Metanoia
Angela Schiavone
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 Angela Schiavone
Discover other ebook titles by Angela Schiavone at Smashwords.com
For my friends and family, especially my parents. I love you all.
For an old friend, Brian Demps, whom I hope has found his paradise.
For anyone who has ever believed in something more.
Keep believing.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
No reproduction of this work can be made in any form without written permission of the author. She can be contacted at writtenbyangela@yahoo.com.
Metanoia is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.
Other works by Angela Schiavone are available at http://www.writtenbyangela.com.
Chapters
Sample Chapters for “Who Killed Abigail Watson?”
Chapter 1
“Need For Escape”
It is one of the worst feelings to be lost in your own mind. To not be able to understand what you are thinking or feeling, to be as confused as Gina now felt. She was not meant to be here. This was everything she had always wanted; ironically now it ended up being what she dreaded… or did she want this? Would she have wanted to go through life daydreaming about this but never knowing what she imagined could be true? Was true? She didn’t know it would be this complicated – that so much would be at stake.
Gina Cassidy had a normal eighteen-year-old teenager’s life when everything changed. A life of homework, tests, projects, annoying teachers, and caring friends turned into chaos, responsibility, confusion, evil, and fear. Of course, Gina had positive experiences, but now, in the isolation of her bedroom, only pessimistic emotions surfaced. It had just barely been two months ago when her adventure began, but to Gina centuries had passed. It was at that critical time that Gina started down a life-altering road that she could never turn back from. Ironically, it had begun in the place Gina hated most.
Gina slouched in her chair while adding to the continuing display of wizards, fairies, and magical creatures now completely overtaking her notes. She was in Chemistry class, which, to her, was the most dreadful of all subjects. One can surely not experience absolute and complete boredom until that individual has experienced the pain and agony of listening to a Chemistry lecture. This was the unfortunate torture Gina now had to submit herself to. Second period – that was all. If this torment was any sample of the day to come, then Gina thought she would surely not live through it. She sighed and continued to draw as she stared blankly at her notes. She fingered the piece of pink lace around her neck with an intricate jewel at the front. The necklace had been given by a kind stranger when Gina was only 5 years old. She still remembered the man’s wise, but loving, gaze. Gina would never forget that look of love. It was something she was not used to, and she wore it to remind herself of the parental love that she must have once had. She just couldn’t be Gina without it.
Gina Cassidy had brown curls, which hung to just below her shoulders. On a good hair day, she sometimes had a shimmer of gold in each strand as well. Her brown eyes matched her hair perfectly though she often longed for blue or hazel like her friends.
These dark eyes now spun around, taking in the room which had imprisoned her all quarter. From her desk against the far right wall, she could see the front of the room pretty well. The door was on the same wall as she and about five feet away. The teacher’s desk stood on a tile platform in the center of the room in plain sight of the door and the hallway it led into. The actual desks the students sat in rows on platforms in front of the main desk and were set up like stairs to the back of the room. They stretched all the way from the left window-filled wall to Gina’s side which displayed the Periodic Table poster.
Gina glanced down at her solid, second-hand, navy skirt and started to tug it down, attempting to make it longer to match uniform code. She knew she tried in vain, though, luckily, she had yet to ever been written up for a uniform violation. Giving in, she moved on to her matching sweater-vest and picked off bits of lint before moving on to straightening her tie which never hung correctly. Some of her fellow students always looked so put together, but Gina had never been so lucky.
“Regina!” Gina quickly looked up to see her teacher, Mrs. Spencer, glaring down at her. She quickly wondered how long her teacher had been trying to get her attention. Mrs. Spencer was definitely a unique character. Her voice was so nasally and droll that it was no wonder that Gina could not keep her attention on gases and solids. She never put stress on any syllable but instead spoke every word, exciting or terrifying, in a monotone voice. This became an issue when she would warn her students not to mix two certain chemicals together due to dire consequences, for it sounded the same way as her greeting when she passed you in the hallway. Her face never moved a muscle (even when croaky words escaped her lips) though it was always apparent as to her mood. Though, her “good” mood was never very happy. Actually, her body itself didn’t move but rather dragged itself around like a slug.
“Well? Do you know what the process is called when a solid turns straight into a vapor?” she asked impatiently.
“Uh? Oh, umm, it’s…” Gina searched her brain but nowhere was there a trace of this answer. This was evident to Mrs. Spencer who let out a big, frustrated sigh and turned to another student in the front row, a girl with dyed blond hair outlining her tan and flawless face complete with baby blue eyes.
“Carolina? Do you know the answer?” Mrs. Spencer asked.
“Of course,” Carolina began pompously, very much aware that she now had the attention of the class (including the hot boys in the back row). With an intentional flip of her hair, she replied, “It is sublimation.”
“Excellent, Carolina. You are absolutely correct.” She turned her attention to Gina who in return tried to sink as low as possible in her desk to avoid Mrs. Spencer’s evil glare. She fingered the scar on her arm to have an excuse not to look at her. She couldn’t remember how she’d gotten it, and it had always provided a mystery to ponder upon. She would tell people she’d gotten it from a risky adventure in which she saved someone’s life, or fought the bad guy. They usually just smiled and nodded. She was used to that reaction.
Mrs. Spencer again spoke, seeing that Gina was attempting to avoid her. “You’d do well to actually pay attention in my class, Regina, or you’ll pay for it with your grade which is low already if I am not mistaken.”
It was the perfect start to another boring and excruciating day.
