Part 3
A mist had rolled in across the cliffs, adding to the over all feel of it being an entirely different world. I called out to Alex to wait for me, but he was too far ahead, and the mist seemed to muffle what I said. It was like outdoor soundproofing.
I stopped when I lost sight of him. Turning round to return to the café, my chest tightened when I realised the mist had turned into a fog, and I could no longer see anything behind me. I started to panic. Disorientated I planted my feet, not daring to try and find the path back to either the café or the house in case I accidentally walked right over the cliff. I couldn’t see further than I could reach.
Close your eyes, a voice whispered at my ear. I whirled round, but no one was there. It was the same voice that had spoken to me before on the way here. Deciding I had nothing to lose, I obeyed the command.
Relax your body and your mind, it coaxed. I took several long, deep breaths, calming my nerves. I stopped thinking of possible dangerous scenarios such as falling off the cliff or getting lost forever in this fog, pushed those thoughts away. I concentrated solely on the voice and its instructions.
Think of where you want to go, or who you want to go to. I pictured the house, Alexander’s house. Our house, if he’d meant his invitation for me to stay there. When I had a clear image of the patio between both our bedrooms, the voice returned. I realised it was actually speaking in my mind, and not at my ear. The jolt of that realisation distracted me from my concentration, and I lost all thoughts of the house.
Focus, the voice urged. I worked to re-immerse myself in the scene of the wide flag stones, with the flower bed border and smooth stone bench. Now put your will into wanting to be there, needing to be where you are imagining. That wasn’t exactly a great feat for me, as I’d have given anything to be anywhere but here. I willed it. After what felt like a year but was more realistically maybe thirty seconds, my mind started to drift, bored with the exercise. I thought of other things I wanted. I wanted to find Alex and properly talk about this issue he has with my death. And maybe yell at him a few times about letting me get lost in the fog. I also wanted to sit down, as a wave of fatigue slid over me suddenly. You haven’t regained all your strength yet, you’re still new. It irked me slightly, the way it new what I was thinking. I resolved to file that idea away to be properly considered later when I was fully alert.
I brought back the image of the patio with a new sense of urgency, not wanting to linger out here on my own much longer. Suddenly the air changed around me, giving the quick sound of a light rush of air. A few strands of my hair flew around my face. I heard a gasp.
Opening my eyes, I discovered I was no longer on the cliffs in the middle of the fog. Alex was sitting on the stone bench, his elbows resting on his knees. His face was like an open book; as the seconds ticked by I noted shock, confusion and relief pass over him, before returning to shock. I broke eye contact and looked at my surroundings. Sure enough I was on the patio, at the house.
“Um… What just happened?” I asked. Exhaustion crashed into me, like a brick wall. I swayed on my feet, nearly falling backwards down the steps. Alex was at my side in an instant, an arm wrapped round my waist and a firm grip on my wrist.
“I was just about to ask you the same question,” He said, guiding me to my room, so I could sit on my bed. I fell back onto the duvet, my legs still hanging off the end of the bed. I sighed happily. He fussed over me, placing a pillow under my head and making sure I was comfortable.
“Stop it,” I mumbled, sleep dragging at the edges of my mind. I flapped a heavy hand at him, batting him away as he tried to tuck a thin blanket around me. “I’m meant to be angry at you.”
“Oh, really?” He sounded amused.
“Mmhm. So stop being so nice.” I realised belatedly that somewhere along the line of me stumbling from the patio to the bed I’d closed my eyes and my shoes had been taken off. I pulled the blanket up to my chin and snuggled down.
Giving in to the overwhelming tiredness, I vaguely thought I heard him mutter something like “Never,” Huh. He was turning out to be a stubborn one. I was drunk with fatigue, or else I would have confronted him right then on the leaving me behind incident. I only let him tuck me in and start humming to help me sleep because I couldn’t function well enough at that moment to stop him.
Or at least that’s what I told myself, before consciousness left me.
About Me
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Monday, 27 July 2009
Part 2
Glancing up at Alex, I saw him turn a shade of pink before he swiftly grabbed a menu and held it up infront of his face, blocking my view. "I'll take your silence as a yes then."
"It's not how it sounds.."
"Oh?" I picked up my own menu, a single page of elaminated paper, and inspected the breakfast options. It was strange to think that even though I was dead, I was still having breakfast, at a cliffside café, no less. "Because it sounds like you went into a lot of detail, if she can recognise me just by appearance."
I looked over the edge of my menu, hiding my smile. I found his embarressment incredibly amusing. When he didn't answer me, I took mercy on him. "I'm only teasing you, Alex, relax."
"You're not mad?"
"No, of course not. Although I don't know how I could have been that interesting, to talk about."
He made a scoffing noise, then tried to cover it with a cough. This time he peeked over the edge of his menu, and eyed me suspiciously. "You're really not bothered by it?"
"No!"
He visibly relaxed, still behind his elaminated barrier. "Good. And I didn't talk about you that much-"
"Are you joking? Here you are," Lucy bustled up then, baring gifts of french toast and orange juice. She carefully placed them infront of us along with some napkins. "Alex all you could ever talk about was Aurora, especially over the past year or so. I mean I've heard of guardians becoming attached to their charges - it's expected, since they watch over them all through their lives. But Alec you-"
"Okay! That's enough Lucy. I think she gets it." He glowered at her, as she winked at me and pulled up a chair. I realised she was purposely trying to wind him up, and imediately warmed to her.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or worried," I commented, playing along.
"It's not liek I was obsessed or anything. Just after watching you all day, I'd come here to visit Lucy and we'd start talking. And she would ask all kinds of questions about you, so it wasn't jsut me blabbering on about you."
Lucy shrugged, "I've never met a human before, and Alex is the only Guardian I know. I was curious."
"Does he tell you off for asking too many questions too?" Alex switched his glower from her on to me.
"Yes! Alex doesn't liek curiosity. He likes to follow rules, no questions asked. He also dislikes anything catching him off guard."
"You know I'm still here." He huffed, taking an irritated bite out of his toast. "And so are you," He looked pointedly at the chair Lucy was sitting on. "Don't you have a job to do?"
"All right, sorry! No need to get tetchy," She stood up and returned her chair to the neighbouring table. "I'll leave you be. Is there anything else I can get you first?"
We declined and she left us alone once more. For a long time we sat in silence, munching on our toast and sipping our orange juice. The food had so much flavour here. I had to restrain myself from gobbling it all up in one go.
I gazed out the window at the view, and mused about what I'd learnt so far. Alex obviously was friends with Lucy, and from her comment about never meeting a human before she was probably a 'pure' angel too. And he'd talked about me to her when he'd been my guardian angel, and gone into quite a lot of detail from what Lucy had said. I couldn't understand that - Why would he want to talk about me? What had there even been to talk about? 'Aurora had a tuna sandwich today instead of cheese!' ? My life hadn't been that exciting.
But then again I couldn't even remember my life. Just my sister and my last day. It dawned on me that Alex would know. He'd know everything about me, if what I'd gathered from both his comment when we first offically met, "I feel like I already know you," and Lucy's. And the small fact he'd watched over me everyday of my life.
"Alex, tell me about my life. You know I can't remember any of it."
"I can't, I'm sorry." He looked genuinely apologetic. "I would if I could, but I'm not allowed to tell you anything. You have to find out for yourself, as you progress as an angel."
"But why? And how?"
"Well They say it's meant to help you become a proper force of good, as you won't remember a past that might make you biased towards future charges or cases. Your memories will come back to you gradually, sometimes they'll come to you in dreams, other times they might be triggered by certain objects, places or words."
"Who's They?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You really do have an endless stream of questions, don't you?" He sighed, "They, are the Elders. There's a sort of angelic hierarchy, and the Elders are right up there near the top. Some Gods and Goddesses are above them, others are below, depending on how powerful and important they are."
I thought about this. I was pretty sure Persephone, the only Goddess I'd met so far, was right up there above these mysterious Elders. She ruled over the Underworld, and if my greek mythology was correct, she also had something to do with the changing of seasons. That seemed pretty powerful to me.
"So, I will remember my life, but just not all at once?"
"Exactly."
"Well could you at least tell me what kind of person I was? Like, was I nice, or mean, loud or shy? Was I a good person?" I tried to hide how much this meant to me.
Holding my eyes, Alex leant forward in his seat, "Aurora you were lovely. You were loved by many." He said very seriously, not blinking once.
I gulped, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Thank you," I whispered, averting my gaze back out across the clouds. After I was sure my voice wouldn't break or wobble, I took a sip of my orange juice before continueing. "I guess I wasn't loved by all though, evidently." I indicated our surroundings.
That look I'd seen before on him crossed Alexs face then, at the mention of my death. It was filled with sorrow and regret. I suppose he must have taken my death badly, especially if he'd had to stand by and watch it happen, after watching me my whole life. "Hey, don't blame yourself," I reached over and squeezed his hand that was resting on the table, fiddling with his napkin. "You couldn't have stopped what happened."
He looked up at me and away nervously, almost guiltily. "..Could you?" I asked hesitantly, suddenly unsure.
"I-I wasn't there." He took a deep breath, still avoiding my gaze. I pulled my hands back and rested them on my lap. "I should have been there, but I wasn't-"
"What are you saying?"
"I was called away that day. I saw you leaving your house that morning, with your sister, and you were fine. Then.. Then something came up. I had to go away. Then I came back and you-you were... well, you were trying to pick up a camera, and your body was lying at the bottom of the stairs." He shuddered, staring into the distance with a haunted look in his eyes as he recalled my death scene. It was obvious he was just as disturbed as I had been.
He snapped out of his trance after a moment, took in our empty plates and glasses, and jumped up from the table. "Lets go."
I had to quickly scramble out of my chair and almost run to catch up to his long strides. Lucy was standing behind a counter, writing on a chalk board. Alex strode past her without any acknowledgement. "Uhm, what do we owe you for breakfast?" I asked, not sure what the currency was or how Alex expected me to pay for it since he was already out the door.
