Reminiscence (Statera Saga Book 1)

by Amy Marie

  Darcy’s voice seeps through from just outside my door.

  “Sweet dreams, Nora.”

  His words startle me out of my dance and away from the door. With a huff, I jump into bed burying myself under the covers, irritated that he still managed to have the last word. As I close my eyes, I can’t stop the side of my mouth from turning up into a half-smile.

  Chapter 24

  The next morning, the three of us sit in Uncle Mike’s office touching up the final game plan to break down the situation as simply as we can for Rafe.

  We’ve got a large amount of information to give him in a limited amount of time. He’s already on his way to campus thinking he has a meeting with Uncle Mike regarding his dissertation.

  Rafe finally knocks, and at Uncle Mike’s invitation, enters the office. His mouth pops open in surprise to see me sitting in one of the wingback chairs, followed by a slight look of confusion as his eyes rest on Darcy.

  Rafe turns to Uncle Mike, “Did I interrupt? I can come back.”

  “Not at all Raphael, please do come in and sit down. I asked Eleanor here as part of what I would like to discuss with you. Also, please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Darcy Donovan Hughes, another colleague here to help.”

  Rafe and Darcy formally shake hands, sizing each other up. Rafe then gives me a friendly hello and welcome back.

  After asking around for refreshments, Uncle Mike gestures Rafe to take a seat on the couch beside my chair.

  “I have to say, I’m confused sir,” Rafe says to Uncle Mike, “I was under the impression that we were meeting regarding my dissertation.”

  Uncle Mike takes a seat himself and gets right down to the nitty-gritty.

  “Raphael, I have asked you here for an imperative reason that involves your dissertation, but more importantly to ask for your help. Eleanor has been recently thrown into this situation herself, and has suggested bringing you on board.”

  Rafe darts a quick look in my direction, raising his eyebrows.

  “Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of time to ease you into the situation, so I’m just going to get right down to it. The ancient text you have been working to discover the existence of, is in fact real.”

  If Rafe’s eyelids open any wider, his eyeballs will for sure roll right out. Again, he looks to me and I nod my head in agreement with an encouraging smile.

  Uncle Mike explains a summarized history of the text and a quick recap of the Graftons’ part in protecting the book. Once he starts describing the story with Gabriel, Darcy, Eleanor, and Talbot, Rafe turns to glance between Darcy and me.

  Uncle Mike tells of the Statera and the reminiscence, as I show Rafe the miniature of Eleanor. Uncle Mike continues with Talbot and the curse, and Darcy ends by giving his foolproof evidence with his dagger.

  The colorful range of looks from interest, to question, to disbelief, to utter astonishment play over Rafe’s schoolboy features.

  He’s now staring at Darcy as if he’s an alien.

  I take the opportunity to speak up. “I know it’s completely inconceivable. There’s no way we can ask you to process this so quickly. But please, take it from me personally that everything we’re telling you is the truth. I could hardly believe it myself, even with the memories going on in my head.” I lay my hand on Rafe’s arm in comfort, prompting the color in Darcy’s cheeks to darken.

  “I just… I don’t know what to say,” Rafe stares with no focus into the room.

  “I’ve told you once that you bear a guardian name, Raphael. It is true that you have the potential to take on the role to guard the Statera. But there’s always a choice, and the choice is yours,” Uncle Mike says after further explanation of our current situation and the danger of Talbot.

  “I just need time to process all of this!” Rafe exclaims.

  “Time is a luxury we can no longer afford,” Uncle Mike says, shrugging.

  “Rafe,” I say, “I need to keep Char safe. We’ll be involving her as well to offer her sanctuary here. You’re already both in danger just from association with me. The safest thing you can do is help us, and protect yourself from Talbot.”

  “And if nothing else think of the work!” says Uncle Mike. “You are involved in what could be a life-changing discovery. It may not go down publicly in the history books, but the great responsibility of this mission can mean more than the world could ever understand.”

