Curious about The Society in the Shadow of Civilization? This week I'm sharing Chapter Seven from The Shadow Watcher ... which is where he finally starts to explain himself.
CHAPTER 7
09/24/2006
A Bedtime Story
After Jay left, I
went back to work at my computer. I found it hard to concentrate with the
doubts about Bailey she’d planted in my head. It wasn’t long before I had
another reason to be distracted.
This
time, I knew he was watching; I could feel his eyes on me. I rose casually from
my seat, and made as though I was heading for the restroom. I turned the corner
and flattened myself against the wall. Inching back around to the sliding glass
door, I caught a glimpse of him crouched on the balcony.
In
one fluid motion, I pushed the door open and stepped through. I caught him
off-guard for once, and he hopped back and teetered on his heels for a second. “Why
don’t you just come to my front door like a normal person?”
“Because
the circumstances of our acquaintance are not normal,” he replied as he stood.
“I
see,” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Well, given the circumstances, it's probably
best we have this talk indoors.” I stepped back across the threshold, “That is
unless you were planning on drugging me and running off again.”
He
followed me in, sliding the door shut and locking it, “No, I came back to talk
to you, but I didn’t want to interrupt. You haven’t been able to get much work
done the last few days.”
“No,
I haven’t,” I answered while processing what he’d said. “Wait how….” I thought
about it again, “Obviously, because you’re paid to watch me.”
My
mounting frustration with lack of information must have been apparent on my
face, and he didn’t ignore it. “You’ve been handling this well so far,
Samantha.” He took off the sunglasses, and tucked them inside his coat. “It’s
time for me to answer some of your questions.”
I
decided on the right word for Jayden - striking. In a hot, dreamy way. “How
about starting with your name?”
“Michael,”
he answered.
I extended my
hand, and a jolt of excitement rushed through me when he took it in his strong
grasp. “Nice to meet you,” I exhaled.
He
smiled, and I probably held his hand a second too long before reluctantly
letting go. Embarrassed, I turned and
gestured to the couch. “Shall we sit? Would you like something to drink?”
He
sat down, “No, thank you. You might want another glass of wine though.”
I
sat down, and started with what was at the top of my mind, “Why don’t you age?”
He
knew exactly what I meant. “For the same reason those men are after you. Unfortunately,
they think you know things that you don’t know yet.”
“Am
I about to find these things out now?” To say that I was anxious would be a
gross understatement.
“Some
of them,” he leaned back, but maintained a serious expression. “Samantha…”
“Sam,
please,” I interrupted. “My father was the only one who really called me
Samantha; it makes me feel like a little girl.”
“Sorry,
I didn’t mean to-”
“No,
please, go on.”
“You
know your father was a wealthy man.” I nodded. “His wealth extends far beyond
what you know of, and he spent much longer amassing it than you think.” He
paused before continuing, “It began with your grandfather in fifteen thirteen , and your father
inherited it when he was killed in nineteen
twenty-five .”
My
laughter interrupted him, “You meant nineteen
thirteen , right?”
He
looked perplexed, “No, I mean one-five-one-three. The sixteenth century.”
“But....”
Math was never my favorite subject, but basic subtraction told me the dates
didn’t add up. “Fifteen thirteen ?
That’s ridiculous.”
“Sam,
I need you to open your mind,” his voice sounded like it was coming through a
tunnel. I was either dreaming or ready for the trip to the loony bin. “What I’m
telling you is the truth.”
I stood and started pacing around the room, and he quietly let me digest the
information. I consider myself to be a relatively bright girl, so when a man
who appeared to have not aged a day in nearly seventeen years told me my
grandfather was alive almost five hundred years ago, wine or no, I knew I’d
entered the Twilight Zone.
I
just spit out the next thing that came to mind. “You’re not a vampire, because
you’ve been here before, and I didn’t invite you in until tonight. But, I also
remember seeing you, a long time ago, and you haven’t aged. I am so confused.”
“See?”
He smiled, showing his perfectly human teeth. “No fangs. As far as I know, they
don’t exist. Was it at your father’s funeral that you saw me?”
“Yes,
there’s a picture with you in the background. I’ve seen you other times since,
and before the other night. I just never connected it all before.” I could tell
he was holding back big things, afraid to shatter my delicate mind. “My
imagination goes pretty way out there Michael. If my life is on the line, you
need to deal me all the cards.”
“I
would if it were that easy,” he sighed and leaned back. “I’m afraid you’re
going to have to settle for bits and pieces for now, there’s too much to tell. It’s
hard to know where to start; I wasn’t supposed to be the one to have this
conversation with you.”
“Then
who was?” I asked.
“Ideally,
it would have been your grandfather. He was the best equipped to explain
everything.” Michael laced his fingers behind his head, and continued, “He
stumbled upon a plant - a very rare tree – which bears fruit with properties
that reverse cellular damage so effectively, those who consume it are
rejuvenated. Eating the seed will give an eighty year old the body of a twenty
year old again.”
I
gaped at him in amazement. “The fountain of youth isn’t a fountain?”
