Chapter Two
Matt, Telia and Owen and Francis went into the basement of the house and took an underground walkway to the barn. They tried to stay out of sight from the air whenever they could. The house was splendid and appointed with the best of everything, but it could still feel like a prison.
The reflector had been torn down from the warehouse in Cleveland, moved, and rebuilt by a small army of riggers and technicians. They spent a few weeks experimenting with it and trying different orientations until it was dialed in. They found the strongest connection to the other side was made when the reflector was pointed at the mountain.
Owen took the seat. He didn’t bother drinking the peyote tea when he used the reflector, he’d initially been a skeptic of the device, but found it greatly enhanced his abilities. He could narrate as he worked, and he wore a headset and Telia, Matt and Francis communicated with him through the control panel and watched him on a big flat panel display. Matt habitually noted the events down in a notebook, though the sessions were recorded so they could review later.
Owen said, “Samantha’s here and she says ‘Hello’.”
Telia responded, “Hi Samantha.”
Owen smiled. “She loves to hear your voice, Telia. We’re going to try to find Cain, and then his residence.”
There was a long pause. Matt sketched a picture of Samantha’s face in his notebook and Telia watched Owen on the monitor. Then Owen spoke, “I think we found him. I hope he doesn’t notice a flock of crows is following his car.” Owen chuckled. “By the way, Samantha is always easily able to find people from the other side. I don’t really know how that works.”
Matt asked Francis. “Do you think Cain might be aware that crows can spy on him?”
Francis shrugged. “I really don’t know. I doubt it, but that’s just a hunch.”
Owen smiled. “We found his residence! How interesting! There’s a small stone temple in the back yard... The roof of the building is tiled in lead, I think. Unfortunately there are no windows. I suppose this is really a waiting game.”
Francis whispered, “Do you guys want a drink? Snacks?”
Telia said, “I could use a refresh on this coffee.”
Francis trotted away.
Matt smiled at her. “It’s a supernatural stake-out.”
His levity made her suddenly horribly depressed, and the tears rolled from her eyes. She walked away. He said, “We’ll be right back, Owen,” and followed her to the barn door. She looked out at the grass and the trees. Most of the lot was shrouded with evergreens, but the few stout, smooth barked Birches were skeletons with a few brilliant yellow leaves clinging to the branches. Whiteface Mountain was a stony blue solid mass on the horizon. It made her feel like the gentle hills of the Wells Farm were impossibly far away.
“Hey Tee, it’ll be alright. I think we can use the reflector to check up on Tracy. It’ll almost be like we’re there.”
She sighed. “I know. I’ve been getting better about it, lately, since we’ve been staying busy, but it’s still very depressing at times. We’re going to miss so much!”
Matt hugged her. “Well, let’s just get through this as quickly as we can. I think once we know what we’re dealing with, we’ll be able to see her.”
They returned to the control system and plopped back down on the couch. Matt kicked his feet up on a rustic coffee table and continued doodling. Francis returned with a tray and drinks for all of them. Matt sipped his scotch. Telia blew on the coffee and watched the monitor.
Owen spoke up. “You won’t believe this, but Senator Cain is walking out to this small temple. He’s wearing a black velvet robe and carrying a silver bowl. I bet his constituents would love a photo of that!”
Matt noted it down and asked, “Can you see any details on the bowl? Is there anything in it?”
Owen said, “It’s got some carving around the rim, but I can’t see details. I think the bowl is empty.”
Owen felt a looming presence and peered into the other side through the crow’s eyes. “An enormous shadow just passed by! Amazing! Cain casts a shadow into the other side. I just got a glimpse through the temple door. There is a large stone tub filled with water. I smell warm water, but I don’t think that’s a hot tub! Samantha can hear their whispers, but I can’t. I’m fading here, oh so tired!”
He shook his head and took the headset off. He wobbled down the ladder and Matt ran over to help him. Owen complained, “It is so exhausting. I need a drink, for sure. The Beast, it was there, no doubt.”
Matt asked, “What could Cain possibly get out of this deal?”
Owen said, “Senator Cain cast a shadow in the other side. I’ve never witnessed that. I am not sure what that could possibly mean.”