  Darcy has been silent through most of the explanation. I level him with a look that strongly suggests he get involved.

  “Raphael,” Darcy eventually says, “I have lived a cursed existence for nearly three hundred years. Many have died and sacrificed in this cause throughout history, including my own loved ones. It appears there is finally an opportunity for things to line up the right way. Please. We need all of the help we can get.”

  Darcy’s eloquent words hang over us all. In this moment, you can look at him and see everything that his existence has been fighting up against. The soul inside of me may be partial to him, but you would have to have no soul at all to not be moved by his words of appeal.

  Rafe looks from Darcy, to Uncle Mike, and then to me. Blinking owlishly, he says, “If ‘every man is guilty of all the good he did not do’, then I suppose I have no choice!”

  Both Uncle Mike and Darcy laugh at his words.

  Left out, I look at him in question, disappointed in myself for not recognizing his reference.

  “Voltaire,” Rafe says to me with a wink.

  Rolling my eyes with a look between Rafe and Darcy, I begin wondering what exactly I’ve gotten myself into.

  That evening, we plot in the sanctuary and finalize our plans to retrieve the book. Uncle Mike has confiscated a few of the jumpsuits worn by the university custodians, figuring they look enough like plumber uniforms. He also got his hands on the keys for one of the school’s unmarked utility vans.

  There’s a feeling of excitement and rush in the air as we hash out the final details. Since Darcy is the only one who can travel at night with no risk of being harmed, he’s agreed to sneak into the building early in the morning while it’s still dark to set the scene that would require a plumber.

  Rafe has set up a phone block so that any outgoing calls from the building management line can be monitored and intercepted to ensure we will be the only plumbers arriving on scene. I had no idea something like that could even be done, but I have to admit the technological skills that Rafe has brought to our team almost frighten me.

  Rafe and I will then arrive in the uniforms and van to search the basement. Uncle Mike will be close by on standby for any surprises, and our getaway.

  When it seems like we’ve covered every detail, Uncle Mike stands to take his leave. Darcy volunteers to walk him out, and I suspect they’re discussing something in private.

  I take the opportunity alone with Rafe to ask him how he’s handling the situation.

  “I have to admit, I may still be in a state of shock,” he says, furrowing his brow. “I did think it was weird when you up and disappeared last week, even with the excuses Augustine was giving.”

  “I’m still in shock, so I wouldn’t even know how to describe what you must be feeling,” I say. “At least they tried to ease me into it. I got to dip my toes in the water of knowledge, while you were thrown all in the deep end.”

  He nods his head in agreement with a laugh. “Pretty much a perfect analogy. I can honestly say if I’d never heard the secret text rumors ahead of time, there’s no way I would’ve been able to believe any of this. I know I agreed to help them, but I have to ask while it’s just you and me… Do you trust them?”

  Taking a moment to think about that, I wonder how much I may have been caught up in the whirlwind of events. Closing my eyes and picturing the memory of the Statera in my head, I feel confidence build in my faith of the situation.

  My head nods with my surety, “I think it’s easier for me because I have the memories. But yes, Rafe, I do trust them. I hope you can too.�
��

  That night, sleep eludes me in anticipation for the day ahead.

  There’s some movement in the great room, signaling me that Darcy is back from his early morning mission. Knowing that the chances of me falling asleep are slim, I decide to get up and get ready for the day.

  Later, after breakfast and much pacing back and forth, I’m relieved to see Rafe and Uncle Mike as they return to the sanctuary to start our mission.

  “I’ve been monitoring the line all morning,” Rafe says, “We finally just intercepted the call, let’s go.”

  I move to follow them out, but something stops me and I turn to Darcy and give him a quick hug goodbye.

  “Good luck, and please stay safe,” he says, and as we part he grabs my hand for a quick charming kiss. With a genuine smile and building anticipation, I turn and practically skip out of the room.

