Disclaimers: The many characters in this story are all mine, though the main ones may resemble the X:WP characters, which are not mine....unfortunately. The song in the story is all mine as well.Disclaimers: The many characters in this story are all mine, though the main ones may resemble the X:WP characters, which are not mine....unfortunately. The song in the story is all mine as well.
Love/Sex/Language: Yes to all of the above. This story depicts an explicit loving relationship between adult women. There is a scene that might seem like voyeurism but it's not....exactly...There is also a scene of self-gratification. The language gets a little rough from time to time but so does the sex...so if you're ok with that.... So if you're under-aged or live in a place that this isn't allowed or this isn't your cup of tea, I suggest you move along and look for something else to occupy your free time.
Violence: There are some scenes that contain pretty graphic violence but I don't consider them to be much. But if you're of the fainter heart, I'd suggest you don't read 'em. They're really not bad though...Not worse than any regular Xena episode..
Thanks: To my beta-readers Erin Jennifer and Cindy AKA "ForevaXena" for everything. Starting with beta reading my stories and finishing with posting my stories and giving them a chance in the first place.
To all the readers that took the time to write to me and telling me what they thought, you encouraged me to keep on writing.
And to all the great bards around and their amazing stories that I loved reading and gave me the inspiration to start writing my own.
Author's comments and Feedback: This is the first story I've written of this length. I hope you'll like it. Everything in this story is meant purely for fun and I hope you find it funny (in places it was meant to be funny), dramatic (the same) and so on. I would really appreciate knowing what you think of my stories. Tell me if I'm doin' alright or if I royally suck. Some plot ideas would be very much appreciated also. Actually, come to think of it, any comment would be very much appreciated :) mailto:Dimples_2000_fr@yahoo.com
© Dimples 2001
Ch. 1
*BIP* *BIP* *BIP* The alarm clock went off at such frequency that it could quite possibly raise the dead, however it still wasn't enough to wake the slumbering figure. Several seconds passed and another alarm clock in the room went off. This time the slumbering figure could not ignore it nor could she turn it off. She started squirming on the bed, making tiny grumbling sounds at the rude awakening. "Ugh, stupid alarm clock..." said the figure as she scrambled out of bed. Her blond hair was sleep tousled and her green eyes, usually sparkling with delight, were now droopy from exhaustion.
Audry hadn't been able to get a decent night's sleep for...she couldn't remember for how long. These dreams....flashbacks maybe, had been occurring quite frequently lately and there wasn't anything she could do about it. They had been invading her unconsciousness on a regular basis and now even her waking moments had been plagued by these undetermined flashes. Being a reporter, she couldn't afford herself dozing off or it's her hide, so to speak. If she couldn't bring in the newest, hottest scoops then her employers would find someone that could.
Brushing the cobwebs from her eyes, Audry dragged her tired body into the shower, dropping behind her her long sleeping shirt.
After a refreshing shower, she still couldn't quite fully open her eyes, she needed her dose of caffeine. Taking yesterday's paper and browsing through it, she sipped her coffee. Finished with her coffee, she put it in the dishwasher, picked up her portfolio bag and went out of the door towards another day of grueling work.
"Good morning Audry" greeted Jaime Anderson, a fellow reporter and sometimes companion at the paper. "Mornin' Jaime" replied Audry as she went over to her desk and sat down. She started going through possible articles for the next edition. Not seeing anything interesting in particular she decided to ask her boss for any new assignments. She trotted towards her boss' office and knocked on the door. "Come in" could be heard through the closed door and Audry entered the office. There wasn't anything special about this office, it was big and it was roomy and that was about it, it was scarcely decorated and it held a feeling of distance, of coldness that quite possibly reflected her boss' personality. John Richmond was distant, had a sense of authority to him that made almost everyone cower in his presence and a no nonsense attitude but Audry was one of the few that wasn't treated this way. She was always greeted with a smile and an almost caring attitude...as caring as the man could get.
"Audry, what can I do for you?" asked John with a small smile on his lips, appearing upon seeing his favorite reporter.
"Good morning John, I was just going through some articles I've written these past few weeks and I just couldn't find anything that could possibly be front page material...so I figured I'd come over and ask you if you might have any other assignments that I could possibly review."
"Well....I might have something but I don't know....you haven't been feeling quite like yourself lately so maybe you should just take it easy for awhile..."
"John, I'm fine....really. I wouldn't be asking if I felt it would stress me out too much....I think maybe this would do me some good actually."
"Well....if you're sure Audry.....but just so you know, I'm still reluctant to do this....."
A smile now gracing her face at her success "Thank you John...I really appreciate it..."
Not finished with her sentence and she faltered on her feet, a flash hitting her full force "It'll be alright, just hang in there.....please.....I need you...." said a redheaded woman that resembled Audry to a dying figure of a woman that she held tightly in her arms. The woman smiled slightly and raised her hand to caress the other woman's cheek softly.
The flash recedes and Audry who is still in shock from the intensity of the flash is now picked up from the floor by John and seated on his sofa.
"Audry....Oh my god.....are you okay?!"
"Yes...I..I'm just a little shaken....I'm okay now though"
"Well I don't care how okay you think you may be, I want you to take the day off and make an appointment with your doctor. Audry...you can't go on like this.....please promise me you'll do as I say.."
"John, I'm fine......I guess I'm just tired..."
"Tired! well no wonder you're tired...with these flashes or whatever they are coming at you all day and then I'm sure at night too....how can a person keep his sanity in check?! "
"Look....I didn't want to tell you this but the past few weeks you've been coming to work looking like a zombie...with these bloodshot eyes and black circles around 'em....you can barely function much less work...I'm telling you this as your friend, as someone who cares for your well being but apparently this approach doesn't work with you so I'll do things as your boss....if you don't get your act together, go see a doctor and fix things up.....I'm gonna have to let you go....."
Surprised at this outburst from her usually quiet boss, Audry was left speechless, which almost never happened, but upon hearing his threat about letting her off, she immediately composed herself and got on her now steady feet.
"Alright John, I'll go to the doctor and I will "fix" things up as you said because I myself am tired of these flashbacks and I need some rest both physically and mentally.."
Interrupting her midsentence John smiled briefly and said "Good....good, I'm glad you'll listen and take care of yourself...."
This time the interruption came from Audry who was growing more frustrated and angrier with the man."Like I started saying John when you interrupted me....I will seek help but I will not assure you of my coming back here....now now John....you said it yourself....you gave me an ultimatum and conveyed your point quite clearly.....I don't like being given an ultimatum so even if I do get better and find out what the hell these flashes mean....I'm not sure if I'll be back to work for this paper again. Good day John."
With that Audry pulled the door open and walked out of John's office, quite possibly for the last time.
John looked like a fish out of water with his mouth gaping open trying to form words but failing miserably. He was just trying to be a friend....wasn't he? He tried to care for her when she wouldn't.....didn't he? He quite possibly just lost his best reporter in....ever.
Audry went over to her desk to pick up the few things she had there, she almost cleared the table when Jaime came over to her.
"Hey...what's wrong, why are you clearing your desk?" asked Jaime.
"Well...I'm taking a few days leave but I'm not sure if this situation won't be permanent."
"What?! Why?!"
"I had a conversation with John and we reached an understanding...I'll be going to set a check up with the doctor and then if and when I feel better, I might not be going back to work here."
"Did he say something? Did he fire you or something? What happened?"
"No he didn't fire me but let's say I just didn't like the way he talked to me and leave it at that ok?"
"But Audry..you know how he is.....he sometimes says stupid things or just doesn't treat you right but he doesn't mean to do that...it's just his way to show he cares I guess...I don't know..."
"Yeah well maybe you're right.....I'll think about it and we'll see.....so...umm...I'll see ya ok?"
"Yeah sure....I'll sure miss ya though....take care of yourself huh Audry?"
"Yeah I will....thanx Jaime...you too."
Audry picked up her things and walked to the door. With one possibly final glance towards the office she'd been working in for the past three years, she turned around and left the building.
Half an hour later, the clock read 12:00 PM she stopped at a coffee shop for a nice long lunch to clear her head. She ordered her usual chef salad and a tuna sandwich and sat to eat it while pondering over the last few hours. She couldn't believe she had actually said those things to her boss and actually threatened to walk....he can't give me an ultimatum...I'm his best damn reporter...how dare he?......well, maybe Jaime was right and he was just trying to show me he cared and I blew it out of proportion.....I don't know...maybe he did maybe he didn't.....I'm tired and I may be sick and it just wasn't the best time to tell me such a thing.
Well.....gotta hand it to him though....he actually let me talk and then walk out on him like that...the face he made was priceless....A small grin appeared on her face When I get home I'll make that appointment....hopefully he'll take me first thing tomorrow morning, I hate waiting for a doctor's appointment.
With these thoughts Audry paid her bill, left a nice tip and went to her car. As she was getting into her car another flash appeared in front of her mind's eye She could see two figures looking at each other, one of them, with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. Both were wearing very strange outfits, she couldn't quite see her face, It was darkened by shadows but she could see the figure's hand caressing the woman's cheek and pulling her towards her mouth.
Audry snapped out of it and found herself feeling as though those lips were kissing hers. Her heart was fluttering wildly and her breath was coming in gasps. She couldn't even start to explain how this flash could cause her to feel these things when in her reality she never felt anything that came close to these feelings. Remembering the feelings that flooded her after the flash she saw in John's office, she couldn't remember ever experiencing such pain as she felt when she saw that woman die in the other woman's arms. Were the flashes connected? Was the blue eyed figure one and the same with woman from the earlier flashback? She didn't know but she had to find out.....I think that if I find the connection between those two people and the other figures I remember from my dreams than I might be on to solving these things and maybe finally putting a stop to them.
Audry arrived home forty minutes later. She dropped her things next to the door and went to make the appointment for the doctor.
"Dr. Johnson's office, how may I help you?" asked the secretary.
"Hello, this is Audry Haven and I'd like to make an appointment for a complete check up."
"Yes Ms. Haven, one moment please..."
After several minutes the secretary got back on line "Yes....how about Tuesday Ms. Haven?"
"Umm....I'd rather have the appointment scheduled for tomorrow....It's rather urgent..."
"Well....I'll have to check with the doctor....one moment please.."
"Ok...." damn secretaries and doctor's office's....
"Ms. Haven?"
"Yes..."
"I can fit you in tomorrow at 10:00 am, how is that?"
"That'll be fine, thank you.."
"Ok, have a good day..."
"You too..."
Audry hung up the phone and threw herself on the bed, expelling an exhausted breath. Not used to being at home at such hour, she didn't know what to do with herself so she decided to watch a little TV. Flipping through the 60 channels, she couldn't find anything worth watching so she switched it off. Maybe some exercise would do me some good.... Deciding on that, she quickly changed her clothes into a loose pair of jogging shorts and tank top, picked up her keys and left for the gym. Spending a couple of hours on the machines, she took out her pent-up up frustration that had been building steadily for about a month now until exhaustion took over.
When she got home, it was already 4:00 PM so she decided to just lay around the house for the rest of the evening and maybe take a nice long needed nap.
Ch. 2
The next morning came too quickly. Trying to shut the light out, she pulled the covers over her head and dozed off once again. Five minutes later, the alarm clock was ringing in her ears once more and this time she couldn't just ignore it, so sleepily and slowly she got out of bed and went to take a quick shower. She had the doctor's appointment in an hour and the drive only took around 40 minutes, so she dressed quickly, grabbed a bagel for the road and she was ready to go.
Thirty five minutes later, she was at the doctor's office, waiting patiently in the waiting room after registering her name at the reception desk. Another ten minutes passed and she was called in. "The doctor will be with you in a minute Ms. Haven, put this on please" said the nurse, giving Audry the hideously colored hospital gown. It could best be described as puke green, and that's the nicest way to do so.
The doctor entered the room, barely looking in Audry's way, his skinny bearded face buried in her file. He didn't look more than thirty, his features young but dull, weary. A face you wouldn't distinguish in a crowd. He greeted Audry off handedly and went to talk with the nurse for a few more minutes.
"Yes....Ms. Haven.......what seems to be the problem? You said it was urgent?"
"Yes....I've been having these....flashes I think......for about a month now.....they appear sometimes in my dreams and sometimes when I'm awake...."
"Flashes you say? What do you mean?"
"Well I don't actually know how to explain them....I see things.....something like memories maybe but I know they're not.....because of them I can't sleep well, I can't function....I'm just so tired..."
