He didn't get the hint.
"Boys!" Magenta interrupted, "Let me show you two something." she seductively smiled, walking out the room.
They followed.
Surbenét reached out and held Rebekah's hand. She moved in closer and kissed him roughly on the cheek.
"You just ran out on me..." She began, "You’re not okay. I know this. I do. Everything is happening so fast. You can tell me. We can work things out. We can." she ran her fingers threw his short hair.
"Rebekah. It's far beyond this." he looked into her eyes with pain and suffering. "More than you can ever endure. It's not you. It's me."
"It's not you either."
"It wasn't lightning that did this to me."
"Then what?"
His head lowered, "I cannot say."
Her eyes watered, "Now your scaring me."
"Don't be. You’re safe. But, something is going to happen. I can feel it. Unless it already happened. Rebekah. As much as I want to be with you. I need you to stay away from me for a while. At least until I find out what's going on."
"I'm here for you."
He gathered his strength. Pulled off his bandages. Pulled the tubes out of his arms. Got dressed. And they left the room. His arm resting over her shoulder.
"What's in the living room?" he asked.
She smiled, "we're going there now."
When they made it to the living room, seated on the couch watching TV, to his surprise he saw his mother, Abigail, and now, fourteen-year-old brother, Jonathan.
He said, "Mom! Jonathan?" removing his arm from around Rebekah with a smile.
They got up with tears in their eyes at the sight of him.
"Baby," was Abigail's first words. "Why didn't you come to see me when you got back from college?"
"Mom. I'm sorry." he held her. "It's good to see you, mom."
He hugged Jonathan.
"It's good to see you, Surbenét." Jonathan said.
"Wow! You’re getting big. Where's Christian?"
"How could I. I didn't... You’re..." Abigail continued, while Rebekah and Jonathan left the room. "...Your birthday. It was the day we found... I'm so sorry you’re going through this." she paused and sat down.
He sat beside her holding her hand.
"I don't know your birthday." she cried.
Confused, he laughed and said, "It's okay. Christian, mom? Where is he?"
"No it's not. Something about you. I've always felt something after your eighth birthday. When you asked me who you were. I don't know. I'm scared for you... Something or someone..." she looked around, "... wants you." she whispered, "It's not alive."
Surbenét looked at Abigail suspiciously; did she hold the key to answering his problems? Is she a part of this?
"Mom," Devin walked into the room, breaking the conversation. "That's enough." he said comfortingly, turning to his brother. "Sorry, bro. she's been making no sense since you were in the coma. It's like shit happened at the same time." kissing his mother on the forehead. "You. Her. This Evolution B.S..."
"Evolution? Where's Christian?" Surbenét said, standing to his feet.
"Christian? Still overseas, but Evolution. Yeah. Come in the other room with me for a minute." he walked, telling him of the meeting they had.
He told of Diamond and Kitten. He spoke of their pending charges. Reuger and Able saying that they ratted them out. The kidnappings since then. Car bombs, shoot outs, casinos and clubs raided, and murders.
"Let's give them what they want." Surbenét frowned. "Guerrilla anarchy. Let all the branches know we're going into the Wiseman’s final-rule." their code for war.
"Glad your back, boss." Dorchester announced, reaching for his blackberry.
Devin followed suit and went for his phone.
"Get mom, John, Rebekah, and Magenta to Island Gates." Surbenét insisted, "I need to speak to Agnes. When is she arriving?"
"Well," Devin started, "It's a little after three in the afternoon. Soon, I hope."
After a few minutes, the three met with Magenta and Rebekah on one of the larger patios. The women had made a lunch consisting of sandwiches, fruit, cakes, cognac, and lemonade if anyone wanted.
Surbenét took a short stroll with Rebekah that ended up a short-lived horseback ride when Agnes arrived on horseback rather abruptly with black envelope she said was urgent mail.
She didn't hesitate. She looked him confidently in the eyes and held it out as her figure came closer.
