by Mia Fox
“Just better together. You and I.”
Phineas looked upward toward the birds again as if trying to gauge whether they would strike if his answer wasn’t to Raven’s liking. “I don’t feel drugged any more, if that’s what you mean.”
“It doesn’t seem necessary to influence you any more. You’re...pleasantly pliable.”
Within a second, he easily rolled her onto her stomach and then straddled her, perched just over her hips with his weight on his knees, placed on either side of Raven’s thin waist. He leaned forward to kiss the back of her neck and ran his hands over her shoulders, gently massaging any tension away. She could feel his hardness pressed strategically between her legs as he allowed himself to rest it against her.
“So, if that’s the case, then why are you still maintaining such a close watch on me?” he asked, enjoying the fact that he had her pressed faced down under his control.
“Am I?”
“Well, who are they and why are they here?” he asked forcefully rolling her onto her back. He kissed her mouth with a fervor, until she parted her lips, welcoming his tongue to intertwine with hers. His hand found its way over her chest and roughly cupped one breast. “Tell me.”
Raven wrapped her legs around Phineas’ waist and allowed the weight of him to press against her. It was difficult to know who had the upper hand. When she believed that Phineas was right where she wanted him, she answered. “Disciples. Followers. Friends. There’s so many names for hopeless souls who are easily manipulated.”
Phineas pushed up the hem of her dress and let his hand work magic against her. “You see how nice it can be -- if I have full control of my own mind?” he said as he gently pulled her lace panties aside and ever so lightly allowed his fingers to caress her.
Raven sighed with the delicious torture of his slow movements. “Just hold that thought,” she said pushing herself up on her elbows. She looked to the hundreds of birds above them, raised her hands skyward and closed her eyes as she began an incantation.
“Gathered friends born to serve. Let my words touch a nerve. You may leave, but your thoughts will remain. Once a follower, but never sane.”
A sharp crack sounded, much like a lightening bolt sounding, and the birds scattered in every direction, darkening the sky. Raven smiled at Phineas and lay back down, pulling him atop her once again.
She didn’t speak, but loosened his belt buckle and tugged on his pants.
His eyes stared at her, slightly glazed over, either from desire or influence.
Her hand reached down and found him, strong and hard, and she wrapped her fingers around him.
“The others...they could turn up any time,” he said protesting.
She didn’t answer, but continued to run her hand up the length of him, milking him with an intention of making him forget. She guided him toward her and allowed just the tip of him to touch her, although she would have welcomed all of him.
“Phin?”
“Mmm?”
“Are you of sound mind? Do you want me?” she asked teasing him, mercilessly.
“I wouldn’t know the truth now, would I?” he answered.
Phineas used every ounce of willpower to pull himself above Raven. He removed her hand, pressing both of her wrists to the ground and holding her prone. Then, he regarded her, taking in her shiny, black hair that fell in waves below her shoulders, eyes that were dark as coal, but bright as obsidian. She matched his stare and begged him to release his hold on her. “Please, Phin...”
He loosened his grip and she sat up long enough to shimmy out of the light dress she wore. When she lie back down, she was completely exposed to him. She wriggled a finger toward herself, inviting him atop her once more, and when he took his place, she raised her hand to his face and pulled him toward her. She kissed him with the desire of a woman who knows one too many secrets about her man.
“Phin, you know about James...you must agree when I tell you that truth is overrated.”
With his body pressed against hers no words came from his mouth. Only a hunger that was out of his control, his mind and body not his own, worked against him.
“The Reckoning will take place by morning,” Raven declared. “So without any obligations to truth or what your mind tells you is right...tell me what you want.”
Phineas stared at Raven, his eyes showing a myriad of emotions from lust to hate, and as the last of the black birds scattered from the darkening sky, he entered her with one strong thrust.
* * *
“Gosh I hate that sound,” I complained as yet another black bird cawed from above. “This place is just plain creepy.” My comment elicited an angry glare from Shadow, who was holding onto Charlotte’s hand.
Knowing what she was thinking and equally unable to dissuade their newcomer from sharing her intentions, James fell into step next to me. He gently placed an arm around me, his touch instantly calming my nerves and making me feel safe.
“When is she going to leave?” I whispered, referring to Shadow.
“She’s cursed.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“No, I mean really cursed. Maebeline would know what to do.”
“You mean, voodoo?”
James nodded. “Either that, or she’s born from an abomination.”
“How can you tell?”
“Her changing features -- both horrific and innocent. This Realm claims people before their pre-destined time. If that were to happen in the present, our world, it’s called an accident, but here it’s only due to black magic. Voodoo.
“You’re saying she still had life to live.”
“Yes, and here, the bad souls feed on her lifeblood and remaining innocence. It gives them happiness that they aren’t likely to give up. What’s worse, they can befriend her and convince her to stay.”
“Just as she’s doing to Charlotte?” I asked, worriedly.
Daniel, who was just behind us, joined the conversation. “Samantha is immune to it, which is how I found her. It’s unusual here.”
“At least she’s okay,” I added, “but Charlotte...we can’t get her home if she’s not willing to leave.”