"Well....I can't say anything without running some tests so first of all I think a blood test and a CAT scan are in order....that'll give me some idea of the situation....so I'm gonna check you up now and afterwards you'll get the other tests done and by tomorrow we'll have some answers, ok?"
"Yeah ok.."
The doctor checked her up, took her pulse, took her temperature.... the usual and when he finished he sent her to the other tests. Spending almost the whole day at the doctor's office and going from the hospital and back with the tests results, Audry got home absolutely bone weary and after fixing herself a small quick dinner, she tucked herself in bed.
The next morning, Audry was well rested, not experiencing any dream the other night and she was anxiously awaiting the results of her tests.
She reached the doctor's office at the time that they set the day prior and waited patiently to be asked in by the doctor.
"Well Ms. Haven....the tests show that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you.....physically wise anyhow......I'd recommend to you to go and see a psychiatrist......maybe that'll help you because physically there is nothing I can do for you...."
"But.....Are you sure?"
"Yes Ma'am, very sure.....I can give you the name of a great psychiatrist if you want..."
"Well if you think that's going to help..."
"I do...I really do..."
"Ok....I suppose..."
"Here you go....her name is Dr. Alexandra Hopkins...she is one of the best, call her and tell her I sent you.."
"Thank you, I will....good bye"
"Bye, take care Ms. Haven"
As she walked out of the doctor's office her mind was ajumble with thoughts A psychiatrist? never thought I'd see the day.....well.....maybe she could help me...worth trying anyhow...
The next day Audry picked up the phone and made an appointment with this Dr. Hopkins, explaining to her briefly on the phone her problem and the course of action she'd taken up until now. The doctor listened and scheduled the appointment bright and early the next day....feeling something interesting in this case.
"Hello....you must be Audry, I'm Dr. Alexandra Hopkins but please call me Alex."
"Hi Alex."
Shaking hands with the doctor, Audry took her seat on the leather couch in front of the leather chair that was the doctor's, she assumed. The office was very nice, decorated in a very good taste. The leather couch was pressed to the wall on the far side of the room, facing the doctor's chair. Next to the couch was a large window covering almost half the wall. A little further in the room stood a large wooden hand-crafted desk with a large executive's chair behind it. The room had a few plants scattered around strategically and the floor was covered with a soft wall to wall carpet. The office screamed out livin' large, rich and classy, just like the woman now sitting in front of her with her Armani suit and Gucci shoes.
"Now....as you told me on the phone, I received somewhat of an impression on what your problem might be but I'd like to hear you describe it to me again please..."
Audry told the doc the same story she told the other doc and once again waited for a response.
"Hmmm.....there isn't a chance maybe that these....flashes as you call them....might be memories or things you've suppressed?"
"No....these are definitely not memories, like I told you.....I keep seeing other figures, like stories playing out in my head but they're not.....It's just that.....I feel something when I experience them....."
"Something? What exactly do you feel?" inquired the doctor with a typical psychiatrist's expression on her face. Her face a mask of interest accentuating the look with a raised eyebrow.
"I feel something.....I don't know.....like I'm a part of them.....like whatever they feel I feel too....." said Audry in an increasing exasperated tone.
"Hmmmm....interesting......" said the doctor while scribbling something down on her notepad.
"What? what is it?..."
"Oh nothing.....just some notes.....tell me more please....how was your childhood Audry?"
"What?! What does my childhood have to do with anything?!"
"Well...I'm trying to trace this disorder you have to an earlier stage in your life...."
"Disorder?! What the hell are you talking about?"
"Now Audry.....don't get upset..."
"I'm not upset, I just don't understand what my childhood has to do with these flashes I've been having as of lately? Look, I don't think this is going to work out...Maybe you're just not the person I need to help me with...whatever it is that I have..."
"But why Audry? I can help you....If you just let me in, I'm quite sure I'll be able to help you.."
"No thanx....I'll figure this out by myself from here....I'm sorry I wasted both of our times..."
"No...It's alright." Said the Doctor ruefully. "Well then.....good luck and feel better.....I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you..."
"It's fine...I'm sorry too. Have a good day."
"You too."
Upset from how things went with the psychiatrist, Audry felt helpless. She knew she wasn't the type for therapy....too probing questions, about things that are not even remotely connected. She would just have to figure this out by herself or, for that matter, find someone that could help her.
Home at last, she left a trail of clothes after herself all the way to the bathroom. A hot shower was exactly what she needed to relax her. She got into the tub and ducked under the spray of hot water. As she was washing her hair a flash hit her sleek bodies were sliding over each other, the scents of sweat and sex filled her nostrils....she heard someone moan and realized it came from her. A figure was hunching over someone's prone body and grinding into them. The scene in front of her and the sounds escaping the bodies were making the fire that was between her legs blaze hotter and stronger. Audry snapped out of it, her heart was in her throat and juices were now flowing from between her legs, sleeking her already water damp thighs. She couldn't ignore the ache that was left deep in her groin so she took matters into her own hands. She buried her hand in her wet folds and massaged her clit slowly and languidly. The spray of the water massaging her scalp as she was still under the spray, drops of water falling on her face and on her slightly parted lips, gliding over her already hard nipples. One hand still massaging her clit, the other went to knead her breast, squeezing the nipple firmly between thumb and forefinger, pinching and pulling on it then rolling it softly and slowly. Suddenly plunging two fingers deep inside herself, she let a long guttural moan escape her mouth. Her breath was coming faster and in short painful gasps. She was nearing the edge and before jumping over the precipice she added a third digit and plunged as deep as she could. A loud groan escaped her throat as she came, her whole body convulsed and trembled as her back arched and her juices now filled her hand. Stepping from under the spray she took a seat on the side of the tub to collect herself. That was one of her most intense orgasms she had ever had...not that she had much experience to begin with. She never felt so alive and so filled with lust before....she just couldn't understand what was happening to her.
Getting out of the tub and taking her time to dry herself off, she went into her bedroom to rest and to try and come up with a solution to these flashes....somehow she had to make them stop though she had to admit that she didn't mind ones like this last one...
Ch. 3
After a few hours of relaxing sleep, something she hadn't had in a while, Audry decided she'd try to look for something or someway to help herself get better. She didn't know where to start or what angle to take because she didn't fully understand the problem. She was flipping through the channels when suddenly she encountered an interesting commercial. She raised the volume of the TV set and listened carefully 'Would you like to know what the future holds for you? Are you having dreams you'd like to decipher but don't know who to turn to? Would you like to know who you were in a past life or what you'll be in the next? If you answered "yes" to one of those queries then you've found what you were looking for. Dial this number on the bottom of your screen and talk to Madam Lia, your know it all psychic. Only 2.99$ per minute.'
Grabbing a piece of paper from her night stand and a pen that was lying next to it, she scribbled the phone number quickly before the commercial ended. Shutting the TV off and putting the paper with the phone number down in front of her, she just sat there looking at it, trying to decide what to do. Figuring that she didn't have anything to lose by calling this..psychic, Audry picked up the phone and dialed the number from the commercial. She waited for it to ring and then again and again, after three rings she hung up, losing her nerve. Deep down she knew that she should do it and just get it over with even if it wouldn't help her in the end. This may be her last chance to actually find out what's going on with her and she did answer in the affirmative to the questions asked in the commercial, so maybe..just maybe she ain't a lunatic. Besides, if such a commercial even exists then Madam Lia must have other clients.
So again, going against some people's idea of common sense, she picked up the phone and dialed the number, this time waiting for the line to be picked up. After four rings a female voice sounded from the other side of the line "Yes, Madam Lia speaking, how may I help you?"
"Hello....umm....I've seen your ad on TV and I'd like to talk to you..."
"Alright then, talk....what is your name?"
"My name's Audry and I have this problem that I think you might be able to help me with..."
Taking a deep breath, Audry started telling the psychic her problem, not skipping any of the details in the process, except for the last vision, which she described in a very implicit and general way while blushing furiously.
"Hmmm....I see.....well Audry, I think I might know what your problem is but I will have to see you and speak to you in person to know for sure, I might need to check a few more things myself by exploring these reoccurring dreams from a closer aspect. I don't usually do this, only in special cases, when will it be good for you to make an appointment dear?"
"Well...could you make it as soon as possible?"
"But of course dear, how does tomorrow at 8:00am sound?"
"It sounds perfect, thank you Madam Lia....What is the address?" said a more relieved Audry.
"It is of no problem dear, my home which is also used as an office is on LakeView Blvd. 106, 2nd floor, first door on the right."
"Ok, got it. Umm, Madam Lia?"
"Yes dear?"
"How much will this be? I mean..."
"Don't worry about it. We'll talk it over after it'll all be over and you're back to your old self. Alright?"
Audry smiled and agreed.
"All right, have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow."
"You too."
Audry hung up the phone feeling something that she hadn't felt in more than a month, actually since the flashes started. She felt almost relaxed, her tired body and soul were not so tired suddenly and she felt rejuvenated. She felt so close to finally seeing this thing to an end and finding the meaning that stood behind it. Not only was she curious about them and the feelings of closeness to the figures in them, she was just plain sick of them and wanted....no....needed a break from them. Finally a chance to get her life back in order.
With all this new energy she decided to make herself a quick dinner to eat in front of the TV and then to retire to bed so that the new day may come faster.
Hearing the alarm clock screech in her ear, Audry jumped from the mattress like she was bit by a snake. Awake but very grumpy from the rude awakening, she jumped in the shower for a quick one, grabbed her things and rushed out of the house to the address she had written on the small piece of paper which contained the phone number as well.
Fifteen minutes later, Audry reached a two-story building, old looking but strong on its foundations. She stepped out of her car and locked it up. Taking a long, deep breath, she composed herself and started walking towards the entrance. At the door, looking awkwardly all around her to see if someone might be around and noting she was pretty much alone on the deserted looking street, she knocked on the door and waited to be answered. A minute or so passed before a voice from inside could be heard through the door. It opened and in front of her stood a woman in her mid-forties that looked like she came out of a sci-fi movie, or better yet, a best selling novel by Stephen King. Now she wasn't all that scary...when you looked at her more closely..and you avoided looking at her clothes, which were very large on her and in earthly colors. About six or more bead necklaces adorned her neck. Her make-up was exaggerated, painted on in exuberance. And her hairdo, well her hairdo was something else. It looked like something Medusa would have been very proud to wear. Digesting the fact that she truly was here, Audry smiled politely, introduced herself and entered the house.
If she thought that Madam Lia looked the part, that was nothing compared to the house she lived in. The interior was all around dark and smoky with curtains made of beads at each and every doorstep that rattled every time you moved through them. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls and had a beige tint to it. There wasn't much furniture in the place, except for some cushions thrown around the room in strategic places. This was only the living room that served as an office for the Madam. The lone piece of furniture that stood out stark against the wall was a nice long black leather couch. And of course there was the usual small table with a crystal ball on it with a chair in front of it.
"Please have a seat Audry.." said the psychic.
"Thank you....nice place you have here..." said the always-polite-until-you-piss-her-off Audry.
"Would you like anything to drink before we start? I have coffee, tea, sodas...."
"No thank you, I'd rather start right away if you don't mind..." answered the nervous reporter.
"Alright then....." said Madam Lia, who took a seat in front of the couch where Audry was sitting.
"Now....have you told me everything about the flashes...or...?"
Interrupting her mid-sentence Audry answered "Yes, I told you everything I can remember from them..."
"Alright.....from what you've told me, I'm going to repeat what I understood, stop me at any time if something I'd said is incorrect or you'd like to add anything..." Taking a deep breath the psychic started retelling the problem. At several points Audry stopped her to add a thing or two and the review was over, bringing them both to the same point of understanding.
"Audry, as I see it these flashes you've been having are bits and pieces from different life times, different reincarnations...I believe that the figures you are seeing in them are the bodies that contained your soul and the soul of your soulmate. You see, a body is only a vessel which holds a soul that leaves one's body once it has died and enters a different vessel, body. That is why you don't recognize the figures but you do feel a connection to them, you feel the same feelings and emotions that go through them because you've been there before...you were them. And every soul has a soulmate somewhere ; Which are destined to be together. Some are lucky to find them in each and every lifetime they pass through and some are not so lucky but they keep looking for them until they do. You, I believe, have found your soulmate in every life time, from what I gather from the things you've told me. I'll have to explore more into them, of course, so I can be sure of my assessment and to figure out why they are plaguing you now of all times so I could help you rid of them, find a solution."