Feeling a sense of privacy, he told Rebekah to wait where she was, and he met Agnes a few yards away.
After being handed the envelope, he examined it. The seal on the back was in the shape of a diamond with what looked like dried blood with silver and metal melted within. The letters S.I.S. were centered within the diamond, only the second 'S' was backward. They both connected with the vertical line in the 'I', and its two horizontal lines connected with the tops and bottoms of the two 'S's.
He looked up at her and asked to describe the person who gave it. She described Chelsey. Only instead of her updated barbarous outfit, she described a very modern, casual dressed brown eyed woman wearing a brown, hooded cape similar to Riding Hood. Black boots, blue jeans, white blouse, and dark brown hair that lay to her shoulders.
He asked, "Have you ever seen this woman before, or this symbol?"
"Never the woman! No. The symbol... It looks to be of an extremely old, vanquished secret society. And that is all I can tell from the Gothic lettering." she pointed. "This seems to become of some royalty. Maybe an invitation of some sort. She WAS very beautiful."
He opened it. She looked on. It read: Urgent. Island Gates furthest lake. A.S.A.P. Come alone. And signed: C.W.
He looked to Agnes fearlessly, "Call the airfield!"
"What is it?"
"Nothing. There's just never a dull moment in my life... Take care of the house for me will you, Agnes?"
The two of them shared a brief and intense moment, then, Agnes said, "You’re not going to come back this time are you?"
He looked up to the bright blue sky for the first time in his life, "I am forever. Remember." looking to her, "We will always be bonded. Therefore, I will never disappear unless it is you who leaves me. I will return." He went to Rebekah.
"Surbenét!" Rebekah started, "I have something to tell you."
"I have a lot to talk to you about as well. But can it wait, Rebekah."
"Well..."
He cut her short. "Rebekah... This is not the time for us right now..." he continued to speak, only quickening his sentences. "I'll tell you when this is all over. I promise. We'll do it together." he paused. "Do you trust me?"
"Why? Yes! Of course. But..."
"Then please. Please don't ask me any questions." he paused, then nervously said, "I love you. I don't want to lose you. Just trust me."
They dismounted the horses and walked them back into the stable, then walked to the house.
Surbenét waited until everyone in the house was together before he announced that he was flying back to the states with them.
The pilot called. A limo arrived. And just before everyone was in, Magenta had an idea to take the super exotic cars for a spin.
"Why don't we race to the airfield? Your mom and little brother can take the limo." she said.
"Beat you in the Hanger?" Surbenét said, excitedly, "Who's ever up for it. The track is on the other side of the garage. It leads to the hanger. The finish line."
When the garage door lifted, it looked like a car showroom. Highly expensive cars. Whatever your desire.
Devin and Dorchester acted like they just got their first piece of pussy; Marveled.
Rebekah stood in awe. The cars was only what she had dreamed of. Never actually sitting in the driver's seat of any of them, she quickly jumped into the black Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTB.
Magenta took the silver Mercedes Benz AMG SL65 Black Series hard top. Devin wasted no time jumping into the driver's seat of the green and gold Pa
gani Zonda F.. Dorchester picked the Bugatti EB 110 SS. Surbenét, the charcoal Lamborghini Reventon- A helmet in every car. They left behind an Aston martin DBS, Porsche 997 TT, a Corvette ZR1, Ferrari F-430, and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.
Everyone was captivated. Energized and gleeful. The track was privately owned, so, no other cars would be on the road, and Surbenét told them that the track was stretched for ten miles with many twists, turns, and hills.
They revved up their engines. Agnes stood at the side of Surbenét's curvaceous racetrack starting line with a green flag, smiling and Waving goodbye. "READY! SET! GO!" she screamed, jumping up and down, waving the flag as they peeled their tires, rubber and gravel smoking hot.
They took off. All but Surbenét. He sat in his Lamborghini Reventon with a smile on his face from ear to ear for about ten seconds more, then took off with the force of a G4.
