Ambrosine

by Noreen Harrison

  “No, no!” She shook her head emphatically. “Nothing like that! I promise you.”

  “So why did you say be aware?”

  She lowered her eyes. “Alixia, please no more questions about this. Your Mother will be upset with me if I say any more. I just wanted you to know…” She paused for second. “Never mind, anyway, you won’t be harmed. Your mother is the one that wants you to have your own experience coming forward. She wants you to sense the true meaning of being an Ambrosine and the power you will receive.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t wait until this is all over with.” She moved toward me and said, “Just remember to keep your mind open to believing in the Ambrosine ways. Now hurry along and get dressed and I will see you on stage.”

  I went to my room and sat there for a while, contemplating whether I wanted to go through with this.

  What could happen? Even if there’s another entity, Mother will be there. She would never let anything bad happen to me.

  I got up and went to the closet, shaking off my apprehension and taking out my outfit for the Gathering.

  When I was finishing the last button on my blouse, I suddenly felt his presence around me. This time it wasn’t in my dreams. I tried focusing to get a sense of where he was, but then it faded. I shivered a little.

  I know he’s real. I have to find out who it is...

  I finished dressing and went downstairs to find Mother.

  She was in the ballroom standing by the secret door. “Alixia, there you are. Come with me. ” She said pushing on the mirror, opening it so we could go inside. I stood there, looking around the room. It was simply decorated with a desk, a couple of chairs, a bookshelf filled with books and one dimly-lit lamp. She reached for some robes hanging on gold hooks and handed me one. I took it, staring into her eyes saying stonily, “Madame Cecilia said I should be aware of some kind of presence. What is that about?” Mother looked at me hard and asked, “Did she tell you anything else that was going to happen?”

  “No, all she said is there might be some kind of presence and something about changing, but she wasn’t specific about anything. “So are you going to tell me?”

  “No.”

  “Why, don’t you want me to know, what is this entity—”

  “Enough!”

  “But—” She cut me off again. “No more! We’ll talk about everything after the Gathering. Now please, no more questions.”

  I just stood there, glaring at her with my arms folded, wondering why the big secret. She quickly changed the subject to the dreams, just as Madame Cecilia had. “Are you still having the dreams with the intruder?”

  “Yes.” I said, ticked off and not really wanting to answer her.

  “So you have?” She said putting on her robe. “Why all these question about my dreams? Madame Cecilia wanted to know if I was still having them, too!”

  “She did?”

  “Yes, I told her that I was still having them, but I don’t think of him as an intruder like you said.”

  She looked at me, troubled. “Oh, really? Well, after you come forward tonight it won’t matter anyway. The dreams will stop and hopefully this entity will, too.”

  “They’ll stop?”

  “Yes.” She smiled broadly. “Because tonight, you will become a true Ambrosine and the dreams that torment you will end forever.”

  I felt a relief. No more dreams of shadows, but then there was this disappointment, too, that I would never feel his presence again.

  Mother helped me with my robe. She noticed the diamond pendant and said, “I see Cecilia gave you the symbol of the Ambrosines.” Mother touched the diamond and recited the same vow as Madame Cecilia had, “Gardez le coffre-fort familial.” Then she hugged me and said, “Now let’s go bring you forward. You know I love you, right?”

  “Yes.” I replied.

  We walked back into the ballroom and found Madame Cecilia waiting for us. As we went to the stage, Madame Cecilia took her place as she sat in the center, just as she said she would. We stood on either side of her. The High Councils of the other families joined us. I looked over at them trying to focus on which one could be Gautier, but the dim lights and their hooded robes hid their faces.

  Angel Ambrosine walked out of the shadows and introduced the other families who were visiting from around the world. After the last family was acknowledged, Angel turned to us motioning for us to come forward. Madame Cecilia stood up and took my hand. We could read each other’s thoughts, mine being anxious and wondering what was going to happen to me. Hers was elation, of finally bringing me forward as an Ambrosine.

