I was exhausted and my mind had begun to play tricks on me, I was seeing shit in front of my headlights that was not there. I exited Interstate 10 and arrived at the Windsor Court shortly after. I valeted the truck, the attendant recognized me and instantly radioed another gentleman who appeared from the booth. I'd left Nikki's Honda and hadn't returned to get it. I needed to check in but contemplated turning around, instead of entering inside I stood beside the statue of St George The Dragon Slayer outside leaning forward on his sword in the brisk December wind. The smell of Christmas invaded my nose, the large Christmas tree inside was visible from where I stood to bring Holiday cheer to the unimpeachable. I faced the statue and admired its flawless design as the smell of Roja filled my nose, I turned to see Alexander standing in a plaid scarf and wool coat. I noticed the burgundy John Lobb Lopez loafers he wore resembling a pair Trenton owned, "She'd said u would arrive soon, only I'd thought u would be in a horse drawn chariot,"the older gentleman said straightening his Fedora on his nearly completely bald head. He wore a circular ruby ring on his right middle finger that sparkled with power as the pink ice had.
"I've always been drawn to St. George myself as well, he protects the whole town."
I laughed dryly and meditated, what had he meant? How had she known I would come? I told the older gentleman I would soon go inside and check in, he said the clerk was awaiting my arrival. He offered his arm, "My delight," he said before I obediently cuffed my own into his. The aroma of the expensive aftershave was almost visible around him. I was so tired and the cap I wore fit slouched on my head, I hadn't missed my hair at all, or the entity that kept touching it, I was not insane. How had Procell arrived; it bothered me now, he'd sat directly across from Alexander...I was afraid to ask.
The quality of the atmosphere was subtle, I couldn't even give likeness to its ambiatic essence, the equality was immemorable, somewhat welcoming this time. I'd been escorted to the hotel desk, after saying his goodbye Alexander walked to the elevator to retire back to his room. I'd looked up to the fourth floor while walking away from the statue and saw Louisa standing in the drapery, hadn't I? Naturally she would want the view of the statue that was erected in the courtyard I considered. I took the debit card from my handbag wondering if I would have to explain who Makil Griffin was, instead the clerk waved it off and handed me the room key, I would be staying in the same room I had before.
The smell of breakfast nauseated me while I walked to the elevator, I hadn't even brought a bag inside and just wanted to sleep until checkout. I expected Louisa to be standing beside the elevator when I arrived on the fourth floor, instead there was no movement whatsoever, the mood was still.
Why couldn't I taste the damn grapes!?
I entered into the room.
Belial. Daddy had spoke on him, I knew who he was said to be. As I removed my shoes I thought back to the photographs of Terrell post mortem. I would see the anger in Redd's eyes when he mentioned his name, something had induced his intent to rob him but not how I'd thought. Why hadn't I wondered, Trenton saw it happen, why had his body been so transfigured when the coroner took the pictures? The sun, I considered the sun and the properties of initial decomposition, I'd killed him at night. But the sun...how many hours had the body been exposed? I needed to know when he was killed, also when he was found. Shonda would find out, I decided she could be useful. I was only a short distance from Metairie and would meet her after check out, she would be arriving soon. I reviewed all the incoming activity on my phone that I had ignored before searching for Terrell's gravesite while climbing into the bed, the curtains swayed through the slightly opened window. The search results gave no leads and I was too tired to expand, I laid down after removing the complimentary mint from the pillow admiring the fresh linen scent. 5:00 a.m the phone reflected as I laid it on the pillow beside me and immediately dozed off, the rhythmic screech of a food cart had awakened me shortly after, it sounded as if it had stopped at the door, I sat up and waited for it to resume. After a moment and no one had knocked I determined I was imagining the cart and laid back down. It was only 5:36 and I needed to take advantage of the time I had to rest. Comfortably I laid.
The dream had occurred realistically, I'd awakened in it and was at the Orchard. The sky was black, the large black birds were present by the thousands covering the sun. I thought about it after I'd awakened, I'd never saw a bird on the property, surely they would cover the trees for the fruit. I'd walked to the shed and opened the knobless door, more black birds flew out at me furiously, I fell to the ground and covered my head as they joined the rest. While I laid I heard a voice. "With enriched curiosity u have reflected on your existence, but u are not freely entitled to the revelation of your quiddity, also u knoweth not the hour."
In the dream I uncovered my head as I laid on the ground in a fetal position and searched for they that spake, but unsuccessfully. I looked at my swollen feet, they were cut and scratched as if I had run through briars, the birds above separated and uncovered the sun, it's hue resembled the Lake of Fire shining upon the land. How had I come to be? What had taken place I wondered, the voice began again, " U have been bestowed with great knowledge and given in multifold the bounties of life, I have given u the element of riches and jubilation of being set aside."
"From whence hath thou come," I asked, my voice echoed in the dream, the inquiry had gone unanswered. The old man walked past me as I laid unnoticed, he quarreled with himself carrying a bucket of rotten apples. "Makes no sense! They are rotten before they are ripe!" He entered into the shed, opened the vault door and threw the apples inside before closing it back. I heard banging on the floor door and a small child's cries as he exited the shed, I yet laid unseen. The birds cawed frantically in enigma, their sound filled the air. The voice began again, "I have comforted and aided u with avidity, your technique is profound and uncommon to the immune as the matriarch has intended. Supercilious and disdainful she sought the favor and Belial granted insusceptible life as prophesied. Birthed by the unrestrained and elected to consummate that was presaged. U have inherited the opulence of viability and have proven thyself dignitary as foretold causing bloodshed having no biased rapport with humanity, lacking harmonious or affinitive sentiment, u have killed unremorsefully. Whereas thou hath sowed the wind the whirlwind cometh. The knowledge set aside has been stiffened and reinforced by enlightenment granted, u have virtuously sought out what had been apprised."
