A Tiny Bit Mortal (11 page)

“Some of these immortal leaders lost touch with the divine in their thirst for power and serving themselves.  They wanted more.  They employed hundreds of thousands of slaves and responded to any human opposition with imprisonment and death.”

“In this corruption, they lost much of their immortal abilities.  They became weak as they abandoned the divine order, and the divine order left their bodies.  They lost their grip over the humans and turned to demands for blood sacrifices.  They drank the blood of animals to steal divine powers from them.  Eventually they discovered human blood was far more potent.”

“Another side effect was the loss of the ability to make themselves seen to humans.  As humans are wired to not recognize what they see when they look at an immortal, it requires some of the divine to make ourselves seen by humans, and that power does not exist in human blood.  They eventually had to place humans as leaders, and guide them by whispering to the humans in their ears, unseen.”

“The mortal, tormented souls that they placed in leadership were often murdered by rebellions and replaced.  Some of these humans had too much divine order in them, so the corrupt whispers in their ears couldn’t even be heard.”

“Factions grew, and our people were at war.  We eventually divided into two groups, The Pure and The Corrupt.  The dark ages came about when we became the most divided and separated from human affairs.  What little civilization was left from us crumbled, and humans were also at war.  The Corrupt used every human they could to further their agenda.”

“The war eventually came to a standstill, never having ended, but both sides had strengthened in their own ways.  We have helped found great human nations, and The Corrupt weave as much corruption as they can into the governments and the people.  This is where you come in, Emily.”

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable.

“You have enough immortal in you, that you can see and hear the immortals, corrupt or not.” He said.  “And you have enough mortal in you that people can
see
you, no matter what.”

Aware of my shallow breathing, I attempted to process his words.

“They want you Emily,” he said. “as an instrument to bring about the old order.  They would do everything they could to corrupt you and use you to gain back their power in this world.  They would travel around the world with you, having you perform miracles and making the humans believe that you have come from the heavens.  They would have you rule the world.”

“But..” I said.  “If they corrupted me, wouldn’t I lose my abilities?”

He leaned towards me in the seat next to me, serious.

“They would have you drink the blood of humans.” he said.  “You would gain back some power from the blood,
and
humans would always be able to see and hear you.  You don’t even have to try.  In fact, the more corrupt you become the
more
they will be able to see you, and your beauty.”

I shivered at the thought of drinking human blood.  It sounded like a nightmare with some very real monsters.

“Please promise me you’ll stay put, Emily.” said Peter.

“I will stay.” I said, without really promising.

Peter put his arms around  me and held me close.  I felt dizzy as my mind processed everything I was told.

Too many days went by and there was still no word about my mom.  I kept asking my dad “Any news?” and the answer was always “They are still searching.” I was growing impatient, and afraid for my mom.

Several times a day the snaky man called and ask “when are you coming?”  I would always reply with “Soon.” and hang up.  On the fourth day he said something different.

“Emily.” He said.  “I don’t want to have to hurt her, but you seem to be lying to me about coming soon.”

“I will be there soon.” I replied.

“I know you have dogs hunting for her.” he said.  “Do you really think they will find her?  It’s a big planet.”

There was silence for a moment, and I didn’t know what to say.

“Would it help if I made her scream for you?” he said.

“No!” I said.  “Please don’t hurt her.”

“Then I’d better see your face by tomorrow morning.  I am running out of patience.” he said, and then hung up.

I was alone in my room, sitting cross legged in my bed.  Staring at the phone,  I imagined myself telling my Dad and Peter the news that I would trade myself in for my mom.  I imagined myself trying to run out the front door and them holding me down again.  I imagined my dad begging me, telling me they would use me to take over the world.

I wasn’t like them.  I couldn’t just set aside my mom like my dad did when he left us, for some concept of the greater good.  I loved her, deeply, more than anyone else, self included.  There was no way I could see myself as more valuable than my mom.  She was the sweetest, most innocent person I knew.  I had to save her if they wouldn’t.

With my imagination I attempted to construct what my dad said The Corrupt would do to me, but I couldn’t see anyone successfully corrupting me.  Money and power didn’t mean anything to me, and I had such a deep love for a boring and quiet sort of life.  “Good luck with that.” I said to myself, with a chuckle.

My dad had said to me before that no one, not even the immortal could read minds.  How would The Corrupt know if they had corrupted me?   How would they know if
I
were the one using them?

