GS Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Friday, December 7th
Elysa Amalfi respected
the ocean’s immense power to create and destroy, to give and to take. Ellie saw
both life and death in the ocean. She felt a part of it. None of her friends
understood; not that she’d tried to explain, but the ocean called out to her,
spoke to her. There were nights when she would wake from murmurs coming from
the ocean.
When it came
time to decide on a future life, she knew she wanted the ocean to be a part of
it. It seemed like her dreams were coming true. Set to graduate with honors
from the University of Hawaii; she and her mom made plans. Her mom had a crazy
idea of sailing their boat from San Francisco all the way to Hawaii.
Her mom never
made it to her graduation. She never made it home. A search and rescue was
conducted by the Coast Guard, but they couldn’t find a trace of her or the
boat. No explanations as to how or why she disappeared. Her mom was an
experienced mariner and there were no storms that could have affected her
travel, no signs of wreckage, and no distress calls. Eventually, the case was
closed and Ellie was left to presume that her mother was dead.
Ellie poured
herself into her studies to escape the painful reality of losing her mom. She
lived and breathed school and after graduating, she came back to San Francisco
and completed her doctoral program in a mere three years.
She closed
herself off to everything else and only allowed room for academics. It was a
world where she had control. Every detail of her academic life was planned and
scheduled. There was no room allowed for randomness or surprises. She took
comfort in the predictability and Dr.
Elysa Amalfi, dedicated herself to her job.
The lab became
her sanctuary, a home away from home.
She governed
her projects with meticulous detail. Her keen senses allowing her to
hypothesize and produce results that supported her theories. She quickly gained
respect from her colleagues and was considered a rising star in her field.
There was “family”
in San Francisco, grandparents and an uncle. All of whom blamed her for her
mother’s ruin. How often did she hear what her mom could have accomplished had
she not become a mother at the age of seventeen? It was a constant stab from
her grandparents she endured throughout her life.
Ellie
personified all the regrets and resentments her grandparents harbored. Their
daughter should have had a successful life; instead, she chose to be an unwed,
teenage mother when she should have terminated her pregnancy.
She never heard
from them, her “family.” Ellie figured they probably blamed her for her
mother’s death too. Why wouldn’t they? She certainly did. Her mother was coming
to see her. If she’d tried harder, if she’d just convinced her mother to fly
rather than sail, she would still be alive.
Her mother was
the only person who hadn’t left her. Her father abandoned her, her grandparents
despised her, and her lovers cheated on her.
She had a few
friends but, lately, most of them felt more like acquaintances. She had grown apart
from them and had a hard time relating to their interests anymore. Perhaps it
was because she’d been keeping to herself more and more lately. Her friends
tried, they really did, but she felt a growing chasm inside of her that she
found difficult to bridge and understand.
Isolation
became easier than trying... anything.
Memories of
her mom had been invading her thoughts lately. She missed her terribly. It’d
been six years since her mom had died, but the hole in her heart never healed.
It was still painful to think of her.
She often
wondered if her life would be different if her mom had lived. Would she be
happy? Would she be fulfilled? Would she have a purpose?
Most days, all
she wanted was to get away and be consumed with work, there would be no time to
think and no time to feel.
Fortune had
blessed her a few months ago, when she and Gina had been invited to an
archeological project off the coast of Greece.
A colleague of
hers had been part of a primary team exploring a sunken city’s remains. It was
a huge project with ambitious goals and limited funding. Extra hands,
especially hands with expertise in ocean research, were needed to meet the
strict deadlines imposed by the project directors. Her colleague begged for her
assistance, but couldn’t guarantee any type of payment.
She and Gina
were honored to have been asked to be a part of such an undertaking. The
research and data collected from the project would provide valuable information
to Marine Archeologists and Oceanographers like her. It was the kind of project
that could provide the much needed clues as to why ancient cities sunk, and hopefully
prevent current island nations from suffering the same fate. The data from the
project could potentially save millions of lives. They gladly accepted and had
no problem working for free.
