Forget Me Not 7 The Summer Light Festival!
This is the final chapter to Forget Me Not. There is more 1313 Cemetery Way coming and look for my poetry post on my Haunted Castles books Facebook page. Links Below!
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If you are new to my blog series this link will take you to the beginning:
Forget Me Not
If you liked the series it merges into 1313 Cemetery Way
If you are new to my blog series this link will take you to the beginning:
Forget Me Not
If you liked the series it merges into 1313 Cemetery Way
Forget Me Not 7
The Summer Light
Festival!
What lies at the
farthest reaches of one’s memory?
From the
very beginning this has been about memory.
What is it really? No different
than information stored in a computer’s hard drive. And, Just like a hard drive memory can be
corrupted or changed. Through this
process it is possible to alter the past giving birth to a reality of new
possibilities but does that erase the previous timeline or does it merely
create an alternative one? This
particular entry is for myself. So like
me it will exist outside the bounds of time and memory. This journal has been to date a list of my
observations and a compendium of my interactions with a beautiful young
girl. Yes Raven I am talking to
you. I feel it something is closing in
on our time together. It has been
nagging my thoughts for weeks now something is changing out there like long
scattered forces begging to resurface and converge. I know the elder may try to stop me but….
Jack’s
thought was cut off he had trailed off in the middle of a thought. Raven leaned back in her chair muttering to
herself. “Jack had seen his final battle
coming. I shouldn’t think like that for
now I feel he is alive.” Her sister
burst into the room “We have a problem!”
Raven’s eyes met hers “What kind of problem?” “Three elders have arrived representing the
other groups and they are demanding Jack’s journal. Gustav is stone walling them but…” She heard him yell “they got by me” Before
she could blink Raven was down the hall and in their collective faces. Her stance was defensive and they all
halted. As the standoff pressed on one
of them spoke “Give us the journal young lady!”
Her tone was forceful and completely devoid of its former politeness. Raven had met her before though it had been
many years ago. “Your group has fallen
without him and we are…” “You are
what? Going to throw your tough talk
around! Jack left that to me and it is
mine.” Once she had uttered her
ownership of the journal a familiar silhouette of a black cat appeared skirting
in and out from between Raven’s legs.
“We will take it by force Raven.”
Gustav and Calyst were hurriedly running toward them but Raven struck
first. “The snow melts once upon a
spring. Deluge!” The hall became a raging white water river as
the elders were washed out into the entry hall.
“Get out of my house while you still can.” Raven yelled “Even the gently falling snow
can become the flood. Frozen like
glass. Icy Rage!” To the three’s horror a wall of Icy daggers
was headed right for them and there was nowhere to run. Because of the two consecutive rites no one
could counter it they would have to all use the same rite to even achieve the
same level of effect. The spikes stopped
just short of their throats lightly pressing against them. As their scratches began to bleed Raven
raised her left hand as if to cast another rite.
“If you
kill us they will come?!” “Was that a
threat or a question?” A cold breeze
filled the entire complex. “Now that I
have your attention my dear elders why do you want Jack’s last word and
testament that he left solely to me?”
“Talk
or….!” “Jack was too observant he was
dangerously close to unlocking his and your true power. We had known of him for years and done our
best to keep him out of this world. He
is a beast but his real power is on a whole different level and so is yours
that is all I can say. I will probably
be put to death for what I…” Raven
stopped her “You other two have been awfully quiet do you have anything to
add?” “We are sorry Raven your answer is
in the memories of last year’s Summer Light Festival.”
“What lies
at the farthest reaches of one’s memory!?
