The Gabrielle Series Boxed Set

by Zachary Chopchinski

  Her entire body went limp. She almost lost the ability to stand and stumbled, nearly falling through the cabinet doors.

  She brought one timid hand to the inside of the door and paused. What if this is another one of his tricks? With her free hand, she grabbed at her bare wrist where the bangle had been.

  Shit.

  “Come out now,” Alexandra laughed. “His hounds will not find you here.” With a final breath, Gabrielle threw caution aside and stepped out of the cabinet.

  A blinding light blurred her vision and forced her eye lids to disobey her and flutter closed. Forcing them back open, she squinted into the light.

  She wasn't in a bed chamber in the Palace of Versailles in France, surrounded by a war and hundreds of angry people. She was back in Alexandra’s loft. A soft fire crackled in the distance and a smell of fresh tea wafted in the air. Slowly lowering herself to the ground, Gabrielle couldn't see Alexandra but could only hear her humming.

  She took a couple of shaky steps into the familiar room as tears welled in her eyes. Gabrielle hadn't been so happy to see this dusty old loft in a long time.

  Gabrielle gripped her wrist. Her brow knitted together as she brought her eyes down to the silver bangle wrapped around her arm.

  “Don't worry my dear. The bracelet was without an owner for a while but it has been retrieved. When you come here, the bracelet will always follow you. It is your tie to this world as well as that world.” Gabrielle rubbed the silver of the bracelet, happy that it was back where it was supposed to be.

  “Well now, look who has decided to join me. I do suggest you relax, my dear. You are far too tense.” Alexandra chuckled as she emerged from behind the armoire with a tray of tea and cookies. The armoire was standing in the middle of the room, separating the fire place and bedroom from the kitchen.

  “What’s going on? Did I die...uhh she die?” Gabrielle asked, mouth agape and barely able to think.

  Alexandra stopped in mid stride and offered a warm smile. She still wore the same dress and running shoes that she'd worn the day they first met. She waved at Gabrielle with the tips of her fingers under the tray. “Please sit, my dear. I promise to answer all your questions.”

  Gabrielle turned and there stood the very chairs they sat in what seemed like centuries ago. As she walked over to her usual seat, a small newspaper sat there in her stead. L’Ami Du Peuple. Gabrielle paused, eyes groping the paper in confusion. She recognized the language as French, but otherwise she couldn’t read it. Alexandra placed the tray on the table between the two chairs and grabbed the paper that sat in Gabrielle’s seat.

  “Oops. Sorry for that my dear, just picking up a bit of light reading. Please, sit.” Alexandra chuckled, not hesitating to take her own seat, fold up the newspaper and place it under the tray.

  Gabrielle took the hint and the soft chair sank as she sat down. She rubbed her hands on the arm rest and sank deeper into the chair. This was possibly the most comfortable seat she'd ever sat in.

  “Now, as I said earlier, I will answer all your questions.”

  Gabrielle didn't hesitate to respond. Too long had she been flooded with questions with no one to ask.

  “What’s happening?” She offered the most obvious question first.

  “Well, it appears that you are sitting with me in my home drinking tea. I’m sorry, but this is all I can offer you. Always peddling tea makes me feel so old,” Alexandra teased, a small grin on her face.

  “I mean, what’s happening right now. In this life?” She clarified, a sharpness to her tone that implied her seriousness.

  “When you left, Madame Toinette, Jean-Paul and Joséphine were hiding from the raiders that will break in at any moment.” Gabrielle took a moment to think about what a beautiful name Joséphine was and how it fit the radiant young maid. The smile that once sat on Alexandra’s aging face was all but gone and she sighed as she sat back in her chair, sipping on a small cup of tea.

  “Well, my dear. Man has always had a horrible tendency of hurting the things that it doesn't understand. There is a rift between the leaders and their people in France right now. The leaders don't understand their people, and their people don't understand why. So, in the way that tends to come all too naturally to some, they lash out. Others then join in, for the strength of the many outweighs the thoughts of the few. When this happens, a revolution is born.” Alexandra’s voice deepened just for a moment, as though filled with rage, and then it was gone.