They’d spent a
month in Greece, their days mostly spent diving in the topaz blue waters of
Southern Laconia to help catalog and set up grid systems in and around the
sunken city. It was energizing. She enjoyed the work immensely. She felt
refreshed and nourished by the ocean’s energy.
Ellie loved
the ancient history of Greece, as well as the culture that was still so steeped
in legends and mythologies. There was reverence and honor from the townsfolk
when they spoke of their history. They would beam with pride and spread their
arms in gesticulation as they spoke of the grandness of their history, the
depth of their bloodlines, and their union with the divine.
Ellie sighed
as she reminisced, wanting that kind of fulfillment again. She felt at peace in
Greece, as if she belonged there.
Her childhood
friends called first thing that morning before she left for work. Their excited
shrills of laughter greeting her before she could even say “Hello.” They joked
at their fortune that she actually answered the phone rather than letting her
voicemail pick-up. They begged her to go out after work. Her friends were fun
and crazy and were the complete contrast to her life. They missed her and, she
had to admit, she missed them, too.
To lure her
out of her apartment, they promised her a night of girly debauchery. She was
intrigued. Her friends were getting more creative with their invitations and
she found herself smiling and promised she would think about their proposition.
What “girly
debauchery” consisted of, she had no idea, but a night of dinner, drinks, and
getting caught up on her friends’ misadventures may be what she needed right
now. She knew she would be guaranteed a laugh by spending time with them,
regardless of what they had planned. After much deliberation, she convinced
herself that a night out with the girls was exactly what she needed to get out
of her funk. She called them back before she could change her mind.
Gina recognized
the crinkle on her forehead the moment she walked into work. Gina was
incredibly astute and there wasn’t much that escaped her notice. Beautiful,
tall, owner and proud displayer of a perfect athletic beach body; her fiery
friend had the smarts to be Dr. Gina
Banton by now. But, Gina would scoff at the thought. I don’t need a damn degree to prove I’m smarter than most of the
dickheads in this lab. She’d laugh it off and walk away. Ellie had always
admired Gina’s courage. Of all her friends, it was Gina who seemed to
understand her the most.
“I’m going out
tonight, but…” and her enthusiastic friend took charge, excited at the news.
Gina assured
her that she would oversee her work and would kick anyone’s ass who fucked it
up. That was all the reassurance she needed. She trusted Gina and knew that her
specifications would be adhered to. Gina was finally able to shove her out of
the lab at 7:30.
Ellie rode her
bike home, enjoying the fresh air against her face. She pedaled faster,
enjoying the burn coursing through her muscles as she psyched herself up to get
mentally prepared for her evening out. She hadn’t been out in ages and could
feel the butterflies starting to flutter in her stomach. Her uneasiness was
growing, causing her intestines to twist into knots. She told herself it was
just nervous excitement and hurried to get back to her apartment. Perhaps, a
long leisurely bath would calm her down.
Several hours
later, she found herself standing outside a club with her friends breaking the
news.
“We set up a
date for you!”
What?! What
about dinner? She was starving! They’d promised her food. Ellie’s mood quickly turned
sour. Her blood sugar was dropping fast and she was ready to bite someone’s
head off.
She feigned a
smile when her friend cheered, “This is going to be great!”
“Yay,” she
muttered.
One of the
guys took a call on his cell as they neared the entrance. She could already
hear the music pounding through the walls. This wasn’t what she had in mind and
the butterflies had returned, frenzied in their state, making her feel a little
nauseous.
Her friend’s
date returned to whisper into her friend’s ear. It wasn’t good news. She could
see the apology wilt her smile. “I’m really sorry,” she started, “but, the date
we set up isn’t coming.” Her friend reached for her hand. “It’ll still be fun.
I promise.” She said.
She was
actually relieved the date wasn’t coming, Ellie was also beginning to think
going out had been bad idea. She wasn’t a party girl. She didn’t enjoy the club
scene. She wanted to go home. “It’s okay, really. I need to go home anyway.”
Her stomach was tightening by the second, her nerves on edge.
