Eliza's Shadow

by Catherine Wittmack

  “No… no thank you to dinner, Ren. It’s just that, I don’t think I’d be very good at small talk today. I hope you understand.” I stammered.

  The expectant look in his eyes evaporated.

  “Oh, sure that’s… understandable. Well, uh, can I pick you up later then, say 8 o’clock or so?” He asked guarding his disappointment.

  “Sure, er, how about I just meet you at your house? I should probably spend some time down at Viva tonight. I’ll catch a ride over there. Ok?” I bluffed. The day was crowded and I needed time to process it all, alone. I knew I was letting Ren down but I was overwhelmed. There was only so much I could deal with in a day.

  “Alright then.” Ren added. Without delay he pushed back in his seat and gathered his things.

  As he reached across the table for the CD Pete had given him, I recalled his flawless act.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “Oh, just a Wicked Rabbits CD. I had a feeling Pete would have a copy in his car.” He said offhandedly.

  “That band only plays around here. How’d you even know about them?” I asked surprised.

  “Quick learner, I suppose.” He smiled wryly.

  “Guess we should get going or we’ll be late for class.” I mumbled and wondered neurotically if he suspected I was lying about catching a ride.

  Ren smiled coolly and waited for me to gather my things. As we walked silently across campus toward class, I vacillated over whether or not I should ask him to pick me up after all but before I came to a decision we reached the point of parting.

  “Eight o’clock then.” I said.

  “Sure. Enjoy your walk.” Ren responded crisply and without waiting for a response dashed off toward his next class.

  I grimaced. I’d hurt his feelings. Even though I knew I had a right to want my space, the more I knew about Ren, the more sure I was that he’d never blow me off like that. He was thoughtful and kind, way more than any other guy I’d ever met. Besides, I wanted to be closer to him. I’d apologize… later once he’d cooled off. Then I sped off to class to finish the day.

  13

  I plodded listlessly down the steps then shoved the heavy doors of my apartment building open, venturing out to the chilly street. Before setting out, I stared down Main Street searching for the courage I needed to continue. The sunlight had dissipated leaving a lingering purple glow methodically interrupted by yellow funnels cast by the street lamps. I calculated the amount of funnels I would need to pass through before making the turn up the hill toward Ren’s house. Four, that’s all, then a hill, turn, another hill and that should put me about there. I coached myself.

  It had been a long day, my thoughts divided between various categories of worry. As the cold and dark encroached, my worries of Benjamin and the dark water of the well in my future presided over my immediate thoughts. I wondered if time passed at the same rate in the world that lived within my primer or if it crept along slowly waiting for me to return. At any rate, I did know that time indeed marched on and there was a danger that something could happened to Benjamin if I waited too long to return.

  Envisioning little Benjamin crouched in a corner of the stinking cell, a sense of urgency to solve the riddle and dominate that horrible place surged through me. But there was the matter of the Shadow that hunted me. At least one of my problems was bound in a leather cover.

  Foot traffic along the road seemed lighter than usual on Main. A month ago I would have enjoyed the relative privacy but because of the newfound danger in my life, it made me edgy and suspicious. I quickened my pace to Ren’s house.

  Turning off Main, I scrambled up a steep side street before turning off onto an even steeper, narrow, residential road. Puffing up the hill, beads of sweat formed on my brow despite the cool air. I squinted into the dark looking for the end of the street and the entrance to Nan’s private drive.

  “Hello.” The voice came from behind my ear, so close I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  “Geez, you snuck up on me!” I yelped sharply.

  A look of surprise crossed Ren’s face.

  “Sorry. I didn’t think I could sneak up on you.” He laughed, pleased with himself.

  Now aware of his presence, I recognized the familiar and soothing hum of Ren’s existence.

  “I guess I was preoccupied.” I stammered. The fact that Ren had slipped by my radar troubled me. It was one of the only things about being a witch I’d come to enjoy.

  A solitary streetlight partially blocked by an ancient fir tree cast a greenish glow across the asphalt. Ren’s face looked alien, his profile illuminated but eyes shadowed in their caverns.

  “Ren, I’m sorry for brushing you off today… I’m just kind of stressed, you know?” I said reticently.

  Ren tucked his head and kicked a pebble across the street.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He replied softly then added. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, Eliza. Come on, I’ll take you in the back way.” He said and tugged my shirtsleeve gently leading me toward a thicket of trees between two houses.

  The homes along the street were old. Victorian, Tudors and stately brick mansions, erected tastefully and congenially over the years. All of the houses were immaculately maintained allowing them both the glory of their era and antiquity. Despite the well-kept nature of the street, the windows of the homes were dark, giving the street a sleepy, somewhat deserted appearance.

  “Where are all your neighbors? It’s pretty dark on this street, don’t you think?” I asked Ren, my eyes scanning each house as we trotted across lawns.

  “Yes. It’s quiet up here most of the time.” He said with an indifferent shrug, gazing at the row of dark curtained windows.

  “Our address is on this street but really, the house is set back into the hillside. It’s been here much longer than the street.” He said before turning and lengthening his stride.

