Chapter Four
“Rosie, speak to me.” I stepped behind her, and placed my hand on her shoulder. Her face was pale, but she still smiled at me.
“Eliza, you can’t stay here, it isn’t safe anymore. I wish things were different, but I have to act quickly and I promise to explain things better.” Rosie then looked towards Will. “I’m calling the Alliance and making arrangements for you to go to a safe place set up by the guardianship. They have an embassy there representing them.” Rosie walked towards the door. “I didn’t plan for any of this, and right now, I think it’s best that we close our hotel.” Her eyes shifted to Will. “Tell everyone please Will, to get ready. We’ll have to redirect any travelers to Chicago. It’ll take me a while to reach the Alliance in Atlantis, and even longer to get a reply.”
Rosie left with her footsteps fading down the hallway.
“And I had hopes of seeing this room finished soon. All they had left to do was paint.” Will motioned to the several cans of paint. “This is the ballroom, you know.” Will was casually talking to me as if a hundred blackbirds didn’t just slam into the windows after the name of a demon was said.
“What…what is Rosie talking about? Atlantis…it’s a mythical place…wait, or is it a code name for a secret location?”
Will turned, and smiled with his blue eyes. “No, it’s no code name, and even though it’s secret, it’s very real—mermaids, as you call them, and other such creatures.” He chucked with amusement. “It’s nice to see someone get a kick out of everything I find ordinary and common.”
I glanced at the stiff birds on the ledge. “Why did that happen?” I pointed to them.
“It’s a message, that’s all.” Will gently tugged on my arm. “Come on let’s go. I think I should explain some things to you. Rosie is going to be busy for awhile.”
Will guided me down the hallway, past what he told me was the lobby, and down another hallway that led to a kitchen.
“You must be starving.” He opened the fridge. “What do you like to eat?”
“Oh,” Will said before I could answer, and pulled out a bowl of grapes. “How about spaghetti, garlic bread, and grapes—from Atlantis?” he asked.
“What?” I asked. “You mean these are from Atlantis?” I pointed at the normal looking fruit.
“We get a few things from Atlantis, mostly produce, and since that’s where you’ll be going, why not try the food grown there.” He held the plate out with the violet colored grapes that swirled with blue hues, almost like it was iridescent.
Will ate one first, and then I tried one. It was amazingly sweet.
“Did everything fit alright?” Will asked getting a large pot out.
“What?” I asked then realized he was talking about the clothes. A shot of adrenaline ran through me as I blushed. “Oh, sorry, yes they fit fine—thank you,” I said feeling my cheeks flush even more. I took another grape and shoved it in my mouth.
I had a million questions running through my head, and Will was making dinner like everything was normal. It was starting to bug me, but then again, this was his world—it was normal to him.
“You said earlier you were a prince.” I hoped to get him to explain things to me. “Are you a prince of Atlantis?” He turned slightly looking at me over his shoulder and laughed.
“No, Atlantis doesn’t have royalty, well, no that’s not true. The Mers still have royalty, but everything else is governed by clans, and the Alliance.” The water began to boil. “I come from another place that is very old, and very far away.”
“When you saved me from Ang—the imps,” I stopped myself in fear of saying the demon’s name aloud, “your eyes, they were white, like marbles.”
Will didn’t answer right away as he broke the pasta in half, and put into the tall pot. I feared that I asked the wrong question in the wrong way.
“I really didn’t think that you’d find them disturbing, but I guess if you’ve never known of my kind, I guess I’m a little strange to you. I’m called a glass person, and actually, there are many of us here in secret. Your kind,” he turned, and glanced at me while he stirred the pasta, “have called us everything from angels to fairies to demons when one of you humans catches a glimpse of us, but we are none of that. We are simply our own kind, and one that can manipulate power and wield it to our own desires—you call that power magic. We escaped years ago when our power was changing, and other demons were poisoning our world. Unfortunately, not all of us got out. I’m here because the guardianship agreed to protect me, and as for Bea and Loki, they’re here out of serving time for whatever they did to get here. Any disturbances in the area are reported, and then we check them out.”
“Is that what happened the night that…” I let my words trail off.
