Chapter Four
Hannah
I stood outside the Fisher Building and looked up at it. People passed by unaware that I would soon be rubbing elbows with the enchanted community elite. Humans had so many magical things right under their feet or existing with them, and never knew it.
It was a quarter to nine when I entered the building and arrived on the thirteenth floor. It didn’t take a genius to find the large portal just off the elevator. The only strange thing—there were no other people. There were also no attendants or anyone greeting people. I wondered if I heard the two messengers right.
“Ah, right on time,” said a lanky looking man dressed in a bright blue, silk suit that sparkled in the light like newly fallen snow. His eyes twinkled at me, and his hair went in every direction in short tuffs. “Welcome.”
“You’re the Green Man?” I asked.
“At your service, Hannah.”
“I did get the right night, didn’t I?” I asked as I looked around the barren room.
“Yes, you did, and we will be leaving shortly. Please,” he said motioning down the hallway with his opened hand.
Maybe everyone was meeting in his apartment for a pre-party of mingling before we would go to Shangri-La. At least I hoped that’s how it would be.
As we walked down the hallway, I heard no music or voices. Everything was quiet. Surely there would be commotion of the party that was supposed to be taking place. Something was askew, and I felt it ping through me. What if this was an ambush set up by the guardianship, and they were using the Green Man to lure me here. That was possible, and he could have enough power to neutralize my persuasion abilities. Why did he come and greet me in person? Why not have one of his hired help to do that?
We stood outside his door as he pulled his keys from his pocket. This didn’t feel right to me. No other guests, no music, no laughter…
“What are you doing? Trying to trick me?” I grabbed his wrist.
He looked back at me shocked at first, then smiled. “Cautious,” he said. “I should’ve known that you would’ve been a little untrusting of me. But I can assure you that my invitation is legit, and we will be going to Shangri-La. Only there will be two other guests to socialize with. They are sirens, and I’ll be frank with you,” he bent down to pick up the keys he’d dropped. “I’ve a business opportunity for all three of you that will greatly interest you.”
We studied each other for a moment. I then took a step away from him.
“Please listen, Hannah,” he said folding his arms across his chest. “If I was going to rat you out to the guardians, I would have told them where your apartment was or have you captured as you got off the elevator. I’m selective as to who I let the guardians know about. Usually they are an enemy that I wish to get rid of, and why not have the guardians do the leg work and messy job of containing them?” He smiled. “Like I said, I’ve got a proposition for you, and two other sirens. And it’s one that isn’t offered to many.”
He opened the door, and it swung open. I peeked in as soft music filtered through the sweet smelling air that brushed past me. It was inviting, and suddenly, I found myself inside with the door closed behind me.
“You see, no guardians,” he said waving his arm through the air with a smile. “Please Hannah, join us.”
Two other girls—sirens—gazed at me. One had shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes, and cleavage that looked like it could explode out of her red dress at any time. She slightly smiled as she pressed her wine glass to her rosy lips. The other girl had dark hair and doe eyes that looked at me curiously. She sat on the chair with perfect posture as if someone had shoved a board down the back of her dress preventing her from ever slouching. They were both pretty, but the blonde one was the typical stereotype for a bombshell of a siren. The other girl had an innocence to her that made her look like she should be in a cookie commercial.
“Hannah, this is Beannca,” he said motioning towards the blonde one. “And this is Sophie.”
I nodded my head as Sophie got up with a smile on her face.
“Hannah, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sophie extended her hand and I gently shook it.
A sudden wave pushed through me upon her touch. I seldom socialized with other sirens, and when I did, it was like meeting with any other person. This was different. It was like I had accidently touched bare electrical wires, and had received a momentary shock. Her smile dropped from her face as she jerked her hand back. Our eyes met. She felt something too.
“So when do we get to go to Shangri-La, Jack?” Beannca asked as she sat her glass down on the table.
“Soon, but first I have to ask all of you something.” The Green Man motioned for me to sit on the couch next to Beannca.
“First of all, I’d like to thank all of you for agreeing to come to my party.”
