Chapter Twelve
They traveled for over an hour through the desert. The sign that welcomed them to Black Rock Country was not what they had expected. There was nothing rural about this place, or not as she understood the word 'rural' anyway. Heat waves shimmered on the horizon, and the pallid near-silence rustled like the scales of a desert-dwelling snake.
Wild horses passed by them as they went deeper into the desert. One ran along-side the truck, matching its speed. It bucked and shook its mane, the muscles in its neck constricted. Marie could have sworn the horse was laughing at her. It then ran off, leaving a trail of dust behind.
Marie gazed around her, looking for anything other than the endless mounds of sand. She spotted a dark rock formation in the distance. When they got closer, she could see it was connected to a mountain. She couldn't make out anything else.
They continued on in an eerie silence for another half hour. Marie's heart sank, despairing of ever finding the place. There was no way anyone could live out here and survive.
Brenton's brow was furrowed, he was in deep thought as he drove forward, concentrating on something known only to himself. Marie looked back out of the window; she noticed birds circling something in the distance to the east of them. Twelve birds, she counted, going around in the same pattern.
“Brenton, look,” she pointed. “I think there's something over there. Watch those birds.”
He slowed the truck down and glanced out the window.
“I think you're right. I believe that's our destination.”
Brenton sped up as they reached the road that led to the mountains, but it was the opposite direction from where they needed to go.
Suddenly, the sand sloped into what appeared to be a hidden road. The road was situated in the center of a sand trap with mountain scenery as the backdrop. Giant boulders outlined the path leading to the road. An aura of creepiness prevailed, like noxious swamp gas. Marie had a strong feeling that this was a bad idea.
Brenton stopped the truck and analyzed the trail. The road first plunged down and then back up, leaving space for one car to get through. It appeared to be the entrance, but Marie had no intention of going in.
“We have to find another way around,” she said.
“Why? You know this is the way in. We don't have time to get lost in the desert.”
“But look at that wall of sand,” she said pointing at the structure that looked like a frozen tidal wave. “If something goes wrong, the sand could collapse and bury us.”
Brenton scanned the place once more, “It's good. We'll be fine.”
Before she could protest, he was already turning the truck down the road. Marie uttered a quick prayer while her knuckles tightened around her seat belt.
The way was actually smooth. The tires didn't get stuck nor did the wall of sand move. It were as if the sand was helping the truck move forward.
They made it to the end of the road, and it finally opened up into a whole other world. They had stumbled upon an actual oasis with one lone house in its center. Giant, mud-covered boulders surrounded the patch of greenery. A river snaked through the valley, which was verdant with sage bushes and grease wood.
The antiquated, Victorian-style house was adorned with a variety of creepers and plants. Marie thought the house was cute; it reminded her of the stories she had been told in her childhood. The gingerbread trim complemented the small tower at the very top of the house. She had never seen a green, blue and pink house before. They weren't the colors she would have picked for a house.
They passed a row of fig trees and parked the truck near the side of the house. Brenton got out and walked around to open Marie's door. She climbed out slowly, looking past the house at a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall. This area was connected to the mountain, although isolated from everything else. The water fell down to the river, which flowed around the house in a circle.
Marie trotted up the steps of the stone porch, anxious to see who occupied this space. She noticed the door was already ajar, and she eased it open a little further. It was even more amazing inside the house than it was outside.
It was two stories high with clerestories along the wall to the right of them and bay windows on the other side. Panels adorned with intricate artwork, separated the living room from the dining area. On them were green, stained leaves that curled up from the bottom of the metal frame.
The walls were a smoky blue color, the floor white marble with plants everywhere. The wall that housed the winding staircase was actually a vertical arrangement of plants and flowers. English ivy crept down into the base, which was an aquatic area, made of glass and filled with sparkling water. The blue azaleas added a splash of color. Light fell through the skylight in the ceiling above the staircase directly onto the plants below.
The amount of detail put into the décor struck Marie with wonder. The house was old, but all the furniture was modern: glass tables, white, egg-shaped seats and eclectic artwork filled the walls. She had never seen anything more beautiful.
Marie called out, but no answer came. Brenton started walking toward the back of the house, and she followed.
They went past the kitchen through a door that led outside to the backyard. Marie was astonished by how vast the area was. The land spread out in front of them with several rows of more assorted plants and flowers.
Brenton continued forward. She tried to keep up with him, but stopped when she saw a group of plants she couldn't describe, ones she had never seen before. She touched the tip of the neon pink flower, and the petal moved like it was caressing her back.
