by Wendy Owens
As he stared at the images, he lifted one foot and then the other to help lessen the discomfort of the cold on his bare feet. He began to hop with both feet as the pain worsened. It felt like needles were pricking his soles over and over. The cold of the ancient, bare, stone floors was too much to tolerate any longer; he looked around frantically for a rug to stand on.
Much to his delight, Gabe discovered just feet away were a pair of crisp, clean slippers. He bolted to the nearby shoes and slid them on; amazed they fit. As Gabe stood there, curling his toes and admiring the perfectness of the fit, he heard a throat-clearing cough across the room.
Gabe glanced up. Near the glowing fire were two high back chairs. In one sat Sophie, leaned back with her leg casually draped over the side, staring at him with a slight smile. Gabe was stunned by how even more radiant her beauty was in the glow from the fire.
She looked downward sheepishly and said, “I think there should be a robe on the chest at the foot of your bed.”
He quickly remembered his dress-like gown situation. In a panic, he covered his important areas with his hands, hoping the fire had not revealed too much and darted for the end of the bed. Sliding on the robe and quickly securing it, he took a deep breath to regain his composure.
Though he was incredibly embarrassed, Gabe was also absolutely thrilled that Sophie was here, sitting, smiling, laughing and most importantly, alive. As quickly as the thought popped into his mind, another pushed it out. Gabe was baffled by the idea that he could come to care so much for someone so quickly. Who was this girl and why did he feel so compelled to make sure she was safe?
“Would you like me to leave?” Sophie asked, clearly unsure if she had upset him with her presence.
Gabe wasted no time in his response.
“Of course not.” He walked over to where she sat and took a seat directly across from her. “I guess I’m just a little shaken up. The last thing I remember is ... well ...” he looked away from her, not wanting her to realize how scared he had been. “I don’t remember much. And now I wake up here, wherever here is.”
Gabe looked around the room once more. This time he noticed the arched ceilings and wood beams crisscrossing them. Though cold and quite massive, it really was an extraordinary old room. Gabe wondered what the rest of the grounds must look like.
“Here?” Sophie began, “You mean Rampart?”
“What?” Gabe asked confused. “What’s Rampart?”
“Uri told you about the manor, right?” Sophie asked.
“Oh. Yes,” Gabe confirmed, things suddenly becoming a little clearer. “He just never told me it had a name. Why is it called Rampart Manor?”
“I don’t know,” Sophie continued in a short and dismissive way, “I suppose because we’re set up like a fortress.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Sophie continued into the topic she really wanted to be discussing, “Uri said you blacked out. He brought you here to rest. Healing can be quite draining. I assume the quarters are acceptable?”
“Wait, go back,” Gabe interjected. He had been thinking about the fortress comment until he heard the last part of Sophie’s statement. “Healing?” he asked.
Sophie realized Gabe had no idea what had transpired in the car. “Yeah. Gabe, you healed me. Uri said you were amazing. You didn’t even need to say anything, you simply began to heal me ... you saved me.”
Gabe truly loved the way Sophie was looking at him, so much so that he regretted having to tell her the truth.
“Look, I’m not sure what Uri thought he saw, but I never healed you, Sophie. The last thing I remember is holding you in my lap. You weren’t moving and then I blacked out.”
“Right,” Sophie responded with a beaming grin. He could see she was still confident in her version of the evening’s events.
“Really, I’m not being humble or anything. I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gabe insisted.
“OK, whatever you say,” Sophie said as she continued to grin. She stood and moved to the side of the chair, motioning toward the far end of the room.
“You should find clean clothes in there that will fit you. Choose anything you like. Uri will be here soon to take you to meet Michael.” She turned to walk away and then stopped suddenly, spinning around to face Gabe. She hesitated for a moment and then added, “I mean if you’re up for it.”
Excited at the thought of meeting the man with the answers, Gabe jumped to his feet and headed toward the wardrobe.
