"Jack, come to bed…" the sweet voice of Jessica floated down the stairs until it met Jack's ears.
"Jack?" he had awoken, yet it wasn't him who had awoken. He stood, he felt short, weak. He stroked his beautiful combed hair; yet hair from his head was missing. He wandered around the strange surroundings; everything to him seemed to be too clean, demonic even.
"Jack…come to bed"
"Whom art the mistress who tryeth to seduce me? Whither am I?"
Although he was weary of the voice and his surroundings, Felix was not in the habit of refusing an offer of amorous passion. Why would the fact that the woman was calling Jack stop him? As far as he was concerned Jack had missed his chance. Quickly, he rushed upstairs and followed Jessica's sweet humming into the bedroom. Where there lay Jessica, as beautiful as an angel.
As he walked in he couldn't stop himself from gasping, nor from undressing in such a short time.
"Aaah!" he shrieked looking down "Mine manhood hath been stricken!"
The colour had drained from his face; he looked upon the mirror at the top of the bed. Puzzled he realized the man standing wasn't him. The nightmare had begun.
"Jack, please don't cry and stop panicking…" Jessica was trying to console Felix yet he was inconsolable
"Forsaken in this nightmare!" he said to himself. "Mine manhood halved while I'm faced with a luscious and beautiful woman".
"It's large enough for me…"
"Is it? Tell me truly wench… For thine truth makes the demons fade…"
mind you it was sarcasm but hey, the mighty Felix was made to look bad. It was at that point that Felix swore never to take anymore of Revari's special brewed tea before any future public execution.
"Revari", he chuckled softly to himself, although his thoughts were in a partial scramble, he could remember him clearly.
"Revari's touch will soon wake me to set off on another quest…Lo! The tough life of a mercenary…" he sighed "Without the non stop feminine carnal activity I honestly do not know how I would cope with it"
thoughts of all the women he had deflowered over the years brought a smile to his face, which came to the attention of the angel.
"Are you feeling better now Jack?"
"Yes wench, I thank thee for thine concern"
It was then that the final memory surfaced to the forefront of his mind.
*******
"An act of the Gods? And thine speech hath been converted" the serf said with a look of awe.
"I…I don't know." I said, uncertain of what to say.
"Oh dear Lord, we praise thine miracle in our time of need…"
"Hey before you start, kneeling chanting and paying homage, where's the map?" I was growing tiered of the games; I guess I was fairly blunt.
"Art thee sad?" my words had obviously puzzled him; I needed to be blunter still.
"I don't know who the hell you are" I said slowly, enunciating each word clearly.
Did I think he was slow? I was beginning to…
"How art that possible? I am Ravius…" he looked deeply hurt
"Look I'm sorry, it's what happens when you haven't met someone before…"
"We fought together; thou art the protector of mine offspring when I die." He said desperately.
"I am deeply sorry, Ravius doesn't ring a bell."
"Death has surely infused your mind with the majesty of the Gods, Felix" Ravius said smiling.
"Please, call me Jack." Finally I said it, no more getting my name wrong.
Moments later Ravius returned with a map of Tellüs "Well id best be off" I stood up and brushed myself off. The truth was, I had no idea where I was or where I was going. But I thought I had nothing to loose wandering around for a little while. the scenery was beautiful, might as well appreciate it.
"Do not be so hasty…" Ravius said standing up too too, purposely blocking my path, "Jack?" he asked.
"Yes, the name is Jack. Is there a problem here?"
"I hath the belief a demon called Jack hath possessed thine body as you rose from the dead…for thine own good I must perform an exorcism…"
"Are you qualified to do so?"
"Do not worry thineself I am a priest" he said proudly, gripping my shoulders.
"Yet you have kids?" I didn't hear the answer as shortly after that he ruthlessly head butted me, sending me out cold.
It was vision over, in the most painful manner possible.
******
Felix and Jessica stood facing a black door. Jessica was nervously playing with her hair as a buzz followed by a click unlocked the door.
Jessica pushed the door open and walked in.
Felix was wary of what lay beyond the door. Jessica hadn't told him anything about the place.
Inside, he trailed behind Jessica as she walked straight to the receptionist's desk.
"Hi, I made an emergency appointment with Dr Cruz" Jessica said politely leaning over the desk.
"Ah, yes. The Dr will see you shortly Mrs. Palmer, please take a seat."