There was no way for me to know exactly what I was getting myself into, but I knew I had to try to save my mom.  It was the right thing to do.  If my dad was right, and they did somehow manage to corrupt me, there was one thing I had going for me.  Mortality meant I could end myself before they ever got a chance to use me for evil.  Swallowing hard, I made a promise to myself that I would kill myself if things went sideways.

Emerging from my room, I participated in the rest of the day like nothing had happened.  I tried to read my dad and Peter’s body language to see if they had “listened in” on my phone call in any way, but as far as I could tell they hadn’t.  We had dinner, and I pestered my dad with the same “Any news?” question, to which I got the usual response.

I told them I was going to bed, went upstairs, put on my pajamas in my bedroom, and then crossed the hall to the bathroom to brush my teeth.  I hugged Peter good-night in the hallway.

Stepping back into my room, I closed and locked the door.  I changed back into my clothes and opened the nesting doll on the dresser that contained the business card from the male underwear model looking guy.  I compared the number with the one I had on my cell phone for the guy holding my mom hostage.  They were different.

Sitting down on my bed, I took a deep breath.  I dialed the number from the nesting doll.  “Emily.” he said.  I recognized his voice immediately. 

“I’m ready for you to rescue me.” I said.

He laughed.  “I know they have your mom, why are you calling me?  Ready to turn yourself in?”

“They are holding me hostage here.” I whispered.  “They had me underground for an entire week because I told them I was tempted to go with you.  They just let me back out because I gained their trust back.”

“Well now.” he said.  “I like this side of you, Emily.  I was wondering where you’d disappeared to.”

“Tonight is my only chance to get out of here.” I said.  “Will you help me?”

“I’ll be there.  I told you I would.” he said, and hung up.

Listening intently, I focused on the sounds of the house.  I could hear my dad shuffling around in his office, and Peter was lurking in the hall.  They both eventually retired to their bedrooms.

I quietly scribbled a note and left it on my bed.  It said “I love you both, keep Ellen safe.”

Run Away

Without a sound I stepped
through the house, telling myself to be quiet the entire way.  “I’m not really here” I thought as I slowed my breathing.  “My footsteps are nothing” I thought as I stepped down the stairs.  I moved slow, like a sloth, as I closed the front door behind me.  

As I walked down the pathway in front of the house, everything was silent.  I didn’t look back.  Walking down the street, I had no idea where I was going and wished I had the sense to come up with a meeting place when I was on the phone with male underwear model looking guy.

Emerging from the residential area, I meandered down the hill and into the park.  The streetlamps dimly lit the stone pathway of the Japanese garden, casting eerie shadows through the carefully trimmed trees and the little tufts of bushes.  Stepping up the stone pathway, I listened to the trickling sound of the little stream that ran through the garden.

“Are you coming, or what?” said a smooth voice.

He emerged from behind a tree, with his hands in the pockets of his suit.  Gasping, I froze on the pathway.  Suddenly I wasn’t feeling so brave.

“I can taste your fear in the air.” he said as he approached me.  “Don’t be afraid.” he said.  “I’m sure they’ve told you terrible things about us.  I understand your fear.  I would never do anything to hurt you, Emily.  I promise.”

Conjuring up some bravery, I looked into his icy blue eyes and searched them.  Wondering if his promises were as empty as Peter’s, I felt sick for framing it that way.  I had to believe that Peter meant well.

As I pulled my thoughts away from Peter and back in the present moment, I saw something in the icy blue eyes that stared back at me.  There was something about the man, behind his obvious efforts to emanate sexy vibes with his tussled hair and tailored suit.  It was like there was a far away part of myself shouting exclamations about him and I couldn’t make out the words. 

“The car is just up the street.” he said, returning my smile and extending his hand to me.  “We have a plane to catch.”

Putting my hand in his, I let him lead me from the park down to the street.  We entered the back seat of a black shiny car.  Settling in next to him, I asked “Where are we going?” Still holding my hand, he said “To the airport.”

Leaning my head back on the seat, I felt exhausted.  Strangely comforted by his hand on mine, I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of sleep as we made our way towards Medford on the interstate. 

As I recognized the street nearing the airport, I shifted in my seat to sit up straight.  We drove past the usual airport entrance area and drove around behind the airport.  “Private Jet.” he said, when he noticed my confusion.

The car stopped, and he said “wait” while he held up his index finger and shut the door behind him.  Watching as he walked around the front of the car, I saw him approach and open the door next to me.  He held out his hand.

“Such a gentleman.” I said.

“Always.” he said with a sideways smile as I took his hand.  He motioned for me to climb the stairs to the door of the jet.  I did, and was met by a youthful, pink lipstick wearing stewardess in a pale blue dress suit.

