The Crystal Circle: A Paranormal Romance Novel

by L. Rosenman

  “Mom? Mom took care of me? She never told me!”

  “I know, honey. You want to hear more?”

  “Yes. Who’s my father? Where was I born?”

  “I’m sorry, Dave. I don’t know. And I’m afraid that Violetta didn’t know either.”

  “What do you mean, she didn’t know? Was she raped? Was I born without her knowing?”

  Paula sighed again and then coughed. “There’s no other way. Listen, Dave, you have parents. The thing is… she didn’t know who they were or where you were born. Violetta just brought you up.”

  The hair on the back of Dave’s neck bristled. He felt he was standing on the edge of a cliff and would fall at any moment.

  “They left? She adopted me?”

  “I wish it were that simple. If it were, you would have adoption papers. She just... took you in and went to Beer Sheba.”

  “Took me? What do you mean?” Dave gasped. “Did she kidnap me?”

  “Mmm... sort of... yeah. You were a sweet little boy, and she was already forty years old and wasn’t married, unable to adopt. And... so she said, she met with a sweet, injured little boy who hugged her and she couldn’t resist your charms... so...”

  “Just like that?” His voice broke to a whisper. “She took someone’s child and ran away...”

  “Dave, I… God forbid, I’m not justifying what Violetta did. It was a crime in every sense. I did not speak to her for a few years. She fled to Beer Sheba, and it was very hard for her to raise you. But, on the other hand, I didn’t turn her in because she was still my sister... I loved her. Oh, this is so complicated, Dave. And I felt so sorry for you. When I found out and came to see her, you were almost three and could not remember another mother. You were happy and called her Mom and she loved you... it’s not that simple.”

  Dave looked in amazement at the telephone receiver. He didn’t answer, and her voice grew more and more distant.

  “Dave! Don’t hang up. I want you to be in touch. Dave! We can...”

  He hung up, tossed the phone into the laundry hamper, went running out of the trailer, turned onto the road, and began running toward the city.

  The severe cold of the water, the salt on her lips, the waves splashing her cheeks, and her vigorous swimming sharpened Lynn’s mind and she realized that there was something unresolved, something disturbing her. She had to find out who she really was and what she was supposed to do. There may be some people after her. Did they wish her well or harm? Why did she sense an impending disaster? Was this something predetermined, in which she was playing her role reluctantly and without her knowledge? A disturbing thought.

  She headed for the showers. Compared to the cold seawater, the beach showers seemed warm and luxurious. She indulged in the warm water for a long time, and when she turned to dry off, she saw the big puddle that had accumulated next to the shower. She came closer to look at her reflection, her hair still dripping, and looked into her eyes. A green flash was caught in a crystal lightning and...

  The Crystal Circle Meeting

  This time Lynn was wearing a light green silk robe that matched her eyes. The gown clung to her body and hovered above her ankles. Its touch was wonderful and caressing. At her side, someone tall walked down the glittering hall, wearing loose white pants and a short cape of dark green. She saw him smile and recognized Dave in surprise. He didn’t limp. He smiled, reached his hand out to her, and she took it. They walked hand in hand into the Circle. All around them were the beloved souls, happily waiting for them. Everyone stood up to kiss each other hello, and her heart was filled with echoes of sweet longing finally achieving satisfaction. A little like cool water for the thirsty in the desert, she thought in amazement.

  “Welcome, members of the Crystal Circle.” Raz’el opened the meeting. “This time, Dave and Michal summoned the meeting at the same time. You looked at a pool, Michal, and Dave, you looked into a bucket of seawater a girl had brought up from the beach. Both of you have asked for the meeting. What’s going on?” he asked with a smile, even though he already knew.

  “It’s embarrassing, but...” Michal smiled.

  “And it’s exciting, but...” Dave added.

  “We feel that we’re falling in love,” concluded Michal simply. They watched Raz’el, but he said nothing. He was waiting for the response of the group.

  Yossi said, “Michal, I’m ready for any challenge, but you know it’s forbidden...”