She swiftly moved to the seating area. Sat down cross legged and picked up a magazine. "Felix, come sit with me, please" she said palming the seat next to her.
"Alright wench" he said slowly sitting down. "Why hath thee taken me here?"
"I am worried about you, last night all those things you told me Felix. I can't begin to grasp…" she paused to continue, but was interrupted.
"Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, the Doctor will see you now."
They both stood and walked across the room. Jessica paused in front of the polished door with a golden plaque.
Jessica opened the door slowly, her nerves showing. Inside, the Doctor sat cross legged, holding a writing pad and a pencil which seemed to be chewed on all sides.
"Please, take a seat Jessica and err…Felix." They both sat down on a cushiony sofa right in front of the doctor. Felix was impressed by the level of comfort this sofa was bringing to his posterior regions.
"Jessica" the doctor said turning to face her, "You say the behavior began last night?"
"Yes Sofie…oh I'm such a wreck. At first I though he was joking. But his eyes, they were so full of fear. That’s why I came to you."
"Jessica you did the right thing."
"And these things he told you -"
"About him dying from execution and being sent here as punishment by the Gods? He believes its true…" she said begging to sob.
"But it is! …" Felix interjected.
"Felix please, wait your turn."
"But…" the Doctor had turned to face Jessica.
"Don't worry yourself Jessica, I promise you I'll find out what's wrong with him. If I can't you can always re-marry…Oh, did I tell you, Sue and Terry are finally tying the knot!"
"You're joking…I thought he was afraid of commitment…"
"Turns out she's a few weeks pregnant, so they are tying the knot so the baby is born in wedlock…"
"I honestly can't imagine Sue having a fast track wedding; she's always been so stuck up."
"Excuse me ladies" Felix said standing up "I must leaveth thee; I hath better things to do with mine afterlife than listen to thine chatter."
"No. Felix sit down." She said firmly. "Jessica you are right, his accent has changed and he seems more assertive…"
"And that’s not all…" she said "He started this new exercise routine this morning"
"Mine body feels weak in this limbo, I wish to change that."
"Felix" she turned to face him. "May I ask, why the name Felix?"
"Well, mine ma was a whore -"
"Honey! Your mother would die if she heard you say that…"
"Jessica please," the therapist said quickly. Jessica understood and subsequently pursed her lips "Felix carry on…Do you feel she neglect you as a child?"
Felix searched for words and simply said "No."
"Felix, tell me about your mother…"
"Mine mother? Umm… she was the most prized whore in all of Sundar, mine Da the greatest warrior that hath ever lived, hero and freer of the people of Sundry from the malevolent Equ rule."
"Very interesting…" Dr. Cruz had no doubt in her mind that mild Schizophrenia was the cause of Jack's delusions and personality change.
* * * *
The three men surrounding me were busy observing a hot iron poker Ravius had placed in the blazing fireplace behind me. It seems the dream had turned into nightmare, I wanted to scream, but the gag ball was in the way.
"So…Jack, will you remove yourself from my friend?" I heard the hot iron poker slide out of the coals. He moved to face me, swishing the hot iron poker in front of my face. "Choose not to speak?" I frantically tried to make coherent sounds but Ravius chose to ignore my muffled cries. "Now Felix, I will have you fixed in no time…you might feel a slight burn on your posterior"
Did he say slight burn? He's holding a scolding hot iron poker…at the very least it could do some serious damage!
As the hot iron poker neared itself to my chest, the panic I felt was of no use…I began to hyperventilate from the stress. And I can only assume the lack of oxygen caused me to black out.
* * * *
"Mine Da won mine ma's heart with the decapitated kop of the leader of the Equ's army, a token he had vowed to her for so long. That act of passion led them to wed and I came from the passion they felt for each other…"
"Felix, you have a natural knack for story telling…"
"I thank thee wench. Shall I proceed?"
"By all means…" the Doctor said still meticulously writing down everything he had said.
"The night of my birth, a wench just as beautiful as Jessica here came to visit mine family's home. She called herself the high priestess of Draconia, a place now long forgotten and abandoned by those whom once saw it as their pride and joy." Felix turned to look deep into Jessica's blue eyes, suddenly he began to convulse, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
Dr Cruz sprung into action. "Jessica! Help me to hold him down…" Quickly Jessica followed the Doctor's orders. "Oh Jessica, I was afraid this would happen…"
After a few minutes the fit lessened until it stopped. Jack opened his eyes.