“She’s got her necklace. Samantha lost her memory, but maintained her gift. The same is true for Charlotte,” James reassured. “She just needs to access the memories of the others before her...your past Releasors, Suki. Don’t worry, she’ll come around.”
I nodded, deep in thought. “It takes deep concentration, and a guide. With my help, she can do it again. She could access the mind of Charles Babbage and get herself out of here. But it’s not going to happen with Shadow hovering over her. James, you need to get to Maebeline.”
“I’m not leaving you. You can’t travel backwards and there is no going forward in this place.”
“But my other powers have been restored. I’ll be okay until you get back with more information.”
James looked at our party of misfits: Charlotte who brushed Shadow’s hair, which changed from beautiful golden ringlets into writhing snakes, Samantha and Daniel, who held hands as they trudged through swampy mud, careful to step over the hands that emerged and reached for them, and me...the woman he had protected throughout time.
“I don’t want to leave you,” he said finally. “It’s just not what I do.”
I thought for a moment. “You’ve always been there. Even if you’re not next to me, I know you can feel me. That won’t change. You do your job. Find out how we get Charlotte away from Shadow’s grip. Besides, Phineas is with us. Isn’t he?”
James shrugged, and like me, was unsure of the answer.
* * *
Perched in bird form with her minions around her, Raven emitted a show of strength, although she felt ill at ease. Surrounded by her followers, she wanted to lead them into action against Charlotte, although the conversation she had just overheard made her wonder if there wasn’t a more pressing issue to attend to...Phineas. As usual, he was proving to be difficult and far more trouble than she was e
xpecting from someone who she had lived with for centuries.
Hearing his name on my lips did more than ruffle her feathers. She let out a loud caw, feeling furious that she could succumb to human emotions of jealousy. It was this Realm that forced souls into eternal damnation and wreaked havoc with their mind. Even those without emotions, which to her was a blessing. She sat quiet once again, allowing her mind to relax as one of the other birds groomed her. It soothed her nerves and then just as quickly, with one sloppy peck, caused her great irritation. She snapped her beak at the other bird, easily drawing blood, and then swooped down to ground level to return to her magnificent human body.
She turned her face skyward, searching the trees for the other blackbird that was larger than the rest, the one that would turn back into Phineas. And upon seeing him and watching him be nuzzled by a smaller bird, she angrily threw a stone at the offending fowl. Within seconds Phineas dropped down next to her.
“You know what they say about throwing stones at glass houses,” he mocked, but quickly lessened Raven’s testy emotions by planting a kiss on her cheek.
“That glass house, as you refer, was another female. And even if she is feathered, you still have the ability to procreate with her while you share that characteristic.”
“During my London days all the guys talked about going out to bang a bird.”
“Cute. But that’s not going to happen on my watch. But speaking of birds, stones...”
“Yes?” he asked, and then dropped silent. He had seen this look on Raven’s face before. Determination. Ambition. Drive. She had a plan and he knew that somehow, it involved something from him.
“Suki wants James to pay Maebeline a visit.”
“Maebeline? Whatever for?”
“Well, she’s a Shade, just like him, only older. She knows every religious spell, voodoo curse, and shaman incantation under the sun. For all of them to get out of here safely, they need unity and that’s not going to happen with Charlotte acting whacked out over that creepy...god, what is she?”
“Shadow? Some say she’s an Encantado because of her beauty on land and yet, she shifts into a demon with snakes for hair. Others have seen her take to the waters and immediately shift into an animal of the sea.”
“You’re kidding.”
Phineas shook his head. “Dead serious.”
“That’s even messed up for this place,” Raven admitted, and then started laughing. “God, I have to love it. I couldn’t even have planned for her to fall for a half-girl, half-dolphin creature. What would an Encantado want from Charlotte?”
“The birds think that she’s just lonely and wants a companion.”
“So, she picks the first lost human who stumbles into the Realms? Why Charlotte?” Raven asked, now suspicious. “And why did they tell you about it?”
“You know, Raven, if you ever took the time to get to know people, you might just find your own humanity again. They just wanted to talk and I was there. As for Shadow, she just wants someone to love her, and Charlotte can’t help but give that.”
“Ahh, you’re breaking my heart. Well, get over it. You’re going on a trip.”
“What? You wanted me here. I’m watching Charlotte and trying to get the Amulet of Pollox off her. Remember?”
“Of course I do. But you also remember that the prophecy mentions a Triad. Once that amulet is given to an owner, only the rightful Triad can ever use it next. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to go through the rest of eternity with her.”
“So, it’s you, me, and...”
“Our baby, of course.” Raven smiled at Phineas, whose complexion had grown decidedly paler. “But first, I need you to take out Maebeline.”
“Whatever for?”
“Because if Suki and James figure out a way to save Charlotte, they’ll take her and Samantha back to the present. James can travel alone, but those two girls and Miss Bottle Stopper will form a Triad. I need to make sure that James is sufficiently delayed with any information he plans to bring back.”
