‘This was it, here we go.’ Dimitri thinks.
Dimitri watches the boy leave out the front door of the store with two other men and turn left. Dimitri races out the back to cut them off at the pass. He knew that he had only one shot at this. As he turns the corner, he bumps into the boy, and they almost knock each other to the ground. Dimitri slips the pouch away from the boy.
“I'm so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I'm okay. Are you okay?” the boy asks, startled by the fall.
“Ah, I'm okay. Sorry about that,” Dimitri hides the pouch. The two boys turn and go their separate ways. Dimitri cannot believe that it was that easy to take a bag of money from someone. Dimitri cuts into an alley and hides behind a stack of wooden boxes to count the money.
David, Markus, and Zebedeo start to head towards where they think the ladies could be. The three men are carefree as they carry the gifts for Marnina and Wendi. Looking around, the ladies are no where insight.
Zebedeo says, “This is going to be harder than I thought.”
Zebedeo sees all the people bustling about, going from store to store, and not paying much attention to him or the boys.
“Where do you think they are, Zeb?” Markus asks.
“God only knows.”
The three men set out to find the girls as they walk up and down the busy street stopping to peer into each store they come across.
Dimitri is hunting through a new store trying to find something. All he sees is the same old stuff that everyone has been wearing for months now. He wants something different. Dimitri makes it to the corner of the store where no one is standing or looking. He sees a long black robe-like coat that screams out to him. He tries the coat on and finds that it fits him perfect. Putting the hood up, he acts like the Grim Reaper coming back for the men that killed his parents.
The storeowner says, “Son, I think that coat suits you just fine.”
“How much is it?” Dimitri asks still holding out his hands.
“Four dollars and it’s yours,” The shopkeeper extends his hand. Dimitri drops four dollar coins into the storeowner’s hand and walks outside into the pleasant, sunny day. He hangs the pouch on his side and proceeds down the street back to the orphanage to have lunch with the new boy. Turning the corner he bumps into three people that he has seen before.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going” Dimitri says as he tries to hurry along.
“Its okay; we were trying to look for someone else ourselves,” Markus says jokingly not paying much attention to Dimitri. David just glances the other way as he peers into another store still searching for Marnina and Wendi. Zebedeo steps aside to let Dimitri pass. Dimitri rushes through as he hangs his head down to avoid making eye contact. Getting about ten feet away from the three men, Zebedeo notices something different about Dimitri and the change pouch on his hip but just nods it off as coincidence.
Wendi and Marnina come out of a store carrying bags of clothes for themselves. They start to walk towards Dimitri with large smiles and laughter barreling out of their mouths. The girls are oblivious to what is about to happen. Marnina looks right pass Dimitri to wave at Zebedeo, David, and Markus to get their attention. Zebedeo sees her hand waving in the air with the bracelet that he gave her for her birthday.
“Hey, boys. I think the girls are over there,” Zebedeo points in their direction and starts walking to them with David and Markus trailing behind him.
Zebedeo, David, and Markus get closer to Marnina and Wendi; and closer to Dimitri. Dimitri stands in front of a fruit stand trying to blend in with the crowd. Zebedeo and David are staring ahead while Markus has his eyes wondering all around, looking at all of the different people.
Then Markus notices something unusual and questions himself. ‘Why would a person have a change bag that appears to be just like David’s change bag?’
Markus taps David on the shoulder to get his attention.
Pulling David closer to him, Markus asks, “David, what color and shape are your change bag?”
“It’s my favor color, blue, with a gold string that is laced through the top of it holding it closed. Why?” David replies starting to reach for his change bag.
Markus butts in, “Because I think that kid has it.”
David feels for his change bag. “It’s gone! What happened to my change bag? I know I put it right back in the same place every time. It never leaves my side. It’s always there. Maybe I dropped it or maybe it fell off by getting untied…” David tries to figure out what just happened.
“Or maybe someone just stole it and maybe that someone is standing very close to you right this second,” Markus adds and points to Dimitri standing with his back to David and Markus. David watches the boy with the hooded coat walk away with the pouch.
David and Markus wait for the right time to accuse Dimitri of stealing David's pouch. Then, Dimitri takes the change bag off his belt and fishes out some coins to pay for some fresh fruit. David catches sight of his initials that he had Aunt Marnina sew on the side of the change bag. He and Markus were waiting for that clue. They approach the unknown boy to question him about the change bag that he has in his position.
“Excuse me, I was just wondering whose initials are on the side of the exquisite change bag that you have in your hand,” David asks Dimitri. Markus grabs Dimitri's hand carrying the bag. Dimitri tries to resist.
Markus, trying to be the bad cop, locks eyes with Dimitri, “I think that you owe my brother an apology and some money that you just stole.”
Dimitri wiggles away from Markus’s hold and throws the bag to the ground to buy himself some time. David reaches for the bag as Markus tries to regain his balance. Markus watches Dimitri escape down an alleyway next to the building. David jumps to his feet as Zebedeo, Marnina, and Wendi come strolling up to them.
