by Mia Fox
“Mourning a loved one’s death can bring about dramatic changes in a person. In Charlotte’s case, she became a young woman with a solitary mission: to right a wrong that she felt responsible for,” I said looking directly at Phineas.
He nodded, feeling the sting behind my words.
“In the end, she left me too,” Phineas pointed out.
As if punctuating his sentiment, an enormous black bird circled close to Phineas, nearly dive bombing his head, but choosing to land just behind us instead. Given its erratic flight just seconds earlier, we turned to stare at it and then watched as it shifted into the form of Raven.
“Feeling sorry for ourselves? You’ll have a lot more time for that.”
She wore her familiar gloat, along with black and tan riding pants, boots, and a black fitted top. The form-fitting outfit accentuated her lean frame, more muscular than thin. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, the shiny black locks looking like melted tar. Her dark eyes were framed with caterpillar lashes and shined with the knowledge that she had the upper hand.
Raven ran a hand over the top of Samantha’s headstone and although it was just stone, her action somehow felt like an invasion, particularly since she was responsible for her death.
She stretched her arms out widely and emulated the movement she took while in bird form. Smiling up to the heavens she menacingly spoke, “Ahh, two birds killed with one stone. Gosh, don’t you love the analogy?”
“Stop it, Raven,” Phineas spoke up, although it was in a hushed tone for he wasn’t accustomed to crossing her.
She turned and walked just inches in front of him and caressed his cheek with the same hand that had been toying with Samantha’s grave. “Don’t worry, dear Phin. Everything will be back to normal soon.”
He shook his head. “Charlotte going into the Romani Realms should never have happened. Even you can’t be that cruel to send someone who is alive and vibrant....there.”
“He’s right,” I spoke up. “You’ve cut off your nose to spite your face -- with Charlotte gone, you’ve lost the Amulet of Pollox.” In spite of the bravado of my words, Raven managed to make me feel insignificant with just one glance in my direction.
I compared my own outfit with hers. I was wearing a spaghetti-strapped, white summer dress that fell just above my knees with a pair of brown cowboy boots. I suddenly worried about its impracticality and realized that now was not the best time to be a slave to fashion. I reasoned that nobody had advised me on the preferred dress-code for entering a demon infested realm.
“Cute dress, Suki,” Raven said, while casually twirling a riding crop.
I nervously tugged at the bodice, which suddenly felt in danger of falling downward, exposing me to the girl who was once my best friend, but now my rival. A self-consciousness crept over me, flushing my cheeks and making me feel out of my element.
James’ arm protectively went around my waist and his hand rubbed my back, reassuring me and making me feel his protective presence like a shield surrounding me. It brought me the confidence that I knew I would need for dealing with Raven. I stood up a bit straighter, lifted my chin, and pushed my shoulders back. Meeting Raven’s confident glance with my own, as if to say ‘it’s on’ I answered back. “White is such a timeless classic look...if one can pull it off.”
“Let’s go already,” she shot back. “Phin, you coming?”
Phineas had tried his best to look inconspicuous, trying to avoid appearing aligned with either Raven or myself, but now he was placed on the spot. I watched and waited to see his true colors emerge.
He glanced between myself and Raven before hesitantly answering. “I thought we talked about this,” he said to Raven, although he glanced at me quickly and I saw the nerves that threatened him. He hadn’t expected this from Raven. “It just seems that I would be of more use if I stayed here.”
“Plans change,” Raven said simply.
Plans. One word and yet, coming from Raven it carried the weight of immense threat. Raven had been planning and plotting how to get her hands on my Amulet of Pollox for centuries. Patience allowed her to wait through the passing of umpteen Releasors until the time came when the right ones, those gifted with unforeseen talents would come to possess it. Only it didn’t go quite as planned as Charlotte managed to take it into the Romani Realms with her before Raven could inflict harm upon her.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting to go on a trip today; I haven’t even packed my toothbrush,” Phineas said at an attempt at levity.
Raven’s voice took on an ominous tone. “Everything you need is waiting for you.” She held out her hand to him, and as he in turn took it, my heart sank. I know he had little choice and what I was hoping for, I didn’t know. Realistically, it’s not like he could have insisted on staying and having a boys weekend with James, but still, seeing Raven holding Phineas’ hand, the man whom Charlotte had professed her love to, made my own heart ache with sadness.
Once again, Phineas caught my eye and I know he was trying to tell me that we had our own plan and it would be carried out, but suddenly the game had changed.
James stepped forward, purposefully placing his tall, strong frame in front of Raven. With his back turned to her, she couldn’t see the exchange between us. His eyes bore into mine and then he closed them and nodded, a silent message that I should do the same. I no sooner followed suit when I heard his voice inside my head. For the first time, it rang out clearly and I was immediately filled with joy and more importantly, hope.
“You remember this feeling,” he said directly into my mind. “Take it with you and recall it whenever you need it. If you need me to pull you back, you reach out to me. I’ll always be here for you.”