She jumped back and then looked around for Brenton, but he was no-where to be found. She started to panic as she scurried through each row, calling his name. She stopped and concentrated on finding him. She tried to speak to him in his mind, but she was hitting a wall. That had never happened before. Was he blocking her on purpose?
A blue trail lingered in the air and continued to somewhere on the other side of the oak tree at the center of the garden. She took a chance and followed.
When Marie reached the end of the blue trail, she saw Brenton, standing in a daze, not moving. She ran toward him to see what he was looking at. He appeared paralyzed, and his face was expressionless. She went in the direction he was staring in and saw a woman sitting at the base of the tree, legs crossed Indian-style, palms on her knees facing up, eyes closed.
“Nice of you to join us Marie,” the woman said in a wispy voice.
Marie looked around, mystified. “What's wrong with him?”
“Nothing. He is just in a meditative state. I am showing him something.” She stood, and began to move toward Marie. “My, how you've grown. I know you don't remember who I am, but we can fix that. Follow me.”
The woman walked past her back toward the house. Marie was stupefied.
“But what about Brenton?”
“He'll be fine. He can come find us when he's done.”
Marie stumbled, trying to keep up with her. From the way her mom had talked about Helena, she had expected a crone, but instead she looked like a goddess.
Her long, curly blonde hair, which hung down to her waist, swayed in the wind, glistening. Her eyes were the bluest of blues and glowed against her pale skin. She wore a long, white, flowing dress, a dark purple band around her waist and a band of the same color around her head.
Marie was mesmerized by her. In her heart, she knew she would follow her anywhere. Her legs felt heavy as she fell in line behind the woman. Her feet dragged along like they had a mind of their own.
They went back into the house and ascended the winding staircase. The house smelled of a peculiar incense, one she couldn't place, but it was sweet. It swirled around her and made her feel like she was on cloud nine.
They made it to the top of the stairs in front of a double doorway. Helena opened the doors and Marie couldn't believe her eyes. This whole floor was one giant room.
The room looked exactly like the garden outside, with plants everywhere. In the middle of the room, was a circular fountain, in the center of which was a stone sculpture of a tree. Twelve small, granite cherubs sat on the branches with water sprouting out of their mouths. Koi circled in the water, avoiding the places where the water splattered and made bubbles.
To the left of the fountain more English ivy and vines covered the wall. The back wall was made entirely of glass, and looked onto the backyard.
The room was the same shade of blue as the downstairs, with the same white marble floors. Moving around the room, Marie saw books on shelves, a canopy bed with white, flowing sheets over it and beautiful statues. But the thing which shocked her most, were the hummingbirds freely fluttering around the room.
“Have a seat Marie,” the woman beckoned.
Marie obeyed.
“I've been waiting on you for a while now. Renea was determined to keep you hidden, but I told her one day you would find your way. There was no guarantee the block would hold since you are more powerful than anyone realizes. But either way, I aim to please,” she said, shrugging.
“What are you?”
She laughed as if she had been waiting for Marie to ask that question. “I've been around a long time, my dear. Longer than most people would expect, given my appearance. I change with the times. Sometimes my name changes, and sometimes even the way I look. I have to keep it fresh, you know? But I know all the angels. At some point, they all have to visit me,” she said, holding her hand up to examine her nails. She seemed tired of the conversation already.
She took in Marie's expression, finally noticing that she was confused about what she was saying.
“I am the last living siren, sweetie, one of the originals. My mate, Baraqijal, the angel of astrology, taught me many things, parlor tricks and such. But I desired something more – how shall I put it – permanent. The other women were such simpletons, but not me; I wanted the gift for myself.” She leaned toward Marie with a wolfish grin on her face. “So, I persuaded him to give his life, so that I could have an eternal one. All he required was for me to bear him a child and I had no problem with that. It was his dying wish, after all. Now, I am immortal and have acquired all his powers,” she said leaning back.
“What powers?”
“The usual... I have psychic abilities, like predicting the future. I can give and remove curses if I want to. Most of the time I really don't want to,” she smiled. “I have other gifts, but I'm sure you don't want me to bore you with the details.”
“Are you an oracle or something?” Marie asked.
“Ha! Angels were around long before oracles were thought of. They were created in direct correlation with Heaven. Take what you will from that. Anyway, my gift is sometimes cloudy, depending on the weather, but it's better than nothing. But that's not important; right now we need to talk fast because Brenton is about to come out of his trance.”