She guided me to a plush looking seat in the center of the plane.  I sat down, and the Calvin Klein looking man settled into the seat across from me.  “My name is Tim, by the way.” he said.

“Nice to meet you Tim.” I said.

“What is that around your neck?” He asked, leaning forward in his seat to get a closer look.

“Just a necklace.” I said, as I reached up and touched it with my fingertips.

He quickly backed up in his seat, with a panicked look on his face.  “Hold it Elizabeth, make sure he doesn’t take off yet.” He shouted over his shoulder.

Sitting forward in my seat, I held the necklace in my hand.  He bolted out of his chair and backed toward the front of the plane, where the cockpit was.

“What?” I asked, wondering why he was acting like the plane was about to burst into flames.  “Elizabeth!” he shouted again.

“I’m coming!” shouted back the stewardess, with a mousy voice.  She rushed through the door and looked around intently.

“Please give your necklace to Elizabeth.” he said, looking queasy, leaning back into the wall of the plane.

“Okay.” I said, unclasping it at the back of my neck and handing it to woman.

“Just get rid of it!” he said to Elizabeth.  “Okay, okay.” she said, opening the front door and throwing it out with a bouncy little toss.

Swallowing hard, I touched my hand to the empty place where my locket had been.  I briefly thought of Peter and felt tears welling up.  I shoved it down in my mind, fast, and emptied it.  I breathed in slowly.

“Silver?” he said.  “Really?  Who the hell would do that to you?”

“I’m sorry.” I said, shocked by his sudden harshness.  “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with it.  It was pretty.”

He eased back down into his seat and smoothed out his suit.  He looked up at me with my wet cheeks.  “I’m sorry, Emily, if that necklace meant something to you.”

I looked out the window and into the darkness.  “It was nothing.” I said, wiping my cheeks with my sleeve.  “It was just a necklace.”

He appeared thoughtful for a moment with his hand up to his chin and then said “I will get you a new necklace.  It will be a diamond necklace.  Gold.  It would look exquisite on you, I think.”

Breathing in and out, I looked from the window to his face.  His eyes were sincere, as he studied my face and ran his fingers through his tussled brown hair.  “You should get some sleep.” he said.  He reclined his seat, and I followed suit, finding the button on the side.  I closed my eyes, exhausted from the adrenalin and fear.

The sound of the plan landing jolted me awake.  I realized where I was and felt a sinking feeling.  My stomach felt sick, and empty.  I thought about Peter, and my dad, wondering what they were doing, and if they had noticed me gone yet.  Then I thought about my mom, my sweet and innocent mom, and knew I was exactly where I should have been.

I opened my eyes and saw Tim looking at me, with an expressionless face.  I smiled at him without even knowing why.  He smiled back and said “We will be getting off the plane here in just a few minutes.”

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“To your new life.” he said.

My eyes grew wide.  It sounded ominous.

He smiled and leaned forward in his seat.  “I’m not sure what you are imagining over there, but I can assure you that as long as you don’t try anything stupid you will be treated like a princess.”

The pink lipstick wearing stewardess emerged through the door at the front of the plane.  She smiled as she opened the door on the side of the plane and then motioned to us.

Tim extended his hand to me, and I put my hand in his.  He we walked down the steps together, out into the dawn, facing east with the sun in our eyes.  I raised my arm to block the overwhelming light, and then peeked under it to see shiny black BMW, with a man standing next to the opened backseat passenger door.

I got in, with Tim sitting beside me.  He looked me up and down from the seat next to me.  “We have got to do something about your style.” he said.  “We can’t show up with you looking like this.”

“Shawn.” he said to the man up front.  “We need to do a bit of shopping first.”

I heard the sound of a duck quacking repeatedly.  “My phone.” said Tim, pulling it out of his pocket.  I smiled, and could help but giggle.  “Yes?” he said, holding the phone up to his ear.  “She’s with me, she’s safe.” 

There was a long pause.  “Don’t worry.” he said.  “I just want to show her a good time, Tim style.  I won’t let anything happen to her.  Promise.”  He hung up and put his phone back into his pocket.

Thinking about my mom, I took in a deep breath.  I was on a mission to save her, not to have a good time.  “My mom?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about your mom.” he said.  “They’ve already sent her home.”

“How do I know your not lying?” I asked.

“What on earth would we want with your mom, now that you’re with us?” he asked.  “She’s back at her house and doesn’t remember a thing.”

I felt paralyzed.

“If it would help you relax, call her.” he said.