“The night we found you,” Will said completing my sentence. “Yes, that’s a perfect example of what we do. I do enjoy doing it too--gives me a sense of duty, and community service.”
I let out a chuckle, and then covered my mouth as Will burrowed his eyebrows.
“Do you find that funny?” He asked slightly insulted.
“No, sorry, but I never thought demon-killing to keep the streets safe as a community service.”
“Well, it’s one that is important, but as you can see, we can’t advertise it in this world.”
Will got out two plates, and changed the subject. “I hope you’re hungry, because I’m not sure if anyone else will be joining us.”
The kitchen smelled of basil, garlic, and wonderful to a hungry girl. I quickly ate as I wanted to have all the answers to all the questions I had concerning what I was involved in.
When I was done, I looked up to see Will watching me. I probably looked like a rabid pig eating spaghetti.
“Did you like it?’ He politely asked.
I wiped my mouth and the napkin revealed the mess on my face. “Yes, thank you. You’re a wonderful cook.” I tried to not sound like the pig I looked like.
“Will,” I could hear Bea’s voice before I saw her. “Are you taking the de—”
“You’re feeding her too…clothes weren’t enough?” She folded her arms across her chest. “You know, if you feed them, give them a warm place…they won’t leave.” Her voice was hard.
Will didn’t reply, but smiled. “Bea, would you care to partake in our feast?” He waved his hand over the bowel of pasta and sauce that he heated up in the microwave.
“You mean you didn’t make a fresh batch of sauce, especially for your pet here.” She sat next to me pointing with her thumb.
“I’m not a pet.” I glared at her.
“Whatever,” she snickered.
“Bea, if you came spreading your gorgon charm, please do it elsewhere.” Will stood behind the counter gazing at Bea.
Gorgon, yet another thing I didn’t know, but certainly wasn’t going to ask Bea what exactly it was.
“Gorgons don’t have charm—makes us sick.” She raised her eyebrows. “Can I talk to you in private?” Bea slid off the bar stool, and nodded towards the door.
Will shifted his eyes to me. “Be right back, go ahead and eat some more.”
I watched him follow Bea into the hallway. I sat there for a moment looking at the plate of spaghetti that Will made, and out of hunger, I scooped up more of the pasta trying to listen for their voices. Everything was quiet.
The food was good, and my stomach was beginning to get full. I hadn’t had this much food in a long time, and I know I looked like a pig eating it in front of Will. But then again, he was from another world and maybe didn’t know that humans aren’t supposed to eat like animals. I can only hope he didn’t have anything to compare it to.
I leaned back closing my eyes when suddenly, a breeze brushed across my arm. Startled, I opened my eyes to see a girl with long blonde hair drinking from the milk carton. Her body was surrounded in a silvery aura and wings, like a butterfly, glowed in a li
ght green color on her back.
She turned, with the carton of milk to her lips. Our eyes locked, she waved in a casual manner acknowledging me in a friendly way. Taken by surprise, I let out a scream as she nearly choked on the milk. She sprayed milk all over the counter as she coughed reaching for a towel on the counter.
Will immediately came in as the girl quickly soaked up the mess up with the towel.
“Sorry…I’m really sorry,” she said in her accented voice that sounded like she was from England. “I should’ve made my presence known a little differently…used a glamour, or something of the sort.” Her hands quickly cleaned the mess. “I knew she was human, Rosie warned me.” She shook her head as she cleaned, “just didn’t take the time.”
Bea stood in the doorway laughing as the girl pressed the towel to her shirt.
“Oh, going to have to launder this, oh well,” she said as I got off the stool.
“I’m sorry,” I said meekly.
She looked up at me, studying me with her colorful eyes that reminded me of a rainbow. “Human…a human girl as an uninitiated guardian,” she said with a curious voice. “Yes, what you’re thinking is true, I’m a fairy covered in milk.”
I couldn’t help but to chuckle a little as Will smiled back.
“I’m sorry I screamed it’s just that…I’m sort of new to this…and…” She waved her hand.
“No, it’s my fault. I should have had a little more grace.”
She smiled at me as her wings framed her like a halo. The fairytales were right about one mythical being, I thought to myself as I gazed at her.