  I lowered the hood on my robe and my hair fell down past my shoulders. It felt good to uncover my head. The room was quiet and then Madame Cecilia spoke French to the families, and they knelt down. Madame Cecilia leaned close and whispered, “Now, Alixia, it’s time to give our respects to the family Councils. Remember what I told you, be aware!”

  We stepped back. I turned, seeing their faces better because now their hoods were down; except for one—that had to be Phillip Gautier.

  I stared at them.

  They were all so young. They all have to be in their twenties. It’s impossible; they should be older if they were part of the Council before I was born.

  My mind tried to grasp the timing.

  Okay, this isn’t weird. There’s an explanation,

  They must be the children of the Council members Mother had faced when she pleaded Father’s case. But, why did she make me study names of the older High Council members?

  “Alixia?” Madame Cecilia brought me out of my thoughts, pulling on my arm.

  “What?”

  “It’s time.”

  I went up to three of the Council members. I took each of their hands and bowed. As I heard their thoughts, I knew there was nothing threating; they were mostly elated to finally meet me. The only unusual image I felt came from Louis Clotriae from the West. I sensed he was worried about me, but it wasn’t clear.

  Phillip Gautier was the last. As I walked toward him slowly, he pulled his hood back to reveal himself. He appeared to be around my age, medium-build with light-brown hair. His facial appearance was striking, rugged and tanned. He smiled full at me knowingly, and I suddenly felt I was being drawn into his thoughts. He extended his hand to me. I had barely touched his hand when I experienced a sensation I had felt before. Phillip pulled his hand back as though he knew what I was doing. He smiled at me. I was captivated by him. I bowed to acknowledge him and he nodded back. Then he stepped away from me, as if knowing I was trying to discover the effect that he had on me. I took a step toward him, not letting him move away from me, then without us touching each other I said softly, “I will find out.”

  He smiled. “I am looking forward to it.”

  “Alixia, come now.”

  Mother and Madame Cecilia took my hands and walked me to the front of the stage. I could feel their power running through my body as I stood between them. My heart was pounding. Angel came up to me, holding a gold chalice. She handed it to me and said, “Le pouvoir del'immortalité, Alixia, drink it.”

  I turned to Mother for assurance she nodded. I took a sip. It tasted like honey, but the color was scarlet red. I brought it to my lips again, feeling the heat from the drink course through my body as I emptied the chalice. I look out at the families, handing the chalice back to Angel. She bowed and walked back into the shadows.

  Madame Cecilia said, “À la vie éternelle” to the families. They knelt down again and the room became silent. I noticed an amber glow coming from our hands that grew and surrounded us on the stage. Mother whispered, “Now it’s time to become an Ambrosine.”

  What’s happening?

  I was levitating! My body went limp as I was being pulled up into a light which surrounded me. I could feel Mother and Madame Cecilia letting go of me. I tried to hold on to Mother as I slowly moved upward. I heard her say faintly, “This is your destiny, Alixia.”

  The light around me
changed to scarlet red. I could sense a presence inside me trying to capture my soul and I couldn’t fight it. It was pushing me deeper and deeper into a state of darkness. Paralyzed, I tried to scream out, but I knew no one could hear me. I was being held captive in my own body by a darkness I didn’t understand. I was ready to say goodbye as I felt my soul leave. Then, a peace came over me and the light changed to pure white. As I started coming forward out of the darkness, my powers and senses were enhanced. I was getting stronger as the light held me in its power, until my soul was given back to me. I heard faint chanting, “Ambrosine à la vie éternelle.” Then the light went dim as I descended down toward Mother and Madame Cecilia’s arms. They held me as the amber glow faded. I could hear the families applaud and chant my name. I was different now. I could sense the change within me and Mother knew it, too. I whispered, “What happened to me?” I collapsed.