"Wow.....I...ummm...I don't know what to say......I've never believed in things like this but I don't know... How can you be so sure?" Her reporter persona came into play.
"Well, I can't. That's why I need to explore some more into this." Explained Lia.
"It's very hard for me to believe in this, I mean...I'm always after the facts behind everything. I've always believed there's a reason behind everything and now...I just don't know anymore." Audry was frustrated. One part of her mind told her that everything she was hearing was plain BS but the other part, just wanted everything to be over so she could go on with her life. Madam Lia saw her inner struggle so she let up a bit and let her make the decision by herself. Finally, Audry decided to go against her beliefs and to trust this woman...For better or for worse.
"I guess my only choice is to trust you and let you do whatever you think is necessary.." said Audry, still blinking rapidly from the unbelievable story..assessment that she had just heard.
Madam Lia was very pleased with her choice, she really wanted to help the girl and she believed that she could. "Ok good.....now as I said, I'll have to check them flashes more thoroughly so this is what we're going doing to do....I'm gonna hypnotize you and make you relive those flashes, I'll bring you back to all the different lifetimes but this time you will remember everything you witness in these dreamscapes. In this state of mind you will not be able to participate in the happenings. You will be an observer, you will not be seen or heard. You will know which of the people is you by feelings only, you will feel a strong sense of deja vu emitting from a certain body, you'll feel a familiarity...and that will be you. Your soulmate will be recognized by strong feelings of closeness, you will feel an attraction, your soul will know when you see them, it will feel as if your souls are connected to each other. Do you understand? You will be safe here. You'll come back to yourself once you have learned and witnessed everything you were meant to."
"Ok....Let's go for it..."
Ch. 4
Madam Lia instructed Audry to lay down on the couch as she pulled out a pocket watch that was connected to a long golden chain. Using the most common method of hypnosis, she told Audry to lay still and follow the watch only with her eyes, listening only to her voice. Madam Lia started dangling the watch over Audry's reclining face....back and forth.....back and forth.....back and forth....all the while whispering soft words in a deep voice that reached Audry's ears through the trance state she was in. "Breath deeply......relax your body.....your muscles......feel yourself floating.....there is no barrier that's holding you back but your own mind.....let go of all your thoughts and be one with your past....be one with your soul......" As the psychic noticed the calm state of Audry's body and fluttering eyelids, she put the watch back in its place and took up a chair next to the couch. She knew this might take a while once Audry was merged into the "dream" until she woke up. "Audry, listen to me and go back to one of the dreams you had, only this time you will see it through to its end. Once it is over you'll come back to me and you'll remember everything you've seen."
With a quick gasp Audry was sucked into a sort of turbulence and then as if she just gained consciousness, the dizziness fading, she was standing in the middle of what looked like a forest. Between trees and all kinds of growth, she was standing and watching the scene unfolding before her eyes.
A woman was riding her horse, galloping at full speed towards something, Audry was unsure of her destination because she couldn't see that far. Suddenly....seemingly out of nowhere a gang of four, riding on horses, rounded up on her. The woman brought her horse to a sudden halt as they closed in on her and shut any possible way out. She looked frantic. As they were readying their swords to strike at the helpless woman, a sudden yell pierced the air and out of nowhere appeared another figure on a horse, heading their way. This figure, however, seemed different somehow. Though it was wearing a dark cloak and a hat which covered his face, Audry felt that feeling of closeness the psychic described to her. She had a feeling, though that this cloaked figure was not her.
In a few seconds the cloaked figure was right there in the middle next to the woman, who seemed much more at ease since the new arrival. With a swift movement, he embedded his sword in the closest man's chest. Pushing him off the sword with his leg, he moved to thrust it at the next one in line. At first it was blocked a few times until he found an opening and another was dead. In the corner of his eye he noticed one of the men left getting too close to the woman. With lightning speed, the figure pulled a dagger out from his boot and threw it. The horseman was dead before he hit the ground. The fourth man had already started galloping away from the scene almost before he got to killing the second horseman.
Audry was in awe from what she had just observed. She always felt in her heart that her soulmate would be brave, heroic and fierce and was glad to find out first-hand just how right she was. From the first moment she had felt a connection to the woman on the horse. She somhow knew that it was her.
Now that the scene cleared and the tension and excitement of the unpredictable situation had ebbed, Audry was positive who was who and found she was very much interested in who her soulmate really was and who she was in another life....this life...
The cloaked figure got down from the horse and helped the woman down as well. The woman was beautiful, she had long curly red hair with sparkling green eyes. Her skin was fair and her height was much the same as Audry's in the present. Her hair fell loosely down her back. She was wearing a long white dress with pink embroidery with short puffy sleeves and a high neck collar made of lace.
The cloaked figure took its hat off but Audry could still not see the figure's face. It was covered by a mask that hid the figure's eyes and nose. From what she could see, the figure had a very strong jaw line and a graceful strong neck. Through the dark clothes, she couldn't see much but she did manage to see powerful broad shoulders and slim waist and hips.
"Are you alright my princess?" asked the dark figure.
"Yes, I'm quite alright...just a little shaken.....thank you Jacque."
"My pleasure Milady.....at your service," said Jacque bowing teasingly. "Always," the small grin disappearing all together from the handsome looking face as it bent forward to kiss the lips of the awaiting princess.
The woman broke away from the kiss when it became too much and her breathing became labored. They had other things to do, they didn't have time for this now. "I think he sent them....."
Jacque nodded and averted his gaze to the ground. "I think your right, be careful darling," said Jacque. Jacque was worried and angry, he couldn't be there for his princess all the time and he knew she was in danger.
"I will be but you be careful as well my love, if he finds out about us.....he'll.....he'll hurt you..." said the princess with a shaky voice while clutching Jacque's shoulders tightly.
"He will not and I will be careful....please do not worry Di." said Jacque with conviction.
"Now you must get back to the castle, do not do anything or even speak to the man until you receive word from me.....alright Diadra?"
"Alright......I will miss you my love,"
"I shall miss you too darling." Jacque pulled the princess into one final deep kiss, releasing her only when the need for breath became too much.
With that kiss, Jacque helped the princess onto the saddle, slapped the horse lightly and send them on their way.
Audry who was listening to the whole conversation wanted...no....needed to know more....who was trying to kill the princess and why? Just as suddenly as everything else happened, she was standing in front of the castle walls. Going through the gates and entering the courtyard, she looked around. People were going about their business. The arrival of the princess made no difference to them, nor the arrival of anyone else, for that matter. Deciding these poor looking people had nothing to do with the murder attempt on the princess' life Audry entered the castle just in time to see the princess encounter a man, who seemed very well dressed and esteemed.
"Diadra..." the man said the name almost in shock, he looked almost as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Yes Henry....is something the matter? You seem almost surprised to see me?" said the smug looking princess.
Henry was fidgeting."Uh...no of course I am not surprised....he he....did you have a nice ride sweetheart?"
"Yes...darling....thank you for asking, I'll be in my room if you need me..."
And with that Diadra turned her back to the man who she not so fondly called darling and climbed up the stairs to her room. Thinking back to the conversation between Diadra and Jacque, Audry realized that this might be the man they were talking about. Deciding that, she followed him into a room that looked like a den. It was furnished and arranged very much like any other den in any other castle, she supposed. Nothing special, pretty small actually. In the middle of the room, in front of the door, stood a large oak desk. A large wooden chair stood behind the desk and in front, two more chairs. On the wall in front of the door, was a large library filled with books. On either side of the door stood a statue of some sort. A large persian rug covered the floor.
A few minutes after they entered the room, a man burst through the doors and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. As if just remembering exactly whose presence he was in, the man straightened and clicked his heels once after bowing deeply in front of the man Di called Henry.
"Your highness..." at those words Audry raised her brows until they reached her hairline.
Henry raised his hand sharply to silence the man and spoke " Elzhar....you disappoint me, I've sent you to complete a simple task and you come back empty handed. I will not tolerate your stupidity any longer Elzhar...."
"But..." stammered the sweating man.
"Uh-huh....I don't want to hear it...all I ever wanted was to rule this land, I will be a good ruler," A look that very much resembled insanity passed over Henry's face. His tone turned softer and his look forlorn.
"Of course you will your highness..." agreed Elzhar. He was scared of the man, especially when he was in this kind of mood.
"It is just that old man, he and his ungrateful daughter.....As long as she's alive I will have to marry her and even then I will not be ruler....that old goat insists on making her queen and ruler of the land but....." a smile appeared on his face as his expression changed once again, "....he he.....but the moment she is out of the picture, the heartbroken betrothed becomes king and ruler of all." The look of anger snapped back. "Now you come in and tell me I can't have that; Tell me why?" The man changed expressions with the same frequency a chameleon changes color.
"Well, your highness...ummm....we were interrupted by this person in a cloak. I couldn't see his face but he was fierce in battle, he killed three men in a blink of an eye.....I just barely escaped..."
Audry barked out a laugh at the pathetic man's story. She saw him run like a coward. Now the pieces fit. This Henry is supposed to be married to Di but even if he does, he doesn't get what he wants...the land. So the simple way out of it all....the marriage and getting his hands on what he wanted in the first place...is to kill Di. Audry snorted as she thought 'the bastard'.
"Alright Elzhar, I'll give you one more chance....find him and bring him to me.."
"Yes your highness, thank you, thank you...." Elzhar was thrilled, he was bowing repeatedly until he left the room altogether.
Seeing that the conversation was over and that things were quite dull at the moment Audry decided to get out and explore a little around the castle.
As she was nearing the gardens, she could hear whispered words being exchanged. A few feet away from her stood Jacque, the mask still firmly on, his hands encircling Di's waist.
"You really said that to him?" said Jacque with a smirk showing on the chiseled face.
Giggling, Di answered "Yes, It is not my fault he looked as guilty as a cat that has just swallowed the canary. He was fidgeting so much I though he was going to pass out." They were both chuckling as the image appeared in their minds.
"Well, I must say that I love a feisty woman that speaks what's on her mind..." Jacque bent down and kissed Di's soft lips, pulling her closer. Jacque's hands started rubbing up and down Di's back, one cupped her neck and held her closer and the other traveled lower to her hip. "Jacque...." moaned Di breathlessly as her lips were captured once again with a deeper need and hunger. Suddenly Di pushed her hands up to lay on Jacque's chest and pushed him away slightly. Both were breathing hard and trying to push air into their starved lungs, looking in each other's eyes.
"Not here....not now, please you have to go before somebody sees you, us."
"I know....I know...." Jacque said ruefully.
Pulling out of the embrace Jacque pressed his fingers to his lips once, kissed them and then pressed them to Di's lips. "Be careful, love."
"I will....you too." said Di to the retreating figure right before it disappeared from sight.
Audry walked after Di back towards the castle and failed to notice a figure standing in the shadows, just waiting for them to leave and then walking of in the same direction Jacque left in, a few minutes before.
Ch. 5
A few hours passed, when the doors to Henry's den burst open, much the same as they did a few hours before with "bad" news for the prince. Audry picked up her pace and walked into the room after Elzhar.
Smiling, Elzhar boasted "We have him, your highness."
Now smiling also, Henry answered "Good, good.....I'll see that he is treated properly....anything else?"
"Oh yes, your highness....It is even better....you see, he is Diadra's lover......she has been cheating on you with him...." Elzhar said, smugly.
Audry cursed at the little bastard.
Henry looked as if his smile might split his face in two, " This is turning to be better and better.....now I won't even have to kill her, her own father will surely banish her for this crime and again, poor little me will get to kill the perpetrator to make justice, break the princess' heart and spirit, cause her banishment and be ruler of all the land...." His laughter roared through the room.
Audry was shocked to hear this turn of events. She couldn't believe they actually caught him.....they couldn't have, could they?
"Bring him out to the front of the courtyard and gather a crowd for the execution, I shall bring the princess."
Getting out of the castle, she waited to see what will happen next. Fearing the worst, Audry stood looking around until she noticed the princess being almost dragged by her arm outside.
"What is the meaning of this Henry?!" asked Di, outraged.
"Oh, you shall see, princess, you shall see..." Henry told her, smugly, pretty happy with himself and at how things turned out.