“Gina! Hey, wait up!” Gina turned to see her friend, Jessica Breneman, running up to her. Gina couldn’t help but smile as she waited for her friend to clumsily catch up. Her backpack bounced gracelessly against her back giving her that awkward look that is always associated with running while wearing a hindering backpack. This did not faze Jessica as she ran full speed at Gina.
“How was Chem today?” Jessica asked as she arrived, panting.
“Painful. I was totally zoning and completely blanked when Mrs. Spencer asked me a question. She then proceeded to tell the whole class that my grade was low. I swear she hates me,” Gina sighed.
“Yeah, she hates me too, but it’s okay. I’ve learned to live with it. Not having my teacher’s affection, oh God, I think I’ll survive.” She giggled and pushed back her blond hair. As always, Gina noticed that her hair seemed to shimmer as she did so, making Gina finger her own golden brown locks longingly. Jessica had beautiful hazel eyes, which always showed kindness and warmth. She was there for Gina through thick and thin. Gina didn’t know what she’d do without her.
“By the way, how’s Cassie?” Jessica asked as they walked down the halls of Phoenix High. “I haven’t had a chance to call her recently.” Cassie McCormack was a close friend of theirs who only the year before had transferred schools. Gina found it especially hard this year with Cassie gone. She had to face the dark and gloomy halls under the evil eyes of her bloodcurdling teachers without the warming comfort of her friend. Gina sometimes thought she saw Cassie walking through the halls, her dark curly hair tied up, her brown eyes glowing, and her hazelnut skin shining. They missed her smiling face everyday.
“She’s fine. You know, it’s so unfair. We get the privilege to do projects on science and math and she gets to do one on mythology!”
“Right up your alley, huh? Please tell me you didn’t bring it,” she pleaded glancing nervously at Gina’s backpack. Gina smiled and pulled out her cherished mythology book.
“Sure did!” Gina exclaimed as Jessica moaned. Gina had brought this same book to school everyday for the past week and the week before that she had had another on medieval jousting. She just couldn’t get enough of the worlds outside of her own time and place.
“You’ll read that all during lunch and won’t even talk to us! These days I’d have to dress up like a princess or a wizard so that you’ll notice me during what is supposed to be our time to socialize.”
“Actually you’d need to get a hot boy to dress up like a knight,” Gina responded, smiling. She couldn’t help it. Those stories were the only things she had to maintain her sanity.
“Oh, great. Civics test now, huh?” Jessica muttered. Gina stopped dead in her tracks.
“Civics test? What Civics test?”
“The one Mr. Morgan told us about last week.”
“That’s today?! Aww, man, I totally forgot.” Gina dropped her bag and almost ripped it open to get to her notes for a quick study period before stepping into the classroom. As a result, the bag’s contents splashed onto the floor with Gina scrambling to gather them. Jessica laughed at her friend making quite a spectacle of herself. Even a man visiting the school with the principle slowed his pace to stare at her.
“Gina, don’t worry about it. You’ll do fine. I mean when have you ever got lower than a B+ in Civics? Now me, that’s another story.” She glanced sideways at Gina who was still fumbling through her notes.
“Yeah, right. Is the Preamble stuff in the test?”
“Dude, that was two units ago…”
“Great.” Gina grabbed her bag irritably and ran into the classroom.
Gina stared anxiously at the clock. Five minutes to go until freedom. Five minutes until she would be able to read in the relaxing company of her friends. Five minutes until the lunch bell would ring. Five minutes was way too long. Gina swore that the clock stopped every other second just to keep her in her desk a little while longer; to keep her in the torture chamber for an extended visit. Each mark of the pencil, each shift in the chair, each crinkle of the paper, each sigh, each cough was slowly driving Gina insane. She looked at the clock again. Only one minute had passed since she had turned in her test. She glanced over at Jessica who had fallen asleep on her desk. She had finished early too. Gina sighed and took the time to study the rest of the room. She quickly noticed that many had followed Jessica’s example and had tried to use the extra time to catch up on some much needed sleep. Another student next to her was even beginning to drool a little. Suddenly the bell rang; her moment of freedom had come. Grabbing both her bag and Jessica, who had awoken with a start, Gina ran out of the classroom, out of the hall, and into the brilliant sunshine of the courtyard. Lunch was finally here. Hurriedly, Gina sat down with her group of friends and yanked out her book, her treasure.
“You’re insane, Gina. I swear you and that book should get married,” Jessica moaned.
“Maybe we should. There aren’t any other perspectives on the list yet,” Gina replied.
“Because unless he’s ‘prince charming,’ you won’t give him the time of day,” April laughed. She put on her red sunglasses that closely matched the color of her short hair, covering her green eyes, and leaned back on her bag. April Welsh was the one who completed the friendship, now a triangle since they had lost their fourth point. April never had had much trouble when it came to guys. This feisty red-head seemed to attract boys left and right, but she was never that into their attention except for one. She had had a steady boyfriend for as long as Gina could remember, and she still had a line of guys interested. Her main care, however, was for her friends, and she was the first to listen to a problem. Gina had always envied her even though she had attracted a good many boys herself and yet, she indeed never gave one of them the time of day. It wasn’t necessarily that the boys weren’t good enough for her, for Gina knew in her heart that she was terrified of committing to any relationship. She was beginning to feel that she couldn’t love at all. Besides the boys were just that – boys. Gina took a break from her book to look up at April.
“How’s Hayden?” she asked.
“Oh, well…uh…we sort of broke up last night.”
“What?!” Jessica and Gina shouted in unison.
“Yeah. Well, I broke up with him. Not too keen on commitment, you know,” she replied calmly.
“I’m the queen of no commitment, not you,” Gina exclaimed.