“What happen? Did you drop your change bag?” Marnina asks not noticing the hatred that appeared on David and Markus’ faces.
“Yes, something like that. I’ll be right back,” David starts to sprint down the alleyway after Dimitri with Markus fast behind him. David and Markus watch Dimitri turn the corner at the end of the alley, barely missing a couple of people unloading a wagon. They are only a couple of seconds behind Dimitri when they make it to the end of the alley. They come to a new street filled with people in their own little worlds. Markus and David glance around, trying to locate Dimitri, but the sea of people cloak him.
Dimitri stands at a window, peering from the orphanage’s front office. He hears a voice behind him clearing their throat to get his attention.
“Playing hide and go seek with someone?” Mr. Quinn smiles at Dimitri knowing that he is up to no good.
“Something like that,” Dimitri rubs his forehead trying to make himself cooler. “I’m not late am I?”
“No, you’re not, just go freshen up and meet me in the dining room.”
In disbelief, Dimitri stares at his uncle because he is not going to ask any more questions or even scold him.
“Thanks. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
As Mr. Quinn walks away, Dimitri turns his head and notices David and Markus standing right out front with their backs to the window. Dimitri walks to the other room nonchalantly.
“Damn, he just gave us the slip,” Markus yells.
“When I find out just who this guy is, I'm going to…” David punches his hand into his other hand mumbling a few words under his breath.
“You’re going to do what?” Zebedeo asks with Marnina and Wendi standing right next to him with their mouths hanging open after seeing a totally different side to David.
Marnina speaks up. “I think that it is time to go home and fix dinner before we have any more excitement.”
With that, everybody grabs their things to head home and call it a day. David is the last one to walk away. He has a strange feeling that he was just steps away from the thief.
Markus yells over his shoulder, “Are you coming?”
/>
“Yes, I’m coming,” David says as he looks at the window to the orphanage’s office and then walks away.
Chapter 28
A smile comes to his face when David remembers what happened at his birthday party and how Marnina and Zebedeo had to trick him in order to make it all happen.
Marnina and Zebedeo secretly planned David’s twentieth birthday party for two weeks. It was tremendously hard to make everything go as planned because David caught them talking about a party a couple of times.
David’s birthday comes, and a little trick needed to be played. David had no idea what was going to happen within the next couple of hours. Marnina was being sneaky about her intentions when she asked David to go into town and get some unique ingredients for dinner. He agreed and left for town on foot. As David walked out of sight Marnina, Zebedeo, Markus, and Wendi all started decorating for the party. Handmade decorations appeared everywhere in the backyard. Tables go up, and food is put on them.
Wendi turns to Marnina, “Is he coming?”
“He said he would be here,” Marnina replies as she continues to work on the decorations.
“I know, but I don’t see him yet.” Wendi says.
“Don’t worry; he is a man of his word.”
“When is he going to show up?” Zebedeo asks, handing Marnina some rocks to hold the tablecloths down.
“Merlin told me that it was going to be a surprise, and it will be remembered for a long time,” Marnina replies to both Zebedeo and Wendi.
“It’s just about that time because more and more people are showing up. When is David due back?” Wendi asks.
“Anytime now. We better hide everyone before David walks up and we all get busted,” Zebedeo looks up at the sky to survey the sun’s position.
Wendi takes a couple of steps towards the front of the house and is knocked down by an unforeseen force that astounds her. Dazed by the blow from the mysterious object, she tries to regain her breath as she gasps for air. The sun blinds her as it shines around a shadowy figure standing over her. It extends out an arm, reaching to grab her by the shoulder. Wendi screams in terror as it comes closer and closer to her. Her body stiffens up as it shakes in fear of the unknown. Then it touches her with its cold wet fingers as they slowly wrap around her upper arm sending chills down her spine.
‘I’m going to die!’
Wendi’s hand makes a fist and swings towards the shadow’s head. The shadow lets go of her and freezes her in mid-air.
“Hello there. You must be Wendi; I am Merlin. Can you point me in the direction of a Mr. David Turner?” The shadowy figure speaks up as the smoke from the portal fades away. No one watching can believe what is happening in front of his or her own eyes.
Markus speaks up. “Mr. Merlin, sir, I… we… hum… he… is not here ye. We sent him on an errand into town, and he is not back yet,” Markus puts out his hand to shake Merlin’s hand. Merlin shakes hands with Markus.
“Markus, if I remember right you, are David’s brother, younger brother I do believe. I deeply apologize for the interruption that I have made to your little party for Mr. David, young David.”
Merlin waves his hand and Wendi falls to the ground. Before anyone could say more, they hear the sound of footsteps coming around from the front of the house. Merlin thinks fast and makes everyone in the backyard disappear by turning them invisible, including all of the decorations. David strolls into an empty backyard.
“Where is everyone now?” David says as he glances at the empty house and backyard. He walks into the middle of the backyard, scratching his head.