“Is this it?” I asked pointing between us three sirens.
He smiled. “Yes, it isn’t about the quantity of guests, but the quality of them. And I wanted to have an intimate party this year.” He let his gaze wander between us, and then rested his eyes on me. “You and most of the enchanted community know me as the Green Man, which is my title, but I want you to call me by my real name—Jack.”
Beannca let out a giggle. She must have started her drinking early, or couldn’t hold her liquor. Sophie gently nudged me on the shoulder and smiled down at me. She had sat next to me on the couch, and handed me a glass of wine. I hated wine, but didn’t want to be rude, so I took it with a thank you, and sampled a tiny sip. It was surprisingly sweet, and before I knew it, I had drunk the whole glass as Jack gave us a short version of siren history.
Most everything he said, I knew. Sirens had come from Atlantis, and were once used as moderators during negotiations, meetings, speeches or anything involving opposing sides or races that were at war. Sirens used their persuasion to calm and open the minds of those involved, never control their thoughts or sway their decisions. That was a long time ago, and very much forgotten.
At one time sirens held powerful positions and held a great responsibility, but that all changed when one siren used their ability for a price. Two Mer tribes were at war, and when offered a big enough bribe, anyone would give in. And after that misuse of power, high-ranking sirens were killed, others escaped and went into hiding, and others, mostly children, sought refuge with the librarianship.
“Do you have any memories of the evacuation, Hannah?” Jack’s voice broke through my drifting mind.
I sat up as Beannca and Sophie looked intently at me. I looked down at my wine glass that had been filled up again. How much have I had to drink?
“If it bothers you too much, you don’t have to tell us.” Sophie gently brushed her hand across mine. “We were too young,” she said pointing between her and Beannca, “and our memories had been erased to recall anything at all.”
“No, that’s alright. I don’t mind.” I drew in a deep breath. I’ve never told this to anyone before. “I don’t remember much, just bits and pieces, but I remember my father the most. He had red hair like mine, and liked to go swimming. I was afraid of the water and he showed me to not be scared of it. He wasn’t frightened of anything, and I never saw fear in his eyes, ever.” I felt I was just telling a story, and it wasn’t my past, just a story that I knew. “One day my father took me to the portal house. There were lots of sirens, and people that I didn’t know at the time were librarians. They took me along with several other children through the portal. I left my father with tears as he told me to be good and I’d see him soon. I never did see him again.” Some memories should never be dug up. “That’s it, that’s all I remember.”
Sophie handed me a tissue from her rhinestone covered purse. I didn’t even realize I was crying.
Mae
Blood was the worst thing to clean up. I used soap, bleach, and stain remover on my clothes to get out the evidence. I
couldn’t let Nolan know that it had happened again. I felt my head swim, and knees shake as I stood beside the washing machine, and watched the evidence slowly dissolve. Thank goodness it happened in the garden where the earth would soak up the rest of the mess.
I pushed back my tears, and clutched the side of the washer. The washer shook as it started the spin cycle. It hummed and vibrated under my fingers, causing them to go numb. I wished my feelings could go numb as easily. Tears welled in my eyes.
I had to be a disappointment to Nolan. He had given up so much, and I couldn’t even give him the family he deserved. I knew it was a miracle that I could even get pregnant at all, and a curse that it had to end before it even had a chance to grow.
“Mae, I’m home!” Nolan’s voice yelled over the obnoxious washer. “Mae?” His voice questioned when I didn’t answer him.
I couldn’t stand anymore as another pang filled my stomach.
“Mae!” Nolan’s concerned voice curled around me.
He lifted me up as I cried wishing I’d just die. I couldn’t go on this way, and neither could Nolan.
There was blood everywhere—blood on my clothes, the floor and…the smell of death. Just like a witch’s curse, it cackled at me, mocked me, and pointed its crooked finger at me. I would never be what Nolan needed me to be. He had given me everything, and I had given him a curse.
“You’ll be fine now, Mae.” Maggie said in a soft voice.
I lay on my side and faced away from Nolan who stood in the doorway. I couldn’t look at him or anyone right now.
