Caroline

It is the day I died, or I didn’t. The knowledge is in depth and I can’t confirm. I remember the man being consumed in an engulfing fire all over him, staring at me, not screaming, his arms outstretched. Rooted to the spot, in a mixture of fear and adrenaline, an undeniable urge to run and help. The dog (Harry) is barking wildly, this is to be a peaceful walk through the woods, an unchartered terrain before I saw the huge Manor house in the middle of nowhere along the unpaved road, gates wide open, an eeriness surrounding its existence. I ran straight into the house to help, succumbing to the need to end another’s pain and then felt nothing. It took a minute to come to as I blink over and over again to focus, there is a wall right beside me, to my right hand side with splashes of fresh blood on it, like something had smashed into it. Fear creeps slowly into my soul, I can feel myself shivering slowly, violently as my brain adds the sequence of events together, I stared blankly in front of me as the 

shadows comes back into formation again, there is a little girl with kinky braids staring curiously at me, waiting. As l took in my surrounding, the fairly big room, the brown walls, the odd painting to my right. The doors to my left, the little girl standing in the middle still staring unblinkingly at me, behind her; another door slightly ajar leading to a hallway. She said

“Can you see me?”

“hello?”

“Can you see me? You are a little weird, ” she says

“My name is Mara?”

I opened my mouth in response, the dryness in my throat shockingly unexpected. I didn’t get a word out before she disappeared into the door behind her so l followed, down the hall, she walked until we exited into what looks like a great hall with huge

windows draped by curtains, everything supersized, the canvass on the hall, the

gargoyles leaning down from their post, mean expressions of varying gore. In

sharp contrast to the dark hue of the room is a bright expansive chandelier

hanging down from the ceiling, a spot of unmissable beauty, tiny little bulb

with intricate artwork cascading around it linking one bulb to the other, my

eyes pulls from the chandelier to the huge fireplace at the far end with a

roaring fire in it. A man stands, arms extended towards the fire, all dressed

in black with a silver chain around his neck, two colourful armchairs and a

sofa surrounds him, standing on a lush gray carpet in front of the fireplace;

he turns slightly when the girl walks closer acknowledging her presence.

“She’s here, a bit weird, won’t say a word to me” said Mara

“Good morning Caroline” he said

“How do you know my name?” My voice is hoarse, throat still patch dry, but words are formed without restraint now

“What is going on pls?"

“where am I and where is my dog?”

I said, trying to hide the panic in my voice, he turned slowly and l saw everything at once, he is the man engulfed in flames that l came running to save, how l can recognize it l have no idea. At the same time I realise his face is terribly familiar, like l have seen it a dozen times as different men all around me all the time, the face is

lucid, his expression stately curious, he walks around me slowly staring at me

in detail, his eyes going through every inch of my skin as if l stood naked,

his expression thoughtful not saying a word, a mask of undeniable restraint, he

stopped behind me and said

“She is ok.”

“Ok? She is dehydrated, cold from all that shivering, her heart is beating way too fast, hungry and lightheaded” exclaimed Mara

“those are not medical concerns” said Richard

“she’ll faint in a minute, you’ll see” Mara responded

“That why am standing behind her”

“Excuse me!!!” I screamed

“I am not going to faint, and can you stop talking over me, ignoring my questions?”

“She is refreshingly polite” Mara said

“Except for the shouting, ” said a voice in the corner, I turned sharply to my side, I did not notice anyone entering the room and did not hear a door open or close. A middle aged woman in a gray lace dress and a tray stands there taking me in too, she walks to the armchair closest to her and set the tray down on a small table beside the armchair, two silver plates and a mug, all with lids on them are on the tray. My 

stomach growled, my body telling me l am starving for whatever was in the tray, this adds to my increasingly overflowing alarm, 10 minutes ago l was walking on a path with my dog and l was definitely not hungry.

“Good Morning Caroline,

You are just as l picture you, absolutely beautiful, am so glad to see you here

finally, my name is Aunt May, this is Richard, and that is Mara, you will be

meeting a few more people this morning, you may want to drink or eat something

before then” she said as she moved closer to me in a beer hug; Formerly

introducing the other two.

