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Chapter 1
When life is at its end
How will you decide?
To play the final role
Or give it up and die?
“Are you sure you still want to come down?”
“Of course I do.”
The air was crisp that morning, The Dublin air port was bustling about with throngs of busy, energetic people. Mothers were carrying their crying children, grandparents on their way to taking their grandchildren on vacation, and people moving back and forth, off and on their flights. Nothing unusual for the air port in Dublin ,Ireland.
“If you don’t have the money I could always come up instead.” Argued the voice on the other side of the black Nokia flip phone a blonde hair blue eyed woman had pressed against her ear with her shoulder.
“My little cottages is to small and I’ve already bought the tickets.” The blonde hair woman said as she relinquished the money she’d dug from her messy leather purse to the short black hair woman standing behind the air port desk patiently.
The black hair woman smiled and began clicking down a few things on they key board of her computer, seemingly more busy then she needed to be. After a moment, the woman looked back up and a smiled like a happy plastic Barbie-doll.
“Raina Rose?” She asked, looking down at the license Raina had set out for the clerk to look over.
“Yes ma’ma.” Raina responded politely, paying little attention to the clerk and staying more focused to the phone glued to her ear and the man she was talking to on the other line.
“Are you sure.” The man insisted, trying with out any real intention of getting the stubborn woman to change her mind. He knew that she would just ignore him no matter how much he insisted she do something different.
He still had to argue with her anyway, just in case.
“Crozzie, I’m sure. I miss you a lot and I want to come and visit you.”
Crozeus sighed. She always made up her mind about these kinds of things without asking him ad then when she went to put her plan into effect he only ever got a warning last minute. Why couldn’t she so the normal thing for once and just call and ask if it was ok? He hated it when she called him and said “I’m buying a ticket and I’m coming to see you.”
That wasn’t a warning in advance, that was a “By the way.”
“What day are you wanting to fly down?” The clerk asked, her well manicured nails tapping against the white marble desk irritably.
Raina never understood woman and manicures, to her it seemed pointless to go and get your nails done when they were going to break off in the first place.
“Two weeks on Saturday.”
“Saturday?” Crozeus snorted.
“Let me see if we have a flight open for that day. It will only take one moment.” She began tapping away at the keys on her computer once again.
“What’s wrong with Saturday?” Raina asked, starting to tap her own nails on the marble desk that she was leaning on. Something about waiting around never bothered her unless there was a lot of commotion like there was in the Dublin air port. Too much commotion made Raina edgy and energetic.
“Nothing I guess. I was going to invite Fectum down for a visit that weekend.”
“Good! That means we can have a little reunion. How is Fectum? I haven’t talked to him in a few years, I hope he’s alright.”
Raina began shifting through her leather back purse, trying to at last calm her nerves with all the movement and people crowding her in line behind her. Even though she wasn’t doing anything she wanted to at least look like she was doing something. A double chinned old woman was standing behind her. Her face was sequenced up and the old woman didn’t hide the fact that she was annoyed at the moment. Every now and then she would stamp her foot and grunt with this deep male voice. Raina wasn’t even sure if it WAS a woman, but she wasn’t about to turn around and find out. She tried to ignore the old woman’s annoyed grunts.
“Last I herd he met a girl in Florida. Fectum, yes, Fectum, said that he was thinking about Marrying her.”
Raina almost dropped her purse but caught it in time to keep everything from falling out of it. She did drop her jaw, however.
“Fectum said that? Our Fectum?”
“I had the same exact reaction.”
“I’m afraid there’s no coach flights for Saturday of the 18th. The flights are all booked.” The woman said as she gazed empty mindedly at Raina’s ID.
“How about Friday?”
The woman stared at the screen of her computer and nodded slowly. “Yes, there is a flight for two on Friday. Would you like that one?”
“Yes. Book it for me please.”
The woman began tapping away with her irritatingly nice nails and false smile. Raina waited as patiently as she could, fiddling with the phone in her hand and waiting for the woman to get finished. Finally, the woman hit the last button and the ticket recite printed out of the machine. The clerk tore the ticket from the machine and grabbed two tickets from under her desk. She handed the tickets, the recite, and Raina’s ID back to her. Raina shoved everything that she had been handed back into her purse. Raina was sure that her purse was the most unorganized thing about her. Her house was clean, her work was organized and clean, but for some reason she couldn’t keep her purse organized.
“Thank You for flying South West. Have a nice day.”
“You too.”