  I quickened my pace to match his. As we approached the trees, I noticed the narrow path. Ren ducked beneath a low hanging branch and disappeared into the darkness. Still grasping his hand, I quickly stooped beneath the branch to join him.

  “I can’t see a thing.” I said uneasily.

  Ren paused and retreated close to my side. The length of his leg pressed against mine. The pace of my heart quickened at his touch and the sound of him breathing in the darkness.

  Within a few seconds, faint details of my surroundings came into view. The mottled light of the moon on the ground illuminated the footpath in patches. The dark images of low hanging branches were visible in the distance.

  “Ok, I can see enough, let’s go.” I conceded.

  “I’ll walk slower. Look out for rocks along the path.” Ren offered.

  He slowed his pace considerably for my sake and we plodded along in silence as I focused intently on my feet and the dark obstacles on the path. Ren held my forearm close to his side providing steady guidance. It seemed we’d stepped through a portal into a hidden forest. The light and sounds from the town, so near, were virtually extinguished by the forest surrounding us.

  We arrived at the base of a large hill. The faint purple light revealed a row of crumbling stairs carved into the rocky hill face.

  “Here it is, the back entrance.” Ren announced breathily.

  “They look… old. Are they safe?” I asked nervously.

  “Perfectly. Well, I think so. Can you make it? If you’d rather not try, we can walk around to the front but, well, it’s a bit of a hike.” Ren offered hesitantly.

  “No, I mean, yes, I can make it. Let’s just go.” I responded quickly.

  We climbed the narrow stone stairs winding aimlessly up the hillside. More than once, I nearly tumbled down the hill after misjudging the height of the sunken, unpredictable steps. Ren’s grip on my arm shifted to a vise around my wrist. When we finally crested the hill, we were both relieved to see bright light from a wall of windows spilling across the lawn.

  From the top of the hill, the massive home looked os
tentatiously grand. The ancient façade, created from the stone that formed the hillside gave the house an appearance of harmony with its environment. Yet, its incredible size and ornate moldings distinguished it from the natural beauty of its surroundings. The warm light streaming from two floors of large iron latticed windows gave the austere structure an inviting glow.

  I slowly followed Ren across the manicured lawn, feeling anxious about meeting Nan and the events that would follow. Sensing my procrastination, he patiently towed me around the house to a room made of glass glowing like an igloo on an arctic night.

  As we neared the door, the muffled sound of classical music drifted through the window seams. My heart fluttered wildly in my chest. Just as Ren’s fingertips grasped the doorknob, I impulsively yanked his arm pulling him away from the door. He stumbled backward and stared at me in surprise.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked taken aback.

  My eyes darted madly around his face finally settling on the ground, unable to bear his direct gaze.

  “I’m nervous.” I mumbled.

  “I mean, look at me. I’m showing up, some strange girl you just met, dragging a heap of problems along with me. Nan will probably wish you’d never gotten mixed up with someone like me.” I moaned.

  Ren’s head rocked gently to one side. Still avoiding his gaze, I felt his eyes wash over me as he searched my face.

  “Eliza, you know that’s ridiculous. Besides it’s not your fault that my primer picked you as its next pupil. Not that any of that matters because of course Nan is going to like you. As for your problems… don’t take this the wrong way but let’s just say she’s certainly dealt with worse.”

  With my face still angled toward the dark earth, I squeezed my eyes shut allowing Ren’s assurances to sink in.

  “Eliza, if the Shadow comes back for you, I’m fairly certain you’ll wish you’d found the courage to come inside. Now, let’s go.” He said firmly tugging my arm.

  I cast a quick glance toward the forest at the edge of the lawn and imagined icy tentacles coiling around my limbs. Considering the alternative of falling prey to a Shadowy predator, I concluded that it was definitely worth risking Nan’s judgment and her spell for the hope of safety.

  As we stepped across the threshold, warm moist air laced with the scent of blooming plants greeted us. The large solarium was aglow with soft light emitted from hanging globes and lamps atop delicate wrought iron tables tucked neatly between planters of all shapes and sizes. The lively environment was a sharp contrast from the chilly air of the night outside. Apart from the music that drifted from its depths, the house was silent.

  “Nan’s probably upstairs. Can I show you around before we go up?” He asked.

  “I’d love that, if you don’t mind.” I answered shyly.

  Ren grinned and lead me through the solarium.

  “My great-great-grandfather built this house about 150 years ago. But my family homesteaded here decades before this house was built. I may be new to town but my ancestors have probably been here longer than anyone.” He said with a shrug as we stepped into a large modern kitchen.

  “Obviously, Nan’s made some modifications.” He chuckled sweeping his hand around the room.

  “May I fetch you a drink before we continue on our tour, Madame?” He asked theatrically.

  “Sure, water would be great. Thanks.” I smiled as the last bit of anxiety gripping my shoulders eased.

  “Excuse me, sir, but are questions permitted during the tour?” I joked.

  “Because if they are, I already have one. If your family has had this house forever why haven’t you ever been here before?” I asked dropping the dramatic tone.

  Ren leaned against the shiny marble countertop and a tinge of sadness clouded his face.