“I know the pain is still fresh, Mae, but can I suggest something?” Maggie asked and I forced myself to roll over.
Maggie was an older woman with salt and pepper hair and gentle eyes. She lived in town and was a retired midwife, and was also Fae. She was from Avalon, but trained under the librarianship’s medical fields. She had been all over the world, and resided in two different realms during her career. When I asked her why she settled here to retire, she replied with a smile, a shrug of her shoulders, and then said, why not here. Maggie said Deadwood was like walking into the nostalgic paintings of Norman Rockwell mixed with the enchanting fantasy illustrations of Brian Froud. It was simply a perfect place.
“As you know, I’ve been to many places, and I can see that you two love and care for each other very much, and wish to start a family. But family is a broad word.” Her pale blue eyes flashed between Nolan and me. The smoothness of her voice usually always put me at ease, but I couldn’t help but to feel tense. “I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t think there would be a way, but,” she paused as I gazed at her, “have you ever considered adoption?”
Nolan looked at the floor, and moved from side to side as he cleared his throat. Adoption would be the logical choice, but I was a siren and Nolan quit the guardianship. We were nothings, and no one would ever consider us as prospective parents. The only way we’d become parents is if someone would leave a baby on our front step or I’d find one mysteriously in my cabbage patch.
“Maggie, I know you have our best interests in mind, but I don’t think we have a chance at adoption.” Nolan stood in front of her and nodded. “But thanks for suggesting.”
“I do have connections that could make a difference,” she said as she opened her flower print case she slung over her shoulder. “Here, this is the card with the phone number of an agency that I once worked with. They are good people, and they know that I know good people who’d make excellent parents.” Maggie knew us too well, and handed the card to Nolan. “Let me know if you’re interested. In the meantime,” she looked at me, “rest for the remaining of the day and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I’ll show you out,” Nolan said as Maggie waved him off.
“No, I can show myself out, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
I listened to Maggie’s footsteps going down the staircase followed by the door closing. Nolan paced the floor, and looked at the card that he flipped through his fingers. I watched him as I laid my head on the pillow.
“What do you think, Nolan?” I asked and he stopped at the foot of the bed.
“I don’t know,” he replied, but I knew his head was swimming as much as mine.
“Nolan, let’s face it,” he lifted his eyes to me. “I can’t be pregnant long enough to have a child. It’s who I am, and maybe Maggie is right…”
“But are we good enough for them?” He seemed agitated. “You don’t know all the paperwork, interviews, meetings, reviews and evaluations that we would have to go through. If it has to do anything with the librarianship or guardianship, we don’t have a chance.”
“But Maggie could vouch for us,” I tried to be hopeful.
Nolan brushed his fingers across my cheek. “Rest now, and we’ll talk about this later.”
Nolan gently closed the door behind him. I closed my eyes thinking of what Maggie had said. She had connections…she could make our family complete. My body began to relax, and my thoughts became slower. A family was within our reach. I felt sleep taking me over, and listened to the sound of waves…
I could see a little girl walking along the beach holding her mother’s hand. She let the waves caress her feet as she danced through the warm water. The woman squeezed her hand, and they both barely escaped a wave that would’ve gotten the hem of their dresses wet. I giggled along with them, our voices mingled together. I found myself in the girl’s place beside her mother, and was so close I could smell her loving scent.
“Do you know what this is, Mae?” The woman with the same colored eyes as mine asked.
I looked up at her. “It’s a shell, and a big one!” I exclaimed, and she laughed.
“This is no ordinary shell though. Only sirens can use and find them.” She knelt down, and I ran my fingers over it.
Immediately upon my touch, the shell flickered with different colors and made a whistling sound. I gasped. Frightened of the shell’s response to my touch, I safely tucked my hands behind my back.
“It’s alright, Mae.” She laughed. “This is called a calling shell, and you did really well for your first time.”
