by Mika B. Coit
"Actually... I would like to ask you... why is it both of your parents are very English yet, they have named you with an oriental name?... Japanese I believe."
"Wow!... Getting to the personal questions now are we?" Kazuki said with a tone of sarcasm.
"Just asking out of curiosity!" Iliana remarked in the same tone and now wished she had not bothered to ask. "You do not have to answer the question if you do not wish to."
After five minutes walking in silence Kazuki sighed in reluctance.
"My Mother have always had a fascination with the Far Eastern part of the world, even way before I was born. Father said she was ecstatic when she found out that way up in the family tree an ancestor of her’s married a Japanese nobleman. Apparently, in those days it was unheard of... for a Westerner to marry someone from that part of the world and vice versa. In result of it all, they both lost their name and fortune. The Japanese nobleman’s name was Kazuki." He explained, his eyes wondering the streets.
"Oh... so your misfortunes kind of runs in the family then?" Iliana carelessly remarked.
Kazuki stopped walking and looked at Iliana in disgust.
"Yeah... thanks for that!" He snapped before quickening his pace and walking ahead of her.
"Ah... Kazuki... wait!" Iliana cried out after realising what she had said sounded offensive.
When she finally caught up with him she apologetically said.
"Forgive me... that was harsh and I did not mean it in that way... In actual fact I have always believed that social status should never come in between love and friendship."
"I know." He whispered staring up ahead as he slowed his pace.
"You know what?" Iliana asked, confused with what he meant.
"Nothing... anyway... Yuki... is that not a Japanese name too?"
"Yes it is." Iliana replied, relieved Kazuki forgave her after such a comment. "Yuki means ‘snow’ in Japanese. My Mother and Father bought her for me one Christmas. I wanted to call her ‘snow’ but in a different language. After a little research in the internet, I found the word ‘yuki’... and it just seemed perfect."
"You just had to be different."
"Of course... I like to be different!" Iliana responded smiling.
"You do not even have to try and you stand out like a sore thumb." Kazuki said in mockery.
"Ha-ha-ha... very funny Mr. Comedian."
Walking into the school gates a voice called out her name behind them. Iliana turned round to find Chloe running to them.
"Chloe... Good Morning!" Iliana said cheerfully, when Chloe stood in front of them catching her breath.
"Good Morning Iliana... Williams." Chloe said nodding at Kazuki before looking at Iliana in a funny way.
"Good Morning... Smithers." Kazuki said nodding back at her.
"Where is Victoria and Claire?" Iliana asked looking behind Chloe. Thinking they were lagging behind.
"They did not call you?" Chloe asked and when Iliana shook her head she carried on. "Well... this sick bug that has been going round had finally caught up with them both and they are in bed, whilst vomiting in between."
"Is it the same bug that Claire’s little brother had?" Iliana questioned.
"I think so... Actually... I think he still has it!" Claire replied.
"Our family chauffeur Andrew has been off sick for quite some time now... I wonder if he has the same sickness." Iliana said then added. "I hope they all get well soon."
Thinking about it for a moment Iliana had not seen Andrew for about two weeks, and had not even heard anything of his recovery from him or his wife.
Walking towards the school building Chloe continuously gave Iliana strange glances and nodding to Kazuki’s direction, who walked a few steps in front of them.
"It is not what you think." Iliana whispered, understanding her funny looks.
"You keep saying that, but the more I see you two together the more my imaginations goes wild." Chloe whispered back.
Unable to tell Chloe the true meaning behind their frequent get together’s Iliana just gave Chloe an awkward smile before looking away. But the growing feelings Iliana has for Kazuki, still befuddled her. Yet no matter how hard she tried to forget about it with just one glance in his direction those feelings come flooding back inside her heart.
After having to tear herself from Chloe’s non-stop chattering at the end of the school day Iliana rushed to the Cathedral. A priest guided Iliana to Father Benjamin’s private room where Jung, Caitlyn, Kazuki and Father Benjamin were already sitting round the table with their backs to her. As Iliana walked in and closed the door behind her everyone turned round. Father Benjamin was the first to push his chair back and rushed to her, he looked as if he had not slept for days.