  “There were so many people in pain,” Gabrielle said, feeling a lump develop in her throat. She thought of all the fighting, of her friends, of Morrigan, of… “Whose Arawn?” Gabrielle blurted, the lump in her throat being replaced by acid as she spoke his name.

  The look that covered Alexandra’s face reminded her of the face a cat makes when it smells something rotting and foul.

  “Ah, him.” Alexandra’s voice was filled with venom. “He’s quite a wicked creature, indeed.” She paused as if searching for the right words. “To tell you who he is, I will have to give you a little background information. Please be patient.” Alexandra pleaded, handing Gabrielle a small cup of tea and a cookie. Gabrielle placed the tea and snack on the arm of the chair and leaned closer.

  “There are two worlds that comprise all that is and was. The Living World and the Other World. The belief is such that once you pass in the Living World, you can progress to the next. Spirits continually rotate between these two realms for all eternity. That creature you speak of, Arawn, he is the King of the Other World. He is a God. The God over what some call the Lamented. The Lamented are the dead that live in the Other World. The Sentient, are the creatures that live in your world, the Living World.”

  “Arawn kept calling me Sentient!” Gabrielle could hardly contain her excitement as everything started to make sense.

  “You are a living soul that has done a wonderful job at agitating him.” Alexandra raised her glass to Gabrielle in cheers.

  “What does he want with me?” Gabrielle interrupted, as she stuffed a cookie into her mouth without taking her eyes off the older woman.

  “It isn’t you he wants. Now, that’s changed since you've agitated him, but initially he had no interest in you. Only to recover what is his.” Gabrielle rubbed her bracelet. “Ah, you are very smart, my dear, but I’m afraid that’s not what he wants. No, what he wants is something, I’m sad to say, that I am in possession of, not you.”

  Gabrielle's heart sped up and she stood from her chair.

  “What do you mean you have it? You’ve had what he wants all along and you’ve been letting him…torture me?” Gabrielle was shouting, the anger visible in her cheeks.

  Alexandra didn't respond, but sat patiently waiting for Gabrielle to finish.

  “I’m sorry for this, my dear. I truly am. Unfortunately, what he wants could undo all that you’ve done. I cannot say what this might mean for you, but I know what it will mean for those who you've freed and will free in the future.”

  “What do you mean freed?” Gabrielle asked, slowly finding her way back to her seat.

  “Well, that’s what I’m trying to get to. You remember I spoke about rotating between worlds? Well sometimes, this isn't as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, in the presence of a tragic death, the spirit cannot be reborn into the Living World, nor are they free in the Other World. Instead, they are stuck between the realms, reliving their tragic ends over and over. They are cursed.” Gabrielle was restless in her seat as Alexandra spoke.

  “The last time we talked, I mentioned that the bracelet needs to tell the tales of its previous wearers. Well, that’s partially true. The trapped spirits must relive these lives until the day comes that their tragic ends have been witnessed. It is only then that their spirits are set free.”

  With this, Alexandra motioned to the bracelet. “This is what you are doing. You're witnessing their deaths and setting them free. This is why Arawn is furious with you. He cannot control them if they are free, and the more souls that he contr
ols, the more powerful he is.”

  “But why these lives?” Gabrielle plopped back down in the chair and sipped her tea.

  “All the lives you're experiencing, though they span centuries and are worlds apart, all have one thing in common. That, my dear, is where your special bracelet comes in. All these spirits wore that piece of metal, or were affected by it in some way. As they passed in their unfortunate ends, they attached a part of their lives to that bracelet. It is that very item that allows you to live as these women and witness not only their lives but their tragic and brave deaths. It also offers you some protection, as I’m sure you noticed,” Alexandra teased, taking another sip and giggling. The fire crackled next to them as Gabrielle sat in amazement.

  “Then, what do you have that he wants?” she asked Alexandra, still not understanding everything she'd been told.