  “He’s your brother for God’s sake,” Miriam said and looked helplessly at Raz’el. She turned to Yossi. “You’re her husband. Take responsibility! You must go to Eilat quickly and solve this mess.”

  “You know I’m trying to...” Yossi said with a sigh. “It’s one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever faced.”

  “In this life,” Raz’el corrected him. “But from this difficulty, you will emerge different, bigger, more enriched. I know this.”

  “But if I can’t remember anything, how will I remember that he’s my brother?” Michal tossed the question into the air. In the air between those sitting shone the crystal spangles and dozens of trails of colored light and glowing sparks danced and whirled between them. “I’m... confused. David, who I missed since he disappeared from my life when I was seven years old, suddenly appears as a good, attractive man… Dave’s challenge is hard for me.”

  Dave stood up and they hugged. Tears streamed down their cheeks.

  Once they settled down, Raz’el said, “You’ll withstand it. You were made of rigid material - diamonds. You won’t break. Don’t worry. Your next challenge, my darlings, is the struggle between Saul and David. Yes,” he chuckled to himself while everyone stared at him blankly, “like every other time, like it was in biblical times. Trust me, it will be fine. If not in body, at least in soul.”

  “What does that mean?” Michal raised her voice. “He doesn’t kill him. Even in the Bible, he couldn’t...”

  “My pretty,” Raz’el turned to her brightly, “why do you raise your voice? It contradicts the harmony. There’s no anger in the Crystal Circle. All discord stems from misunderstandings and ambiguities about the future. And that’s understandable. Calm yourself. And as for your question: This time he will probably not survive. In our world, yes. Of course. In the Earthly reality, no.”

  Everyone looked around. No one said a word. “Who? Who might not survive?” asked some members of the Circle.

  Raz’el smiled and said nothing, and finally added, “Everything is for the development of your soul. I’ll see you at the next meeting, beloved souls.”

  Everyone stood up to embrace each other, a dense, loving circle of rustling silk robes, in which longing, love, and sadness mixed together.

  As they walked down the hall that was disappearing before their eyes, Michal swore to remember. She had to save them, Saul and David. Remember! Remember and never forget! She pinched her skin with tremendous force, causing a bruise, and immediately began to weep. She must save them, no matter what! Save...”

  Lynn looked at her hand in astonishment. One moment she was looking at her reflection in a puddle of water, the next she was standing there with watering eyes. Her hand was sore and bruised. She remembered this practice as a child, when she wanted to remind herself of something. In order not to forget, she would pinch herself, leaving a mark, at least for a few hours. But... it was weird. One minute she was looking at the puddle, and then suddenly the bruise and the tears sprang up. Strange. Okay, Lynn, you need to remember something important. What is it?

  Lynn straightened up from the pool of shower water, shook her head, dried herself, and returned slowly and thoughtfully to the trailer. Something was there in the puddle, something disturbing. Tadpoles? No... she smiled to herself. Typically, pools and lakes reassured her. This time, her heart was beating as fast as jungle drums. What had happened?

  When she arrived at the caravan, a cup of coffee and a slice of bread were waiting for her as usual, but, unusually, Dave’s warm smile was not waiting for her. He had
disappeared; apparently he’d gone into town without saying goodbye.

  “Michal!” She looked up to see one of the girls who always came to Michal’s Restaurant for lunch. “My father saw a picture of you on Facebook. Someone said you were lost.”

  “Me?” Lynn was surprised.

  “Yes, he says it’s not exactly you, but very much like you. No glasses and different hair.”

  “That’s hard to believe,” said Michal decisively. “You’re done eating? Can I take your plate?”

  “Yes, thank you,” the girl said. “I’ll send my dad over tonight.”

  “There’s no need, it’s fine.” Lynn smiled a forced smile.