He
shrugged. “That legend may still be, but the source of my youth is the Flamella
tree.”
“I
see.” I drank it in with another gulp of wine. The stories my father told me
were coming true. There is a tree, and a
Shadow Watcher. Does that make me the princess?
He
cleared his throat and continued, “To harness this power, and use it to the
fullest potential, your grandfather needed help. He initially enlisted six of
his closest friends, adding more members along the way, and they began to refer
to themselves as the Society in the Shadows of Civilization. We generally call
it the Society for short.
“Under
the direction of your grandfather, who became known as the Sovereign of Time,
and with the assistance of his six Council members, the Society grew to a
network of thousands, and eventually tens of thousands across the world. We
have representatives in every developed nation, and eighty-eight percent of the
undeveloped ones. Their occupations run the gamut - doctors, professors,
librarians, lawyers, judges, mechanics, teachers, sanitation workers,
politicians, scientists, bankers, restaurant workers, nurses, janitors, oil and
real estate tycoons, artists and just about everything else in between.”
Curious,
I asked, “Why do you need doctors if the fruit can heal you?”
“Sometimes,
a medical crisis arises when no fruit is available, and a Society member may be
admitted to a regular hospital for care,” he explained. “Then, one of our
legally certified doctors flies in as the patient’s personal physician,
can administer the fruit, if necessary, and bask in the glory of performing a
medical miracle. The doctor then signs off on the patient’s release, and they
return to life as usual.
“Every
so many years, those who live a public life have to ‘die,’ and then reemerge in
the world as a twenty-something. Having actual doctors and lawyers involved in
the paperwork associated with death and leaving belongings behind helps, though
we have some of the best document forgers in our circle.”
I
put up my hand to stop him. “I need to make sure I have this right. You all go
around living a full life, fake your own deaths, and then start over as adults
with a new identity, again and again?”
He
nodded, and continued, “This network has been operating now for almost five
hundred years, and, as you can imagine, it is filled with certain perils.” Here
he paused, gauging my reaction thus far.
“He
who controls the tree is in the most danger,” I whispered.
He
nodded, clearly pleased with my reaction. “Indeed, he and those closest to him,
such as his son, your father. That is what necessitated the formation of
another elite faction within the Society, of which I became a member in 1881,
The Shadow Watch.
“Our
function was to shadow and protect the Sovereign, and the others appointed by
him to fall under our protection, such as the Council members. I served your
father until he assigned me to you when you were eight.
“After
his death, all the Society had left of the plant was what fruit was dried and
stored, which will still last a while longer, but certainly not forever. The
Council believes your father left you clues that could lead you to the plant.”
“Are
you not just as anxious to find it?”
He
gazed off, as if looking at something very far away. “If I cannot find the
meaning of happiness in this lifetime, I never will.”
It
was the way he spoke, more than the words he used, I found odd - cryptic - but
I put it aside for later reflection, and continued my questioning. “So, what
you’re saying is that my father’s former ‘friends’ are out to get me?”
“In
short, yes. We face a multitude of enemies, including a number of factions
within the Society. There are a few rather powerful people who have lived for
centuries, and aren’t so willing to let that change any time soon.
“There
are also, potentially, those who have discovered the Society, and want to get
their hands on the key to longevity.”
“I
thought you said the Society was a secret?”
“Just
as with any so-called secret society, rumors will inevitably leak out. There
have been a few groups over the centuries that sought out the Society. Now, it
could be any number of people, conspiracy theorists, historians, and people
like you and Jayden - who have the internet and insomnia.”
“That’s
all fabulous for them, but I still don’t understand what any of it has to do
with me? This is the first I’ve heard of all this, and Dad’s gone.”
“Yes,
but that doesn’t change the fact that you are his heir, which means they assume
he has left you with the Flamella tree, as his father left it with him.”
“But
he didn’t.”
“Yes
he did.”
There
was simply absolutely nothing I could say to that. What could be said? My
father left me his book collection, a curious mind and a thirst for adventure. There
was also the financial empire and real estate around the world. But I knew
nothing of a tree.
I
had never known my father to tend to a plant in his life. Then again, according
to Michael, my father had lived a lot more life than I had known. Anything was
possible, if I believed everything Michael said, which I did. I still can’t
explain why, but I knew he wasn’t lying.
I
just stared at Michael for a few minutes while I tried to assimilate all he’d
told me. So this is what the other side
of the looking glass feels like. Curious. I almost detached from myself,
like I was watching a movie with me in it.
“Sam,
talk to me. Tell me what’s going on in your head.”
I
blinked my eyes at him a few times. That was about all I could muster.
For
a moment the coolness of his exterior faded away, and it seemed as if perhaps
he wanted to comfort me somehow, but he put his façade back up a moment later. “You
told me you were ready,” he taunted me.
“I’m
sorry,” I snapped back, regaining my motor functions. “Give a girl a minute,
you’re asking me to absorb a five hundred year old story!”
He
laughed, “All right, there she is.” It was frightening that he knew me well
enough to elicit that reaction.