Everyone yells surprise! David falls over due to the shock. Some people start to laugh aloud as other people gasp.
Merlin strolls up to David, puts out his hand to help him up, “Happy twentieth Birthday!”
David faints.
After a couple of minutes, David comes to and realizes that Merlin is one of the many people standing over him waiting for him to wake up. David stands up and shakes Merlin’s hand to thank him for coming to his twentieth party. Everyone chuckles as David is shocked by how many people have shown up. His older brothers, Dave and Gale, and his older sisters, Sara and Joanne, have all created small families of their own. There are people from town that knew Lardeo family. Everyone has an enjoyable time playing games, talking, and eating until dusk. People start to bid everyone else good-bye and leave to go home. A couple of people stick around to talk and hang out until the sun comes up.
“It looks as if everyone has had all the fun that one can have,” Markus says, standing next to Merlin and David, sipping on a fruity iced down drink. Wendi comes over holding one of the last sandwiches made for the party.
“Do either of you want this?”
“I would love to have it; if that is okay with you two?” Merlin inquires about the sandwich.
“I’m not very hungry,” David says rubbing his belly.
“Neither am I,” Markus adds.
“I guess you are the winner of a new ham and turkey sandwich,” Wendi tosses the sandwich to Merlin as he smiles back at her. He unwraps the sandwich and takes a bite just before David starts asking all the questions he ever wanted to know.
“How old are you? Where do you come from? Why are you all alone all the time? Do you have parents like me? Who are your parents? How long have you been doing magic? Can you time travel?”
“I am 5,000 years old. I do not remember where I came from, due to the fact I have no idea whom my parents are. There was a couple that raised me from the time I was a baby to when I became a young man, and then time started to slow down for me. I do not age like everyone else. I have been doing magic ever since I can remember, and I think that is why I do not age like everyone else. Yes. I can time travel, but that is a whole different story that is too long right now,” Merlin stopping to take a couple of more bites of his almost finished sandwich.
Markus signals David to ask the question that has been on both their minds. David shakes his head and Markus nods back to him.
“What else would you like to ask me?” Merlin says with a little grin at David.
“Well I, ah, would like to ask if you take on any apprentices. Like maybe a young man that finds you very interesting and loves everything that you do?” David finally gets it out.
“No, I am very sorry, but I do not. There is only one of me, and there is a good reason for that. Which I cannot tell you. Ever. I am very sorry,” Merlin tries to lets David down gently but it begins to back fire on him.
“You mean I’m not someone that you would be willing to train in the art of magic? Or am I just not a magic type of person?” David says sarcastically.
Markus figures it out and comes to Merlin’s defense, “What he is trying to say is he is very special, and he cannot teach you anything that could be taught to an ordinary person.”
All this information hits David like a ton of rocks because he realizes that he is a normal person and nothing can change that. David feels depressed and heartbroken. His idol just crushed his dreams.
Merlin knows it is time to leave, as the moon is the only thing lighting the now dark backyard.
“I bid you a good night.”
Merlin takes a couple of steps forward and disappears in a cloud of smoke. David and Markus head off to bed.
Chapter 29
There was a white door to the far end of the room. Dimitri glances over at Belial as he points to the door and asks. “Where does that go?”
“I don't know. This is your soul not mine,” Belial replies as he looks around at all of the pictures hanging on the many walls.
Dimitri stands in front of the white door with his hand inches away from the knob. An angry feeling comes over him as he turns the knob. A room of mirrors is what is waiting for Dimitri behind the door. Thirteen mirrors wrapped around in a circle to form a tridecagon with the last mirror on the back of the white door. Dimitri and Belial walk into the middle of the room, looking into every mirror but not seeing their r
eflections.
“I have never seen anything like this before,” Belial stares into a mirror.
“Is this part of my soul?” Dimitri asks.
“It has to be,” Belial replies.
“Long time no see. I haven't seen you since that day you and me decided to steal from that rich boy,” a stranger’s voice says echoing throughout the room.
“Who said that?” Dimitri spins around searching for a face to the voice.
“You don't remember me do you? You created me on that very day. You have created a lot of us over the years. Different individuals for different situations that you, Dimitri, experienced throughout the years. I just figured that I should speak up first because we had such a great relationship in the past,” the stranger’s voice answers Dimitri.
“How many are you?” Dimitri says aloud.
“There are thirteen of us, and the oldest is the youngest,” a woman's voice replies.
“This is getting deep. What kind of life have you had in the past?” Belial asks Dimitri.
“A very rocky past created me. My name is Jack, and the first to speak up was Edward. The woman is Julie, who took care of you after your stepmother died. You have nine other people or monsters within these mirrors waiting for you to talk to them,” Jack makes himself seen to Dimitri and Belial in the mirror behind them.
“There are thirteen of you. So where is the thirteenth? Jack only told me about twelve,” Dimitri walks up to Jack’s mirror and stares him in the face.
Enigma of the Soul - Book 1 - Pieces Page 6