“I don’t have my cellphone.” I said.  “I didn’t want them to be able to track my location somehow.”

“Smart girl.” he said.  “Use mine.”

I dialed my mom’s number, telling myself to calm down so I wouldn’t sound upset.  “Hello?” she answered.  “Hi mom.” I said.

“Oh Emily, I’m glad you called!” she said.  “I just started working on a new type of quilt, log cabin style.  I wanted to know what size of bed you have...queen or full?”

I let out the breath I was holding.  “Queen.” I said.  “Mom, how are you doing?  What have you been up to lately?”

“Oh, just the usual, sweetie.” she said.  “I’ve got church on Sunday and tea with Mary on Wednesdays.  We usually go shopping down at the craft store.  Oh! Also there is a benefit dinner next week so I’m going in to get my hair done.”

Listening intently to the background noises through the phone, I could hear the sound of her dishwasher and the ticking of the clock that hung in the kitchen.  She was on her kitchen phone and I knew those sounds well.

“That sounds wonderful.” I said.

“How are you honey?” she said.  “Still bogged down at work?”

“Actually, mom, I’m taking a vacation with some friends.” I said.  “We are on our way to do something fun, apparently.”  I looked over and saw Tim smiling.

“Ooooh.” she said.  “Now that sounds good Emily.  I’m glad you are taking a break from work.  I was so worried about you overworking yourself.”

“I’m doing great mom.” I said.  “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, dear.” she said.

After the call ended, I handed Tim his phone.  I felt relieved.  She was safe.  Mission accomplished.

“Thank you.” I told him with a smile.  I took in a deep breath and exhaled.  “That was worth it.” he said, with a laugh.  “You were so tense earlier I thought you’d ruin all of our fun.”

Tim had the driver stop to get us some coffee and scones.  The coffee was delicious and smooth and broke up my morning headache.  I looked out the window and watched the buildings go by, and eventually spotted the famous “Hollywood” sign on the hillside.  Getting overheated, I stripped off my wool coat.

“You’ll hardly be needing that here.” he said.  “Doesn’t get too cold here, even this time of year.”

Our next stop was a day spa and salon.  Tim walked in and hugged a woman with a short, black asymmetrical hair cut.  She wore a tight checkered mini skirt with a vinyl black tank top.    

“Amy!” he said.

“Tim!” she said.

“Who is this?” she asked, looking me up and down.

“This is Emily.” he said.  “Call her Em.  She needs the works.”

I looked from Amy to Tim and back to Amy again.  Remembering what my dad had said about The Corrupt being able to show themselves to mortals, I was confused.  I could hear Amy’s heart beating, and I was almost certain that the stewardess on the plane was also mortal. 

“Follow me, Em!” she said, sauntering through the middle of the salon.  Brushing off my confusion, I caught up with her, and next thing I knew I was sitting under a blow dryer with strips of tinfoil in my hair. My hair was washed, dried, cut, and had delicious smelling stuff rubbed into it.

Looking into the mirror my hair seemed brighter and more tame.  Reaching up to touch my hair, I realized I looked stylish, like a different woman.

Laying back in a chair, my face was tortured with plucking and burning liquids.  It was followed by a cooling sensation, and a mask over my face.  I fell asleep for awhile until I was awakened by a warm cloth wiping the goop off of my face. 

She put her hand on my back to help me sit up, then she began applying makeup.  Closing my eyes for eyeshadow, I then sat carefully still for mascara, and relaxed my face while she painted my lips.  Looking in the mirror I didn’t recognise myself.  I looked like I belonged in Hollywood.

Tim appeared, looked me over and whistled. “Well done, Amy.” he said.  “I knew I could count on you.  Put it on my tab please.”

Tim grabbed my hand and dragged me back out onto the sidewalk.  We walked for awhile, and entered a shop with mannequins in the window wearing stylish dresses.  I followed Tim around while he studied dresses, looking from each dress to me and back to the dress. 

Examining a dress, I glanced at the price tag.  “$2100” it said.  I let go of the dress and gasped.

After passing by several colored dresses, I stopped to study a simple black dress.  “Quit that.” said Tim.  “You managed to find the least sexiest dress in the whole store.”

He led me into a large dressing room, sat me on a cushy bench and said “Stay here.”  Returning with a woman, she hung about a dozen dresses up on a rack in the room, and then left us alone.  “Well, come on.” he said.  “Let’s try some on.”

Walking over to the dresses, I waited for him to leave.  “Seriously, Em?” he said.  He walked behind me and lifted my shirt over my head.  I stood there in my bra and skirt, shocked.