  Alexandra reached behind her chair and produced a silver goblet. Out of all the amazing oddities in Alexandra’s home, Gabrielle knew she'd seen this one before somewhere, though she couldn’t quite place it.

  “This, my dear, is the Chalice of Regeneration and Resurrection. It’s what provides the magic needed to power the bracelet. It was taken from him to give you the ability to see through the eyes of the dead. He sensed it was gone when you set Aideen, the first Lamented, free. Now he wants it back and knows the way back to the chalice is through you. If he were to get it back, this would all end.”

  It all made sense. Gabrielle was finally able to understand all the pain and suffering and why she and Morrigan were doing what they were doing. Gabrielle perked her head up as another thought flooded her mind.

  “Where’s Morrigan?” she asked, amazed that she'd forgotten him for a moment.

  “He’s still there, fighting the good fight.” Alexandra let her fingers dance across the beautiful engravings on the silver chalice.

  “Wait…I thought we couldn’t talk about this or something bad could happen,” A puzzled look formed on Gabrielle’s face.

  “Something bad has already happened, my dear. Arawn has figured out our plans and he's in full force to stop us. He has changed everything! But you still mustn’t alarm the spirits in the Other World. They don’t know they're dead. This is now where we find ourselves, Gabrielle.” Alexandra placed her tea on the tray and stood.

  “I know I have to go back, don’t I?” Gabrielle asked, the sadness in her voice surprising her.

  “Well, yes. I’m very sorry for all this, my dear. I need you to continue to set the spirits free. I know you only agreed to listen to their tales, but I need you to fight for them as well.” Alexandra began to fidget with the edge of her dress.

  “I feel obligated to offer you one last chance to go ho…” Before Alexandra had the chance to continue, Gabrielle walked over to her and placed one hand on her shoulder.

  “No. I know it's dangerous, but it’s something that I need to do.”

  With that, Alexandra motioned to the fireplace. A flood of green flame erupted and the fire began to swirl.

  Suddenly, images of familiar faces exploded from the fire. Heather and Fionn, Jean-Paul and Madam Toinette, Morrigan, Renée. As they swirled around, other faces began to appear that she didn't recognize, some in shadow so that she couldn't see them. Suddenly, the images stopped, and only one figure could be seen.

  It was dark, despite the image burning in a fire. Gabrielle crouched down and crawled over to the edge of the hearth. Barely visible and covered in flames was a woman. She was alone in a room, tattered and looked beaten. As the light from the fire danced across the image, Gabrielle could tell that she was crying. Her face was in her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably. Gabrielle leaned closer to the image.

  “Do you recognize who that is?” Alexandra whispered, leaning over Gabrielle’s shoulder and placing her hand on her back.

  “No I don't. Who is she?” Gabrielle asked, shifting and squinting to get a better view.

  “The two of you have met before, you know. Not long ago, on a calm eve in a quiet place. You gave her something that she needed more than anything. You gave her true friendship.”

  “You mean…?”

  “Yes, I do. That's your Queen, the woman that loved her country and was hated by them so much that she hid from them behind the walls of her palace. She now sits alone in a room, waiting for her fate by the people she loved. Not a single soul will come to her. No friends to speak of, no family remaining. All she has is her solace.”

  “What of her child? She was with child.” Gabrielle interjected.

  “Tragedy, in life, has neither preference nor plan. It comes and goes like the tide. Tragedy took her child from her. Now she sits alone in the dark. Waiting. This is why it’s so important for you to continue, Gabrielle. Though it is through sadness that you prevail, it is their curses that you lift. That’s why Arawn wants you to stop. This woman is resigned to relive these horrid moments over and over, but should someone chose to save her — someone like you — it would all end.”

  A tear ran down Gabrielle’s cheek as she looked to the shell that once was a beautiful woman. She now sat, without a world of her own, and was damned to spend all eternity living a nightmare unless someone did something.

  “It will not be easy, my love, but it will be worth the fight. This I swear to you on my honor. You will not leave this journey unchanged.” Alexandra caressed Gabrielle’s back as she crouched over the flames, tears running down her face as she wept for her friends. “Are you ready, Gabrielle?” Alexandra asked, resting her hand on top of her head.