She
volunteered to take a taxi home, not wanting to take her friends away from
their dates. She told her friends that she’d make it up to them another time,
but they were having none of it. They were determined to keep her out, despite
her pleadings.
A sudden chill
came over her and started nipping at her skin, making her feel anxious.
Her friends
looked ultra-chic and gorgeous as they stood like goddesses with their dates.
They were completely oblivious and didn’t seem to notice any issues as they
continued chatting happily.
Something was
wrong. She knew it for a fact as dread pitted in stomach.
“Come on Els. We’re
all paid up.” Her friend urged her to move with a tilt of her head, her smile
brilliant and unsuspecting.
Ellie
hesitated, looking around, her pulse quickening. “Listen, maybe we should go
somewhere else?”
“No. Come on.
This is the hottest place in the city, right now.” Her friend pranced to her,
her poise surprisingly graceful in the four inch stilettoes. She hooked her arm
around her waist, preventing her from escaping. “There are a lot of hot guys
that come here.” She winked at her playfully.
Ellie groaned.
She wanted to puke.
The air felt
heavy, almost devoid of life giving oxygen. Maybe it was the thick crowd, the
heat coming from their writhing bodies. Probing eyes swept over the raving
crowd. Most were gyrating seductively, their bodies glistening in sweat and
musk.
Get out. Get out now.
Her gut felt
frantic, ready to spew bile, yet all her attention was being pulled toward the
eastern corner of the club. She froze, her back going stiff with sudden
warning. She couldn’t move, as her breathing shallowed and she felt depleted of
her energy.
Child, get out.
She ignored
her internal reasoning alerting her to flee, a much stronger need within her
heart compelling her to seek out the hidden disturbance.
What the hell am I doing? She swallowed, trying to quell the
beating of her heart. She could almost feel each ventricle squeezing, pushing
her heart against her rib cage. Ducking from her friends, she inched toward the
thickly darkened corner of the club, clenched fists held tight against her
side.
Surprised
screams erupted all around her, forcing her against a wall. The music had
abruptly ended, as water rained down in buckets, and the club’s alarm system
started warning of an emergency. “What in the world is going on?” Concern for
her friends brought her attention back to the club. She tiptoed, trying to see
above the soaked bodies scampering in all directions. Chaos and confusion tore
through the crowd and the previous hypnotic lull was washed away with the
waters.
She was soaked
and chilled to the bone, though a sigh of relief spread through her marrow to
see her friends safely outside -- dry.
The crowd was
slowing, calming, the screaming swallowed back. There was something in the air,
something different… pure, like a soft electric balm that warmed the soul. Her
brows crooked, her mind working hard to try and find reason for what was going
on. Nerves. It’s just my nerves.
She stepped
away from the shadows of the wall she’d found shelter in. The club was nearly
empty. This was her chance to find out what was drawing her in. Pooled water,
rippled around her high heeled leather boots as she took a tentative step toward
the darkness. In the few minutes that had passed, the corner had grown dense
and ominous. The corner felt alive, the shadows swirling and dancing to an
unheard beat.
One more step.
Water was
soaking into her boots, squishing between her toes. She tried to inhale and
breathe in courage to move forward, when she nearly stumbled back, startled by
a man in black.
“Where did
you…” She couldn’t finish her question as his stare burned into her.
He was tall, imposing,
striking. He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, the strength of his
arm keeping her secured against him.
****
Ellie woke up
in a plush room worthy of a five star hotel. The room was in different shades
of butter and cream, with highlights of gold sprinkled around. A translucent
layer of fabric was pulled closed over large windows, filtering the morning
rays of the sun. She felt lost in a dream, as she rubbed her eyes and tried to
rouse her disoriented mind. She shook her head and forced her eyes wide open as
the tiny flecks of dust floating in the air seemed to sparkle and twinkle before
her.
Realization hit
her waking mind… she’d been taken!
