winged_prophecy

Journal Entry

2004-03-04T17:55:07Z

March 5th 1559-Day 1

I am on an uncharted path, engulfed in total darkness and entangled in a massive web of impenetrable thickets. I tried to extricate myself when the ground gave way, and I found myself plunging to certain doom--off the edge of a cliff and into a bottomless abyss. It seemed as if I had been falling forever. My eyes were shut tight. I was afraid to open them, anticipating the foregone disaster, but it was taking too long, so I peeked. That’s when I realized that the unexplored ground before me had not vanished; it was the familiar ground behind me, with its darkness and thickets that had been suddenly lifted away. I was not falling at all--I was standing absolutely still.

E.D.

Background Pt. 2

2004-03-03T21:33:59Z

Emma's eyes flutter softly and stared at the ceiling for all of 5 seconds before she sat abruptly up with a gasp. Garbed a simple white linen shift and any wounds she did have were cleaned and bandaged expertly. Food was steaming and sat overflowing on the table... and smelled absolutely delicious. Then her eyes fell on the servant; a girl of about 16, garbed in a white servant's outfit embroidered with gold dragons on the cuffs and automatically pulls the cover up over her chest.

The girl bowed her head oddly... and then stopped as if trying to remember where she was and curtsied instead. "My master would like to speak with you when you have had your dinner. My name is Lily if you need anything." She curtsied again and slipped out the door.

Emma was lead to a huge hall, with a massive fireplace in the back of it. There sat Lord Pendrag, garbed in a simple tunic and breeches. She watched his hands play the harp deftly, almost expertly. The only light in the room came from the fireplace.

She was caught off guard at the site and a little confused.

He spoke without looking up from the harp. "I trust your sleep was well, my Lady?" The resonance of his voice was calming and she relaxed, "M'Lord Paendrag. I ... I did.. Thank you... where am I?" She didn’t want to sound ungrateful as she moved closer to where he played.

He paused in his playing, indicating a seat across from him, “You are a guest in my home. A letter has been sent to your father already, explaining the storm that delayed you and that you are safe. Your honor is intact, my lady.”

His smile was comforting; reassuring... she was nervous and she was sure it showed, “please... don’t stop playing?”

She never saw this side of him, such a large man playing something so fragile, “Do you know the man whom you saw last evening?” Her hands remained in her lap as her eyes move up to his face, "I never met him before... I believed him to be an associate of yours."

“He is... in a sense. He is a rival. Thinking to use you against me."

Emma was appalled, “me? Why me?”

“Because he thinks I have heavy interest in you.”

She didn’t know what to say; the surprise staying on her face as she rose and paced. Her hand was on her hip as she fiddled with a button at her throat, "You come into the shop and I allow you use of any of the Herbs there’ in." She could feel his eyes on her as she continued to move about.

He nodded once. "There is more to that... and less. If you would hear my tale."

Emma returned to the seat across from him as her hand continued to fiddle with the button at her neck, "you have always been very kind and generous, milord Pendrag. I will."

“Your store was recommended to me by Lily. She, too, is an apothecary in her own lands. When I saw a woman ran it, it only redoubled my faith in the skills."

Her jaw lifted slightly and her hand rested in her lap with its partner, ‘how flattering.’

“I asked you many questions in which you answered perfectly, showing your knowledge. It impressed me and earned my patronage. I come from a long line of teachers and historians. We scour the world in an effort to save and learn the knowledge’s and mysteries of our world. To enter our ranks is the greatest gift and worst sacrifice any man or woman could make, my Lady. Once part of our order, one can never leave it. It would be like going blind, to leave such knowledge behind. While we study and work together to learn and protect knowledge, we also rival against one another.”

‘Order? Ranks?’ she watched him with a queried look on her face.

“Thomas Worthington, the man you saw last night, is my rival. He believes I wish to bring you into our order. No doubt your skills would merit the further training at least.” He smiled a bit more, “But I also saw in you something I prize more than your skills with the herbs. You have heart, honor and love. These things make a better scholar than most men of words could ever know. To join our order is to leave your world behind. While you would benefit greatly from it, there is still the issue of your father. I saw you were not ready to give him up. So I became just another patron to your store. Worthington wouldn’t believe this and so he abducted you.”

Emma tucked a stray hair behind her ear as she tried to understand what was going on, "oh so that wasn’t your employee..." blinks, "ranks... Order Milord?"

He nodded again, “an old order, my lady; Older than time itself. Now that I have told you the past of the tale, I must let you know the present of it and then you will decide the future of it."

Lord Pendrag leaned back, his hands no longer playing the harp but resting upon it.

Emma was confused and just nodded listening, both eyebrows raised in an 'oh there’s more' sort of way, “please... Milord...” She had no Idea where he was going with this.

“Worthington knows of your existence now. Knows for a fact that you are with me. Even now. He has forced my hand, lady. Forced me to tell you things I would have spared you and even if I wiped them all from your mind, he would not leave you alone, he will pursue you because of my involvement with you.”