Sophie
Hannah had the luxury and curse of remembering what had happened to us as children. I felt a mixture of sympathy and jealousy at the same time towards her. She had visions she could hold on to, but also, she had been stung with the loss of her family. My family, my true family, was a void inside of me that I wished I could fill. I thought I had that with Ann and her family, but I didn’t and knew I never would. I don’t know why I clung to that idea that I’d be welcomed and accepted in Ann’s family. I was just their nanny, and nothing more.
“This wine is really good,” Hannah said pulling me out of my thoughts and back to our intimate party with Jack.
“Oh, yes, it is,” I agreed, and took a sip from my glass. “This isn’t wine though.” I looked at her. She had the most amazing eyes. They were bright green, like grass in the spring when it grew so fast and so vigorous, that it needed to be cut twice a week. “It’s called ambrosia.”
“I’m sorry, Sophie.” Jack interrupted with a smile. “It actually is wine from Shangri-La called by the fancy name of ambrosia. And if we don’t hurry, we’ll be late for dinner.” He looked at his wristwatch.
“My apologies for misleading you about the wine,” I said as I put down my glass. I felt awkward being around these two girls, especially Hannah. I didn’t want to appear to be stupid, and in trying hard to avoid it, I managed to be exceptional at it. I felt my cheeks redden.
“Hey, it’s alcohol just the same. And it wasn’t like you were giving me directions or something like that and I took a wrong turn.” Hannah smiled warmly. “There’s no need to apologize.”
I smiled at her, and felt a sense of ease in her voice.
“So why did you just invite us sirens?” Beannca asked, and I found it to be a rude question
. You don’t ask your host why they invited you. I gave her a scolding glance—a nanny reflex that I had acquired through my years with Ann. But she was an adult, and I hardly knew her. My motherly ways were going to be difficult to shed.
Jack went over to his closet and pulled out a heavily beaded and sequined jacket that looked like it had been dragged through a rainbow. It had every color imaginable, and had a paisley design to it. He smiled at Beannca, but didn’t answer right away. I’m sure he thought the question a bit forward as well. He adjusted his coat that flared out at the waist and nearly reached his knees.
Beannca took another sip of ambrosia as Hannah’s eyes met mine. I shook my head at her and she covered her deepening smile with a sip of wine.
“I’m glad you asked, Beannca.” I raised my eyebrows at his response. “I like getting to the point, and not only do I want to have your company tonight, I have a request I’d like to ask you.” He turned and looked at all three of us. “But first, we must go or Iona will be furious with me. I reserved her whole garden for this evening, and if we aren’t prompt, I’ll never be on her good list again.”
Jack opened the door, and we filed into the hallway, and towards the humming portal. The entire floor was silent. There were no attendants at the portal, which I always thought were supposed to be guarded at all times. Jack, in his colorful coat, went over to a panel on the wall. He unlocked it with a key and pressed several buttons before closing it, and locking it.
“I set the coordinates, and the portal should exit at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens of Shangri-La.” Jack motioned for us to step under the portal.
Beannca nearly stumbled and I wondered if there was a law about traveling through portals inebriated. Jack laughed at her, and then took her hand. She looped her delicate arm through his and they stood next to each other.
“I think portals are the prettiest things,” Beannca said looking up at it. “It reminds me of a starry night.”
“Yes, it does,” Jack said as Hannah and I stepped beside them. “Oh please stand behind Beannca and I. The walkway from the portal there is a bit narrower, and Iona doesn’t want anyone stepping in the flower beds.
Hannah and I took our places behind them. Her shoulder brushed against mine. I glanced over at her as she looked up at the portal like a child filled with awe.
“I haven’t been through that many portals.” She kept her eyes upward.
I looked up at the twinkling lights and swirling colors. “I’ve been through many. I used to take Ann, I was her nanny,” I said with my eyes still focused upward. “We would go shopping in New York for her school clothes, and we used to take the portal at the library. Lots of libraries have linking portals. I do have to say, I’ve never been through one in a flat before.”
This portal seemed to be bluer than the others I had been through. I gazed up at it as the colors shifted like an artist painting on canvas. It’s funny how you can experience something so many times, and one day you find something different about it. Flickers of glitter fell around us, and the hallway of the thirteenth floor of the Fisher building faded.