"Beat you to the hanger." he reminded himself aloud.
Agnes watched for as far as the eye could see.
They flew up and down the track, Surbenét in the rear and catching up fast, everyone accelerating at least 200 mph over-looking the beauty of Mont Blanc's valley with their game faces, serious with the speed.
Dorchester was neck and neck with Devin. Magenta passed them in the Mercedes.
Rebekah, an adrenaline junkie, pushed her Ferrari past the three of them- It was a tight race- Surbenét's Lamborghini started passing them all as they came to the last three miles of track.
The airfield and hanger was in their view. Devin and Dorchester blew past the ladies on the final mile. Then Surbenét swept past them all, right into the airplane hanger at least thirty seconds ahead of the rest.
The limo pulled up and they all boarded the private jet in an energized frenzy. All their negative thoughts evacuated their heads. And they all felt closer than they ever had; A new bond.
16. Island Gates Manor
Surbenét sat on a bench, alone, near a stream over-looking his Island Gates Manor wondering what was to become of this secret meeting, when from behind, the voice of Neka whispered, "She will help you."
He jumped up. Then without turning to face her, said, "What is it," very defiantly. "First don't trust her... now she's an Allie!? Wha..." he held back the swear."What’s going on?"
She calmly answered, "As always... You are who you want to be. What you are set out to do is another."
"What does my mother know of my history?"
"She knows as much as your father. As much as your brothers. But... None of them can help you. They have already made their choices that was beyond your control. Everyone makes their own choices even though we all have a destiny. You must look in the mirror. Only then will you see your true self. And find your purpose."
He began to boil inside. His anger rose to a level that it had never before, and his energy was transferred into the stream below, which started to heat up.
Smoke began to rise. The water Bubbled.
He held back a cry of frustration. Then turned around to face Neka, but instead faced Chelsey, her face hidden under her hood.
The water level dropped. His anger sub-sided. His face still frowned.
"You are growing stronger. Wickedly." Chelsey announced. "We haven't much time before she returns."
"Chelsey Winchester! Now I remember you. From the news." he said threw his gritting teeth. "What's wrong with my eyes?"
She removed her hood and looked into his black eyes, "What do you mean? I see nothing."
He moved in closer, "You can't see the light?" he exclaimed.
She quickened her words. Looking from side to side, "I don't see. but I must speak swiftly. I'll get right to the point. You might want to sit down for this."
He hesitated but sat back on the bench.
She folded her arms within the sleeves of her robe, "This might sound a little beyond the rainbow, but it is as you would have it. Your family is one of ancient hunters. Both the blessed. And the damned. The S.I.S. was formed to maintain order amongst our people. We are the females. The breeders. The men are our guardians. Elders'. Elder apprentices. And helpers. Since the age of exploration our ancestors have been trialed and hung... as witches..."
"What? Our people? What are you... We're related?"
"Please," she looked around. "the Elders' believed some of us were weak and would uncover the secrets of our society to the rest of the world, which would in turn, in their minds, bring death to our whole bloodline by people who did not understand what we did, or why we did it. We have been forbidden to speak on what drove us from our home, although it has been documented in various scrolls that the Elders' of our society have recently uncovered to only me, Verbally. Now, since the darkness has plagued us... It is only right to draw her from out the flames in which she travels, and put an end to our misery and despair. Your birth parents knew of this. One of your forefathers was an Elder who believed that if we all separated and mixed our blood with outsiders, we would be able to confuse the curse. By doing that. Eliminate it. After his unexpected death, some of the scrolls were found by his daughter, who did not understand the importance of what she had found, for women never knew of these scrolls. She, in turn, analyzed it. And passed it on."
"This doesn't seem to have shit to do with me. Where are you going with this?"
She maintained her patients. "Our ancestors stumbled across a powerful enchantress, who when met her demise, swore to eliminate our bloodline. This means you, as well."
He stood up, anger rising, "What?"