The door to the shed opened as I looked around in fear for the voice, a small child, barefoot and ragged emerged. He sat and picked the briars from his webbed feet, the fresh lesions covered the older ones, it wasn't his first time. His hair had patterned its own formation and knotted up like wool.
The young boy called out for Kevin while picking up the rotten apples from the land returning them to the shed. I'd watched him until the darkness covered my sight, in a panic I attempted to stand. As I had I heard a small child crying from the shed, I looked, he lacked pigmentation but was beautiful as ever, his blond hair was of a wool texture and though he sat in nature he was polished. I crawled from where I'd fallen to the ground, I had not been able to stand to see the child but I saw, his yellow eyes gleamed, however he could not see. I touched his face, he then focused and spake beyond his years...I'd crawled back outside and looked back for him in bewilderment, the child was gone. At that moment I noticed the writing on the dark wall, it glowed and illuminated the shed, a snake was only present inside now and coiled in the center of the dirt floor. From whence had the child and snake come?
I was awakened by a knock on the door, what had seemed like hours had only been 30 minutes, agitated I got out of bed and snatched it open, there was no one on the other side. Perplexed I closed it after I'd found the hallway empty. The dream lingered and my legs felt weighted.
My heart raced, I'd dreamt of a blind child who lacked a pigment! Also, the boy resembled Trenton, the old man had been horrid! He'd emptied the rotten apples inside of the vault but as I looked at the ones on the ground their bruises healed! Nathaniel's son, what had they done? I was awake and aggravated needing to talk to Louisa. She'd expressed how she was there as a compulsory comforter, but was entailed to superintend. How could I possibly need her for anything other than the particulars? I looked in my own peephole as if I could see her door through the ocular aperture, but as I had I saw her standing in front of my door wearing a La Coupe des Dieux print robe. "Dear? Are u decent?" She inquired as I leaned against the inside of the door. I seized hold of the door handle and opened it vehemently. She smiled, her mulatto skin was radiant and firm, yet her hands were knotted and marred. Somehow I felt we were tethered benignantly, I invited her in as she put the key into the robe pocket. The blue veins protruded atop of her delicate feet in the fur lined baroque motif slippers, she walked to the opened window complaining about the view before closing it. Had it been opened since my episode?
"Who was the child? The blind baby in the shed, I've seen him in my dream..."
"He can see, but not as they see. Only sunlight blinds him, but in darkness he sees extraordinarily.
The giants, they were proof of the wonders, as the hanging garden of Babylon—-the Nephilim, all were cast out among mankind. There's a gala, u should attend. Leland will bring your attire," she said. I rubbed my hand across my head but noticed scratches on my feet. I gasped and covered my right foot with the left one while Louisa studied me and my frightened expression. I agreed to attend to get her to leave, I was supposed to meet Nate in the evening after I met Shonda, I had no time for socializing, with all due respect.
Who was the child? Where was he!!? The beautiful albino boy, pristine in the dirt.
Somehow where I had always been afraid of death, I was now afraid of life. I remembered how I would attempt suicide to conquer the fear of dying. I would have gone to hell and could never remember The Lord's Prayer, I'd always wondered where Hell was, really. Satan lived there. I tiptoed on its partition, presumably she'd read my thoughts and smiled, "Alexander tends to want crepes. He's a northerner, not quite accustomed to tradition here. The holiday season brings special guests to the Court, it will be lovely, u must attend. Your condition is suitable. The child u marveled, was Procell."
Creepy old bitch.
The baby from the---nightmare?
The images of Trenton as a child persisted in my memory and it was beginning to haunt me, who WAS the only man I had ever married, I had given my husband a child, LAWFULLY!!? Why was I such a disaster!! I was CURSED not BLESSED! I had even forgotten how to pray!
I had screamed hadn't I? When she left the sound of water had returned---she seemed so familiar then, as if I'd seen her as a child...I hadn't remembered her, but the stone. I was quite fond of her, and she nurtured me---she must tell me her story, yes---I'd known about Martin and his conception but what was her story.
I needed to return the book but wanted to read it in detail. Daddy believed the demon's name was in context, perhaps in the ending credits? I sneered at the thought but why had he searched for it so unwaveringly and could not read? I needed to leave and had not wanted to even be present for Leland to deliver anything to me. After the shower I would check out, I was becoming weak from not eating but the child disapproved of everything except grapes. I hadn't even had a change of clothing, but I still showered and dressed into the same clothes I'd worn for two days, again.
When I exited the room with no intention to attend the event, Louisa stood at the elevator dressed in a Burberry Wool Gabardine trench coat waiting for Alexander. I complimented the coat, embarrassed she'd seen me leaving. "It was a gift, I'd only thought of having it before it just came to the doorstep...long after. I was still receiving the subsidies and bestowals. Procell would love to gain your acquaintance, but against Martin's wishes."
She placed her crooked forefinger against her lips.
"U shall see him tonight---no need to check out he's taken care of your room."
The elevator stopped on the 4th floor and opened, I entered weakly. I turned around to see a concerned look across the old woman's brow, "OH! U should eat! Pineberry and Jackfruit---try it, the child will enjoy."
I'd taken note and gone to retrieve the truck from valet, where the fuck would I get Jackfruit? The Garden of Eden?! I rolled my eyes and approached the attendant after exiting the elevator, and as the Honda had, the truck had been reported stolen.
The book was inside.