Thank you for the reviews and to Adagio for helping clear up Gorgon's preference. I was worried about that since I didn't have the book w/ me at the time. Also warning: I may have spelled Philon/Phelon's name wrong…sorry…I don't have photographic memory
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Chapter 2: A Way
"Gorgon, are you capable of petrifying all living creatures?" I asked, my heart skipping lightly.
"Most high, I am only capable of petrifying living creatures using my eyes upon looking at their eyes. I am sorry," she responded, her green eyes downcast as the snakes hung limply on her shoulders.
"Oh. I thought perhaps you could petrify this tree since it is a living creature. That is fine. Perhaps Felicity or Ann shall have an idea," I commented, my heart returning to its normal state.
"Do not forget, this is not a living creature, Most High. It is like a parasite that feeds off an energy source before finding another or returning to a vegetative state," Gorgon relayed to me.
"I see. Thank you, Gorgon. You have been very helpful this whole time. I shall wait until winter break to bring Felicity and Ann along with me. Gorgon, will you come for all of us as you have been lately?" I asked her, beginning the walk back to the ship.
"Of course. I shall come every so often to check if you are here. If you need me I shall be with either the forest people or the Untouchables," she relayed. Eagerly, Gorgon bounded onto the ship and began to control the ship's wheel. I believe that Gorgon enjoyed controlling this vessel as a true sea captain might. Even now, the snakes rested against her shoulders and skull, only raising their heads now and then to meet the breeze.
"Do you wish to go anywhere else, before you return?" she asked as we neared the beach.
"I was going to visit Asha, but I believe I shall just return home for now. Tell her and Philon I will come back soon to check progress. Thank you, once more for all your help Gorgon," I said, walking slowly towards the garden as I called for the door. As I went forward and turned to wave at her, I saw she was already waving me goodbye.
"…ugh…" I groaned rising from my resting place. It had become much colder. I suppose I should not be so dumb to walk around in only a dress and sweater at the end of November, but today had been unusually warm. In three weeks I would see Felicity and Ann.
Our plan will be to meet at Ann's new home in London. It has been a long time since I have since London. Of late, I had been there in August…for my father's funeral. It had been a small affair, mostly family and a few loyal friends. He had been laid to rest beside my mother's grave. I had cried much that day, perhaps too much for my "proper" Grandmother, but I could have cared less. Tom had stood stock still and barely showed emotion of any sort, only helping by placing his shoulder around me and ignoring Grandmother's protests about my loudness. Truthfully, I felt horrid that day because I missed him so much, but I was also so angry with him…why could Tom and I ever be enough for him?
Yet, I pushed these thoughts aside as I entered my room where Celia sat up straight on her bed. She smiled weakly at me and both of us left the room for supper. Being a Friday we decided to go out to the nearest town for our meal. It was called Calmont, a small town of few intriguing prospects, but provided decent food. Tonight felt like a night for the usual, and so we stopped at Paula's Pub. It was a small, tidy place with a small bar tucked in the corner for drinkers which we usually avoided. Our server, a boy whom Celia was fond of, saw us and quickly came over.
"Good evening, I see you two have decided to visit again. After the past month I didn't think you both would return," he said, smirking. Mostly he gazed at Celia, who was unusually quiet under his deep green eyes. Sandy blonder hair flopped over his ears and one attribute Celia adored, and I found unattractive, was a deep cleft in his chin.
"Nah, we just wanted to check out some other places, Matthew. But, can we have that table?" I asked, motioning my head towards the far corner with the best view of the nearby lake.
"Sure. Come this way. So, how's it going, Celia?" he asked, leading us toward our table.
"F-fine. Not too much going on. How about you?" she asked without meeting his eyes. She was always so shy around him, which I didn't understand. Around anyone else she was not loud, per se, but very open.
"Just the usual, I suppose. Paula suggested me moving to the city so I can make more money at a restaurant there. I'm thinking about it. How are your English studies going?" he asked, moving aside so we could sit. Their genteel chatter went on for some time, before eating and then once we finished. I listened to her words somewhat but allowed my mind to wander without feeling any guilt. A bit later when he had to return to work we left and Celia was glowing with happiness.
"So, did he ask anything new?" I asked Celia who was practically skipping.
"Well…he did ask what I would like for Christmas?" Celia said, giggling.
"What did you say?" I asked her with curiosity and eagerness growing in me.
"I couldn't possibly accept a gift from him or there would be gossip about us," she said, smirking.
"And…," I urged gently.
"So, he said that he wouldn't mind gossip about us, that he would enjoy it. Especially since he wants to court me," she finished, blushing a brilliant red.
"Oh, Celia, how sweet," I said, giving her a hug and listening to her discuss him our entire way home. It wasn't until we were asleep in bed that I remembered just earlier that day…when she had been in tears. Perhaps, she would reveal that later…
Although it was only three weeks, they passed by unbelievably slow to me. Classes were long and tedious, but I was excited for art class. All the students had taken their exams and prayed they would pass. With only two days left before leaving I had begun to pack my things with Celia helping every now and then. Her family was only an hour away and that was where she planned to spend her Christmas. While she helped we talked about keeping in touch and what our plans were, once more.