  Chapter 25

  In the van, Uncle Mike goes over the plan at least three times. As we near the mills, he directs us to drop him off down the street from our destination so that he can be close by in case we need him.

  “Please call me as soon as the coast is clear if you can. I want to be there when you locate the book,” he says.

  Rafe and I pull up to the building and park. Taking a deep breath, Rafe turns to me with a deadpan expression and asks, “Do you want to be Mario, or Luigi?”

  We laugh out the anxiety that I didn’t realize had been building as we step out of the van and into the building. The setting is familiar, but the building is altered from my flashes of memories.

  Rafe handles the talking when a young woman named Lisa in the management office greets us. As she goes over the details of the problem, we’re then introduced to the building maintenance worker, who just so happens to be named Mario.

  It’s possible my head might explode from holding in my laughter. Straight-faced, I refuse to even attempt to look at Rafe as Mario shows us the way to the problem in the basement.

  Once in the basement, Mario starts asking me question after question about my background, and what on earth would make me want to become a plumber. After a few dismissive answers, it’s obvious to me that this guy isn’t going to leave us alone to work.

  I shoot Rafe a look of exasperation. When we reach the problem area he tells the guy, “We’ll take it from here if you have other work you need to get done.”

  “Oh, I don’t have anything that can’t wait. I’d like to observe a few pointers in case something like this ever happens again.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me the entire time he’s talking. The attention is starting to make me uncomfortable.

  After a few attempts myself at trying to shake Mario’s unwanted surveillance, I turn to Rafe and say, “This looks like we might need some more tools from the van. I’ll be right back, guys.”

  I make a quick exit before Mario volunteers to assist me. As I’m walking out to the van, I call Uncle Mike to explain the situation.

  “Leave it to me, my dear,” Uncle Mike says, and I spy him cross the street to enter the building management office.

  Swinging the bag of digging tools over my shoulder, I retreat back down to the basement area. As I approach the guys, the worker’s cell phone that’s strapped to his utility belt starts ringing.

  My subtle wink to Rafe goes unnoticed as Mario grumpily answers the call.

  “Right now?” he asks into his phone. “Alright I’ll be right there.”

  “I’m sorry, duty calls,” he says to me with an air of importance, while completely ignoring Rafe. “Please let me know if you need anything.” He hands me his business card.

  When Mario finally leaves and is out of earshot, Rafe takes the opportunity to express his admiration of what a cute video game princess I would make. I playfully kick him and tell him to snap out of it and fix the pipe, while I get to work looking around.

  Remembering our mission, he sobers up and concentrates on the matter at hand.

  My gaze wanders around the cluttered basement looking for any signs of recognition. Most of the building has clearly been gutted during a major renovation. Even down here, everything isn’t how I pictured it would be.

  I’m drawn into a separate utility room, over to a taped off area where it looks like the outer wall might have started to cave in. The wall has been reinforced with steel braces into the brick. Luckily this didn’t happen on the river’s side of the building, or I’m guessing it would have flooded.

  A sense of déjà vu hits me with my line of thinking, and I close my eyes to concentrate. A memory hazily floats in my mind of deciding to dig in the corner farthest from the river in case of any flooding.

  So, I must be in the right area! I wander around the back room, but keep drifting over to the taped off area. It has to be this corner.

  I begin to worry. It looks like someone’s already been digging here. Maybe when the braces were set? What if the case containing the book was already stumbled upon? But it looks like the job is a work in progress, since the area is still taped off.

  A quick picture of the work area with my phone will help remind me what it looks like in case I need to cover up our search. While my phone is in hand, I also text Uncle Mike letting him know that I’ve narrowed down a location.

  Unloading the bag of tools, I become impatient waiting for Rafe to finish the plumbing fix. Deciding it can’t hurt to poke around a little while I’m waiting for his help, I cross the tape and stumble down into the foundation.