“Of course,” he added with enthusiasm.
Sophie smiled once more and proceeded to the big wooden door, pulling it open with both hands.
“Great, I’ll see you soon then.” Sophie stepped into the hall and as she pulled the door shut, she added, “And thanks again, Gabe.”
Before he could process what she had said, she was gone. He smiled and laughed at how certain she was that he was some kind of hero. If she only knew what a coward I am, he thought.
He made his way to the wardrobe, greeted again by those same storybook carvings he had seen on the bedposts. Gabe ran his fingers over the images. These were much more graphic.
They told the story of a great battle. The bones of demonic figures were strewn about the battlefield with armor-clad warriors crushing them beneath their boots. Above them, the clouds were parted and delicate lines indicated a light was shining down. Gabe wondered if the carvings represented anything important or a fantastical scene from an artist’s imagination.
He opened the wardrobe and peered in, imagining some drab, dated peasant outfit based on what he had found himself in when he had awakened. The inside of the wardrobe was dark. It was hard to see the treasures it hid inside.
Noticing a nearby window, Gabe walked over and threw back the velvet-lined curtains. Dust flew into the air as bright sunlight came flooding in. The dust finally settled and Gabe looked out the leaded windowpanes at a gorgeous courtyard below. He saw dozens of kids his age hanging around.
He watched the teens. Each appeared focused and busy with their own thing. Two sat on a bench deeply engrossed in their books. There were three others nearby practicing what looked like some form of Tai Chi. Gabe wished he knew how to do something that looked as awesome as what they were doing.
While watching them, he heard the clang of metal and his eyes darted over to a handful of boys gathered on the other side of the courtyard. He marveled as he watched them sparring with swords. Gabe wondered what sort of world he had fallen into.
Walking back over to the now well-lit wardrobe, Gabe began his search. Much to his pleasant surprise, Gabe found it filled with clothing similar to what he would find in his own closet. He picked out a well-worn looking pair of jeans, light fabric heather gray t-shirt and a simple black hoodie. Pleased with the clothing options he had found, Gabe looked around for his trusty Converse sneakers. They were next to the fire, warm and toasty, ready to be slid onto his currently slipper-clad feet. As he laced up his last shoe, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Gabe said, hoping Sophie had perhaps forgotten something. Uri opened the massive door, sticking his head inside with a smile.
“Decent?” Uri asked. Gabe motioned for him to come in.
“I suppose you’re pleased with the wardrobe selection?” Uri asked as he crossed the room. He plopped down into the chair Sophie had sat in earlier.
“Somehow I’m not surprised someone here knew my size and style,” Gabe replied, placing his foot onto the floor and looking over at Uri. “Although, the night dressing could use some work.” Gabe chuckled to himself.
“Hey now, I know once I tried a night shirt I never went back. The freedom and comfort is invigorating!” Uri defended his choice.
“Yeah, more like night dress,” Gabe chimed in. “All right, I’ll admit it was comfortable until I realized Sophie saw me in it.”
Uri burst out laughing at Gabe’s statement.
“Thanks, like it’s not horrifying enough.”
Uri shifted into a serious po
sture and looked at Gabe. Smiling he told him how Sophie had not left his side since she herself had awakened.
“Yeah, about that,” Gabe interjected, “she has some crazy idea that I saved her life and she said you told her that.”
“Well, it’s the truth,” Uri responded.
Gabe gave him a look of disbelief and rolled his eyes.
“I’m serious. I don’t know how to explain it. You shouldn’t have been able to do what you did that night. Sure enough, I turned around and there you were …”
“Do what?” Gabe asked frustrated. “I didn’t do anything.”
“When I looked back you were laying healing hands on her. I saw the glow. I’ve seen it cast by Michael and a few of the elders before, besides them, only clerics have that ability.” Uri thought for a moment. “And the craziest part, I’ve never seen anyone able to cast it without reciting the incantation.”
