I follow Ann out the front door; trying to not look at my feet as we walk, but I feel like a scolded child, so I guess I should look like one. The confident pace of Ann’s stride makes her look ten feet taller than her five-foot-two-inch height; and I have a feeling that whoever is out here is going to be intimidated by her manner. Calling Lune to my side, I send him out in front of us. Seeing Lune’s attitude as he runs out to greet the unknown presence changes Ann’s determined paranoia, concerning the potential threat looming in the trees. He runs fearlessly to the spot where I ask the entity to wait; and, as this is his second peaceful greeting, he has his tail held high in a friendly wave.
Ann stops, and watches the exchange with a weary expression. Studying the trees for a glimpse of something important that will confirm her claim that Lune and I are being reckless; her body language is still screaming: suspicion. Immediately stiffening, she catches her breath with a sharp audible intake of air through her teeth.
“Who are you?” Despite her stance of mistrust, her voice is full of wonder at the sight of what is standing before us.
“What? Ann … what?” I don’t know if I should be frightened or relieved, but the knot forming in my stomach is leaning towards frightened.
She holds one finger up at me, telling me to wait … and then she proceeds to continue talking to thin air. I might have taken the signal better if I hadn’t just been scolded like a school boy. Plus, what does she care … she doesn’t even know my name. Fuming, but with enough common sense to keep my mouth shut, I stride over, lean against a nearby tree, and listen to Ann’s side of the conversation. I am hoping for something to start making sense in all this crap.
“Wait a minute … why does it matter that I can see you? Okay. I think I recognize the Symboulio … but here, in America, it’s pronounced Symbio … the Council of Symbio, and there is nothing for you to fear from them. I joined the council about six months ago; they are all about forming symbiotic relationships with ethereal Others. Yes, it was founded by the original European settlers, but their doctrine was rewritten to include Native American knowledge … as a matter of fact quite a few of the council elders are Native American.”
Ann pauses for a long time, listening, and nodding her head … her posture starts to reshape out of stiff paranoia, and into something like reverence. When she speaks again, I can barely hear the words that she shapes with such care, “Ho Thanatos?”
Something pure and delicate is uttered in the way Ann’s lips handle the words. I want to know what they mean … I want to know who this is, and how they can crack a hard nut like Ann, so quickly.
“You’re saying there is such a thing as Ho Thanatos hunters? What does any of this have to do with your need to speak to Christopher?” With the wonder in her voice and the change in her body language, as annoying as it is to be left in the dark, I know that this conversation is important in answering most of, if not all, our questions.
“Ann, obviously this is someone who is in our best interest to know. Would you like to move this discussion into the cabin?” When she meets my eyes I see an incomprehensible sadness that melts my irritation immediately. I walk back over to her side and lightly grab her hand, and gently turning her, I lead us all back in the direction of the front door.
“Michael … she said that Ellie’s gone, she's been murdered.” She knows my name, and hearing it on her tongue makes me smile … but only for a second, as comprehension dawns on what is breaking Christopher. But Ann doesn’t offer any further explanation as we walk back inside.
Lune follows about ten feet behind us; preceded by our guest, is my best guess. After he moves inside, I close out the cold, hoping that I don’t shut out any unseen visitors. Turning, I find Ann over by the wood burning stove talking to the chair. She still has her coat on; and even though sweat is beading on her forehead, she is shivering. It seems that, our guest has decided to grant us the pleasure of their company.
When I hear Artemis scratching at Christopher’s door, I am struck by the sudden question … how will she respond to the presence that is talking with Ann? Curiosity leads me to the door; and even though I am not sure if it is a good idea, I let Artemis out to investigate. She walks cautiously over to the chair, with her head held high, it is obvious that she is trying to make, and hold, eye contact. Instead of lowering her tail, in a show of mistrust, she holds it curled upward, not wagging in friendship, but to illustrate that she is willing to give this person a chance. Never breaking eye contact, she slowly sits in front of the chair that seems empty to me, but obviously holds someone of great importance. I can’t believe my eyes as I watch the fur of her mane flatten as if it was being stroked. Artemis responds to the affection by leaning her head against the unseen hand. I have the feeling that I am watching the interaction between two very majestic creatures, a historical meeting never witnessed before. And, I wish I could see like Ann.