He held her gaze steady, “he will stop at nothing to have you, because he thinks I have you. That being said, the future lays before you. I will not force you into the order as it was done to me. My respect for life and love is held in higher regard for that. I give you the choice. You may join the order under my sponsorship... or you can run."

Emma’s look becomes level as she slowly blinks, "wipe... from my mind... milord?” He’s mad; he’s been sampling the herbs, run? Run where?

“I have the ability, just as you have the ability to dull the wits with potions and herbal smokes.”

She fidgeted with the button on her neck, “what..” rising again she began to pace slightly as things soak in, "I’m in danger... there is an order that I don’t know about and you can wipe memories from my head like erasing words on a piece of paper..."

“If you wish to run, I will set you and your father up in a shop in another country. New names... new place to start... but always he will be a step behind you. Lady, I tell you this as I respect your mind, your wits. You have the ability to make an informed decision, based on logic and the facts given. Any lesser woman would have run screaming by now.”

She was at the end of her rope as she stopped and looks at him, "but do I have all the facts... what is this Order you speak of?"

“That I cannot tell you fully. It is a secret order, of course. All orders worthy of their actions are secret.”

She was beginning to have a hard time believing him now as she raised her head in a nod, "Of course.” He must think her gullible with all his pretty words, complimenting her on her wits.

“It is an order of scholars, dedicated to uncovering all mysteries of the earth, Lady. Even those that the church would see as infernal but other cultures have seen as praised and good. Do you ever dream, lady? Dream of things you could do if you had the power, the knowledge?”

Emma’s mouth gaped slightly unsure where to step and wrapped her arms around herself, "I... I have... but never thought them possible."

“If I told you I could fly, would you believe me evil? or insane?”

That caused her to laugh, nervously, ‘insane.’

“And what proof would you base these assumptions off of?”

“It is impossible to fly,” She seems very sure in her statement.

“How do you know that?” His eyes stayed on her, a slight smile on his lips.

Emma's smile wavers slightly, "I have never seen anything above a bird fly... unless you count my father being tossed from a tavern."

He chuckled, “but if given proof that flight is possible, would you believe it? And would you consider it evil, good, or neutral?”

“Birds fly... they are not evil... they are of God's creatures, Milord... I would possibly try to figure out why it is flying. I mean... if you saw a man flying through the air...would you not first want to find out what it is that is making him fly... did he grow wings like a dove... is he hanging from a rope... is it the will of god.. or... the devil?"

“What if I told you it was something older altogether. Would you be willing to learn about it or would you be content to go back to the rest of your life, to live apart from it?”

“Older then God? Is it possible?”

"Some say it is. Others do not believe so. It is one of the reasons of our order, Lady, to find the why and how. To understand and preserve the knowledge.”

“You are telling me you have seen a Man fly, Milord?”

He smirks "In a manner of speaking." That caused her to fidget with the button at her neck again. She would have to be replacing that button on this dress for the third time, yet she seemed most curious, "is he still alive, Milord?”

“He still exists, yes. He sits before you.”

Stunned, she blinked several times, "pardon me... did you just say you had flown?” Her hand paused on the button and her other hand is folded in her skirt gripping it tightly.

"Yes, I did."

Emma crossed her arms, "Milord Pendrag." she smiled, "Now you are playing with me."

Lord Pendrag lifted his hands from the harp, letting it hover before his lap.

She watched him in stunned silence and couldn’t move as he let the harp settle back into his hands, “can you explain that? More to the point, do you wish to?”

She walked over as close as she dared and looked at the harp a little closer. Her doubts were still there, yet excitement flowed through her in soft jolts. Looking at his clothing then to his face, "you... did that... how?"

“I did that, yes but before I answer that question, the rest of the story has to be told."

She looked at the harp then to him, "there’s more?" It figured...

“You should know if there is. It is up to you to tell the end of the tale. Behind you is a door at the far end of this hall. It will lead you to the stables, a fresh carriage and more money than you have ever seen.”

Turning she looks at the door behind her, so much to remember so much to do. What about the shop, with the money she could build a new one and have her own herb garden in the back... but then she wouldn’t know what it was to fly. ‘Emma, you have gone insane.’

“You can ride out of the tale here and now or you can stay, and find out the true power behind your herbs, and see the history of the world unfold. Our order is old, my lady. I myself am older than the town you stand in.”

‘Impossible,’ her mind reels as her body jerks slightly at his statement then turns looking at the harp quietly for a moment.

“For good or ill, the choice is yours. Nothing is good or evil, lady. All is in the hand of the user. Much like your herbs."

Pointing at the harp her voice carries softly, she sounded so far away from herself, "will you show me again?"

He let the harp rise again, floating near her this time and reaches out for the harp as it nears her. It was real and held steady in the air. She wanted to pluck the strings but instead she looked around it and felt for anything holding it up. Putting her finger out she pushed softly on the harp. It didn’t budge.

