by Mia Fox
“Where did you learn?”
“I grew up in New Orleans,” he explained. “Yeah, it was an interesting upbringing. My grandmere fed me tales of voodoo and bowls of dirty rice.”
Samantha laughed. It was easy to be with Daniel. He put her at ease in spite of the fact that something he did landed him in the Romani Realms, but who was she to pass judgement? She was here as well, although the reason that sent her here still escaped her memory.
“Why is everyone whispering? I feel like I walked out of the ladies room with a piece of toilet paper attached to my shoe or somewhere worse.”
Daniel looked over Samantha, taking in her long, midnight blue gown that made her red hair look even more fiery. He reached out and gently placed the runaway tendril that she had earlier fiddled with behind her ear. “Trust me, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I don’t normally dress up so I’m out of my element, but I have to admit this is pretty amazing,” she said taking in the surroundings.
“They’re all wondering who will be offered for the Reckoning. That’s why everyone is whispering and staring. Over there...in the corner,” he said pointing to where a beautiful, young woman in a black catsuit stood behind a high fronted desk, “that’s where you can place bets.”
“What’s the Reckoning?”
Daniel looked at Samantha in surprise. “How long have you been here?”
Samantha shook her head slightly. “I don’t think very long. I can’t remember anything.”
“Then you’re probably in your first six months. If you had been through a Reckoning...well, you’d remember,” he said grimly.
A bell sounded at that moment causing Daniel to check his watch.
* * *
James held tightly onto my arm. “We need to hurry,” he said. “But, I don’t think we’ll get there in time with your leg the way it is. May I?”
I raised my eyebrows and James no sooner lifted my skirt above my knee, exposing part of my thigh along the way.
He winced at the sight of my thigh, which was covered in bruises with a long gash down the center that was swelled and showing signs of infection. He closed his eyes, placed his hands delicately on my thigh and almost instantly, a cold sensation flooded through the cut and the throbbing of my pained flesh ceased. Miraculously, the river of blood started to dry, the skin that was deeply wounded began to close and the bruising changed from a dark blue-green to yellow and then back to its normal shade of pale.
James paused momentarily to ensure that the cut didn’t re-open and then, comforted that my leg was healed, he bent his head and gently kissed the affected area. “Good as new. And now, we need to get going.”
“To where?”
James picked up a branch from the ground and broke it into two. With the sharp end, he carved the symbol of infinity onto the nearest tree branch. “To mark our spot,” he explained. “Now, first to get us some proper clothing and then...The Reckoning.”
Before I could reply, the sound of gears turning and clocks chiming sounded. The wind rushed past my face as I felt myself pulled through time with James’ strong arm securely wrapped around my waist.
* * *
“We’re here,” Raven said pointing to a small house in the midst of a forest clearing.
“Who lives here?”
“Consider it our little home away from home,” Raven answered and plucked a dandelion from the ground. Phineas watched as she brought it to her lips and blew the fuzzy petals into the wind. It immediately turned black, sending ashes into the air as well. She smiled and pulled an intricately carved key from her pocket and opened the cottage door.
Phineas stepped over the threshold behind her, following as she led him through the main room and into a small bedroom with a large four-poster, oak bed. She flopped onto the middle of it and stared up at him expectantly. “We still have at least two hours before the Reckoning.”
“That’s happening now? It’s too soon. I thought...”
“Tsk tsk,” Raven smiled. “You thought we were coming here to give Samantha a gift for her new home? Or, maybe we were here to make sure that Charlotte had a safe flight back into the present realms? Come on, Phin, I love your innocence, but full out naivete is just not that appealing in a man. We’re here for the Reckoning so you can put these silly fantasies about Charlotte behind us once and for all. I can see now that this is totally necessary, which actually makes me happy. I’d hate to think that I orchestrated this major event without a need for it. The lifeless souls are still digesting that sweet girl of two months ago. The elders thought there wasn’t really a need for another Reckoning so soon, but as you can see...there is, at least in my book.”
“Are you finished?”
“Quite, but not with you.” Raven crooked her finger at him.
“Not in the mood, Raven.”
“I don’t believe you,” she answered in a sing-song tone. “I love you.”
“You don’t. You love manipulating me.”
“Come here. I want to share something with you,” she said, patting the bed beside her, her tone changing from demanding to actually sincere.
Phineas rolled his eyes, knowing that the chances of Raven telling him anything that could actually change his impression of this place or what she had proven capable of in the last month were an impossibility. He thought of Charlotte, his need to see her and the plan to go along with Raven in order to make the first goal a reality.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his attempt at sincerity making him feel ill.
“I know you think I’m horrible for the way I’ve treated Suki, and perhaps letting my anger affect her Releasors was immature...”
“That’s putting it a bit mildly, don’t you think?”
“Phin, I have my reasons. I’m trying to tell you...”
In spite of wanting to appease her and her volatile temper, Phineas couldn’t help but roll his eyes. The only surprise was when Raven ignored his insolence and continued in a voice that was both sweet and almost wounded.