I am so sorry Raven.” The old
woman yelled. Raven fell to her knees clutching her head as she contorted to a
fetal position a flood of memories flowed through her mind. With one simple
sentence she remembered it all. There
had been a seal restraining her power and the dam had now broken. With her concentration broken the Ice melted
quickly away. The three of them
collected themselves “He never really did like what we did to her but it was…” Calyst interrupted her with her hands
grasping her throat “it was what!? Tell
me or you die here and now that is my little sister you old bitch.” Gustav had knelt down next to Raven “Calyst
she has a high fever” Calyst looked as if her puppy had been hit by a car. “Calm down child she is beginning to remember
her true memories a truth that we shamefully altered. You are really her sister so don’t worry over
that she is remembering how powerful she really is, how powerful Jack Rhodes
knew her to be.” “What do you
mean?” “You two knew him before now but
due to an accident and a timely attack that followed it we chose to hide Jack
in the world of man and the two of you were taken in by the most powerful one
of us to ever exist. We sealed all of
your memories and even altered them but her power fought us, it is memory
itself. Not just hers but the collective
memory of all who live and have lived.
She is a living link to the Akashic Records. One day she may even turn out to be more
powerful than your fallen mentor Merlin.
The might she unleashed against us showed me that.” “The accident you mean our parents?” “Yours
and Jack’s.”
“We could
not stop destiny though the two of them belong together. So here they are once again. We wanted the journal to close the door
forever. That demon could come back
through the gate Jack left behind.
Gustav knows nothing of this and your memories will return soon. With our seal she can only recall the times
she consciously willed her power to work without it she will remember
everything. I am sure it is in there
find it and read it aloud to her. We are
sorry for all of this. With this our
lives are forfeit but our karma is cleared.
You are running out of time so please hurry!”
“Jack is
waiting for you Raven.” Gustav and
Calyst stood ready to attack. Her hands
still tightly gripping the old woman’s throat she stared into her eyes. With a single tap of her right index finger
she broke Calyst’s hold. Then the odd
old woman turned to Gustav “she will make a fine leader guide her well.” Gustav
looked down at Raven and then back to the old woman.
Like a Shinto priest she clapped
her hands together twice in front of her face and then they were gone. Two of the three elder had never revealed
their faces nor had they spoken or had they?
This thought was tormenting Gustav.
There was a gap of time before he and Calyst had made it out into the
entry hall. However, for now they needed
to get Raven to her bed and find the information in Jack’s Journal. Calyst on the other hand who had been several
steps ahead of him had heard it all and was desperately searching Jack’s journal
for the pages containing the Summer Light Festival. As she read she noticed there were large gaps
in time missing from the journal. It
really was for Raven it was more of a scientific note book analyzing her
abilities. Then a familiar silhouette of
a black cat jumped up on the table to look at her. With several flicks of its tail the page she
needed was revealed.
The Summer Light Festival
The
elder told me of an upcoming festival.
Its name sent a chill through my soul it was as if I had heard the words
Summer Light Festival. Somewhere deep in
my memories a lingering echo has begun to stir.
I have begun getting flashes of memory with two little girls that remind
me of Raven and Calyst. But there is no
way… Or is there? From what he told me
the girls ask the guys to go with them if no one asks you can go but not enter
the inner circle of light. I hope she
asks me.
Raven has seemed preoccupied today
like she has something on her mind. She
seems nervous and guarded like she did when I first got here. I had better put this thing up before the
elder sees it. I feel my time growing
shorter…
Calyst slipped back into the chair
sinking to a seated position. “Jack knew
that fight was coming?” Calyst had
yelled out so loud that Gustav burst into the room. “What’s going on?” “Look at this.” After he read it “he knew and still
acted. It seems we have walked alongside
an epic hero and never knew it.” Calyst
began to read the rest aloud so Raven could maybe hear it through her
struggles.
Raven finally worked up her courage
as we walked down the hall near her room she quickly grabbed my arm and before
I knew what happened we were locked behind her door. “Jack I have something to ask you but I am
worried about your answer.” I started to
speak but she took her index and middle finger on her right hand and gently
closed my mouth. “Please listen, will
you go to the Summer Light Festival with me?”
With no hesitation I answered “I would love to Raven.” Her arms wrapped around me so tightly I thought
I might pass out. Then another flash of
those little girls ran through my mind one of them had gripped me just like
this it felt so familiar.