“Oh, well, I guess it’s contagious. Besides, he dyed his hair bright blue… couldn’t take it… Hey, umm, we should do something fun tomorrow, girls. Go to the movies or something. It’s Friday after all, and we need some excitement in this life.”
“Are you okay?” Gina asked. Jessica leaned in as if to ask the same question silently.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” April responded untruthfully. “Really, don’t worry. Like I said: we need some excitement.”
Gina decided to take the hint and return the conversation to normal. Pain to April by bringing up painful thoughts of the events that Jessica and she were not being let in on was the last thing they all wanted. Instead, she continued, “You can say that again. We do. We got to do something new though because we are quickly running out of ideas.”
Gina took the public bus home from school that day. She had a lot of homework to do and knew the day could only get longer. After five stops, the bus finally stopped in front of an old burger place that had been shut down years ago. Gina gathered her bag and belongings and stepped off the bus. She sighed as she beheld the same dark sight that she saw everyday. The burger joint was a palace compared to the rest of the neighborhood. The old streets had garbage shoved against the curbs, and shopping carts filled with trash sat here and there, a few turned over. Gina could see a few balls of sleeping bags and knew very well what it meant. Homeless people were once again living in their streets. She quickly walked past decrepit buildings to her own apartment complex, passed a man with a sign that read “Why lie, I want a beer,” and up to the front door. The screams and crying and hollering had already begun upstairs. She quickly unlocked the door and went into the dark hall. Wallpaper had been falling off the walls for centuries, and dead plants, sitting in corners here and there, had long ago dropped their leaves all over the broken-tiled floor.
“Mr. Smooter, you’re rent is overdue, pay up!” the landlady, Ms. Stern was screaming at a tenant who stood in his doorway.
“I just need a little longer! My check hasn’t come in yet!” he bellowed back. “We’re not made out of money, you know! It doesn’t grow on trees!”
“That’s not true!” Mr. Smooter’s four-year-old son, Henry, appeared in the door. “Charlie told me that money is made of paper and paper comes from trees! Just like apples.”
“Shut up,” Mr. Smooter mumbled. Gina continued past their argument and to her own door. She opened the door quickly and shut it behind her. Through the peephole, she could see Henry kick Ms. Stern in the shins as he passed by his father to run outside.
Gina threw her book-bag and keys by the door and looked around her apartment. Similar to the hall, her own space had peeling wallpaper, but Gina had tried to make the best of it. She’d put bright colored pillows on her second-hand couch and covered its many stains with a pastel towel that she’d placed across the cushions. In fact, she’d tried to freshen the whole area with brightly colored odds and ends (most that had some sort of fantasy element to them), all from second-hand stores. She had told her friends that she lived on her own, but they had no idea as to the condition of living. Gina had made it into a big deal that she was independent, without anyone else’s guidance. Really, dependence on a true family was all she really wanted. Gina had been an orphan for as long as she could remember. She traveled from one foster family to the next and had hated every minute of it. So, when she turned eighteen, she was more than happy to move away from her fake families for good. That’s not to say that Gina had never searched for some relatives, no matter how distant, but it just seemed like life had denied her a family.
With a sigh, Gina pulled out her books and plopped down on the couch. She pulled her syllabus out of her Chemistry book, unfolded it, and read.
DUE FRIDAY: Read Chapter 5 and complete the review questions at the end of the chapter.
Gina sighed, flipped to chapter 5, and began to read.
An hour later, she had just barely completed the reading and was starting on the questions. She would have finished sooner if it hadn’t been for the increased screaming coming from right next door to her. From what she could clearly hear, a mother was yelling at her child for not taking out the garbage while he was yelling back that it had been his sister’s turn to do so. Directly downstairs from Gina, Ms. Stern had moved to another tenant who was late on rent and was now screaming at them. Gina released a great sigh of relief that she had turned her own rent in on time. She had been left a good deal of money by whoever her parents were and had definitely needed it these past few months.
Gina directed her attention back to the task at hand: her boring Chemistry homework. Fill out this Vapor Pressure of Water chart with its appropriate temperature (˚C) or pressure (kPa). Refer to the table on page 528. Gina repeated this in her head for the hundredth time.
“I always have to do everything around here!” wailed the boy next door. “Sarah never has any chores! It was her turn! I have to cook, I have to clean, I have to do everything!”
“Yeah, well try being a mother someday!” screamed his mother. Concentrate, Gina thought to herself. At 10˚C, the pressure will be 1.2 kPa…
“Rent time is now! Not next month, not next week, not tomorrow – NOW! Pay up or get out!” Ms. Stern was screaming. How she could scream that loud on a daily basis without losing her voice, Gina did not know. It seemed impossible. Yet, she was always screaming. If it wasn’t about the rent then it was about that pesky cat or somebody leaving roller-skates out for someone to trip over. At 20˚C, the pressure will be 2.5… no… 2.3kPa…what is a kPa anyway? Gina tried to glance back to figure it out, but couldn’t even concentrate long enough to do that. Finally, she resulted to simply grabbing a snack and hoping that the screaming would end by the time her break was over. She knew not to count on it though.
When Gina finally finished her homework, it was 1:00am. The screaming had stopped, but the tenants below her were watching a loud action movie that kept her awake long enough to finish her homework. Finally, she threw her books into her bag, put on her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and crashed onto her bed.
