Patsy Murray

by Douglas E Roff

  “Nice try. But, let’s be clear on one thing right now. They did that for you, not for me. And what I did last night after I left was to figure this out and save all your asses. If I’m right, the last person you’d suspect is your client. Probably have a big party in your honor in London when the job is done, then, when you show up – kaboom. You’re all dead. Terrible tragedy. Just like Lola.”

  Hecate said, “She’s right. You owe her a ‘thank you,’ not the other way around. Protecting her for her was unintended — not the same as what she did for you. Without Patsy’s expertise, contacts, and determination, you’d all likely be dead in a couple of months. Those, as Alana likes to say, are the cold hard facts.”

  “Thanks. To both of you,” Adam said to both Hecate and Patsy.

  Hecate said, “I need to get back to the kids. I think our eldest is trying to make the sun in his solar system into a black hole again. You need to have a chat with him about behavior. The old man doesn’t approve of tinkering, but he loves our kids so, like any grandfather, he lets them get away with murder. Immortals being Immortals, he says. Great fun.”

  Hecate turned to Patsy. “Join us after? I’d like to speak to you privately, and my husband is annoying me right now. It’ll be fun. I’ll show you some things, and we can talk all about what an ass my husband is. Plus, we can have some naughty fun too.”

  “Married? Indentured? This I gotta hear. Let’s go! I like you.”

  “Me too. We’re going to be BFFs. Trust me I know these things.”

  Adam said, “Hecate? Patsy?”

  “Ignore him; I do. He’s mortal. I’m not.”

  Patsy asked, “Can you do that mind thingy too? Can you tell me more about you? And the kids.”

  “Of course. I’ll teach you and tell you a lot more too. And I have a gift; one you’ll want and need before this is all over. As I said, we’ll have such fun.”

  “You know the future?

  “Hell no. But I know humans, my husband and what this world and the Universe is like. I’ve been in your mind; I know everything about you, your past and how you feel about Adam. You’re meant to be together. And I will be with you both.”

  “You’re not … jealous.”

  “I’m an Immortal. I don’t feel those kinds of things. I cannot always be with Adam; he needs to be happy on this planet in this Universe in this conception of space-time. I hope you will forgive him and find a way back. He’s an idiot, but he loves you.”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “I know. But I’m here for you too. Let me do something for you; then we can have some fun, then you can rest.”

  ***

  A few hours later, Hecate came forward. As she did, Adam and the tech heads suddenly stopped talking.

  “If any of you hurt her, or even try to, I will kill you. Adam, if you do anything to hurt her, or let anything happen to her knowingly, I will leave, and you will never see the children or me again. Up to you. This will be your last life with me and anyone else you have ever known in the past. That I promise.”

  “We didn’t …”

  “Don’t lie. I’ve been in all your minds. Lie to me, and you’ll start dropping out of this jet one by one. You’ve been warned. When we get to the Island, I’ll be staying with Patsy. You can do whatever you want.”

  Adam began, “Hecate …”

  “I’m most disappointed in you. When did you change? I don’t know you anymore. I’m sending the children home. You don’t deserve them. Our Lord will care for them along with Hana. He will not be happy with you this time. The immensity of your idiotic behavior is incalculable.”

  She left. He got up to follow.

  Hecate turned back, “I don’t advise it. I am indentured to you no more. I too have free will. Stay on this path, and I will choose you no longer.”

  Chapter 15

  The rest of the flight to Cadiz, after Hecate laid down the law, was quiet. Hecate and Patsy, along with the children, carried on as normal chatting and laughing as if they had been friends since childhood. There seemed to be genuine affection between the two, and the kids stopped squabbling and playing “Solar System” so that they could talk to Patsy instead. She was telling them stories which made them laugh and giggle. They liked Earth in this Universe. They missed their father, but then they knew as a Cyclical Immortal, such was to be expected from him. They loved their Dad but often didn’t understand his mercurial mortal-like moods. They liked his new friend Patsy; she reminded them of their mother. It didn’t take long before all five were asleep, and Hecate closed the curtains mid cabin for privacy.

  “The ‘do not disturb light’ is on. I wouldn’t come back here for any reason; that includes you especially, Adam. I will shoot first and ask questions later. You’ve been warned.”

  ***

  “What’s with her,” Alana said. “She’s never like this.”

  “Is it true what she said?”

  “About?”

  “How you treat her and my children. Are any of you ever out of line?”

  Silence.

  “How can you be so smart and so fucking stupid at the same time.”

  “We meant no harm.”

  “What did you mean then? Hecate is never rude or angry. Not in her nature. Did you taunt her? The kids?”

  “Just having fun. Besides, she’s never here. We didn’t mean anything by it. And we thought she would take no offense.”

  “And my kids?”

  “They’re Immortal. What offense could they take?”

  “Plenty. They fully understand ‘nice’ from ‘mean’ even if it doesn't hurt their feelings. Now things have changed; they’re far worse. Hecate’s going to help Patsy and me through this crisis and protect us this time. She won’t lift a finger for any of you. She would have protected us all; you fucked that up with your arrogance. And my own inattention. Then she’s going to leave me. And when she does, I will leave you. My entire world will be at an end.”

