OUT TO SEA

CH.5 LOST

CH.5 LOST

          She didn’t make a face, she had tough feet. When she was a girl, she trod upon a barely burning camp-fire. It was burned to the bones of her feet; she was used to this pain. But as the flames climbed up her legs, it got worse. At first she tried to grit her teeth, but soon she was screaming. She thrashed as burning pieces of her flesh fell off her bones. Crack! The heat of the fires makes her bones shatter and crack; the stench of burning flesh chokes the air. She begins to cough of up ashes and her hair is almost completely burned off. ”I love you,” she rasped to her daughter who had begun to cry. There was barely anything left of her when the hysterical screams set in. I’m screaming, sobbing, and having a break down while Claire is turning back to a week old infant. Older council witches drag me off to Mere’s study.  That’s when I saw it.

          It was a leather-bound journal with a complex drawing of my birthmark on the cover. “The one who wields the marked power of the lune ange will overcome the darkness of the Grande Sorciere. They can heal, raise the dead, and call upon special weapons and powers. Only those who haven’t been killed with feu vert can be risen.” That ruled out Krystale, without her I couldn’t raise Olivier. I read a foot-note, “The dead can only be risen on a full-moon,” There was another foot-note scrawled in Mere’s loopy hand-writing, “I will kill Oceane. I will kill her and eat her heart. I will control the power the power of the moon! First I will break and torture her, then eat her heart.” I gasped; I just discovered a plot for my life! Tonight was a full moon, perfect I needed to raise Jac and get him, Jack, Siren, Claire and myself out of here. I knocked on the door only to hear, “Are you calm enough to come out?” Mere!

          “Yes, Mere.” I replied trying to hide the voice crack. She opened the door and stepped in; her mouth had ashes smudged on it and her nails were caked in ashes. She embraced me and whispered in my ear, “Dear Oceane, I’m so sorry you had to relive the death of your mother.” I cannot believe this! She put my mother and best friend to death. “I’m fine,” I push past pass her, “I have work.” “Oh,” she was shocked,” I shall let you go then.” I laid Claire in a cradle in the nursery. Then I grabbed my knife and headed to the marina. Night fell as I waded waist-deep into the water. I honestly didn’t know what to do.”Rise, spirits, rise from your sleep.” I chanted swirling the water with a knife. “Lune orbe,” I put the glowing orb in the green water. I saw many spirits looking at me, a young girl spoke in a moaning voice, “Why have you come?” “T.t...To,” I stuttered, “To raise my friend.”  A surprised look crossed her face, “Do you have the mark?” I showed her my birthmark. “Good, what does your friend look like?” I described his black curly tresses, dark warm eyes, angles and dimples, fair yet olive tone skin. “He’s not here, but remember you have three days to check the east and west side of the marina.” She said looking at the full moon, “Or you will have to wait a month.” Then she sunk beneath the waves and could not be seen. A month! We didn’t have a month!

           I opened Siren’s door, only to want to close it and go home. Her room was a mess and sitting cross-legged on the bed were Jack and Siren drinking tea and carrying on. Siren was wearing men’s pants! No one of her high-class would even dream about wearing pants. Sometimes a member of the coven would wear them, but never when they had company.”What is going on here?” I exclaimed.  “Oceane, come sit with us.” She giggled happily. I sat uncertainly on the edge on the bed, that did this Jack have that made her the happiest I’d ever seen her. “How are you Madame?” Jack asked me. “I am not a Madame, just a maid sir?” I replied while he laughed heartily, I’m quite sure something was in the tea. “Oh, sorry,” He apologized at my confused look. “My father always told me that artists were the lowest things on Earth.” Siren caught and stroked his hand,” You are certainly not the lowest thing in the world.” He smiled and stroked her hand,” Neither are you.” Her pale face flushed deep crimson as did his face. “Um, my lady, why don’t you go outside for walk in the garden?”

          “What a splendid idea, Oceane!” Siren exclaimed jumping off the bed. They ran down the stairs, giggling all the way. I began to pick up; dirty dresses, snotty handkerchiefs, crumpled drawings, and knotted hair ribbons. “Could she really leave?” I wondered aloud, stacking dirty tea cups on a tray. “Maybe, what if we brought Jack?” “Do you think he’ll come?” I was talking to myself, not a good sign. “I think he likes her. In fact he is head over heels.” “Yes he is.” I began to make her bed. This was the plan: raise Jac, get Claire, Siren, jack, myself, and him to run our lives. All that matter now was to keep the ones I held dear alive. Well, revive Jac and keep him that way.

          A light rain fell against the window. If it got harder it would be very difficult to try to raise Jac. But what about Etoile? If rumors flew around that he was alive, she would come demanding he marry her. I flew down the stairs, rushing to get to Siren. “My Lady, Siren, wait I must ask you something important!” she stopped, “What is it?” “What happened to Etoile? If your brother is dead, where did she go?” I panted heavily. The happy look on her face died, tears welled up in her eyes, “Madame Etoile crossed the channel to England to find a husband, since Jac died.” She sniffed her tears back, great I’d brought back her sadness. “Siren, love, what is it?” Jack took her hand and nuzzled her neck. “I’m fine, but I miss him so much.” She whispered hoarsely “I’m sorry Siren, I shouldn’t have brought it up.” “It is fine, I must move past it. I miss him, but I can’t grieve forever. I have to face my troubles and pains.” She turned and pressed her lips to Jack’s. Their lips briefly met, thus their first kiss.

          The rain had gotten harder when I retired for the day. When I got back, I visited Claire in the nursery. “She sucks her middle and forth toe, just like Krystale did.” Orleans told me. Fury overcame me,” Why didn’t you vote to save her?” “I couldn’t vote at all,” she whispered, barely audible. “Orleans, I’m so sorry.”I hugged her while she was racked with trembled. “Why, would she do that? Why would she kill my baby?”” she cried. “It’s always been like this, Orleans.” I tried comforting her, but she was past the point of comfort. “No, only since she’s been in power. Her mother, grandmother, and so on just removed magic, then the guilty one would be a free-slave, basically. Nut she enforces the death penalty. She even killed her own mother!” Her voice was rising louder. “My baby just made a mistake! It wasn’t even worth killing for! Mere didn’t have to eat her heart!” Orleans screamed, fainted, and all the infants in the nursery were screaming. Matron hurried to drag the unconscious Orleans to a hospital bed, then she soothed the crying babies.

          “Now, unless you’re going to check a babe out for a day get out>” Matron growled. “I’m here for Claire.” I growled back, baring my teeth. She handed my Claire who cried loudly and hurried to check on the other babies. Of course she would be treated like she was worthless. To them she was a half-breed mutt, but to me she was all that was left of my best friend. I spent most of the evening holding and feeding Claire. When the moon rose I snuck out to the west side of the marina.