With my thoughts shifting to Ann, I notice that she had stopped talking at some point, and is watching the exchange with as much interest as me. While Artemis plays hostess, I think it is a good time to ask Ann, who this creature is, and what she has learned. Again gently placing my hand on Ann’s, I guide her into the living room. Helping her take off her coat, and trying to comfort her through the shock of whatever she has learned, I press for enlightenment.
“Her name is Cassandra. She is the original Cassandra from Greek mythology … and she was Ellie’s mentor.” Ann’s voice is in a state of perpetual awe, and hearing what she is saying, I can understand why.
“That can’t be right … that would make her … something like, three thousand years old?”
Dreamily looking through my eyes, “I know … but, Michael … if you could see her, the energy, the beauty … my God, if you could see the power surrounding her …” As her words trail off, I understand almost immediately; Ann has never seen anything so regal, so magnificent as Cassandra … not even in her dreams.
“Okay, Okay … then, do we believe her?” I don’t think Ann actually believes anyone, and blind faith is definitely not one of her attributes. Knowing that Ann will rather err on the side of caution in matters of trust, and even though I sound like an imbecile in need of guidance on how to blow my nose, asking her opinion seems to be the best idea.
Finally bringing my face into focus, she has a look of confusion. “Yes … I think … I do trust her.”
“Then, please, tell me what happened to Ellie.”
“She isn’t exactly sure … if we are going to accept that she is ‘The Cassandra’… then, I guess we have to accept that she actually has visions. She said she saw Ellie in a vision, being hunted by the Symboulio. And that they cornered her, after the boat she was sailing on docked, in a coastal Greek village.” She sounds tense, like she has witnessed the attack for herself … as far as I know Ann has never even met Ellie. Evidently something more than words passed between Cassandra and Ann.
“Wait a minute, Ann … what is the Symboulio? I heard you mention them when we were outside; along with the Symbio … you said you were a member.” I can feel the threads of understanding starting to braid themselves together … finally, I’m going to know more than Christopher, about something … anything.
“I am a member of the Symbio … here; it’s a council that works alongside the ethereal creatures. They mostly work to expand the knowledge of world events from beings that were actually there, they are also interested in the scientific study of extra-sensory perceptions. Like I said, I only just joined, but I believe that they are doing good work. They do police the malevolent behavior of both the creatures and living people with talents … but that isn’t their prime objective. What Cassandra described, the Symboulio, they are crusaders bent on destruction of the ethereal realm. She said that, in her vision, Ellie was acting as if she had befriended a boy, a ‘seer’ like me, who belongs to the Symboulio, and that he led her into a trap. Cassandra watched, as the boy stabbed Ellie with a special knife covered in poison. Apparently, the poison could paralyze, possibly even kill, her Ho Thanatos core while the knife would dispatch the solid form Ellie was projecting. Cassandra helplessly viewed Ellie bleed out her life force, a bright green energy that was the center of her essence. Cassandra feels incredibly guilty for not being there … she was telling me about a conversation she’d overheard, when Artemis interrupted. She was telling me that she heard the Symboulio were actually after a powerful precog … they were after her.” Ann’s gaze becomes serious as she turns to look at the chair where Cassandra and Artemis still sit.
“You don’t blame her, do you? How was she supposed to stop it from happening? At least we know why Christopher is in that condition. Now; we just need to figure out a way to help him.”
Ann looks into my eyes with a question on her lips. Her expression changes from the harsh examination she placed on Cassandra, to one of consideration and sympathy. “You are a good friend, Michael; I’m glad you called, if for no other reason than I could meet you. I think that we should ask Cassandra exactly what she heard, and saw, and then maybe, something will come to us about helping Christopher.”
“All right … that sounds like a solid place for us to start off … but you’re going to have to talk to me, and tell me what she’s saying.” Ann’s face becomes focused once more on Cassandra, and I’m not exactly sure if she heard me … damn, it sucks being normal.
Following behind Ann, I’m drawn back into noticing how powerful her character is compared to her physical dimensions. She is a survivor, reminding me of smooth river rocks worn into gems by the rolling rush of water. Her life has shaped her into something that beguiles the senses … but at the same time she is so hard and unfathomable. I find myself deeply fascinated, and repulsed, by her fierce independence. And, I have no idea what to make of her statement about being glad to meet me. But I can’t ignore the way my heart sped up when she first said my name, or the pit that formed in my stomach as she looked into my eyes with such thoughtfulness. I haven’t been this confused by the opposite sex since … Lilly.
