I didn't know what to think about Lar's wife Belle. Belleceleste was her first name but preferred just Belle. She seemed some what naive around everyone and acted slightly uncomfortable a lot. She was sweet to everyone trying to strike up conversation and was quite animated with her movements but they were all graceful.
It seemed like she was constantly talking to herself in between the smiles at all of us. Some of the people she addressed gave short answers while others exchanged a few polite pleasantries, but most ignored her.
This made me look at Alex and Lar questioning.
They avoided my gaze and continued to eat. She finally spoke up loudly enough to everyone, still trying to start striking up a conversation in a room full of people that only the sound of cutlery on the plates was heard.
"So I imagine that we're going to have a full plate for the show this year. What's the theme for your collections and how many did you make this year?" she looked down the table at Lar smiling inquisitively.
"Dear, I doubt you imagined it, so why ask if you know the answer?" Lar said sparing a glance at her before returning to his food. I looked at Lar thinking that was an awfully cold thing to say. That's when it hit.
Whoa ... a heavy feeling like an ocean wave invaded the air making everyone tense.
She frowned, "I ask because I want to hear it from you, it is like a balm on my ears that hear monotone things all day. I'm merely trying talk to you. I've not seen you in so long, I miss the sound of your voice. You are my husband after all."
He hums in response but doesn't say anything. The hurt on her face is evident.
She scoffs at first, "I try every time...."
"I knew you'd be like this, AGAIN." She raised her voice at the end looking hurt.
"You knew, but still did it expecting a different result? Isn't that just insanity then?" Lar finished his food and left taking his plate to the kitchen. Some of his brothers followed suit, but a few stayed and were talking to her.
"Don't mind him sister Belle, he knows you mean well enough given your restrictions, he just wishes for our brothers again."
"Thank you, brother but that doesn't seem to matter to him...." She trailed off for a second,
"Oh well, finish your food. They are my troubles to worry about not yours."
Once dinner was completed Alex and I went for a walk in the courtyard outside that was huge for a place in the city, it is at least two acres and well taken care of with old growth trees and bushes and flowers.
"That is the most awkward dinner I have ever had I think." I tell Alex who kind chuckles.
"Yeah, that tends to be the normal thing for them. There was a time when it was easy going, they were friends at least but as you can see, not anymore. It doesn't help every time we visit with people who know who she really is, she always tells them horrible truths, or events that must take place. People tend to avoid talking to her because they don't want to hear about those things."
"Why must they take place? Have they been challenged to see what will happen if they're not?"
Alex grabs my arm suddenly making me look him in the face, "Yes they have been challenged and it was worse for those that tried to. Trust me, hermosa, if she tells you something you should do it. Challenging fate never works out well."
"Okay I understand." I tell him and he lets go of my arm.
"Sorry, I have seen some things happen to some of those who tried, I would not want those kind of things happening to you."
I nudge his arm with my shoulder, "Aw Alex, it's like you care about me or something." I grin up at him as he rolls his eyes.
"Me?! I don't even like you." He grins returning my sarcasm with his.
I give him a playful punch of the arm, gasping in offense at his words.
"Hey.." He clutches his arm in mock pain as we continue walking.
Suddenly a tiny pixie no bigger than my hand flew out of one of the trees and was flying around us.
I laughed in surprise, "A PIXIE! I haven't seen one since I was a little girl! I loved her too...." My memory of my childhood and the pixie who used to sit on my shoulder as I climbed the apple orchard at my neighbors farm. It used to help me pick the wild berries and mushrooms too when we were feeling the effects of poverty. We never were hungry thanks to that little pixie. I never saw her again though after I fell out of cherry tree that was in the same apple orchard, breaking my leg.
It flew around us and came to sit on my shoulder just like the one from my childhood.
"Hello." I whispered, "I'm Mary."
The pixie patted my shoulder with its little hand and laid against my neck.
I wondered if this was that very same pixie from my childhood. Alex just stood there watching me, "I wish I could have taken a picture of that smile when she landed on your shoulder just now. It was a beautiful site the innocence of it."
"She reminds me of a little pixie that used to sit on my shoulder when I climbed trees as a kid."
"That's because she is that same pixie, her name is Lillea. (lil-lay-a)" Belle came over from one of the porches drinking a glass of wine looking sad. "Her wings were pierced by a falcon and she needed some healing and rehabilitation to fly again, she just started flying again actually."