Coming to a halt in front of the gathered crowd, Henry requested for the man to be brought out. A few seconds later Di's and Audry's worst nightmare came true. Jacque was being dragged out by two burly men, holding his arms from each side. As they passed near Di, Audry could hear the whispered words that passed between them "I'm sorry Di, they told me they captured you and that they will kill you if I did not surrender and come along quietly."
"Oh Jacque..." cried Di.
"I'm sorry...." wafted through the air a couple more times.
As the men threw Jacque down on his knees, in front of Henry, Henry started speaking to the crowd which now consisted of almost the whole village in its entirety and the King and Queen.
"Your majesty, I bring before you a man who has committed a crime, towards thy land, towards your highness and towards myself. But I fear, he is not the only one to blame, your majesty. He was caught kissing the princess and not a chaste kiss at all, a kiss that is given by a lover and a lover only. The princess did nothing to fend off his approaches and not only that, she encouraged them." The crowd's loud gasps rang in Audry's ears, sounds that accompanied Henry's reaction, the shaking of his head and the look of hurt and shame on his face. "This man shall be brought to justice and, unfortunately, so will be my beloved princess."
Pulling his sword out of its sheath, Henry came to stand behind Jacque. In one swift movement he removed Jacque's mask and revealed his face. More shocked whispers and loud gasps rang through the silence of the courtyard. Audry could not believe her eyes either. In front of them on the ground, stood proud the figure of a woman. A beautiful woman, her dark hair flowing in the slight breeze, her dark brown eyes smoldering with fire, with heat and rage.
"A woman no less..." said the also shocked Henry, internally he was angry at the new development, she was cheating on him with a woman?!
Bringing his sword above his head and turning the blade in his hands so it was poised to strike the woman in her chest. Di was fighting the men that held her desperately, she had to get to her Jacque, she had to do something. "You coward!" She screamed, making the crowd look at her in shock. "You'll kill a defenseless woman? You're nothing but a coward!" Di was trying to give Jacque an opening. Jacque understood what Di was doing and took her chance. Noticing that the prince's gaze was averted to Di, she stood up and kicked Henry hard in the stomach, throwing him off balance. Everyone snapped back to the present, quickly losing the shock at the princess' outburst and turned their gazes back to the scene in front. Jacque used the only opportunity left and started running towards the forest yelling for Di to follow her. Jacque didn't get too far before she was tackled from behind by the two burly men that brought her over. She was grabbed roughly and dragged back to the same spot, her knees dragging on the ground the whole time. Now more determined than before to finish this person's life, Henry picked up where he left off, this time determined not to let anything distract him. A moment longer passed and the blade came down, bringing a shrill scream from Diadra.
The body of Jacque collapsed to the ground as Diadra hurried to her. Pulling her into her arms, holding her while crying quietly. "I'm sorry, love....I never meant to hurt you..." said Jacque, her breath coming in short gasps.
"It'll be alright, just hang in there.....please.....I need you...." Di whispered softly to the dying Jacque who was held tightly in her arms. Jacque smiled slightly and raised her hand to caress Di's cheek softly. "I will always be there for you...always..." The words wafted through the air until they were no more.
The flash from John's office came back to Audry and she put the pieces together. The feelings of helplessness were overwhelming.
As Jacque's heartbeat slowed to a stop Audry cried the same tears as Di. A piercing scream of "NO" is heard, either it was from Di or from Audry, she didn't know....all she knew is this blinding pain in her chest that she couldn't seem to erase.
The pain brought Audry back to the present. She opened her eyes suddenly and she didn't know where she is.
Madam Lia raised her head from its resting place and looked over to the couch. When she saw that Audry was awake and disoriented, she came to her and sat herself on a chair next to the couch. The second she was situated, Audry lunged towards her and engulfed her in a hug. Her grip on her was so tight she could barely breath. She could feel Audry's body shaking as she wrapped her arms around the woman. Madam Lia was trying to calm Audry down with soft words but she sensed that this had made a very big impact on the young woman and knew that it won't die down for a while. So she just held onto the crying woman, soothing her the best way she could, letting her cry out her pain.
The pain engulfed Audry's very being until she remembered...everything.
Ch. 6
After what seemed like eternity for Audry, the tears stopped coming, she felt drained and tired and heart-broken. She needed some time to come to terms with what she had just witnessed. Though she got a glance at the finale earlier in John's office, the pain was not as bad, it was different. Now that she knew who those people were and she knew that she once lived through that, the true meaning of what happened sunk in and the feelings were much more raw.
Raising her head from Madam Lia's shoulder, she wiped her tears away and straightened her clothes a little to make herself look a little more presentable, because at that moment she looked just like she felt...crappy.
"I'm sorry Madam Lia, thank you.....I..uhh...I reacted a little strongly to....everything." said Audry apologetically, trying to brush off the wet spot that formed on Madam Lia's blouse.
Smiling gently, Madam Lia said "It's alright child, don't worry. I know things like this can be very hard...very overwhelming. Do you feel ready to tell me what happened?"
"Yes...yes, I'm better...."
"Alright....here you go, drink this," said Lia, giving Audry a glass of water.
Accepting the glass and taking small sips of water Audry smiled her thanks.
Putting the glass down next to the couch, Audry began relaying everything from the "dream".
After a hour or so, Audry was almost through. When she told Lia the end, the tears started flowing once again. Pulling Audry into her arms, Lia now understood the reason behind the intense reaction. She'd seen it before with other people...seeing one's soulmate die brings a very emotionally intense reaction, sometimes even physically.
"Audry...from what you've told me I can't be sure yet of the problem or the reason for the flashes you have been seeing. I'll need to bring you back at least twice more to look for a certain pattern. After I establish the pattern, I'll be able to tell you more. But for now, go home and relax. Have a good night's sleep, I don't think the flashes will bother you tonight, you're too emotional right now. And come back to see me tomorrow, same time?"
"Ok....But I'm not sure if I can handle it twice more...."
"Yes you can and you will, the first time is always the hardest...trust me on this, alright?"
"Ok well thank you.....I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow.....take care Audry."
Audry bid her goodbye and closed the door behind her. She opened the driver's side door and got in. Starting the car, she drove home. Forty minutes later, she was home. Throwing her car keys and purse on the coffee table, she undressed, put on a large flannel sleeping shirt and crawled into bed. She didn't understand it......come to think of it...she didn't understand any of it. She just hoped that what Lia told her was right and that in a few days she'd be home free. She just didn't know why she was so tired after she slept almost the whole day away, she figured it must be from all this emotional stress she was having as of late. Blocking her mind to any further thoughts, Audry closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Morning came, quicker than expected, in Audry's opinion anyhow. She slowly woke up and trailed her way to the bathroom. Finishing her business in there, Audry got dressed and walked into her kitchen to make herself some breakfast. After eating her quick breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs and of course the usual cup of coffee, she noticed it was time to leave for her appointment with Madam Lia.
On her way over to the psychic, yesterday's goings on flashed through her mind. The story replayed itself in her mind and the emotions surfaced again. This time, however, her reaction wasn't nearly as strong. Something that she didn't pay much attention to yesterday surfaced as well. The fact that her soulmate....was a woman. Now everything made sense, all her other flashes came back to mind and she now noticed more clearly than before that in all of them, both figures were females. It didn't really bother her....it just....kind of....caught her by surprise. Never before did she have such feelings towards a woman. But she had to admit to herself that never before had she felt anything like these feelings towards a man...towards anyone, in fact. It was strange but when she thought about it, it wasn't all that surprising. Ok....so I'm a....lesbian, I can handle that....I think...
Deciding that everything would be alright and things happen as they should, she dropped the subject. Now I wonder why these flashes came to me now? What are they trying to tell me? Who is?
A couple of minutes later, she parked her car in front of Madam Lia's house. Knocking on the door, she waited to be answered and led in by the psychic.
"How did you sleep, Audry?"
"Fine, thank you."
"Are you ready to begin?"
"As ready as I'll ever be.."
Ch. 7
Walking over to the couch, she took her seat and laid down. Again, the process of hypnosis began. The drowsiness started to take over, she closed her eyes and just listened to Madam Lia's voice. This time ready for whatever was awaiting her, she relaxed and drifted off.
This time when she awoke, she was standing in what seemed like a town's square.....in the wild west?
Audry looked around to acquaint herself with her new surroundings. On both sides of the road stood rows of one story buildings, further away from her she could see one or two that stood higher. In the middle stood a well, few people were around. Getting that feeling of closeness again, Audry turned around to look for the person she knew was there, somewhere. On her right, she noticed a figure, walking down the street. It was wearing a pair of black leather pants, with a belt holstering two guns on each side of her hips. It also had on a pair of black boots, a silky white shirt and a long black leather coat. The figure's face was shadowed by the brown Stetson on her head.
When the figure came closer, Audry saw a hand go out and casually pick up an apple from the fruit stand, not bothering to pay for it but nonetheless making sure nobody noticed. When the figure brought the apple to her lips to take a bite from it, Audry wasn't surprised to find herself looking at a beautiful woman's face. Just as in the other lifetime she visited, the tall stranger had hair as black as coal that was tied up in a ponytail, hidden mostly by the cowboy's hat. Her eyes, however, were as green as a cat's. Her body matched the description of her eyes, for she moved with feline like grace, sleekly...smoothly.
Casually eating her apple, she was looking around inconspicuously, in a way a predator would look. Audry was studying her pretty closely and that's why she noticed that fact, but for any other person that should be walking by, it looked like a person that was just eating an apple in peace and not looking anywhere in particular, bothered by nothing.
Suddenly, Audry was startled away from her assessment of the dark figure by the sound of a rapidly approaching wagon. She turned to look in front of her, down the road, just in time to see a young woman caught somehow in front of the wagon with no ability to move. Faster than a blink of an eye, the dark figure that was seconds ago standing calmly next to Audry, was running towards the young woman. With the force of her approach, she tucked the girl in her arms as best as she could and threw both of them out of the wagon's way. With a resounding thud, both women landed a few feet from the now slowing wagon. The dark figure raised herself from the ground and helped the girl up as well. She dusted her pants off and then turned her attention back to the young woman she just saved. Giving her the once over and seeing she was not badly injured, except for a few scratches and bruises that will surely darken in color soon enough. She asked her anyhow, just to make sure,"Are you alright miss?"
"Yes, I am fine, thank you. My name's Angie, and you are....?" But before she could finish her sentence, the dark figure was already gone. After she made sure Angie was indeed alright, she fled.
Angie stood there for a couple more minutes, trying to gauge what had just happened. Composing herself and dusting her dress off a little more, she reassured the wagon's driver that she was fine and that he could leave. After a little more persuading on her part, the driver finally left her be. Angie decided she wanted to find the dark figure somehow and thank her. Putting her mind to it, she went in search for the mystery woman.
Audry, having nothing else to do, followed Angie on her quest. Now looking at the girl more closely, she could see she was beautiful as well. Not in the same rugged way that was the dark woman but in a more feminine, delicate way. Her hair was long and blonde and her eyes a smoldering black. As black as the dark woman's hair. Looking into her eyes you could see an intelligence and a maturity far exceeding her young years. She was wearing a long blue dress that accentuated her curves but didn't look very comfortable in Audry's eyes.
A few hours passed, though it seemed like a few days to Audry. She'd been walking from building to building, from street to street, looking for the dark woman. Up until this point, they came up with zilch.
Still following Angie, Audry saw her walk in one of those larger buildings she saw from afar. Looking at the name of the establishment, she thought to herself that this place might be a good place to sit and rest for a while and hoped that maybe Angie would feel the same.
It was a saloon. Walking through the doors, smoke filled her nostrils. The place wasn't packed in the least, a few people were sitting at a table playing cards, two more were deep in conversation at another more farther away table, and a bartender. As Angie walked in, faces turned and chatter ceased. Angie wasn't bothered by that in the least, she was a woman on a mission. And so, noticing the absolute disregard of Angie towards them, everyone turned back to their business. Audry followed her further in and noticed someone sitting in the far corner of the bar, drinking. When they walked in they completely missed her, but it was definitely the dark figure from earlier. Angie, noticing her the same time Audry did, walked to her and situated herself in front of the table, waiting to be acknowledged.
The dark woman, raised her head and looked at Angie...she seemed a bit....irritated maybe? Audry saw her pull her hand from within the inside of her coat and turned her gaze to Angie once again.
"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but I had to see you.....I had to thank you and you just fled so fast I barely had the chance to introduce myself. So like I said, my name's Angie, and you are?"