  In my half-conscious state, I felt my protector’s presence. His arms surrounded me, holding me close as he carried me upstairs into my bedroom and placed me softly on my bed.

  The Reality

  I stirred, half-awake, sensing everything around me more intense than before. It was as if my abilities were amplified to a higher level. I opened my eyes slowly, seeing Mother by my side. She reached for me, as I heard Madame Cecilia say, “Good, she is with us now.”

  Mother held my hand tightly and said softly, “How do you feel, Alixia?”

  I Moved away from her as I felt my body pulsate. “I don’t know.” I paused trying to get my thoughts together. “I have all these different sensations that are hard for me to describe.” I looked at both of them confused. “What happened to me?”

  Mother’s eyes filled with tears as she said, “I will tell you. There will be no more secrets.”

  Madame Cecilia came to the other side of the bed and sat down. I could sense the apprehension in both of them. Mother breathed heavier. I could feel her emotions escalating and her fear of revealing the secret she kept from me.

  “Mother?” I looked at her and then at Madame Cecilia. I was reading their thoughts which turned precipitately right into French. “You know I’m in your heads, stop with the French, I want to know, now!”

  Mother’s heart raced as she said, “Alixia, the Ambrosine symbol within our family, as I told you, is a powerful gift. Now you have become—” She stopped. “Mother, just say it!”

  “Alixia, calm down.”

  “Don’t tell me to calm down! I can sense that something happened to me and you two had something to do with it. Tell me, Mother! Enough with the secrets!”

  “You’re immortal!”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said you are immortal.”

  “No!” I eyed her as if she had lost her mind. “How can I be? I mean…” She moved toward me. “Alixia, try to understand. The symbol you bear means immortality. That is your birthright and your destiny.”

  I shook my head in disbelief.

  “No. This isn’t real. You’re lying! I don’t believe this!”

  “Alixia, it is true.”

  “This isn’t happening! You’re both crazy.”

  “Alixia, please understand.”

  “No! This can’t be the secret you kept from me! How could I be immortal? None of this is making sense.”

  “Alixia.” Madame Cecilia said trying to comfort me. I read her quickly, as her mind flashed images of that night. “See, Alixia, it is true!” I pushed her away.

  “What did you two do to me? What was in that chalice? Did I drink poison?”

  “Please, Alixia.”

  I glared at Mother. My mind was in a state of turmoil.

  What, was I now? One of those monsters you read about in a novel or see on the movie screen?

  I moved toward the edge of the bed feeling weak. My entire body felt feverish. Mother reached for me. I pushed her arm back. “I can do it, don’t touch me!”

  “Alixia, don’t do this.” She pleaded with me again.

  I walked away from her.

  “This is not real! I’m not dead!”

  Mother told Madame Cecilia to leave the room. She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Mother came toward me with her arms out.

  I yelled at her. “How? Why did you let this happen?”

  “Alixia, quiet down please. Let me tell you—”

  “Tell me what? That I am one of the living undead and I have to drink blood to stay alive or something? This has to be a bad dream!”

  “Alixia, stop it! After the Gathering two days ago you—”

  “Two days ago! I’ve been here in bed for two days?”

  Her face turned away from me. I could sense her exasperation.

  Good. Now she knows what I’ve been going through.

  She turned back. “Enough of this! I will return when you are ready to listen.” She said with deliberation.

  “You’re going to leave me?” She walked out the door. I stood there terrified for a moment. I didn’t want to be left alone. I rushed to the door and opened it, to find her still standing there. I put my arms around her. “Don’t leave me.”

  “Alixia,” she said with tears in her eyes, “I will never leave you. But you have to listen.”

  “Why, Mother? I don’t want to be immortal. I don’t understand why you would let them do this to me.”

  She took hold of my shoulders, looking intensely into my eyes and said, “No one did this to you. This is part of you. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Come. Let’s go back in your bedroom.”

