giving him a reassuring smile. Then I looked up and gasped as I muttered, “Soc Au' Lait.” There before us was another corridor branching from this one. But this one was an impossible corridor because it seemed to lead through a dense forest, the floor bled into a mossy trail, lined with soaring trees. But we were inside. At the end of the tunnel of trees was blinding sunlight.

  Then I just knew what I was supposed to do. It tugged at me like an irresistible current, we stepped onto the mossy path as I said, “Come with me, Max.” I gave him a happy, reassuring smile. I glanced back as the three of us silently walked and saw another corridor opposite this one, and it was filled with a darkness and sickness that made me want to run away and hide.

  But then I straightened and smirked at that dark passage, knowing that it was not for this little boy. I turned into the light, and it almost burned with happiness that made me want to cry in joy. We reached the end of the tunnel, and the light was everything then. I squinted but couldn't see what was beyond.

  I looked down, and little Max was mesmerized by it. I said, “This is it, Max. Walk through there, and I promise everything will be ok.”

  He looked between it and me, then smiled and nodded. I crouched down in front of him and gave him a quick hug.

  Suddenly Shannon was gone. I realized she had lost contact with me when I hugged Max. I looked back to see her at the far end of the tunnel, standing tin the corridor looking around frantically. I had to grin.

  Then Max told me, “Thank you Adela... umm... Addel... bird lady.”

  He turned and then let go of my hand as he stepped into the sunlight.

  I spun around when the sunlight that was giving me such joy just vanished. I was in the restroom corridor with a relieved looking coed. She exhaled loudly and said, “There you are. I found myself back here when I let go of you.”

  I blinked at her and asked in a hoarse voice, “You saw? You... felt?” She was nodding quickly like she was afraid to speak.

  She whispered like the wind would steal away her words if she spoke them aloud, “Was that, Heaven? Did you bring him there?”

  I shrugged and asked, “Maybe?” I didn't have a clue what was going on, but I felt as if I had done something important, something I was supposed to do.

  A part of my own soul ached as I realized that Max was still with me, in my experiences, like I had taken all that he was inside of me so I could... could what? I thought of my earlier thoughts... to weigh his soul? Was that what I did? Had I decided what fate his spirit deserved and led him to that?

  Shannon took a half step back and gasped, “You're a reaper, or something like one.” Then she looked at me, eyes full of wonder and reached her hand half way to my face and hesitated.

  I looked down at my hand. It was a hand again. It had shiny black feathers obscuring the skin, but they were slowly retreating, like they were being pulled back inside me, melting into my skin.

  I started to turn when I heard men speaking as they turned into the corridor. The next thing I knew, Shannon's lips were on mine, pressed tightly in a chaste kiss. My eyes were wide as I looked at her, her eyes were watching the men passing by us until they entered the men's room. Then she let me go and turned to look at the door, saying, “They're gone.”

  I reached up and absently touched my lips, still stunned and asked in
a squeak, “Wha?”

  She pointed a finger at me and moved it around like she was pointing something out, “You're still... something... those black feathers and your eyes.” Then she cocked her head and got a sly smile. “Hey now, it was all I could think of, or they would have seen. Don't go fallin' in love with me or anything, it was just a kiss.”

  I straightened at that and snarked back indignantly, “Yeah, in your dreams lady.”

  She looked around then started reaching for me again and asked, “Well... those feathers... May I?” I swallowed and nodded once. Then her hot fingers were leaving trails of fire on my scalp as she ran her hand through my hair and the feathers rustling under it. It felt sinfully good.

  She whispered, “They're so soft.” Then she cocked her head and looked into my eyes and nodded. “Your eyes are normal again. People will just think the feathers are an awesome headdress.” She nudged her head toward the main corridor as she crouched to picked up our bags which were sitting beside where Max had been.

  She rushed us along, and I whispered to her as I reached up to feel my... feathers, “What about my eyes?”

  Shannon said as she rushed me up the steps, “They were gold, they looked like something you'd see on a hawk or...”