“Piper, this is Eliza Thorn, and Eliza, this is Piper.” He motioned between us breaking my enchanted gawking at her. “Eliza, as she said is new here, new actually to everything about us.”
“Well, I’m glad to meet you, though, sorry like this, and under such dire circumstances.” She turned her attention to Will. “Rosie told me about the blackbirds and the arch demon. We’re to get in more guardians this afternoon, and send any travelers to Chicago. Everyone is on high alert, and the demon trident is going…” She shifted her eyes to me. “Should I be saying this in front of—”
“Eliza,” Will said my name. “And yes, she isn’t a threat to us.”
I knew I wasn’t a threat, more likely a liability, because I had no idea of what was going on.
“That’s what Rosie said, and you’ve the mark?” Piper asked motioning to my shoulder. “Well, can I see it?”
I looked at Will, and then back at Piper.
“If you see one, you’ve seen them all,” Bea said still standing behind us.
“Yeah, but this one…this one is different.” Piper’s voice softened and her eyes that were nearly neon green now, matched her wings.
I was easily drawn into her stare, like it had a magnetic force. Her fingertips were delicate, and tickled my skin. She ran her fingers across my mark, and a wave of heat flashed over me. Suddenly, my vision faded to blackness, and then fountains of flames spurted from the ground under my feet like geysers.
“I see the girl,” said a woman’s echoing voice. “The coin, it worked!”
Suddenly, I was pushed away from the flames to a whiteness that slowly materialized into Will’s pale face surrounded by his white and silver hair.
“Eliza, are you alright?” He asked as I pushed myself up.
“Yeah,” I replied realizing I was on the kitchen floor.
“This girl is no ordinary guardian—accident or otherwise. The coin was more than just an initiation coin, it’s a tracking device,” Piper said. “That’s why it worked so well on someone who never had any rites performed.”
“There was fire—lots of flames, and a voice of a woman that said they could see me, and the coin worked.”
Bea stepped close to me with her eyes changed to pupils of flames. “We need to destroy her!”
“Stop!” Will yelled pushing me behind him. “Rosie needs to know what happened here before you go crazy on us.” Bea withdrew slightly, but not without a snarl of her sharp teeth. I don’t think I had to ask what a gorgon was now, I knew first hand.
“But Will, if the coin was tampered with, then, they know where to come—they know where to directly come. If Eliza saw flames, and heard her voice, then Eve is coming and she wants the one thing that can kill her and all arch demons.” Piper placed her hand on his shoulder. “I know you care for this human,” she continued as my eyes flashed to him and my cheeks flushed. “I don’t know yet why, but there’s a deeper meaning behind this. It isn’t an accident, and many ties are tangled as well as connected to this human. Almost like the coin had a mind of its own, veering from its original design.”
“Your feelings are a little undependable, aren’t they?” Bea’s fiery eyes were still focused on me.
“Better than ripping something to shreds before you know their usefulness,” Piper said shrugging her off. “I’m going to change, and it was nice to meet you, Eliza.” She smiled and bowed slightly before she left.
“I told you she was jinxed,” Bea said with her eyes now human looking.
“What do you mean by that, jinxed?” I glared at her.
“Something unlucky, doomed, unfortunate…the list goes on, and that’s what you are—unlucky, and mostly to us.”
“I know the definition, but what does it mean in your world.” I pressed with my questions showing the gorgon I wasn’t scared of her even though her appearance was enough to make me run.
“We don’t know if she’s jinxed,” Will said as Bea raised her finger.
“If you’re too infatuated with your little pet, then I’ll give her a crash course.” She shifted her eyes to me. “Being jinxed for a human is probably one of the worst positions to be in. You can’t return to your normal existence, and no one will want you in ours. You draw the arch demons to you, and to the one thing that can kill them, the demon trident.” Her lips curled into a slight smile. “All races, beings, entities…everyone hates the arch demons, Eve, the one you heard, is queen of the Underworld—an existence she chose.” She looked away for only a moment. “It was the glass people who made the demon trident to rid us of them. And now, little human, we finally have the trident in our possession, and then you show up!” Bea flipped her hands into the air. “That coin,” she looked up at the ceiling as tears welled in her eyes. “That one coin was meant for Ivy Westmoore who worked at a clothing store, and liked to go to movies, and was good at making pies, and made me feel…”
“Like a human,” Loki said standing in the doorway.
