Jewel - Daughter of Destiny

by Alison Smith

  Resolutely she stood. The message that Diana had received from Sable earlier that day was what needed to be concentrated on, she told herself.

  “Tell Jewel that answers are with my bones.”

  Jewel straightened her shoulders and started to walk towards the stone building that housed Sable’s bones. As she drew nearer she saw a figure standing by the open door. It was Sable. Jewel felt that if she reached out to touch Sable she would be solid, so real was the vision. Sable waved to Jewel and then turned to walk down the steps and into the building. Jewel followed. Unquestionably she was meant to be here.

  She walked more slowly along the stone corridor than she had that other time. Once again the air was light and fragrant, not musty. Lamps burned every few metres and Jewel took time to glance at the walls as she walked. The large carvings appeared intricate and unusual. She stopped to look at one. Unhesitatingly she knew that this was a part of the message Sable intended for her.

  A large tree was depicted with a great number of branches, all heavy with leaves. As Jewel looked closer though she realised that they were not leaves, at least not all. Some branches held objects. A set-square, an abacus and a lute were suspended from one branch. Jewel looked at the branch immediately opposite and was rewarded by seeing three books. Barely decipherable she could see that the covers had words carved on them. The one she could make out properly said Rhetoric. As she turned to walk again her eyes caught sight of a branch at the top of the tree. How had she missed it? She stood on the tips of her toes and saw all of the major planets carved, circling the tree. And some planets which she couldn’t recognise. A movement caught the corner of her eye and she realised that the vision that was Sable was still waiting for her. The tree was indelibly imprinted on her mind as she turned towards Sable.

  Jewel walked slowly into the chamber that housed Sable’s remains. Nothing had moved or been touched but there was a sweet scent in the air. Pleasant but not one she could recognise. The vision that was Sable walked over to stand in a corner of the room. She was dressed in a long deep blue robe and was carrying a white feather.

  When Jewel reached the stone table she put out a hand to steady herself. Sable’s hair cascaded but, although the rate of deterioration was slow, there were less bones and more ash.

  ‘Oh Sable,’ she quietly said. ‘What has happened in such a short time?’

  Jewel glanced up at the ceiling of the room. There was a disturbance of energy and, as she focussed, it grew to a swirl. A swirl of pale green light which remained hovering overhead whilst deepening in its hue. Notes of music quietly echoed around the room as the light became emerald in colour. The music was almost as bells ringing but not quite. Almost flute like but again, not quite. Ethereal music, bringing with it a sense of calmness.

  ‘Welcome Attrahere.’ A single voice from within the room and then another. ‘We are pleased you are here.’ And then a soft chorus of voices all chanting, ‘Attrahere … Attrahere … Attrahere...’ It became almost as a drum beat to Jewel’s ears. A quiet rumble of welcome for her.

  She sank to the floor and allowed the sounds to bathe her. The vibrations were caressing her, almost like soft kisses and she relaxed completely.

  Then the sounds subsided to a gentle murmur and Jewel knew it was time. Time for what, she had no idea. But time. She stood but kept her hands clasped in front of her.

  Sable still stood in her corner and Jewel glanced around the room.

  A tall man stood in the corner opposite Sable, wearing the same blue robe. Jewel recognised him. It was David. Diana only had one photograph of their father but Jewel would have recognised him without having seen it. It was her father, here and holding a small clear jar. The contents were white and Jewel knew instantly that it was salt.

  She turned again. A second tall man stood, again in the same blue robe, and he was holding a staff. He had a resemblance to David and, more than that, she knew that he was of David’s … her … family.

  Hardly daring to think she looked to the corner opposite him. A lady, of about Jewel’s own height, stood and held a sea shell. She, also, was in the blue robe.

  The elements were honoured and called. Jewel sank down to her knees and placed her clasped hands on top of the stone table.