Raina pushed past the old woman, who grunted and threw herself in the direction of the counter as if she had been waiting there behind Raina for hours. Raina shook her head, huffing at how rude people seemed to be any more. With her purse on her shoulder and the phone now securely in her hand she made her way out of the buzzing air port, trying to think of what she was going to cook for dinner when she got home. Chicken Lasagna sounded good to her at the moment.
“So he wanted to marry her?”
“Marry her.” Crozeus laughed.
“I have to tease him about that now. I am going to tease him so badly when I see him in a couple of weeks.” Raina giggled lightly, the thought of Fectum’s face blown up red from anger and embarrassment was too funny. She didn’t get many chances to tease him so when an opportunity sprung up she was defiantly going to take it.
“He’ll love that.”
The two laughed cheerfully together, both anxious to see the other again after being apart for so many years. Raina was glad to hear from her old friend for a change, it would be heart warming to see him and Fectum again. She was thrilled that they had gotten in touch through myspace again, that website had it made in this world.
“So I’ll see you in a couple of weeks?” Raina asked, subtly indicating that she needed to get off the phone.
“If all goes well.”
“Not much can get in the way, so it’ll be fine.”
“Well I’ve got to get off the phone. Oh, Raina do me a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget to pack cloths this time and back everything else in your house.”
“That happened once!” Raina moaned.
“It could happen again.” Crozeus chuckled and Raina’s face grew to be a bright red.
“Will you ever let me live that down?”
“Nope.”
“Good-bye Crozeus!” Raina huffed at him.
“Good-bye Raina.” Crozeus’s laughter lingered as Raina slammed the phone shut, huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. She smiled after she got done fuming because she couldn’t stay mad at him for anything, he meant too much to her.
She had to admit, leaving her cloths at home when she came to visit him had been pretty funny.
She made her way to the shinning glass doors of the Dublin air port, ready to be out of this closing in sea of people. While walking over to the doors to escape the moving drones of humans Raina froze very suddenly, stopping dead in here pursuit of human freedom. A chill crawled haltingly up her spine, cold and lifeless like the dead. The feeling crept through her veins as soldiers creep through the nights and prickles the back of her pale white neck. For a moment the chill stayed, taunting her and teasing her. And as quickly as the chill had appeared to ruin her day, it vanished as she stepped into the fresh Ireland sun.
The sun and the plush green seasons were the reason that Raina had moved to Ireland to live four years ago. She’d never been happier then when she moved here. Every day was different, every day was peaceful. Every day was something that she wanted to remember. She felt calm here, welcomed, like she belonged here. Ireland was the first place in all her years of being alive that she could put the word “home” to. No where else that she had lived, in all the many years of life she had been cursed with, could she feel as safe as she did here in Ireland. The most perfect place on earth for her.
As she took in the air around her, breathed in the fresh green grass and wet dew from the rain that had passed two days ago, the thoughts of the chill completely left her mind. Raina swayed her hips from side to side gracefully as she walked. She knew that when she walked it seemed more like she was gliding, and this had never once bothered her. She took advantage of her grace. She swayed herself over to the bright yellow Taxi waiting just a few feet away from the air port entrance. When she reached the Taxi a smile was already on her lips, the chill forgotten. The day was too good to pass up.
Opening the door Raina was met with the familiar scent of Vanilla and Old Spice, something she had grown accustomed to smelling when getting in and out of this same Taxi which always was the one to come and pick her up. She crawled in and pulled the door shut behind her, sliding over to sit comfortably on the maroon red Taxi seats. Buckling the seat belt across her chest the driver of the cab started the car up, letting the engine rev for a moment before pulling out of the main drop off/pick up area.
“All settled Miss Rose?” The old man asked. He was in his late 40’s early 50’s, his wrinkles dominated most of his face and the hair he had was a silvery white and cut perfectly around his head. His eyes were a soft melted sky blue and his face was always drawn into a soft friendly smile. Unlike the other Drivers in Ireland, and the majority of people, the old man did not have an Irish accent. Instead, his accent was 100% American.
“Yes, I got everything worked out. I’ll be going on Friday instead of Saturday. Thank you for waiting Sam, (A/N: This is not Samuel.) I do appreciate it.” Raina explained, turning to stare out the window as the car pulled out of the air port and got on the main road to go back to her little cottage.
“Its not problem at all, Miss Rose.” He smiled at her in the rear view mirror and she smiled back at him, brightly as always.
“You really should let me pay the actual price for driving me back and forth.”
“Must we always go through this, Miss Rose?”
“I don’t want to be trouble for you.”