Bea turned to him, and snarled as she raised her hand releasing a small ball of flames towards Loki. He ducked, and it burst into thousands of burning sparks that went out as quickly as they exploded.
She stomped past him as he smiled at her. “Remember what Rosie said,” he yelled to her. “Don’t use your outside balls of flames inside!”
“Shut-up, you stupid entity!” Bea yelled back.
Loki shook his head. “You,” he pointed to me, “are the one who those flames were meant for because like she said, the coin was meant for her human girlfriend and lover. I’d hate to be in your shoes. You don’t want to be on the bad side of a gorgon—they can get nasty.”
I could feel my skin prickle, and my head spin as all of the spaghetti that I ate, was going to make a return.
“Don’t listen to him,” Will said looking down at me.
“Why not listen to me? It’s the truth, or are your lovesick eyes clouding your judgment. What is it with her anyhow? Ever since you and Bea, I’m sure she didn’t want to bring her home after I left to another call, brought her here, you haven’t been yourself. Is this normal for a glass person, because I’m not familiar with this area of your kind?”
Will shifted his weight and cleared his voice as Loki gazed at him with curiosity.
“Thank you Loki for being very blunt about that, and I realize that
being discreet isn’t a quality that entities possess.” Will gazed at him for a moment. “We’re going, so if you’ll excuse us.”
“Wait,” Loki said stepping in front of Will. “There’s something more that you’re not letting on.” His eyes studied Will’s. “There’s something more to your pet than just a feeling in your pants for her, I can see it.”
“Alright,” I said cutting in, “enough, both of you.” They both looked at me. “This is all new to me, and I feel like I’m in a whirlwind of secrets and all of this…” I waved my hands around trying to find the right word.
“Now, it looks like we’ve broken your toy Will,” Loki said in a flat voice gazing back at me with raised eyebrows. “I know little kitten, this is almost too much for you. I can understand that.”
I took in a deep breath looking between the two of them. “Then will someone please tell me what exactly is going on, because I’m only getting bits and pieces.”
“And here is your tour guide through demonland.” Loki pointed to Will. “He’s a glass person, you know, and that means he’s full of etiquette, and an appetite for history and bragging about everything glass person related. So, there you go kitten.” He motioned to Will.
Loki gazed between us and then shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I’ve got to be going, lots of guardians coming, and I don’t want to be dressed inappropriately.”
Loki left leaving Will and I standing in the kitchen facing on another, alone. He had one hand on the counter and his icy blue eyes on me. I looked away, and ran my fingers through my hair.
“So what happens now? What are you guys going to do with me?” I asked as Will smiled slightly at me.
“Is it up to us what we do with you? Isn’t it your choice, it’s your life, not ours, and you’ve been given a gift.” His voice was soft and put me ease.
“Yeah, but I’m not normal now.” I raised my eyebrows and motioned to my tattoo. “I’m jinxed, remember what Bea said.”
“Bea doesn’t know everything, and even if you are jinxed, it’s only bad if you make it—there are always choices, and no one can plan your destiny for you.” Will brushed his fingers over my tattoo. “Piper is right; there is something about this that veered from the original design.”
“What would that be?” I asked and he shrugged his shoulders. “Well, that explains a lot.”
His eyes flickered with brighter blues that faded like fireworks burning the sky for only a moment, before the whiteness consumed it.
“I wish I could tell you how everything will unfold, but I can’t. And, I wish I could tell you what course of action to take, but I can’t.” Will was nice to look at in a paranormal way, and seemed sincerely concerned, but he really wasn’t helping me in my situation. “I can tell you though, that I’ll guide you on your journey, and protect you.”
Protect me. Those words rung through my head like a bell. No one has ever said anything like this to me before.
“So, is that what you glass people do, protect humans?” I asked as he smiled.
“Only some,” Will said. “Come on, I want to show you something about glass people.”
Will took me back up to his studio upstairs. He thumbed through several paintings until he came across a landscape of rolling green hills, a sky filled with bright blues and lavenders shifting into pinks. In the background, and nestled in the protruding black cliffs, was what looked like a diamond out of the rocks. I looked closer, and realized it was a castle.