"Iliana!... You have no idea how relieved I am to see you!" He said laying both hands on her shoulders. "I was and... still am most distraught that I was not there for you."
"Do not beat yourself up... I had help from the others and I am fine now... honestly." Iliana said hoping those words would make him feel better.
Father Benjamin smiled wearily and patted his hands on her shoulders before lowering his arms down by his sides.
"Now... after our discussion the other day, I thought we needed a little reinforcement especially as at present we seem to be swimming in the deep end." Father Benjamin informed. "So I called my old friend Cardinal Philippe, but he was feeling unwell at the time. However, he called me back yesterday and he has information that I never knew... in fact it is well beyond me. I have him on a video call, he specifically wanted to see you. Be patient with him, he is a little frail."
Father Benjamin led Iliana towards the table, Jung and Caitlyn had got up from their chairs then gave Iliana a hug.
"How are you?" Caitlyn asked after they broke away from their little group hug.
"I am fine, thank you... What about you two?"
"After a good night sleep... we are a lot better." Jung replied. "We are just happy that you are okay. Oh... I checked on your Mother this morning before work... she is still in a deep sleep."
"Thank you for watching over her." Iliana said. "I am dying to see her."
When Iliana sat down on the wooden chair, her eyes flitted to Kazuki next to her. He was sitting back in his chair with his arms folded in front of him, looking back at her. Iliana blushed as a topless image of him from this morning splashed into her mind. Jung sat the other side of Iliana and Caitlyn sat on his lap. On the table in front of them laid a wide screen Apple laptop with it’s face completely black. After Father Benjamin pressed the cursor within the black screen a clear image appeared of a plump old man sitting back in his chair and sipping water from a glass.
The old man looked in his late eighties with fine strands of white hair poking out from his red cap. He wore a black cassock with a row of red buttons down the front and Iliana could just about see a red sash across his waist. His pellegrina on top revealed his golden crucifix that he wore round his neck. Behind his thin round spectacles were eyes of a very pale blue colour.
"Cardinal Philippe!" Father Benjamin called out making the old man jump and spill the water over himself which brought a smile to everyone’s faces.
A male figure quickly appeared next to Cardinal Philippe and patted him dry with a cloth, then disappeared when Cardinal Philippe thanked him and waved him away.
"Father Benjamin... you should not speak out so suddenly, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Cardinal Philippe exclaimed, his voice a little quivery with an essence of an Italian accent.
"Forgive me." Father Benjamin apologised with a titter.
"I am glad you find it amusing." Cardinal Philippe said with tone of sarcasm but then laughed too.
His laugh faded when Father Benjamin stood back and Iliana was in view on his screen, he leaned closer to the screen and a gasp slipped from his lips.
"So you must be the Purifier that Father Benjamin has been talking about. It is a pleasure to meet you my dear girl."
"Th
e pleasure is all mine." Iliana said politely.
"And she has manners along with a pretty face... a combination you do not always get in this day and age!" Cardinal Philippe exclaimed, tittering before he started to cough.
"Are you well?" Iliana asked as Cardinal Philippe sipped from a newly filled glass of water and cleared his throat.
"It is just old age my dear girl, a word of advice... do not grow old, it is not fun." He replied jokingly. "Anyway... to the more important matters, Father Benjamin has told me all of your problems over there. Although I am not acquaint to the enemies you are dealing with, but I do know of something that will interest you and maybe clear a few missing details. I have studied assiduously on all matters of the Heavenly order ever since I was a young teenager. In my studies, I have been lucky enough to travel around the world... and I have heard and seen things that no average man on Earth will ever know. In my travels, I also met many Purifiers and Chanters who all echoed the same rumours which have rippled down from thousands of years ago. Miracles walk on our Earth."
Iliana leaned closer to the laptop screen.
"Miracles?" She repeated.
