Chapter 44

She’d been here almost a day now and still hadn’t witnessed this spirit or ghost of the women before her. Nova set the diary down and got up and looked out the window. It had been raining since she woke up, almost as if she was meant to stay inside and not go exploring.

Una hadn’t come back so she wasn’t able to ask her any questions. Ones like how there was a door at the back of the house only visible from the inside. It had to be an illusion to protect those inside, right? What else could it be?

She glanced back at the diary. There were three of them on the shelf, she was on the second one. The first was similar to a normal diary of a normal being. Recounting the events of the life around her, her family, and the struggles they’d gone through.

Somewhere in the deep recess of her memory, she recalled a few of the things, but not as many as she’d liked to. She had no recollection of this house in the state described in the diary.

The second one jumped forward several years, no mention of the family was made and the girl in the first diary was now a lonely woman. Nova could only surmise the rest of the family had died or left this location. Both were slow reading as the English was much more formal than it would be if someone was writing it today. She read it in English she understood, sometimes pausing because finding the modern word took a moment.

It was all quite sad and reminded her of the year after her mother passed on leaving her on her own. Should she chance going out into the rain and checking her phone? She had promised to stay in touch. Picking up the fragile book, she went out to the kitchen and decided she would check after a snack.

The page ended abruptly. Two blank pages came after it. She flipped to the next page and was relieved there was writing on it. She read the first sentence twice.

I fear I have lost my mind. It is that or something miraculous has happened.

Nova sat straighter and leaned over the table, not wanting to damage the book by holding it and turning pages.

I had it in my mind to leave this place. I cannot live with the solitude and memories these walls bring me. Last eve as I sat out in the mild weather and a woman came to me. I do not know where she came from. She was suddenly there standing at the walkway to the porch.

Nova paused. The porch no longer existed.

She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her skin was aglow. Even in the fading light. She spoke to me of my soul and the loneliness inside me. I do not know her name but will always remember her. The things she talked of seem to me are things of fairy tales, yet she told me it was my duty to prepare.

How does one prepare to live so many lives?

Not in this body, she told me, but many are to carry my very soul through the ages and it is my task to ensure each has what they need to survive until such a time that this soul is meant to save all the living.

She spoke of places I have never heard of and horrible things to come. Not for many centuries, but still unbelievable events are going to occur.

She told me I have many decades remaining to prepare what will be required for the next woman that will carry this soul forward.

Not myself or the next many after me, but out there right now is a man that will move mountains and armies to join with my soul and play the part in ending the evil plots that are afoot to change the balance of life.

I am trying to write this as she said it to me. I do hope I do not forget any of the important details.

She said she was sending aid, so we could prepare this house and I was to acquire more for the future. I do not understand how I am to do this and said as much to her. She smiled and told me that would be taken care of as well.

She gave me the most exquisite vase I have ever looked upon. I was instructed to leave it in this house and never move it elsewhere. I am looking at it now and do not understand how this shiny vessel is of such importance.

Nova picked up the diary and ran to the sitting room. She looked at the glass cabinet and the urn inside it. Hugging the diary to her chest with one hand, she went over and opened the door. Reaching for it, she stopped, her hand less than an inch away from it. There was such warmth coming from it that it startled her. She jerked her hand back and closed the door on the small shelf and then stood there and stared at it. “Instructions,” she mumbled and went over to sit beside the window. Opening the book, she continued reading.

A warning came from her as well, about the man, telling me and the women that come after me that we must avoid meeting him until such a time when mechanical creations and electric miracles dominate the world. I do not know what such things could be, but it seems horrifying—

Nova glanced at the phone sitting on the table and smirked, “electric miracles.” She laughed, “that’s one way to look at modern technology.”

She looked back at the passage.

She said if I, or rather my soul were too close to this man before the time when the soul’s keeper can see the evil and the old, then the future will be lost to all.

I do not know how this is possible, but I felt calm and at peace inside me in her presence. Did the gods send her to me? Am I truly meant to save all of man? I can not be sure and will not ever know if what she said comes to light.

I feel like I have been given a purpose and will do my best to make what she has said happens. She left me sitting there clutching the vase to my body and wondering how will I know what to do next and will I ever see her again.

Nova looked at the urn again. She wanted to read the rest of the diary as fast as she could, but she also wanted to take her time and see if it held any more answers.

Setting it down, she decided she would finish eating before reading anymore. She needed time to decipher what it all meant.

The most beautiful woman— Nova had seen one like that —the Fae Princess Aireese. See the evil and the old. Nova’s eyes widened that was her. She was talking about her. “How could any of this be possible?” She chuckled and went back to the kitchen. If anything, she was the very epitome of anything is possible.

While sitting there, memories flooded her. Ones of this house, of it being built. She looked at the door that wasn’t seen outside and could remember a beautiful woman standing outside it, moving her hands like a graceful dance.

She got up and went back for the book. The answers were in it, and she’d waited long enough.

***

Opening the glass door, she paused and looked at the urn for a moment. There had been no instructions in the diary about it. Moving her hands slowly toward it, she bit her lip and hoped touching it was allowed. It was warm beneath her hands. Very warm.