“This was my home.” Will stated. “A long time ago, that is.” He gazed tenderly at it, almost like he was caught in a distant memory.
“It’s beautiful, but how do you get to it? It’s built into the side of a cliff.” I asked as he chuckled.
“I’ve never had anyone ask me that before when critiquing my paintings.” I smiled back at him, but was seriously asking. “Well,” Will started, “there’s a passage from the backside of it, that’s the entrance. It was built up high for protection and a reminder to the glass people that…we would be there…forever.” His words faded and his eyes paled.
A knocked on the door broke the silence, and I jumped. Will carefully put the painting back and opened the door.
“Will, you’re needed downstairs. The guardians are arriving, and I need my full staff.” Rosie then looked at me. “And Eliza, I need you to come with me.”
Will looked back at me with a reassuring smile, and then left with a nod to Rosie.
Rosie stood in the doorway and motioned for me to come. I followed her down the hallway to the lobby. Mumbled voices filled the spacious room as Clive served several drinks from a large tray. The guardians, as they were called, looked like normal men and women, except they were dressed in black, mesh-like clothing. Some had silver bands around their arms, and others had gold. There were maybe about ten or fifteen guardians, and not one of them noticed me as Rosie whisked down another hallway.
Rosie reached an arched wooden door, and pulled out an assortment of keys. She quickly fumbled through them, and opened the door.
Inside was filled with many books in glass covered cases lining the wall, several matching puffy velvet chairs, and a large desk that sat in front of the arched window with panels of stained glass in them.
“I finally got through to Atlantis, but they want to talk to you first before they allow you through the portal.” Rosie went over to a glass tablet on the paper cluttered desk. “It’s just a customary thing, and…it’s nothing to be worried about.” Her voice was soothing to me as she guided me over to sit in front of the glass tablet.
She tapped on it and a circle with swirling shades of blue appeared. The words ‘Atlantis Communications’ slowly emerged in fluid lettering, then faded to another screen with a boy, a few years older than me with blonde hair, and greyish-blue eyes smiled back.
“Hello Gabe, can you hear me alright?” Rosie said in a loud voice.
“I can hear you fine,” he replied.
“Good. This is Eliza Thorn and she’s the one I was telling you about…or actually, it was Abe that I spoke to.”
“He had a meeting to go to, and left me to take your information. He informed me of everything that you spoke to him about.” He looked down at a tablet in front of him, and wrote something down on it. “I think he has almost everything for your request. The only thing left is verbal approval of Eliza Thorn agreeing to come to Atlantis.” He looked up like I was agreeing to go on a trip to Hawaii.
My mouth trembled as the blonde haired boy gazed back waiting for an answer.
“It’s alright Eliza,” Rosie knelt down, and pushed back my hair. “I know this is sudden, but things are dangerous now, and this is the best place for you to go. Trust me… I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Eliza,” Gabe said and I turned to him. “We do this quit often, and Rosie is right, this is a safe place. I’m sure by now you’ve seen a few strange things, but where there are strange things, there are others who fight against them, and protect the innocent.” His voice was gentle, and began to put me at ease.
“So, I do have to formally ask you.” He smiled at me warmly. “Eliza Thorn, do you agree upon your own free will, to come to Atlantis by portal, and leave earth for a duration that is undecided and unspecified,” Gabe said reading from the tablet and writing things down as he did.
I didn’t reply as what he said sounded so final. I looked back at Rosie, and she smiled. Her eyes were soft and filled with concern. I knew that she was the only one who truly cared for me. She would never put me in danger.
“Yes,” I finally said looking back at Gabe.
“Good, and everything will be fine, Eliza,” he said with a smile. “Rosie, I will tell you there has been some turbulence in some of the portals—just the time of the season for them. I will contact you later to give you a time and location for departure.”
“Very well,” she nodded.
; “Oh, I almost forgot. This is on a personal note.” Gabe leaned over and had a small piece of paper in front of him. “Karinna sends her love and wishes she could’ve been there for your promotion. Here’s the card.” He held up a small card with shifting colors of blues and greens that slowly formed the word congratulations.