  She shut the door and sighed heavily, watching me sit on the bed. “This is my fault. I wish now that I could have taught you at an early age how to accept being an Ambrosine. But because of your father’s wishes, that didn’t happen.”

  She’s pushing all this on Father.

  “Mother, that’s an excuse and you know it. Father’s dead. You can’t put all the blame on him! You could have told me anytime. It was you that kept this secret from me.”

  Suddenly she looked frail and defeated. She lowered her eyes. “Alixia, you’re right. I should have told you. But in my defense, I did it this way because I saw your disbelief and I was afraid you wouldn’t accept who we are or your destiny. That’s why I kept the secret from you.”

  I shook my head. “Mother, you still should have told me the truth. I should have had a choice.”

  “You’re right again, I wish I could have given you a choice, but this is your density. You belong to the family. With your immortality, you will be able to protect the family’s cryptic beliefs throughout centuries. You will be the balance to evil, not a monster hiding in the shadows which preys on innocent victims under the cover of the night.” She walked over to me and took my hand. “You are unique, you are a true Ambrosine.”

  “But I never asked for this—”

  Suddenly, there was a heavy knock at the door. I heard Madame Cecilia’s voice asking, “Can come in?”

  Mother answered, “Yes.”

  She walked into the room, her green eyes focused on me. I could sense she was still apprehensive.

  “Alixia, I hope you have accepted your birthright?” She said going over to mother.

  I looked at her in disbelief and said with bitterness, “Accept it? I don’t know how to accept any of this! I wake up and both of you tell me I‘m immortal. Now I don’t have a life.”

  Mother spoke with weariness in her voice. “Alixia, you do have a life. You are Ambrosine. Please understand.”

  “No, Mother. I don’t have a life anymore. A life is something that starts and ends, and I‘m without either now. I just exist.”

  “You don’t just exist.” She said upset. “I wish I could make you understand.”

  “Understand what? That I was lied to and deceived by you and the family?”

  ”Alixia, enough!” Madame Cecilia shouted. “Don’t disrespect your mother or the family.”

  “Family!” I sneered. “I don’t know anything about the family. All I know is I was
deceived into becoming something I don’t really want to be a part of. I’m beginning to think Father was right!” Mother took me into her arms. “Alixia, please don’t say that.”

  “What am I supposed to think, Mother?”

  “Not that! Your father was wrong.” Madame Cecilia interrupted callously.

  I glared at her. “Well, then you tell me why you and Mother deceived me!”

  “We didn’t deceive you. This is your destiny.” Madame Cecilia’s face hardened. “Understand, the children born with the mark as you were, their destinies are immortality. It’s been that way from the beginning. Those dreams of yours were part of the transition to bring you forward.”

  “My dreams?”

  “Yes, those dreams of entities trying to move you into the darkness. When they intensify, we know it is time to bring you forward as our beliefs bid us to do. On the night of the Gathering, the drink you took from Angel was not poison. The nectar was the blood of the Ambrosines that runs through our veins.”

  “I drank blood! Are you kidding me?”

  “Alixia.” She rolled her eyes at me and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “It’s part of our ritual. If you were not a true Ambrosine, the nectar would have destroyed you.”

  “It would have killed me?!” I looked at her in disbelief.

  This was like something out of a horror movie and I am their main character.

  “It didn’t. Now let me finish.” I put my hands up. “Go ahead, this is all insane anyway.”

  She eyed mother with raised eyebrows, then said, “Alixia, we knew you were very special when you drank from the chalice. We could sense the power that surrounded you right away. And when your aura went from amber to scarlet red, we knew you were a true Ambrosine. The pure white light you saw is when you received your immortality and the soul of an Ambrosine.”

  I sat there looking at them, and suddenly I was haunted by the idea that my mortal soul was taken from me and replaced by an immortal one. There was no remorse in what they did to me. All I could sense is the pride that they felt that I was part of the family now. Madame Cecilia got up and walked over to me. She took my hand.

  “Come with me.”