A sudden feeling of elation tore through my being. My heart pounded with exhilaration like an endorphin rush. With my eyes still closed, I inhaled deeply and relished the feeling.
James continued to speak to me silently. “You are strong, Suki. Although I wish I had met you sooner...had more nights to hold you in my arms...but, the truth is, you survived three hundred years before the need for me to turn up arose.”
I felt James’ strong hands reach for my own, his thumb lightly caressing the inside of my wrist, sending shivers of pleasure along with it. I don’t think I would ever get used to this one special talent of his -- the ability to heal me mentally and physically with a magical touch -- but I was willing to spend the next century or so exploring it. I relaxed and listened to his smooth voice, sounding inside my head. “Suki, you know that I can only move through time, but not other realms. Like you, I would need a guide. You need to be self-reliant in the Romani Realms. You will need to focus all of your power and energy on the task at hand.”
I nodded, feeling like an athlete receiving a pep talk from a coach.
I could vaguely make out Phineas arguing with Raven, but I did what James said and focused only on his words, echoing peacefully in my mind. “Being your Shade is my greatest pleasure...but, you need to forget me.” A sudden flash of coldness shot through my body.
“No!” my eyes shot open, but the look he gave me told me that his mind was made up.
“Listen to me,” he leaned in to whisper in my ear, our connection to communicate silently now broken. “When you enter the Romani Realms, you won’t remember me as your Shade, just as the guy who tends bar in your building. I’ll be insignificant to you.”
“That’s not true,” I said vehemently.
“It’s necessary, Suki...at least until you get acclimated. You have no idea what you’ll be up against, none of us do and therefore, you don’t need the distraction of a lover waiting in the wings. I’ll still be watching for you and with Maebeline’s help, we can pull you back.”
“Ahh, lovers’ quarrel?” Raven spoke with mock concern. “So tragic. It takes you three centuries to finally realize that he’s always been with you, and what do you do? Decide to take a road trip in search of two pointless teenage girls.”
Raven circled both of us as
she spoke, and then sidled up to James, literally coming between us and pressing her chest up against his. “Well James, I guess we all make our own...bed.”
“Enough,” I said and grabbed James by the arm, pulling him away from her. I hated appearing weak, but I threw my arms around his body, burying my head in his chest and allowed the tears to flow.
He kissed the top of my head, and when he spoke, I could hear his voice choked. “Suki, it’s for your own safety. And it’s only temporary. I promise you.”
I sniffed hard and wiped my eyes. It was as if James was trying to tell me something, but it made no sense. Forget him...only temporary? When would everything be as it should? My brain vacillated back and forth like Newton balls bouncing against each other. One thing was for certain; I needed to pull myself together for this show of raw emotion only gave Raven more ammunition against me. I could hear her caustic words as she spoke with Phineas about how pathetic I was, and even more upsetting, I heard him murmur his agreement.
“When will it happen?” I asked James.
He knew immediately what I referred to. “Memory of us being together like this will vanish once you enter the Romani Realms. When you gain control of the elements again, you’ll be able to take back your memories as well.”
I nodded, accepting the fate and understanding it better. “At least Raven won’t be able to manipulate my thoughts for you. I may not remember what we had, but at least she can’t destroy it.”
“You’re going to be fine.”
“And you?”
James let go of a small chuckle and shook his head. “I’ll be watching, but just as before you actually met me, you’ll never know.”
Raven left Phineas’ side to invade our privacy again. “Sounds creepy, if you ask me. Kinda stalker like.”
I rolled my eyes in response, doing my best not to betray my Southern roots with an unladylike comment, although plenty went through my mind.
“Phineas!” she called out and like a lapdog, he appeared at her side. She took his hand and then held the other one out to me. “Are we going to do this?”
“Like I have a choice?”
Raven looked at me and smirked. “Well, if you leave Charlotte to her own devices, she may never find Samantha.” Raven tssked and shook her head in mock concern, “She could really get eaten alive there. Lost souls have a tendency to prey upon the innocent. Oh Suki, the guilt of this situation must really be eating you up.”
“Your concern for my well-being is overwhelming.”
“Well I was your friend once, let’s not forget that. And, in the spirit of our past, I want to help you.”
I looked at Raven, wishing I didn’t have to say it, but of course, I did. “What do you want?”
“It’s simple. I’ll help navigate you to the Romani Realms, due to my gypsy heritage and dark magic teachings. And when you get there safely and find sweet Charlotte, you get her to turn over the Amulet to me.”
“And then what? How do we get back? How do I trust you?”
“Maybe you can’t, but you’ll never find them alone.”
I was rapidly growing a backbone. “You’re not getting that Amulet unless Charlotte and Samantha get out safely.”
“Whatev. Let’s roll, Bitch.”
With one last, longing look at James, I begrudgingly took Raven’s hand. She no sooner met eyes with Phineas, who was holding her other hand. The look that passed between them gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach. It was a look of familiarity that lovers share. Raven turned to face me and with a knowing look she smiled a cheshire grin, the cat who ate the canary. And then, no sooner did her fingers wrap around mine, did the wind begin to blow, the ticking of clocks and grinding of gears sounded along with something else I had never heard when traveling to other realms...the horrifying squeals and screams of trapped and tormented souls.