  The music swirled again and Jewel felt it touch her innermost core. Tears leapt to her eyes at the beauty of it. She was aware that the green light had swelled to encompass the whole room. But it didn’t touch her. She felt the energies of the spirits that were here and those that were elsewhere and yet joined. Jewel opened her heart to the energy and it expanded. Tears were coursing down her cheeks now. She had never experienced anything like this before.

  Anton. His name and image came to mind and she immediately sent out her awareness to him. The joy was almost too much to bear as she met his energy with her own.

  ‘This is your destiny, Jewel,’ Anton’s words.

  ‘You are my destiny too.’ she instantly replied. And then his energy left her but she knew that she would be able to send him love and healing again.

  Jewel stood up, her hands still clasped and the music, once again, quietened. There was a sense of anticipation within the room and Jewel wondered what she should do next. Even the chants had slowed and quietened to a whisper.

  Jewel realised that her hands were wet from her tears and she absentmindedly rubbed them. Suddenly the loud sound of cymbals crashing together swept through the chamber. Jewel jumped, startled and her right arm scraped against a small piece of metal on the table.

  Jewel immediately put her hand over the gash that appeared. Such a small piece of metal, she thought, and yet the wound was bleeding. She tried to stem it with her hand but the saltiness of the tears made it sting. She took her hand away and a single droplet of blood dripped onto what was left of Sable’s right arm bones. It was the same arm, Jewel thought.

  Jewel looked at her own arm and it was already healing over. Then she looked at the blood on Sable’s bones. She knew that there were tears mixed in with the blood.

  ‘Everything with purpose,’ she said quietly and reverently.

  The bones started to steam and emerald light surrounded Sable’s remains. Jewel watched as slowly, one by one, each remaining bone and strand of hair disappeared. The music had started again as even the ash disappeared. And then there was nothing left on the table. Nothing left of Sable.

  ‘I’m still with you, dear Jewel. And with Anton,’ Sable’s quiet voice sounded from the corner of the room. ‘I can better be of help in this way.’

  Jewel stood straight and tall. Something had already happened to her and yet, she knew, there was still more.

  ‘Thank you,’ she called out. The beauty of the experience would be forever with her.

  The green light swirled again and then a beam shot out and straight into Jewel’s heart. A ray of pure emerald penetrated and filled her.

  “Welcome Attrahere. The Wisdom of All Ages.” The words echoed around the room as voices chimed in. “Welcome … Welcome … Welcome …”

  The light subsided and the music faded. The voices became muted and then disappeared. She was left standing in the small chamber and, as she looked around, saw that the spirit helpers had also gone. The chamber was completely empty and yet she wasn’t, and would never be, alone.

  Chapter 18

  Jewel arrived home at dawn. As she walked into the kitchen she wondered how her life could have changed so dramatically in such a short time. Only days ago and she and Diana would have been groaning at the prospect of Monday morning.

  Jewel quickly filled the kettle with water and then clicked her fingers for the gas to light. It obediently did and she placed the kettle on the hob to boil. Is it possible to speed the particles of water in some way? she wondered. The kettle immediately whistled loudly and there was the answer! Sitting down at the table with a mug of steaming tea and she felt invigorated and alive. Then an instant moment of guilt. Her adoptive parents were dead. Chris also. Anton, poor Anton … her
thoughts trailed and she resolutely put down her mug. Jewel closed her eyes and rested her clasped hands on the table.

  ‘Anton?’ she murmured. There was no answer and no familiar energy. ‘Anton?’ A call from her mind. Again, no answer.

  ‘I am the Attrahere! Anton!’ she sent the words out as powerfully as her mind would allow.

  ‘Jewel, my destiny.’

  It was him! Jewel focussed her whole mind and sent a beam of green healing light.

  ‘Thank you.’

  And then he was gone. But she knew that the light had reached him. Just as she also knew that there was still hope. She opened her eyes and picked up her tea. The moon calendar displayed on the wall caught her eye. If today counted as a full day it made ten days and nights until the next new moon. Would that be long enough to fully develop her powers? Or would she need to wait for the next full moon? Could Anton wait that long?