  I finished for her, speaking under my breath, “Or a raven.” Just what in the hell was I?

  She asked, almost afraid of my answer, “Did you... did you feel his life? Or was that me?”

  I shook my head and assured her. “No, I did too. I think it is like how you can see what I do when you are touching me. Whatever this fucked up thing that is happening to me is.”

  As we scurried into the parking garage, I asked her, feeling faint and weak suddenly, “Take me home?” She just nodded as we went to her car.

  Chapter 5 – Raven Maid

  I slept in the car on the way back, I couldn't keep my eyes open, feeling more drained than I have felt in a long time. Like I had stayed up for twenty-four hours straight. I felt sort of bad about that because I could tell that Shannon wanted to talk about what happened as much as I didn't want to.

  I was roused by the sound of gravel crunching under the tires as we turned into the University Trailer Park. I glanced over to my companion, and she grinned at me as she pulled in beside my car. Then I sat up straighter as I saw a man and woman standing outside my motorhome.

  I left Shannon in her car with an inquisitive look on her face as I ran up to the small woman and engulfed her in a hug. “MawMaw! How did you get here so fast? Did you fly?”

  I glanced over at a very familiar face. One I saw every morning for most of my life when we hit Benoît's Cafe for hot fresh beignets on our way to the family shop. I had to grin at the beaming smile he had for me as my Gran said, “Hello, Lizzy, ma beau petit bebe! I closed Desirada's for a holiday, den Bo drove me up, we di'n't stop til we got here.”

  I moved over and hugged her twin brother, my Uncle Bo, as my eyes widened. Benoît Boudreau was a big man with the same skin as dark as midnight as MawMaw's, but you could see even darker freckles dotting his complexion. I rubbed his shiny bald head in greeting for luck. “Hi, Uncle Bo.”

  His accent was heavier than gran's as he inclined his head, weariness and fatigue painting his face, making it even more wrinkled than normal. “Hello, chere. You doin' well? Yer Gran tol me whatcha been goin' through.”

  I chastised them both, “Why didn't ya'll fly? That's almost a two-day drive if you came nonstop. What were you thinking? You aren't spring chickens and...”

  I was cut off by the two of them sharing a look of amusement as they chuckled. Gran held her hand out, and he reached into a pocket and slapped a twenty into her hand as he shook his head in bemusement.

  I narrowed my eyes at them in warning and asked, “What was...”

  He grinned at me and offered, “I done bet her you'd at least wait ta invite us in before chastising us, chere.”

  I gave them a growl that had no effect on them, other than to amuse them further. Then Uncle Bo straightened, and the two of them quieted as Shannon stepped up beside me, holding my purchases in one hand. I looked between them all then made the introductions. “MawMaw, Uncle Bo, this is my friend Shannon Kingston, Desirada Boudreau, and her brother Benoît.”

  She held her hand out, and MawMaw shook it as she seemed to examine my new friend as the blonde said, “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Boudreau.” Then she offered her hand to Bo. “Mr. Boudreau.”

  He clasped her smaller hand between his two large hands, engulfing hers as he said, “Please, young'un everybody jus' calls me Uncle Bo.”

  He was such a contrast to my gran. Standing six foot four, with a little extra weight that I'm sure used to be solid muscle in his younger years. Whereas MawMaw was smaller, like me, and moving much slower in her advanced age.

  Both of them had those piercing dark eyes that were filled with the wisdom, pain, and joy which only a lifetime of experiences can give someone. Those eyes always seemed to mirror each other. I'm sure that my real grandmother's eyes would have matched the other triplets if I had ever had the occasion to have met her.

  Then I said in a hoarse voice, reliving the encounter with Max, “Something happened today, Gran. I don't know what's going on with me.”

  Bo stood straighter, looking at Shannon. I held a placating hand up toward him and said, “She knows. She saw.” Then I furrowed my brow and then asked in an accusatory tone, “Wait, you knew too Uncle Bo? Was I the only person not in on this secret you've all apparently been keeping from me?”