“She did take everything from me.”
“You told me about the witch trials. I know that she turned in your lover, but she was doing that to save you. Why can’t you get over it?”
“If it were just about what happened in the 1400s then by now, I probably could forget. But she took something else from me. She took someone else. And the loss of that relationship I can never forgive because we were going to have a child.”
“I’m not following you. Who are you talking about, Raven?”
Phineas knew Raven to be a shrewd demon gypsy who had perfected her ability to control the elements, to cross-over into other realms, and defeat death. He had ceased to be surprised at her ability to turn off her human emotions as that was what she had worked so hard to perfect. She was a complex woman who had lived many lives, but what he never expected was the simplicity of her next comment.
“James.”
* * *
The woman at the podium rang a bell and indicated for everyone to take seats that surrounded the perimeter of the room.
“Before we commence the Reckoning, we will be showing a brief film about the rich history of the Romani Realms. I do hope you will enjoy it.”
Samantha and Daniel sat next to each other as a grainy film with shoddy sound began. It was reminiscent of the propaganda films dating back to McCarthyism.
Time travel through the Romani Realms is a skill that many have tried, but few have perfected. Like everything in the realms, senses are heightened and therefore, as one moves through different times the realization of the hardships of those times is associated with it.
Those who first settled in the Romani Realms were unaccustomed to its treacherous landscape of lost souls. Our founders worked hard to create an open door policy where lost souls would be welcome and able to make the forgotten marshes and forests into their new home. Our earliest inhabitants were people of the land, who knew how to forage for food. However, as more people came, the animals that many survive
d off of were long picked over. In order to survive, food came in the form of new souls.
At that moment, Raven’s face appeared on the screen in what looked like a model’s headshot pose, followed by images of her in various athletic and casual poses. She was shown on horseback playing polo, in a gourmet kitchen preparing a souffle, and then on a yacht, tacking during a regatta. The narrative continued...
One of our great founders, Raven Underwood, saw an opportunity for growth in our realms. By feeding upon innocents, the Romani Realms’ inhabitants could once again become self-reliant and a destination of choice for demons of all races and breeds.
Under Raven’s tutelage, our community built the magnificent glass gazebo in which you are all seated as well as recruited the finest landscape architects to create the illusions that newcomers see. We thank Raven for her vision -- to create a break in the pattern of bleakness and turn the Romani Realms into a vacation retreat.
As you enjoy the upcoming Reckoning, take note of our peaceful bodies of glass-like water surrounded by willow trees... Our grassy meadows with flowers and fauna... Like an oasis, these areas are meant to be enjoyed until the time comes that soul can no longer appreciate beauty. You will find these areas located in strategically placed spots to give founders and innocents a welcome break in an otherwise gloomy and horrific scenery. We hope you enjoyed this bit of history.
The woman who introduced the film returned to the podium. A round of applause followed her. “Wasn’t that a gem of a film? I’ve got one more surprise...I’m told that none other than Raven will be here later.”
The crowd erupted again, this time with even more enthusiasm.
Daniel leaned over to Samantha. “Are you okay?”
“Yes...it’s just...I don’t know it’s probably impossible, but there was something so familiar about that film. I felt as if I knew that woman they spoke of -- the one called Raven.”
* * *
“Give me your hand,” James instructed, but I still felt as if I were flailing through time, being pulled through the good and the horrors of our recent history.
“Suki, try not to focus on the negative.” He was doing his best to shield me from any atrocities, but still my sensitivity and perceptive abilities made it difficult to not see and feel the emotions of the people who have entered the Romani Realms.
“Come on, Suki,” he urged. “You can hear me.”
Although trembling, I extended my hand forward in space and reached for James. He not only grabbed my hand, but immediately pulled my entire body into his strong chest, holding me closely against his beating heart. “I’ve got you,” he whispered into my ear.
I felt the warmth of his hand stroke my hair, felt his arms around me, and immediately the fear dissipated and I opened my eyes to see his clear, blue ones smiling back at me.
“Welcome back,” he said against my lips as he brushed them with his own. “I was so worried about you. What happened?” he asked, and I realized that we were now safely planted by the banks of a quiet lake, somewhere on the outskirts of one of the Realms’ tar traps.
For a moment, I just shook my head in sorrow. Then, wiping a tear from my cheek, I took a deep breath and spoke. “I passed by so much sorrow and pain. I expected it from what you said, and I thought I could handle it, but then there was something else...”
James pulled me onto his lap and let me rest there with my back firmly planted against his chest, his arms holding me closely until I calmed.
“James, I saw one of my past Releasors...a man named Brian Mickelberg. He was a good man, but falsely accused of robbery in which multiple bars of gold bullion was stolen from the Perth Mint in Australia. There was a trial and he was sent to prison for it.”
“Did you grant him all of his wishes?”
Sadly, I nodded. “The last of his wishes was granted upon his release. He wanted to fly a twin-engine plane. It seemed like such a simple request and because of what he had been through, I granted it. And then, he died in a crash.”
James’ eyes met mine, and I was thankful for his attentiveness.