Phineas turned away from Raven, trying to figure out how to play his cards. Staying in the Romani Realms and acting to save Charlotte would put her in danger if Raven realized what he was up to, and the likelihood of that was pretty high. Similarly, if he left, he was helpless to do anything to support my efforts. The idea of both he and James being gone was beyond dangerous for me. He wondered if ultimately, that was Raven’s plan.
Hoping to persuade Raven otherwise, he took her hands in his own.
“Are you sure, you don’t want me to stay? We could watch The Reckoning and then go for a fly? Come back and spend a quiet night in the cabin.”
Raven’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t like Phineas to be so transparent in his motives. “How sweet.”
Phineas visibly exhaled, believing that he would keep Charlotte alive for another day. He knew she wanted him gone so he pretended to want to see The Reckoning. Yet he knew that if there was one thing he could count on, it was Raven being so stubborn that she would never do as someone else suggested. This time, he was fatally wrong.
“You know what, sweet Phin? We can watch The Reckoning and then, then you’ll leave.”
“Raven, that’s just not a good idea. I mean, you’re going to want me here to complete the Triad.”
“I can wait. I mean, it’s true that Demon Gypsies ovulate twice a month, but it’s not my time. You’ll be back in time to do the deed.”
Phineas shuddered with the idea of creating a child with Raven, someone who only wanted an offspring to fulfill her own ambitious dreams. But before he could come up with a compelling argument to further his own motives, Raven reached for him and placed a hand under his chin. She turned his face toward her own and held his gaze while speaking the Latin phrase that would compel him to travel back to seek out James’ housekeeper, Maebeline.
Da mihi in animo.
Vos ex pura mente.
Faciam scelus.
Et peregrinari cum celeritate.
Give your mind to me.
You of pure thought.
Do my deed.
And travel with speed.
Raven looked at Phineas’ pupils, which grew large and dark, and then, when they had returned to normal, she released his head. Momentarily it dropped and hung forward, the incantation brewing in his own mind.
“You’re alright now,” she said and placed her arms around him in an embrace. “I’ll miss you, but you better hurry.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I’m finished,” Phineas replied without any trace of resistance. He placed his arms in the air and a soft rustling of the leaves initiated, the breeze gently blowing his tousled blond hair across his forehead.
Raven watched as the clouds began to roll in slowly across the sky.
“Here, let me help you,” she said with a tone that was mildly impatient. She no sooner took his place in the circle that she had previously drawn on the ground when everything began to speed up. The branches on the trees bent with urgency toward them, the wind pushing their limbs to the limit before a few even snapped and broke, then spun out of control into the twirling vortex of the gale force. The clouds that had previously moved slowly across a mainly blue sky now seemed to be changing from white to black like stop gap photography, the transition immediate and strong.
As Raven closed her eyes to the sky, the ticking of clocks indicating the passage of time began and Phineas was caught up in the dust and movement around him. She stepped away and observed as his image became less visible -- the whirring around him growing stronger, until it stopped thus completing his travel and leaving the circle completely empty.
Raven exhaled from the effort and muttered with annoyance to herself. “If you want something done...”
A branch snapped behind her, and Raven turned to see one of the Nephilim, the girl who had prepared Charlotte, indicating they should walk toward the lake.
“Is it time?” Raven snapped.
The girl merely nodded and then placed her fo
rehead against Raven’s so that her thoughts could be easily read.
“Yes, it’s happening right now. I’ve just sent him on his way,” Raven confirmed. “He’ll kill Maebeline and James will run after to save her. James will still be out of my hair, leaving Suki alone. And if Phin is successful, and he kills Maebeline, James will also eventually perish because nobody will be around to bring him back to this life. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.”
Finally, the girl spoke, albeit not much above a whisper. “Why are you displeased?”
Raven thought for a moment, still reeling with the reality that she, too, was feeling emotions. “Phineas may have responded to an image of Charlotte when I sent him away, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him remember anything about her when he returns.”
“That’s what makes you so kind,” the girl said meekly.
Raven turned to the girl and nodded. “You know, you’re right. I haven’t been appreciated fully.” She looked at her watch before adding, “It’s time people started seeing that I’m only working for the greater good.”
The girl smiled and clapped excitedly, then reached out tentatively for Raven’s hand. Raven rolled her eyes, but finally accepted and the two headed toward the lake to wait for The Reckoning.
* * *
Phineas’ mind may have been compelled by Raven, but there was no doubt that his heart still belonged to Charlottte. Raven’s irritation was due to the fact that it actually took many silent attempts to get Phineas on his way to the present Realm. Her annoyance spread on so many levels. First, the idea that Phineas was capable of calling the winds and stirring the energy fields on his own. She watched his feeble attempts thinking to herself that his powers were no match for hers when in reality they had been working overtime. But eventually, he succumbed.
He found himself just outside of James’ house, resting from the journey before continuing with the mission that Raven had implanted in his mind. The time travel left him weary, particularly since he had worked so hard to make it appear as if he were summoning the winds. Building them up, only to remain in place was a tricky endeavor and he had nearly won until Raven planted image after image in his mind, accosting his thoughts until she found the one that sent him over the edge and into the present Realm.