Immediately, I felt the change in temperature, smell, and scenery that was still blurry from the portal. I suddenly felt a hand slip into mine. My mind immediately went to Ann, and her first time through a portal. But it wasn’t Ann’s hand in mine, it was Hannah’s.
A tingle of electricity sparked weakly between our bare hands. She looked like a frightened child dressed in such a heavily sequined outfit, that it looked like knight’s armor. She looked beautiful though, like a sparkling gem under the bright light of a jewelry store.
The magic of the portal glitter dwindled, and we stood underneath a darkening sky with the overwhelming scent of sweet flowers welcoming us. The humming sound of the portal faded, and the quietness of the serene landscape surrounded us. We stood on a raised circular glass podium that had something moving underneath it. Tiny ribbons of orange, purple, green, and blue darted in the hazy light. Suddenly, one of the ribbons stopped under my feet and looked up at me with two large eyes. I could see it clearly now, it was a fish.
“There are fish in the portal platform,” I said looking up at Jack with surprise.
Hannah joined me on the platform, and together we gazed at colorful creatures. “Oh, look at that one.” I pointed to a large turquoise one. She smiled with a nod of her head.
“Shangri-La is host to many endangered species.” He smiled. “And those fish are called portal fish. The Mers were known to have them in their portal platforms, but they were also a delicacy that was overfished until nearly extinct. The custodians of Shangri-La have taken great lengths to preserve as many animals and plants as they can from our realms.” Jack then extended his hand to both Hannah and I. “Now, if you please ladies, we mustn’t keep Iona waiting.”
Hannah and I stepped down and into an arched walkway covered with plumes of lavender flowers. They were conical in shape with arrow shaped leaves that you could hardly see from the thick blooms.
“These flowers,” Beannca stepped ahead of us, “they smell delicious.” She slid one of the large flowers that looked like a bunch of grapes that were full and ripe for eating. “What are they called?” She asked still holding the bloom in her hand.
“Those are called princess earrings, and,” he gently removed her hand from the flower, “are not to be touched,” he said in a low voice. “Please ladies, let’s keep moving, and save your compliments for Iona.”
We walked in awed silence until we reached an opening with a looping glass arch filled with the same fish that were in the portal platform. Pastel colored stones covered the ground that had a short hedge of bell-shaped yellow flowers that hung down like trumpets. The sky twinkled with bright stars, and the air clung with the scent of the purple flowers.
“This is beautiful,” I said more to myself as I stood taking it all in.
“Thank you Sophie, daughter-siren,” a voice said behind me.
I turned to see a young girl. She had to be no more than fourteen or fifteen. Her white hair piled high on her head was adorned with a circlet of pink daisies. Her skin was pale, and looked like it had been dusted with heavy white powder and her eyes were a prism of faceted shaded of green. The sheer dress she wore moved fluidly over her body and appeared to shift over her skin like a bead of dew on grass.
“Ah, Iona, you looked radiant.” Jack bowed slightly and smiled at her.
“It’s just because it’s pollination season. Come a little later in the season, and you might not be so impressed.”
I glanced between them, and wondered if I should bow too. I knew customs were sacred among not only the librarianship, but the enchanted community as well. I didn’t bow, but curtsied, and hoped that was the respectful thing to do. Hannah and Beannca watched me, and like the blind leading the blind, they curtsied as well. I figured we were either doing the right thing, or looked like idiots.
Iona gazed at all of us with her gem-like eyes, and then smiled as returned the curtsy.
“Please, come and take your seats.” She drifted across the ground like the wind had carried her.
I couldn’t help but to stare and that’s when I realized she had no feet. I knew bits and pieces about the different races among the enchanted community from Ann’s text books, but I wasn’t sure what Iona was. If I had to guess, I’d think she’d be an entity. They can change form and travel through mirrors, and ghost-like in appearance.
Iona led us through an iron gate into another garden full of flowers. Tall hedges enclosed the area like a living frame, and cushy moss grew in obedient straight lines between the cracks in the stone pavers.