Stunned from the little speech given by Angie, she just looked at her, not saying anything.
Angie, being helpful as always, waved her hand in front of the staring woman "Hello....Are you alright?"
"Umm...Yes, yes....I...Uhh....You..." stuttering and looking at Angie awkwardly, she just put her hand up and shook Angie's hand, motioning for her to take a seat.
"I'm Jessie."
"Well, It's nice to meet you Jessie and again, thank you.."
Suddenly something changed in Jessie, her charm and bravado came back....with a vengeance. She was caught off guard by this little woman but now her regular self was firmly in place.
"It's very nice to meet you as well, Angie." Said Jessie, grinning wolfishly, while giving Angie the once over, only this time it wasn't to check if she was hurt.
Feeling Jessie's gaze crawl over her body, Angie's cheeks turned a bright red. Looking down at the table top, Angie continued their chat. She didn't understand it but she knew she wanted to get to know this woman better.
"Are you from around here?" asked Angie.
"Yes, not too far from here."
"What do you do for a job?"
"All kinds of things.."
"Like what?"
"Things." answered Jessie in a tone that said that was all she'll get out of her.
"How old are you?"
"30."
"What kinds of things do you like to do?"
"Things."
"Not much for words, are you?"
"No."
"Well, I don't mind, I like to talk..."
"I've noticed.."
Angie blushed.
"How old are you?" Asked Jessie.
"20."
"Pretty young..."
"I'm not that young.." said the young woman irritably.
"Ok, ok...You are very pretty though..Or are you going to counter me on that one too?" said the smiling Jessie, sheepishly.
Angie just blushed harder.
"You know, you are even more beautiful when you blush...", Jessie raised her hand to Angie's face and caressed the burning cheek.
Angie gasped softly and drew away slightly.
Jessie dropped her hand and sat back in her chair.
Ch. 8
Deciding she had enough chit-chat and it was time for her to do what she had planned on doing before Angie walked in, Jessie reached into her coat and slowly drew one of the guns that rested on her hips. With her other hand she pulled a red bandana that was tied to her neck, up to cover her face, leaving only her eyes uncovered, her hat was pushed lower on her face though, so it shadowed her eyes as well.
Getting up from her chair, she calmly walked to the table where some men were playing cards. With her gun drawn and held straight in front of her, she told the men to put all the money from the table and from their pockets into the bag she handed them. Waiting for a few seconds for them to comply with her demand, she picked up the money bag and turned to leave when one of them jumped her from behind. Thrusting her elbow back, she connected with the man's nose, hard. Another man tried the same and she knocked him down with a nicely placed kick on his sternum. Grabbing hold of the money in one hand and of Angie's arm in the other, Jessie ran through the doors towards the back of the establishment. Knowing that they soon would be joined by the gamblers, she hurriedly pulled out her horse, that was waiting there, from its place, mounted it and pulled Angie right behind her. When they were securely on the horse and the money bag in the side pocket of the saddle, they galloped away from the saloon.
Riding for about fifteen minutes, they reached a secluded area, with only a small cabin in sight. Jessie pulled the horse to a stop and got down. She helped Angie down as well and tied the horse to a pole. Jessie took the money out of the saddle bags and pulled Angie into the cabin after her.
The cabin was nice and cozy, it didn't include much. In the middle of the room stood a large bed with a dresser on either side of it. On the right of the room, next to the window, was a door, which Audry assumed was for the bathroom. On the left was a small kitchenette, with a sink, cupboards and a stove. A few feet in front of the kitchen's sink stood a small round table with a washing bowl and a pitcher on it and two chairs around it. And that was basically it. Nothing much but it was alright.
She watched Jessie take her coat off and throw it on one of the chairs, Her hat came next and she finally could see the beautiful woman's face in all its glory. She was even more stunning. "Take a seat, make yourself comfortable." said Jessie, gesturing for Angie to sit either on the bed or on the available chair.
Angie was stunned mute, which didn't happen often so it shows you just how much this whole thing affected her. She kept moving her mouth in a fish like movement with no sound coming out. Jessie looked at her quizzically. Angie's talking ability finally returned....with a vengeance.
"What were you doing?!" said Angie.
"What did it look like? I robbed them..." said Jessie matter-of-factly.
"But....but....That's....You're....a...."
"Thief..", provided Jessie, helpfully. "Yes, yes I am. You wanted to know what I do, well....now you know.." , Jessie was smirking, trying very hard to hide her grin that was threatening to come out.
Now Angie was angry, she couldn't believe this woman, she couldn't believe she had been saved by her and that she had dragged her into this mess with her.....she couldn't believe she felt something for this...this...THIEF! "You know, I could go back there and tell them exactly who you are and where to find you!"
Smirking, Jessie said "Oh no you won't.."
"Oh yeah, why is that?"
"Because of this...." said Jessie as she grabbed Angie by the waist and pulled her to her, crushing her lips to Angie's. Angie at first was shocked by this turning of events but when she gained her senses, she started wiggling and squirming in Jessie's arms, trying to free herself, she even started beating on Jessie's chest but to no avail. The crushing kiss only increased in intensity and a tongue was now probing her lips open. Deciding there was no use in fighting her, Angie relaxed into the kiss and let her have her way, even responding a little.
As soon as the kiss ended she was released from the forced embrace. But what excited and frightened Angie was the fact that she already missed her touch and her closeness. Ridding herself of such thoughts, she looked straight in Jessie's eyes. Jessie didn't see it coming and was stunned to feel a sharp slap on her right cheek. This slip of a woman slapped her and slapped her hard. Her head whipped to the side with the force of it. Cupping her now red cheek, she turned her stunned eyes to Angie's.
"How dare you?!" said the outraged Angie.
"You kissed me back....don't deny it!" said Jessie, slowly raising her voice.
"I..I..uhh," taking a deep breath, Angie decided to apologize. She indeed responded and she couldn't deny the fact that she liked it. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have done that..." Starting to feel bad for acting the way she did.
"It's alright..." said Jessie, rubbing her sore cheek.
"But why did you do that? I mean.....why can't you just be something else? I know that's a pretty stupid question but..."
"It's not a stupid question, It's just that....this is what I'm good at and.....I'm sorry..."
"Wait....why did you rob those guys, I mean...you could've robbed the owner just as well or anybody else for that matter...?"
"Well...I don't usually rob...uhhh...honest..people, it's...."
Realization washed over Angie and she said "You rob only bad people, like those gamblers that probably robbed someone else.....But what if they did rob someone else? Maybe it was a good and honest person?"
"Well then It's not my problem...I may be nice but I'm not stupid as to give the money back to a person that has already been robbed and gotten used to the idea of having lost that money...Nuh-huh...No way..."
Angie chuckled at the absurdity of the explanation but also at the cuteness, for the lack of a better word, that Jessie was displaying. Angie turned her gaze to the forming bruise on Jessie's cheek. She raised her hand to caress the said cheek and got on tiptoes to kiss it apologetically.
Jessie smiled coyly and put her hands on Angie's waist. This time she wasn't pushed away.
The big bad robber turned suddenly shy as she looked in Angie's smoldering black eyes, she was looking for acceptance and she found not only that but an amount of desire that matched her own as well. Pulling Angie closer to her by the waist, she kissed her lips softly, a kiss that ignited the fire that burned underneath. Jessie moved them both towards the wall, next to the window and thrust her body hard against Angie's, Angie let a groan escape her throat as she was molded between the fiery body of Jessie and the hard wall supporting her.
Angie raised her hands to caress Jessie's cheeks while the kiss continued with growing fervor but her wrists were gripped by Jessie and pushed away from her and pinned onto the wall above her. Jessie put both of Angie's wrists in one of her hands and with the other, she started mapping Angie's body. First, she trailed her fingertips down Angie's throat, down to her collarbone and onto her upper chest. She moved slowly, barely touching her skin. The kiss started to become too much, they parted, both breathing hard and deep, pulling air into their deprived lungs. Jessie's lips weren't idle for long, though. She picked the same trail her fingertips took and burned it with lust filled wet kisses. Biting her way down to her collar bone, she dropped Angie's wrists and used both hands to rid her of her dress.
Raising her hand to Angie's shoulder, she slowly pushed the top down her arms, exposing her cleavage that lay snugly in a white bodice. When the dress reached her waist, Jessie searched Angie's eyes again to make sure this was what she wanted. She found nothing but desire and want in her eyes. Jessie kissed her lips once more and lowered the dress all the way to pool at her feet. Stepping out of her discarded dress, Angie looked shyly in Jessie's green eyes. Jessie just smiled and said "You're absolutely beautiful", putting the girl at ease. "I think you have way too many clothes on" said Angie to the still quite fully dressed woman. "Well, I guess we'll have to take care of that, won't we?" Jessie started unbuttoning her white shirt, when it was open she pulled it off of her shoulders and threw it across the nearby chair. She wasn't wearing anything underneath the shirt so she was naked from the waist up. Next came her pants, she undid her belt and unbuttoned her pants, pulling them off in one swift movement, taking her boots off as well. "Now, I think you are the one with too many clothes on.." said Jessie, grinning. She put her hands on Angie's waist and moved her back towards the bed. Feeling the bed behind her knees, Angie sat down. Jessie pushed her hips between the now sitting woman's legs. She began unlacing the bodice, slowly, methodically while looking straight in Angie's eyes. Finishing with the laces, she pulled the bodice off Angie's body. Angie blushed at the close scrutiny of her breasts and the blush traveled all the way down to her exposed breasts. Jessie put a finger under Angie's chin and raised her head up so she could meet her eyes "You're beautiful" repeated Jessie. Pushing Angie back onto the bed so her back was laying on the pillows next to the headboard, Jessie climbed on the bed as well and stalked her way towards Angie's now prone body, settling next to her.
Audry was blushing furiously, she hadn't meant to watch but it just drew her and she couldn't turn her gaze from the couple, she knew she shouldn't but...
And so she stayed and watched, what could best be described as the coupling of her soul and soulmate, at least describing it that way, she didn't feel so bad by watching...
Jessie leaned down to capture Angie's lips in another passionate kiss, their tongues were now battling for dominance, going from one mouth to the other, from sucking to thrusting. Jessie's hand went to capture a round pert breast, she started fondling it, she could hear as well as feel Angie's moan vibrate through both of them. She caught her nipple between thumb and forefinger and pinched it, and pulled on it, the movements grew in intensity in time with the kiss. Jessie moved her lips to Angie's throat, she captured some skin between her teeth and bit it, then sucked on it, in time with her pinching and manipulating of her nipple. Angie's breathing was ragged and came in small gasps that became louder and louder as the ministrations of her body turned rougher.
Jessie's mouth was on its way to her breasts when the hand that was torturing Angie's nipple moved to the other breast to give it the same treatment. She captured the now hard, scarlet colored nub between her lips and started suckling on it like an infant. First slowly and then harder and again. Trying to push almost her whole breast into her mouth, feeling the nipple harden even more when it touched the roof of her mouth. When it did, Angie's moan turned into a startled loud gasp. She was clutching the bed-spread so hard that her knuckles were turning white. She couldn't believe how amazing it all felt and she wasn't sure if she could stand this much longer, "Oh god, Jessie...I can't take much more of this....please.." gasped Angie between pants and moans. With those words Jessie pulled on the nipple she was sucking one last time and moved her attention lower. She licked her way down Angie's abdomen, down to her navel and dipped her tongue inside, drawing a soft giggle from Angie. She spread Angie's legs to accommodate her body and kissed her inner thighs, which were already soaking wet. She parted Angie's lips with a finger from each hand and took her first taste of her love....LOVE?
The word passed through Jessie's mind a few times until she decided that it was indeed love, what she felt for this sweet young woman.
Not dwelling on those thoughts for very long she continued with her explorations. "You taste amazing...I can't get enough of you..you're so sweet..." said Jessie as she borrowed deeper into Angie, Angie just moaned louder as the vibrations of Jessie's words traveled from her clit to her whole body. Taking one more swipe of Angie's slit, Jessie crawled up on her body and went to give Angie a taste of herself.