“Just like my sister to incorporate traditions not customary to the Phoenix clan.” Rosie smiled as Gabe put the card down.
“Thank you Gabe, and tell the rest of the Blackbirds hello, and tell my sister—thanks.” Gabe nodded and then the screen went blank.
I continued sitting there, just staring at it. Atlantis, it exists, and I was going to escape a danger here, I knew nothing about.
“You’ll be fine Eliza,” Rosie said putting her hands on my shoulders.
My fear and worry was beginning to turn into curiosity almost like a child’s. I had fear, but not enough to keep me from exploring and asking questions.
“You’re from Atlantis. Gabe referred to you as a sister of…I can’t remember what her name was. It started with a K.” I looked up at her.
“Karinna, yes she’s my sister, and I’m part of the Phoenix clan there, but I chose another path than the traditional one. I’m sort of like,” she looked away tipping her head side to side. “I guess the best way I can explain it to you so you understand is that I’m kind of like a missionary to a foreign country helping out the people there. The only difference is that I don’t let people know who I am, and I fight demons and try to keep magical implements out of unauthorized hands.” She smiled. “And I cooked at the Salvation Army and try to get young girls off the streets to find a better life.” She added with a smile.
“You’re referring to me,” I stated the obvious.
“And I think I succeeded.”
I let out a laugh just as a loud explosion came from downstairs. The floor shook and tiny bits of plaster from the ceiling crumbled around us. Rosie immediately grabbed me as she pulled from her pocket, a small black disk. With a flick of her hands a thin blade expelled from it.
“What’s going on?” My voice trembled as voices screamed between the growls and high pitched screeches of what I could only guess to be demons.
“Come on, through here,” Rosie said locking the door, grabbing the tablet, and pulling on a book that opened one of the bookcases up to reveal a stairwell. “This will lead outside. You’ll see my car when you open the door, and take this,” she said shoving the tablet to me. “When this lights up,” she pointed to a small button in the lower corner. “Press it and help will be on its way.”
Rosie appeared calm and in control as my body trembled. I looked at the blank tablet and felt I could hardly hang onto it.
“Go Eliza, it will be alright,” she said just as the door exploded and splinters of wood flew through the air.
I screamed as Rosie stood in front of me holding out her thin sword.
“Run!” She commanded, but it was too late.
The creature that attacked me in the alley, was standing in front of Rosie, and expelled thin black thorns into her from its belly. Rosie tried to use her sword as the creature shot out what looked like hundreds of needles from its body, and laughed in a gurgling voice.
I screamed Rosie’s name as she fell to the floor covered in thorns.
“Miss me? I missed you, little speck!” It stood in front of me as several new thorns emerged from its belly, all pointed towards me. Where I was at, the door to the hallway was much closer than the secret passageway. “We don’t need you anymore…master has what he wants…time to kill and eat the calling card!” It laughed as I rolled to the floor and out of the way of the shower of thorns.
“Clever little calling card—have to work a little harder at this one.” It turned and I ducked again trying to get closer to the door as the thorns smacked against the book cases, even cracking some of the glass.
“Ugh! Stop moving! You’re making this hard on me and…I’m hungry!” It bent over slightly like it was curling in on itself.
As it looked away, I turned and ran towards the door when something pinched the back of my shoulder. Suddenly something stood in my way. It was Will and I could see his surprised, solid, white eyes staring back at me.
“Duck!” He yelled shoving me down throwing a silver disk towards the demon. It severed its head clean off, and returned back to Will’s hand in one quick movement.
“Rosie…she’s…” I tried to push myself up as my body felt like it was on fire.
Will picked me up, and pulled the black thorn from my shoulder. It stung, and all I could do was scream.
“Eliza, listen to me,” he said as my vision came and went. “Just listen to me, and you’ll be fine.”
I tried hard to listen to his voice that became more like a song of colors—watercolors. They bled together making new colors and patterns randomly across the page. It was free to wander the paper, and bled with other colors, until it dried creating something of its own.
I felt calm and relaxed. My world melted, and the only thing that mattered was Will’s painting. They were beautiful. The colors shifted and parted like a dissolving mist, until I was standing at a bottom of hill looking up at the castle made of glass.