When she looked back up at him, he was standing, hovering slightly off the ground. Emma crossed her arms looking at the harp for a few moments more then looks at him starting at his feet then up to his eyes, "what will happen to my father?" Her heart pounded in her chest. She’s doing it; she’s doing what she wants and not what’s expected of her.

“Nothing... he will be left alone, unharmed by the order. You can still be part of his life in the evening.”

“What about Worthington...”

“There will be nothing he can do. Others in the order will not allow him to strike it is a rule. Reveal thyself only to those of the blood. We call it the masquerade.”

Background Pt. 1

2004-03-03T17:38:48Z

She knew it was improper to travel alone, but she was the only one able to deliver the package for her father. The gentleman said it was for Lord Pendrag and put down quite a bit of money for the laudanum saying it was for his ill sister.

What was she to do, tell him no? Lord Pendrag was her best customer and frequented her shop in the evenings. Sometimes when she was busy she would let him have free reign of her herbs. Her father was a simple Apothecary; actually she was the Apothecary her father was a lush and would squander her hard earned money on the drink. So, they needed the money, Pendrag was rich and she wasn’t too proud to take it either.

She stopped her two-seater in front of the big Iron Gate. It was made up of 6 to 7 feet high iron bars. She was about to step out of the buggy in order to open the gates mechanically, when the loud noise of the gates moving attracted her attention. She looked at them suspiciously. The gates open all by them selves and stopped when fully opened. Still seated, she looked at gates and commented, “A day full of surprises.”

The compound was without any trees; only grass and the driveway was highlighted by small lamps located on the poles standing on both sides of the driveway.

Picking up the package, she moved slowly from her surrey and climbed the few steps to the main door and was about to knock when the doors opened. She froze and couldn’t believe it as she stood in awe till the doors opened completely, then walked inside and saw that two young maids had opened the door for her. It gave her a relief and she let out a long breath.

Emma entered the well-lit hallway that had twisted stairs, which led to the upper two floors. Upon looking, you could see the ceiling was rectangular and at its center was fashioned with glass. Her breath caught in her throat.

She stood in the foyer waiting for the gentleman to arrive so she could deliver the package and get back to her father as the thunder resounded off the house causing her to shiver. Her eyes moved to one of the maids hoping she would understand the pleading look in her eye.

“I’m glad you came.” His voice was soothing and she realized it was a different man then the one that made the order earlier that day. Was he also Lord Pendrag’s employee?

“I’ve brought the package, Sir, for Lord Pendrag. Will you please see that he receives it? I must return home.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I would never turn you out in this weather.”

“Sir, What little reputation I do have, I would like to keep unmarred from gossip. I really must leave.”

He laughed and she narrowed her eyes stubbornly as she set the package down on the table in front of the mirror. She could see herself staring back. Plain Jane, wire-rimmed glasses sitting upon her short nose. An unpleasant sneer sat upon her lips.

Spinning on her heel she turned to exit the elaborate home and ran into the man, “OH!”

He still appeared to be amused as he grabbed her arm to keep her from falling over, “I insist...”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The maid opened the room’s door and entered. It was big, luxurious and cozy. The large rectangular windows were covered half with net curtains that were cream in color. Though the windows Emma could see the entire compound and the gate at the far left end.

The walls were white and the bed lay parallel to the windows. The ceiling was well decorated with gold fleur de lis. A fireplace on the left side of the bed and beside it was an old desk made up of oak.

Emma sat heavily on the chair that was placed along the wall with the window and stared out at the lightening that lit the sky, “do not leave the room indeed, who did he think he was?”

Sometime during the night she must have fallen asleep and awoke with a start to lightening crackling across the sky. The rain hammered the windows as if it were trying to force it’s way into her room.

Shivering she wrapped her arms around herself and walked to the door. She had to get back to her father. Quietly she made her way to the stairs and stop when she heard a man’s voice. Peeking around the corner she could see two men in the foyer below.

The first man she recognized as the owner of the house the other was someone she had never seen before. He had brownish colored hair with blue eyes, same height as the other man and well shaved. His hair was parted to the right and longer at the ends at front, almost touching his right eye.

She couldn’t quite hear what was being said and leaned forward closer to the railing. She didn’t notice a man coming up behind her and grabbing her by the arm; spinning her around to face him, “Emma...”

She couldn’t move, not even to speak. She never really noticed how tall he was till he towered over her and his hand practically swallowed her upper arm. She wanted to scream, she wanted to run but her scream was caught in her throat.

His other hand quickly reached up and grabbed her around the mouth to keep her from screaming, as his other hand raised pushing his index finger to his lips, “shhh...”

She couldn’t breath; all she wanted was to go home. He narrowed his dark eyes at her and growled something, it sounded like “sleep” but she couldn’t be sure. Her world went suddenly black.