“Its no trouble at all. I spend many nights eating your wonderful cooking, and you do not make me pay a dime for that. This is the least I can do for you.” Sam smiled at Raina once again and as before she smiled back at him. Any time she needed a ride anywhere, it was always Sam who came and got her. He wouldn’t allow her to pay for her rides back and forth when she needed them.
“You’re so good to me.”
“I do try, Miss Rose.”
After that he turned on his CD of Beethoven’s music collection that Raina had gotten him for Christmas that year. He said that he never played anything different while he was driving because the music was the best thing he had gotten in a long time. Raina didn’t understand how he couldn’t get annoyed listening to the same songs over and over again every day, she knew without a doubt that she would get frustrated. Sam was undoubtedly her closet friend that lived in Ireland. If anything, she saw him as her father figure. When she rode in his Taxi cab a year and a half ago her life became a lot brighter than it had been. He was always there, always helping her.
“How is Trisha now? Is she doing alright?” Sam asked once they were halfway back to Raina’s cottage, still on the main road.
“She’s doing much better. I’m going to have to get a second job here very soon though.”
“Why is that, Miss Rose?”
Raina paused, clearing her throat. For a moment, nothing was said as Raina mulled over in her mind the right words to say to him. She opened her mouth as if the words were going to come out the way she wanted them to sound and then she closed her mouth, deciding what she was going to say wasn’t good enough. It took her a moment to gather her words.
Sam waited patiently until Raina was ready with what she had to say.
Finally Raina responded once her thoughts were gathered up.
“I was thinking of getting a bigger cottage. The one just down my street if for sale and I thought that it would be perfect.” She waited. His reaction was important.
“Whatever would you want the bigger one for, Miss Rose? The house you and little Trisha have is just perfect for the two of you to live comfortably.”
Raina took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. This was just Sam that she was talking to, she had no reason to be nervous.
“I was hoping that you would come and move in with me and Trishy. See, you are over at the house all the time as it is and since you live by yourself the move wouldn’t be that difficult for us to manage. That and Trishy really likes you. Would you like to come and live with us Sam?”
Raina watched his face in the mirror calmly, trying to see along what lines he was thinking. He was watching her as well, blue eyes reading each other carefully. She could tell from the way his lips pursed together that he was surprised and that he was considering her offer. She hoped that he would take it.
“That is a lot to think about, Miss Rose.”
“I know it is. Would you think about it? Consider it a little?” Her voice was hopeful and her eyes were pleading.
Sam smiled easily at the woman.
“Of course I will think about it.”
Raina smiled, more relaxed now that she had gotten to ask what she needed.
“Thank you Sam.”
“Your welcome, Miss Rose.”
The rest of the drive through Dublin back to her home was filled with small talk about the weather, about politics, about people on the streets, and easy going things. Sam was always just that, an easy going relaxed person. Raina didn’t understand why someone as sweet and kind as him had never gotten married but she never was the kind of person to pry about something that could be painful. She’d asked him once why he’d moved to Ireland from America. He’d told her that he’d moved to Ireland for personal reasons related to some unresolved issues. The sadness in his eyes when she asked him had made her heart choke for even thinking to ask such a question. After that, Raina didn’t press the matter.
When they pulled up to the house Raina took a moment, as she always did, to admire how lucky she had been to grab the little cottage when it was up for sale. The cottage was a faint blue old fashioned looking cottage. The house had a small 1 ft tall fence that wrapped around the front of it. There was a small rock path that lead up to the large front porch with weeds and flowers that grew around the beautiful stones. The grass in the front yard was plush and green with life, something Raina had always been grateful for. Laying in that grass on sunny days drinking lemonade with Trisha was her number 1 favorite past time on her top 10 list. Two chairs were on the from porch with a small table sat in between them. A chimney peaked its why from behind the cottage roof.
Every time she came to stand in front of her little cottage, one word came into her mind. Home. All the way up the path to the front porch Raina would happily repeat the words in her head “This is my home.” And would be delighted in feeling like here, in this cottage, was where she finally belonged.
Raina opened the car door and slide out, a smile already on her lips.
“Thank you Sam.”
“Its always a pleasure, Miss Rose.” Sam nodded to her and she nodded back, wanting to curtsey to him instead but she held back on that.
“Will you be eating dinner with us tonight? I’m cooking my famous Chicken Lasagna.” Raina dangled the Lasagna with a girlish grin and playful eyes.
“I couldn’t pass up the Chicken Lasagna. What time should I be back to enjoy your delicious cooking once again?” Sam, as pleasant as he always was, started the car while smiling over at the awaiting Raina.