The festival was happening in a few
days and I had nothing to wear. So I
resolved to ask Gustav for help even though I knew he did not like me but I had
no choice. Strangely he was very
helpful. Maybe that tough guy routine
was all an act.
The day of the festival had arrived
and we left for it arm in arm. Again
this felt oddly familiar like we had done this all before but deep in our
pasts. Upon our arrival we were turning
heads left and right, mainly the heads of the elders. I could not help but wonder if they knew
something we did not. They seemed
horrified to see the two of us together.
And, they instantly spirited our elder away. Before I could think about what I had noticed
Raven had dragged me to the center circle of light. “Jack do you know what this festival
represents?” I stared blankly. “This is a festival of light to celebrate the
first light, the mother of all things that is why the girls must ask the guys
to come. Through positive thought we
will fill all of creation with energy.
Our feelings become one and as one all things are possible.” Seconds later she pulled me into a dance “Just
follow me Jack one, two, three and one, two, three, four.” This pattern repeated and soon I had it. As we circled in the light I felt and odd
calm as my cares just melted away. As
the night wore on we had failed to notice it but we had been isolated the other
dancers had gradually moved away from us.
Suddenly a couple of elders moved close to us and I swear I heard the
words “What lies at the farthest reaches of one’s memory?” Before anything else Raven pulled me down to
her face. It was just like that night in
the alley, but something was different. As
her lips pressed against mine I saw it. A
Summer Light Festival in flames, two crying little girls and myself looking at
the bodies of our parents who had sacrificed themselves to save us. I was pulled away by a group of elders as our
elder swooped in and gathered up the two little girls. I heard him say “damn I was not quick enough
to get the boy too. Now all three will
forget I hate the connectivity of all things sometimes. At least I was able to save the sisters from
them sleep now Calyst and Raven sleep!
When you awake this won’t even be a memory.”
An attack by the forelorns occurred
shortly after destroying what was left.
I knew then Raven had not erased me from the world she had freed me from
a false reality. I had never been a part
of that world from the very beginning.
Her kiss and power broke the false flow of time freeing my mind. Now it is my turn to free hers, Raven wake up
you know what you have to do use my journal as the catalyst.
Once upon a crossroads, through ‘ever expanding seas of
green and gold we met. One life ended as
many had forgotten. A time to begin
anew. Again we met hidden by the roses
and Forget Me Nots. Life moved forward
told on the winds. As life passes from
one world to the next death is obtained and with it a memory. Remember me!
That was
the end of the journal. As Calyst sat
back in the chair Gustav set his hand on her shoulder. Before anyone could say a word Raven had
grabbed the Journal and was on a dead run to the rock where Jack’s Claws and
blood had left his last message. Gently
she placed the journal on top of his words.
“Jack
Rhodes I remember you!” The ground began
shaking violently and his journal burst into flames mixing with his blood. “You are more than a memory you are my
everything” harshly the wind began to blow, a tear like the one the beast of
beasts came through was opening and Jack was clawing his way through. His wind was holding the monster back but at
the same time it was slowing him down too.
One rock at a time his wind made and one claw hold at a time he clawed
his way to Raven. Raven called to him “I
am memory incarnate” Jack called back “And, I am the power of words.” A faint red light formed between them as it
grew brighter a windless tunnel formed.
Jack jumped colliding with Raven as they rolled aside she yelled “seal
it!”
“Jack give me your hand” Gustav called to
him. As he helped him up Jack turned to
help Raven. “I had faith in you to save me.
You did not erase my life Raven you erased the lie it had become. I Love you!”
As they kissed a shockwave rolled over the earth the rite that buried
their pasts had been broken.
Unlike most great stories that
ended with a kiss theirs begins with one. Jack had returned and so had all of
the lost memories. Words are alive and
they are the only chain man is bound by that can be controlled.
Signed by Death
Be seeing you…
If you guys want more of these characters their story continues in my blog series 1313 Cemetery Way
If you guys want more of these characters their story continues in my blog series 1313 Cemetery Way
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