“His wish wasn’t a selfless plea, and still, I granted it. I shouldn’t have been swayed by circumstance. His death was my fault. And just now, I saw that he suffered and ended up here.”
“It’s out of your hands, Suki, and you have to move on. Charlotte and Samantha need you to be strong.”
I nodded, knowing he was right, but the after effects of seeing what could happen to a trapped soul stayed with me. “What if I can’t help them?”
“Don’t think like that. This place will throw everything at you, and you have to fight it back with everything you have.”
“Nothing can be worse than what I just saw,” I said. “He was innocent -- in both lives.”
I stared across the lake at a lone swan that glided gracefully in circles, its mate no where in sight, and involuntarily shuddered at the cool wind that was suddenly picking up. James’ words shook me out of my quiet reverie.
“We better get to the other side of the lake now. It’s quiet there and I’ll be able to channel us with Maebeline. We’ll get some proper clothes and join the others. Are you ready for this?”
I nodded, and took his hand, unaware that my own trials were only beginning.
* * *
Chapter Ten
When the Nephilim finished with Charlotte she was perfection personified. This had been like no makeover Charlotte had ever experienced. The twins took computer images of Charlotte’s face, ran it through a program, and were instantly rewarded with a program designed to bring out Charlotte’s features in the most effective way possible via makeup techniques and colors, clothing and hair styles.
Charlotte stood poised at a side door leading to the grand ballroom. The girls instructed her, thankfully this time in English, not to draw too much attention to herself until the bell sounded that the Reckoning would begin. Although Charlotte had no idea what the Reckoning was, she was thankful to enter the ballroom and search for Samantha in a circumspect way. But anyone looking at Charlotte would know that for her to enter a room undetected was an impossibility. In a word, she looked breathtaking.
A hush fell over the room and a crowd gathered in the center, blocking Samantha and Daniel’s view of whatever was the attraction. As the crowd parted, they could see why everyone had grown silent. Charlotte walked hesitantly into the room, taking in the staring faces and ornate decor. She moved slowly, which only made her entrance seem more majestic. Dressed in a long white off-the-shoulder gown with a form-fitting bodice and a train that draped behind her, she was a vision of beauty. The body of the dress and its train flowed gracefully over Charlotte’s petite frame and onto the floor. The white fabric had an ethereal quality to it, appearing as if it were made of delicate silk adorned by soft, downy feathers. Her hair hung straight, gently caressing her shoulders and its color practically mirroring that of her dress.
Across the room, Samantha was carrying a plate laden with tapas and petit fours, her first appealing meal since coming to this Realm, to her spot with Daniel. She struggled to move through the multitudes of people who had now gathered at the ball. As she made her way back, the hushed whispers she passed were more than a distraction, they felt like a warning.
Samantha paused by a wall to listen to the conversation of two women from the Elite Founders Circle, those who are given first access to the mind of a new Reckoning.
“Have you placed bets on who is to be the Reckoning?”
The woman standing adjacent to the first shook her head. “The younger minds are all so full of technology, it’s difficult to get a true reading.”
“One of the Nephilim girls knows it to be a young woman. Apparently, she’s here looking for someone. They say she’s quite pretty.”
“How peculiar. So she wasn’t actually sent here?”
“No, but apparently she has no idea of how to return. There’s others who are expected to meet her.”
“Others?” the second wom
an asked with disbelief, only to have her question returned with a nod.
Samantha jumped when a hand touched her arm. “There you are,” Daniel’s smooth voice reached her.
“Here,” Samantha offered him her plate, “they looked wonderful so I stocked up.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows in amusement at the mounds of food she had selected.
“Can we go somewhere more quiet to eat?” Samantha asked indicating the women around her.
She and Daniel found a corner of the massive ballroom that wasn’t near the food or bar. Samantha visibly exhaled as she slid into a plush wingback chair away from the noise and crowds. It was then that Charlotte made her way deeper into the ballroom and locked eyes with Samantha.
“That must be her,” Daniel whispered.
“Who?” Samantha asked with no trace of recognition in her voice.
“The Reckoned.”
* * *
With James by my side once again, I began to feel my energy levels improve. The traveling through the Romani Realms had greatly depleted my powers, leaving me without the strength to control the elements and mentally, feeling too defeated to not give into the sounds and urgings of the darkness.
“You can do it now,” James said encouragingly. “I’m watching you.”
I closed my eyes and felt the cold wind of the realms rip through my body. The shivering was intense, but I embraced the feeling knowing that to give into it now, especially with James, my Shade, by my side, would mean that Raven had won. Instead, I focused on heat, the sun, the air warming, the ground absorbing that beautiful heat and releasing waves of warmth back to the animals and plant life that struggled against the cold wintery feeling that was suddenly ripping over these Realms.
Nothing.
“Come on, Suki,” he encouraged.
I looked up at James, feeling a tear weave down my cheek. “It’s as if hundreds of years have been taken from me. I see the sorrow of my Releasors, but none of their strength and I feel all of their struggles.”