"Nothing, don't worry." She looked at me worriedly. "He's very sensitive about that."
"What, paying?"
"No, your.. death." She raised her eyebrows. I somehow wasn't surprised she knew what was up with her friend. "He won't forgive himself for not being there. He feels he could have helped in some way, effected the outcome or something. No please, let me say this," She added when I went to speak. "Don't blame him, it really wasn't his fault. He's tormented himself over it."
"I don't blame him, of course not. He didn't kill me." I looked at her searchingly. I felt liek she knew a lot more than she was letting on. "I have to go," I looked out through the entrance, and could see Alex still stalking away in the distance. "Thanks for the food, I'll probably see you around?"
"You're welcome, Aurora. Come back anytime." She smiled at me like we were old friends, then went back to writing on her chalk board. I quickly exited the café and started running after Alex.
Glancing up at Alex, I saw him turn a shade of pink before he swiftly grabbed a menu and held it up infront of his face, blocking my view. "I'll take your silence as a yes then."
"It's not how it sounds.."
"Oh?" I picked up my own menu, a single page of elaminated paper, and inspected the breakfast options. It was strange to think that even though I was dead, I was still having breakfast, at a cliffside café, no less. "Because it sounds like you went into a lot of detail, if she can recognise me just by appearance."
I looked over the edge of my menu, hiding my smile. I found his embarressment incredibly amusing. When he didn't answer me, I took mercy on him. "I'm only teasing you, Alex, relax."
"You're not mad?"
"No, of course not. Although I don't know how I could have been that interesting, to talk about."
He made a scoffing noise, then tried to cover it with a cough. This time he peeked over the edge of his menu, and eyed me suspiciously. "You're really not bothered by it?"
"No!"
He visibly relaxed, still behind his elaminated barrier. "Good. And I didn't talk about you that much-"
"Are you joking? Here you are," Lucy bustled up then, baring gifts of french toast and orange juice. She carefully placed them infront of us along with some napkins. "Alex all you could ever talk about was Aurora, especially over the past year or so. I mean I've heard of guardians becoming attached to their charges - it's expected, since they watch over them all through their lives. But Alec you-"
"Okay! That's enough Lucy. I think she gets it." He glowered at her, as she winked at me and pulled up a chair. I realised she was purposely trying to wind him up, and imediately warmed to her.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or worried," I commented, playing along.
"It's not liek I was obsessed or anything. Just after watching you all day, I'd come here to visit Lucy and we'd start talking. And she would ask all kinds of questions about you, so it wasn't jsut me blabbering on about you."
Lucy shrugged, "I've never met a human before, and Alex is the only Guardian I know. I was curious."
"Does he tell you off for asking too many questions too?" Alex switched his glower from her on to me.
"Yes! Alex doesn't liek curiosity. He likes to follow rules, no questions asked. He also dislikes anything catching him off guard."
"You know I'm still here." He huffed, taking an irritated bite out of his toast. "And so are you," He looked pointedly at the chair Lucy was sitting on. "Don't you have a job to do?"
"All right, sorry! No need to get tetchy," She stood up and returned her chair to the neighbouring table. "I'll leave you be. Is there anything else I can get you first?"
We declined and she left us alone once more. For a long time we sat in silence, munching on our toast and sipping our orange juice. The food had so much flavour here. I had to restrain myself from gobbling it all up in one go.
I gazed out the window at the view, and mused about what I'd learnt so far. Alex obviously was friends with Lucy, and from her comment about never meeting a human before she was probably a 'pure' angel too. And he'd talked about me to her when he'd been my guardian angel, and gone into quite a lot of detail from what Lucy had said. I couldn't understand that - Why would he want to talk about me? What had there even been to talk about? 'Aurora had a tuna sandwich today instead of cheese!' ? My life hadn't been that exciting.
But then again I couldn't even remember my life. Just my sister and my last day. It dawned on me that Alex would know. He'd know everything about me, if what I'd gathered from both his comment when we first offically met, "I feel like I already know you," and Lucy's. And the small fact he'd watched over me everyday of my life.
"Alex, tell me about my life. You know I can't remember any of it."
"I can't, I'm sorry." He looked genuinely apologetic. "I would if I could, but I'm not allowed to tell you anything. You have to find out for yourself, as you progress as an angel."
"But why? And how?"
"Well They say it's meant to help you become a proper force of good, as you won't remember a past that might make you biased towards future charges or cases. Your memories will come back to you gradually, sometimes they'll come to you in dreams, other times they might be triggered by certain objects, places or words."
"Who's They?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You really do have an endless stream of questions, don't you?" He sighed, "They, are the Elders. There's a sort of angelic hierarchy, and the Elders are right up there near the top. Some Gods and Goddesses are above them, others are below, depending on how powerful and important they are."
I thought about this. I was pretty sure Persephone, the only Goddess I'd met so far, was right up there above these mysterious Elders. She ruled over the Underworld, and if my greek mythology was correct, she also had something to do with the changing of seasons. That seemed pretty powerful to me.
"So, I will remember my life, but just not all at once?"
"Exactly."
"Well could you at least tell me what kind of person I was? Like, was I nice, or mean, loud or shy? Was I a good person?" I tried to hide how much this meant to me.
Holding my eyes, Alex leant forward in his seat, "Aurora you were lovely. You were loved by many." He said very seriously, not blinking once.
I gulped, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Thank you," I whispered, averting my gaze back out across the clouds. After I was sure my voice wouldn't break or wobble, I took a sip of my orange juice before continueing. "I guess I wasn't loved by all though, evidently." I indicated our surroundings.
That look I'd seen before on him crossed Alexs face then, at the mention of my death. It was filled with sorrow and regret. I suppose he must have taken my death badly, especially if he'd had to stand by and watch it happen, after watching me my whole life. "Hey, don't blame yourself," I reached over and squeezed his hand that was resting on the table, fiddling with his napkin. "You couldn't have stopped what happened."
He looked up at me and away nervously, almost guiltily. "..Could you?" I asked hesitantly, suddenly unsure.
"I-I wasn't there." He took a deep breath, still avoiding my gaze. I pulled my hands back and rested them on my lap. "I should have been there, but I wasn't-"
"What are you saying?"
"I was called away that day. I saw you leaving your house that morning, with your sister, and you were fine. Then.. Then something came up. I had to go away. Then I came back and you-you were... well, you were trying to pick up a camera, and your body was lying at the bottom of the stairs." He shuddered, staring into the distance with a haunted look in his eyes as he recalled my death scene. It was obvious he was just as disturbed as I had been.
He snapped out of his trance after a moment, took in our empty plates and glasses, and jumped up from the table. "Lets go."
I had to quickly scramble out of my chair and almost run to catch up to his long strides. Lucy was standing behind a counter, writing on a chalk board. Alex strode past her without any acknowledgement. "Uhm, what do we owe you for breakfast?" I asked, not sure what the currency was or how Alex expected me to pay for it since he was already out the door.
"Nothing, don't worry." She looked at me worriedly. "He's very sensitive about that."
"What, paying?"
"No, your.. death." She raised her eyebrows. I somehow wasn't surprised she knew what was up with her friend. "He won't forgive himself for not being there. He feels he could have helped in some way, effected the outcome or something. No please, let me say this," She added when I went to speak. "Don't blame him, it really wasn't his fault. He's tormented himself over it."
"I don't blame him, of course not. He didn't kill me." I looked at her searchingly. I felt liek she knew a lot more than she was letting on. "I have to go," I looked out through the entrance, and could see Alex still stalking away in the distance. "Thanks for the food, I'll probably see you around?"
"You're welcome, Aurora. Come back anytime." She smiled at me like we were old friends, then went back to writing on her chalk board. I quickly exited the café and started running after Alex.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
CHAPTER THREE
I sat at a little café on the edge of a cliff. Clouds blocked out any view of the drop, if you looked over the edge. I could see as far as the horizon line, with the sun halfway up the sky. It was beautiful, and I had a rare moment of being too stunned to speak.
Alex had led me down the 3 wide stone steps, worn smooth and low in the middle from being constantly used. His house was like a small, beach cottage, all on the one level and shaped in a U, with the patio at the centre leading out to the main road.
From the pavement, I couldn't see any other houses. Just several fields, filled with long grass and wild flowers and bordered by the old fashioned stone slab walls covered in moss and delicate little flowers, like those you'd see in Cornwall. If this was heaven, I'd hate to be a cosmopolitan.
We turned right, and the road soon turned into a dirt track. Alex didn't speak as he walked slightly infront of me leading the way, allowing me to take in my surroundings properly. Eventually the track split into two directions; we could either keep following the road straight ahead, or go left and follow a path. I was midly surprised when Alex took to the left path without hesitating. I assumed he knew where he was going - he did live here afterall.
The path meandered down a slight slope, and Alex held back the occasional branch and prickly plant. Suddenly I looked up and could see right across the sea of clouds to the horizon line.
We walked right to the edge of the cliff, and leaned on the wooden fence that was the only thing separating us from falling. Could you fall to your death, in this life? What happened if you did fall from here?
You fall from grace.
I jumped, as a breaze whispered the words past my ear. Whipping my head round I couldn't see anyone else.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, breaking our comfortable silence.
"Hear what?"
"That voice.. it was like a whisper or something."
"No, I didn't hear anything." He looked at me for a moment, before looking back out at the view. "What did it say?"
"Oh.. nothing." I decided against telling him. I didn't want him to think me any weirder than I already was. "Probably just the wind." I looked away, feigning nochulance.
We'd continued to follow the new path along the edge of the cliff, parallel to the wooden fence that separated us from the sheer drop hidden by clouds. It was so peaceful here, no wonder Alex lived here. The sun was pleasantly warm on my skin, and a light breeze prevented it from getting too hot. And the view was spectacular. I couldn't help smiling to myself as we walked.