"Yes... but not the kind of Miracles you see or hear about on the news... oh no, no, no!" Cardinal explained waving his index finger side to side and shaking his head. "These Miracles are Holy and have existed since the dawn of time. When Jesus walked on our Earth, he performed many miracles... uncountable miracles. After assigning all those miracles into categories... are as follows. Miracles of healing, feeding, nature, raising the dead and the miracles of water."
Cardinal Philippe pointed at Iliana when he said word ‘water’, making her sit up a little.
"Iliana is a... Miracle?" Jung said looking at Iliana who had the same perplexed expression on her face.
"So... I am not a Purifier but a Miracle?... W-what is a Miracle?" Iliana asked, frowning.
"That is where it gets a little confusing... A Miracle is a Purifier. However, like your friends there, a Purifier’s power come from their Holy weapon that is chosen for them by God. A Miracle’s power is appendant to one’s soul... and when their powers are used for good against evil, the world is at peace." Cardinal Philippe confirmed. "You could say... the Miracles are like pillars, they keep our world balanced with the undying darkness within."
"That is why Lord Baddesley is after Iliana, he wants to Taint her soul and have her as his own weapon." Caitlyn said.
"Oh... Tainting... about that!" Cardinal Philippe added, stroking his chin with a worried look on his face.
"What about it?" Kazuki asked leaning onto the table.
"Well... you see, if a Miracle’s soul is Tainted, their powers will obviously be used for evil. That could unbalance the world. Also another pointer, a Tainted soul of a Miracle is hard enough to Purify but one with a broken heart is... well even harder." Cardinal Philippe explained.
"A broken heart?" Iliana repeated again.
"I heard a long time ago in Jerusalem, a Miracle was Tainted by his own demon because his beloved cheated on him with his brother. Unfortunately the only way to Purify the Miracle was to kill him." Cardinal Philippe said sorrowfully. "It caused havoc on the Earth but it was the only safest thing that could have been done."
Iliana’s eyes lowered to the table, her heart suddenly felt heavy.
"Demons especially, the more powerful ones tend to target those who are dearest to you. But you must still keep your loved ones close, because pushing them away will also darken one’s heart." Cardinal Philippe warned. "My dear girl... look at me."
Iliana quickly looked back up at the screen, Cardinal Philippe was even closer to the screen and was sliding his glasses over the bridge of his nose.
"Love is a powerful emotion, it can sometimes cause pain and other times joy. Do not let that emotion escape from your heart no matter how dark it gets." Cardinal Philippe said in a serious tone.
Those familiar words reminded Iliana of what the female voice said to her before she Purified Mother.
"They have already targeted Iliana’s Mother whom Iliana has Purified." Father Benjamin pointed out.
"There are many forms of Love, Father Benjamin." Cardinal Philippe said with a small smile.
At the corner of her eye Iliana saw Kazuki sat back in his chair and folded his arms in front of him again. Struggling to keep her heartbeat at a normal rate Iliana cleared her throat and gulped in awkwardness. Caitlyn wrapped an arm round Jung’s neck and both exchanged worried looks.
Cardinal Philippe started to cough again before he sipped the rest of the water in his glass.
"Are you alright Cardinal Philippe?" Father Benjamin asked leaning forward from behind Iliana.
"I think I need to rest again. This old body of mine cannot stand all this excitement like it used to." Cardinal Philippe croaked after his constant coughing. "One last thing... if matters worsen on your side of the continent, do not hesitate to contact me or my right hand man Bishop Francis and help will be yours. Darkness seems to be brewing on our Earth so we all need to work together."
"Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us." Iliana quickly said.
"It is my absolute pleasure my dear girl... I feel like it was my destiny to have gone through all that I have experienced in my life so I could share with you what I have seen and heard in the hope that it will help you through your own destiny!" Cardinal Philippe exclaimed, then he placed a hand over his heart and added. "I am truly blessed to have met you even though it was only through a plastic screen."