“Like Aunt May in Spiderman” Mara chuckled

“Definitely not Aunt May in Spiderman, ” there stands another, a young man, teenager maybe, leaning on the wall, legs crossed, warm, slightly mischievous smile on his face. He waved at me without moving closer

“This is Charles my son, Richard and Mara are the twins” Aunt May said

I frowned, Richard and Mara definitely have years between them, Richard looks like he is in his early 30’s and Mara looks like an 8 yr. old girl. Did she say twins?

“I know you have a lot of questions” Richard seem to be done with just staring and walking around me by now “We will tell you all you need to know later”

“Or maybe not” interjected Charles playfully

“We have to entertain now, we have to start getting ready” continued Richard as if Charles didn’t say anything.

“Oh Gosh, that is true, Is she well enough, she needs to eat something, our

guests are arriving soon, l can feel it” Aunt May went on ushering me into a

chair with the tray on my laps.

“We can’t have you fainting, now eat sweetheart”

“It won’t be the first time she fainted; it’ll be a little more entertaining today though” Mara said

“Hush Mara, she’s not herself yet, stop messing with her” Richard’s voice came through as Aunt May face gave Mara a warning look, she made a gesture of locking her lips and throwing the key away. The tray lids were opened by Aunt May, toast, scrambled eggs, and a mug of coffee

“I promise everything is ok and we will have a talk but l need you to eat something now” her voice seems to create waves in the air and l watch myself obey.

A few moments later I felt tiredness sweeping through me like a slow stream and my legs feeling heavy, Richard swept me up from the chair in an easy motion, he carried me out of the room. My mind went blank again.

When l came to Aunt May was sitting in a Sofa by the window with a book and reading glasses on her face, I am in a huge Victorian bed with red velvet covers, warm and comfortable she turns to me and smile.

“Good you are awake, ” she said setting down her book and moving to my side, she peered at me for a minute, sitting on the bed and said

“You look and sound much better, we must go downstairs to a party that had been planned for a while now, we cant cancel and we cant be late :I promise, you will have that conversation to explain everything later.

“Am I dead?” I asked

“why would you think such a thing” she answered

“ When l first came in there was blood on the wall and I’m pretty sure it has to do with me, I feel very strange and nothing is yet to make absolute sense like how you all feel and look familiar”

“No you are not dead and yes, you smashed yourself into the wall when you came in you are ok though and you have no bruises. We are familiar because we are family, Can you hold on to this explanation until after the party?”

I want to protest and demand more, but the kind look on her face stopped me, I have a quiet calmness to her words.

“At the party, l need you to stay by my side this evening, myself or Richard, you are not to move away to anyone under any circumstance, Can you do that for me munchkin?”

“Ok, but why you or Richard, what about Charles and Mara? Am l in danger with them?”

“Of course not sweetie, Charles is young and Mara shape shift or forgets herself, it might be confusing for you”

“What about me?” Mara said as she walks into the room.

“I was telling her to stay with me and Richard at the party.” Aunt May said

“oh absolutely, I don’t want to babysit, Richard sent me to fetch you guys, I heard something about me shift change?”

“yes, show her quickly, she is ready”

Mara smiled and snaps her finger, she transformed into an older girl closer to Richards, age, dark brown waist length curls envelop a slim tall body, her skin the picture and colour of perfection, she smiled and said

“Voila” her eyes wide, her smile genuine.

“Is this you or just one of many” I asked

“This is me and your nerve of steel is coming back. Happy to see you are not going to faint again, we have to go Auntie.”

We went downstairs to the great hall. Aunt May addressed Richard as soon as we came in, he was still standing by the fireplace, same position as when l first left.

“Will you do the honours?” she asked

Richard snaps his fingers and a furry of activities ensued, the room transformed immediately with men dressed in long trouser and a plain white shirt and ladies in black dresses with aprons and a caps o their neatly packed hair. Except for where we are, every inch of the hall tastefully transformed into a party atmosphere with chairs and round tables surrounding an open space for dancing in the middle of the hall.

As l watch in awe, Richard, Mara, Charles and Aunt May started snapping fingers one after the other transforming into party dresses, make up, accessories all at once at the flick of a finger.

“Why don’t you think of something lovely to wear and snap your finger darling? Let’s see, go on, give it a go?”

“No Auntie, let me help?” Richard said, he walked closer snaps his finger, an erring feeling envelops me again and the transformation is obvious”

“Stunning” Aunt May said

“You look lovely Caroline; Mara smiled

May l remove the furniture Aunt May?” Richard asks

“Of course, thank you my love” was directed at Richard as she replaced the furniture with a grand piano near the fireplace with the snap of a finger.