She popped up,
pushing aside the clouds of pillows surrounding her and got out of bed. She was
still dressed in the same clothes, her feet bare. She tiptoed across the room,
feeling the coolness of the wood travel up her legs, making her shiver. She
held her breath as she reached the door, caution slowing her movements as she
pressed an ear to the polished dark wood keeping her prisoner.
She could hear
footsteps and voices walking past -- people talking casually, a light giggle
from a young female voice, the frustrated calling of someone before a door
slammed shut. She crooked her brows, the sounds were… ordinary.
Slowly, she reached
for the knob, her heart catching in her throat as thoughts of being tortured
and killed crept into her mind. She took a deep breath and turned it. It was
unlocked.
The door moved
fluidly on its hinges. She opened it just wide enough to squeeze herself out
and sidestepped into a massive hallway. She wasn’t sure which way to turn, but
knew that hesitation could mean trouble.
She inched along
the hallway, thankful that the floorboards were as well maintained as her door.
She was light on her feet, but a floorboard didn’t need much pressure to squeak
and reveal someone’s presence. She stole further down to an alcove, where she
came upon the biggest artwork she’d ever seen.
One wall
proudly displayed a grand painting of angels getting ready for battle. The
leader stood in front of his army with a mighty sword raised above his head and
his golden armor blazing in the sun. The master painter captured the leader’s
expression of resolve, while his eyes showed anguish over the blood he knew was
to be spilled on that day. Ellie could almost imagine the words the great
general spoke to his legion as they entered into battle. She could almost feel
his pain, his respect and admiration for his brothers, his eternal love and
loyalty to each of them.
Ellie stood
mesmerized by the beauty and majesty of the painting. It took her breath away.
She was caught in its glory, feeling like she was watching a moment in time
captured in perfect exactness. The scenery felt alive. She reached out, feeling
the love coming from the painting. It tugged at her, making her tear up.
Reluctant, she
tore away from the painting and continued further down the hall. A door was
slightly ajar. Her nerves spiked and her heart beat louder as hushed voices came
from the room.
“He needs to
rest,” said a female voice, grave with concern. “He’s lost a lot of blood. His
life force was barely present. We almost lost him.”
Ellie heard
someone sigh heavily.
“The Healers
will be back. They’d been called away. For now, we must keep him comfortable.
Keep your spirits up.” The woman said to someone. No one responded.
Ellie heard
light footsteps heading toward the door. She panicked, not knowing where to
turn. She didn’t have anywhere to hide. She was about to run past the door when
a woman stepped out of the room. She was a vision in white, making Ellie step
back, feeling like she would taint the pureness coming off of the woman if she
got too close.
She was
beautiful, a picture of elegance and grace. Her shimmering white hair, pulled
back in a loose chignon. Her skin looked soft and radiant, perfectly matching
the gentle smile on her face. Her brown eyes crinkled at the corners, filled
with kindness, and a depth of wisdom gained by someone who had lived a life
full of lessons.
She extended
her hand to greet Ellie, her smile widening. “Come, my dear. My name is
Isabel.” She looked into the interior of the room, gesturing toward its
occupants. “I believe you’ve met Caleb?”
Caleb was the
raven-haired soldier who spoke to her last night in the van. He was reclined in
a chair next to the bed, his head resting on the wall, his arms crossed over
his chest. He looked over at her and gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement
before turning away. Unlike the expressionless face she remembered from last
night, his turquoise blue eyes drooped with trouble and concern.
Isabel’s hushed
voice rang with worry, “And I believe you have also met Jarron.” She pointed to
the man on the bed. His muscled arm positioned carefully next to his side. He
was asleep, hooked to monitors and a couple of IV bags, one of which contained
a thick, crimson liquid dripping slowly into a clear line.
“Elysa, please
come with me,” Isabel said evenly. Ellie looked at the woman curiously. How did
she know her name? She frowned, but her interest was piqued.
Isabel walked
next to her and guided her down the opposite length of the hallway. They walked
past the painting of angels, Ellie slowing down to gaze upon the master piece
again, her breath stolen in reverence.
The woman in
glowing white patiently waited for her by the crook of a staircase.