  So I disappeared from Tel Aviv without resigning. So what? So I left the apartment without notifying the owner? It’s not such a big deal – the rent was paid in advance. What’s so important in Tel Aviv that people would advertise on Facebook that they’re looking for me? What have we come to? I’m not really necessary to anyone, not to my former boss or the owner of the apartment. A woman can change her life and move on somewhere else. I don’t owe anything to anyone.

  In the afternoon, Dave returned filled with stories he had heard from the merchants in Eilat.

  “There’s a new underworld in town. I don’t understand why the police aren’t handling it. Beyond all the protection and extortion fees the stall-traders pay to all kinds of

  shady characters, a black market bank has popped up - investments, crazy interest rates, gambling – I don’t know. Even traders I buy from in the industrial zone are afraid. Some of it’s just rumor, but their friends claim they’re visited by all sorts of people convincing them to deposit money, and there are those who are convinced and those who aren’t... now have a problem.”

  “So how’s that related to us? We’re here in the trailer park in our own oasis, right?”

  “Not exactly. That neighbor from the big gray trailer said someone out here was enticing people to make investments. I hope you’re not lured to these things.”

  “I’m not easily tempted,” laughed Lynn and Dave sighed.

  06/29/2013 - Fourteenth day of disappearance

  In the morning there was loud, urgent knocking on the door and shouting. “Dave! Dave! Get out quickly!”

  Dave came out quickly and neighbors gathered in front of him and looked at him for a moment, but continued to shout and point toward the outskirts of the camp. There, really close to the border with Jordan, two tents belonging to people who had recently arrived were burning. Dave grabbed the fire extinguisher outside the trailer, gave orders to some people, and they ran to bring more fire extinguishers and buckets of water. They approached the emergency quickly and began to extinguish the fires.

  Dave suddenly yelled to everyone, “Stay back! Run away fast! There’s a generator -”

  Behind the tents was a small generator in range of the flames. Within seconds, it was burning and suddenly exploded because of the oil in it. People flung themselves down on the ground. Dave shielded Lynn until the explosions stopped. Luckily, the trailers were a little distant from the burning tents and sustained no damage.

  “Who owns these tents?” shouted Dave.

  “We do,” said two young men, whom nobody knew. They’d been standing nearby, shivering, watching the drama unfold.

  “What property did you have in there?”

  “Just sleeping bags and toiletries...” They were shaking and their teeth were still chattering in shock.

  “What happened? Did you light a cigarette, a lighter, a gas burner - what?”

  “Nothing! We were sitting there drinking beer.” They pointed to a rock near the water’s edge.

  “How long are you here for?”

  “Just for today. We were paid and were given a tent, so, why not?” grinned the taller guy. His bloodshot eyes betrayed substances in his blood other than beer.

  “What do you mean ‘paid’?” Dave approached, his brow furrowed.

  “What do you care, gimp?” the shorter one sneered.

  “Apologize and shut up!” Two neighbors, both about forty years old, approached him. “If it wasn’t for him, we’d all be dead from the explosion.”

  Dave looked at the guy and he muttered back, his eyes on the ground, “Sorry, brother.”

  “Let’s go back to my question.” Dave’s tone was cold and decisive. “Who paid you?”

  “Two men, not from Eilat. Don’t know them. They gave us five hundred shekels each and these tents and the generator to keep us warm and happy for the night. We got settled down. They put us here and were supposed to come and pick up their stuff tonight. “

  “Does it seem reasonable to you that they’d pay you for staying in their tents at night? Someone probably wanted to kill you or commit some other crime here, my friends,” Dave sighed and called loudly to the people who gathered around him. “All of you - go home and check out what’s missing or who was there. Let me know if there’s anything suspicious. “

  “And us, what about us, brother?” asked the tall one.

  Dave chuckled. “You’ll deal with the people who come to ask for their stuff back... if you’re still here by then...” He gave them a meaningful look and they turned, bottles of beer still in their hands, glanced at the burned remains, and headed for the hills.

  When Lynn and Dave came back to their trailer, it was wide open and objects were strewn on the floor.

  Dave checked calmly and announced, “They didn’t have time for a thorough search. I don’t think anything’s missing.”

