Mystical Love/Deadly Passion

Chapter 2

Behavna wonders what Ballari was referring to when she said, "I hope so too". Behavna does not want to believe that Ballari just read her mind. She concentrated instead on where she knew Ballri from. No matter what she did Behavna could not shake the feeling that she knew Ballari from some where and just by running into her. Behavna shruggs her shoulders as her three o'clock enters. The metting seemed to end before it even started for Behavna because she could not concentrate on what was being said. This was going to a long work day after all.

Before Behavna leaves her office there is a gentle knock on her door. "Who is it"? Behavna asks while closing her sports bag. Her first thought is that Kelly wanted something before she left, but only silence greets her question. Behavna walks walks to her door and opens it quickly.The sight that greets Behavna makes her breath catch. It is a single red carnation with a note attached. Behavna picks up the carnation while glancing up and down the hall; she sees nobody there. She closes her office door and reads, "Behavna, after the lond day I thought you could use a little pick me up. Ballari". Behavna grabs her sports bag and starts her run home. The run home seemed shorter to Behavna whose thoughts kept going back to Ballari. She enters her house and throws her sports bag on the couch. Behavna walks to her basment where she has an old family secret.

At her ranch style house across town Ballari sits in her favorite chair staring out at the stars. Thinking about her life and she decides it is time for a change or a little shake up. Ballari can not stop her mind from thinking about the woman that kissed her 1707. Ballari wonders if the woman had a full life. Ballari stands and walks out into the night; staying in the shadows. Being raised in darkness Ballari avoids any light at any costs. Ballari could sense she was being followed and entered a run down warehouse; she hoped her friend Grace still lived there. The cloaked figure walks to the alleyway by the warehouse and waits.

Ballari is greeted the closing of the door when she enters the abandoned warehouse. Ballari yells out, "Grace, are you here"? Again an echo. With her eyesight she can see Grace walking towards her with a knife in her chest. Ballari walks quickly over to Grace, but stops dead in her tracks. Grace says, " The knife is at an odd angle can you pull it out"? Ballari says, "Yeah, I think I can . How did this happen anyway"?

"You remember my ex who workes at a circus...well it just so happenes that she is a sword swallower. She stopped by lastnight and we wound up arguing and bang a knife in my chest at a 45 degree angle". Grace says in rememberance.

"I told you she was a bitch, but you didn't listen did you"? Ballari takes a deep breath and grabs the hilt of the knife; with a quick jerk she pulls it free with a loud pop. When the knife is free Grace says, "Thanks I owe one".

"More like one major and 550 minor". Ballari says with a smirk and continues; "Any idea where the last of my family journals were sold"?

Grace turned her head and says, "Follow me." They were walking down a long corrider when Grace's wound started to heal. Grace let out a loud groan grabbing the handrail before she fell. "Are you going to be okay"? Ballari asks her voice full of concern. "Yeah..just..give me..a moment". Grace says in between bouts of pain and continues, "My wound feels better now that it has stopped hurting".

"I bet, but I wonder if you will think twice before you speak to any of your ex's again". Ballari says not truly believeing Grace would ever stop talking to her ex's. She looks into Grace's eyes and they say at the same time, "NAW"!!!

Ballari follows Grace to her study where she sits in a chair. Grace walks over to her desk and grabs a very thick book and says, "What I found out was a surprise me to say the least. Either the same person bought the different books or different people with the same name bought the books. I believe the first choice is easier to believe. I took the liberty of marking the pages for you". Ballari places the book in her lap and opens it to the first tab. The name that she sees leaves her feeling like a tide just rushed ashore and she is swept away; Behavna Belltane. Ballari smirks because she knows where to find her family journals.

"They are just books why do you search for them so hard?" Grace asks full of curiosity.

"Seperate they are just boring books of my life. If someone has the key and all the books they can kill me. That is why I search so hard for them for over 200 years." Ballari said angerily.

"Sorry, bite my head off." Grace said apologetically. Ballari knew Grace well enough not to take anything she said literally.

"The last tab you have here is a rather odd name for a book store. Tickle Your Pickle rare books and antiques." Ballari said jokingly.

Grace chuckles and says, "No, I don't find it odd. I find it rather exciting".

"Really you told me that pickles always leave you..." Ballari could not finish her sentence because Grace put her fingers over Ballari's lips and says sarcastically, " I know how they leave me. I don't need to be reminded. Besides with your witty remarks and smart arse one liners I bet you fifty dollars that you do not know what tickles your pickle."

With a smile Ballri knods her head yes and grabs Grace's wrist pulling her hand away and says; "Getting back my books" as she leaves.

Grace saw her friend leave wondering how Ballari got to be so stubborn and persistant.