THE ROSE PERFUME

Chapter 41

After the last customer Paul is assigned to this evening takes his hat from the shelf, Paul waits for me in the kitchen with the menu and two steamy bowls of chicken with cream sauce. I explain to Paul the situation with my parents and how I have gone to the police and local authorities but no one can tell me what happened to them or where they are. Aimee's and my life took a traumatic turn after they were taken.

"We tend to repeat our histories over and over again because it's what we know," Paul says. "Each time doing it a little better by giving ourselves something we need to accomplish the impossible along the way. It's fortunate your sister is with you. How are the both of you fairing?"

I told him since our parents were taken we had to single-handedly make it on our own. And we have tried, but it is not good enough. We are cold and hungry and it is the reason I am so afraid to lose this job. We feel ill-equipped to take care of our new house guest what with all the required cooking and cleaning and all the pleasantness.

"How is your new house guest working out?" Paul asks.

I explained that Aimee and I try to be polite, but not friendly. Because there is nothing worse than having the enemy residing in our own house. And we understood that a lot of other folks are in similar situations, but it is not fair Aimee and I should be expected to do it.

"Do you like him?" Paul asks.

"Oui." I admit, "But we try not to. He likes to sit on the couch with his important paperwork in the mornings and listen to Aimee play. She calls him a sly cat and she says he annoys her. But I don't think she minds him listening to her and I actually think she rather enjoys it."

"And besides the cold, you are sleeping alright?" He asks.

"Non," I say. "I have these dreams every night. They are so vivid and clear. More like memories than dreams. But they are in a different time."

"Do you think your dreams could be trying to tell you something?" He asks.

"I do." I say. "I feel like there is something important I forgot I'm trying to remember."

"What do you think that is?" He asks.

"I don't know," I say.

"Write them down." He says cutting into the chicken. The cream sauce slides into the exposed bits. "Because someday you will be able to piece them all together like a puzzle and then you will know. And don't worry so much about what you can or can't do. Just do the best job you can in the moment. Focus on your goals. Learn the menu, do a good job at work, and be kind to everyone even if they don't deserve it. It will work itself out in the end."

Joel scrapes the scraps from the pots and pans into the trash and drops them into the sink. Beatrice pushes them further down under the soapy water up to her elbows. Servers stack their empty plates from the dining room on the counter and Nickolas, a tall skinny sandy-brown haired man kisses his wife before going back out to wipe down the tables.

Paul taps his finger on the menu. A stiff maroon cardboard with gold writing dividing the sections apart. Water stains and oil droplets on the cover. "This is not a bomb." He tells me. "Everything you need to know is right here."

DREAM NOTEBOOK, PREVIOUS PROPERTY OF LOTTE LA MAR

NEW OWNER LOUISE MOREAU

JOURNAL ENTRY # 10 -- LAETA IS NOT GOING

I dream I am in a giant waiting pool with the other sea tribes. The land tribes do not sit with us, because of their long legs. They sit a short distance away, along the rising stone steps.

We are inside the largest building on the island, there is no roof, and I can see rain clouds looming and wind swirling debris around the room.

The King's council will be announcing which five of us will be traveling into the future. There is another planet approaching our solar system and its moon is going to hit us. We need more time to figure out what to do to prevent it. The process takes a half-hour in current time. But the individual sent to the future feel as if they are gone for centuries as they go through multiple lifetimes. As their bodies stay here in a meditative state, their souls travel and are reborn in another continuance. There they live full lives and die with each other until the project is completed.

I float closer to Erastes, wrap my arms around his waist, and tuck my head under his arm. He looks down at me. "Are you worried?"

His eyes are full of amorous affection for me. He is mine and I love him.

I pull his arm around my shoulder to hug me tighter. "Yes. What if only one of us is chosen to go? I can't bear to be without you that long."

He smiles down at me, "There's nothing to worry about. I already put in a request for us not to be separated."

Prytanis takes the staff from the other Council members and walks down the middle aisle dividing the land people from the sea people in the pools. The statue of Poseidon is a huge presence over us. "Thank you all for coming," Prytanis says. "We all know why we are here. I have the list. The following have been chosen..."

He clears his throat and unrolls the scroll. "Aoide. Who is still young and will need guidance from the others. For her skills in acoustical levitation."

Everyone in the room turns to look at Aoide, who is standing in the back with the rest of the albinos.

Prytanis continues. "Renatus, for his labyrinth and pathfinding skills, Urania for navigation and astronomy, Gaius for physics and electromagnetism, and Erastes musical communication and who I'm also proud to say will one day join the King's council not so far in the near future.

Erastes looks at me in surprise and pulls away. He swims towards the edge of the pool, where Prytanis is standing. "Prytanis? There must be some mistake. I made requests for Laeta and I not to be separated."

Prytanis gives him a look of regret, "I know you did Erastes and I'm sorry. Our decision has been made. It's final."