  “She’s never here anyway,” said Alana. “What’s the difference? We will always be here for you. Always.”

  “And bear my children? Zero chance of that. I’m not sure how I will react to her not being in my mind. It will be too quiet. You don’t see her, but she’s almost always with me. So, you’re wrong.”

  “She’ll never leave you. She loves you.”

  “How would you know that? What do you know of Immortals and Immortality? Nothing. She dwells within me every moment of my existence and visits me with my children every night in my dreams. I have a second life, and I am never alone. She cannot interfere in my life as a mortal except when allowed, like now. But if she doesn’t come tonight, I will forever be alone. I’m sorry, but not even your love and friendship can replace what I will lose. I will be an ordinary mortal again, trapped alone in my own mind. I’m not sure I will be able to endure it.”

  He got up and moved away, sitting alone.

  The women talked together as a group. They were ashamed of what they had done, but remorse wasn’t an emotion they typically felt. Trying to speak to Hecate without sincerity was impossible. They had to think of something else. They too did not wish to lose Adam.

  ***

  Hecate had visited Patsy’s mind and augmented her mental faculties, taught her how to use them, and how to store the memories she most loved in their special rooms. Hecate supplied Patsy with a huge catalog of her sex memories, from Hecate’s own passionate sex with Adam’s to her many experiences with other female partners. Hecate’s memories of the mortal Marie Lemieux were especially tender and loving.

  After a while they drifted off, Hecate still resting with her children in Patsy’s mind.

  As they approached Cadiz, the children were sent home to Hana. Adam had not spoken or communed with them since arriving, and Hecate did not visit with her mate the past evening. Before landing, Hecate came forward.

  “The children are gone. I will not permit them around these horrid femal
es. If they annoy Patsy or me, I will deal with them, and harshly. They might end up floating in space. I will no longer dwell within you nor come to visit at dream time. You have made your choices, now live with them. I will dwell with Patsy while I am with you, but I most heartily suggest we stay away from each other. You do not need for Patsy most days but, when you do, I shall accompany her.”

  “You are leaving me? Is this not too harsh a punishment? It would be cruel, even for an Immortal without emotion to separate me from our children. At least my other Immortals show me how they are doing.”

  “I am no longer yours to command. Like all the other Immortals who have ever loved you, we tire of your selfish and rash choices. We will never be as we once were, so you are free to continue on your own path as before but do not expect company from our family or me. Others may wish to meet you from within the Immortal realm, especially those more like you in the birth-life-death-rebirth cycle. I will see what I can do. But our family now has our own community in the Immortal Realm, permitted and sanctioned by our Lord, and we are happy. We share our duties and tending to our children, and our Lord brings us other foundlings from other realms. We grow and live as we had on Earth before. We are small in number, but our Lord lets us have visitors who wish to experience our existence. A few stay a while, most leave quickly.”

  “You have mates?”

  “What we have doesn’t concern you. What you do in this life doesn’t concern us. It has always been that way. It shall not change now. And your pitiable world of lies, deceit, jealousy, and possession don’t exist in our world. I can feel the anger rising in you, wishing to know what my life and connections are in my own realm, who I spend my existence with. You are barred forever from that knowledge. Enjoy our time in this Universe; it will be our last. You have only yourself to blame.”

  ***

  In London, the Eleven gathered to discuss their immediate future and plans. Patsy had analyzed correctly the broad outlines of what the Society did and what it’s source of revenues likely were, the streams of income compartmentalized, and their plans for Adam when he was done with his project for them. Her core analysis was spot on, but her lack of a more fundamental and detailed understanding of the greater evil and scope was simply inadequate. She wasn’t wrong; she just failed to apprehend the true nature and structure of the Society, who was involved, and their long-term plans.

  There were other projects and other personnel neither Patsy nor Adam knew about. One project was unknown even to the Eleven. It was a search, and it wasn’t going well.

  But Patsy had fortunately been able to suggest a general course of action to fill in the blanks, discover the true nature of the Society and decide how to deal with this evil by accident. Hecate guessed some, which is why she enhanced Patsy’s mind. But she had gone too far in helping already and would be recalled home in disgrace if she trod much further in aid of the mortals. She would be able to help Patsy acclimate to her new world of wonder, but not to direct action or warn of specific danger.

  The Eleven were not the entire leadership structure; not by far. There were the Three who governed parts of the organization, and the One who governed all. They each had had secret societies who carried out functions and had connections that spanned the globe. While some on the Eleven laughed at the potential for the risk posed by Mindwerks, for most, it hadn’t even crossed their minds. They did not need to. The Eleven didn’t know the identity of the Three, and only the Three knew the identity of the One. Beyond even the One was one more, shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Hers was the long game, and what she searched for was beyond the need of her subordinates to know.

  The work of the Eleven was to do four tasks and do them quietly and with precision. That was the work of the Societas Regis de Genealogia, and their subordinates. Roughly, they have divided it into four areas:

  First, and most visible, general genealogical research and development of the histories of family antecedents and branches.