Ellie caught
up, an appreciative smile curving her lips at the sight of the grand stairs,
gently sloping down with wide steps to a sparkling foyer. The deep chocolate
color of the mahogany banisters, invited touch, a caress and slowed steps from
whoever should set foot upon its planks.
Isabel led
Ellie to a massive kitchen that was larger than her entire apartment. A large
butcher block island, the size of a banquet table filled the center of the
kitchen. It looked old with lots of years of good use.
“Have a seat,
Elysa. Make yourself comfortable.”
Isabel slid past
her and headed for a refrigerator cleverly made to look like cabinetry. She pulled
out a large clay pot from a sliding shelf and set the pot down on the island
counter. When the fridge closed, Ellie couldn’t tell where it ended and where
the cabinetry started.
“Leftovers
from last night’s dinner. I hope you don’t mind.” Isabel was warming her a bowl
of something that smelled rich and hearty. “Would you like some coffee?”
Before Ellie
could answer, she was already heading toward a cupboard to retrieve a cup.
Ellie sat
quietly observing the woman flutter around the kitchen like a white butterfly landing
from flower to flower. She returned to Ellie, holding a stray laden with a
steaming bowl of stew and a hot cup of coffee. Her stomach growled, the
rumbling magnified in the deep space of the kitchen. She was famished, but
hesitated, unsure of what was going on.
“It’s quite
alright, Elysa. You need to eat. I can assure you, we mean you no harm. Please.
Eat up. I promise the food is safe. You are not a prisoner. We simply want to
talk. I’ll leave you to eat in peace. When you are finished and if you wish,
you can find me in the library.” Isabel held her hands loosely in front of her
torso and gave her a shallow bow.
Ellie was left
alone.
Sitting alone
in the kitchen, she was confused. What in the world was going on? She should
run right now, but why wasn’t she? Instead, she reached for the steaming bowl
of food, her mouth salivating with eagerness.
She stared at
the food and smiled, the delicious aroma promising satisfaction.
She looked
around in between each bite. She was alone, her only company the ticking of a
clock she couldn’t locate. She contemplated her situation, her instincts had
always been good and she didn’t sense danger from Isabel. If they’d wanted to
harm her in any way, there had been plenty of time to do it.
She felt safe
with Isabel. The house felt like a haven.
****
The crunch of gravel echoed underneath the weight
of his boots as he walked guardedly through the salvage yard. His sword gripped
within the palm of his right hand, the tip pointed behind him, as he scanned
the perimeter. To his left, he could see the silhouette of the moon peering
through a crushed frame of a decaying sedan; to his right were stacks of tires
and crushed cars, their shadows resembling a cityscape against the night sky.
Silence surrounded him. He stopped his approach and
focused on the change he’d been detecting. The air was fluctuating, coalescing
and growing thick; his ears filling with pressure as he moved forward; his
lungs struggled to breathe in the thickened air.
A presence -- dark energy was near him, causing the
air to chill. The darkness brought with it sensations of fear; reaching for him
worse than a desiccated man reaching for the life-saving force of water -- hungry
and desperate.
Jarron swung
his sword at an unseen foe. He could feel the cold, invading talons of darkness
burrow into his skin. The Fear wanted him. It wanted to feed off of him. It
wanted to tear apart his soul and his spirit and leave him an empty shell.
“Come here, come here,” a taunting voice hissed
through the darkness. The voice was diffused and distant. It was a whisper
bouncing in between the skeletal remains of the crushed cars. It cackled and
faded; and he couldn’t tell where it was coming from.
Jarron gripped his sword in both hands, his
awareness tuning in to every bit of energy fluttering through the yard.
A current of air came at him from the right side. Instinctively,
he brought up his sword to block the oncoming attack. The sword screeched as it
scraped against a metal weapon made invisible by the demon that also remained
unseen.
He felt air rush at him from behind; he readied, arcing
his sword to the right and looping it back to the left, he dropped to one knee
and thrust the tip of his blade behind him, penetrating flesh. The resistance
of skin and muscle pierced the tip of his sword, making his gut tighten. He let
go of the blade and let the now visible creature drop to the ground in a crumpled
heap. The demon curled, hands folded around the blade.
