For Centuries More

by Ethan Johnson

CHAPTER 33: CATCH AND RELEASE

  Gracie sat in her car and eagerly swiped and tapped at her phone. She couldn’t wait to read all the texts Annabella had sent her throughout the morning. After being found out by Jaime, Gracie kept the phone in her drawer and resisted the urge to so much as peek at it. Being inadvertently outed by one co-worker was bad enough. She wasn’t prepared to face Cathy’s judgment if she saw something private as well. If nothing else, Cathy would give her another stern reminder to keep her cell phone stowed away during business hours.

  Now Gracie was literally in the driver’s seat. No prying eyes, no need to explain, just some personal time with Annabella. She tapped her messages icon to find… one message.

  11:04 AM: :-*

  Gracie scrolled up and down through Annabella’s texts in disbelief. One text in three hours, and it’s a kissing emoticon? No flippin’ way! Gracie had been thinking about her all morning. Where were the wild texts like she ones Annabella nearly melted her phone with yesterday? She put her hand to her forehead and sank into her seat.

  This is awkward, she thought. Sending a text could come off as pushy and needy. Not sending one meant they didn’t have anything special after all. She thought about Trixie. She was going to be different than Lacey. Everything was going to be way better. No more sneaking around. No more stolen kisses and secret romps, risking discovery by either set of uptight parents. Trixie was going to take her to all the coolest clubs, introduce her to the coolest people, and Gracie would embrace vampire culture, which she thought was weird, but she was willing to accept it because Trixie liked it.

  An epiphany struck her just then: she wasn’t dating Trixie. She was in a relationship with Annabella. Trixie sent smoking hot NSFW texts. Annabella sent kissy-face emotions.

  Is this what I want? She slumped in her seat and ignored her growling stomach. Trixie was so cool, so sexy, so amazing. Annabella was… different. Good different, she thought. Or was she? Gracie felt a gnawing hole where the new relationship energy was supposed to be, driving them wild and inspiring them to have sex in public or go to a weeknight rave.

  Gracie took a deep breath and tapped out a text, then deleted it. She felt butterflies collect in her otherwise empty stomach as she tapped a single word on her screen: CALL.

  Gracie took a hard swallow and pressed the phone to her ear. Come on, pick up, she thought. Wait, don’t pick up, this is stupid. Maybe she’s in the back of the salon. Maybe her hands are wet. Maybe she’s talking about me. Maybe she isn’t. Oh God, Grace, hang up! She pulled the phone away from her ear in time to hear a click.

  “Hey you,” Annabella cooed.

  Gracie’s thumb hovered over the END CALL button. She wiped a tear from her eye with her free hand.

  “Gracie, are you there? Did I lose you?”

  Gracie put the phone to her ear. “No,” she said quietly. “I’m still here.”

  “What’s up? I only have a minute. Big wedding party has me booked up all day.” Her voice faded a bit as she told someone playfully to behave themselves. “I miss you. Last night was fun.”

  Fun. The word hit her like a gut punch. She tried to keep herself from hanging up without saying goodbye. “Yeah, it was great. I just… wondered how things were.”

  “Things are just peachy, sweetie.” Her voice faded again. “No, you are not spanking me with that again. Bad girl! Use this instead.” Her voice filled her ear again. “See you at the club tomorrow night?”

  Gracie cocked her head. “What club?”

  “I’ll text you later with the deets. Ciao, hon.”

  Gracie wiped away another tear. “Goodbye, Trixie.”

  The phone line went dead. Gracie dropped the phone in her lap and folded her arms across her steering wheel and let out a cathartic cry. Trixie was an illusion. So was Annabella. No, Annabella was worse: she was all too real.

  CHAPTER 34: HIS ONLY JOB

  James set a porcelain pitcher on a metal tray and shook his head as he pushed his glasses up his nose. They slid back down again when he dipped his chin forward.

  The countess shook her head disapprovingly at the glistening pebble at the center of a white saucer. Water pooled against it and had splashed onto the burgundy tablecloth. “James, this is not the result I had anticipated. Especially after the… investment your parents made in your development. Is this any way to repay their confidence in you? Or us?”

  James shrugged. “No, ma’am,” he said softly.