Marie didn't understand why it mattered, but she didn't question it. Helena was all about the mystical and mysterious, from what Marie could tell. She probably took pleasure from confusing people.
“There is something coming, Marie, and I sense that you will be the key to ending this war. I trust Brenton and your mother have filled you in on our little dilemma. I know for sure he still hasn't told you why he came to find you,” she said raising her eyebrow.
Marie was about to speak, but Helena spoke over her. “Don't worry about answering. I've already been through his mind and I know why he hasn't told you. I will let him tell you in his own time. When he does, try to be rational, hon,” she smirked. “More importantly, you need to know that someone is trying to break the fallen angels out of prison, which would be catastrophic. You must prevent this from happening.”
Helena got up and walked around the room touching plants and furniture. Marie watched her every move. She inhaled deeply as she went, and the plants moved with her. They responded to her like little soldiers.
“You are a special one, Marie. There are things you can do that even your mother knows nothing about. You need to focus on tapping into those hidden talents to win this war.”
“What hidden talents?”
“It is not my place to share that with you. This is your journey, your path; you must follow it and learn in your own time. Any extra information I give you now will ultimately change the course of your future, and the future I see for you right now is the best one to succeed.
Soon you will meet your mentor and he will teach you everything you need to know. After that, you and Brenton will have to travel and gather the remaining angels to prepare for war. You must find my daughter, Nacole; she will be a great asset to you, as she has acquired my gifts. Once this is done, it will all become clear.”
She stopped and closed her eyes. She was still, peaceful. After a minute, her eyes shot open, and then she sat down on the edge of the fountain. Marie didn't want to ask what that was all about.
“Will you fight with us?”
“Oh no, this is not my fight. I'm in neutral territory. I stay out of the way and I am granted immunity. But since this war will likely take away some of the things I've grown fond of, I will help where I can.”
Marie put her head in her hands, sighing despondently. She wondered where Brenton was, worried. Helena also hadn't told her how she was going to help with the block.
“In time, be patient. I'm trying to help you because you lack prescience, I don't. If you would prefer, I'll send you on your way. I will be happy to oblige,” she said, scowling.
She must have read her mind. This was starting to get annoying. She hadn't learned how to invade someone's thoughts, but everyone was taking turns breaking into hers.
“I didn't mean ...” she started.
“It doesn't matter. Something is coming sooner than you think and I fear it will be hard on you; but I know you will succeed.” She squinted, studying Marie for a second, and then asked, “How is your father, by the way? Is he still in the dark?”
Marie was confused. She didn't know how to answer. Of course, her dad didn't know what was going on, but Marie felt like there was a double meaning behind the question.
Helena finally looked toward the door. A second later, Brenton walked through it. Helena gestured to the seat next to Marie and he sat down immediately.
“You enjoy my little slide show, Brenton?” she asked.
He simply nodded.
“Well, let's get back to business, shall we?”
She got up from the fountain, walked to the other side of the room, and waved her hand over the plants that climbed the wall. A vine broke free and wrapped itself around her arm. She pulled a single leaf from the vine and the plant recoiled.
She closed her eyes and began singing a chant over the leaf. Marie and Brenton sat very still until she was finished. She squeezed the leaf into a ball and brought it to Marie.
“The shield will gradually unveil itself. Eat this; it will help with the headaches.”
“What is it?” Marie asked.
“It's an herb from the Garden of Eden.”
Marie and Brenton looked up in amazement.
“Don't ask, no time,” she said, “It has healing properties. Now, once the medicine has completely entered your body, you might have a fever for a couple of hours, but it will pass.”
Marie put the leaf in her mouth and chewed. It had a citrus taste at first, but when she swallowed, it left a bitter aftertaste.
“So, what now?” Brenton said, speaking for the first time since entering the room.
“Now, you must go. Marie will fill you in on the rest. I don't want to remodel this house again – it's too much work.”
Neither Marie nor Brenton knew what she was talking about, but they did know it was their cue to leave. They thanked her and headed out.
“Tell Renea, if she needs anything, don't hesitate to call,” Helena called out before she went to her room. Marie nodded and followed Brenton out.
As soon as she closed the door, she turned and bumped into Brenton. He was in a daze, eyes glazed over, looking into the distance. She knew what that meant, so she waited. He was frantic when he came back from the trance.
“Get down!” he yelled, pushing Marie to the floor the moment before a blade impaled itself in the door.