His sword fell to the ground with a clank as the
“dead” demon’s body dematerialized.
He tapped on his com-disc. “Maya, what’s your
location?”
Silence.
Where were they? He suddenly felt pulled out of his
location, unbalanced, the earth beneath him caving into a sinkhole. His senses
stilled and he was on top of another demon, preparing to deliver a final blow,
his Kodachis held surely above his head, his aim poised for the center of the
heart.
Jade! Jade just ran passed him.
Jarron was behind her, running after her, but not
closing the distance. He saw them coming out of the shadows of the alley. He screamed
for her to stop, warning her, but she kept running. They surrounded her,
engulfed her in a dark veil of shadows.
He reached Jade -- ten seconds later.
She was gone. Her body left and discarded like
trash. All of her life-force had been extinguished.
In ten seconds, his friend and his bride-to-be were
but a memory. In ten seconds, dreams of a future life were shattered. In those ten
seconds, he felt the darkness shatter his heart.
He screamed for the demons to attack. He wanted a
fight. He wanted destruction. He was alone; left to live through the pain of his
beloved’s death.
He woke, haunted
by the nightmare that still lingered. His fists were clenched, his jaw clamped
tight. It was just a dream. He told
himself as he tried to blink the images away from his still weary mind.
He was in the
main house where Isabel, the current leader and High Mother of The Order,
resided. He looked around and saw that one of the guest quarters had been
converted into an infirmary room for him. He felt heavy and drowsy. Breathing
hurt and his throat felt dry. He glanced down, catching a fuzzy white haze
below his chin. Bandages. His entire torso was wrapped in layers of it, the
scent of something medicated coming off of the gauzy material.
He desperately
wanted to sit up and clear the fog from his head. He groaned in exasperation as
he looked at all the tubes, wires, and electrodes sticking out of him, keeping
him ensnared in a tangled mess. He took a breath; the pain from his ribs
lifting the fog his nightmare had left behind. The stab of pain that jolted
through his torso was a welcome distraction from the incessant beeping of the monitors.
“Took you long
enough.” A deep voice rumbled.
Jarron turned
his head slowly toward the door and saw Caleb leaning casually against the
frame, arms crossed over his chest, smiling from ear to ear.
He shut his
eyes and straightened his head. “How long have you been standing there, ass
wipe?” Jarron retorted weakly.
“Long enough
to see you slide your injured ass up the bed.” Caleb was holding back a laugh.
He walked in, flicked a switch on top of the night stand and beautiful silence
settled in the room.
“Took you long enough.” It felt good to see
his friend.
Caleb was one
of the best warriors with The Order, a High Guardian. He was strong, fast, and could
generate turbulent power with his mind. His skills and abilities were unmatched
within The Order. He was deadly, and Jarron was glad that they fought for the
same side. He was also Jarron’s best friend, a brother.
He approached
the bed and sat on the large recliner propped against the wall. His mood turned
serious. “Next time you decide to play with a shadow beast by yourself, don’t.
Wait for reinforcements. We were coming.”
He could feel
his friend trying to subdue the heat from his energy; trying to block himself
from Jarron. It wasn’t working. Caleb was a deadly ball of mixed emotions. “We
almost lost you.” His energy dimmed, the heat from his worry and anger
dissolving into sadness.
Jarron raised
his good arm to Caleb, unable to speak his words of gratitude.
His brother
clasped his arm, mischief glinting in his turquoise eyes. “Glad, you’re still
here my friend.” Caleb was going to beat his ass later, payback for almost
getting killed. He didn’t try to hide that
from Jarron.
Fatigue was
taking hold, but he needed to find out about his target. “Is my target…?” He
was gripped in a coughing spell, his broken ribs stretching and cracking with
each heaving, irritated force coming out of his lungs.
“She’s safe.
Isabel is with her.” Caleb pressed his fingers firmly to his forehead.