  “I couldn’t have made this much easier for you. Any smaller, and you’d be working with a grain of sand. Hardly an effective demonstration of your talent. Why have you failed?”

  James stared intently at his lap. “I guess… I don’t l know, I’m afraid I’ll mess up.” His voice was just above a whisper.

  The countess waved her hand as if surrounded by a cloud of gnats. “Pish and tosh, James. You mustn’t fear failure. After all, you’ve succeeded at the one thing you feared! Another in a string of failures, James. I’m wondering if you’re as gifted as we were led to believe. Perhaps your place can be filled by someone more… reliable. I have a promising student arriving soon from Laos. Perhaps she will be a quicker study.”

  James squeezed his eyes shut. His parents had moved mountains to send him away to Eddington Manor. The mountains they moved now took the form of a mountain of debt. Just the same, he said what he had been rehearsing all morning in his head. “It’s a puzzle with no solution. The lesson is to accept what you cannot change.” He looked up at the countess, who sat back in her chair as if he’d slapped her. Her cheeks burned a bright red. James wondered if he’d made the right decision.

  “No solution! Cannot change! James, I’m very disappointed in you. You were not given personal tutoring, an immense value as my rates are quite high, only to fail disastrously and try to assuage me with such… piffle! I shall give you one last chance to redeem yourself.”

  James nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  The countess pushed her seat back and stood. She swayed to a bookcase and searched the spines for something. James spied something glinting under the table. One of her bangles had slipped from her wrist when she stood. He covered it with his shoe and slid it along the floor. He kept it pinned underfoot as she returned to her seat clutching a dusty volume.

  “Ah, this might be the missing ingredient. An Alchemist’s Mind. Fine text. A fair amount of it is a bit esoteric, but perhaps it will stimulate something inside of you and fill in the gaps in your understanding.”

  James nodded and accepted the offering. He rested the book on his lap. “May I be excused?”

  “In a moment, James. You have something that doesn’t belong to you.”

  James felt a jolt of panic. He peeked at his shoe and made sure the bangle was hidden. He didn’t see any of it protruding. He swallowed hard and looked up at the countess. “Oh?”

  “Yes, James. It’s not right to keep your gifts bottled up. The universe is generous. When it gives you something so precious, it’s your responsibility to share it with the less fortunate.”

  James considered her words and nodded thoughtfully. He reached down to scratch his ankle. “Huh. I hadn’t thought of it that way. You know, I think things are going to be much better from now on.”

  The countess beamed. “Well, I’ll be expecting a world of improvement next time. But mark my words, James, this is your last chance to deliver before I turn my attention elsewhere.”

  James stood up and smiled. “I read you, loud and clear.” He held up the book sheepishly. “Well, I’ll read this too. Right away.”

  “Very good, James. You may see yourself out.”

  James nodded again and pushed in his chair. He hurried out of the room and proceeded directly to his dorm room. He closed the door behind him and pressed his back to it, exhaling sharply. He looked up to see Aubra sitting on the edge of his bed, eyeing him with a stern glare.

  “Were you successful?”

  James smiled and opened the book. The bangle gleamed. Aubra ste
pped forward and reached for the bangle. “I only touched a little part of it. I hope that didn’t ruin anything,” James said.

  Aubra held her hand over the bangle, as if to judge the warmth of a stovetop. “This is more than adequate for our purposes.”

  James frowned. “You could just say ‘good job,’ like normal people.”

  “I told you. We aren’t normal people.”

  “Yeah, well, but still.” James snapped the book shut. “So, what do we do now?”

  Aubra slipped the bangle into a silk pouch and placed it carefully in her dress pocket. She gave James a faint smile.

  “Meditate.”

  CHAPTER 35: NESTING

  Jacqueline opted to settle in to her hotel room before making the trek to Agnes and Lauren’s apartment. She assumed Agnes was probably out interviewing, and Lauren was presumably busy doing office work of some sort. Mother hadn’t said where she was working, and in fairness to Lauren’s employer, Jacqueline wasn’t comfortable with showing up unannounced and uninvited in a business setting. There would be enough complaining at the apartment.