“That’s because you’re crazy and you didn’t see what you thought you did. I think I would remember that,” Gabe insisted.
“Say what you will, but I know what I saw.” Seeing that Gabe still was shaking his head in disbelief, Uri leaned closer to him. “I think it’s time you meet him.”
Gabe was surprised that now that the time was actually here to meet Michael, he was incredibly nervous. He wondered why he should be the one that was nervous considering he was owed all the answers. Seeing Gabe’s apprehension, Uri grabbed his arm as they stood.
“He’s been looking forward to this for a long time, I promise there’s nothing to be nervous about.”
Gabe nodded and followed Uri out of the room. He was still awestruck by the calm Uri could bring over him.
They turned right and headed down a large, burgundy carpeted corridor; the walls were covered with old oil paintings. Gabe admired the golden, intricate antique frames around them. He studied a number of the paintings as they walked by. Angelic figures. Children playing. So much joy and happiness filled them. They bore no resemblance to the carvings or tapestries he had seen in the room where he had slept.
Two young girls passed them in the hall. Uri greeted them as they walked by. Gabe thought it odd when the girls looked back at them giggling. Turning back around and trying to focus his thoughts on what he would say to Michael, Gabe felt his stomach begin to twist again.
Uri had described him as one of the elders, wise and powerful. The thought of the term elders made Gabe smile. All this seemed so surreal. “I mean, who speaks like this?” Gabe thought. Of course the way they spoke was the least of his concerns.
He thought about the night before and wondered if perhaps they had drugged him at some point. Perhaps the beasts had just been a hallucination. Though if he was drugged, Gabe wondered how it could have possibly felt so real. He could remember the smells, the sounds, poor Sophie lying in his lap.
Gabe may have only been sixteen, but he always considered himself to be a logical person. He kept thinking there was some sort of explanation to the things he had seen transpire in the last twenty-four hours. Perhaps Michael was the key to providing that explanation.
At last, Uri and Gabe came to stand before two large oversized double doors, which arched up to a high point in the middle. The old wood had been stained with a deep red. The original wood grains had begun to show through. There was iron detailing on the edges of the doors. The frame was made of stone in which cherubs were carved.
Uri stopped and looked at Gabe, “Are you ready?”
Gabe took a deep breath and nodded.
Uri approached the room; using a knocking device mounted halfway up the door, he announced their presence. Gabe heard footsteps on the other side as well as muffled voices. Moments later the door cracked and the light streamed out, blinding Gabe for a second.
An old, haggard man with a full bushy salt and pepper beard emerged from the opening. He stopped and looked directly into Gabe’s eyes. It was a cold and unwelcoming stare, the first such greeting Gabe had received in this place. Gabe worried about what he had gotten himself into. This man did not seem to be the welcoming and loving person Uri had described.
“Come in, gentlemen, come in,” a kind voice called from inside the room. “Peter was just leaving.”
Gabe sighed in relief, pleased the man who had just glared at him was, in fact, not Michael.
He followed Uri into the large and open chamber, noticing it smelled like old books and wood chips with a faint hint of tobacco. The shape of the room surprised Gabe; he was impressed by its circular design. He had never seen anything so grand. The ceiling came up into a great dome. Gabe couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful mural of the sky with tiny angels dancing about painted on it.
There was a huge old antique desk on the far side of the room. Inlayed in the floor, just in front of the desk, was the symbol Gabe had seen on Uri’s ring. He wondered what the significance of it might be. He would remember to ask when the time for questions arrived.
Behind the desk was a huge window that stretched from floor to ceiling. A figure stood before the window, the light pouring in around him. Gabe thought the streams of light almost looked like wings.
A moment later, the man turned and walked toward them. As he came closer, Gabe saw he had black wavy hair; there wasn’t even a hint of gray. His jaw line was tight and he sported a slight five o’clock shadow.
The man neared them and held out his hand, flashing a broad smile.