The next day was like all the ones before it: boring and far too drawn out. As much as Gina hoped and prayed that Mrs. Spencer would have caught a mysterious tropical disease and not shown up that day, she was inevitably disappointed. There her teacher stood at the front, facing her victims with an evil grin that put the Grinch’s to shame. “With this chart,” Mrs. Spencer began, pointing at a chart she had drawn on the board to match the one in the book, “you can determine the critical temperature for a substance as well as the critical pressure. You can also find the triple point where the substance will have liquid, solid, and gas properties at the same time. But remember this occurs under rare conditions and is hardly seen…” Suddenly her scream pierced the air. Gina’s attention shot up to her teacher for the first time, totally ignoring her drawings. Mrs. Spencer stared out the open door at some unseen horror beyond it, but something else caught Gina’s eye. A black and blood-stained arrow now protruded from her teacher’s desk. Gina stared at it in horror, complete fear overtaking all of her ability to move. Mrs. Spencer sank back, crawling with grasping hands towards an inexistent safety zone. The rest of the class retreated to the furthest corner of the room they could get to, all but Gina. She continued to stare transfixed at the arrow, panic weighing her down.
It was in this instant that the embodiment of pure terror emerged. First one claw, then another, dragged in the body of a horrific beast. Straightening up, it towered eight feet in the air, covered in black and red colored skin. Shards of rusting metal protruded from this monster’s baldhead, splitting its skull in what seemed like a million pieces. It wore armor displaying sharp spikes that steam sizzled from. As terrifying as this sight was, nothing compared to its horrific eyes. They were black with a pupil of red fire seeming to actually have living flames. These eyes turned to Gina. The creature’s harsh, raspy voice interrupted the screams and gasps coming from the class. Painful sounds began to emerge from its mouth and though barely understandable, one word could be clearly distinguished.
“Re-gi-na!” The creature was after her. The realization finally set in, and Gina scurried to get away. It was too late.
“Freecra!” This was yet another horrible hiss emerging through the creature’s mouth, but its affects were much worse than its sound. An invisible hand seized Gina and snatched her up into the air. Tighter and tighter the grip became until…
Gina rolled over painfully. She tried to get up, but the hurling to the floor was too much for her to handle. The beast yanked her up and flung her over its shoulders - right on the spikes. Gina screamed in pain as blood soaked through her white sweater. With each breath the creature took, the spikes drove deeper into her stomach. The rhythm of the beast’s breaths began to match the beating of Gina’s heart. Her head dangled against the monster’s back as she made the feeble attempt to hold on to consciousness. Suddenly, another arrow, this one brown, flew through the door. From her view at mere inches away, Gina could see the arrow protruding from the creature’s back. The monster swayed and dropped Gina, the spikes tearing at her stomach as she fell to the floor. She looked up in just enough time to see the creature crashing down on top of her.
Gina lay there, her pain excruciating. It seemed her life was quickly being sucked from her. She felt so much pain from her injury and from suffocating under the creature’s weight that she slowly began to stop feeling. Slowly, she could see light, but her eyes could not focus on anything until someone cast a shadow. Someone was standing over her having torn the monster off of her. The person lifted her up and held her close. In the stranger’s arms as he ran through the halls, Gina slowly began to breathe normally again but her pain would not cease. Even though the person had shifted the creature off of her in a hurry, the trauma to her stomach was severe. Quickly, the stranger burst into a computer lab and set Gina underneath a desk for protection. With all the strength she had, Gina turned to look at her rescuer, her first true look at the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. He, like her, had brown loose curls, though short, that hung messily around his face and stunning blue eyes.
“What is going on...who are you...what was that thing?” Gina pushed out painfully.
“Don’t speak, just relax. You’re hurt badly,” he exclaimed. He quickly lifted Gina’s sweater slightly to examine the damage. The spikes had obviously paid their dues. Swiftly, he reached into his pocket and produced a dried, shimmering leaf. He crushed it in his fist and opened his hand. His skin glimmered from the extract of the leaf, seeming to glow as he put his hand over her cuts. Instantly, the pain and blood were gone; only bruises remained.
“How did you…wait, who are you?” she began.
“You mean you don’t remember…of course you don’t, I’m sorry. My name is Leyance,” he explained. “That creature was an Übel, and he unfortunately isn’t the only one out there. They all look the same, Übels do – simply physical variations of pain and suffering. They are here for you, I’m afraid. I can’t explain anything else right now. You must trust me and do exactly what I say, no questions asked.” Gina nodded. She had no other choice; nothing made sense to her now anyway. Leyance glanced out the window, worried.
“Where are they?” he whispered. Gina was about to ask who but remembered Leyance’s warning and kept quiet. Suddenly an arrow crashed through the window, sending shards of glass flying towards both of them. Leyance dived to the ground just in time. Swiftly he set an arrow and fired back through the window. A shriek proved his aim deadly. Gina stared, not knowing what else to do. A chime suddenly sounded, drowning out all of the shrieks and calamity happening outside.
“Finally!” he exclaimed. He pulled up Gina gently but strongly and hurried her out the door. “Run in a straight line to the field, no swaying, and no dodging. I’ll clear your path. Go!” Gina took off. She never thought; she only ran. Her feet kept moving even though her mind seemed completely disconnected. Her mind told her to dodge the thousands of arrows zooming past her head at deadly speeds and dangerously close ranges, but she didn’t. Many more people, dressed as her rescuer was, now joined them as Leyance shot arrow after arrow killing those Übels in front of Gina and those closing in behind them. Every shot hit its target. A blond-haired, blue-eyed man now turned to Leyance.
“Leyance, we don’t have much time!” he said.
“Elenzel, how many?” Leyance asked.
“Too many,” he replied. “Get her out of here, and we’ll take care of it!” Gina continued towards the field but all that waited for them was a simple haze resting on the grass stretching about eight feet tall. Gina glanced back. Hundreds of Übels had finally seen their mad dash through the chaotic school and were now close on their trail. Leyance now put away his bow and picked up Gina in one swoop. An Übel came in closer and closer. A giant claw reached out for her, but with a giant leap, Leyance entered the haze. The world spun around Gina and the Übels disappeared – along with the rest of the world.