I
tried to stay focused, but my mind was barely able to tread water in this sea
of information. “If my father left me this Flamella tree, then where is it? Why
haven’t I seen it before?”
“It’s
hidden someplace where even we can’t get it for now.”
“But
these people are trying to grab me, even though I know nothing about it?”
“They
believe you do know about it. They can’t fathom the concept that your parents
wanted you to have a normal life; that they kept all of this from you is beyond
their comprehension.” He looked at his watch, “I’m sorry, but I need to get on
to the rest. There’s not much time left.”
“There’s
more?”
He
gave a wry smile, “If you’re ready.”
“Ready
or not, someone’s after me.”
“Right
and we’re dealing with multiple potential enemies here. I’ve been looking into
Mr. Morrison; he has been tracing lines of the Society for some time.”
“And
he’s not one of you? Someone you haven’t met before?”
“He
doesn’t have the mark.”
“What
mark?”
He
pulled his glasses out of his pocket, and handed them to me. “Put them on.” So
I did.
I
was shocked to find the room was brighter, not dimmer as I expected. Then I
looked at Michael and saw the glowing royal blue and teal symbol right in the
middle of his forehead. I jumped to my feet, taking the glasses off, and the
mark was gone. I put them back on, and it was there. “What are you?”
“I
am human, just the same as you. I just have a tattoo done with very special
ink, and a pair of glasses that allows me to identify anyone else with one.”
“And
all members of the Society have one of these tattoos?” I removed the glasses,
turning them over in my hands, examining them.
“Not
all of them, but several of those who are no longer a part of the Society do. I
wear the glasses to identify potential enemies. Morrison doesn’t have the mark,
but when I went to his apartment after I left you here, I found out he’s been
researching the Society for over a decade.”
“The
police said that he had been following me for some time now, they didn’t say
anything about the Society.”
“That’s
because I cleaned anything related to the Society out of his apartment. I left
enough for them to lock him up for following you. They think he was watching
you for more than six months, though he only started following you about three
weeks ago.”
“How
do you know?”
“Because
that’s when his first photos of you were taken, I made it look like he’d been
following you longer for the police. I noticed him following you a day before
the first pictures, but I just thought he was some random sicko and moved on
because other concerns cropped up. I should have stopped him before that ever
happened, I’m so sorry.”
“What
other concerns?”
“The
people with tattoos like mine that have been following you.”
“Are
they the ones who tried to grab me coming from the Police Station?”
“Yes,”
he admitted.
“I’m
guessing that I’m missing some huge chunks of information here.”
“Yes.”
I
yawned and stretched. “So what happens now?”
“Tonight,
you sleep. Tomorrow, I will tell you more and we will start looking for
answers.”
I
yawned again, “Just more? You’re not going to tell me the rest?”
He
inhaled and exhaled deeply, “There will still be too much to cover it all
tomorrow.”
The
clock caught my attention for the first time in hours, it was 3:06 a.m. and as if by mere awareness
of the time, I found my eyelids drooping. “Then I’d best go to sleep. Am I safe
here, for the night?”
“Yes,
I will be watching, though the surveillance you’ve had installed on the
building is a good deterrent. They don’t want to be caught on camera, which is
getting harder these days.”
“My
friend, Jayden, is coming in the morning,” I informed him.
“I
know,” he smiled. “I can’t wait to hear what she comes up with.” His expression
quickly grew solemn, “You will have to cancel your plans with Bailey though.”
“That
may be difficult.”
“Well,
you’re not going to be here to go out to dinner. You’d better give him a reason than have him
call out the National Guard to look for you.”
“You’re
right.” Besides, I was running out of fingers to count how many times he’d
cancelled on me in the last few weeks. “When should I expect you?”
“Late
afternoon, probably around four or five
o’clock . We’ll be taking your car.” He left me sitting on the
couch, and opened the door to the balcony, “Now, go to sleep. You need some
rest.” He closed the door and vanished.
I
blinked my eyes and he literally disappeared from the balcony. He didn’t jump
or climb, he was just gone. The more I knew about him, the more a mystery he
was, and the more I wanted answers.
Turning
out the lights before I plopped back down on the couch, I sighed and pulled my
blankets over my lap. Artemis was next to me within seconds, rubbing her face
against my left arm.
I
hooked my arm under her and pulled her onto my lap where she immediately
commenced purring. “He said I should sleep, Puss, ha! I’d like to see him try
to sleep with all of the things he has and hasn’t told me, flying around in his
head.”
Artemis
turned her face up toward mine, “Merrrow.” She obviously agreed, but I knew I
should try to sleep anyway. We rearranged ourselves so that I lay on my side
with her curled up against my belly.
The
rhythm of her purr and the wine worked some kind of magic over me, and despite
the odds, I soon drifted off.
***
Thanks for stopping by! What do you think of Michael's Story? (Share your thoughts in the comments below....)
Until next time, I hope you're having a beautiful day, night, or sometime in the between....
Roari
P.S. Links to download The Shadow Watcher, Fore Shadows: Escape 2169, and A Shadow in Doubt are all here.
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