She took a seat on a little marble bench that was worn and weathered from the exposure over the years. Lillea flew to her shoulder and nestled against her neck as well.
"So Mary, I do believe it is time I have a little chat with you." She said reluctantly.
Alex cleared his throat, "If you'll excuse me. I'll let you two ladies talk." He turns and starts to walk off.
"Alejandro. You and I need to talk before the show." She looks at his back sternly.
He paused when she called his name and merely kept walking after she was done.
She looked back to me and gave me a sad smile, "I know that the atmosphere here once I arrived has become strained. My gift is half a curse as well, like yours. Lar has never cared for the arrangement between us, he would have preferred to never be married. Especially to someone like me." She looks downcast at her glass of wine and takes a drink.
"Uh, yeah what is the arrangement exactly? I have never seen Lar be so cold to anyone like that, except for one." I inquire.
Curiosity killed the cat....I think to my self, but of course satisfaction brought it back....
"Our Marriage...It's on paper only to protect me, as a favor to my father from Lar. He does not try to get to know me beyond what you have and will see. Even though I try to. He is upset with me because I couldn't tell him about Farel and his brothers that died in the rescue of you. Or give his some warning so he'd have been better prepared. He forgets there is no way to escape fate unless something can be traded in return." She looks forlornly off at one of the trees.
"Enough about me though."
She pats the empty stone next to her. "Come have a seat with me, Mary. Or Sin, that's what you prefer."
I take a seat next to her, not sure how to handle the situation considering how everyone has acted around her. No one struck up conversation and everyone seemed to want to avoid her.
"I will answer to either." I inform her.
"I know, dear. So this must have been a shock to you. Lar being married to someone and even more to me. I can not blame you for being surprised. Even though you're more surprised over the fact I am a model and an oracle. One of those which you were looking for."
"Yes, I have..." She cuts me off mid sentence.
"Some questions.... yes dear that's why I am here to talk to you. First of all, I need to cover a few things. I can not tell you everything I know, for knowing certain information would disrupt the way fate is supposed to flow. You can not stop fate unless you don't seize the opportunity when fates path gives you a crossroads. Secondly, I can only give you guidance considering I know what will happen. I can not and would not give you all the answers you seek, and the ones I may answer. They may not be the answers you want to hear, so please refrain from getting upset with me. The truth is normally not nice." She stares at me intently.
"I'm aware of that." I'm firm in my answer as she continually seems to be checking my eyes.
"Okay, ask."
"Was it Councilman Graves and was that what the warning note I was left about?"
Her eyes clouded and returned to normal, "Yes, and yes and no. Graves is still spinning a web, do not use Ortiz and your recording to help prove anything. You will regret it. The note pertained to both Graves and Ortiz. You and Alex have received an honor very few have ever even heard of, that is a note from the Queen."
She shook her head in disbelief and motioned for me to continue.
"Will I ever see Johns spirit again? Through reincarnation?" My heart was full of hope and the longing on my face I could tell was evident.
She took a hand from me and looked at it. "Yes, but you have to be prepared for the fact he will not be the John you knew unless you are able to get the one who will help you to give something up that is precious. I don't know much about any of that. Certain things, events, some details are cloudy."
"Who will help me?" I urgently ask her.
"Ahhh.. I can't tell you that. In fact, I can not tell you anything more on the matter." She shook her head like she had a headache coming.
"...." a noise escaped from my throat expressing I was upset that she wouldn't tell me anymore information.
"Now you understand why everyone treats me this way." She looks away from me disappointment in her eyes and drinks more of her wine.
"Thank you for the answers you were able to give me. It at least gives me hope for the future." I get up to go back inside with some things on my mind, I had some brain storming I needed to do now. I felt that what she had to tell me wasn't as bad as it seemed it might be considering the others reactions to her.
"Oh Sin, one last thing." She calls out to me making me pause.
"Do me a favor and let Alex go from your lovers bed, at the show he needs to be free for his destined partner to meet with him in a positive light. Otherwise he will be alone, in pain, for the rest of his life. That's a horrible thing to have on ones conscience. Also, please tell him to come find me tomorrow morning, so I can chat with him."
I turn looking at her shocked when what she said earlier runs through my head, 'you can't escape fate...'
"Okay." Is all I respond with. Damn it I jinxed my self ....again.