Chapter 2
“Nythagié”
Gina woke up and looked around her. She lay in an attractive four-poster wooden bed, complete with a transparent canopy, in a shimmering room. She gazed around in awe at this beautiful heaven she found herself in. The ceiling appeared to be made of a single glass pane on which rose petals had settled upon. These were from the many vines hugging the manor. Her room had windows on two faces, meeting at a round balcony that revealed acres of forest, complete with a river, against a cliff and beautiful waterfalls. At a closer look, Gina would have been able to see a pathway leading through the thick trees. But Gina’s room distracted her. It seemed that every piece of the room shimmered like glitter. Walnut furnishings rested in the room, some with live vines of their own wrapping around them. Gina admired the room and sunk into the comfortable bed. She glanced down and saw that she wore beautiful golden silk pajamas.
“Good morning; I see you’re awake. How are you feeling?” Gina leapt up to see Leyance, whom had just entered the room noiselessly.
“Where am I?” Gina asked still gazing at the beauty around her.
“Well, I suppose I am the first to welcome you to Nythagié, Gina,” he said smiling.
“How did I get here though? I don’t remember. This just seems like a dream…” Leyance smiled and leaned in closer to sit on the bed, making Gina’s heart race. Leyance had such a mysterious and yet, comforting way about him. She felt that this was probably the most interesting and adventurous person she would ever meet. The thought made her shy and slightly uncomfortable to have him so close.
“This is not a dream, believe me. Remember that haze in the field? That was the gateway to another world, to this world,” he explained. “Except, when someone has not been through it in awhile…or not at all, they become weak and disoriented. That’s why I carried you through it and why you have slept for a day.”
“Oh, I’m alright though?”
“Of course, good as new. The bruises on your stomach have healed too, as you can see. You better get dressed, there are many here who are anxious to see you,” he said.
“Why do they want to see me?”
“You are very important to them,” Leyance explained.
“Leyance, why am I here, though? Why am I so important to them? I don’t know them, nor they me.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m under orders not to answer any questions you have just yet. You’ll know shortly. Just enjoy your visit for now.”
“Oh... Umm, Leyance – where are my clothes?”
“Oh, right. There are clean ones in the closet,” he said motioning towards a beautifully carved cabinet standing against the wall. “You can wear any in there. They are all yours.”
“Thank you.” Gina glanced down as Leyance stood and headed towards the door. He stopped and slowly turned to Gina who in return shyly glanced at him. Leyance wanted to say something, she knew, but he just smiled. Soon, the thought passed.
“I hope you like it here; I think you will,” he said and walked out.
Now once again alone, Gina pulled off her sheets. Seeing the true beauty of the outfit she was in, she ran over to the mirror adjacent to the closet and peered in. These golden silk pajamas consisted of a comfortable wrap on top, which reminded her of tube tops back home, and cozily baggy pants. Her bare feet sunk into the heavenly white carpet flooring the room. She now turned to the closet and, taking a deep breath, flung it open. Inside hung the most beautiful gowns she had ever seen. They reflected a delicate, medieval style but with a new magical aspect to them all. As with everything else in the room, they too shimmered with the morning’s first light. This room, this land, was a utopia fit for a queen.
A man, beautiful and elegant, stood gazing through his grayish-hazel eyes out the window at the landscape below. He had short, clean-cut, white hair and appeared to be in his fifties or sixties but the years had only aged him to perfection. A long robe with gold embroidery wrapped around him, giving him an even more impressive aura. He was standing in what seemed to be a council room, as its main focal point was a long wooden table with carvings of flowers and vines wrapping all around the legs. A knock at the door was suddenly heard, but the man did not stir.
“Come in, Leyance,” he called. Leyance entered the room. “How is she?”
“Doing well, I suppose,” Leyance replied quietly. The man slowly turned to Leyance.
“That is good news, especially for you. So, why is it that you are not acting as if it is such?” the man asked smiling. This seemed to lighten Leyance’s mood, for he looked up and returned the smile.
“Fheyrhil, you are probably the most brilliant man that ever lived, so it is no use to ask me that. You already know what’s worrying me,” he pointed out.
“Yes,” Fheyrhil responded, “but I want to hear it from you.”
Leyance sighed and spoke his mind. “She doesn’t remember…anything. It just wasn’t how I expected it to be.”
“Did you really expect her to remember, Leyance? Did you really expect her to constantly be receiving clues? This is not going to be easy on her or any of us. She must become what she was, even if the time is not right. It must be so. We cannot dismiss the prophecies, for they rule us all. They are inescapable. All we can do is to help her feel comfortable here. She already feels comfortable around you, so you must act as her guide through all of this,” Fheyrhil explained. Another knock was heard, though this one more timidly. Leyance shot a look at Fheyrhil who nodded.
“Come in, Regina,” Fheyrhil called. Slowly the door opened and Gina, now dressed in one of the Nythagién gowns, emerged. Leyance’s eyes never left her as she walked up to them.
“A woman outside told me that I was wanted in here,” she explained.
“And so you are, Regina. Come in and sit down,” Fheyrhil smiled. He motioned to a chair at the table. Gina sat and tried to be comfortable but she could feel herself shake. She did not know where she was or who these people were, even Leyance, for she had only just met him. Nothing could make her feel comfortable. She was too lost. Fheyrhil sensed it right away.