“We’ve waited for you to read and understand.”

Jolting, Nova spun around to see a woman standing on the other side of the room. She was there, but not at the same time. She could see her clearly but also see the chair through her, behind her.

She moved with cautious steps to stand near the small table, “I was wondering if you were going to show up.” She was talking to a spirit. The apparition had long dark hair and wore a dress that was plain, a grey shade, it had simple straight lines and no adornment at all.

“We wanted you to read before we spoke to you.” Her appearance changed to a woman with long wavy blonde hair. “We’ve frightened some before. Coming forward too soon.” She smiled. “We have waited a long time to meet the last of us.”

Nova’s heart was beating so fast inside her chest, it took her breath away. She sat in the armed chair quickly.

“You have no reason to fear us.” The appearance changed to a woman with short dark hair.

Nova smiled. “I know. I just have so many questions. How do you know I’m the last?”

The woman moved further away, and Nova wondered if it was so she would relax. “We feel it.” The one with the long dark hair was back.

Nova nodded, her head slowly trying to process what exactly that meant.

“Have you met him?” a woman with a bright smile and golden hair asked her. “What’s he like?” Many female features changed as she looked at her. It was almost as if they all wanted to know.

“Bastian?” She grinned. “You’re asking about Bastian?”

The woman smiled as the appearance settled to the one with the blonde hair again. “Bastian.” She nodded. “A strong name.”

“He makes me smile,” Nova admitted, “and I’m a bit frightened when I’m near him.”

“Who is he?” the one with the dark hair asked.

“He’s a prince from Solrelm. Do you know about the other realms?”

The hair changed to short, curly black. “We didn’t for a long time, but we do now.”

Nova glanced at the door. “The emblem on the bedspread represents his realm.”

“We’ve wondered about that forever.” A redhead was before her now. “He’s a prince.” She smiled. “We’ll be a princess.” Her expression sobered. “You’ll be a princess.” Slowly the appearance changed again to a woman with sandy brown hair. “We’ve wanted to meet him, so many times.” She moved over to the window, Nova noticed she wore jeans and a fringed shirt now. “Strange things were felt when he was near.” Nova nodded, knowing what they were talking about. “But the warnings,” said the one in the plain dress, now returned, “in our memories always came back to us, so we ran.” Her hair turned wavier, her expression solemn. “I hid here at Halcyon cottage for a year. I was afraid I wouldn’t resist him.” Her smile was shy. “He is so handsome.”

Before Nova could speak, the hair was dark hair was pulled back tight from her face in a braid. “How does his life continue for so long?”

Nova brushed her hair back from her face. “I don’t know the details, but it has to do with his kind and their purpose.” She looked to see the same woman watching her. “Solrelm keeps the human souls safe and watches over them until their rebirth.”

The woman with the dark hair smiled. “irony. A man that watches over souls and lives forever is the one chosen for a soul that continues forever. Until you. There will be no more of us, but our soul will continue forever in your body.”

Everything Nova had learned in the last few weeks came back to her. She looked down at her own body, not sure if she was comfortable with that idea yet. “There is so much going on. I’m hiding here from it.” She grimaced. “From Bastian too, if I’m being honest.”

The original woman was visible again. “Tell us. We have waited long to know the reasons.”

Nodding her head, Nova glanced at her empty cup. “I’m going to need tea for this discussion.” She stood up. “Can you come to the kitchen?”

She moved away from the window, “we can move anywhere inside these walls.” Her hair suddenly changed to short-cropped blonde hair, her expression was pure fear. “I didn’t write a journal. I can’t read or write. I warn you now, stay out of the tunnels. There is bad down there.”

Fear suddenly filled her and then images of people chasing came to Nova, memories that had never come to her before were now there all at once. She saw stones, darkness, and the feeling of panic moved through her. Placing her hand on the chair, she steadied herself.

“You must forgive Rubi.” The original woman returned. “She lived a life of hardship and was of poor health when she came to us. She was unable to read the journals and understand what was happening.”

Nova nodded, inhaling slowly through her nose and blowing it out gently so her nerves would settle. “What’s in the tunnels?”

She held her look for what felt like hours before she spoke again. Nova wondered if they could communicate between themselves. Not knowing the first thing about ghosts, she couldn’t be sure. “We believe it’s the ones that want us, but first, tell us what evil is underfoot.”

Nova walked to the kitchen, giving herself a few moments to compose her thoughts. All the answers she’d been looking for were here. A thought occurred to her as she put the kettle on. She didn’t turn around to see if the spirit was in the room, she didn’t need to, she could feel their presence. “Can I return here once our souls are shared?” Was that what Bastian had said? “I’m scared, I don’t know what exactly that involves.”

“As long as a piece of our soul remains, it will always be able to come home.”

Nova nodded. This was home and no matter what happened, she was always going to come back here. She turned around to see the women changing right in front of her as if scrolling through a photo album. So many women. All the faces of the periods of time that had gone by since all of this began. “Thank you.” She smiled. “All of you for everything you did to prepare me for the war we are fighting.”

“Tell us.” Many voices overlapped at once. Nova suddenly felt like she had an army inside her to do what was ahead of her. She wasn’t alone anymore.