“Yes, these are the guests my loves,” Iona said gliding in a circle as she glanced at all the flowers. “Please welcome them…they find your blooms most magnificent!” She exclaimed like a circus’s ringmaster.
I looked at all the flowers, and felt as t
hough I was being introduced to an actual being, not plants. I continued to gaze at all the brilliant colors. Surly they couldn’t understand speech or have any kind of thought process…could they?
“Yes, that is the one that said everything was beautiful, and yes, her name is Sophie.” Iona stood in front of a pink bloom that was about the size of a dinner plate with a large rosy red spot in the center of it. “That’s a bit personal, isn’t it? I don’t think I should ask her that.”
The pink bloom moved closer to her as a slender vine gently curled around her wrist. The Weatherspoons’ had one just like it, and it was a present for Mrs. Witherspoon on her birthday. The plant was almost as tall as Iona, and the longer I looked, the more it appeared to have human qualities. I never noticed the one in England appearing that way.
Iona shifted her glance to me. Startled, I stepped back and looked between her and the plant with a question for me.
“He would like to know how his sister is doing at home of the guardian Witherspoon. He hasn’t heard from her in some time, and was wondering if you had any information.”
My mouth dropped open, and trembled. I was speechless.
“How…” I managed to squeak. How did the plant, or if it was Iona that knew I worked for the Witherspoons’?
Jack leaned closer to me. “Say something,” he said with a smile plaster on his face as he prompted me with a raise of his eyebrows. “You don’t want to have a plant angry at you, dear.”
I cleared my throat and shook off my bewilderment of Iona’s question. “Ah, yes I do remember her,” I said in a pleasant voice. “She was planted in a sunny spot in the garden where Mrs. Witherspoon could see, ahem, her, every day. You see, she was a birthday present…”
“Oh, my!” Iona turned to the flower.
Oh goodness, my heart pounded, this can’t be a good reaction.
“What an honor!” Iona’s face lit up as a puff of white powder erupted from her hair. “She wasn’t put into just some garden. She was prized and respected, and even put in an honorable place.”
I felt relived as I smiled between her and the plant.
“Goodness dear!” Jack waved his hands through the air.
“Oh, yes, I’ve better be going. I didn’t think I would be pollinating right now.” Iona drifted through an archway with Jack behind her.
I looked at Hannah. Her face was red from trying to conceal her amusement. I smiled at her and shook my head as I shoved her in front of me.
“Do you think pollinating is kind of like when you have your period?” She asked in a low voice with a restrained laugh.
“Quiet. Or we’ll get in trouble. Now go,” I said pressing on her back towards the archway.
“What a pretty shade of pink,” Beannca said as she ran her finger over the large blossom. “I would love to own a plant like you.” She giggled.
I could see the slender vine curl through her hair as more began to coil around her arm. They were like many hands that felt up Beannca who seemed to enjoy it. But she was already drunk and acted like a child, not to mention she was a siren, not a plant.
I pulled her away as one of the vines began to caress her breast.
“That’s enough, Beannca.” I tugged her close to me. “Thank you for your hospitality, but we must be going.” I addressed the plant that immediately retracted all vines and straightened up as if nothing had happened.
Even though I didn’t understand the language of plants, I understood where things were headed.
Beannca stumbled beside me as we came to a garden filled with nothing but green ivy. Large pillows sat around a stone table with lit spheres that emitted gold light. I knew them to be orillions—magical lights made by the Fae people of Avalon.
It was one of the pieces of information that I read from Ann’s school books late at night. I always tried to educate myself in as many things as I could. Of course, I did it in secret as Mrs. Witherspoon didn’t like anyone having knowledge of things that didn’t concern them. I was only supposed to know enough of the guardianship and enchanted community to care for Ann, and I did everything that I was supposed to. But something inside me always wanted more. And I always quieted that voice, feeding it enough to just keep it from starving, but now a feast has been placed before it, and I want nothing more than to devour it.
“This is a quiet garden.” Iona announced with hands folded in front of her. “As you requested,” she said turning towards Jack. “The confidentiality of your conversation is our promise, and the garden is yours for the rest of the night.”