“So this is Gabe?” he asked, grabbing hold of Gabe’s hand with both of his and shaking it vigorously. Gabe noticed his eyes had amazing glowing flecks of blue in them as he tilted his head. “Nice to meet you, I’m Michael.”
Gabe did not expect Michael to be so young and couldn’t help but stare. After hearing Uri describe him as a wise and powerful elder, he imagined an old man with a long gray beard and robes. He was pleased, however, with how kind and welcoming he was. “So nice to meet you, sir,” he said as Michael continued past them.
“Please come, sit.” Michael motioned to the plush velvet couch that was placed directly in front of a grand fireplace. Uri and Gabe followed and took a seat.
Gabe noticed the worn arms of the couch and wondered what stories the old beast could share. On each side of the couch were side tables covered with picture frames. He noticed they were all filled with young people close to his age. They stood with Michael with an arm around each other’s shoulders, huge smiles plastered across their faces. It was clear he was a very popular man.
Gabe simply doubted Michael could help with his particular situation in life, but he was happy to give the man a chance.
Michael walked over to the fireplace and stoked the embers, losing his gaze in them. “You guys had a very eventful evening,” Michael said in a soft tone.
The boys were silent, neither sure what to say in response. The silence dragged on for what seemed like hours. Without warning, Michael turned and walked to the leather chair that was next to the couch, taking a seat.
“I suppose I owe you my gratitude ... we all do,” he said.
“For what?” Gabe questioned, completely unaware of what he might be referring to.
“Well, for Sophie of course,” Michael replied matter-of-factly. “Uri told me what an amazing hero you were last night.”
“Sir,” Gabe replied, a little embarrassed at having to explain that that must be some sort of mistake. “I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but I didn’t do anything last night.”
“On the contrary,” Michael continued with a slight smile, “a healing spell of that magnitude is quite an accomplishment. Sophie is very important to us and we can never express how grateful we are for you being there for her.”
“Really,” Gabe insisted, becoming annoyed with the fact nobody in this place seemed to listen. “I didn’t do anything. I’m not being modest. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to do this healing thing you people are talking about.”
Michael simply enlarged his smile as he nodded and continued, “Uri told me he saved all the fu
n details of who we are and why we brought you here for me to explain. We have a lot to talk about. Wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes sir,” Gabe replied.
“Please, as I explain things, feel free to ask any questions you may have,” Michael continued.
Gabe was nervous as well as eager to begin. Part of him was hoping what he heard would lead to the answers about why he was different, why his life had been so tragic. But a bigger part of him feared this was just one more door that led to complete and utter devastation.
“Uri,” Michael deviated, realizing the needs of his new guest. “Gabe must be famished. Can you have the cook whip up a breakfast fit to welcome the hero we have in our presence today?”
With that statement, it became clear to Gabe that Michael was not willing to budge on the idea that he had saved Sophie. Tired of the argument, he decided not to rebut again.
“Happy to,” Uri replied hopping up and skipping to the door. Within seconds he was gone. Gabe sat there awkwardly on the couch. He was alone with Michael and unsure what to say.
“So, Gabe, I’m sure you must have a million questions for me,” Michael said shifting back into his seat. “Is there anywhere in particular you want me to start? Or perhaps just a brief history of who we are and why we’re here?”
Gabe sat there, staring at the fire, contemplating his response. He had been taken off guard by Michael’s youth. Now this extremely likable guy was so forthcoming; Gabe wasn’t sure how to react. He’d had dozens of questions running through his mind the night before. All of a sudden, he couldn’t think of a single one.
Michael saw Gabe struggling with formulating his words and attempted to ease his discomfort.
“How about I tell you a little about our history and you jump in along the way with any questions you might have?” Gabe nodded.
Michael flipped open a wooden case on the table near him. Gabe noticed it had the insignia engraved on it that he had seen over and over the previous day and remembered one of his questions. He decided to save it for later, hoping that Michael was about to delve into even more important details.
