Tearing The Shroud (25 page)

Coleman repeated the words that the Matriarch had him memorize,

‘I understand.’

Total calm permeated him as Vincent answered. ‘Coleman, I willingly allow you to Travel within me and choose to be your Companion.’ He had no idea where the words came from. He felt the shape of hands emerge through the warm barrier and locked his fingers with Coleman’s. As he did, Coleman stepped forward. Vincent instinctively started to step back but then felt heat in his hands. He looked at them and saw their hands melding. As they fused, a brilliant golden light outlined the parts that joined. Vincent held still and let Coleman move into him. The light flared and crackled around them as their arms joined and their chests and faces met. The heat was pleasant and covered his body. A memory flared in his mind; he was a small boy and his mother had just wrapped him in a blanket from the dryer.

Tears ran down his cheek.

Here’s Vinni

Julie saw a bright light shine around Vincent’s hand then slowly, progressively, pan over him like some cosmic body scan. She started forward but stopped. Knife set his hand on her shoulder. As the moving halo of molten gold passed over the last part of his body, there was a blinding flash, and the door ceased to exist. The wooden die fell to the floor.

‘Whoa! What was that?’ Flea said.

Julie stumbled forward, searching for Vincent around the bright afterimage. ‘Vincent?’

‘This might help. Close your eyes for a sec,’ Knife said; then he turned on the lights. Vincent lay unmoving, facedown on the floor.

‘Easy. Let me get a look at him,’ Knife said, checking Vincent’s vitals. ‘His head is cut. Let’s roll him onto his back; I’ll support his neck.’

Blood poured from a gash on Vincent’s forehead. She knelt next to him.
No! Please let him be okay.
‘Tissues? Do you guys have tissues?’

Flea grabbed a box off the built-in and handed them to Julie. She gently blotted the blood, revealing a two-inch cut near his hairline. ‘Oh, Vincent,’ she said.

‘He must have hit the cabinets when he fell. That’ll need stitches,’ Knife said.

As they looked at the wound again, tiny tendrils of flesh extended and started knitting the edges of the ragged gash together. Within a half minute it became a thin, white scar that might have been a year old, or five. The precision of the repair was beyond the talent of the best plastic surgeon.

She looked up at Knife. His eyes were the size of saucers, reflecting her own.

‘I — ’

‘Ah — ’

‘Yeah.’ Knife nodded. ‘I agree.’

She blinked. Had she really seen that? Julie checked him again, but Vincent’s face was serene. ‘Oh,’ she whispered. ‘His black eye is gone!’

‘It must have something to do with Coleman,’ Flea said.

Julie switched positions, trying to recreate the scene from the other world. ‘Lift his head, please.’ She slipped her legs under, and Knife set Vincent’s head in her lap. ‘Turn the lights back off, too.’

They must have understood what she was doing, as Flea moved to where the blonde woman had been while Knife stood where Gladys was.

‘Vincent.’ She gently ran her fingers through his long dark hair. ‘Vincent, wake up.’

‘Vincent.’

‘Come on, love.’

‘
Vincent?’

Coleman heard a voice, soft and caring, calling someone.

Vincent heard Julie’s gentle voice calling his name.

They opened their eyes. Everything looked strange, different; it had an unexpected clarity. His head was in her lap, just as it had been, but the face wasn’t Jolie’s, and an expressive young man had replaced Sari. He held his sudden panic in check. The mustachioed guy stood in for the Matriarch.

Vincent smiled up at Julie. Her eyes widened and she smiled back.

‘How...are you?’ she asked.

Coleman? Is this how we talk?
Vincent thought.

Everything is brighter, clearer.

That’s Julie, my...girlfriend.

No, I mean, yes. She is...the woman I love.

Vincent grinned and felt his mouth shift strangely, the right of his top lip curling slightly.
Julie and Jolie; that could get confusing.

‘Vincent?’ Julie asked.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was having a little internal dialog.’

‘Oh.’ Her eyes rounded. ‘You can speak with him?’

‘Yes, easily. He agrees with me.’

Her eyebrows lowered. ‘About what?’

‘He thinks you’re beautiful, too.’ They grinned at her.

She blushed, and her mouth formed an oval, which she covered with her hand.

Do you want to try speaking?
Vincent asked.

Hey...we have to find out how this works. Right? Just...be careful.

The room spun before Vincent’s eyes then stopped. He felt dislocated, as if he floated above the floor. His mouth opened and sounds came out, ‘
Fundis le ombala. Duas jo tempenastoos
.’ The room started spinning again and the edges of his vision grew fuzzy. Red dots swam before him and the lights faded. Something cold splashed in his face.

‘The power of Christ compels you. Out evil spirit,’ Knife said.

Vincent sputtered and things cleared.

‘What the heck, Knife?’ Julie yelled.

Knife stood over him with an empty plastic container. He shrugged. ‘It works in the movies. And see, he looks better.’

Okay
that
didn’t work.

You heard that?

This is gonna take some getting used to.