A small café came into view, that was built right on the edge without the fence to keep you at a distance. It had a nice, cosy look to it, with painted white wood walls, and lots of windows.
Inside it was all white-washed furniture, with lots of vases of flowers. It was so airy and light, from having windows on the three walls with a view, yet felt cosy and safe and welcoming. I imediately felt this was a place I could get used to visiting. We headed to a table that pressed right up the the glass of the window, with my chair facing the view, and Alex's with his back to it.
A woman appeared beside us almost straight away, startling me. "Hi, Alex," She smiled to him. She was small and curvy, with long blonde hair piled on top on her head, and the clearest peaches and cream skin I'd seen. But before I could envy her her perfect looks, and the smile she'd given Alex, she turned to me and that smile widened and turned warm. "You are exactly how I imagined you to be."
I was momentarily stunned. She seemed to radiate happiness and freindliness. Alex quickly jumped in, "Ah, Aurora this is my friend, Lucille. She owns and runs this café."
"Call me Lucy," She beamed at me. "I can not believe I am actually meeting you. I mean Alex talked about you so much it felt like I'd already met and known you forever, but to actually meet you, face to face. It's crazy!"
"Oh, uhm.. Thanks, I think." I looked across to Alex who was looking very uncomfortable, and raised my eyebrows.
"Okay, so, Lucy! Get us some toast or something, please?" He gave her a beseeching look, and she hurriedly dropped two menus on the table and rushed off to go deal with the order. Reluctantly he returned his attention to me, and somehow managed to look both indignant and sheepish at the same time. "Sorry about that... She tends to blabber on a bit."
I held his gaze for a moment, "Talk about me often, do you?" I pretended to inspect my nails, feigning disinterest.
Alex had led me down the 3 wide stone steps, worn smooth and low in the middle from being constantly used. His house was like a small, beach cottage, all on the one level and shaped in a U, with the patio at the centre leading out to the main road.
From the pavement, I couldn't see any other houses. Just several fields, filled with long grass and wild flowers and bordered by the old fashioned stone slab walls covered in moss and delicate little flowers, like those you'd see in Cornwall. If this was heaven, I'd hate to be a cosmopolitan.
We turned right, and the road soon turned into a dirt track. Alex didn't speak as he walked slightly infront of me leading the way, allowing me to take in my surroundings properly. Eventually the track split into two directions; we could either keep following the road straight ahead, or go left and follow a path. I was midly surprised when Alex took to the left path without hesitating. I assumed he knew where he was going - he did live here afterall.
The path meandered down a slight slope, and Alex held back the occasional branch and prickly plant. Suddenly I looked up and could see right across the sea of clouds to the horizon line.
We walked right to the edge of the cliff, and leaned on the wooden fence that was the only thing separating us from falling. Could you fall to your death, in this life? What happened if you did fall from here?
You fall from grace.
I jumped, as a breaze whispered the words past my ear. Whipping my head round I couldn't see anyone else.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, breaking our comfortable silence.
"Hear what?"
"That voice.. it was like a whisper or something."
"No, I didn't hear anything." He looked at me for a moment, before looking back out at the view. "What did it say?"
"Oh.. nothing." I decided against telling him. I didn't want him to think me any weirder than I already was. "Probably just the wind." I looked away, feigning nochulance.
We'd continued to follow the new path along the edge of the cliff, parallel to the wooden fence that separated us from the sheer drop hidden by clouds. It was so peaceful here, no wonder Alex lived here. The sun was pleasantly warm on my skin, and a light breeze prevented it from getting too hot. And the view was spectacular. I couldn't help smiling to myself as we walked.
A small café came into view, that was built right on the edge without the fence to keep you at a distance. It had a nice, cosy look to it, with painted white wood walls, and lots of windows.
Inside it was all white-washed furniture, with lots of vases of flowers. It was so airy and light, from having windows on the three walls with a view, yet felt cosy and safe and welcoming. I imediately felt this was a place I could get used to visiting. We headed to a table that pressed right up the the glass of the window, with my chair facing the view, and Alex's with his back to it.
A woman appeared beside us almost straight away, startling me. "Hi, Alex," She smiled to him. She was small and curvy, with long blonde hair piled on top on her head, and the clearest peaches and cream skin I'd seen. But before I could envy her her perfect looks, and the smile she'd given Alex, she turned to me and that smile widened and turned warm. "You are exactly how I imagined you to be."
I was momentarily stunned. She seemed to radiate happiness and freindliness. Alex quickly jumped in, "Ah, Aurora this is my friend, Lucille. She owns and runs this café."
"Call me Lucy," She beamed at me. "I can not believe I am actually meeting you. I mean Alex talked about you so much it felt like I'd already met and known you forever, but to actually meet you, face to face. It's crazy!"
"Oh, uhm.. Thanks, I think." I looked across to Alex who was looking very uncomfortable, and raised my eyebrows.
"Okay, so, Lucy! Get us some toast or something, please?" He gave her a beseeching look, and she hurriedly dropped two menus on the table and rushed off to go deal with the order. Reluctantly he returned his attention to me, and somehow managed to look both indignant and sheepish at the same time. "Sorry about that... She tends to blabber on a bit."
I held his gaze for a moment, "Talk about me often, do you?" I pretended to inspect my nails, feigning disinterest.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Part 4
I digested that, and tried not to show the mild distress I felt at coming so close to such a fate. Of course I had no idea what this fate I now had was either, but I was willing to bet it was a good deal nicer.
"But I broke her gaze," It sounded more like a question.
"Yes, she let you go. Your resistance obviously indicated a strength not seen in simple spirits."
"No, Alex. I broke her gaze." I turned and looked him in the eye, to make sure he took me seriously. "I did resist, yes. But then I could hear you talking, and you sounded like you were walking away and I wanted to follow you. I didn't want to be left alone."
He considered this, his eyes never leaving my face. I could practically see the wheels of his mind turning over all the possibilities and explanations behind this. Eventually he murmured, "Hmm. I'll have to speak with Persephone as to what that means."
"Is it unusual?"
"Aurora, I've only just managed to train myself to break her gaze." At my questioning look he expanded on his answer, "It is important for angels and archangels alike to stay in the peak of health and top condition. For our senses to be acute and reflexes sharp. Persephone likes to spring traps on us spontaneously - she gets bored very easily, and finds these exercises entertaining - where she grips us in her gaze, and we have to fight it until either she gets bored and releases us or we break free ourselves."
"And you've only just been able to break free yourself?" I was getting worried now. What did that say about me?
"Yes." He searched my eyes for something, probably a reason for why I was so different. "But you doing that within a day of becoming an angel from a human no less, where you aren't even at your full power. And on your first turn. That's.. pretty spectacular."
I smiled meekly, not sure whether I liked being spectacular. It felt like just another word for 'freak' or 'different'. I didn't want to be different. I wanted to fit in. A sudden flash back triggered by that thought brought me previous feelings of wanting to fit in and surrounded by friends. I got a vague impression of a memory, of me on the outskirts of the groups of people socialising. OF being more interested in reading and animals than make-up and the latest celebrity gossip.
As quickly as it arrived, the memory flickered away from me. My mind fought to grab onto it, to delve deeper into it but it danced away until it faded. For a moment I forgot Alex was watching my face, and realised he must have misinterpreted my obvious frustration as anxiety. He immediately turned earnest.
"Spectacular in a good way, I mean. You're making Angelic history!" He gave me a lop-sided grin. It sounded odd when he used words like 'angelic' as technical terms, as actual names for things, and not just as a way to describe someone or something. Like if you wanted to emphasise a child's innocence, you'd say they were angelic. I couldn't get used to this minor shift in vocabulary. "Honestly Aurora, don't think of this as some drawn out end to your life - Think of it as a bright new beginning where you've the potential to become legendary. You've definitely got the potential to do great things, no question." He smiled reassuringly at me.
"Thanks.." For laying on the pressure. "I'll keep that in mind."
Alex suddenly leapt up from the bed and stood at the foot of it. His clothes were remarkably un-wrinkled from lying down all that time. I couldn't recall him leaving to change them. "Alex did you change into fresh clothes?" I sat up, my back stiff from staying in one position for so long. I was vaguely aware that my hair must have looked a right state, where my tears had run down my cheek and soaked the left side, which was the side I'd been lying on. But no matter what I looked like, Alex merely threw me a look that clearly said what-are-you-talking-about-you-crazy-fool? and proceeded to open all the curtains.
"No, Aurora. I stayed next to you the whole time. Didn't you realise?"
"Well that's what I thought but your clothes aren't even wrink-"
"Enough of your questions!" He threw open a set of french doors on the north wall, opposite the bed, and turned back to face me. At that moment, with the light streaming in around him through the doors, he looked truly angelic - and in the literal sense. I was temporarily awed by his beauty. "Since you are obviously feeling better, I think it's about time you got up." I was beginning to wish he'd go back to being silent and soothing.
"Okay, but please - answer me two more questions?" I sat forward with my legs crossed under me, suddenly eager for the answers.
"Fine."
"How long have I been in here for? Like, I know it must have been a few hours.." I shrugged embarrassed by what now felt like merely a bad dream.
Alex looked me straight in the eye and said seriously, "Seven days."
I stared at him for a long moment. "I never."
"But you were. If you're actually interested in hours then you've been in here one hundred and sixty eight hours." He briskly looked the room over with a critical eye. "Don't get me wrong - it's a very nice room - but I'm just about sick of it right now. Don't look so worried, Aura, it isn't unusual for a newly turned angel to hide away for seven days give or take. During that time you complete the transition from human soul to pure angel. It is a time of rebirth and creation - and where you humans got that idea about god creating the world in seven days."
Again I simply stared at him, trying not to let my jaw drop open. So much information to take in. But I found myself somehow absorbing and registering it quicker than before - seven days before, apparently. "So you mean there was actually some truth behind - No! I need to concentrate." I mentally filed that away to be asked at a later date when he wasn't restricting my curiosity. "Right, question two. What time of day is it now?"