  All of a sudden a wave of tiredness swept over her and Jewel realised that she had been out at the mausoleum all night. The earlier invigoration had diminished and she decided to go to bed for a few hours. Taking the mug of tea, she climbed the stairs. Yes. A nap was definitely in order.

  Nik’s phone rang and he answered it instantly, ‘Sir.’

  ‘Have you seen the media coverage yet?’

  Nik didn’t need an explanation as to what his superior referred to. ‘Yes. I have. It’s developed through the night and now seems to be the lead story.’

  ‘We are entering a dark time, Nik.’

  Nik sighed, ‘Yes sir. Bert phoned to say he has journalists practically camped outside the club and asking to speak with him.’

  ‘How did he answer?’

  ‘He’s saying that he knows nothing. That the Leather & Burgundy club is for young and trendy clubbers. But he is unsure whether that will be an adequate response for long. Not if more people start asking questions and, especially if some of the Groupies are interviewed.’

  ‘I agree. He may need to close for a while.’

  His superior sounded weary to Nik’s ears but he had continued speaking.

  ‘I do not want the cold case files made public, Nik. We need to contain as much as we can. History is one area over which we have jurisdiction. Hide the files, Nik, and hide them very well. And cloak or dismiss all references to them. That is a direct order.’

  The call was terminated and Nik was left staring at the phone receiver with an air of disbelief. But his superior had given him a direct order. Nik slowly replaced the phone in its cradle.

  His superior had given him a direct order to manipulate not only files but computer systems as well … perhaps even family records. Nik had cloaked events before but never with such a sense of a need for painstaking urgency. He would have to move fast and quickly took out a fresh new notebook from the drawer. There may even be a need, and this was much more complicated, to dispossess family memories. He groaned and then, carefully using his own coded writing, a list emerged of what was required. A list of exactly what had to be altered in order to complete his task.

  Jewel walked into the kitchen just as Diana was pouring two mugs of tea.

  ‘For me and you?’ Jewel asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Diana replied. ‘Don’t get excited though. It wasn’t a psychic moment, I heard your footsteps on the stairs.’

  Jewel grinned and sat down, eagerly sipping the tea.

  ‘So?’ Diana asked.

  Jewel knew Diana was referring to last night and wondered how to begin the story. ‘It was beautiful, Di. A truly breathtaking thing happened to me last night. I know my powers have grown enormously and it’s not only about my being the Attrahere but also about the Wisdom of all Ages. I think it’s inside me. But I don’t really understand …’

  ‘Hmm,’ Diana sat in thought for a moment. ‘Otherworldly I’d say. Possibly to do with other realms. But obviously something that is meant to be in the here and now. Meant to be within you and of use.’

  ‘I’m tempted to say why me? And why now? But everything has a purpose.’

  ‘We just don’t always know what it is!’ Diana finished the sentence for her and Jewel smiled.

  ‘Can we look at the astrology for the next new moon?’ Jewel asked.

  ‘I already have,’ Diana said. ‘It would be so much better if we could use the following full moon.’

  Jewel felt a lump in her throat. ‘I’d hoped we could do something sooner than the full moon.’

  Diana poured a second mug of tea from the pot for each of them. ‘We should concentrate on your powers first and foremost. You need to be stronger than Monique and whoever else she has surrounding her.’

  Jewel nodded. It was as she had thought. The time would have to be perfect and she, Jewel, needed to be completely ready. ‘Can we start today, Di? There’s reason behind you and I being together. I need your challenges and understanding.’

  Diana pulled out a notebook from the pocket of her dress. ‘I had a bath before coming down here this morning. I was feeling really down about Chris and then I told myself. ‘Diana? You can either mope and cry about something you can’t change, or work at something you can!’ And then …’ She took a sip of tea and smiled before continuing. ‘I worked out a plan of campaign!’

  ‘Well?’ Jewel could hardly contain herself. They could start today?