"This is the hard part... It was also written that all of the first born sons' were taken to heaven at birth, but were actually murdered by the doctors and nurses... because of this enchantress, and that if one should be brought onto this world, it will be set to destroy our families."
"Well you got the wrong guy, lady. I'm the second. My brother Christian is the one you’re looking for."
"No. The one is the person that has the power to reverse the trickery as well."
He was still unconvinced and began to take steps backward, "This is done, lady." he turned back in rage.
"April 30th. 1989. from midnight 'til at about four in the morning. There was a Hail storm. During which; the birth of a newborn baby boy. The father. Samuel Jacobs. The mother. Nekaybaw Wright..."
He stopped. She moved toward him.
"... Your birth parents." she said.
"Im' fuckin' possible!" he muttered, slightly shifting his head, waiting for her to continue.
"Surbenét. It is you that have been chosen. Your name means more that you already know. I can help you. You never thought of your name?"
"What?" he shouted, "What about my name. And what happened to my parents?" he started to believe her.
Her voice went up a notch, maintaining her calm. "Your mother died of a sudden death. Your father was never found. Both! On the night of your birth. The name he gave you means surpassing excellence. Backwards... pronounced tenebrous. Tenebrous means many of things, but they all come to mean some form of darkness. That means to be trapped in total chaos! Which you have been all your life. She told our forefathers, 'his name will be that of the darkness'! We have been committing the worst sins to man ever since. She won't stop until we're dead!" she grew tempered, but held her anger and hurt threw watered eyes.
Surbenét was shocked by her speech. He looked into her eyes, gathering his man power to speak, "So... I'm never dreaming... I'm prey to a demonically possessed fire worshipper. And Neka's my dead mother..."
Chelsey grew excited, "Neka? Nekaybaw? You've seen her?"
"How do you know all of this?" he asked, worriedly, approaching her, stopping inches from where she stood.
She removed her hands from her sleeves and reached into her robe, pulling out a folder, handing it to him. He opened it and picked up the first picture. It was a burnt down structure of a building.
Everything was burnt except for a third story room. The lights were on. The room was vacant- How could this be?
"The hospital you were born. It was burned to the ground... Notice the nursery room. That is where you were born. The next picture should look familiar."
He moved on to the next picture. It was detective Krane's burned house. The second level bathroom was the only thing intact. A melted iceberg- Encased was bones- Two piles of ashes- One on each side of the berg.
"Warwick city. 2012. That's how I know it’s her." she added.
"Camera magic?"
"Ordinary’s' can't see it."
"Ordinaries?"
"Ordinary people. It is beyond their comprehension. You have to be opened up to other dimensions to see this. All of this takes place in our world. If an Ordinary looks at the picture, they will see nothing but burnt remnants of the ordinary... It seems that you have more alternate dimensions that I do not think the Elders' are aware of. However... What isn't totally adding up to me is that the scrolls say you will destroy. The Elders' say to protect. I don't know what your parents discovered, but whatever it was, the Elders' know about it... We have been watched all of our life. Since the very thought. Your birth parents have. And mine. Protected. I need to ask you. The woman who torments you. Does it feel. good sometimes? Sexually? When you..."
"What kind of..."
"I'm sorry to ask. She was possessed as a child. They say that she is the offspring of an omnipotent Incubus encounter. Her genealogy is traced as far back before Adam and Eve. After our families fought with the woman, many of us fled here. Only eight families stayed in England. My family was one. Bred purely. Getting stronger. For this."
"What about you?"
"I was born, taught the art of Dark Age sorcery and sword fighting, to hunt, as well as a list of other forbidden techniques. I've traveled country to country in all my existence searching for her. My destiny. There are many of us. When any kind of high negative energy is near, we can feel it. Our flesh will shine of silver. Some more than others. It is our armor. Protection from evil. It can take a lot of punishment. What is odd, however, is that even though she torments you, I witnessed your silver armor in France, vaguely, for a second or two."
THE WICK OF WAR: Absolution Page 5