Alex gave m an incredulous look, "That's your second question? Really?"
"Yup."
"Mid-morning. Now get up and get ready," He strode over to a door I hadn't noticed before on the west wall, and opened it wide. "If you want to change or freshen up or anything, you can do so in here. I'll wait out through the french doors, then we can brunch."
"Did you honestly just say 'brunch'?"
"We watch over you humans so much, we're bound to pick up your lingo. Now come on!" He gestured towards the new doorway. I swung my legs over and jumped out of bed, trying not to smile at his indignant expression, suddenly feeling rejuvenated. I practically bounced over to him.
"Seven days.. wow." I purposely looked him up and down, indicating his clean freshly ironed looking outfit. "And you didn't change your clothes once?"
"Is that another question?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You answered the one about you saying brunch!"
"Ah, but you were being rhetorical. I simply chose to expand on my use of the word." He abruptly gave me a wolfish grin that lit up his eyes. "I'll be just outside if you have anymore questions.. and I'm sure you will." He then strode away leaving me no choice but to go into the new room and wonder what he meant by 'I'm sure you will'. Was he teasing me? I knew I'd been very curious but who could blame me..
All thought left me as I entered the room. To my left a pole went right along it, from which many dresses, cardigans, skirts and tops hung. To my right the wall was lined with racks of shoes and accessories. I now understood what Alex had meant. He knew this was sending my curiosity into overdrive.
I walked forward, trailing my left hand along the many items of clothing, and my right over the many pairs of shoes, and then necklaces and rings. It struck me how all the dresses looked similar; floaty and feminine, and different tones and hues of white, from ivory to cream, to a pearly pale grey-lilac. The shoes were all a variation on my flat dark brown leather gladiator sandals; from basic flip-flops to the type of gladiator sandal that encased half your leg.
At the end of the rows of clothes and shoes, was a door frame without a door. I walked hesitantly through to find a large bathroom. There was a huge bathtub with clawed legs, and fancy shiny gold taps. I walked over to the sink that was also gold-tapped, and had a mirror hung behind it. I braced myself for whatever state I must have looked before I stepped in front of it.
Staring back at me was a clear skinned, bright eyed version of myself. My hair was for once shiny and silky looking, tumbling in smooth spirals down to my waist, unlike the usual tangle of curls I had to deal with every morning. The last time I'd seen myself had been my dead body, and that versions face had been drained of colour and devoid of expression. Now my skin with still as pale as porcelain, but my cheeks had a natural blush to them, and my lips were a nice pinky red colour. I gave myself a shy smile, watching as the dimple in my right cheek appeared near the corner of my mouth, as my lips stretched.
I looked... Healthy.
And more alive than before I died.
Filled with a strange sense of happiness - for all was not lost, as I had thought before. There was now a life for me beyond death, and I apparently suited it, if my reflection was anything to go by. I half ran and half skipped back to the walk-in wardrobe, and had a quick rummage til I found a short sun dress like my own cotton one, except it was more an ivory than white colour, and the neckline went into a V from spaghetti straps. I shimmied out of my oddly uncreased outfit and into the new one. It was a perfect fit, thankfully.
With one last glance at my reflection, and after folding my dress over the edge of the bath tub to be put away later, I swept out back to the bedroom. I was literally the cliché of someone with a spring in their step.
The french doors seemed to lead out onto a neat little outdoor patio/mini courtyard, with flowerbeds lining the walls. Alex sat on a stone bench that faced west. Opposite my bedroom, and to the right of Alex was another set of french doors that led back inside the building. To the west, where Alex was facing, the outside walls of the building carried on for around three metres, where the patio stopped and was enclosed by a dainty picket fence. From there I could see steps down to the pavement and road. Across the road was a huge field fenced off. The sky was a clear blue, with the smallest clumps of white fluffy clouds dotted here and there. I felt like I'd been transported to Cornwall or a rural part of England.
Alex jumped up from the bench when I stepped out onto the stone patio with him. "I see you didn't waste time in changing your outfit." He observed, looking me over.
"It was okay for me to change, wasn't it? You don't mind that I borrowed this dress?" I suddenly realised I hadn't even asked if I could wear it.
"Do I look like I own that dress? It's yours. Alond with everythign else in there. So of course it was okay if you changed."
"What? All those clothes? and shoes? They're all mine?" He couldn't be serious.
"Yes, Aura. Why did you think the dress fit you? They're all your exact size."
But apparently he was. "But how? How is it all my size? and all for me? I don't even have a place to live, or put all those clothes in!" Just my luck, to be given the wardrobe of my dreams, then not be able to keep it.
"Yes you do, this is your home now. That was your bedroom you were in for seven days, your wardrobe, and your bathroom. And before you ask," He gestured towards the other set of french doors. "Those lead to my rooms. So yes, you would be sharing a house with me, unless you feel uncomfortable with that, in which case new accomodation can be arranged." He saw me open my mouth again, and interrupted me. "And I don't know how all those clothes appeared, in exactly your size. But it happens for every human-turned-angel. Almost like a starter pack. I'm sure you noticed how the items were different variations of the last outfit you wore while alive. I'm guessing that's a way of playing it safe, as 'they'" He made quote marks with his fingers, "probably assume it was an outfit you liked, and so it's more likely you'll like your new wardrobe. So just accept that it happened. I know you're dying to ask me more questions, but just try to accept it for now."
I eyed him for a moment, digesting what he'd said. "But aren't you even curi-" I cut myself off when he shot me a look that clearly said I shouldn't bother asking that question. Resisting the urge to sulk and glare at him, I instead asked, "So how do you know I'm dying to ask more questions?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Well apart from the fact that that's all you've done since you died, and then relived your death, I think anyone would know you love to ask questions." I couldn't help glaring at him then. Grinning he carried on, "But you also forget, I've known you for a long time. I was your Guardian Angel from when you were born, eighteen human years ago. I'd like to think I knew you well by now."
Now that caught my attention. "So how old are you then? Obviosuly you're at least eighteen years older than me, even though you only look about twenty-one."
"Oh, you could say I am twenty-one." He laughed.
Feeling ridiculously like we were in a scene from Twilight, I persisted and asked, "And how long have you been twenty-one?"
"Since the mid-to-late 18th Century." He watched my reaction soberly. I was stunned into silence. So that made him around two hundred and fifty years old, give or take half a century. Whoa. I could tell he was slightly weary of my reaction, as if he expected me to run screaming or something.
"So I guess you're a bit older than twenty-one, really, then." I thought about that for a moment. "That explains your weird clothes," I said flippantly. He immediately flashed me a relieved smile that quickly turned a mock hurt.
"You wound me! What's so weird about my clothes?"
"Well not so much weird, just the only people I've seen who wore billowy shirts and tight trousers were Mr Darcy and his lot." I smiled innocently back at him. "Although I've no idea if they were from the same century as you or not." I shrugged.
"You know, for all I said about knowing you well by now, you still surprise me." He placed a hand gently on my back and started to guide me towards the picket fence and steps. "Now, let's go get something to eat."
I digested that, and tried not to show the mild distress I felt at coming so close to such a fate. Of course I had no idea what this fate I now had was either, but I was willing to bet it was a good deal nicer.
"But I broke her gaze," It sounded more like a question.
"Yes, she let you go. Your resistance obviously indicated a strength not seen in simple spirits."
"No, Alex. I broke her gaze." I turned and looked him in the eye, to make sure he took me seriously. "I did resist, yes. But then I could hear you talking, and you sounded like you were walking away and I wanted to follow you. I didn't want to be left alone."
He considered this, his eyes never leaving my face. I could practically see the wheels of his mind turning over all the possibilities and explanations behind this. Eventually he murmured, "Hmm. I'll have to speak with Persephone as to what that means."
"Is it unusual?"
"Aurora, I've only just managed to train myself to break her gaze." At my questioning look he expanded on his answer, "It is important for angels and archangels alike to stay in the peak of health and top condition. For our senses to be acute and reflexes sharp. Persephone likes to spring traps on us spontaneously - she gets bored very easily, and finds these exercises entertaining - where she grips us in her gaze, and we have to fight it until either she gets bored and releases us or we break free ourselves."
"And you've only just been able to break free yourself?" I was getting worried now. What did that say about me?
"Yes." He searched my eyes for something, probably a reason for why I was so different. "But you doing that within a day of becoming an angel from a human no less, where you aren't even at your full power. And on your first turn. That's.. pretty spectacular."
I smiled meekly, not sure whether I liked being spectacular. It felt like just another word for 'freak' or 'different'. I didn't want to be different. I wanted to fit in. A sudden flash back triggered by that thought brought me previous feelings of wanting to fit in and surrounded by friends. I got a vague impression of a memory, of me on the outskirts of the groups of people socialising. OF being more interested in reading and animals than make-up and the latest celebrity gossip.
As quickly as it arrived, the memory flickered away from me. My mind fought to grab onto it, to delve deeper into it but it danced away until it faded. For a moment I forgot Alex was watching my face, and realised he must have misinterpreted my obvious frustration as anxiety. He immediately turned earnest.
"Spectacular in a good way, I mean. You're making Angelic history!" He gave me a lop-sided grin. It sounded odd when he used words like 'angelic' as technical terms, as actual names for things, and not just as a way to describe someone or something. Like if you wanted to emphasise a child's innocence, you'd say they were angelic. I couldn't get used to this minor shift in vocabulary. "Honestly Aurora, don't think of this as some drawn out end to your life - Think of it as a bright new beginning where you've the potential to become legendary. You've definitely got the potential to do great things, no question." He smiled reassuringly at me.
"Thanks.." For laying on the pressure. "I'll keep that in mind."
Alex suddenly leapt up from the bed and stood at the foot of it. His clothes were remarkably un-wrinkled from lying down all that time. I couldn't recall him leaving to change them. "Alex did you change into fresh clothes?" I sat up, my back stiff from staying in one position for so long. I was vaguely aware that my hair must have looked a right state, where my tears had run down my cheek and soaked the left side, which was the side I'd been lying on. But no matter what I looked like, Alex merely threw me a look that clearly said what-are-you-talking-about-you-crazy-fool? and proceeded to open all the curtains.
