The girl screamed. She turned to run.
“Wait!” I shouted. I walked towards her, smiling, my hand held out. “He’s my friend. Can we help you?”
The girl, who looked to be about the same age as me, perhaps a year or two older, turned back round to face us.
“The boy’s right,” said Reginald, marching right by me. “We’re all friends here and if we may assist you, you have only to ask.”
The girl took a step back, her expression morphing from fear to mere apprehension.
“I’m looking for my sister, Rosamond. She went missing last night.”
Reginald walked a circle around the girl, who turned with him so she was facing him at all times.
“Where did you last see her?”
“At home, just before she left to gather mushrooms in the forest.” The girl looked as though she were about to burst into tears. “I know that something horrible has happened to her.”
Reginald went to hug the girl, though his hands passed right through her. He shrugged. “Oh well,” he said, matter-of-factly. Then more seriously. “Perhaps she simply got lost.”
He walked back towards me.
“She knows this forest as well as I do,” said the girl, shaking her head.
Reginald looked at me. I looked at him. Then both of us looked at the girl.
“I know,” I said. “How about we help you look for her?” I realised then I didn’t know the girl’s name. “What’s your name?”
“Helen.”
“We can help you, Helen. Would you like that? We’ll help and when we find her, we’ll bring her home.” I was only too pleased to have something purposeful to do.
Helen’s face lit up. “Really? You’d do that for me?”
Reginald was grinning. “Of course, we would. Now you run along home and we’ll locate the whereabouts of your Rosalind for you.”
“Rosamond,” I whispered.
“Your Rosamond,” Reginald said with a bow.
“My family and I would be ever so grateful. We live just over the rise,” said Helen pointing. “But I’m not going to give up looking. My parents are elderly, but they’ve offered to do my chores while I search for my sister.”
Reginald nodded. “Then we should commence at once. Come on, Morgan.” He turned to me. “You’ve already had more of a lie in than is proper,” he whispered.
He waved at Helen, who looked much cheerier than she had at any time since the three of us had been together.
“Come on, Duchess. You’ve rested long enough, as well.”
Duchess materialised to one side of them.
Helen screamed again.
Reginald and I turned to find the girl wearing a nervous smile and breathing deeply, her whole body heaving with every breath. Her eyes were riveted to Duchess. She gave us one more tentative wave, before turning on her heels and hurrying out of sight.
“Where are we going to start looking?” I asked.
Reginald contemplated his answer. “Wherever she is, she’s not in this forest.”
I looked quizzically at him. “How do you know?”
“Spirits can sense these things. You’ll find out.”
I’ll find out? I looked at him as though he’d gone mad. “Hopefully not any time soon,” I replied.
We mounted Duchess and started moving through the forest.
“Wouldn’t it be better if we did this on foot? We could miss something sitting up here.”
“I’ve already told you, Rosamond is not in this forest. And because she isn’t and because it was only a few hours ago that she disappeared, I have a feeling I know where she is. Fortunately, we were going there anyway.”
“Where?” I asked. “Where are we going?”
“Now, Morgan, you strike me as being the sort who just loves a surprise. Let’s keep it as one.”
He flicked the reins, kicked Duchess, and in no time at all we were galloping through the trees at such a pace we soon ran out of trees and were racing along a highway which led straight to a range of mountains.
Chapter 4
It was mid-afternoon when we arrived at the foot of the mountains. The highway continued on, but Reginald turned onto a side road, one not as well-maintained as the main road, and soon we were travelling along a dirt track which eventually became an open field nestled in a small valley.
Duchess was now walking, lowering her head every now and again to sniff the grass as if she were remembering how sweet and juicy it tasted.
On the far side of the field was an almost vertical slope, the top of which was capped with snow. As we drew nearer I could see the figure of girl doing what appeared to be calisthenics.
“Is that Rosamond?” I asked, ready to be shocked if the answer was in the affirmative.
“No, that’s not Rosamond,” Reginald replied. “That’s something other than a girl.”
I looked again, straining my eyes. It sure looked like a girl, or more correctly, a young woman, for as Duchess took us nearer I could see that she was naked. As she bent backwards onto the palms of her hands, I could see ribs. Her breasts almost disappeared as she bent back, but reappeared once again after she was standing upright again.
Duchess snorted, capturing the woman’s attention.
“Let me do the talking,” Reginald whispered.
He dismounted, took half a dozen steps towards the woman and then bowed.
“Greetings, Yabbashael. I come in peace with my friend, Morgan, and my horse, Duchess.”
Yabbashael was bronzed and wore flowers in her hair in a way that made it appear as if they grew there. Her eyes were of the most dazzling blue I’d ever seen and when she looked at me I shivered.
::To what purpose?:: she asked, her voice like a choir of many inside my head.
“I’m here to look for a missing girl I suspect has found her way to your door.”
“And your friend?”
Yabbashael’s voice was maddening. So many voices at once. Commanding. Voices of authority.
“He’s to assist me for I suspect the search will not be an easy one.”