  Second, specific research into consequential genealogy at the high end with legal consequences. Often, as certified experts, they were called on to testify in court, almost always in the UK.

  Third, and most hidden, particular undertakings for profit; using their reputation to falsify records, kill remote heirs and plant impostors who pillaged the family wealth. This was a long-term proposition that lasted decades, not always with positive results. The Society was eventually given control over assets and estates pillaged in this way; their own people put in place. Thus, wealth was long-term and diversified.

  Finally, murder for hire; revenge killings from long past histories of curse and revenge carried out for profit. This began in the early eighteenth century with its first recorder revenge killing in 1703.

  These were the exclusive province of the Eleven, then a smaller and less organized number, and the foundation of what was to evolve into an essential part of the overall organization. But what had taken seed in England, and spread throughout the UK, was now a worldwide endeavor with even greater ramifications in far-off lands in financial, political and religious spheres.

  These were dangerous people who thought short term meant decades or even lifetimes, while long-term meant centuries. They had plans, specific plans and they used the latest techniques to carry out their conspiracies.

  ***

  Adam and the group landed in Cadiz, transferred to his yacht, hugged the coastline of the northern Mediterranean, and eventually docked on Adam’s Island, ‘Paradeisos’ in Greek, Paradise in English; Adam preferred the Spanish “Paraiso” as being easier to understand and more beautiful to pronounce. At the time the Island came up for sale, he wasn’t in the market for something this ambitious. But after a geological survey, and the development of new experimental tools for excavation, Adam decided this option for complete privacy was the best option. He and his family had been on good terms with the Greek government ever since Adam was a teen. He had worked for the Greek government as a favor to the country he loved and which loved him right back. Not that they knew he was occupying this particular island, but if anyone did come by, Adam would claim to be a lessee and this his private getaway. No one in the Greek government would compromise his location; they owed Adam and his father a great deal.

  The residence was beautiful and had that new freshly painted smell to it, though no paint had been used. The group decided to take the day to settle in, then begin their work with discussion and assignments, both general and specific. The group would finalize the connections to their electronics, test the Island systems and connect, repair or re-orient whatever needed attention. Sat phones, heavily encrypted and untraceable, were the sole means of communication along with several satellite uplinks, also untraceable, that connected computer and media to the Island.

  The Island and its inhabitants didn’t exist.

  The Island was protected by a matter/energy dome of unknown design that made satellite spying virtually impossible and heat signatures from being detected. The dome altered light in such a way that the Island appeared from an airplane to be nothing more than craggy rocks jutting out from the Aegean Sea.

  The group was safe. The only drawback was that the inhabitants were few; Adam never foresaw that his friends, including Hecate, would be at war with each other making Paradise an uncomfortable prison.

  Patsy considered leaving almost as soon as she arrived as had all the other women. None wanted to be trapped in hell. The witches didn’t like the presence of Hecate. None wanted to be imploded based on a misunderstanding.

  Hecate and Patsy, along with witches and Alana separately voiced their concern. His recommendation was to construct a home on the other end of the Island, thus effectively splitting up the group into two teams. The big residence would be Adam and his teams. The other home would be for Patsy and Hecate, close to the beaches and the most beautiful gardens.

  “I may not stay, no matter what. Once you have drained me of all my knowledge, I intend to take the
money you set aside for me and depart as quickly as I can. This isn’t any kind of life for me, and you should be free to work this out on your own. It is clear that I am a burden, as is Hecate now. We can assist, if necessary, from a distance. Hecate can protect me. You can have Octavio, Bella and the Twins for company along with your nerds.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t leave. If I could forbid it, I would. But I assume you have Hecate’s support and that I will be powerless to stop you.”

  Hecate said, “Consider what you just said. It tells Patsy and I all we need to know about how your mind works. Giving commands, forbidding departure. You have no right to forbid anything, husband.”

  “Then go. You have decided what is best for you. Patsy, you have money and documents. Depart with Hecate and leave us be. Better to rip off the Band-Aid now than to endure the unease of being trapped on an Island with beings who no longer wish to be in my presence. Depart now, and I wish you well.”

  “I’ll need a Sat phone.”

  “No, you won’t. You’ll have Hecate. She can communicate with me. Besides, it’s too dangerous to let you have any means of communication that can be traced back here.”

  Hecate said, “She already knows where this is, so too late. But we shall never reveal your location. Ready the yacht. We leave now.”

  “I’ll have the yacht readied in an hour, and it will take you to the Greek Mainland. Make your way from there.”

  He turned to face Hecate, angry and cold. “I wish an audience with our Lord. I will sever all ties with you, but not our children. I will continue my journey through eternity as our Lord wills it. You may leave at any time and return to your new home. I wish never to see you again.”

  “So be it. You shall have your wish.”

  Chapter 16

  Adam gathered his computer nerds in his Study as he prepared to ready the yacht for departure. He didn’t look happy, and the women didn’t think the news was good.