The huge doors were opened, streams of well-dressed people started coming into the hall, I moved still in a daze with the rest of the family towards the entrance and was introduced. I was warmly embraced, kissed on the cheeks like a long lost relative at Christmas. One couple, however, did not seem to be pleased to see me. The lady stared at me with disdain, made a sound and turned to Charles who is right beside me with a stony smile, The gentlemen as he is dressed like one, with a stony expression and cold eyes, managed a small curtsey nod. They are the Lockings, Mr & Mrs Steve and Alice Locking I was told. When all guests were seated Richard addressed the crowd, welcomed them, a singer walked up to the microphone and started singing with the grand piano playing soft tunes, I watched as Aunt May snapped for food and the room started bustling with laughter and merriment. I was seated beside Aunt May and Richard and had people welcoming me back from time to time, the strangeness of the morning seems dims in the distance. I look around for Mara and Charles. Mara, the new Mara was talking to a gentleman at the end of the hall and Charles was in deep conversation with a lady to his left a few tables to my right. l his companion unlock a strand of blonde hair and her clutch bag fell soundlessly onto the floor and rolls towards me. It stooped right beside my chair. Aunt May was laughing with a Mrs Darnsby to her left and Richard had moved, standing by the next table, smiling at a guest, I picked the clutch bag, stood up walking towards Charles and his lady friend to give it back.

My walk was interrupted by a strong force of wind that knocked me halfway down as a firm hand grip my throat and drags me in one swift movement to the center of the hall, screams erupted from people around me, a commotion moving in

waves. My prisoner, a lady with an otherworldliness of presence and strength screamed at guests moving closer.

“Stand back or l swear l will snap her neck like a twig”

I can’t see her face, but l can see her reflection in the window, Sarah Locking my brain answered, Steve and Alice’s daughter. Oh Lord! Why am l being strangled now l thought.

Sarah seems to read my thought and answered

“You pathetic, entitled, selfish, little nobody, you believe you can have anything you want, go and come as you please, you will not do this to me, not again, I remember, I remember everything. This ends now, this ends today, ” she screamed.

Everyone made room at the center as the gush of wind surrounded us whistling in speed gathered momentum. I can see Richard, alarm on his face on my right hand side, staring at me I turned my head and stared back, seem like the right thing to do, our focus unwavering, the connection building up. despite Sarah hand on my throat Aunt May by my left, her voice clear in my ears against the wind she said

“Tell the wind to stop. You can DO this”

“Sarah let her go” Alice Locking breaks through the crowd directing her gaze to her daughter, Steve Locking made his way to his wife in a flash saying the same.

“This is not the time or the place” Steve Locking added.

My eyes are still on Richards, His skin became translucent, his eyes, jet black, he is telling me something, but l can hear it, I feel a warmth coming into my feet, moving slowly, strongly upwards, the strength changing my skin to the same colour as Richards. The gasps from all around me tells me that everyone can see it too, Sarah stabbed me with a great force, the whoosh produced by the movement echoing in the air, I can hear screams, I continue to stare at Richard feeling nothing. I hear Aunt May again

“You cannot be armed, now tell the wind to stop and let your instinct take over”

I closed my eyes and relaxed, the clatter from the knife hitting the floor still in my ears. I let go as my body transcends upwards. Sarah screamed in pain and frustration as her thumb and index finger started pulling apart. She lets go and falls to the ground. Richard moves to the center beside me, his arm outstretched, and my body moved back downwards towards him my arms outstretched. At the point of our fingers meeting, every information needed breaks free and l knew everything instantly, information rushes at me in a torrent.

We are family, Mara and Richard are twins, Aunt May is my Aunt, my parents are dead, Charles in my cousin, I am a powerful witch and Richard is mine. A vision of Richard holding my lifeless body as Aunt May initiates a spell to bring me back from the brink of death. My dress blood soaked from multiple knife wound on my waist and a gnash on my neck, a spell from the Lockings rendered me powerless. Sarah locking was Richard’s ex-fiancée. The loss for Sarah, Alice and Steve is more than for love, but for the title of the Lady of the Manor. A title only belonging to Richard’s wife. A touch from Richard at the right time will ignite my transformation and if at the wrong time disrupt and destroy the flow of information from my past to present self. Being reborn, time freezing until l came back to the same house, same family, same foe.