Suddenly Yabbashael was beside me, taller. Her eyes were gazing into mine. I could feel her inside my mind.
::Morgan Berry?::
I squinted. Her lips didn’t move, but that voice. So loud in my head.
“Yes,” I replied.
In an instant she was on the other side of me. She peered into my eyes once more then returned, in the blink of an eye, to the foot of the rocky incline.
::You may enter,:: she said at last, ::with good will and love.::
“I thank you, Yabbashael.” Reginald bowed again and returned to Duchess.
“Who is she?” I whispered.
“Shhh!”
Duchess took us towards the rock face. Yabbashael stepped aside but kept her blue eyes upon us as we passed, the intensity of her gaze causing me to shiver. I conjured up a weak smile and bowed my head to her. I don’t know why. I had no idea who she was. But even if I hadn’t witnessed Reginald bowing, I would have still understood that this was a woman to be respected.
Duchess moved, not upwards, following the slope to the snowy summit, but forwards, through the mountain. I wondered how it was even possible I’d gone through solid rock, along with Reginald and his steed, without feeling any more discomfort than a slight drag as I went from one side to the other.
We came out into a world white with light. The atmosphere was misty, or smoky, and I could see vague shapes moving within it. Both Reginald and Duchess seemed more solid, not just spectres, although my hearing went funny. My ears felt as though they were blocked.
“Where are we?” I asked, though my voice sounded muffled and far away, even to myself.
Reginald dismounted then helped me down from Duchess. When my feet touched the ground, it felt soft, as though I were walking on marshmallow.
We left Duchess and walked into the swirling mists. I felt a sense of foreboding. My senses were suddenly on alert. One good thing, the
further we went, the easier I found it to walk. Perhaps I’d just got used to the sponginess of the ground. The mist thinned, as well, and I was able to better see the occupants of this strange world.
They seemed as solid as Reginald or I. There were pairs and trios of people lying about on cushions that looked like small clouds. They weren’t talking. Most looked bored to tears, as though they were drugged. It put me in mind of a mental asylum, where everyone was doped to the eyeballs and sluggish. A lot of people were simply sleeping.
Other beings, with golden halos and pure white wings, passed by overhead, their eyes observing the masses beneath. I witnessed two of their number collide. In an instant they were shoving each other, violently, in mid-air, and punching each other. They wrestled, spinning and tumbling through the atmosphere, landing blows whenever they could. Finally, one swung at the other one, knocking him almost to the ground. Without a backwards glance he soared up into the haze and disappeared.
I could no longer wait for an answer. I grabbed Reginald by the arm and looked him straight in the eye.
“Where are we?” I asked him as loudly as I could.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he replied. “We’re in Heaven.”
I looked around and could find nothing special about this place of so-called great reward. No one seemed happy. There were no smiles, no laughter. I didn’t feel any love or peace, or witness any miraculous reunions. In fact, this was a place I would hate to spend eternity in.
I felt the unease in others I passed by. There was a sense of unrest, of something simmering.
There were animals here, too. At least they seemed contented. Dogs, large and small, chased each other around groups of people. Cats lay grooming themselves on small tufts of cloud. Birds flew overhead and perched in groups on invisible branches. There were elephants and lions, antelope and cows. None of the predatory beasts appeared the slightest bit interested in attacking, and none of their prey showed even the smallest sign of being nervous about being in such close proximity to their natural, earthly, enemies.
We continued searching for Rosamond for what seemed like days, although it was difficult to tell, exactly, since night never fell in Heaven. I didn’t feel weary from the search nor particularly bored. It just occurred to me at one point that we had been searching an awfully long time. I had seen so many disinterested souls lying about, moving only for distraction. So many long faces, and dull expressions. God’s house, an elaborate mansion of white marble and stone, was in ruins and showed no signs of being inhabited. Nevertheless, a skeletal angel with moth-eaten wings stood guard at the gate, looking for all the world as though it would trade eternity for a glass of whisky.
Finally, we stopped walking. Reginald shook his head.
“She’s not here,” he said, giving the colourless vista a final glance. “I must have been mistaken.”
I barely heard him despite the fact he was right in front of me. Had I not been able to see his lips moving, I could have missed what he said altogether.
I saw his lips move again, but he had turned his face away from me and I only saw them from the side. I didn’t have the energy to ask him to repeat himself.
Duchess materialised and we both climbed upon her back.
Suddenly, as we began to move off, there was a throng of people around us.
“Take me with you. Take me!”
They were all crying the same thing, hands outstretched towards us and pleading expressions on their faces.
Reginald pushed some of the hands away as Duchess picked up her pace. Grabbing hands nearly dislodged me several times until Duchess was able to take us out of the growing crowd and have us on our way, out of Heaven.
* * * *
We did not exit the way we had entered. It seemed to me that we simply went from the bright light of Heaven into the night.
I sighed as the cool night air touched my face. I took it deep into my lungs and felt my whole body relax. I hadn’t been aware of how tense I’d been until I felt that tension drain away.
“Boy, am I glad to be away from there,” I said.