  “Yes, there is,” said Lynn.

  “What?” Dave asked, raising his eyebrows.

  “My purse.” Indeed, Lynn’s purse was gone.

  “What was in it?” he asked.

  She thought, still trembling, and replied, “Money, hairbrush, things like that.”

  “Passport? ID?”

  “I don’t have them with me.”

  “Jewelry?”

  She looked at him and raised her eyebrows without saying.

  People from the camp came to report to Dave that there had been no break-ins and no one was missing anything. The fire and the explosion were probably an accident.

  “You’re probably right,” agreed Dave and hurried to close the door behind them. “I believe they did all this just to get your bag, Lynn. Even if they couldn’t find anything of value, they’re still looking in our place for something. Or maybe looking for you? Think carefully. What are they looking for? Who are they?”

  “Dave,” Lynn suddenly lifted her head. “You’re kind of the security officer of this camp, right?”

  “Yes, they call me with any trouble. Why?”

  “The people who planned it probably knew you’d come running with the fire extinguisher and then they initiated the generator’s explosion… perhaps to hurt you.”

  Dave looked at her in silence. He was staring at her lips and his brain tried to figure out what exactly was happening.

  “Who are ‘they’ and why, dear God? Why?”

  Lynn sat in the chair, bowed her head and hugged her arms. She was alone in the world, and yet someone was looking for her and not with good intentions. Had the little diner they’d opened caused some jealousy, or was there someone who wanted to destroy the fresh partnership between them? Someone had picked through her things… someone was looking for something important enough to risk the lives of so many people! She shuddered.

  Chapter 10: Saul

  06/26/2013 - Eleventh day of disappearance

  It was ten PM. Gidi assessed the pile of money that had accumulated on the small table in the living room of his apartment.

  Saul slapped his shoulder and exclaimed, “Making progress, man! Making progress! Tonight we’re going looking for customers, collecting money, and giving out bonuses. Just like I taught you, remember?”

  Gidi smiled and nodded. He was concentrating on the task, but couldn’t quite suppress his smile at the sight of the pile of money, even if, at the moment, most of it was the inv
estors’ money.

  “Did you get me what I wanted, Gidi?” Gidi went to the bedroom closet and, after a moment, sat back down beside Saul and gave him a tablet and a package wrapped in a T-shirt. Saul looked smugly at the tablet, opened it, and immediately erased all the data from its memory. Later, he planned to enter other data. He carefully opened the package and pulled out a small pistol, just a used Glock and a magazine, but suitable for his needs.

  “I got it from a friend. It’s used. He let me rent it for a month. Said it shoots really straight. I also have two magazines.” Saul checked the gun, weighed the magazines, and nodded approvingly.

  “You’re a good guy, Gidi. A partner to my liking.” Gidi took a deep breath, and his shoulders softened.

  At eleven-thirty, Gidi and Saul came strolling toward a T-shirt stall on the boardwalk. “Rami, it’s been a week,” Saul said to him. “As promised: you invested 2000, so now you get 2200.” He handed him an envelope. “Count it.” Rami counted and looked at him. “I know how to invest, I told you. Why didn’t you invest 10,000? For ten thousand, you’d now get...” He pulled out a calculator and showed him the sum. “Eleven. Of course, if you invest for a month you get 25%. I’m just paying you 10% in the first week, to show you that we’re serious. And for two months’ investment you get over 50%, because there’s a bonus again...”

  Rami looked at the money and counted twice. For the amount Saul mentioned, in one month he could earn 2500 shekels, which would cover his ‘taxes’ to the bully who ‘took care’ of the vendors, and still be left with a hefty profit. Rami pulled out his wallet, but Saul touched his hand and twitched his head. Behind them were people who didn’t look like innocent tourists.

  He said, “No need for extra eyes here. Listen, at two in the morning, after you close, meet us behind the Solomon Hotel. I’ll wait for you there. Bring some of your friends over. Everyone will get what they deserve.”