She kissed her deep and hard as her hand went to the heat that was Angie's core. Angie whimpered at the taste of herself in her lover's mouth. Angie threw her arms around Jessie's shoulders as she felt the first waves of orgasm attacking her body, Jessie pulled her hand back up, making Angie whimper at the loss, and untangled Angie's arms from around her neck, she pushed them to the bed, next to her head. Using one of her hands she entwined their fingers, her other hand went back into play. Jessie marveled at the wetness and heat her fingers found there and started playing with her clit. At first rolling it between her fingers and then pinching and pulling it.Feeling that Angie was nearing her first climax, she pushed one finger into Angie, only to the first knuckle. When Jessie did that, Angie came. She arched her back off the bed as the spasms rocked her body. One of her hands clutched Jessie's and the other pulled on the bed-spread as she released a loud scream.
Jessie's ministrations hadn't stopped, when Angie came she pushed her finger all the way through, piercing through the thin membrane that separated Angie from crossing over into womanhood. A sharp pain traveled through Angie's body but it quickly faded and gave into pleasure. She hadn't come down from her first orgasm when her second one took over and shook her body violently. Jessie's thrusting continued in and out, her pace increasing and thrusts became harder and more intense, she thrust a second finger to join the first and hooked her fingers deep inside, bringing a third soul-wrenching orgasm from Angie. "You are so beautiful when you come." said Jessie, looking at Angie's face, her face contorted in pleasure, her mouth slightly open, drawing short hard gasps of air, her eyes tightly shut and her cheeks sporting a red glow that glistened on her sweaty skin. When the spasms and the trembling of her body calmed down she said, brokenly, "Please...no more..I can't take anymore..."
"Oh sure you can..." said a self-assured Jessie with a smile on her face. Her fingers still embedded deep within Angie's body but holding still. She slowly pulled her fingers out from Angie's throbbing core, wrenching another hard spasm from the exhausted body beneath her. She lowered her mouth to her cunt and started lapping at the juices that gathered there. "Oh my god.....I can't....uuuuhhhh...." gasped Angie in a hoarse voice. Jessie didn't seem to mind and kept on going, licking her prize, swirling her tongue in the wetness, pulling on her clit and biting it lightly. Hardening her tongue, she poked at the entrance and suddenly she shoved it as far inside as she could. Angie screamed so loud that Jessie was glad she wasn't living near..anyone. Her hand was busy kneading her breasts as she sucked hard one last time on Angie's clit and released her once more. "AAAAHHHH........" The scream that came forth was not as loud, her throat was raw from all the sounds she couldn't believe she had actually made.
Jessie settled herself next to Angie and pulled her into her arms. The girl was sweaty, exhausted and trembling. She enfolded her in her arms, kissed her hair softly and her face, crooning sweet endearments in her ear until she felt her body relax in her arms. She looked down at her and found her to be sound asleep. Jessie smiled, tucked a fair strand of hair behind the small ear and cuddled into her. Moments later she was asleep as well.
Jessie woke up to a very nice feeling of her breast being suckled. She gazed down and saw a fair head latched onto her breast. She started caressing her hair, making her look at her. Angie smiled up at her, mumbled a "good morning" and continued sucking. Jessie waited to see where Angie would take this and how far, she knew she was a virgin up until last night. Angie straddled her and positioned her cunt lips to be exactly on top of Jessie's and she began rocking her hips. The rocking increased and she thrust harder into Jessie, Jessie was already panting and sopping wet. Each thrust down into Jessie was met with a counter-thrust that held as much fervor. Jessie grabbed Angie's waist and laid her on her back, the thrusting continued. They were both panting hard, "Together..." they said at the same time. A few more thrusts and they both crossed the edge, groaning loud and still pushing into each other, trying to make it last longer. Exhausted, Jessie let her weight fall on top of Angie. "Am I too heavy for you?" asked Jessie, still trying to regulate her breath. "No, I like you like this.." said Angie.
They stayed entangled together for a few more hours until it was necessary for them to get up.
Audry tried very hard to sleep that night, any way she could ignore the sights but the sounds...the sounds were too distracting, she couldn't keep her eyes shut for long because her ears were very alert, even to the smallest whimper, and there were a lot of them and groans too...oh and moans...and screams....oh god!
Audry saw them going in to the bathroom together and heard a repeat of some of the sounds she had heard the night before. Some words and sentences wafted through the closed door "I want you so bad....I can't seem to get enough of you..."
"Spread your legs and brace yourself on the wall, baby..."
"Oh...Oh god!"
"Yes, yes, yes!!"
"MMM...You taste so good..."
"What are you doing? Oh!"
"Come for me...."
It basically tortured Audry who desperately wanted to join them in there, she admitted to herself ashamedly.
An hour or so passed and they came out, smiling at each other, both covered with only a thin towel that barely covered Jessie.
They got dressed, and decided to head back to town. Jessie dressed differently, of course, so she wouldn't be recognized if by chance they would come across the gamblers from yesterday. They had a small breakfast and headed out.
Arriving to town around noon, they tied Jessie's horse in the same place they did yesterday and headed together to the town's square.
"I have some business to attend to, I'll meet you here in a couple of hours, alright Angie?"
"Is this business anything I would want to know about?"
"Umm..no..."
Biting her lower lip, Angie agreed to let it be "Alright, I'll see you in a few hours then.."
"Bye baby." said Jessie as she leaned down and kissed Angie's lips tenderly. Jessie turned around and walked away. Angie was left alone in the middle of the street with nothing much to do. She decided to walk around and check out the market.
Ch. 9
The market wasn't very large but it consisted of interesting things. She browsed through the merchandise and as she turned to head back, she was suddenly pulled into one of the alleys, between the stands. The person that grabbed her had his hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream.
Audry was watching everything from the side. The fact that she could see everything and couldn't do anything to stop it from happening killed her inside. She watched as the man that captured Angie dragged her to the floor of the secluded alley and straddled her. In the corner of her eye she saw a man standing at the end of the alley watching it all happen, he didn't seem to be a source of help so she directed her eyes back to the scene in front of her.
"Shut up bitch!" said the man to Angie as he slapped her hard across the cheek. He was straddling her waist and holding her hands down from flailing and hitting him. She had succeeded in hitting him in the jaw once and he wasn't going to let that happen again. Angie was squirming and trying to free her arms but to no avail so she screamed for help.
He held both of her hands in one of his and with the other he clamped her mouth shut. Angie bit his palm, making him pull away and scream in pain. Just as he was about to slap her again, he was bodily pulled off of her. He was slammed against the wall with such force that it rattled his teeth. His eyes grew wide as he saw a fist coming towards his face. As soon as the fist connected, he slumped against the wall. Jessie threw his body on the ground and kicked him in the stomach, for good measure.
Jessie rushed towards Angie who was now pulling herself together from the floor. "Angie! Are you alright? Did her hurt you?" asked the frantic Jessie, looking her up and down to make sure there was no harm done. She then noticed the bruise forming on her love's cheek and she caressed it softly. She helped Angie up and straightened her clothes. As they were walking out of the alley, Jessie turned to kick at the man now sprawled on the floor again, for giving Angie that bruise. Before her leg could make contact, someone shouted from the end of the alley.
"Hey! Stop right there!"
The man came closer and Jessie saw it was the town's sheriff.
Angie started saying something when she was abruptly stopped by the sheriff's words. "I will not allow this kind of behavior in my town! What happened here? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you in jail and hang you for beating the poor man to a bloody pulp!" Said the angered Sheriff.
"Sheriff, it was self-defense. That man beat me and tried to rape me, if it wasn't for Jessie..."
"No! That's not true!" said a voice from deeper in the alley.
Audry saw the man and recognized him as the one she saw earlier watching, before everything happened. She knew he knew the story and how everything happened and hoped he was going to tell the truth but somehow she felt it won't be like that by the look on the man's face.
"These two....women" He spat the word out, "I saw them, their together....they want to destroy our nice, well-distinguished town with their...their ways!"
Audry, Angie and Jessie were stunned. They didn't know what the hell he was talking about.
"This amazon of a woman just started beating on the poor man....I saw everything....He didn't try anything with this woman."
"Yeah? And how do you explain this bruise, huh?" asked Jessie.
"You beast...Do not speak to me. Sheriff, after she beat the poor man, she hit her own woman, I saw them...kiss earlier, with no shame whatsoever." said the man with disgust.
"Well then, your crime is double! I will not allow you to destroy our reputation as a good town, you will pay for your crimes woman! And you," The sheriff said, looking at Angie, "You might still have a chance...We'll change you back to normal!"
Finishing his sentence, he grabbed hold of Jessie's hands and started dragging her towards his station. Jessie didn't even try to fight him off. She knew she had no chance of escape, she knew there was no changing his mind.
Angie followed behind quietly shedding tears for her beloved since she knew the same things Jessie knew.
At the station, the sheriff threw Jessie into the single cell in the small cabin and locked the door. "You have an hour to talk to her and say goodbye to her, then we hang her, eliminating this abomination from our respected small town." After saying this, he left the two alone.
As soon as the door closed, Angie threw herself at the closed cell and cried.
"Baby, please don't cry...sshhh...Don't cry..." comforted Jessie.
"Why?! why didn't you say anything, do anything?!" asked Angie though she knew the answer already.
"You know why...He would have never believed otherwise since the second that man told him about us, it doesn't matter to him if it was true or not..." "I'm sorry.."
Jessie brought her hand to Angie's face and caressed her cheek softly, "I will always be there for you...always..." . At those words both Audry's and Angie's hearts fluttered, somehow they knew she'd be keeping her promise, Audry from experience and Angie from...well she just knew. She cupped the back of her neck and pulled slightly, slowly closing the gap between their lips. Their lips met for a small eternity, it seemed, they broke apart when the door suddenly burst open and the sheriff came in.
"It's time!"
The sheriff pulled Jessie out of the cell, pushing Angie out of the way.
All four of them walked towards another destination, another ending. The sheriff, just walking with another doomed one. Angie, walking towards the end of her life as she knows it, to watch the love of her life being hung for their love. Jessie, walking to the end of her life, leaving the love of her life behind to who knows what. And Audry, to the end of another lifetime, bringing her closer to what she craves.
Jessie was brought onto the built platform, in front of a gathering crowd. The noose was put around her throat, the lever was pulled and...
Angie fell to her knees and cried, screaming "Nooooo"!
A man, the same man that lied to the sheriff and brought this horrible faith onto Jessie and Angie, was smiling evilly and Audry, feeling a dreaded sense of deja vu, cried herself awake from this already too familiar nightmare.
Audry awoke, on the couch, the same as before. Nothing changed just different circumstances. Again, she recalled the whole story to Madam Lia. Lia just listened and nodded, saying nothing. She was glad to see that Audry's emotional reaction was much more moderate this time. The tears didn't last very long and the pain she had felt both of the times was slowly fading.
Ch. 10
As Audry relaxed, Madam Lia tried to explain things to her, as best she could, "Well, I think I know where this is heading...I'm still not sure yet so I'd rather not tell you...You see, if I do tell you and the pattern changes the next time you go back...The impact might be too strong.."
"Alright...I don't understand it but ok...I can wait until tomorrow..right?"
"Yes, I would like to meet with you again tomorrow and finish with this. Tomorrow I'll be able to tell you for sure if my assumption of the situation is correct and we can start our way to recovery."
"Same time?"
"Yes."
"Bye, Madam Lia."
"Bye, sweetie." "Get some rest!" Lia yelled to her from the doorway.
Audry stepped into her car and buckled in. She was a little shaken from everything, which was quite understandable under the circumstances. She wanted nothing more than to get home and go straight to bed. She was too tired to do anything else.
Unlocking her door, she went inside, pulling her shoes off and throwing them next to her bed. She was tired, she was hungry and she was emotionally drained...She needed a vacation. Undressing quickly, she stepped into the shower to take a nice long hot bath, something she hasn't done in a while. It was already pretty late so when she finished with her bath, she wrapped herself in a towel and went to grab something to eat. Making for herself a bowl of cereal, she took it and sat in front of the TV. Flipping through the channels, she found an old rerun of a comedy show she loved, it was at exactly the right time too. She needed a little laughter to vent her frustration of...everything. When the show was over and her snack was gone, she went to bed. Tomorrow was supposed to be a big day. She would finally, she hoped, see this thing come to an end... One way or another.