“Thank your lucky stars you were able to leave. As you’ve just witnessed, a multitude of others don’t have that luxury.”
We continued riding, past a town whose street lights were the only illumination. It must have been late and all the residents in bed. We stopped by a pond, by a tree whose branches reached out across the silvery water. Reflected in the water was the full moon.
Reginald and I sat down beside each other on an exposed tree root.
“Why did you say I was lucky to leave?” I asked. “I was surprised I was able to enter.” Then I remembered something else Reginald had said to me. “And why did you say ‘I’ll find out’ when you said spirits can sense people?”
Reginald adjusted himself so he could better face me.
“Can’t you guess?” he said in a tone more serious than I’d ever heard him use.
I shook my head. “Guess what?”
“Have you not wondered why in all this time you’ve not eaten? Not gone to the toilet?”
My whole body felt suddenly numb as I realised he was right. At the same moment, I suspected the reason and was overcome by a feeling of utter desolation. Had I been able to cry, I would have bawled.
“You mean…” I could barely bring myself to say the words. I lifted my arm up and noticed it was almost as luminescent as Reginald’s. I felt nauseous. “…I’m dead?”
Reginald moved in closer and wrapped his arm around me.
“Of course, you are, Morgan. I wasn’t entirely certain you were aware of the fact, but nor did I want to be the one to break it to you.”
So Dennis really had killed me.
Things began to add up. Helen had been as frightened of me as she had been of Reginald. That’s why she’d gasped, why she’d looked so terrified. I couldn’t have entered Heaven as a living being. How could I have been so stupid not to have realised? But now I was dead, what was I to do? What did dead people do?
“I feel like crying,” I said. “Suddenly I feel so alone. I think I actually…miss my mother.”
Reginald pulled me closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder and he rubbed my arm. “It’s a shock,” he said. “And it does take some time to get used to it, although there’s no need to feel lonely. You have me, don’t you? And let me tell you something else. There are infinitely more spirits than there are people. Did you ever feel lonely while you were alive?”
“Sometimes,” I replied. “Often.”
Reginald paused and I sensed it wasn’t the answer he’d anticipated.
“Well,” he said, the cheer returning to his voice, “you’ll have no time for loneliness in the spirit world. There are times you’ll wish you could have a moment alone. Look out there, into the darkness.” He pointed. “Can you see them?”
Magically, the night became brighter with spirits of the air, and of the water, revealing themselves as luminescent beings. Others, on the land, likewise showed themselves and just as Reginald had described, the night was suddenly alive with the souls of those who had passed into spirit. Their bodies were now miracles of light, so beautiful and graceful. And there was more love here than I ever felt in Heaven. The spirit of a small child descended in front of me and kissed my cheek before flying off into the night in a fit of giggles. Other spirits came by, touching me on the face, the shoulders and head, smiling at me as if to welcome me.
I felt tears streaming down my face, but when I went to wipe them away my skin was dry.
“Why haven’t I been able to see them before?” I asked quietly.
“You haven’t known how to see them,” said Reginald. “There are many surprises in store for you as you forget about the limitations of your old self and become more attuned to your spirit self, but it takes time.”
Eventually the night became dark again.
“They’re resting,” said Reginald. “As we must.”
Reginald stood up.
�
�Can I ask one more thing?”
Reginald smiled and I realised I could see him now as clearly as if it were day.
“You can always ask me anything, friend.”
“Why aren’t those spirits in Heaven? And why do the spirits who are in Heaven, who are bored and want nothing more than to be somewhere else, stay there?”
Reginald sat back down. “I can only answer part of your question. You see, in spirit many things are revealed, but some things, as you’ll find, have to remain a mystery.”
He looked at me, perhaps to gauge my reaction. I nodded.
“However…” He almost shouted the word, startling me. “…what I can tell you is that the spirits you saw tonight have probably never been to Heaven. As I said, the choice to go is yours. I’ve no doubt that many have tasted Heaven, left immediately and spread the word that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Others are tied to their old lives here on earth and prefer to stay where they feel more comfortable.” He paused for a moment and glanced up at the night sky. “As for why those souls stay in Heaven, I can only guess. I assume some have been there so long, they don’t know they have a choice. For others, they are just as tied to Heaven as those who are tied to the earth plane. Places can become habits, too, Morgan. Others, for whom religion has been everything, no doubt feel it’s their duty to remain. After all, they’ve worked so hard to get there, it’s almost an obligation.”
I was grinning by the time Reginald had finished.
“Why are you smiling like that?” he asked.
“You’re amazing, that’s why.”
His smile widened. “And why, pray tell, is that?”
“I think you’re the most intelligent person I’ve ever met. You know everything.”
Reginald laughed. He leant down and kissed me gently on the lips before standing up again.
“I’d also be the most arrogant man in the world if I agreed with you,” he said. “Though I thank you for saying it.”
He turned and headed towards the tree.
“Wait,” I said, leaping to my feet. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Of course you can,” Reginald replied. “What a cosy couple we’re becoming.”
Paranormal Lovers Box Set Page 13