“Thank you Iona, High Hostess of Shangri-La.”
Iona left with a nod as the ivy curled around itself, enclosing us in the garden.
“Why aren’t there any pretty blooms in here?” Beannca asked as she sat with a plop on one of the pillows and poured herself a drink from the large purple wine bottle.
“Because dear,” he said taking the glass from her hand and replacing it with another, “we don’t want any extra ears listening in on our conversation. I needed the upmost secrecy, and this is the only place I could get it.”
Beannca drank the wine like she was downing a shot. “That was fantastic. Another please.”
Jack poured her another.
“Seriously, what are you doing? Trying to get her so drunk she gets sick.” I stepped towards Jack and folded my arms across my chest. My foot began to tap the ground impatiently. “Or was that your intentions? Get the sirens drunk and have an orgy. Is that what your goal was?”
Jack took notice of my oppressive stance, and stood with the clear bottle in his right hand and Beannca’s glass in the other. He smiled, and poured her another glassful.
“My dear siren-nanny,” he said with an amused voice. “This isn’t ambrosia. It has quite the opposite effects, and is used to awaken things a little bit.” Beannca let out a giggle as she suddenly belched. “And as far as the orgy offer, I’m not into that. I get off on other things, like magic.” Jack’s eyes flickered with flames, and for a moment, I saw the power that lied within the Green Man.
Beannca
I had acted like an idiot. Hannah and Sophie must think I’m a dumb blonde and get everything I needed or wanted by letting men kiss me, screw me, or squeeze my boobs. I’m really nowhere near that. I worked hard for Bridget, learned from her, and followed the rules. Now, those rules had turned against me.
I watched Hannah and Sophie drink ambrosia, while I drank the sobering juice that brought me back to my normal senses.
“Alright,” Jack said taking our glasses away. “I think everyone is in the state they need to be in to hear my offer.”
He dimmed the orillion’s glow, and smiled at each of us. “I know each of you crave to have a taste of your past, your family, and touch the soil from whence you came. I can sense it in all of you even if you haven’t had the slightest twinge yet.” His enchanting eyes reached out towards me like welcoming hands. “We all want a piece of our history…to touch the lands we were to never leave, and bring back our way of life that was stolen. And I think it’s time you had that opportunity.” Before I could ask any questions, he waved his hand over the grey stone table.
The first thing I heard was the sound of crashing waves. Blues, greens, yellows, and tinges of orange swirled together until a scene appeared. Pale blue buildings framed by a bright blue sky overlooked the gold beach that was kissed wave after blue wave. It was beautiful—like one of Aaron’s paintings in his apartment had come to life. I couldn’t help but to feel a tug on my heart as I thought about him.
A sudden gust of wind mixed with salt water, brushed against my face. It was inviting. I wanted to go there. Just like expecting a letter from a distant loved one in the mail, I had suddenly gotten, and unexpectedly enticing offer from another. Aaron was suddenly pushed out of my thoughts, and my attention had sprung to something that was distant, and a part of me. I was a siren, and this place
was my home.
“This is Atlantis and the island Murk.” Jack gazed down at the living seascape. I almost expected to see people walking on its beaches. “This is your home, this is your past, and this is where you were taken from.”
“I remember,” Hannah said with unblinking eyes as she looked at the scene.
“Yes, you were…taken,” Jack said in a slightly dark voice. “They took you away from this, but it doesn’t mean you can’t go back.”
“But how will we get there?” Sophie asked leaning closer to the picture. She looked like she wanted to jump in and pull Hannah along with her.
I gazed at each of them. Jack had them under some sort of trance or they had drank too much ambrosia.
“Hey, Jack,” I said sitting back as he lifted his jewel-like eyes to me. “What are you doing to us?”
I crossed my arms as he smiled.
“Beannca dear,” he said, and reached for my hand. “I’m merely showing you where you came from. It’s quite beautiful, isn’t it?” His voice was slow and soothing like he was trying to calm an angry animal.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful, but what are you going to do? Get us a ticket on Atlantis Air for a wonderful two week stay?” I pulled my hand from his. “You said you had an offer for us. Now what is it?”