As the first rays of sunshine came through the almost shut blinds in Audry's bedroom, she didn't pay much heed to them. She just turned on her other side and pulled the blanket over her head. The alarm clock shrieked, Audry again didn't move and just blocked the sound from her subconscious. An hour passed, then two and still she hadn't made any move to awake. Her appointment with Madam Lia was supposed to be in less than a half-hour, which meant she was already running late. Another hour passed and the first stirrings of Audry's body could be seen. The blanket that covered her head and most of her body moved. Then you could see a few strands of blonde hair peek from one end of the cover and then came a leg...This went on for a couple more minutes until a groan sounded and the cover was thrown aside. The sleep tousled hair was sticking to her head in all kinds of weird angles, her eyes were bleary and bloodshot, and her face could be the poster image for the pillow-face look. Besides all that, she looked quite good.
But she felt terrible.
Her head was pounding like a jack-hammer took permanent residence inside her skull and she could barely see anything through her eyes. She felt awful too, she couldn't explain it but she felt...Wrong, she knew something was wrong.
Glancing at the clock on her night-stand, she noticed what time it was and knew she had missed her appointment with the psychic. Picking up the phone, she dialed her number and waited to be answered.
"Hello..." Greeted the psychic.
"Hi, Madam Lia It's Audry.."
"Audry! Where are you? I've been worried when I saw you hadn't come and didn't call me...Is everything alright?" Asked the worried psychic.
"I'm sorry Madam Lia, I just woke up and I feel terrible...I'm sorry I missed my appointment and didn't call you, I think I've caught a bug or something...Could we reschedule? I really don't feel well.."
"That would be of no problem, child...But what is it that you have? You think it just might be the flu? Maybe you should go see a doctor?"
"I don't know..My head hurts and I feel dizzy, my whole body hurts, actually and I feel like I swallowed sand-paper..."
"Oh honey, I'm sorry...Why don't you go to the doctor and check it out, maybe he could give you some medications to make you feel better?"
"Yeah, I think I'll do that...Thank you Madam Lia...I'll talk to you after I do and we'll reschedule then, alright?"
"You do that, and as soon as you feel better we'll make another appointment but first thing's first. Feel better, honey."
"Thank you, Bye Madam Lia."
"Bye Audry."
Placing the phone back into its cradle, Audry flopped down on the bed and fell asleep as soon as she hit the pillows.
Not more than a hour or so passed and she woke up. Putting a loose fitting shirt on and a pair of shorts, she went to her kitchen for a small breakfast, hoping she could keep that down. She felt a little relieved when the breakfast she downed had indeed gone down and stayed there. With nothing to do, all alone in her apartment and feeling crappy to top it all off, she decided not to delay the inevitable any longer. She picked up the phone and called the doctor's office . Waiting, after three rings the phone was picked up.
"Doctor Johnson's office, how may I help you?"
Audry didn't particularly like this doctor, but there wasn't anyone else to go to in such a short notice.
"Hi, this is Audry Haven, I'd like to make an appointment, please?"
"Yes, Ms. Haven...One moment please."
A couple of minutes passed with the irritating music that usually plays when you're put on hold.
"Yes, how about next Monday?"
Audry was constantly shocked by these things. She figured that if someone was calling a doctor to make an appointment with him, they must have a problem of sorts, a health problem. Nobody wants to go to the doctor for the hell of it...Unless the doctor's really cute...But I'm digressing...The fact is they need it. So what the hell is it with all the doctors around the world, I'd presume, that want to schedule you a week, a month, a year later when the fact is, you need them right at this moment!
Exhaling a loud, long breath into the mouth piece, Audry argued "No, next Monday's not good! I need the appointment no later than tomorrow!" Audry also knew that it didn't really matter to these doctor's secretaries if you blew a gasket right on the phone, while speaking to them. She needed to be calm and address her nicely, so she'll be accepted...This year.
"Um..Alright...Let me check with the doctor again.."
Then again, yelling always worked well too.
"Ms. Haven? How about tomorrow at 10:00AM?"
Now smiling, Audry said "That would be just fine, thank you." "Goodbye."
With an abrupt "bye" from the secretary the line was disconnected. Well I guess the secretary doesn't like me much but I do have an appointment...Thought Audry happily, not feeling so terrible as before.
Spending the day at home, time actually flew by until Audry barely noticed that the sky had darkened and the soft glow of the moon started showing. A few hours later, she tucked herself into bed, feeling much better than in the morning but still a little groggy. Relating it to the "flu" she relented and let herself drift into another night of dreamless sleep. Since she began the sessions with Madam Lia, her nights had been much more relaxing. She hadn't experienced any dreams these last couple of nights and that was just fine with her.
Ch. 11
Waking up in the morning, Audry felt refreshed. Her headache was almost completely gone, her eyes cleared and her throat felt much better. It must have been one of those twenty-four hours thing. But after making the appointment and getting it her way, she decided there won't be any harm done by going to the doctor anyhow.
Getting dressed after a quick shower, she grabbed her car keys, her usual bagel and a cup of coffee. Juggling the three items in her hands when she reached the car, she put the coffee cup on the car's hood and opened the door. Starting the car, she picked up her coffee from the hood. Closing her door, she sat in the car for a few minutes, heating the engine, drinking from her coffee and nibbling on the bagel. Afterwards she headed for the doctor's.
"Hello Ms. Haven, please have a seat...The doctor will be with you in a moment."
Waiting in the sterile waiting room, Audry felt a sense of deja vu. Not from another lifetime but one from this lifetime, not so long ago before she knew anything.
"Ms. Haven, you can come in now." Said the nurse.
Waiting in the examining room for a few minutes, just like last time the same doctor walked in, still looking at her chart. Can he be more dull?!
"Ms. Haven, you're back.."
He didn't sound so enthusiastic to see her...Oh well...
"Yes I am.."
"What seems to be the problem this time?"
Trying to control her rising temper, she answered him tersely "Well, yesterday when I woke up, I didn't feel so well. My head hurt terribly, my eyes were bloodshot and my throat felt a little sore. I think it was just the twenty-four hour flu but I wanted to make sure."
Running a quick check up on Audry, he asked "Did you see Doctor Hopkins?"
"Yes I did but It didn't work out...She wasn't what I needed.."
"Oh...Then I assume you found what you needed?"
"Yes."
"Good...Good..."
"I may run some other tests also because of the circumstances. After what you went through with those...flashes? you called them...This headache you had concerns me a little...Did you feel anything else...dizziness...stomach ache...nauseous?"
"Yes, I felt a little dizziness and a little nauseous but nothing real bad..."
"Did you ever experience headaches or dizziness before?"
"Not really...Well, sometimes after a really strong flash, my head would hurt a bit...but nothing serious, why?"
"Well, just to make sure I'd like to send you to do a CT scan, alright?" said the doctor, writing the order down and signing it. "Here you go, I would like to have the results right away if you could bring them over?"
"I would like that as well. It won't be a problem."
Leaving the doctor's office, Audry drove to the hospital. She waited for quite a while there until she was permitted into the room where her test would be done. Afterwards, she waited for a few more hours for the test results. It apparently didn't matter much there that her doctor wrote "urgent" on the test order. After spending most of her day at the hospital, she picked up her results and without further ado she drove to her doctor's office, who has been waiting for her.
Entering the office, she gave the results to the nurse who in turn handed them over to the doctor. Waiting for a while longer, the doctor finally came out and called her in. He didn't look very happy...Even less than usual...
"Audry..."
Starting at the fact the doctor had never used her first name before, she quickly looked him, in the eye, she knew there was something wrong.
"What is it doctor?" Asked Audry, frowning.
"I've looked over your test results and...Um..." Audry never heard him stutter before, that only made her anxiety grow.
"Please, tell me what's wrong?!"
Deciding to cut to the chase and tell her straight out, the doctor told her "Audry, you have a brain tumor."
Ch. 12
Audry blanched at his words and almost fell off the examining table she was sitting on. "But...But...I...You..."
"I don't know what to tell you..."
Regaining her composure slightly, Audry spoke "But last time I was here, you had me go through the same tests and you said everything was alright? How can it possibly appear so suddenly?"
"Ms. Haven, I know all of this and you were alright the last time, the results were perfect. I don't know what to tell you, I know it may sound strange coming from a doctor's mouth but I really have no idea what happened...You were healthy and suddenly...It's like it appeared from no where..." Said the doctor. He looked very pale also and dumbfounded.
"You're not making me feel any better, doctor." said Audry.
The doctor looked down and apologized. He was so rattled by this that his professional training flew right out of the window.
"How bad is it?" Asked Audry.
The man looked even paler after that question and averted his eyes to the floor once again.
"Doctor! Snap out of it and tell me!" said the now exasperated reporter.
Dr. Johnson was new at this, he started practicing medicine only a few years ago, after getting out of medical school. He was never taught in medical school how to act or what to say in these kind of situations. "It's, uhh, It's bad...It is of considerable size..."
"What does all of this mean? Is it operable?"
Audry was getting agitated, she wasn't exactly in the mood to calm the doctor...She needed calming, damn it!
"It is of a size and in a place which doesn't enable us to operate...I'm sorry." Again assuming his previous position of looking at the floor...away from Audry.
"Then...What can I do? Is there anything to do? Is it...umm...fatal?"
"I'm afraid it is. I can't tell you how much time you might have left...It might be a month, six months, a year maybe longer...There's no way to tell...I'm sorry."
With these words the doctor left the room and let Audry soak in the information. Audry didn't cry, she didn't want to cry. If this was how it's supposed to be than so be it. She'd just have to make the most out of this time and she didn't want to spend it having these flashbacks. She decided to go home and call Madam Lia so they could reschedule the appointment she missed. She wanted to know what caused these flashes and if that meant finding her soulmate in the process, that would only make her remaining time in this world all that better.
"Madam Lia speaking..."
"Hi, It's Audry."
"Hello there child, did you go to the doctor? Do you feel better?"
Snorting slightly, she answered "Yeah I went to the doctor but I don't feel better..."
"But why? What's the matter, dear?"
Worrying her lower lip, she said "Her ran a CT scan and found that I have a brain tumor," matter of factly.
Audry could hear her loud intake of air and the shocked and concerned tone in Madam Lia's voice "A tumor? Was he sure? I mean...How is it possible that no one noticed it before...?"
"I don't know what to tell you...He didn't either. He said he was shocked to see it, he said it was like it appeared from no where..."
"Appeared from no where?! He's a doctor, what the hell does that mean?!"
Audry had to smile, since she got acquainted with Lia, she had never heard her swear. It felt very nice knowing that someone cared for her and was concerned for her, someone she barely knew.
"Yeah I know...Before I went to have the test, he said he thought the headache might have had something to do with the flashes...But I don't know..."
"He said that, huh? Well, I'll tell you what...How about you come by as soon as you can and we finish this? One last time, we need to send you back one more time to see a pattern and then...Hopefully everything will be alright.."
"Yeah...Hopefully..."
"How about you come over tonight?"
"I'd like that, Madam Lia..."
"Good, I'll see you in a hour or so then?"
"Yes, see you then." Said Audry before she hung up.
Driving quickly to Madam Lia's place, Audry got there in record time. As soon as the door opened, Audry was embraced by the psychic. Madam Lia pulled her inside the house and closed the door. Looking in Audry's eyes, she asked again "Are you alright?"
Audry just nodded slowly and then was pulled into the hug again. Feeling the slow rocking motion that Lia started made Audry go back to her childhood, remembering her mother. How she would rock her to sleep when she had a nightmare or didn't feel well. Audry's parents lived on the other side of the continent from her. She left home to go to college and afterwards just remained there, pretty much losing her connection with her parents that wasn't all that tight from the beginning. Her parents were hard workers. They never planned for an extended family, she was a...mistake, plain and simple. Of course they never actually told her that but deep down, she knew it. They never had time for her and she was an only child, meaning she never had anywhere or anyone to turn to when she needed it. Nevertheless, her parents were not bad people and she definitely didn't blame them. Actually because of her childhood experiences, she grew up to be the woman she turned out to be. Strong willed, sharp minded...A tough cookie. Lia was stirring up one of those few good memories that she had of her parents. The tears were unexpected though. She didn't realize she just needed somebody to care for her to bring the tears to the surface.
Madam Lia led her to the couch and sat her down, still cradling the softly crying Audry. Rocking her and making soothing sounds, it didn't take long for Audry to calm down.
Wiping her tears, she said, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break on you like that...."
Smiling, Madam Lia said "It's alright, dear. You needed that..."
Thanking the sweet woman, Audry laid down and told the psychic she was ready for round three. Taking her watch out of her pocket, Madam Lia started the ritual, again.
Audry was swooped in the turbulence and as the dizziness faded she found herself on board a ship...The greatest ship to ever set sail.