"No, Aurora. I stayed next to you the whole time. Didn't you realise?"
"Well that's what I thought but your clothes aren't even wrink-"
"Enough of your questions!" He threw open a set of french doors on the north wall, opposite the bed, and turned back to face me. At that moment, with the light streaming in around him through the doors, he looked truly angelic - and in the literal sense. I was temporarily awed by his beauty. "Since you are obviously feeling better, I think it's about time you got up." I was beginning to wish he'd go back to being silent and soothing.
"Okay, but please - answer me two more questions?" I sat forward with my legs crossed under me, suddenly eager for the answers.
"Fine."
"How long have I been in here for? Like, I know it must have been a few hours.." I shrugged embarrassed by what now felt like merely a bad dream.
Alex looked me straight in the eye and said seriously, "Seven days."
I stared at him for a long moment. "I never."
"But you were. If you're actually interested in hours then you've been in here one hundred and sixty eight hours." He briskly looked the room over with a critical eye. "Don't get me wrong - it's a very nice room - but I'm just about sick of it right now. Don't look so worried, Aura, it isn't unusual for a newly turned angel to hide away for seven days give or take. During that time you complete the transition from human soul to pure angel. It is a time of rebirth and creation - and where you humans got that idea about god creating the world in seven days."
Again I simply stared at him, trying not to let my jaw drop open. So much information to take in. But I found myself somehow absorbing and registering it quicker than before - seven days before, apparently. "So you mean there was actually some truth behind - No! I need to concentrate." I mentally filed that away to be asked at a later date when he wasn't restricting my curiosity. "Right, question two. What time of day is it now?"
Alex gave m an incredulous look, "That's your second question? Really?"
"Yup."
"Mid-morning. Now get up and get ready," He strode over to a door I hadn't noticed before on the west wall, and opened it wide. "If you want to change or freshen up or anything, you can do so in here. I'll wait out through the french doors, then we can brunch."
"Did you honestly just say 'brunch'?"
"We watch over you humans so much, we're bound to pick up your lingo. Now come on!" He gestured towards the new doorway. I swung my legs over and jumped out of bed, trying not to smile at his indignant expression, suddenly feeling rejuvenated. I practically bounced over to him.
"Seven days.. wow." I purposely looked him up and down, indicating his clean freshly ironed looking outfit. "And you didn't change your clothes once?"
"Is that another question?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You answered the one about you saying brunch!"
"Ah, but you were being rhetorical. I simply chose to expand on my use of the word." He abruptly gave me a wolfish grin that lit up his eyes. "I'll be just outside if you have anymore questions.. and I'm sure you will." He then strode away leaving me no choice but to go into the new room and wonder what he meant by 'I'm sure you will'. Was he teasing me? I knew I'd been very curious but who could blame me..
All thought left me as I entered the room. To my left a pole went right along it, from which many dresses, cardigans, skirts and tops hung. To my right the wall was lined with racks of shoes and accessories. I now understood what Alex had meant. He knew this was sending my curiosity into overdrive.
I walked forward, trailing my left hand along the many items of clothing, and my right over the many pairs of shoes, and then necklaces and rings. It struck me how all the dresses looked similar; floaty and feminine, and different tones and hues of white, from ivory to cream, to a pearly pale grey-lilac. The shoes were all a variation on my flat dark brown leather gladiator sandals; from basic flip-flops to the type of gladiator sandal that encased half your leg.
At the end of the rows of clothes and shoes, was a door frame without a door. I walked hesitantly through to find a large bathroom. There was a huge bathtub with clawed legs, and fancy shiny gold taps. I walked over to the sink that was also gold-tapped, and had a mirror hung behind it. I braced myself for whatever state I must have looked before I stepped in front of it.
Staring back at me was a clear skinned, bright eyed version of myself. My hair was for once shiny and silky looking, tumbling in smooth spirals down to my waist, unlike the usual tangle of curls I had to deal with every morning. The last time I'd seen myself had been my dead body, and that versions face had been drained of colour and devoid of expression. Now my skin with still as pale as porcelain, but my cheeks had a natural blush to them, and my lips were a nice pinky red colour. I gave myself a shy smile, watching as the dimple in my right cheek appeared near the corner of my mouth, as my lips stretched.
I looked... Healthy.
And more alive than before I died.
Filled with a strange sense of happiness - for all was not lost, as I had thought before. There was now a life for me beyond death, and I apparently suited it, if my reflection was anything to go by. I half ran and half skipped back to the walk-in wardrobe, and had a quick rummage til I found a short sun dress like my own cotton one, except it was more an ivory than white colour, and the neckline went into a V from spaghetti straps. I shimmied out of my oddly uncreased outfit and into the new one. It was a perfect fit, thankfully.
With one last glance at my reflection, and after folding my dress over the edge of the bath tub to be put away later, I swept out back to the bedroom. I was literally the cliché of someone with a spring in their step.
The french doors seemed to lead out onto a neat little outdoor patio/mini courtyard, with flowerbeds lining the walls. Alex sat on a stone bench that faced west. Opposite my bedroom, and to the right of Alex was another set of french doors that led back inside the building. To the west, where Alex was facing, the outside walls of the building carried on for around three metres, where the patio stopped and was enclosed by a dainty picket fence. From there I could see steps down to the pavement and road. Across the road was a huge field fenced off. The sky was a clear blue, with the smallest clumps of white fluffy clouds dotted here and there. I felt like I'd been transported to Cornwall or a rural part of England.
Alex jumped up from the bench when I stepped out onto the stone patio with him. "I see you didn't waste time in changing your outfit." He observed, looking me over.
"It was okay for me to change, wasn't it? You don't mind that I borrowed this dress?" I suddenly realised I hadn't even asked if I could wear it.
"Do I look like I own that dress? It's yours. Alond with everythign else in there. So of course it was okay if you changed."
"What? All those clothes? and shoes? They're all mine?" He couldn't be serious.
"Yes, Aura. Why did you think the dress fit you? They're all your exact size."
But apparently he was. "But how? How is it all my size? and all for me? I don't even have a place to live, or put all those clothes in!" Just my luck, to be given the wardrobe of my dreams, then not be able to keep it.
"Yes you do, this is your home now. That was your bedroom you were in for seven days, your wardrobe, and your bathroom. And before you ask," He gestured towards the other set of french doors. "Those lead to my rooms. So yes, you would be sharing a house with me, unless you feel uncomfortable with that, in which case new accomodation can be arranged." He saw me open my mouth again, and interrupted me. "And I don't know how all those clothes appeared, in exactly your size. But it happens for every human-turned-angel. Almost like a starter pack. I'm sure you noticed how the items were different variations of the last outfit you wore while alive. I'm guessing that's a way of playing it safe, as 'they'" He made quote marks with his fingers, "probably assume it was an outfit you liked, and so it's more likely you'll like your new wardrobe. So just accept that it happened. I know you're dying to ask me more questions, but just try to accept it for now."
I eyed him for a moment, digesting what he'd said. "But aren't you even curi-" I cut myself off when he shot me a look that clearly said I shouldn't bother asking that question. Resisting the urge to sulk and glare at him, I instead asked, "So how do you know I'm dying to ask more questions?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Well apart from the fact that that's all you've done since you died, and then relived your death, I think anyone would know you love to ask questions." I couldn't help glaring at him then. Grinning he carried on, "But you also forget, I've known you for a long time. I was your Guardian Angel from when you were born, eighteen human years ago. I'd like to think I knew you well by now."
Now that caught my attention. "So how old are you then? Obviosuly you're at least eighteen years older than me, even though you only look about twenty-one."
"Oh, you could say I am twenty-one." He laughed.
Feeling ridiculously like we were in a scene from Twilight, I persisted and asked, "And how long have you been twenty-one?"
"Since the mid-to-late 18th Century." He watched my reaction soberly. I was stunned into silence. So that made him around two hundred and fifty years old, give or take half a century. Whoa. I could tell he was slightly weary of my reaction, as if he expected me to run screaming or something.
"So I guess you're a bit older than twenty-one, really, then." I thought about that for a moment. "That explains your weird clothes," I said flippantly. He immediately flashed me a relieved smile that quickly turned a mock hurt.
"You wound me! What's so weird about my clothes?"
"Well not so much weird, just the only people I've seen who wore billowy shirts and tight trousers were Mr Darcy and his lot." I smiled innocently back at him. "Although I've no idea if they were from the same century as you or not." I shrugged.
"You know, for all I said about knowing you well by now, you still surprise me." He placed a hand gently on my back and started to guide me towards the picket fence and steps. "Now, let's go get something to eat."
Monday, 15 June 2009
Part 3
The room was pitch black. I lay curled up in the foetal position, on a bed that smelt like clean cotton. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness however many hours ago.
I still couldn't remember my life. But I knew I wasn't dreaming anymore. There was no way I could think that now. I did, however, remember every detail of my last moments.
Holding a warm little body close to me as I ran, fleeing down to the basement in desperation when the front door was too far away.
*Eve. She was called Eve. The little girl I was trying to save was called Eve, and she was my sister. Where before I could only guess at her relevance and importance to me – and mine to her – I now knew for certain that she was my baby sister. Her hair was a more washed out red, and had looser, wispier curls than mine, but we had the same dark violet eyes.*
Spying the cupboard I was too big to fit in, and shoving the struggling body in there; At that moment the most precious thing in my world. Kissing her forehead, telling her to stay as quiet as she could possibly be, that I'd be back for her before she knew it. Frantically searching the room for a weapon, something to weild in defence; the weights were too heavy, the old fashioned polaroid cameras too light. Making it to the top of the staircase, hoping to find something in the house I could use. He was on me before I could scream.