“Ah, Beannca. You do get to the point, and I admire that.” He waved his hand over the scene and it disappeared. Even though it was only a mirage, I wished there was a real airline called Atlantis Air that could take all of us there.
“I believe if you are going to ask someone for something, you need to give them something in return for payment. Whether its money, a favor or an opportunity, something needs to be fair about the deal. I don’t mind boasting about my fairness because I’ve been where you are right now.” Jack looked at each one of us in the eyes. He was sincere, I don’t know why, but I felt it. “The librarianship and guardianship, no matter how many luxuries they provide for me, they still took me away from my home and way of life. I’ve brought you here to escape the ears of the guardianship. And what I want from you are your virtues.”
Hannah, Sophie, and I exchanged confused glances.
“What do you mean virtues?” Sophie asked what we all thought.
“You are sirens with very strong powers, though the guardianship will never let you in on.” He smirked. “Hannah,” he shot his eyes to her, and she straightened upon his stare. “You can control crowds of people, buy clothing with a fake credit card you got from a human game called Monopoly, and manipulate people to your every whim. And I must say, with amazing control. You had no education on your abilities, and that right there shows your virtue is well developed.”
Hannah went pale. “How—how do you know about all of that?”
Jack’s smiled deepened. “My dear, you executed your ability in a public place, and guardians aren’t the only ones watching. I have eyes and ears everywhere. They tell me things that might interest me. And you Hannah Black interest me.” He leaned towards her. “Aren’t you tired of living under the guardianship’s thumb? Always watching your back,” Jack said to Hannah, and then shifted his gaze to Sophie. “Tired of the guardianship telling you where you can work and where you can’t?” He then set his eyes on me. For a split second a wave of sympathy filled them. “And Beannca White, your last name might be switched to Black, and that’s only if you’re lucky. Murder of a librarian doesn’t sit well with the guardianship. And a little siren hanging on the librarian’s skirt hem makes an excellent suspect.”
“I didn’t do it,” I said through the tears that welled in my eyes.
I felt Hannah’s and Sophie’s suspicious eyes on me. They were judging me. I wanted to run away from everything, and everyone. I wanted to jump into the moving picture Jack had showed us. I wanted to go home.
“I know you didn’t, Beannca. I can see that. Hannah and Sophie can too. But the guardianship will never believe you. Their justice system doesn’t pertain to us. We are guilty in their eyes, and only to be proven guiltier through their trials.”
Sophie put her arm around me. I felt comforted by her touch—almost in a motherly way.
“All of you are headed nowhere with the guardianship controlling your lives.” Jack leaned back, and poured some more ambrosia for himself. “I’m prepared to offer you something rarely presented. The guardianship considers you a minority of the enchanted community, but I think they underestimate you. You have abilities you don’t even know about, and I can open doors for you.” He waved his hand over the table and the image of the beach scene flashed for a moment. “I can give you new lives in a place where you’re not oppressed by the guardianship. I can give you your past, and your heritage that belong to you.”
I glanced over at Hannah and Sophie. They looked at each other and then at me. I shook my head, and shrugged my shoulders. We had an opportunity with Jack, no doubt a greater opportunity with him rather than with the guardianship. And especially me—I was more than likely to end up in a book somewhere in some library of unknown horrors.
I switched my gaze to Jack and leaned towards him. “You offer us different lives safe from the guardianship, but like you said,” I narrowed my eyes, “you need to be paid for the opportunity you are giving us.” He took a sip of ambrosia with his eyes steadied on me. “What do you want from us?”
Jack sat his glass down, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a ball that was baseball sized. It was solid black and as shiny as a marble. He cupped it in his hand and threw it into the air.
It came straight down and headed for the table. I gasped thinking it might shatter upon impact or crack the table. But, it didn’t. Instead, it stopped about a foot from it, and levitated. It twirled slowly in place as if it was waiting for a command.
Jack widened his smile and leaned closer towards us. “My payment is simple. I need a little siren magic.”
Sirens Page 4