  The hole that’s been dug is almost two feet deep. Standing in the pit I turn my entire body around clockwise looking for an angle in the building that might bring back a memory.

  Without Darcy here to trigger me, it’s difficult to concentrate.

  I place myself in Eleanor’s shoes at the time:

  I have discovered the existence of the reminiscence. My best friend who was like a brother to me has been murdered. I’m on the run from an evil man, and now the only family that I have left has been taken.

  Anxiety takes over as I close my eyes and lose myself in the memory of her feelings. My hands frantically move the dirt to cover the hole that hides the book. I pray that this location will catch Darcy’s notice, while escaping Talbot’s. In desperation, I search for a blunt object to mark the hiding place of the priceless artifact that I just buried. Struggling to find any tools during the warm months that the factory is not in use, I grab the large shovel I used to dig and use the spade to scrape repeatedly into the wall blocks creating some grooves. I accidentally knock a chunk out of the stone, but roughly create a four-point symbol above the hidden grave.

  The memory is released and my eyes pop open in shock!

  I frantically search the walls nearby. There’s been so much wear and tear over the centuries, it’s hard to make out anything on the rough surface of the stone walls. And now that the braces have been placed, it’s even worse.

  Placing my hands on the stone, I close my eyes and feel for any imprints my vision might be missing.

  Suddenly, right against the side of one of the steel foundation braces, I feel two faint perpendicular grooved lines in the form of a messy sideways T, which rests the topside of the T against the edge of the brace. There’s also a chunk of the wall indented in the middle, but the fourth point has been covered up by the brace. This is it.

  IT’S HERE!

  I drop my eyes to the dirt below the symbol. There are chunks of rock and cement mixed into the dirt. Has someone else been digging here? Am I too late?

  I grab a hand shovel from my bag of tools and start digging. I close my eyes periodically to muster up the memory to guide me. After I’ve dug a small hole about 20 inches down, I hit something solid. The palpitations of my heart are pulsating throughout my whole body.

  Praying that it’s not just stone, I dig outwardly around the object pulling out handfuls of dirt with my fists.

  Barely containing my enthusiasm, I brush away a small area to reveal the top of what looks like worn leather casing.

  “Rafe!�
� I scream for him, my voice squealing higher than normal in my excitement.

  My dirty hands fumble my phone as I text Uncle Mike to come right away.

  Unable to even wait a second for either of the two, I continue digging out the small case. When I finally unearth the case, I hug it tightly to me.

  I turn around covered in dirt, and stop dead in my tracks.

  Mario is staring down at me from the other side of the caution tape.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he asks, his voice just a bit too calm.

  “It’s not what it looks like,” I say, sounding the part of a guilty thief. I back up and almost fall into the hole. My eyes dart around the basement, not sure how to handle this situation.

  Where’s Rafe?

  I continue to talk, stalling for time. “I know what you must be thinking, but hear me out,” as the words come out, I slowly sidle to the edge of the pit.

  “I knew you weren’t really a plumber. What’s in the case?” he asks, moving closer.

  “It’s a time capsule,” I stretch the truth without thinking. “I buried it here a long time ago. I just had to come back for it.”

  It’s not entirely a lie.

  He looks down at the concrete foundation and back to me skeptically.

  “Try again,” he says, his voice switching tones to hint a threat.

  Unable to come up with a lie in my panic, I just shake my head and make a dash out of the pit.

  I’m brought up short as Mario catches up and wrestles the case from me, throwing it on the ground. He pins me against the concrete wall.

  “Scream, and I’ll have you arrested,” he whispers into my hair as I do my best to keep my head turned from him. “Now,” he says, sneering with menace, “I’m guessing there’s something pretty valuable in that case. But there’s something pretty nice here too.” He runs his hands down the front of my body, making his intentions clear. “Why shouldn’t I have both?”

  Gripped with fear, I struggle against Mario’s embrace, but get slammed back against the wall with force. My head hits the concrete. The impact blurs my vision.