Iliana smiled then the screen went black. Father Benjamin stretched his arm past Iliana and closed the screen. Silence took over a few minutes as everyone took a moment to let everything sink in.
"That still does not explain why Lord Baddesley is forming an army." Father Benjamin said after awhile.
"Oh... that reminds me... I need to tell all of you of the dream that I had last night." Iliana stated. "I have to say, after what Cardinal Philippe said, part of it kind of makes sense now."
After listening to Iliana quite intently, Father Benjamin sat down next to Kazuki while Caitlyn stood up from Jung’s lap and Jung swore under his breath.
"Oh great... so Lord Baddesley is working for someone else and he has plans already in the making for finding the other Miracles, and also gathering a new army. It just keeps getting better." Jung said sarcastically and slumping back on his chair like a child being told off.
"And also... there is someone on this Earth whom they are afraid of." Caitlyn added.
"Oh yeah!... And that..." Jung said in a huff. "If they are afraid of whoever it is... then so should we?"
"I cannot be certain that my dream is true!" Iliana remarked trying to calm the tense atmosphere that she had just created.
"Even so, it is something we cannot ignore." Father Benjamin proclaimed, resting his head on the palm of his hand with his eyes on Iliana. "However... it does concern me of how vivid your dreams are Iliana. I feel as if it was more than a dream."
"That feeling is mutual. I must admit... my dreams have gotten worse these past few weeks." Iliana confessed sighing a little. "I do not quite know what is happening to me."
"I believe... this is just the beginning." Father Benjamin stated.
He sat up straight and looked round at everyone in the room before adding in a serious and quite a somber tone.
"I hope you are all ready for whatever is coming."
*** Chapter 9 ***
Iliana spent most of the day sitting by the side of Mother’s bed at the hospital. Father was quite confounded to why Mother has still not awoken after almost two days.
"I know the dog gnawed at her ankle quite profoundly but she should have at least stirred a little by now!" He said to Iliana when she arrived at the hospital earlier that morning.
"Father... you worry too much... Your sounding like your own patient’s relatives." Iliana stated relieved that Father actually believed Jung’s story about the thugs and their dog, which in truth it was Yuki who b
it Mother, and when Iliana told the others yesterday before she left the cathedral Jung burst out laughing.
"See... it is not all lies, there is a bit of truth in my story." He said after laughing for a good five minutes. "I honestly thought it was a demon who chewed at her leg, but it was Yuki all along... I love that dog."
Iliana held her Mother’s hand as she watched her sleeping peacefully. Iliana’s thoughts then drifted back to what Cardinal Philippe said the day before about Miracles.
‘Father Benjamin is right.’ Iliana thought to herself. ‘This is just the beginning, and I feel like it is going to get whole lot worse. I hope I am strong enough.’
The room door opened and Father stepped in holding two plastic cups.
"Hey... I had a feeling that you would still be here." He said closing the door behind him. "So I thought I would bring you a little pick me up."
He handed the other plastic cup to Iliana before pulling up another chair and sitting down on the other side of Mother. Iliana took the lid off the cup and smiled.
"Hot chocolate." She gasped with a snigger of delight.
"I thought you would like it. But do not tell the nurses... they do not know that I know where they hide the hot chocolate powder." Father whispered as if afraid they were listening.
Iliana took a little sip and almost immediately she felt at ease. It also brought good memories when they used to live in the cottage outside London. The three of them used to always have hot chocolate in the evening when they watched a movie on the television. But since they moved to Primrose Bay it was hard enough as it was to even be together at the same time due to Mother and Father’s work.
"You look tired!" Iliana remarked looking up at Father worriedly. "I thought they had rules on how much sleep doctors and surgeons are supposed to get a day."
"There is... but... I have slept..."
"In your office?..." Iliana interrupted raising her eyebrows.
"Well... yes, but I have to say... I much prefer sleeping in my own bed instead of the sofa chair in my office." Father chuckled. "I suppose I cannot have it all. I mean... they have a shower here and I think that is the main thing."