“It is alright, Regina. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Fheyrhil, and I act as what you know to be a vice-president, an acting chair here. We realize that you have a long journey ahead of you, but remember that we are here to help you,” he said.
“Yes, we are. All the way,” Leyance quickly added. He smiled warmly at her.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Gina said, smiling at Fheyrhil who in return sat down next to her.
“I imagine that you feel a little confused right now,” he assumed.
“Yes, I don’t understand any of this,” Gina replied. “I still think I’m dreaming.”
“Yet you are taking it very well for all the confusion and even fear no doubt filling your head currently. Though, as you pointed out, you think you are dreaming. Perhaps that is why you are so calm.”
“Why am I here?” Gina asked curiously, but Fheyrhil’s expression told her she would not know that critical answer anytime soon.
“I cannot tell you yet,” Fheyrhil expectantly replied. “You will understand shortly and yet be more confused than ever. I want you to become comfortable here, so have a little time to settle in before we complicate your life further. Do not worry about it now, my dear.” But something had been bothering Gina. Everyone was already too comfortable with her to just be strangers. She had seen it in just the short journey from her room to this one.
“Can I just ask one small thing for now?” she inquired.
“Go ahead, but I sense that this will not be the only question asked presently.”
Gina didn’t understand his response but quickly decided to ask anyway. “Everyone around here seems to know me or at least know who I am, do they? Is that at all possible?”
“Yes, they know you, though I cannot tell you why or how just yet,” he explained.
“Oh! What about my friends? Are any of them hurt? When can I see them?” Gina asked hurriedly.
“Do not worry, Regina. Everyone is safe and they are not worried. They know you are safe. It will be explained why later. For now, I can help you get acclimated here. How about a little tour? You can meet some of the inhabitants of Nythagié.”
“Sure, I’d like that, umm thanks,” Gina replied. She felt so entirely out of place here. Fheyrhil only reminded her of how everyone here spoke with such eloquence, acted with such elegance. Gina’s rudimentary speech and actions made her feel like she stuck out painfully.
“Excellent.” He turned to Leyance whom had been quietly watching them converse the whole time. “You may come if you like, Leyance.” Leyance nodded and followed them as they walked out the door, down the impressive hall, and out into the brilliance of the nature surrounding them.
It was the most beautiful paradise Gina had ever seen. The city was divided by a beautiful river which broke off into many pools and creeks, mostly concentrated in the front of the manor where Gina stayed. It resembled a Japanese garden complete with flowers and lily pads growing in the small pools. Amazingly, rose petals continually floated down the small waves wherever there was water. Little lights floated in the rivers, as well, like they were water droplets themselves. Gina noticed that there were no true bridges anywhere in the city. Instead, each time a road or path intersected water, the way to the other side was through cautiously stepping from one flat rock to another which had been placed in the water, close together, to provide passage to the other side. Of course, there were no cars or machines of any kind that Gina could see where this type of bridge would cause a problem.
On this side of the river was the manor and, to the right of Gina’s window, an orchard and farm area for growing crops extended far in the distance. On the other side of the manor was a training field next to another forest which hid a cliff overlooking the river and creating a waterfall in it which little lights ran down. Across the river rose many green hills with cottages speckled here and there along the hillside. Gina could see that the cottages had thatched roofs and resembled houses found in Elizabethan times in England. The forest that she could see from her bedroom proved vast, hiding secret paths and providing a barrier from outside cities. Each tree shimmered as if glitter had settled on every branch. Occasionally, Gina saw a Nythagién horse trotting through the trees.
Across the river, down the road, and along to the east, was a big gate marking what appeared to be the only entrance and exit to this paradise. This gate was entirely made of vines and flowers combining to make a beautiful Celtic design complete with little windows. This was what seemed to be the only way to see the outside world for the forests, cliffs, and hills blocked any view from the outside-in as well as the inside-out. Fheyrhil acted as a guide, explaining the customs of the land, but Gina did not hear a word. Who could listen to a lecture when such a wonderful ecstasy lay all around her?
They continued on the petal-and-leaf-covered road meeting many inhabitants on the way. Every time another Nythagién spotted them, however, they stared at Gina with such reverie that she began to feel even more uncomfortable. A certain woman had even kissed Gina’s hand when she held it out to shake.
“How do you like it?” Fheyrhil asked Gina, studying her from the corner of his eye.
“I love it! This is just like a wonderful utopia!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, it is. It’s a wonderful place, isn’t it?” Leyance agreed.
“Indeed it is. Better than your daydreams, Regina?” Fheyrhil added. Gina spun around and looked at him, shocked.
“How did you know,,,?” she asked.
“Ah, my dear child, you will come to learn that I know a great deal about you.”
“But how can that be…?”
“In time, my dear, in time you will know,” explained he. “In a few hours, I am holding a counsel in which I mean for you to attend. That way you can meet a few more of the council, and I can present you to them.” Gina nodded and continued to look around. After a few seconds she turned to Leyance.
“I don’t understand something, though…” she started.
“Yes?”
“I know you said that we arrived here through that haze, the gateway, but how did this place come into being? I mean, do people know about this place?”
