by JK Ensley
That little table is where I now sit as I record the bizarre events unfolding before me.
“Coffee?” he asked, smiling, sort of.
“Do you have tea?”
“No. I’m afraid all I can offer you is a bitter black cup of Joe.” His amused laughter was warm and gentle.
“Gratitude and apologies, good sir. I’ll be fine.”
He took a drink from his cup and nodded his head toward me. “What’re you writing there?”
“My life.” I only glance at him before returning my attention back to this journal.
“May I see it?”
I stopped writing then. I looked deep into his tired eyes. He didn’t seem bent on ill intentions toward me, curiosity only.
“If you wish,” I said as I handed him this journal.
He sat for a long time, quietly reading my words and drinking his coffee Joe.
“And where’s this stolen book which recounts your previous life?” he finally asked.
I pulled the battered old novel from the leather bag I’d worn draped across my chest since my first week of exile.
“May I see it as well?” he said, reaching.
This was a much harder request to fulfill. “Do you promise to return it? It’s my only worldly possession. My only window back to the people I love.”
“I promise,” he answered. “You can’t trust anybody if you can’t trust me.”
He smiled then. His grin carried no malice, sympathy perhaps, but no malice.
He read for hours as I studied his common eighth layer features. Perhaps he could be considered handsome, I’m not certain. I cannot judge beauty on this layer. The beings I find the most charming, the most interesting, are not usually the ones admired on their television sets or upon their giant movie screens. I mean, he looks to me much like all the others rushing about within this sterile building. He has short black hair—not Alastyn’s raven black, just the normal Earth realm black. His is sprinkled about on the sides with bits of shimmering gray and he has that odd patch of hair above his mouth that so many eighth layer men share.
That’s one of the biggest differences between the people here and the ones back in Ashgard—all the body hair. I mean, it’s not a bad thing I suppose, just different. My people have hair upon their heads only. The people of layer eight boasted hair pretty much everywhere. On their face, their arms, their legs. Some even have hair on their bodies, their chest and their back. I giggled when I thought about how funny Alastyn would look with hair upon his face, Jezreel with it covering her arms, or even the glorious Vittorio with silver hair upon his magnificent chest… hysterical.
Actually, Valadrog was the only person I had met upon the whole of layer four who had hair somewhere besides his head. And he wasn’t crowned with a single strand, I thought. Bald as a newborn babe, he was. Blessed with silver hanging only from the corners of his sternly set mouth.
I didn’t realize I’d laughed out loud until I looked back at the man. He was staring at me, rather worrisomely, actually.
“Apologies, I was lost in my own remembrances.” I’m pretty sure I blushed, my cheeks felt hot. “Please, continue.”
I noticed then that his eyes had once been a brilliant blue. They were now faded, tired, and framed by tiny lines matching the ones currently furrowing his brow.
Only once did someone knock on the door and bring in a flat white box and a blessed steaming cup of tea. It was foul compared to Aunt Marlise’s but it was especially kind of them to have tried. I smiled at the young woman handing me the bitter drink and she looked at me with pity in her eyes.
I didn’t like how that made me feel, not one bit. I believe, if this is to be the common reaction, I prefer it better when I roamed about unnoticed.
“Don’t you want any pizza?” He asked his question between large bites.
I inclined my head toward him, respectfully. “I am fine.”
“Aww, come on. You gotta try this incredible pie. Bet you’ve never tasted anything like it before.”
The smell alone turned my stomach. I took a small bite of the grease covered bread he insisted on sticking in my face and prayed that would be enough to satisfy his demands. I used the foul tea to wash down the even fouler oil now coating the inside of my mouth. I presume the twisted look upon my face answered his next question.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You don’t like pizza? Everyone from around here loves pizza.”
I choked out a cough and tried to clear my throat. “I’m not from around here.”
“So I gather.” He stared intently at me. I returned his curious gaze. “Is there somewhere I can take you?”
“Gratitude, but I can manage just fine.”
“I can see that,” he said with a laugh. “But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a decent place to sleep around here that still uses keys.”
I spoke not.
“The precinct is no place for someone like you to spend the night, and I can’t just let you walk out of here not knowing where you’ll end up or what’ll happen to you.”
“Gratitude for your concern, but it’s not necessary.” I reached for my book but he snatched it off the table. I could only stare at him, confused. “But, you promised.” Tears were burning the backs of my eyes.
“Hey now, it’s okay. I’m not going to keep it. But I am curious as to how it ends. I only want to finish the story you feel is your life. I only want to find out what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours.”
He smiled then winked, as if he were speaking to an injured child. I could only sniff and brush the tears away.
The man stood up, still holding my book. “I’ve got the perfect place in mind—walking distance from here. I’ll finish your book tonight and return it to your lovely hands in the morning,” he promised as he led me back through the building filled with busy people and ringing boxes.
“Hey, Chief!”
He waved his hand in the air but didn’t look toward the yelling man. “Be back later, Snyder. Busy now.”