Ch. 13
Audry, after the initial shock, started looking around the ship. She walked closer to the rail and looked over. She could see people bustling with activity on the dock and on the ship behind her. On the side of the ship, she could see its name printed in large black letters "The Titanic" and it definitely fit its name. With nothing else to do, she started looking around the ship. She already knew how this story would end, she just hoped that in this dream state she's in, she couldn't drown.
Hearing the loud conversations from down below, she looked again over the rail. Standing at the boat entrance was a beautiful young woman, dressed in very classy clothes that looked a little dirty and ragged. Long black hair, flowing over her back, framed a sweet looking face. She couldn't see the color of her eyes, though, because of the distance . Recognizing the feelings that accompanied her in other lifetimes, she knew she found the person to follow...for now.
Walking over to where the girl boarded, Audry could now see her features well. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue, almost green. The girl was looking for her cabin. Audry followed her down the stairs. Her room was two decks down. Audry didn't understand why a woman that looked the way she did was staying in the lower decks. Shrugging it off, Audry followed her into her cabin.
The cabin was small and dark. Except for a small lightbulb in the middle of the ceiling, it was pitch dark. The room held a small bathroom that you could barely use while standing up and a small bed, situated next to the wall, facing the bathroom...And that was it.
"It isn't much but..." Said the girl to herself while looking around the room.
She put her small suitcase next to the far (actually really close) wall and sat down on the bed. She was glad to be here, on this ship away from her home, her family. Taking in the fact she was really here, she felt most of all relieved. She got up from the bed and picked up her suitcase. She put it on the bed and opened it. Flipping through her things, she found another dress, more comfortable to walk in, and put it on. After closing her suitcase, she picked up her key and walked out of the room. As she was about to lock her door someone touched her shoulder. She yelped in surprise and swiftly turned around.
"My god, you scared me..." Said the girl to the man standing in front of her. She was still clutching her chest, her breathing just starting to regulate.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you..." Said the man mockingly. "Are you sure you're on the right deck?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" She didn't understand what he was getting at.
"Well...You don't exactly look like one of us..." Said the man as he picked at the material of her dress.
The girl was shocked, she didn't know what to make of it. She knew she didn't exactly look like she was poor but from the moment she left home, she was. So what if she took a few dresses that looked a little more high-classed with her, it didn't mean a thing about her.
She wanted to move away from him but he was blocking her path.
"So tell me...Maybe you're looking for someone to have a little fun with..." Said the man suggestively while leering at her body. He put both hands on the wall behind her, entrapping her between his arms.
She tried pushing at him but he wouldn't budge. "Leave me alone!"
"Yeah! Leave her alone!" said a voice from behind the man.
He turned around to look and was met with a hard fist that connected with his nose. He stumbled backwards from the punch and held his hand to his now bloody nose. He looked unbelievingly at the person who punched him. It was a woman! He opened his mouth to say something but when he saw the look on the woman's face, he closed his mouth and backed away slowly until he disappeared from sight. All the while mumbling something about getting her back.
"Hi, my name is Joanna but all my friends call me Jo." Said the smiling Jo.
"Hi, It's nice to meet you Jo, I'm Anne."
They shook hands and stood looking at each other.
"Um...Thank you for what you did...That was really sweet of you."
Shrugging as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, she answered "Your welcome."
"You might want to lock your door." Said Jo, pointing at the door.
"Oh!" Said Anne, chuckling a little embarrassed.
Turning back and locking her door, Anne didn't know why she felt so embarrassed around this woman. Jo was very nice-looking. She was tall and blonde, with warm brown eyes and hair that fell across her shoulders.
"Would you like to..Umm..Walk up on deck for a while?" asked Jo, feeling uncharacteristically shy.
"Umm...Sure."
Moving away from the door to Anne's cabin, they walked together up two flights of stairs and reached the main deck.
The skies were already starting to darken; it was late in the afternoon and the ship seemed to be quite full. The ship left England's port an hour ago and was heading to its destination...America.
People, mostly of the higher classes, were crowding the deck. The ones who stayed below this deck were hanging around themselves, in the lower decks. In her dress, Anne seemed to fit in perfectly with the crowd. However, Jo...was another issue. She was dressed in a white tank top and a pair of black slacks. No one was used to seeing a woman dressed like a "man" in those times. But neither Anne nor Jo seemed to care, they kept walking and talking to each other, getting to know each other better.
"So...Do you always go around saving damsels in distress?" asked Anne, teasingly.
Blushing slightly, Jo answered "Well no, not usually...Only when they look like you..." Hurrying to cover her slip-up she added "I mean...Uhh...That look like they needed saving.." Slapping her forehead for such a stupid correction, she kept shoving her foot deeper into her mouth. Anne was finding this hilarious, she reached the conclusion that she liked seeing this woman all flustered. Trying to remain passive and hold her grin inside, she looked at Jo, waiting for her to continue. "I mean...Oh man...I just wanted to say...oh, forget it! I'm sorry."
This time Anne couldn't hold it in any longer and a grin broke out on her face. She started giggling and every time she looked at Jo's face, her giggles started anew.
Jo folded her arms across her chest and stood there looking at the laughing girl, tapping her foot on the floor, waiting for her to compose herself. When the giggles ceased, she asked "Are you quite through yet?"
"Yes, yes I am...Thank you." Answered the still-smiling Anne.
"Well I'm glad you find me so hilarious..." Jo looked a little hurt and the beginning of a pout formed on her face.
"I'm sorry...I wasn't laughing at you, I just thought it was really cute." Said Anne, smiling gently.
"Oh...Ok." Said Jo in a sweet childish voice.
A bigger smile formed on Anne's lips at this and she patted Jo's crossed arms.
"So...Tell me a little about yourself.." Asked Jo.
"Well...There's not much to tell. I was born and raised here in England, in London to be precise. My mother is a Duchess and my father, as you could probably guess, a Duke. Their the Ashton's. A fairly known family in London. Nothing special...You know, rich, spoiled high-classed asses." Anne barked out a small humorless laugh. " I was never like them. My mum always said I was different, I never liked rubbing my money in anyone else's face and I never liked the people that belonged in this class. I always preferred going out to play with the maid's kids and rolling around in dirt, climbing trees and all that stuff. I guess I just wanted to be normal, like everyone else. Anyhow, once I reached the age of marriage, I was told I was to be engaged to a Duke's son from Spain. I'm sure you can imagine what I thought and felt about that...I didn't want to marry this man I didn't even know....I didn't want to marry, period. But of course, they made me do it and I still refused. My wedding was supposed to be tonight so I gathered a few of my things, shoved them in the smallest suitcase I could find and escaped out of the window. They would have never thought I'd do such a thing so, I guess, that's the reason they didn't catch me. They're probably just now noticing that I'm missing."
"How about you? I've told you my life story, now it's your turn."
Taking a deep breath, Jo responded "Alright. Hmmm...Let's see...Well, I don't come from a rich family and I'm definitely not aristocracy. I was born and raised in a small town near Manchester. My parents gave me up and I grew up in foster homes and on the street for a few years. I did all kinds of jobs and about anything and everything just to survive. My stay in the foster homes wasn't very long either. Usually they would throw me out...Though a couple of times I left on my own. That's basically it...Like I said, nothing much or anything interesting."
"I'm sorry you had such a rough life..."
Smiling slightly, Jo turned to face Anne and said "It's alright, I managed...I'm here aren't I?" Making Anne smile as well.
They kept walking side by side, exchanging glances from time to time. They covered almost the entire deck. Stopping next to the rail, both leaned on it, looking at the sea.
"What kind of jobs did you do?" Asked Anne.
"Well...You know...All kinds..."
"Like what?"
Turning her gaze towards Anne, she asked her "You sure you wanna know?"
"Yes...I'm sure."
"Alright."
As they were walking, on Jo's right side a man passed. Jo intentionally bumped into him and almost threw him flat on the floor. She excused herself and tried to help him straighten but the man slapped her hands away, grunted at her and walked away. Jo smirked and continued walking, pulling Anne along. Jo was now holding in her hands a brown leather wallet. "From the way he was dressed and from the way he looked, he wouldn't miss it." Anne looked at her stunned, she couldn't believe she did that. She pickpocketed him in such a crowded place. "And I sang too, on streets and in bars, sometimes."
"How could you do that here?" said the stunned Anne.
"You wanted to know, didn't you?"
"Yes! But you didn't have to demonstrate..."
"Oh...You should say these things in advance, you know..."
Rolling her eyes, Anne let her off the hook because it was pretty funny, seeing that man's face. Actually it would be even funnier to see his face when he found out that his wallet was gone. Chuckling, she asked "You say you sing?"
Jo chuckled at the quick change of subject. "Yeah, I sing."
"I'd love to hear you sometime..."
"I'd like that..."
They grinned at each other and both turned to watch the ocean again. The moment of silence was broken by Anne's rumbling stomach. Anne looked sheepishly at Jo and said "I'm sorry, I haven't eaten since this morning.."
"Oh well, we can't let you starve, now can we?" said Jo. "C'mon, I have a few sandwiches in my cabin. I doubt that they'd let us in their fancy dining room."
"I don't know...I could tell them who I am...."
"I don't think that would work...Do you have any way to prove your identity?"
"No..Not really..."
"Think they'd just take your word for it?" asked Jo, teasingly.
Anne blushed and shook her head. Chuckling deep in her throat, Jo took her arm and led her down to her cabin.
Unlocking her cabin, she let Anne walk in first. The room was about the same size as Anne's was. "Have a seat. " Said Jo as she motioned Anne to the bed.
Taking a seat, Anne watched Jo as she took a few sandwiches out of her small bag that was leaning on the wall next to the bed. "What do you like better? Cheese or...Ummm....Cheese..Sorry , it seems that's all I have. So much for verity, huh?" said Jo, blushing slightly.
Smiling, Anne said "It's alright. I like cheese." She took her sandwich from Jo's hand and took a bite out of it. Jo sat down next to her and ate her sandwich as well. "This is good, thank you."
"Your welcome." Said Jo.
They ate in silence as Anne scanned the room out of curiosity. She wanted to get to know this woman better and there was no time like the present. She saw a guitar leaning on the wall, in the corner. "So...What are you going to do in America?"
"Well, I'd like to be a singer there. I guess I'll do the same as I did here. Maybe my luck will run better there. You know what they say, change place, change luck. Who knows..."
"How about you Anne?"
"Hmm...I don't know...I guess, start on a new life. I really haven't thought that far." Anne was looking at her feet, she looked almost sad.
"Hey, you can come with me....If you want, that is."
Raising her head to look in Jo's eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity there. Smiling she said "I'd love that...Thank you...Again."
Giving her a lopsided grin, Jo just shrugged it off.
Both had finished their sandwiches and were now sitting quietly next to each other.
"Would you sing something for me?"
"You really wanna hear?"
"Of course!"
With a moment's pause she relented, "Alright."
Jo got up from the bed and picked up her guitar. She sat back down and put the guitar on her lap. "This is one of my songs..."
As she said that she started playing. The softly played chords were like a balm to Anne's soul.
Then her voice...
There was a time
I thought everything was right
but that was
before you came into my life.
Now that you're here
I know true love
I've realized
what everyone was talking of.
Her voice, amazingly soft and beautiful, reached deep into Anne's soul, grabbed it and promised never to let it go.
Love is the greatest gift
life has to offer
don't treat it lightly
cause then you'll surely suffer,
enjoy it for all it's worth
take it and embrace it
and when it's true, oh when it's true, you'll know
I know it in my heart
though these feelings are so new,
that we've loved once before
and we'll always, always do.
You've made me see
just how wonderful life could be
you gave me everything I could ever ask for,
you gave me your heart, you gave me your soul.
Repeating the chorus once again, the song ended. Anne was shocked mute, she never believed that Jo possessed such talent. She was happy Jo agreed to share it with her.
"That was beautiful. You have such...such an amazing voice and that song..." Anne was almost tearing up. When Jo sang it, she could feel the emotions behind the lyrics.
"Did you write it for someone special?"
"Not really...I usually write when I feel down and...umm...I guess, I always wanted to feel that kind of love so that's why I wrote it."
"Oh...It's very beautiful."
"Thank you." Jo never blushed so much in her entire life as she had since she met Anne.
Putting the guitar down they just sat there, both quiet and neither able to look in the other's eyes. The first one to break the silence was, surprisingly enough, Jo.
"Ummm...."
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