  They had, they had all kept it from me, hadn't they? I had really thought I was losing my mind, and they knew. My anger was rising in me, and Bo glanced around and said, “We should be doin' this inside, not arin' it in public, non?”

  I looked around at the busy little trailer park and nodded as I reached past them to open the door and hold it open for them. We all stepped inside, and I wound the wire around the bolt to 'lock' the door. I made an ushering motion, and they slipped into the seats at the table.

  Shannon made herself as invisible as possible as she silently went about stowing the perishables before the dry ice was expended.

  I leaned back against the counter and crossed my arms obstinately and muttered, “Spill.”

  Shan lifted a finger as she moved beside me, “First. Can we get you anything? You must be exhausted after such a long drive.”

  MawMaw cocked an eyebrow at me and said, “At least the pretty one has manners.”

  I squished my lips to one side of my face and retorted, shaking my fist at her playfully, “Oh, I'll give you manners.”

  Bo chuckled out, “You gots the Bourdreau spirit. That's fo sure, chere.”

  I fought off a grin as I pointed at him and quipped, “You don't get to weigh in, you were lying to me too.”

  MawMaw ignored us as she said, “Some water would be nice Shannon, dear.”

  Bo held up two fingers, and my friend went into motion and got them each a glass of water after shoving me unceremoniously further down the counter so she could get to the sink. They both looked skeptically at the glasses.

  I understood, it was one of my first concerns too. We may do things differently in New Orleans, but one thing we do right is that the Big Easy has some of the cleanest tap water in the nation. We hear about the horror stories of other cities like Flint Michigan all the time and are glad that our city exceeds every clean water standard when processing our tap water.

  I grinned and said, “It's actually cleaner than ours. Comes right off a protected mountain watershed just a few miles away.”

  They took experimental sips and smiled, then Shannon leaned back beside me on the counter.

  When nobody had the courage to speak first, I broke the silence and asked point blank, “What am I, and what is happening to me? I never really believed in any of this spiritual, supernatural stuff.”

  They exchanged glances as I exhaled in exasperation and turned to start making some decent shrimp and sausage jambalaya b
y prepping a pot to boil for the mud dogs. They'd be famished if they spent the whole time in Bo's car. I shuddered, trying to imagine MawMaw eating fast food or snacks from gas stations along the way.

  Shannon tried to help but just got in the way. I finally grinned at her and pointed at the seat on Gran's side. Bo took up the other side almost entirely.

  I hesitated and shot an expectant look over my shoulder. Gran looked at her withered, but surprisingly strong hands and then started a tale that held me in rapt fascination. I would have thought it a fairy tale told to kids back home by parents who delved into Vodoun culture, had I not been living it.

  She began with, “Now, every culture has preternatural guides who shoulder the burden of escortin' the revenants ta their final restin' place. Those souls who died an unnatural death when it wasn't their time. Those lost souls wander the world until someone can point the way ta their just rewards. In our culture, it is the Raven Maids.”

  I cocked my head at that as I noticed she only said the ones who died an unnatural death. She anticipated my question and smiled slightly and said, “Those who come to the end of their days naturally, are rarely lost, as the way is open and clear ta them when they cross over.”

  She regarded me with sadness in her eyes as she said, “Those chosen to escort, no matter the beliefs of the dead, give a closure which those souls are in need of. But to do this, they must feel the weight, the measurement of those souls as they are judged by whatever gods or higher beings they may believe in.”

  She sighed heavily, and Bo reached over to squeeze her hand encouragingly. She looked back up to me again as I started stirring the food in the oversized skillet. “Our line is one of the few in the Vodoun who possess the gift.” She paused and added, “Or curse, depending upon how one may view it.”

  She looked apologetic as she said in earnest, “We truly hoped it had skipped a generation in you, chere. It does that sometimes. Your real gran had it as did your mother, but I was spared the gift. But I saw the great burden it had heaped upon them. The weight of it was almost too much for them to bear at times.”