I started shaking again. It was so vivid. Alex had had to carry me out of that room. I'd collapsed, shortly after my death had returned to me. Persophone had been true to her word; I now knew I was dead, and how I came to be this way. I couldn't bring myself to be annoyed that she hadn't given me back my whole memory. She had, after all, been specific when she'd said she was going to show me my death. Not my life. My death.
I didn't know how long I'd lain here, wrapped around myself. This room had windows, I hazily recalled - Alex had placed me on this bed, then before I could ask he'd set about firmly pulling every curtain shut, until every ounce of light was banished.
Except his own inner light. He'd stayed with me all this time, letting me shake and sob. Sometimes he'd sit next to me on the bed and rub my back, making soothing sounds and promises that I'd feel better soon. He never asked me any questions, or got me to talk to him, for which I was thankful. I couldn't form a coherent sentence if I tried.
After however long, when the shakes had subsided, and the memory wasn't so fresh or vibrant in my mind, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. My mind had been wandering to other thoughts in between flashbacks, which was an improvement from just simply reliving it over and over again nonstop.
I could finally digest all the information I'd gathered. Like that angels existed. And that I had apparently joined their prestigious ranks.
My eyes had become adjusted to Alex's' and my light, which softly illuminated the dark room, like a lamp with a towel thrown over it. It took me a while to realise that there was no ceiling - what I'd thought was just a very detailed mural was actually thick clouds.
*I lay back, watching the clouds roll and twist, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I was beyond the storm now. I had grieved for my death, for the loss of potential life, of relationships with loved ones. Now I was ready to move forward. My hands were resting on my stomach, as I lay contemplating this new turn of events. I could now think with an open mind, and see that really, I had it better off than most people who died did. If Persephone and Alex's conversation was anything to go by, I was an exception – More than just a spirit, a ghost. I was an Angel. Possibly an Archangel if I'd worked that out right. I'd been able to break Persephone's gaze.
It dawned on me where I'd heard of her before. She was the Goddess Persephone, from Greek mythology. The fair maiden who was tricked into living half the year ruling Underworld. No wonder Alex had asked to speak with her. I recalled her saying something along the lines of 'I of all people, deity or not, would know if she was just a spirit!'. Of course, since she ruled the Underworld, she'd be the one to contact if you had a query about a spirit.
“Alex, what was Persephone doing to me when she first arrived? You know, when I couldn't look away from her eyes?” I was overcome with a new curiosity. I wanted answers, I wanted to know what I was in for. I realized I was eager to find out more. Alex jumped, as my abrupt question broke the long-held silence.
He thought for a moment before answering. “She was drawing your essence into her. While away from the Underworld, she can act as a living gateway to that domain, and so if she'd succeeded in drawing you in, your soul would have traveled straight there.” He watched my face as he spoke, noting every micro expression.*
The room was pitch black. I lay curled up in the foetal position, on a bed that smelt like clean cotton. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness however many hours ago.
I still couldn't remember my life. But I knew I wasn't dreaming anymore. There was no way I could think that now. I did, however, remember every detail of my last moments.
Holding a warm little body close to me as I ran, fleeing down to the basement in desperation when the front door was too far away.
*Eve. She was called Eve. The little girl I was trying to save was called Eve, and she was my sister. Where before I could only guess at her relevance and importance to me – and mine to her – I now knew for certain that she was my baby sister. Her hair was a more washed out red, and had looser, wispier curls than mine, but we had the same dark violet eyes.*
Spying the cupboard I was too big to fit in, and shoving the struggling body in there; At that moment the most precious thing in my world. Kissing her forehead, telling her to stay as quiet as she could possibly be, that I'd be back for her before she knew it. Frantically searching the room for a weapon, something to weild in defence; the weights were too heavy, the old fashioned polaroid cameras too light. Making it to the top of the staircase, hoping to find something in the house I could use. He was on me before I could scream.
I started shaking again. It was so vivid. Alex had had to carry me out of that room. I'd collapsed, shortly after my death had returned to me. Persophone had been true to her word; I now knew I was dead, and how I came to be this way. I couldn't bring myself to be annoyed that she hadn't given me back my whole memory. She had, after all, been specific when she'd said she was going to show me my death. Not my life. My death.
I didn't know how long I'd lain here, wrapped around myself. This room had windows, I hazily recalled - Alex had placed me on this bed, then before I could ask he'd set about firmly pulling every curtain shut, until every ounce of light was banished.
Except his own inner light. He'd stayed with me all this time, letting me shake and sob. Sometimes he'd sit next to me on the bed and rub my back, making soothing sounds and promises that I'd feel better soon. He never asked me any questions, or got me to talk to him, for which I was thankful. I couldn't form a coherent sentence if I tried.
After however long, when the shakes had subsided, and the memory wasn't so fresh or vibrant in my mind, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. My mind had been wandering to other thoughts in between flashbacks, which was an improvement from just simply reliving it over and over again nonstop.
I could finally digest all the information I'd gathered. Like that angels existed. And that I had apparently joined their prestigious ranks.
My eyes had become adjusted to Alex's' and my light, which softly illuminated the dark room, like a lamp with a towel thrown over it. It took me a while to realise that there was no ceiling - what I'd thought was just a very detailed mural was actually thick clouds.
*I lay back, watching the clouds roll and twist, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I was beyond the storm now. I had grieved for my death, for the loss of potential life, of relationships with loved ones. Now I was ready to move forward. My hands were resting on my stomach, as I lay contemplating this new turn of events. I could now think with an open mind, and see that really, I had it better off than most people who died did. If Persephone and Alex's conversation was anything to go by, I was an exception – More than just a spirit, a ghost. I was an Angel. Possibly an Archangel if I'd worked that out right. I'd been able to break Persephone's gaze.
It dawned on me where I'd heard of her before. She was the Goddess Persephone, from Greek mythology. The fair maiden who was tricked into living half the year ruling Underworld. No wonder Alex had asked to speak with her. I recalled her saying something along the lines of 'I of all people, deity or not, would know if she was just a spirit!'. Of course, since she ruled the Underworld, she'd be the one to contact if you had a query about a spirit.
“Alex, what was Persephone doing to me when she first arrived? You know, when I couldn't look away from her eyes?” I was overcome with a new curiosity. I wanted answers, I wanted to know what I was in for. I realized I was eager to find out more. Alex jumped, as my abrupt question broke the long-held silence.
He thought for a moment before answering. “She was drawing your essence into her. While away from the Underworld, she can act as a living gateway to that domain, and so if she'd succeeded in drawing you in, your soul would have traveled straight there.” He watched my face as he spoke, noting every micro expression.*
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Part 2
"Persephone, don't," I heard Alex snap from a distance. Why was he so far away? Where had he gone? My mind felt like trying to walk through syrup - everything was coming to me in dribs and drabs, taking its time before my brain could register it. Everything but my sight; All I could see was the hollow depths of her black eyes.
"Is that a warning I hear in your voice, Alexander?" I wanted to see him. To check he was still here, and wasn't just leaving me with this woman. He better not be. The was something cold about her, underneath all her outward loveliness. Persephone... Where had I heard that name before?
"No, your grace. I merely request you stop playing with her, as it is imperative that I speak with you in all seriousness. I have important news," He sounded slightly exasperated, as if she liked to make people address her extra politely just for the hell of it. I wanted to be able to pay proper attention to this news he was talking about, the way he bigged it up appealing to my natural nosiness. I didn't like that I couldn't see where he was either. Like an addict in need of a fix, it was suddenly vital that I see his face. "Thank you." He said when I broke free of her trance, and staggered back a few steps, reeling from what felt like my mind being thrown back into my head.
Persephone was eyeing me curiously, her eyes now just a smokey black. "Oh I didn't release her," She said absently, her focus still on me. Finally she turned to Alex, who had come over to steady my now swaying form. "I expect this is what you have come to talk to me about." She waved an elegant hand in my direction.
"Your grace it doesn't make sense. Aurora isn't showing the usual signs. Spirits like her shouldn't be able to effect their surroundings at all as they simply move through them. Yet when I got to her she was attempting to move objects, able to hold on to them. And then.." He trailed off, looking uncertain.
"Go on," She ordered. Her face was neutral, holding no expression.
"Well, then she managed to.. to stop a man from getting to a young girl. Not directly, but her energy called to the people looking for the girl, and they managed to stop him just in time. But Aurora made it happen. She called them there I know it."
"Interesting..." Persephone tapped her nose in thought. "A soul with some tricks up her sleeve."
"But that isn't even possible." Alex sputtered, having gotten himself worked up while describing the scene with the man. He didn't seem angry, just confused and frustrated at his own confusion. Something told me Alex wasn't often caught off guard. "Is it?" He prompted, when she didn't reply.
"Alexander I don't see what you're making such a fuss about, I would have thought you of all people would have known." She smiled kindly to soften her words. "Look at her, for goodness sake! She's glowing!"
"Yes, but-"
"Alexander. She's glowing, just like you." Just like him? But he was some preternaturally gorgeous glowing creature, and I was... me. And I couldn't even remember who I was - Alex had told me my full name, after that girl had called me Rori. "You just told me all the traits. She willed someone to take action, for something or someone to stop that man, and something happened. She could touch objects her hand should have passed through. You tell me what that means."
"Impossible."
"Nothings impossible, Alexander, you're a testament to that." She turned to me, "He's an Angel you know," She winked at me. I decided it was best not to comment on that. My brain already had so much to take in.
"But she's... she's... I've watched her, Persephone. I've watched over her since the day she was born. During her life she never showed signs of incredible goodness, didn't conduct acts of pure kindness," He glanced at me and shrugged, "No offence - you're only human."
"Ah, but here she is. How is that I wonder?" She tilted her head to the side, a smile playing on her lips. "Hmm? Maybe her life was cut off before such acts could be performed?" Her look turned sharp then, and Alex looked momentarily ashamed.
"Perhaps..." He grudgingly conceded.