"So, is that all?" she asked, stretching her arms above her head with a yawn.
"I believe so. Oh, and before I forget…," I began, looking around quickly before finding her present and finishing "…here is your Christmas gift."
"Oh! Thank you," she shouted, gleefully opening the small, red bag to find a pair of soft dark green gloves. I knew she would love them, for green appeared to look well on her. "They're gorgeous! And so soft! Ooh, ooh, wait, I have something for you, missy," she stated, smiling.
"Oh, you didn't have to," I said, blushing slightly as I opened a similar sized bag of blue. It contained a fresh copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which I had heard of, but never read. "Thank you, Celia. I don't believe I have ever read this. Merry Christmas," I said cheerfully, giving her a light hug.
"Merry Christmas, Gemma."
"Oh, did you ever get a gift from Matthew, Celia?" I asked, looking at her face.
"Yes…um…well…I met him last night at the pub. He gave me a necklace and…," she was struggling to continue I see, but a sly smile and red flush burned her face. "…Well, he noticed we were under mistletoe…and he kissed me."
Oh, how sweet! Then, in the next moment I spoke my thought out loud. We both chattered about it for awhile, but after the first moment I began to lose interest. I had begun to think of Kartik…of his lips brushing against mine. His full lips contrasting against that dark skin…oh, how I missed him. I just barely stopped the rising of tears in my eyes.
"Oh, Gemma, it is wondrous! I have been courted by only a few men and find him to be the only one I've felt this way about!" she cried, falling back on her bed. Once more she described him in fascinated detail, his green eyes and…I must admit she spoke often of his butt. As I said, she was very open about things often.
"Well, I hope you two stay together for as long as possible," I said, trying to word it carefully, I wasn't sure how serious Celia felt or wanted to feel.
"I hope so, too. Ah, it is getting late. Perhaps I shall go return some library books before I go to bed. Good night, Gemma," Celia said, standing to leave our room. Then, I was left alone with my packed bags and gifts for everyone. I felt so alone right now in this dark room…and was burdened by that same vision again.
Once more the thrashing Tree of All Souls was levitating in the air with a web of roots wrapped around a body, which I now knew and could see, that was Kartik's. His light clothing matched that of the last time I had seen him, but torn and dirty with roots penetrating his body every so often. Slowly, in this vision I looked around to see who else was there, but I could only see a large green glob with a colorful thing nearby. Oh, and two other blobs nearby. Focusing back on Kartik I was stunned. I hadn't noticed before, I swear they hadn't been, but now his eyes were slightly open and gazing at me. Suddenly, they became glazed over and the tree stopped flashing. Just as I saw the blobs come closer and begin to focus, it ended.
I breathed in hard and heavy. His brown eyes, oh, those brown eyes had stared at me so. I had desired for them to look at me for so long, had ached for them. Yet, now all I could feel was pain at his expression in them. That face was just like the one I imagined if he were…tortured. I needed to think, so I blinked back the tears. There had been a green glob nearby, most likely my loyal friend Gorgon and perhaps the other two globs had been Felicity and Ann.
"Oh, I wish you two were here now…I need your help," I cried in my palms. I was so tired of pushing on. I knew I could live without any help, but I needed the reassurance of help from Felicity and Ann, as well as the understanding to keep my sanity. I desired to have Kartik back again to feel that great love in life; to feel that just being who I was could be enough for him.
The last time I had gone to the Realms I had only held counsel with Asha and Philon about regulating the Realms safely. It had been informational truly, but not much had been defined except that both would remain peaceful and that would argue under circumstances that have been viewed by Gorgon, Asha, Philon, Felicity, Ann, and I. Other members had been chosen by the people.
After, I had been too worn and tired to have Gorgon take me to the tree again. Yet, that has made me even more anxious to meet Felicity and Ann. It shall take much control not to beg them in the first second to go with me to the Realms. However, I would be happy to see what happened since we last had met. With all these thoughts I fell asleep, but with a heavy heart and clogged mind.
I met Kartik in my dreams again, but his face held a weak smile as he waved and the flowers in the field around him were slowly wilting away and revealing cracked, dry ground. I cried out to him, but he just waved at me and this time, he blew a kiss to me. I awoke the next day, and tears wouldn't stop. I didn't even care to make them stop as Celia came to my side.
"Gemma, what's wrong!?" she cried, holding me close.
"I need to see my friends in London. There's something wrong," I said through the sobs.
To Be Continued…
Chapter 3: The Attempt
P.S. I am very sorry, but I will be very busy and am unsure when I can update this. It may be only a couple days or weeks. But, I shall update this as soon as possible. I just may not have much time to type. Thank you.