Ann turns and looks at me with an expectant glance; I distinctly hear her voice in my head. With a jagged edge to her tone, “Well?” rings inside my skull. Apparently I am supposed to start the questioning. I nod, as I pull two chairs over and place them facing Cassandra.
I am not sure how this is going to work; so as I sit down and turn on my interrogation technique, hoping that we will find a way to communicate. Crouching forward in my chair with my elbows on my knees, I follow Artemis’s line of sight to what I assume are Cassandra’s eyes. “You were about to tell Ann what you saw the day Ellie died … could you, please, continue?”
Artemis shifts her position so that she can watch our three-way conversation from the sidelines, in the process she looks up at Cassandra and then turns to look at me. As long as I am observant, I can catch onto the nuances of Artemis and Ann’s body language, and hopefully understand some of what is happening. Artemis’s move tells me that I not only have Cassandra’s attention, but she is speaking directly to me. Trying not to seem too confused, I look over at Ann for some assistance.
When Ann’s voice settles in my mind this time, it is soothing and calm. She is repeating Cassandra’s story word for word, silently projecting the tale directly into my brain, while at the same time nudging her head to the left … trying to tell me to look at the storyteller, not at her beautiful caramel colored eyes. Distracted momentarily by my own stupidity, I mouth, ‘Oh right’ and turn to face Cassandra once again.
The story starts with a recap of what Ann has already explained to me. Ann’s voice has a hypnotic effect, and soon, I feel as if I am actually hearing Cassandra’s words.
“Cassandra, Ann explained most of this to me already … and I do want to know the specifics of Ellie’s murder, but so that I can understand the players and the motive, I need to know more about this group, the Symboulio. Please, tell me what you were about to tell Ann … tell me what you overheard, first. Details could be important, try to remember as much as possible.” I need Cassandra to switch from giving us the highlights to giving us the entire story. I need to put myself into that moment in time, so that I can grasp the situation. Be careful of what you wish for … because you might get it.
I still can’t see Cassandra, though I can imagine her sitting before me scratching Artemis’s neck. In the intensity of the moment … Ann’s voice, Artemis watching our exchange like a tennis match, and the fur in her mane moving on its own accord … I guess sometimes believing is seeing, because there before me sits the prophetess of Delphi, the princess of Troy, in all her glory. I can’t tell what she looks like, or what she sounds like, with any certainty … I just simply know, she is there.
Cassandra begins telling me about what she has seen, "I will try my best to remember what they said … I can see my Ellie being led off a boat, being held tightly by a young man. She leaned into his hands ever so slightly, there was some sort of trust between them … they also shared an incredible fear; I could see it in their eyes. Behind them were two very large Ho Thanatos wearing cloaks … the two creatures were stained with evil; their energy craved wickedness. They are known as the Timoro. I could see their tentacles of oily brown energy licking at Ellie, trying to find a way in. But they couldn’t hurt my Ellie, not while she was solid … while she stayed on your side of the veil; and by the gods, they were furious about it, too.”
Ann isn’t projecting with an accent, but as the illusion deepens, I can hear the Greek inflection in Cassandra’s words. Now, I am starting to understand why Ann spoke as if she had been there to see Ellie’s death first hand … Cassandra carries your imagination into the tale, a storyteller of unbelievable talent. “Do you know who the creatures were?”
“No, Michael, I do not. I only know that they were very dangerous … almost as dangerous as the human that waited for Ellie at the bottom of the gangplank. She was trapped … the human knew how to slay her mortal form, and if she tried to escape back to the mist, the evil ones were there to destroy her ethereal soul.”
“What about the young man you mentioned?”
“He both supported and led her … she didn’t struggle; she seemed to gain comfort and strength from his touch. I do not understand why he would kill such a beautiful, trusting soul. I can’t believe that someone as clever and strong as Ellie would allow herself to be trapped like that … I had warned her so many times.” Ann’s voice pauses, and I realize that Cassandra has stopped speaking … obviously needing a moment to collect her thoughts. I pray that the fantasy won’t break and fade away into the silence … this daydream is becoming addictive, and I don’t want it to end.
I am mistaken in believing that our illusion is in any way fragile; because there is no going back, Cassandra still has a story to weave, and we are trapped in her web … so we wait.
In my mind, I hear Ann’s voice cracking with sorrow as she begins speaking for Cassandra again. “As you asked, we will discuss Ellie’s murder later. I had seen the older human that was waiting, before. I knew what he was capable of, but I was too afraid to help Ellie.