Leyance smiled. “No, no one in your world knows about this land, besides those who are Nythagiéns themselves living there, that is. You see, in the beginning of time we all lived in your world. Back then, there were three groups of people: those only purely good, those whom were purely evil, and those who were mixed. Those purely good saw that humans did not appreciate their gift of this world. They saw others destroying themselves and each other and couldn’t take it. They always had had a belief that something else was out there – I’m sure you’ve had the feeling. Everyone does, everyone knows that there is something more, but few trust that feeling, few trust themselves and faith alone. These people did, though, and they found what they knew to be there. They found this land and moved here to create a perfect world. But, of course, nothing can be perfect can it? Those humans who were evil followed them. There resulted a huge battle of good versus evil. Eventually the good claimed this land, Nythagié, and a few others. The evil were left to roam and eventually settle in other areas. So you see, no one in your world is purely good or purely evil, despite many preconceived notions, for those who possessed the extremes moved here. One extreme, it has come to be proven, cannot exist without the other. There are even those who possess both extremes, however confusing that might sound. Yet, to be purely good means to be perfect and perfection cannot truly exist. There will always be flaws, and that’s what makes everything even more beautiful. Even we are no longer purely good. Evil has affected us as well, just not as much as it sometimes affected those humans in your world. The evil beings, however, have never been more purely evil than they are now. Instead of becoming more mixed, they become more of their extreme. Their hate began to consume them and, with no enemies there but each other, they turned to some sort of self-mutilation. They became creatures, monsters, and the human side vanished forever. That is why we must be extremely careful and be ready for battle with very little notice.”
“Oh,” Gina whispered. It seemed to her like a very elementary response to such an advanced explanation but it was all just too much to take in. Gina felt lost. She loved what she saw and knew she could feel at ease here, but so many questions encircled her mind. What am I doing here? How do they know me? Were those Übels after me? What did they want? Are they the purely evil creatures Leyance spoke of? What is happening back in my world? Are those creatures still there? Are my friends alright? How long will I have to stay here? What will I have to do? These people are good right? They won’t hurt me? What is going on? And why is Leyance staring at me?! She had turned to catch Leyance looking at her. A million thoughts seemed to be going through his head as well. She was about to ask what but the woman whom had earlier kissed Gina’s hand now came up to them.
“Excuse me,” she started. “I was wondering if I could give the lady a token of my joy for her re…” she glanced at Fheyrhil. “For her visit,” she completed. Gina wondered what she was about to say before she had caught her mistake. She didn’t have much time to think however, for Fheyrhil nodded and the woman produced a crown made of flowers, sparkling in the light. Gina gasped at the beauty that had been created just by using simple flowers. The woman stepped forward and lovingly placed the crown on Gina’s head.
“Thank you so much. It’s beautiful!” Gina exclaimed, hoping she had a mirror to look into. Fheyrhil guessed her thought immediately.
“Thank you, Esmeralda,” he said, and then he turned to Gina. “Regina, follow me, let us see how well you look.” Gina followed him to the water’s front and gazed in. The crystal clear water smiled back at her in her likeness. The crown rested on her brown curls making them glow with the flowers’ gentle radiance.
“The crown looks like it was always meant to be there, does it not?” Fheyrhil inquired, but Gina didn’t answer. The eerie fact was it did.
Gina was beginning to get familiar with feeling uncomfortable, but the council was by far the worst experience since her strange arrival. She sat at the long council table with Fheyrhil separated from her by one empty chair. Silver plates filled with exotic-looking food sat in front of each place, but Gina couldn’t eat. She tried to listen to the rest of the many members who were talking amongst themselves as they emptied their plates. Besides Fheyrhil, Gina only recognized Elenzel. He was the blond man who had helped rescue her. Being surrounded by so many strangers made her feel uncomfortable.
Very frequently Gina would jump at hearing her name being mentioned in side conversations. Over the course of the last half an hour, Gina had shifted to a slouching position while all the others sat with perfect posture. Despite this city’s magnificence, there was something to be said concerning their restrictive nature. She had now completely given up eavesdropping on conversations that might hopefully hold the key to her attendance in this land, and instead only tried to keep awake. With her head cradled in her hand, she prayed for something more exciting to keep her from drifting off into dreamland. Gina had already taken in too much for one day, and it seemed that she was the only one who could see the sky darken and the hours pass.
Her flower crown still rested on her head, and she began to finger it abstractedly as she tried to sort out all the new information she had received since the attack. But no matter how hard she tried, she just could not concentrate. The increasing acceptance of information had caused her brain to simply shut down. Perhaps it was doing so as a defense mechanism in order to keep her from going everywhere at once from the intake of too much. As the cool sense of indifference flowed through her, calming all the nerves she knew should be screaming out for understanding, she was aware that before long she would be made to understand. It seemed that she alone would have to deal with whatever lie ahead. No one would be able to help her. She knew when that happened, that she might not be able to take it. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as she felt the warming presence of someone placing himself in the empty chair next to her.
“How are you doing? Bored out of your mind yet?” asked Leyance. She sat up quickly. Gina tried to smile, but it was a weak one. Leyance laughed quietly at her expression which told him that his assumption was correct.
“I’m surviving, but some answers to all this would be greatly appreciated,” Gina mumbled, her head back in her hand. Leyance smiled.
“I know. I would tell you myself, but I was given strict orders not to.” He paused. “Do you know the expression ‘ignorance is bliss’? My advice to you is to enjoy not knowing while you still can. Things will only get more complicated.” He started to eat his plate of food and noticed Gina’s. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Uh, what is it?” she asked, poking the food with her fork.
“Nothing you’re used to, I’m sure. We have a special diet here that supports long life. Our food has all natural ingredients but with a slightly magical flare to it. Eat it, it’ll still be warm. It doesn’t get cold.” He continued to dig into his food so Gina followed his example. She slowly grabbed some food with her fork and brought to her mouth. An instant warm, delicious sensation slid down her throat. It was by far the best thing she had ever tasted. Its flavor was beyond words.
“It’s delicious!” she exclaimed.
“I knew you’d like it.”