We left the noisy precinct, heading out into the crowded streets. I fell behind almost immediately and lost sight of Chief. A strong hand grabbed mine, pulling me through the suffocating masses.
“You’re gonna have to keep up, little lady.”
The familiar reference brought fresh pain to my troubled heart. I reached out and took my next change of clothing from the nearby display rack being wheeled into a storefront. When Chief saw the new garments draped across my arm, his eyes flashed with fury.
“Where’d you get that?”
“The same place I always—”
He cut my words off with a stern glare. “You can’t keep doing this.” Chief grabbed the clothes from my hand and pulled me inside the open shop. “I’m very sorry, Ma’am. My friend here took these clothes and I need to pay for them.”
The elegant woman behind the counter looked at him and raised a single eyebrow as she replied. “These aren’t our clothes. We don’t carry anything like that here.”
Chief turned those furious eyes back on me and spoke through gritted teeth. “Tell me where you got them.”
“H-here,” I stuttered.
He let out an exasperated sigh and jerked on my captive hand, dragging me from one store to the next, in vain.
“Listen to me, Chief. God provides what I need. Not in excess, but in necessity. I know when I walk by what has been intended for me and I thankfully take it.”
“Well, since I can’t figure out where they came from, you can keep them, this time. But you’ve got to quit taking things that don’t belong to you,” he demanded.
“But… they do belong to me,” I mumbled, more to myself than to him.
“And why did you call me Chief?”
I looked up to find his narrowed eyes searching my face. “That’s how Snyder referred to you, is it not?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes, but that’s my title, my job. Not my name. My name’s Tony.”
“Apologies, To
ny. It’s very nice to meet you.” I bowed and then extended my hand. “My name is Jenevier Embarr.”
He took my proffered hand. His grip was strong. “Yeah, I figured the first name out pretty quick. I’m sharp like that.” He winked and held up the self-titled paperback.
Tony squeezed my hand and studied me for a long moment. I could have sworn I saw a tiny spark of belief flash in his eyes, and then it disappeared.
“Here we go.” He opened the glass door, leading me into a large room full of overstuffed furniture, stopping only when he was face to face with a young man behind yet another counter.
I picked up a plastic card and turned to leave. Tony grabbed my arm.
“And just where do you think you’re going, little lady?”
I looked down at his hand and he quickly released me.
I don’t like being pawed at or grabbed, I thought, absently. “To my room,” I said.
“What room? We haven’t even checked in yet.”
The polite young gentleman behind the counter was now speaking to Tony. “Will you be requiring an additional room, sir?”
He turned quickly as he spoke to the concierge. “What do you mean, additional?”
“A room in addition to the one Madam has procured.”
“And just when did she procure this room?” Tony questioned the confused clerk.
“Only just.” The young man tilted his head to the side. “Are you feeling well, sir?”
This time I was the one dragging him away by the hand. “Come, Tony. We’ll discuss this later.”
My new found boss took my plastic card key and pushed a button on the wall as I headed to the door marked STAIRS.
“Room 434, huh?” He was staring up at some lights on the wall. “So, when and how’d you manage this?” He turned to me then. “Where are you going now?”
“To find my room.”
A hole slid open in the wall and he stepped inside. “Are you coming?”
“Where?”
He jerked me into the hole before it closed back over. “To your room. Have you already forgotten? And do you want to explain this to me now or later?” He was shaking the plastic card in front of my face.
“I do not know what more you wish to hear from me, Tony. I’ve told you before. When I am in need, it’s there.”
“So, your God—who supposedly killed you or banished you or whatever the hell he did—is taking care of your every need?”
“I can only presume that is true, yes.” I raised my eyes to meet his incredulous gaze. “It has been this way since the moment I woke in that Louisiana bayou.”
The wall opened back up and Tony led me to my intended door. The card key worked perfectly. I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
“Well, you make yourself comfy and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he turned to leave.
I jumped up, halting his retreating arm. “Where are you going?”
“Home. I need a stiff drink and time to read.” He held up my tattered book for emphasis.
“No. Please, don’t take the book. What if something happens and I never see you again?” My words were a frantic plea. “The only thing making my torturous exile bearable is the treasure you now hold.”
I’m certain my oncoming panic was evident in my terrified eyes as I held fast to the startled man, my heart going wild within my chest.
Tony slowly relaxed, no longer resisting my urgent tugs. “Well, where am I supposed to read it then?”
I pointed to the lounge against the wall.
“The couch? This book will take me hours to finish,” he complained.
I spoke not. I only stared at him.
“Okay, fine.” His shoulders slumped forward in resignation. “You get some rest and I’ll read.”
He sighed loudly as he reluctantly plopped down on the hard sofa.
Chapter 5
Tony Delvado
(TOH-nee dell-VAH-doh)
When I woke this morning, Tony was sitting on the couch, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. I quietly slipped out of bed.
“And just where do you think you’re going, Miss Embarr?”
I jumped at the sound of his voice. I’d spent years in solitude. My communication skills are severely lacking and I have become accustomed to being neither seen nor heard.