  Tough, she thought. Things were terribly wrong with their brother, and nobody seemed to be interested in or capable of resolving the issue. Her personal attorney gave his blessing for the visit on the conditions that she didn’t go anywhere near Marc’s former apartment or his former workplace. “Let me handle the legal mumbo-jumbo,” he said. “Remember, I’m your mediator. No need to get your pretty hands dirty.”

  Jacqueline sat on the edge of her bed and inspected her manicure. She made a tch sound and reached for her phone. After swiping and tapping a bit, she raised the device to her mouth. “Make appointment at Executive Polish,” she said firmly. She tapped a red icon and set the phone aside.

  Jacqueline looked across the room at the business center. A television was tuned to the hotel’s marketing channel, which touted the amenities and boasted its proximity to popular downtown attractions. Jacqueline hoped to take in a few sights while she was in town, but her goals were clear, and first. She approved of the room. Chelsea had done well on short notice. A pair of wine glasses hung on a panel above the mini-fridge with a wine bottle mounted directly above them. She stepped over to inspect the bottle. Chateau Bonne Chance.

  Jacqueline spun the bottle in her hands and read the label. Fruit-forward, bold, confident wine with notes of cigar box and blackcurrant. She gave the label an impressed frown. She hadn’t kept up on the vintage charts and wine scores. She carried the bottle to her phone and did some checking. 91 points from The Educated Palate. She nodded her approval. “Perhaps later,” she said to herself as she slipped the bottle back into its holder.

  She stood beside the desk and felt a fit of melancholy come on. She wasn’t looking forward to arguing with Lauren about her surprise visit and scraping for the slightest bit of assistance from her youngest sister. Agnes would be amenable to whatever Jacqueline suggested, but useless. Maybe she could fill in a gap here and there as Jacqueline pieced the timeline of events together that led Marc to turn up in Dubai, of all places. Dubai! Even she and Richardson hadn’t been there yet, and they had a meticulous itinerary planned for when they could arrange the particulars. Well, that wasn’t seeming promising these days.

  Richardson was an intelligent man, and an effective manager, she thought, but whoof, was he obtuse. He never made the connection between Jacqueline’s insider knowledge of Mercurio-Atlan’s interest in Richardson’s company, and his good fortune of being promoted to Regional Vice President shortly after the acquisition papers were inked. His tone and body language suggested his distrust in her… and Philip. Richardson would break off sentences when Phillip’s name was to be uttered. He’d get other barbs in as well. One night he was admiring his physique in a full-length mirror and said aloud, “I don’t get it. His BMI has easily got to be double what I’m packing.” He patted his stomach and smoothed down a few flyaway hairs on his left temple.

  Cheating. Jacqueline sat down hard on the edge of the bed and laughed bitterly. As if she had the time. Or the interest. If she was guilty of cheating of any sort, she thought, it was by not telling him about the acquisition and promotion in advance. She was certain he would have done something to mess it up, no matter how well-intentioned. If he tipped Phillip off in any way that he knew it was coming, Phillip would know his source, and their relationship would be irreparably damaged.

  Richardson’s accusations stung, but they could be managed. Someday, when the time was right, she’d tell him what really had gone on between her and Phillip. It involved strategy meetings and quarterly forecasts, leveraged synergies and best practices across functional units. If he’d laid a finger on her, it was accidental contact in a crowded elevator, nothing more.

  Jacqueline took a deep breath and palmed her phone. Evening was creeping closer. She’d have to arrange a car to take her to someplace called Elmhurst. Lauren and Agnes probably wouldn’t have any food in their apartment, or it would be a blend of junk food and bland fare like plain oatmeal. Jacqueline stuck out her tongue at the thought. She tapped a few buttons on her phone and raised it to her ear.

  “Chelsea? Yes, I need a restaurant booking for tonight. Look for places near Elmhurst that have… intimate seating, an interesting menu, and,” she glanced over at the wine glasses, “wine. Chateau Bonne Chance would be a plus.” She smiled as her assistant accommodated her request. “Oh, that sounds lovely. And they take Business Black? Excellent. 7:30? Make it for… three. I think it will just be one, but I’ll try to be positive.”

  She terminated the call and tossed the phone on the bed. Dinner was arranged. Now it was time to dress for success. Something that would show Lauren she wasn’t there to argue. She wanted results.