“How about 6:00 tonight?”
“I will return at 6:00 then.”
A sharp cry suddenly interrupted the two of them, and Raina turned around and two small arms crashed around her waist and she was looking down into the gleeful face of the bright child she’d been talking about only a few moments ago.
“Momma!” The girl squealed and Raina hoisted her up from the ground and safely into her own arms.
“Well if it isn’t the angel I was talking about only a few minutes ago! How was school Trishy?”
“It was fun! We learned to count to 10 in Spanish and Mrs. Marx was letting us use this book that- Oh, hi Grandpa!” Trisha’s attention, like that of any 7 year old, switched just as quickly as a teenage girls mood swings. Yet she was just as cheerful about it as ever.
“Hello Trisha dear. Are you behaving your mother?” Sam asked the girl with a mock suspicious look on his face. Raina was smiling and staring at them both with a motherly expression.
“Of course I am! I’m a good girl aren’t I mommy?” Trisha hugged her mother tighter around the neck and Raina laughed calmly.
“For the most part.”
“See! Are you going to visit right now Grandpa?”
“Grandpa has to go back to work Trishy, he’ll be back later for dinner though.”
“Ok, then we can do puzzles again?”
Raina laughed melodically at the girls enthusiasm.
“Of course you can.” Raina said and set the girl down on her own two feet. Trisha’s back hair went in every direction as the wind picked up her hair, making her rosy cheeks brighter. Raina opened her purse and fished around the mess until she had her keys out of her purse. She handed them down to the eager child. “Go un lock the door. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Alright. Bye Grandpa! See you soon!”
“Bye sweetie!” Sam called as Trisha dashed off in a blur of pink and hello kitty.
Once Trisha had disappeared inside of the cottage, Raina turned back to Sam.
“Be safe at work today.”
“I will Miss Rose. See you tonight” Sam reassured.
“See you tonight.” Raina shut the car door.
As Sam drove off down the street she waved to him, letting him know in the best way that she could that he had a family. Then she turned and started back into the house. She picked up the mail on her way in, ready to start cooking dinner and getting some of the laundry done. When she entered the house, the smell of incense hit her nose and all of the muscles in her body melted down to better. Instantly, Raina moved over and lit another incense now that the one she’d lit when she’d left was burned down; So that she could keep the smell that was in the air attached to her house. Once that was done she brought the cottage to life again. Sitting down on the couch, she began shifting through the mail. Bills, bills, and more bills it seemed. Nothing that she didn’t already expect to get in the mail, like she did every day.
One letter, hand written with a pen in a scrawl that was out dated, beautifully written and just as dangerous was addressed to her, the letter stopped her shifting through the bills. Her throat grew tight and she could already feel the weight and the pressure build up in the room. She wasn’t ready for this. Not this letter, not again. Denial yelled inside her mind, told her to throw the letter in the fire and act as if she had never gotten it. Her mind demanded, by some hope that the letter was going to be something different. She was not disillusioned however. With reluctance she read who the letter was from and all her hope was shattered to worthless bits.
“Invictus.” Raina whispered, the word resounding around her ears and inside her mind.
Her fingers shakily peeled the letter open, pulling out the light piece of paper and letting the paper rest upon her lap, folded up still. Taking a deep, strained breath, Raina unfolded the letter. She didn’t need to read it but she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she did. Why was it that when she found a family, a life, a home, that she was going to be called away?
Raina
It seems that the Knights have assembled, a disturbance has occurred. We are assembling at Silence. Return immediately.
~Invictus.
Raina closed the letter. For a moment, she sat, only staring out into nothingness with a blank expression on her face. Though she felt all the hate in the world for having been cursed the way she was, things always went like this. No matter how many times she had tried to escape, they always seemed to drag her back. She was getting back to a life, she was at least feeling at peace. Something she hadn’t felt in almost 32 years. Yet, as she tore the letter to pieces, staring straight ahead at nothing, she knew that it was going to come eventually. She had no choice but to go. It been 50 years since she acknowledged them. 50 years since she’d come in contact with them. It was about time.
“Momma! Can I help you fix dinner?” Trisha asked, jumping cheerfully into the living room. When she saw her mother sitting with that expression on her face she stopped short and rushed over. “Momma what’s wrong?”
Raina snapped out of her trance.
“Nothing baby.” She took the little girl in her arms, holding her tightly.
“Can I help you fix dinner?”
“No angel. Go to your room and start packing your things.”
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"If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind and the rain."
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