"You have to understand, I can recognize the time frame of my visions: past, present and future … and I have found that I can do nothing about the past or even the present; because as soon as I’ve experienced the vision, the present has become the past. I watched what happened to Ellie, as it happened … and I couldn’t even warn her. I didn’t know what else to do; the only thing I could think of was … finding Christopher. He needs to know what happened to his love … either way Ellie’s loss will torture him, but not knowing … would be a never ending agony.” I nod, as hard as it is to watch my friend self-destruct before my eyes … I have to agree with Cassandra’s reasoning. And I am not sure why, but I have a feeling that Cassandra’s trip from Greece to Montana took more courage from her, than walking into a trap in hopes of saving Ellie.
Hoping to calm Cassandra, I say, “No one here blames you for what happened … if you had tried to save Ellie then you both would have died. You knew what Ellie would have wanted … someone to care about Christopher, to inform him of what happened. You are a true friend, for identifying with Ellie and being sympathetic to her wishes.” I can see Ann out of the corner of my eye. She has an eyebrow raised and her lips pursed; I can sense her surprise at my statement. Finally giving a quick nod in my direction, I can imagine what she is thinking … “Pretty insightful, for a small-town, wild-animal cop.”
When Cassandra picks up the story again, I can tell by the tenor and intensity in Ann’s voice that Cassandra has accepted my reassurance, and is continuing by telling us exactly what the ‘older human’ said to Ellie. “The man waited impatiently for Ellie to descend; I watched as he ran a shaky arthritic hand through his greasy, black and silver hair. He actually looked hungry as Ellie came to a stop in front of him. She didn’t say a word; she just stood without emotion, as if she was solemnly waiting to be led to the guillotine. The human seemed to be trying to invoke a reaction from her, as he explained that our first lifetime on this world was a trail, full of the intense pain and pleasure that needed to be passed in order to depart into a place of rest. Not heaven, just worm food, but it would be the ultimate moment of peace for the soul. Those that failed the test so miserably, they were kept in the torture chamber of life by passing into the ethereal mist, and they needed to be put down … like a sick dog, for their own good. Ellie just stood there, never giving him the satisfaction of having an effect on her stoic expression. But, I could tell that she was scared; and as a last act, I could see her reading his dull eyes. She wasn’t going to let him know that she had accepted her own defeat; she was going to make sure to do damage before her execution.
"All she said in return was: ‘If you really believe that you’re giving Ho Thanatos the gift of ending our worldly torture … then why, Esidor, do you suck the life out of us? If you actually believe your time here is the trial before glory … then why do you hang onto your existence so viciously? Why, sir, are you scared of your … ultimate peace?’
"He, of course, had no answer for her, but she seemed to be doing more to him than uncovering his delusion. Ellie was hurting him; his face was contorted in such a way that it was giving away his internal torment. Through gritted teeth, he told her to give the Symboulio the information needed to catch the precog, Cassandra, or he would take her energy and she would disappear into nothing. She gave them nothing; she just continued to attack Esidor’s mind until it looked as if he may collapse. At which point he told the boy, Ellie’s deceptive friend, to kill her. The boy pulled a knife from inside his jacket, and as he slipped it between her ribs, he whispered something in her ear.
"I watched for what felt like a millennia as the vision faded, showing me her demise. Ellie leaned back into her young friend’s arms and actually smiled; reaching up, she brushed a tear from his cheek. When he withdrew the knife, she began to hemorrhage her beautiful essence. Bright green, wispy and spiraling in beautiful swirls, it fluttered and floated, riding on delicate, invisible butterfly wings; her energy became one with the air. Then that disgusting, immoral representative of the Symboulio started consuming her life force like a dying man gorging on ambrosia.” Again, I can tell Cassandra has stopped speaking, because Ann has paused.
When I look over at Ann to confirm my assumption, she is crying. She is hunched over with her hands covering her face, and her shoulders are shaking.
In a soft moan, no more than a whisper, I hear Ann speak into her hands. “Oh, Christopher … I’m so sorry.”
I lean over and place my hand on Ann’s shoulder, trying to comfort her, while processing the information Cassandra just shared. Ellie befriended a traitor … who led her to his group, and into a trap. The Symboulio work with malicious ethereal creatures, along with people like Ann, who have talents; and, they seem to want to collect powerful entities like Cassandra. As if that’s not enough, they know how to destroy and absorb the soul of the Ho Thanatos. Damn, this world keeps getting weirder and weirder.