  CHAPTER 36: TRIAD

  “I don’t think we’re supposed to be in here,” James whispered.

  Aubra was unfazed. “It’s a private mediation room. We are here to meditate.”

  “Yeah, okay, I get that, but… I think we’re supposed to book the room in advance. What if someone else is using it?”

  Aubra gave him a stern stare. “Nobody else is using it. I need your assistance.”

  James shrugged and looked around the room. “Okay, point and shoot.” Aubra directed him in her businesslike monotone. James arranged pillows and rugs to her specifications but balked at lighting incense. “Seriously, we’re supposed to ask first.”

  She stamped her foot impetuously. “We are not doing anything wrong, James. Do as I ask.”

  “I never heard any asking,” James muttered. He struck a match and lit a brown incense stick, then blew it out as he had seen other people do in his class sessions. The smoke looped and coiled as it rose to his nostrils. The odor was strange, but pleasant. James stuck it into a wooden holder and proceeded to light two more sticks as directed.

  Aubra placed two pillows across from each other, then dimmed the lights. She gestured for James to sit on one of the pillows. She plopped down on the other one and gazed into his eyes. James felt uncomfortable receiving the full brunt of Aubra’s glare and looked away. He played it off like he was inspecting the room.

  “Focus on me, James,” Aubra said. She struck a glass bell with a glass rod and held it aloft until the high ting ceased to be audible to human ears. Aubra set the bell and rod down gently and reached across to James. She wiggled her fingers expectantly. “Hold my hands.”

  James squirmed. Aubra said they were here to meditate, and he believed her, but he also knew perception was reality. The incense, the dimmed lights, the two of them holding hands, looking directly into each other’s eyes… well, that seemed like the kind of thing that could get him put on a list somewhere for a long time.

  Aubra’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips. “Do as I ask.”

  James swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Um, uh, is there maybe another way we can do this, or a book we can read, maybe? Like in separate rooms, where nobody thinks anything uncool is going on? I mean, I’m not—”<
br />
  Aubra reached forward and grabbed his hands. “Focus on me, James. Nothing bad will happen.”

  James cocked his head. “Oh, really? How can you be so sure? It’s not you who’s gonna have to live miles away from everyone because a judge said—”

  Aubra bared her teeth. “Purity of heart.” James stammered and struggled to speak. Aubra stared intently and did not break eye contact. “Focus. Purity of heart. Focus. Say the words and focus.”

  “Purity of…” James thought of Agnes laying on her bedroom floor. He thought of Agnes laying half naked in the tub. He thought of Aubra being buck naked in her spirit form behind the manor. He thought of himself being buck naked beside her. Man, he mused, this was not going to end well. If he left now, he could be far enough away to deny ever being in the room with her. Her word against his.

  A black man’s word against a little white girl’s. Never mind, he thought, just hope for the best. “Purity of heart.”

  After they said the mantra together a few times, Aubra altered the script. “Purity of heart. Love, and only love guides us. Love is the way, love is the light. Love is the Alpha. Love is the Omega. Purity of heart. Love is our guide.”

  James thought he should say, “Amen” but stuck to his line. “Purity of heart.”

  “Purity of thought. Purity of thought.” She repeated the line a few more times until James picked up on his cue. He repeated the phrase as Aubra spoke different words. “Purity of thought. Our minds are open. Our eyes are clear. Love is the way of right action. Our thoughts will guide our actions. Our hearts will be pure. Purity of thought.”

  “Purity of thought,” James affirmed.

  “Purity of motive.” James felt his heart leap at these new words. Agnes hadn’t said them. The room felt thick with ancient sensations. Wisdom from far away. The residue of eons of past souls and the inklings of things to come. “Purity of motive,” Aubra said evenly as James picked up his cue immediately, repeating the line before Aubra continued her incantation. “Love is the way of right action. Our hearts are pure. Our thoughts are empty of judgment. Purity of motive. We seek the truth, and only the truth. Love, and only love guides us. All secrets are known. All that is hidden shall be revealed. We shall know the truth. We shall receive it with love. Love is the way. Reveal to us now, the truth we seek.”