  ‘We shall begin with testing your senses. They should have expanded and we need to know by how much and what you can do with them. We’ll start with what you are able to perceive with your ordinary senses. Ears, eyes, nose, mouth, touch. And then we’ll move on to your extra-ordinary senses,’ she finished triumphantly.

  Jewel glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘It’s afternoon already but The Twins won’t be up until much later. Shall we have a snack to eat and then start?’

  Diana nodded and Jewel felt pleased. Pleased they were making plans. Pleased that her sister was being organised about it. And very pleased that soon she would be able to help Anton to escape. Somehow … together … they would stop this vicious series of events.

  Nik was about to start his car engine when his phone rang. He couldn’t remember a time when his phone had been so busy. He answered it whilst rubbing the back of his neck. It had taken four days and nights but the task was now complete. The missing people from each and every cold case were all well and truly hidden. They were cloaked in mists of time and memories of their existences subtly altered. The latter had been the most awkward. Nik always felt the altering of memories was invasive and not something that was ever taken lightly.

  ‘Nik? It’s Bert.’

  ‘Bert, I haven’t much time. I’m on my way to the Tappers’ funeral.’ Nik hoped that Bert would be quick with whatever he had to say.

  ‘I’ve closed the club.’

  Nik sighed softly. It would have hurt his old friend to do that. ‘It’ll only be temporary,’ he said.

  ‘I know. But it could take decades to develop the right clientele again.’

  ‘I have seen some of the interviews given by the Groupies.’ Nik said heavily.

  Bert was quiet for a moment. ‘It’s not only interviews now Nik. Remember the Groupie that Monique took?’

  ‘Yes,’ Nik said thoughtfully. ‘I knew she was continuing with her normal life. The young man who was taken at the same time died when he came off life support. We never managed to identify him. At least that means there will be no awkward questions from relatives. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Well, she’s been giving instructions on the television,’ Bert said. ‘They’re calling it How to bring out your own Inner Vampire.’

  Nik didn’t know about that and he groaned.

  ‘And then,’ Bert continued without seeming to take a breathe. ‘Three of them have released a single and the title is A Taste of Blood. Apparently it’s set to be top of the download charts and every radio station is playing it. The young people love it. This will have a backlash, Nik. And then I dread to think what might happen.’

  Nik thought for a moment. �
��Are you keeping safe Bert?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve closed the club and I’ll stay here in my rooms at the back. No one could break in but I’m also sending out a message that this will be a place of sanctuary and of refuge. It may be needed. And I know how to screen anyone who arrives.’

  ‘Take care, Bert. Ring if you need me to bring food or anything.’

  With that the call was terminated and Nik started his car. Funerals were always emotional times and he didn’t want anything to happen to Jewel or Diana when they could be vulnerable.

  Jewel glanced around the graveyard. The church service had been brief but beautiful. She, Bradley and William, had chosen the hymns. They were all here and Diana. Bradley and Katryn had made all of the arrangements with efficiency and sensitivity. They had all made the decision to keep the funeral small, and just for family. Elsie and Paul would have approved, Jewel thought, they were such private people. She knew that The Twins were standing respectfully at a distance and, she saw, another figure had joined them. He was stooped again and carried a walking stick, she noticed, but it was definitely Nik.

  The last four days had been spent alternatively talking about the funeral and with Diana coming up with new ways of pushing Jewel’s senses. Jewel could already feel more in control of her new powers. But they had still only been exploring her ordinary senses. Diana had said it would be next week before she was ready for the extra-ordinary challenges. Jewel sighed. It was looking more and more likely that their plans would have to be for the full moon. At least she had been able to send healing light to Anton each evening.

  ‘Earth-to-Earth. Dust-to-Dust.’ The vicar completed the interment and stepped back.

  Jewel walked forward to gently sprinkle earth into the double grave. She watched as all of the others did the same and then they all hugged each other. Elsie and Paul Tapper had been laid to rest.