Vincent sat up and Flea handed him a towel. ‘Sorry, guys, it’s my fault. We tried letting Coleman speak.’

Julie patted his back. ‘Maybe that’s not such a good idea.’

‘Coleman wants you to know it’s an honor and a pleasure to meet you...and thanks for the bath.’ He looked back at Julie and saw her hand in front of her mouth again. She looked unsure whether to laugh or scream. Knife inhaled sharply, and Flea jumped to his feet.

‘What?’ Vincent asked.

She lowered her hand. ‘You...sound like you but...not.’

‘You sort of have a slight Irish accent,’ Flea said.

Vincent laughed. ‘It must be the Joining. We won’t need any more holy water, Knife.’

He grinned. ‘Good thing. That was all I had.’

‘Hello, Coleman. Welcome, ummm, to our world.’ Julie managed to say, then smiled like it was an afterthought.

‘The pleasure is ours, Julie.’

Ah. Yes, I felt the same way. But at least we aren’t passing out.

‘Julie, sorry; we were having another discussion.’

She smiled. ‘I figured.’

‘Coleman left the woman he loves to come here... So he’s glad to have you around. It — ’

‘Our emotions are all...mixed together,’ Vincent said.

She nodded and blushed.

Flea snickered and Vincent looked up at him. Flea shrugged. ‘So, he’s got a thing for your gal?’

Vincent shrugged back. ‘I know...it’s weird, but yeah, kinda. To top it off their names are really close. Hers is Jolie.’

‘Julie and Jolie,’ Knife said. ‘Talk about a coincidence.’

‘We agree,’ Vincent said with a grin. ‘But we’ll try not to get you confused.’

She nodded. ‘And I’ll try to be understanding if you do.’

Vincent smiled.
I guess I’m stuck with your lopsided grin, huh?

They both laughed.

Vincent put a hand down and pushed to one knee.

‘You want some help?’ Knife asked, offering a hand.

That’s Knife.

My other friend is Flea.

The name fits; you’ll see.

‘Thank you, Knife.’ He took the offered hand and stood, leaning on Knife’s arm.

‘Flea, Knife, it’s good to meet you both.’

‘Is Vincent still around?’ Flea hesitated. ‘Or is he gone?’

‘It’s me, Flea. I’m just letting you know what Coleman said.’

‘Ah...’ Flea replied.

Coleman and Vincent looked down at themselves. Holding their hand up, they opened and closed it slowly, making a fist. They could see the fist before them but also the slight image of another of their fists occupying the same spot.

Me too.

Julie asked, ‘Is there something we should call you, or should we just use Vincent?’

Yes, but the guest needs recognition too.

They thought for a moment.
Does that sound okay?
Vincent asked.

We have to find a way for you not to see or hear what I’m thinking. You know, when we want.

They smiled.

Vincent concentrated, trying to use his voice only. ‘Hi, guys, it’s me.’

‘Oh, Vincent!’ Julie kissed him fiercely, holding him tight; then drew back, looking into his eyes. ‘You’re here.’

‘Yes, I am, hon’.’ He smiled. ‘While Coleman is here, why don’t you call us Vinni?’

Flea laughed. ‘Ohhh, Vinieee. Nice one.’

Their two friends looked at them strangely. ‘It’s Flea’s special name for me. I thought it might help keep things straight.’

‘Sounds like a mafia thug. Should we call you Vinni the Enforcer?’ Knife bared his teeth.

Vincent made a fist, looking at his and Coleman’s overlapping body and spirit and laughed. ‘Vinni Two Fists is way better.’

Chapter 23

A Morning Run

He woke up minutes before the alarm clock went off. The event had exhausted Vinni, and he’d gone to bed shortly afterward.

Let’s do this quietly,
Vincent thought.

Yep, I do it every morning. I’m pretty good at it.

Hmm. Let’s try it during our workout. One of us will probably have to take lead on some things. Do you have cars?

You’ll see later.
Coleman sensed Vincent’s amusement.
So, how should we do this?

They considered the possibilities for a few moments.
Let’s visualize how to achieve something then go at it.

‘Okay. See those clothes? We want to move to them quickly, get dressed and be out the door without making any noise. That’s the goal. Let’s both envision it, and move instinctively.’

I’m not sure, but probably. Why?
Vincent asked.

Coleman was right; though darkness shrouded the room, he could see clearly.

‘The light in here isn’t any different than normal, but it’s because we are both looking at it...like that thing the Matriarch mentioned.’

Since you are me, you sorta did.
Vincent grinned and Coleman chuckled in his head.

Okay... Go.

They peeled the covers back and rolled from the bed. Soundlessly, they were at the clothing in a flash. The karate pants and t-shirt went on, they grabbed the windbreaker, and in another moment they were out the door. All of it took less than ten seconds.

‘Wow, that was amazing.’ Vincent said.

‘Keep it down,’ a voice said from the room across the hall.

Oops,
Vincent thought.

Coleman mentally laughed.

‘Gotta hit the bathroom,’
Vincent said.