Gina smiled and continued to eat. She’d forgotten just how hungry she was. Soon her plate was empty along with the rest, and Fheyrhil took the break to begin. He stood and addressed the crowd.
“As you know, we have a very special guest joining us. It is my pride and privilege to introduce to you, Regina Cassidy.” He motioned to Gina who sat up in her chair. “Though, of course, you know her already. She should find assistance from anyone at anything she requests. She is to be treated with the utmost respect. Now, however, we will continue on with business, for I am afraid we have gotten off to a late start.” He sat down and shifted through his many pieces of parchment lying in front of him. Yet, as he did so, Elenzel stood up to address him.
“With all due respect,” he began. “Should we not discuss the prophecy? Regina’s prophecy that is?” Fheyrhil jumped at this mention as did Gina.
“What prophecy? What does it say?” she asked, hurriedly.
“Not now, Elenzel. We will not yet discuss that,” Fheyrhil stated towards the man still standing.
“Why not?” Gina countered. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but you haven’t told me anything. I deserve to know if there is something written about me.”
“Regina…”
“Is that the reason everyone knows me? Is it because of this prophecy? What does it say that I am supposed to do?”
“Regina, it is not the right time.”
“Will it ever be? Now is as good a time as any. You’ve basically kidnapped me to bring me here. Does it say that I am supposed to be someone? Because I seriously don’t know any of you so it must be a mistake…”
“Regina!” Fheyrhil roared. Gina stopped dead in her sentence. Suddenly she realized what she had just done. She had crossed the line and had been rude to the very person who had been so kind to her and appeared to only be trying to help her. After all, they did save her life.
“Gina, maybe it’s time for you to get some sleep,” Leyance coaxed. “After all, you’ve had a hard day. I’ll escort her to her room, Fheyrhil.” He nodded in agreement to Leyance’s suggestion.
“Very well, goodnight, Regina,” Fheyrhil acknowledged. Gina slowly stood but as she did so, the rest of the council stood as well, each saying goodnight. It startled Gina.
“I’m sorry, Fheyrhil, I didn’t mean to be rude,” Gina whispered as she passed him. “You people saved my life, so I should be grateful.”
“Do not worry about it, my dear. The stress is just simply getting to you. I knew it would eventually. Leyance is right, you need sleep. Goodnight, and do not worry, you did not offend.” Gina nodded and walked out with Leyance.
When they silently entered her room, Gina went straight to the bed and sat down against a post. Leyance went to the window and looked out at the water whose twinkling lights shone out, floating underneath the small waves. They stayed in peace for a long while but eventually Leyance broke the silence.
“I’m sorry,” he declared.
“Why are you sorry?”
“For the pain you’re in. You think I don’t see how much you’re suffering? I wanted you to come here… as did everyone – more than anything. Yet, maybe it would have been better if you hadn’t come.” He continued to stare out the window, perhaps not having enough strength to look Gina in the eyes.
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand anything. Why won’t anyone tell me what’s going on? I’m so…”
“Afraid, confused, worried?” he interrupted, walking up to her. “I would be too.”
Building up confidence again, Gina spoke. “You say you’re sorry for the trouble this is causing me, so are you going to help me?” He looked up at Gina and the beauty his eyes possessed shocked her.
“What can I do to help?” he asked quietly and sincerely. He leaned in as he talked to her, making her slightly move backwards. It was so obvious to Gina how much he cared and truly wanted to ease the tension, but those eyes hypnotized her and that scared her. She looked away as she spoke.
“Just explain. Explain why I’m here, how you all know me. What do you want from me, and what is this about a prophecy?” She waited for Leyance to respond, but he just stood silently for a long time.
“I will, but I just can’t now. You are too over-tired for this, but I promise, I swear I will tell you soon. Fheyrhil made me promise not to, but you have a right to know. It’s your choice and since you wish it, I swear I will tell you,” he vowed. He turned to leave, but again turned back to face Gina. “I will tell you soon, and then I’m sorry to say that your journey and confusion will really begin.” With that he turned and left. Gina felt warm tears begin to trickle down her cheek. She wanted to go home. She hated being lonely and confused and confined. The tears she had held back for so long finally began to flow.
Chapter 3
“Becoming the Memory”
Gina lay in bed staring at the night sky above her glass ceiling. So many thoughts swirled around her head that no complete idea took shape. She realized in her heart that if she knew what everyone else was keeping from her, life would never be the same again. It would complicate everything to the point of no return, but the very fact that something that life-changing was right underneath her nose was killing her. Everyone in this land knew this critical thing about Gina but her. Finally, she tossed off her sheets and threw on a gossamer robe. She heaved open her double doors and ran out.
She ran down the steps from the manor and followed the path by the river, now lit by the lights dancing in the water. She had no idea where she was going, nor if there was any place to go. But still she ran. Rounding a bend, she saw a small overgrown path leading to a clearing with lights a little way down. Quietly, Gina started down the old trail, jumping at every little noise she heard. Finally she crossed the threshold into the clearing. The absolute beauty she saw took her breath away. This small cove had a large pond deep enough for swimming with overhanging rocks in front of thick trees on one side, blocking sight from any onlookers on that face. The side of the cliff blocked yet another and the thick trees and bushes completed the circle. The cliff housed a waterfall that fed into this pond. This was Gina’s first look at Nythagién water at night. Lights lit up the water, though they seemed to be coming from no source. Lights even flickered down the waterfall. Gina climbed up the rocks a little way to a flat boulder that made a perfect bench above the water. She rolled up her pajamas and stuck her feet in the water. The coolness soothed her nerves and relaxed her tired feet. All worries were swept away as she enjoyed her own company in this secluded place.
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