* * *
Chapter Four
“Phin, wake up...open your eyes.” Raven stared down at Phineas’ body and wistfully thought of the way it used to be between them. She knew that his allegiance to her was waning...if there at all. She gently stroked his hair away from his temple, taking care to brush it away from a gash that dripped with his blood.
The sight would have made me nauseous if I had actually been alert enough to witness her adoration. I could only see them in my dreams as the trip into the Romani Realms had left me incapacitated as well. I could just barely make out what was happening...
Their relationship was complicated. Raven had given Phineas ever-lasting life by instilling gypsy magic into him when he died at his own father’s hands. The attraction between them was born out of Phineas’ gratitude, but soon grew into the relationship of true lovers, if only because of their mutual need to connect with someone who wasn’t going to die anytime soon. They had been together since the 1400s, although neither appeared a day older than twenty. They were more than attractive. As demon gypsies, their sexuality was heightened, making them irresistible and beguiling to the opposite sex as well as to each other. Staying together was easy. That is, until he met Charlotte.
“I just want things to be the way they were,” Raven whispered softly to Phineas’ motionless form. Still he didn’t move. Raven wiped a wayward tear from her cheek, and was made aware of how the trip into the Romani Realms had affected her. She scowled at the wave of human emotions that suddenly flooded her psyche. She had long ago tuned them out and believed feelings directed at another person, at least feelings stemming from the heart, were a weakness.
“God my head is killing me,” Phineas said more to himself than Raven. He looked around disoriented and Raven rushed to cradle his head. “What’s wrong with me?”
“You’re okay,” she said with obvious relief.
Phineas looked at Raven curiously and sat up to dislodge her arms from around his neck. “My head is killing me. Can you give me some space?”
“Yeah sure,” she replied. It was unlike her to allow anyone to snap at her, but she was feeling a bit vulnerable herself. “I’m just...it’s good that you’re back.”
Still Phineas continued to hold his head in his hands. “How long was I out?” Phineas took in his surroundings -- the tall pines, expansive meadow, a light breeze and the sun-kissed day. It was idyllic, certainly not the realms that he had heard of, nor expected. “Wow, this isn’t what I expected.”
“You woke up at a good time. The surroundings change rapidly here and you’ve been out awhile. The first trip affects everyone differently. Some pass out; some feel like a hangover has hit them.”
“More like a two-ton truck ran over my brain.”
Raven reached out to try and caress Phineas’ cheek, but she noticed how he flinched at her touch. She felt another wave of sadness hit her as he leaned back out of her reach. Even that slight rejection left Raven’s emotions reeling and she gladly lowered her own head to gaze at the ground and swallow back the tears that were forming.
“You don’t seem to have a scratch on you.” Phineas regarded Raven, who let a wave of her shining black hair dip low over her eye, hiding any remaining sign that she had been crying. He dabbed his hand over a cut on his forehead that still bled.
“I’m used to it here,” she said trying to hide the fact that the effects for her were emotional rather than physical. To her, this was far more disorienting and she took a deep breath hoping to recover sooner rather than later.
“Where’s Suki?” Phineas asked, now remembering the journey more clearly.
It’s about time. I may have been unconscious, but I was still able to decipher whether Phineas’ thoughts went to me.
“Just beyond that rock formation,” Raven jutted her chin out to indicate three large boulders that rose out of the ground in the distance.
Phineas looked in the direction that Raven pointed and then suddenly rose to his feet and started off in a hurry.
With annoyance, Raven shouted, “She’s fine.”
There’s a word for women like Raven. Come on, Phineas. Sho
w some spine.
“How do you know?” he called over his shoulder. “She’s just lying here. She might have hit the rocks when she landed. Look at my head,” he indicated the cut that was now bleeding more profusely.
“You need to slow down,” Raven said more sternly as she grabbed Phineas’ arm, pulling him back. “Your head is bleeding more because you’re moving about too much. The air is thinner here. You need to conserve your energy and get used to the environment before you start running laps. As for Suki, helping her can actually harm her.”
“What do you mean?” Phineas said staring off in the direction of the boulders.
“As much as I wanted to immediately hold you when I woke up, I didn’t. Seeing you lying on the ground unconscious just about killed me, Phin. You were so still, I just...I just thought about what it would be like without you.”
The tears started to flow freely from Raven as her words came tumbling out faster. She raked her fingers through her hair as she paced and continued to shake her head as if just verbalizing her fears would bring them to life. Phineas noticed that her breathing had grown as erratic as her behavior.
“I thought about never being able to talk with you, never having you hold me, never inhaling your scent!”
“I get it. Raven calm down.”
“No, you don’t get it,” she said grabbing onto his arm. “Had I disturbed you, the transition would have been even worse. When you land, your body is still, but your brain is processing the transition. Waking someone up too early can result in their mind being left behind.”
