The Statue's Transcending Whisper

Chapter 4

“Elisabeth. Come to me… Come to me Elisabeth.”

A voice called to me. I remained suspended in darkness. It was as if I was suspended in time and  couldn't move my body. I tried wiggling my pinkie finger, open my mouth to speak, still nothing.

“Nnn-”

I made a noise in the back of my throat as a deep baritone voice whispered in my ear, “Elizabeth, listen to your soul's whisper. Come to me so we can finally be at peace. Don't forget.”

With that I jerked downward, a scream stuck in my throat as I fell backwards into nothingness.

*********

My eyes snapped open and I gasped. Cold cement lay under me as I took in the graying sky, faces of people swimming against the depressing color. It took a minute for their voices to reach my ears and for me to comprehend what they were saying. The flight attendant reached out to cup my cheek, his worried eyes capturing mine. “Mademoiselle, you gave us a fright. Are you okay?”

I sucked in a breath and nodded. “I-I think so.” I tried to form a steady sentence but his hand on my cheek made my head reel with fuzziness.

“Hey!” Felix shouted from somewhere behind him. “That's my girlfriend you're touching. Step away so I can attend to her.”

My eyes flickered to Felix. He had dropped his bags where he stood and came rushing over to us, green eyes flashing in anger as his mouth formed a scowl.

The flight attendants hand dropped from my face and he got up and bowed his head, “I beg your pardon. I didn't know”

Felix scoffed and pushed the guy to the side ”Yeah right. Go be of some help and fetch two cars then.” He said before stooping over me. The attendant bowed and murmured an apology before scampering away. I raised myself from the cold pavement beneath me and sent Felix a glare. He was starting to make a scene out of nothing.

“Felix, stop-”

Felix turned to me, his eyes softening. He reached out to me, and arm snaking behind my back as his other arm slipped under my legs. A startled screech left me as he hoisted up up into his arms so I was pressed to his chest.

“It's fine now, Babe. Just relax and we will get you to a doctor.”

I huffed and crossed my arms in embarrassment, “I'm fine Felix. It was probably just my body trying to adjust to the altitude difference now I'm on the ground. So you can let me down now.”

“But Babe-!”

“I think you should do as she says Felix.” Maya said coming up to us, her eyes catching Felix's before flickering to me, an eyebrow raising, “Women must always get what they want, right Elisa?”

Maya's gaze gave me strength despite her joking tone. I nodded and look up at Felix. “Put me down….please.”

Felix sighed and lowered me to the ground, cupping an elbow as I slowly regained my footing. I stepped away from him toward Maya who placed an arm around my shoulder.

“Let's go grab your things. You're riding with me and Miss crazy.”

Felix’s eyes narrowed on Maya's arms around me.

“No. I think my girlfriend will be riding with me. Hollie can ride with you. Right Holls?”

My eyes darted to Hollie who stood a little ways back. She shifted on her heels, eyeing us warily as she clutched her suitcase with white knuckles. A smile was plastered to her face, but it didn't reach her green eyes.

“Why of course.”

“That's settled then.”

Two sleek black cars pulled around and parked beside us. Felix grabbed my luggage along with his and made his way toward one of the vehicle’s trunks. The driver exited the vehicle and went over to help Felix load our things. My shoulders drooped in despair. Hollie forced a chuckle and stepped over to us. I cast my gaze to the ground to avoid her scrutiny.

“Well. This is going to be fun girls.”

Maya gave my shoulders a comforting squeeze before dropping her arm. She turned to Hollie with a tight smile, “Indeed. Let's get moving.”

“Well. I guess I'll see you all later when we get to wherever we're going, Sis.” Hollie said, voice shaking with underlying hurt. An ache grew in my chest and I turned away to wipe a stray tear leaking from my eye.

“Yes. Message me if you need to, okay Elisa?”

I nodded and waved over my shoulder at Maya, ”Thanks.”

With that I went over to the car as the trunk was being shut, forcing a smile on my face. Felix came over and plopped an arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his body. His lips pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Now that's the smile I like to see! You don't look good with a frown.”

As if my mood wasn't dour enough, I now felt like shriveling up and crying my eyes out at Felix's cluelessness. I guess knowledge only goes so deep in a male's mind.

Felix guided me over to a door the driver held open for us. I nodded and murmured a thanks, slipping into the back seat. Felix got in, briefcase in hand. The driver leaned down to speak to us through the door.

“Where to, monsour?”

“Head toward Paimpont Forest. I will tell you where to go from there.”

“As you wish.”

The driver shut our door and went around to get in behind the wheel. Felix looked over at me, “You should buckle up. It's going to be a long ride. I'm probably going to work on some things for a case.”

I perked up in my seat and strapped in, “Okay then.”

If I didn't have to converse with him, I could spend my time getting lost in a book.

I reached for my oversized purse and grabbed the thick novel peeking out of the top. The car pulled away from the airport and I settled back into the leather seat. Opening it's pages, I turned to where I left off and began to lose myself in the fabulous world of the Academy Ghost Bird series as the sky finally opened up, letting the sound of big droplets of rain to ping around us.