  “Actually, I have been here before but I was too young to remember it.” He said. His head fell forward as if it had suddenly become too heavy for its perch. He brought his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes before looking up.

  “My mum had a disagreement with Nan some time ago, as a result we didn’t visit often. We were planning to come for a visit. Of course, then my parents received a new assignment and I ended up here without them.” He said sharply.

  “That’s too bad… about the fight.” I said gently, realizing it was something that still bothered him.

  “It is… too bad.” He said testily.

  “I’ll just show you the great room then we’ll head upstairs.” He said quickly changing the subject.

  Before I could speak again Ren sauntered across the room passed me motioning with his hand for me to follow. I padded carefully along the Persian rug runner. The passage led us to a large foyer where an immense crystal chandelier sparkled below a high ceiling. The clear glittering light warmed the large space and highlighted the intricate carved moldings along the walls.

  Ren strode directly through the foyer into an elegant sitting room. Antique furniture shrouded in richly colored silk gave the room the appearance of another age. It looked more like a museum than a room that would be of much use to a modern family. I trotted carefully after Ren into the delicate room worrying that my mere presence might smudge its surface.

  As I lifted my gaze to the fireplace my heart skipped a beat. A large oil painting hung regally above the wide fireplace. The dark brown eyes of an immortalized man glistened with a depth that made me believe, if just for a moment, that a heartbeat within his chest. The eyes were as enchantingly familiar and captivating as the pair that now rested on my face in amusement.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Eliza.” Ren joked.

  Pulling my eyes from the portrait, I turned to view the live version of the face in the picture.

  “Sorry. It’s just that he looks so much like you.” I said.

  “He’s my great-great-grandfather, the one who built the house. Everyone does say I look like him.” He said pondering the portrait.

  As I looked at the painting more carefully, there were some differences. The man in the painting was paler and older than Ren. The thick shock of dark hair was styled in an old fashioned way that revealed a higher hairline. Despite those mild differences, the resemblance was uncanny.

  “Ren, is that you?” A voice drifted down the staircase from somewhere high in the house.

  “Yes and I’ve brought Eliza with me!” Ren yelled.

  He turned and focused on my face comfortably. “Why don’t we go up?” He asked.

  I crossed the room and mounted the stairs. My moist palm slipped along the well-polished banister as we climbed steadily toward a large landing. When we reached the landing, I noticed that at the back wall two hallways led in opposite directions. Yet, in the corner closest to the staircase a discrete spiral staircase of thin twisting iron spun heavenward.

  Ren swiftly crossed the landing and continued to climb up the small spiraling steps. I scampered behind him and up the stairs. Our footfalls echoed against the walls and sent vibrations through the thin metal handrail.

  The twisting staircase spun up a tubular column and through a narrow portal emitting pale light. Ren climbed up and out of the portal first, then extended a hand to me and pulled me through what turned out to be the floor of a small circular study.

  The rounded walls of the study were lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. Aside from a broad desk, the room was bare besides a lounge chair that looked like it was designed for a psychiatrist office.

  I caught sight of a woman across the room. Her image shimmered with bright twinkling light. The affect only lasted several seconds before the sparkling light dissipated into the air around her. I realized the brief blast of light must have been her magical greeting to me.

  Nan sat at the large desk lit by a single lamp. Stacks of books lay open and piled upon each other across the desk and scattered hazardously on the floor. The scene was a picture of someone in search of a misplaced valuable.

  Nan herself looked slightly disheveled. Her white hair was pulled ba
ck in an unruly ponytail and fluffy strands hung wildly around her face. Her face, pink cheeked and lightly lined, was a contradiction to the stark white brilliance surrounding it. Nan’s eyes lifted from the book in her grasp to peer at Ren and me through thin rectangular reading glasses. Her lips pressed together to form a knowing grin.

  “This certainly is an interesting predicament you’ve got Eliza. Though I think I’ve come up with a Band-Aid fix if you know what I mean.” She said loudly with a startlingly American accent.

  “I loved the pumpkin risotto, by the way. Absolutely fabulous! I’ve been dreaming about it in fact.” She continued exuberantly in a manner much like she was continuing a running dialogue rather than just meeting me.

  Confused by Nan’s comment, I stared at her, unsure of how to respond.

  “At Viva, the darling bistro. Your aunt owns it? She’s the artist behind the masterpiece, I assume?” She asked pointedly.

  Relieved to be making some sense of the conversation, I nodded my head vigorously before responding, “Oh yeah, umm, she’s behind the risotto but not the predicament. I’ll tell her that you like it… the risotto that is.” I spouted quickly.

  “It’s actually a seasonal specialty but people ask about it year round.” I added quietly.

  Nan released an emphatic guffaw before shoving back her chair and jumping to her feet. Behind the large desk, Nan appeared to be an average sized individual but at full height she was petite, though her voice and demeanor were that of a much larger person.

  “Eliza, it is very nice to meet you.” She said excitedly crossing the room.

  I was immediately intrigued.

  “Well, then, now that we’re acquainted, Ren, why don’t you scoot? Eliza and I have work to do.” She announced, winking at me conspiratorially.

  Ren smiled and leaned down to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

  “Thanks Nan. Shout if you need me.”