Matt said, “A few years ago, Robbie, Dana and I captured an entity, and Dana did her hand on the chest trick. She said there was nothing there but black. Those were always the most foul beings we encountered.”
Francis pumped both of his fists and said, “This is a big discovery. Now we can determine who’s infected using that crow vision trick, which is possibly the coolest thing of all time, by the way!”
Telia said, “I’ll go talk to Samantha. Do I need the peyote tea any more?”
Matt shrugged. “I dunno. But, Samantha doesn’t leave poor Owen alone. I’m not sure if that’s from long term interaction with her, or if the peyote really prevents it. I’ll keep using it, myself.”
She took a shot of the tea. “Gaak. That is nasty. I try to keep it from hitting my tongue, but it’s like an explosion of bitter. Blechh.” She climbed up into the chair and closed her eyes. Now, when she crossed over, she arrived on the bank of a mountain stream. Tall trees swayed in a stiff breeze and Telia’s hair whipped around her head. Water tumbled over big granite stones.
Samantha had changed as well. She still had long red hair, but now it was all piled up on top of her head in a spiral bun. The few stray strands that hung down to her shoulders accentuated her long pale neck, and the gown she wore previously was now a black mesh dress with a plunging neckline and no back. Telia discovered she craved these meetings and wanted more from Samantha each time and Samantha indulged her.
“Telia,” She purred, “We’ll take you to observe Cain.” She put her arm around Telia and stroked her face and neck. Telia kissed her. Samantha’s saliva was honey sweet and made Telia light headed.
Telia said, “Owen wondered how you find people. How do you do it?”
Louis was also different, he wore a dark velvety shirt and black linen pants. He smiled and said, “Remember that the human world is really small in connections. Owen still thinks of this place geographically, because it looks like Earth.”
Samantha purred in her ear, “We know you’re more adaptable than he is. Who in this room with you is most likely connected to someone who knows Cain?”
“Francis, of course.” She concentrated on him and his shimmering form appeared.
Samantha said, “I’ll help you. The next parts are really more subtle and take more practice.”
Telia felt Samantha flow through her. She felt a slight pause, then another, and another, then she and Samantha were in a desert. A cold wind ruffled their clothes. Samantha was very close to her, reassuring her.
Telia said, “Samantha, that feeling of you passing through me is irresistible.”
Samantha cocked her head a little to the left and said, “It is for me, too. This tea you drink does mute my feelings and your response, though. I think I can explain how this works with a metaphor. When you make love, the sensation will persist for a time after the intercourse, right?”
Telia nodded, “Yes. For a while sometimes.”
“When you became pregnant with Tracy, your body changed completely?”
The understanding dawned on Telia. “Yes, yes. Completely. The hormones.”
Samantha rolled her eyes and Telia felt her anger, then she regained her composure and patted Telia’s hand. “Sorry for that. I take this very
personally, because they deleted me from what people now call science. The so called hormones are the after effect. Anyway, when I enter you, you change, too. It happens each time we meet, now, but the drink mutes the effect.”
Telia felt torn, “If you enter me without the peyote, do you stay? Am I free, or do I become you?”
Samantha nuzzled her and kissed her neck and murmured. “Telia, I am very attached to you and your family. I’ve guided them for generations. This suspicion saddens me, though I do have an ulterior motive, a base and lusty ulterior motive.”
Telia was intrigued and asked, “What motive?”
Samantha’s voice became very husky, “I want to be fucked. I would also like to become pregnant, if possible.”
Telia asked, “Where am I in this scenario?”
Samantha smiled, “We’re both there.”
Telia was warming to the idea, but was still suspicious. “Will you leave if I ask?”
Samantha saddened slightly at the idea of rejection. “I think leave is the wrong word. You will find things to be very different afterwards. Our relationship will change, and your access to this side will change, too. I’ll be a little more like you, and you a little more like me.”
“Like Owen? Well, I am open to the idea, but need to think about it a little.”
She felt Samantha brighten. “Good! Now to the grubby business, and I must point out, isn’t it so sad that we need to waste our time with these pathetic creatures seeking to dominate. We could be discussing the mysteries of life, sex and love. So much nicer.”
Telia asked, “Where are we?”
Samantha laughed ruefully, “Good lord, this place is every capital city of every country. A dead place for dead men and women.”