"Alexander," Her eyes softened, "She is not merely a spirit. I am sure of that. She is too strong for that. She is strong even for your kind. I saw it, when I drew her mind into my own." Talk about devouring someone with your eyes. "I of all people, deity or not, should be able to recognise a simple spirit." She scoffed. Alex didn't reply, as he chewed over what she'd said. I'd given up trying to understand what they were talking about a while back.
"So, what does that make me?" I hesitantly asked, suddenly shy of speaking up in this room of echoes.
"Why, an angel of course!" She proclaimed cheerfully. "Oh Alexander how wonderful would it be if she turned out to be your partner?!" She clasped her hands the her chest in excitement.
"No, no I don't think that's possible-"
"Oh when did you get so pessimistic? Why ever not?" She seemed put out at his lack of enthusiasm in her idea.
"Well typically partners come from Pure Angels," He glanced at me, saw my confusion at the term and briefly explained, "One is considered a Pure Angel when they are born into this life, not through a promising human life cut short by death."
"Yes but anomalies have been known to occur." She challenged. Alex opened his mouth to retort, then seemed to think better of it and shut it again.
"I'm sorry but what do you mean by 'Partners'?" I made quote marks with my fingers. "You don't mean, like, married-partners, do you?"
Persephone let out a laugh that sounded like bells. "Oh dear child, no not at all. Think of it more as.. Business partners. Archangels have a fated partner, usually but not always," She cast a pointed look at Alex, "They find this partner in another Archangel. One of 'Pure' lineage. This partner will complete them, and as a team they would be at their absolute best when fighting the battle for good." She concluded with an eager nod. "Of course I am not on either side, good or evil. I am a goddess of neutral grounds... Like Switzerland." She seemed pleased with her own analogy of it.
"Whoa, okay, a lot of information there." I raked a hand through my hair again, a habit I had while aggravated or confused. "Seriously, the most complicated dream I have ever had."
She let out a surprised bark of laughter. Instead of incredulity, like Alex, she gave me a look bordering on pity.
"Not this again..." Alex sighed.
"My dear, can you remember anything about your life before this 'dream'?" She copied my gesture of quotation marks in the air.
"I remember getting ready this morning," I said, unsure if that's what she meant.
"Just as I thought. You must have had a traumatic death." She nodded to herself, as if confirming some lone-held suspicion.
"You have no idea." Alex muttered rudely. I glared at him for a second before returning my gaze to her.
"Like in human life, when one experiences something too traumatic to deal with, the mind often blanks it out, erases it. Evasion survival tactics." Her eyes were sympathetic as she explained. "So as you passed on into this life from your last, your death must have been so traumatic that the you that stands before me just blanked it out." She looked at me for a moment, then sat up straight on the edge of her recliner. It instantly morphed into a gold throne, the back reached a good two feet higher than her head. She reached out her arms to me, beckoning me over. "I'm so sorry I have to do this, Aurora."
"Do what?" I asked, anxiety pricking my spine as Alex gently eased me forward towards her. I took the hint, and walked the short distance til I was standing just before the platform. She reached her hands across, so that they hovered either side of my head.
"Show you your death," She said sorrowfully. She placed two fingers on both of my temples. My vision blacked out suddenly, and then I saw.
That's when I died a second time.
"Persephone, don't," I heard Alex snap from a distance. Why was he so far away? Where had he gone? My mind felt like trying to walk through syrup - everything was coming to me in dribs and drabs, taking its time before my brain could register it. Everything but my sight; All I could see was the hollow depths of her black eyes.
"Is that a warning I hear in your voice, Alexander?" I wanted to see him. To check he was still here, and wasn't just leaving me with this woman. He better not be. The was something cold about her, underneath all her outward loveliness. Persephone... Where had I heard that name before?
"No, your grace. I merely request you stop playing with her, as it is imperative that I speak with you in all seriousness. I have important news," He sounded slightly exasperated, as if she liked to make people address her extra politely just for the hell of it. I wanted to be able to pay proper attention to this news he was talking about, the way he bigged it up appealing to my natural nosiness. I didn't like that I couldn't see where he was either. Like an addict in need of a fix, it was suddenly vital that I see his face. "Thank you." He said when I broke free of her trance, and staggered back a few steps, reeling from what felt like my mind being thrown back into my head.
Persephone was eyeing me curiously, her eyes now just a smokey black. "Oh I didn't release her," She said absently, her focus still on me. Finally she turned to Alex, who had come over to steady my now swaying form. "I expect this is what you have come to talk to me about." She waved an elegant hand in my direction.
"Your grace it doesn't make sense. Aurora isn't showing the usual signs. Spirits like her shouldn't be able to effect their surroundings at all as they simply move through them. Yet when I got to her she was attempting to move objects, able to hold on to them. And then.." He trailed off, looking uncertain.
"Go on," She ordered. Her face was neutral, holding no expression.
"Well, then she managed to.. to stop a man from getting to a young girl. Not directly, but her energy called to the people looking for the girl, and they managed to stop him just in time. But Aurora made it happen. She called them there I know it."
"Interesting..." Persephone tapped her nose in thought. "A soul with some tricks up her sleeve."
"But that isn't even possible." Alex sputtered, having gotten himself worked up while describing the scene with the man. He didn't seem angry, just confused and frustrated at his own confusion. Something told me Alex wasn't often caught off guard. "Is it?" He prompted, when she didn't reply.
"Alexander I don't see what you're making such a fuss about, I would have thought you of all people would have known." She smiled kindly to soften her words. "Look at her, for goodness sake! She's glowing!"
"Yes, but-"
"Alexander. She's glowing, just like you." Just like him? But he was some preternaturally gorgeous glowing creature, and I was... me. And I couldn't even remember who I was - Alex had told me my full name, after that girl had called me Rori. "You just told me all the traits. She willed someone to take action, for something or someone to stop that man, and something happened. She could touch objects her hand should have passed through. You tell me what that means."
"Impossible."
"Nothings impossible, Alexander, you're a testament to that." She turned to me, "He's an Angel you know," She winked at me. I decided it was best not to comment on that. My brain already had so much to take in.
"But she's... she's... I've watched her, Persephone. I've watched over her since the day she was born. During her life she never showed signs of incredible goodness, didn't conduct acts of pure kindness," He glanced at me and shrugged, "No offence - you're only human."
"Ah, but here she is. How is that I wonder?" She tilted her head to the side, a smile playing on her lips. "Hmm? Maybe her life was cut off before such acts could be performed?" Her look turned sharp then, and Alex looked momentarily ashamed.
"Perhaps..." He grudgingly conceded.
"Alexander," Her eyes softened, "She is not merely a spirit. I am sure of that. She is too strong for that. She is strong even for your kind. I saw it, when I drew her mind into my own." Talk about devouring someone with your eyes. "I of all people, deity or not, should be able to recognise a simple spirit." She scoffed. Alex didn't reply, as he chewed over what she'd said. I'd given up trying to understand what they were talking about a while back.
"So, what does that make me?" I hesitantly asked, suddenly shy of speaking up in this room of echoes.
"Why, an angel of course!" She proclaimed cheerfully. "Oh Alexander how wonderful would it be if she turned out to be your partner?!" She clasped her hands the her chest in excitement.
"No, no I don't think that's possible-"
"Oh when did you get so pessimistic? Why ever not?" She seemed put out at his lack of enthusiasm in her idea.
"Well typically partners come from Pure Angels," He glanced at me, saw my confusion at the term and briefly explained, "One is considered a Pure Angel when they are born into this life, not through a promising human life cut short by death."
"Yes but anomalies have been known to occur." She challenged. Alex opened his mouth to retort, then seemed to think better of it and shut it again.
"I'm sorry but what do you mean by 'Partners'?" I made quote marks with my fingers. "You don't mean, like, married-partners, do you?"
Persephone let out a laugh that sounded like bells. "Oh dear child, no not at all. Think of it more as.. Business partners. Archangels have a fated partner, usually but not always," She cast a pointed look at Alex, "They find this partner in another Archangel. One of 'Pure' lineage. This partner will complete them, and as a team they would be at their absolute best when fighting the battle for good." She concluded with an eager nod. "Of course I am not on either side, good or evil. I am a goddess of neutral grounds... Like Switzerland." She seemed pleased with her own analogy of it.
"Whoa, okay, a lot of information there." I raked a hand through my hair again, a habit I had while aggravated or confused. "Seriously, the most complicated dream I have ever had."
She let out a surprised bark of laughter. Instead of incredulity, like Alex, she gave me a look bordering on pity.
"Not this again..." Alex sighed.
"My dear, can you remember anything about your life before this 'dream'?" She copied my gesture of quotation marks in the air.
"I remember getting ready this morning," I said, unsure if that's what she meant.
"Just as I thought. You must have had a traumatic death." She nodded to herself, as if confirming some lone-held suspicion.
"You have no idea." Alex muttered rudely. I glared at him for a second before returning my gaze to her.
"Like in human life, when one experiences something too traumatic to deal with, the mind often blanks it out, erases it. Evasion survival tactics." Her eyes were sympathetic as she explained. "So as you passed on into this life from your last, your death must have been so traumatic that the you that stands before me just blanked it out." She looked at me for a moment, then sat up straight on the edge of her recliner. It instantly morphed into a gold throne, the back reached a good two feet higher than her head. She reached out her arms to me, beckoning me over. "I'm so sorry I have to do this, Aurora."
"Do what?" I asked, anxiety pricking my spine as Alex gently eased me forward towards her. I took the hint, and walked the short distance til I was standing just before the platform. She reached her hands across, so that they hovered either side of my head.
"Show you your death," She said sorrowfully. She placed two fingers on both of my temples. My vision blacked out suddenly, and then I saw.
That's when I died a second time.
Saturday, 13 June 2009
CHAPTER TWO
For what felt like both an eternity and two seconds, all I could see was this blinding white light. Everything else melted away, and for one crystal clear moment, I was at peace, knowing my soul was travelling to where it was meant to be. The light wrapped around me, enveloping me in a warm embrace that sent tingles of happiness down my spine. This was where I was meant to be.