  Gabrielle nodded, and stared into the fire. A sudden urge to be in the fire overcame her, calling to every bone and muscle in her body. Gabrielle slowly reached one arm into the flame. Feeling no pain from the heat, she leaned closer and closer until her entire body was consumed by the fire.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Gasping for air, Gabrielle sat up as she found herself lying on the cold floor. As she looked around she realized she was back in the bedroom of the palace.

  She crawled over to the bed where she hid Jean-Paul and pull up the covers. Pushing her cheek to the floor, she peered underneath, but found no sign of the young boy.

  Pulling herself up from the floor, Gabrielle rushed to the door and pulled on the knob. Locked. Her knuckles turned white as she pulled on the metal handle with all her strength. She dropped to her knees and searched the floor for the key to her freedom, but found nothing. Catching the glint of silver in the light, she looked down at her wrist. She was wearing the bracelet again.

  I guess Joséphine found the bracelet.

  Gabrielle brushed herself off and looked around. No sign of Madame Toinette or Jean-Paul.

  “Alexandra said that the raiders here going to break in any minute. Were they attacked? Why didn't Joséphine defend Jean-Paul?” A wrinkle of confusion creased her forehead as she walked over to the cabinet that had taken her to Alexandra.

  She opened its large door, but this time it was full of clothing. Gabrielle parted the elegant dresses and peered into the armoire. Only the wooden paneling looked back at her. She squeezed herself into it, her face smashed against a purple velvet dress and closed the door.

  After a few moments of not being able to breathe, she opened the door, but found the room to be exactly as she'd left it. Gabrielle stepped out of the cabinet and shook her head.

  “Now what?”

  Though the room was wide open, Gabrielle felt like she was suffocating. There was a large window that stretched from the top of the ceiling to the floor and the sun shone bright outside. She walked over to the window and pulled on the handle. It was locked. She was trapped.

  Gabrielle brought her hands up to pull her hair from her face; the ancient bangle that clung to her arm glittered with life in the sun. Her eyes ran over the intricate designs as they had done countless times before. Each curve and notch stood as a testament to some magical craftsmanship from parts unknown.

  She brought her thoughts back to her situation, si
ghed and then made her way over to the inviting bed and sat down.

  While she sat on her perch and waited for something to happen, Gabrielle stared out of the large window and up into the blue sky. She thought back on the times she played in the sun when she was younger; the happy times with her family. Reading with her father and cooking with her mother. Going on adventures and learning new things. All those things were gone now. Although the hour was dark, Gabrielle knew she was doing the right thing. She was giving these strong, beautiful women the peace they deserved.

  Her smile ran from her face in a startling flinch as the heavy wooden door flew open. Two armored guards, like the guards that at one point would've protected her from harm, stepped into the room. Their faces were stiff and uncaring and Gabrielle's sped up as she thought about what was happening.

  “You will follow him. Any issues and I will make this much more unpleasant than it needs to be. Understood?” One of the guards growled.

  “What have you done to Jean-Paul? Where is Madame Toinette?” Gabrielle sat stern for a few moments before she nodded and stood. At that moment, the guard in the doorway turned and began walking.

  Gabrielle did as she was told and kept a steady pace behind him. She could feel the hot glare of the other guard on the back of her neck, but she didn't dare look back. The three walked a short distance down the hallway and the stairs until coming to a door that she'd never noticed before. Sunlight poured over Gabrielle's face, warming her cold cheeks as they reached the opening.

  She paused in the warm sun and closed her eyes allowing it to bathe her in its radiance. The guard that was behind her cleared his throat, forcing her from her moment of peace.

  Situated before her was an old cart attached to a single horse, which stood before a massive wooden door. On either side of the cart were several more guards. Understanding, Gabrielle walked up to the cart, took one giant step into it, and then walked to the front.

  The cart was so small that there was no room to sit, so she stood at the front with her hands on the railing. The guards offered no words in protest, so she leaned over the edge and let the cool air comfort her.