Instinctively, I placed my hand over my racing heart. “Oh, you startled me. I thought you were sleeping.”
“On this lumpy old couch?” Tony had a rather incredulous look on his face.
“Apologies. Feel free to lie upon the bed and get some rest. I’m going to bathe and change into my fresh clothing.”
“Get some rest? How long do you plan on that bath taking?”
“Until I feel like myself again.” I spoke as honestly as I could.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot… Mermaid.” He chuckled and let his weary head fall back against the couch.
I couldn’t help the disappointing sigh I let escape. “I see you have read my life, yet you do not believe.”
“Well, the way I see it, I have two options here.” He stood, groaning as he stretched his arms and shoulders. “Either I drive you to the nearest mental hospital and check you in for the rest of your delusional life…” He collapsed across the crumpled bedcovers, kicking off his shoes.
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he hadn’t finished. “Or?”
“Or, I choose to accept a little bit of the oddities I experienced with you yesterday and take this book as symbolic of your life experiences, not literal. Either way, I have someone I think you should meet. I’ll rest while you soak,” he said with a yawn.
Later, after we’d both eaten, Tony escorted me in the ever-present eighth layer form of transportation, a car. It was horrific. The terrorizing experience reminded me of my first trip into the clouds with Vittorio—mind-reeling and gut-wrenching. I could barely breathe the whole time it was moving. I half jumped, half fell out the door the moment it came to a stop.
“What are you doing?” He grabbed my arm, jerking me to my feet. “Are you crazy?”
“Wh-where are you taking me?”
“You act like you’ve never seen a car before.”
I dusted off my clothing. “I have seen thousands of them. I’ve just never been trapped inside one.”
He laughed as he helped steady my wobbly legs.
“Tony, you didn’t answer my question. Where are we going?”
“I’m going to be completely honest with you, Jenevier, and just lay it all out there.” He leaned back against the car, crossing his arms over his chest. “No matter what’s going on in that curl-covered noggin of yours, this whole thing is a complete load of bull. I’m a seasoned Detroit City cop and I’ve worked these streets longer than you’ve been alive.” He looked around at the people passing by as he continued. “I’ve witnessed crap that would put your little fictional book there to shame. The only thing keeping me from locking your odd little tush up in a nut house, is a rookie I trained a few years back.” His eyes came back to rest upon me. “And that, tiny Angel, is where we’re going.” He chuckled at his jabbing reference toward me.
I was shocked when Tony’s jacket started singing. He pulled out a black square and put it to his ear.
“What is it, Snyder?” He paused as if he were listening intently. “No, I can’t right now. Call Mason in on that one. As a matter of fact, call Mason in to cover for me the next few days. I’ve got something to take care of that’s pulling me out of town. Call if you can’t handle it, Snyder.”
Tony put the curious little oddity back in his jacket pocket. I was beginning to worry. He was yelling about locking me up in some kind of house, and now he’s talking to a man who’s nowhere to be seen.
“Tony? How do you fare? Do your wits flee?”
“I’m fine.” He threw his arm across my shoulders and started walking, forcing me along with him. “I guess if you’ve never been in a car, it would be ridiculous for me to ask if you’ve ever flown.”
>
“Of course I have flown.”
“No, not in your make-believe Vashti mask. Have you ever flown in a plane?”
“What’s a plane?”
“Enough said.” He placed both hands on my shoulders, turning me to face him. “Okay, listen up. All I’m trying to do here is help you. I don’t know any other way to do that than to take you to some podunk little town in Oklahoma called Marlow. Now, that’s much further than I care to drive. We can take a plane into Dallas-Fort Worth, which is as close as we can get. From there, we’ll rent a car and drive up to Marlow.”
“Why Marlow, Oklahoma?”
“That rookie I was telling you about? It’s where he lives.”
“What’s a rookie?”
“Sheesh, girl.” He took my elbow and led me into yet another building crowded with busy people. “It’s somebody who’s brand-new at a job. He came in fresh from the academy. I taught him all I knew. But he wasn’t from around here. The streets of Detroit can be a rather dreadful kind of scene some nights. One case in particular, well… it broke him. He moved back to Oklahoma and is now the sheriff in Marlow. I think you two need to talk is all.” He led me down a strange, echoing tunnel. “You ready?”
“No,” I admitted.
Tony just laughed.
Chapter 6
Marlow
(MARR-loh)
I don’t believe I have ever been to Texas before, perhaps on a mission once, I couldn’t remember for sure. I knew for a fact I hadn’t been there during this second life.
I’d only thought it was too hot in Georgia during the summer months. That was nothing compared to Texas. I felt as if the accursed sun was right above my head. Like I could just reach up and touch it. There were no beautiful green mountains for enchanted creatures to hide and play in, not in Texas. All around me was dry wind and sunshine.
How can it still be so hot with the wind blowing?
The car ride to Marlow wasn’t nearly as bad now that I knew what was going to happen. I quietly listened to the music Tony had turned on and gazed out the window at all the brown, all the dust, and all the cows. As far as I could see, there was nothing new to catch my view.
