knew there would be some sort of
ritual. I had no more information than that. So, I’ve grieved silently for
weeks. As my daughter went about her day to day activities, I sat in misery. I
could not tell her because she had to stay true to her course. I have to live
with that. So instead of focusing on her, I turned my focus toward helping you,
Izzy. I recognized part of the ritual as one the Druids used to perform.”
“Isabelle told me something about
some books she had returned to the library,” I said thoughtfully. Perhaps
Eleanor would have the key to unlock this mystery. Hopefully, she could at
least tell me about the ritual.
“You saw her? You spoke with my
baby?” Eleanor gasped as a tear threatened to slide down her cheek. “But, you
didn’t interfere did you?”
“No, I was having a vision of the
ceremony. In it, she died, and once she was removed from this plane, I guess it
made it so that I could talk to her. I am not really sure why or how. I just
know that I talked to her,” I finished, feeling sick to my stomach. I didn’t
want this woman to know that her daughter was stuck between planes unable to
move on.
“I know she is dear,” Eleanor said,
reaching for my hand. “Do you mind if I see what you saw?” she asked. I knew
she wanted to sift through my memories to see our interaction.
“I don’t mind, but it is all a bit
ghastly. Are you sure you want to have that sort of memory of your daughter?” I
asked, knowing if I was in her place I would want to remember her happy and
alive.
“It is not about wants, sweet girl.
It is about needs. Perhaps there is something in those memories that would make
more sense to me,” she said sadly before continuing. “I need you to center your
mind. Think back to the vision and replay it in your mind.” I did as she said,
and as soon as she latched on, I could feel her moving in my mind. She flipped
through the images like an old movie replaying sections as she went. When she
was finished, she looked at me, astounded.
“Well, that was disturbing,” she
said, looking a bit green. “Who was the other girl there?”
“Ren. Apparently I see dead people
now,” I muttered before I realized it was an entirely inappropriate time to
make such a joke. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“I understand. You did nothing to
offend me my dear.” She patted my hand before settling back in her chair. “So,
this Ren was also a victim of the sacrifice?”
“Yes, ma’am. She showed up in the
dreaming last night, urging me to solve this mystery,” I said just as my
exhaustion decided to settle over me.
“Well, I do believe we should head
out to the Council, don’t you?” she asked before moving to the door where a
packed bag awaited her. As she passed her daughter’s picture, her hand
unconsciously rose to brush a finger across the image. She may have appeared
put together, but I knew she was a hair’s breath away from breaking down
completely.
“That sounds like a brilliant plan
to me,” I yawned, following her out.
We made our way back down to the
garage quickly. The elevator didn’t try and kill me this time. Thank God for
small favors.
We began to pile in the car, and
the image I was struck by caused me to giggle. I imagined a clown car stuffed
to the gills with Guardians. Everyone stopped to stare at me as though I had
finally gone mad. It was the second time that day I had found humor in an
inappropriate situation.
“Sorry,” I mumbled as I crawled
into the middle of the backseat.
“I thought it would take her longer
to crack than that,” Ian said, snickering as he climbed in. I reached up and
smacked him upside his head as he sat.
“I am not going crazy. I was just
thinking of clown cars.”
“I rest my case,” Ian said as we
began to pull out of the garage.
**********
CHAPTER TEN
When we arrived back at the Council
building, Isadora and Breanan were waiting for us. The moment Eleanor got out
of the
ritual. I had no more information than that. So, I’ve grieved silently for
weeks. As my daughter went about her day to day activities, I sat in misery. I
could not tell her because she had to stay true to her course. I have to live
with that. So instead of focusing on her, I turned my focus toward helping you,
Izzy. I recognized part of the ritual as one the Druids used to perform.”
“Isabelle told me something about
some books she had returned to the library,” I said thoughtfully. Perhaps
Eleanor would have the key to unlock this mystery. Hopefully, she could at
least tell me about the ritual.
“You saw her? You spoke with my
baby?” Eleanor gasped as a tear threatened to slide down her cheek. “But, you
didn’t interfere did you?”
“No, I was having a vision of the
ceremony. In it, she died, and once she was removed from this plane, I guess it
made it so that I could talk to her. I am not really sure why or how. I just
know that I talked to her,” I finished, feeling sick to my stomach. I didn’t
want this woman to know that her daughter was stuck between planes unable to
move on.
“I know she is dear,” Eleanor said,
reaching for my hand. “Do you mind if I see what you saw?” she asked. I knew
she wanted to sift through my memories to see our interaction.
“I don’t mind, but it is all a bit
ghastly. Are you sure you want to have that sort of memory of your daughter?” I
asked, knowing if I was in her place I would want to remember her happy and
alive.
“It is not about wants, sweet girl.
It is about needs. Perhaps there is something in those memories that would make
more sense to me,” she said sadly before continuing. “I need you to center your
mind. Think back to the vision and replay it in your mind.” I did as she said,
and as soon as she latched on, I could feel her moving in my mind. She flipped
through the images like an old movie replaying sections as she went. When she
was finished, she looked at me, astounded.
“Well, that was disturbing,” she
said, looking a bit green. “Who was the other girl there?”
“Ren. Apparently I see dead people
now,” I muttered before I realized it was an entirely inappropriate time to
make such a joke. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“I understand. You did nothing to
offend me my dear.” She patted my hand before settling back in her chair. “So,
this Ren was also a victim of the sacrifice?”
“Yes, ma’am. She showed up in the
dreaming last night, urging me to solve this mystery,” I said just as my
exhaustion decided to settle over me.
“Well, I do believe we should head
out to the Council, don’t you?” she asked before moving to the door where a
packed bag awaited her. As she passed her daughter’s picture, her hand
unconsciously rose to brush a finger across the image. She may have appeared
put together, but I knew she was a hair’s breath away from breaking down
completely.
“That sounds like a brilliant plan
to me,” I yawned, following her out.
We made our way back down to the
garage quickly. The elevator didn’t try and kill me this time. Thank God for
small favors.
We began to pile in the car, and
the image I was struck by caused me to giggle. I imagined a clown car stuffed
to the gills with Guardians. Everyone stopped to stare at me as though I had
finally gone mad. It was the second time that day I had found humor in an
inappropriate situation.
“Sorry,” I mumbled as I crawled
into the middle of the backseat.
“I thought it would take her longer
to crack than that,” Ian said, snickering as he climbed in. I reached up and
smacked him upside his head as he sat.
“I am not going crazy. I was just
thinking of clown cars.”
“I rest my case,” Ian said as we
began to pull out of the garage.
**********
CHAPTER TEN
When we arrived back at the Council
building, Isadora and Breanan were waiting for us. The moment Eleanor got out
of the
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