Crows were in the distance, so they reached out to look through their eyes. Telia saw The National Mall and the familiar skyline of the Capitol. The crow flew toward the Capitol Building. She felt Samantha’s presence and she defocused to look into the two worlds at once. They passed over a group of men who were talking to reporters on the Capitol steps. Three of them cast shadows in the other side. Telia tried to study their faces, though the crow was too far away to make out many details. She recognized the reporter, though, it was a correspondent from National News Network--N Cubed. She returned her mind to Samantha.
“I think we can figure out who those people are.” She said.
Samantha smirked, “OK. We have completed our errand, Dear Love.”
Telia chuckled and said, “I think you have the correct attitude about this. We’ve been taking it very seriously and solemnly. But we can be serious without the dullness.”
Samantha playfully smacked her on the butt and then grabbed her hands and danced with her a moment. “Yes!” She agreed. “To be always serious, or always playful, or always ridiculous, that’s very dull.”
Telia said, “Well, then, one more errand, but do it while we kiss. What did the Beast whisper?”
Samantha looked at her slyly and kissed her and gripped Telia’s ass and pulled her close. “It thanked Cain for being so loyal and promised him more for more death.” She said in a bubbly voice. Telia pulled back.
Telia said, “Whoa! That’s a mood breaker!”
Samantha acknowledged it, “Yes, sorry. Grubby business and more deals by dead men about death and murder. But you are very much alive!”
Telia lost the connection, and gasped and was back in the chair. Each of the encounters left her drunk with emotion and the memory of Samantha’s presence was like a gentle tension on her heart and gut. Matt, Francis, and Owen were all very quiet and shifted uncomfortably as she rejoined them. She plopped onto Matt’s lap and lounged back onto the arm of the couch.
“Francis, if you don’t go over there one of these days, I’m going to start to badger you and sexually harass you, you delicious little man.” She said.
“I’m more, well, reserved than that and a little concerned with how it might affect me.” Francis was now used to her sudden transformation after her journeys, but it still intimidated him. She stood up and smiled aggressively, then plopped onto Francis’s lap and played with his hair. Owen smacked his knee and laughed at the look on Francis’s face.
“Tee, I’m pretty sure Francis is uncomfortable.” Matt said. He sighed, “Francis, you can chill out. Just go with it, I am not a jealous man. It’s not like we’re at a bar and you’re hitting on my wife, she just got done talking with a goddess.”
“What over there makes you like this?” Francis asked her. He tried to relax, but was still slightly on edge. He ventured putting his hand on her hip.
“It’s a body chemistry change.” She said. “But it’s a lot more than that. It makes how you are acting now and your careful manners and carefully protected boundaries seem very ridiculous. Plus Samantha is always teasing me and caressing me and I get revved up.”
Francis was curious, “I thought she was a knowledge goddess. What’s with all the sexiness?”
Matt shrugged, “Two sides of the same coin. Seeking knowledge has that component of eros. In our time, much knowledge has been neutered and institutionalized, and the artful knowing, poetry, painting, music, is considered a different thing. To me, it’s really all one and the same. Samantha’s more a creature of that earlier type of understanding.”
Telia cupped Francis’s cheeks with her hands. “Admit you like my boobs! I can tell you do.” She was enjoying backing him into the couch with her breasts. He was running out of room.
He smiled uncomfortably, “Yes, who wouldn’t. They are spectacular.”
She stood up. “Don’t be a monk, Francis. Get some girls up here for the love of the gods!”
Francis looked at Matt and Owen and asked, “Would you mind? I can arrange it.”
Matt asked, “Why would I mind?”
Francis said, “Just so many things to do. The circle of people who know who we are and what we’re doing here is very small, now. Plus, due to the security aspect, they’ll have to stay here for a long time, and frankly it will expose them to some danger. If they try to leave, for example, they’ll end up being detained, um, at best.”
Matt rubbed his chin. “I don’t know… That sounds dicey. Maybe if they knew what they were getting into.”
Telia rolled her eyes, “If we’re trapped here, we’re no better off than prisoners ourselves. Anyway, it’s really for you, Francis. Your call.”
The Chardon Chronicles: Season Two --- The Winter Page 13