I blinked, and we were standing in a glorious, echoing hall. The walls were lined with giant marble pillars that soared up to the ceiling - that reached such heights it was partially hidden by light wispy clouds. I gawped at the magnificence of this chamber, like an over sized empty cathedral. Soft sunlight poured in through large glass windows that lined the walls, pooling in brilliantly lit puddles, highlighting the centre strip of floor.
Electricity ripped through my veins. It jolted me back, reminded me of what had just happened. Alex. He was still gripping my hand. I'd almost forgotten him, in the pure bliss of nothingness I'd experienced in the light. The electricity I felt when he touched me wasn't painful or uncomfortable. It actually felt extremely nice, warming me from the inside out, energizing me. It was only when Alex tilted my chin to look at him, that I could focus, as his second touch intensified the first. He was staring at me strangely, the look on his face similar to one that I might wear while trying to work out a particularly tough math problem. He didn't look as noticeably glowing as before, standing in this room. Probably because everything else had an other-worldly inner light too.
When our eyes met, and even though he had my full attention, he kept his gentle grasp on my chin. His eyes were huge and the purest blue I'd seen. I all at once knew what people meant, when they said you could drown in someones eyes. His were like twin aqua pools, that seemed so deep they could hold the universe in them. They seemed troubled, and a look of urgency passed over his face.
"Aurora, concentrate," He murmured. Our heads were close enough for me to hear his clearly, though I didn't understand why he'd lowered his voice. We were the only people in the room. I could have sworn I still heard a feint echo off his words. Just how high was that ceiling? "Do you have any idea what just happened?"
I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry. I cleared my throat, then tried again, "Um, not exactly." I kept my voice as hushed as his. "Where are we?" I waved my free arm, encompassing the enormous room in the gesture.
"Never mind that now. What did you do?" He dropped his hand from my chin to my shoulder. I didn't miss these intimate actions. Gestures people who knew each other very well and for a long time might use them. I recalled him saying very vaguely about feeling as if he knew me or something along those lines.
"What? I didn't bring us here, if that's what you think."
"No, I know you didn't - I did." He glanced around him. I sensed he was on edge, and anticipating something to happen. "I mean back in the basement."
"Oh. Well I don't know then." I shrugged.
Alex stopped flicking his gaze around the room and settled it back on me. In a flat voice he replied, "That's it. That's your explanation?" It sounded more like a statement than a question.
"Sorry! All I did was try to move some stuff and nothing would happen and the girl couldn't see me. Then that guy came, so I tried to stop him from getting the little girl. Then those two bigger guys stormed the place and sorted him out. Then she saw me and seemed to know who I was - I look exactly like that body, did you see that?" I shuddered. "Creepy. So then I was talking to her and she said I was glowing, and then all of a sudden she couldn't see me anymore, so I came over to you and now here we are." I concluded with a sigh.
"Here we are indeed," He breathed, looking as if he'd been slapped. He started to say something else, paused, then turned and stepped away. Unconsciously he kept a hold of my hand, preserving the contact.
"Weirdest dream I've ever had. And the longest." I muttered, running my free hand through my hair. At that, Alex whipped round, staring at me aghast. He shook the fist holding my hand vigorously.
"This isn't a dream!" He almost hissed. His voice had risen, and feint echos bounced from it. I just looked at him. Of course he would say that. He was part of the dream. "Oh my Gods', is that what you truly believe? No wonder you aren't reacting the way others do."
"Others? Whats that supposed to mean?"
"You're dead, Aurora. That was you body back there. Want to know why no one could see you and you couldn't move stuff? It's because you're a ghost!" A muscle in his cheek was ticking. He looked incredulous. Then he dropped his eyes and his beautiful face grew troubled again. "Or at least you're meant to be.."
"Meant to be... what?"
"A ghost!"
"Oh." I stared dumbfounded at him. He seemed utterly convinced about this, and was getting quite emotional for someone I'd made up in my sleep. I couldn't think of any more to say. A gust of wind blew past my ear, making me jump. Alex dropped my hand and spun me round by my shoulders to face the other way.
Out of nowhere a platform had appeared, hovering a foot above the ground. A woman lay back on a velvet recliner, a bowl of pomegranates at her feet. She was phenomally pretty, with creamy skin and rich chesnut hair tied and coiled up at the back, with the odd loose curl framing her regal face. I couldn't see her eyes as she appeared to be concentrating on wrapping a long curl, that hung from the back of her head over her shoulder, around her finger. She had an aqualine nose, and a full pouting mouth. She was draped in material that was faastened in place with gold rope, that looped under her bust and around her neck, and a gold and saphire broach at the shoulder.
"Alexander I do love your visits," She spoke softly, but the sound traveled well in this room. "I see you brought a friend this time." Her eyes suddenly flashed up to me, fastened on my face. They were dark and endless pits of nothing, like tunnels. I found myself being drawn into them, with a similar sensation to falling. "Hello my dear," I dimly heard her murmmur, "My name's Persephone."
I blinked, and we were standing in a glorious, echoing hall. The walls were lined with giant marble pillars that soared up to the ceiling - that reached such heights it was partially hidden by light wispy clouds. I gawped at the magnificence of this chamber, like an over sized empty cathedral. Soft sunlight poured in through large glass windows that lined the walls, pooling in brilliantly lit puddles, highlighting the centre strip of floor.
Electricity ripped through my veins. It jolted me back, reminded me of what had just happened. Alex. He was still gripping my hand. I'd almost forgotten him, in the pure bliss of nothingness I'd experienced in the light. The electricity I felt when he touched me wasn't painful or uncomfortable. It actually felt extremely nice, warming me from the inside out, energizing me. It was only when Alex tilted my chin to look at him, that I could focus, as his second touch intensified the first. He was staring at me strangely, the look on his face similar to one that I might wear while trying to work out a particularly tough math problem. He didn't look as noticeably glowing as before, standing in this room. Probably because everything else had an other-worldly inner light too.
When our eyes met, and even though he had my full attention, he kept his gentle grasp on my chin. His eyes were huge and the purest blue I'd seen. I all at once knew what people meant, when they said you could drown in someones eyes. His were like twin aqua pools, that seemed so deep they could hold the universe in them. They seemed troubled, and a look of urgency passed over his face.
"Aurora, concentrate," He murmured. Our heads were close enough for me to hear his clearly, though I didn't understand why he'd lowered his voice. We were the only people in the room. I could have sworn I still heard a feint echo off his words. Just how high was that ceiling? "Do you have any idea what just happened?"
I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry. I cleared my throat, then tried again, "Um, not exactly." I kept my voice as hushed as his. "Where are we?" I waved my free arm, encompassing the enormous room in the gesture.
"Never mind that now. What did you do?" He dropped his hand from my chin to my shoulder. I didn't miss these intimate actions. Gestures people who knew each other very well and for a long time might use them. I recalled him saying very vaguely about feeling as if he knew me or something along those lines.
"What? I didn't bring us here, if that's what you think."
"No, I know you didn't - I did." He glanced around him. I sensed he was on edge, and anticipating something to happen. "I mean back in the basement."
"Oh. Well I don't know then." I shrugged.
Alex stopped flicking his gaze around the room and settled it back on me. In a flat voice he replied, "That's it. That's your explanation?" It sounded more like a statement than a question.
"Sorry! All I did was try to move some stuff and nothing would happen and the girl couldn't see me. Then that guy came, so I tried to stop him from getting the little girl. Then those two bigger guys stormed the place and sorted him out. Then she saw me and seemed to know who I was - I look exactly like that body, did you see that?" I shuddered. "Creepy. So then I was talking to her and she said I was glowing, and then all of a sudden she couldn't see me anymore, so I came over to you and now here we are." I concluded with a sigh.
"Here we are indeed," He breathed, looking as if he'd been slapped. He started to say something else, paused, then turned and stepped away. Unconsciously he kept a hold of my hand, preserving the contact.
"Weirdest dream I've ever had. And the longest." I muttered, running my free hand through my hair. At that, Alex whipped round, staring at me aghast. He shook the fist holding my hand vigorously.
"This isn't a dream!" He almost hissed. His voice had risen, and feint echos bounced from it. I just looked at him. Of course he would say that. He was part of the dream. "Oh my Gods', is that what you truly believe? No wonder you aren't reacting the way others do."
"Others? Whats that supposed to mean?"
"You're dead, Aurora. That was you body back there. Want to know why no one could see you and you couldn't move stuff? It's because you're a ghost!" A muscle in his cheek was ticking. He looked incredulous. Then he dropped his eyes and his beautiful face grew troubled again. "Or at least you're meant to be.."
"Meant to be... what?"
"A ghost!"
"Oh." I stared dumbfounded at him. He seemed utterly convinced about this, and was getting quite emotional for someone I'd made up in my sleep. I couldn't think of any more to say. A gust of wind blew past my ear, making me jump. Alex dropped my hand and spun me round by my shoulders to face the other way.
Out of nowhere a platform had appeared, hovering a foot above the ground. A woman lay back on a velvet recliner, a bowl of pomegranates at her feet. She was phenomally pretty, with creamy skin and rich chesnut hair tied and coiled up at the back, with the odd loose curl framing her regal face. I couldn't see her eyes as she appeared to be concentrating on wrapping a long curl, that hung from the back of her head over her shoulder, around her finger. She had an aqualine nose, and a full pouting mouth. She was draped in material that was faastened in place with gold rope, that looped under her bust and around her neck, and a gold and saphire broach at the shoulder.
"Alexander I do love your visits," She spoke softly, but the sound traveled well in this room. "I see you brought a friend this time." Her eyes suddenly flashed up to me, fastened on my face. They were dark and endless pits of nothing, like tunnels. I found myself being drawn into them, with a similar sensation to falling. "Hello my dear," I dimly heard her murmmur, "My name's Persephone."
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