"Jessica? Why are you girls holding me down?"
"Jack?"
"Yes…What's with the question?"
"Oh Jack I was so scared…"
"Scared?"
"We believe you are developing a mental disorder…"
"Mental disorder? How did I get here?"
"Please Jack, its best if you calm down…"
"I just woke up from a nightmare! And now you're telling me I have a mental disorder? What am I supposed to say? Thanks??"
I was afraid, I started to hyperventilate again, I was choking from lack of air yet the air in the room was plenty….
* * * *
"Felix? Felix? Is the demon out?" said Revari slapping me back into consciousness…
"Yes." I sighed. "The demon is out…"
"And Felix, I cannot believe thee…In limbo the women are plenty?"
"Oh yes. If anything I want to get back there…" I was confused…am I insane? Is this just a world I created myself inside my own head? How? Why? How did I get out?
"Felix, be thankful to the Lord thou survived death…"
"Yes…thankful."
* * * *
"I am alive! Somehow I survived the hanging…"
"Felix?" asked Jessica, her face showing signs of worry
"Yes wench, 'tis me" He said smiling
"Can I speak to Jack?" she wondered
"I do not know the man…"
"Oh" she turned to Sophie "can you help him Dr.?"
"I'm afraid there's no quick and easy cure…"
"Cure?" Felix asked. "Cure? For what? Am I sick?" he abruptly stopped his barrage of questions, something had clicked. "Oh no…that weak feeling…it's this limbo…"
* * * *
So esentially I created this world. I suppose one of the perks is that I am a God, invincible…no wonder I feel so powerful and strong.
The leather straps which had been tight around my wrists had been broken by brute force. Yet I didn't remember it happening. Time had kept moving. How odd…
"Hey Ravius, lets get out here…"
"Yes sire."
"Are you two guys coming? Or you just gonna stare at me?" I barked at them.
The quickly followed me. "Look Ravius, I'm feeling naked. Get me my sword. I think we have to pay that nobleman a visit…"
"The Duke?" Ravius said smiling. "Alas, the Felix I know…"
I'm not a person built for conflict, but I felt angry. All this power I had, someone needed to pay for my misfortune.
* * * *
"Well, we want Jack back as much as you want to go back to Tellüs…" Sophie said calmly "But to help you I need you to help yourself…"
"How?"
"What did you do which took you back last time?"
"I...I do not know…"
"Please Felix try…for me…please…" her blue eyes staring at him were filled with hope. He couldn't avoid them.
"I will try…" he said softly to her. "Doing what?" he thought to himself. He closed his eyes. "Take me back, take me back home…" he said to himself over again. But nothing happened. "Nothing…I am sorry wench."
* * * *
"Look, Revari, I want blood now!" I said slamming my fist on the hard wood table. "Ravius take me to that Mintu stadium."
"Felix…thou wilt get killed."
"I am invincible, don't you get that?"
"As invincible as when thou hung limp?"
"Shut up…Ravius, escort me!"
"Ravius, dost thou wish to see him die again?"
"No." Ravius said looking at the floor
"Felix, think rationally…" Revari pleaded
"Felix, methinks he is right…" Ravius concurred
It was probably the fact that I had never had so much power in my life. I just wanted to get rid of that frustration. Not just the frustration of being stuck in my own mind but, of the old times. Those times I never stood up for myself due to cowardice or fear of getting the shit kicked out of me. Damn it, even now at 32 years old I was still underappreciated and used at Rileys, Binns and Associates. And I guess rage makes a person irrational, even an undervalued accountant.
I began to realize how stupid I was acting. And felt so embarrassed I stared at the floor and slouched on a wooden chair like an embarrassed teenage girl who regrets the way she acted during her moment of pmt.
"I…I'm sorry" I said. "I don't know what came over me…"
"Do not worry I would be angry as well with the man whom had murdered me" Revari said with a slight smile.
Ravius realizing the tension of the moment had eased off began drinking his ale again.
"In time Felix, he will be dead…" Revari said patting my back.
I couldn't quite place it but it seemed to me a part of me trusted Revari with everything, including my life. Even though I had only met him a few moments before part of me felt I had always known him.
* * * *
"I cannot stop thinking about Jessica…" He said under his breath, turning the bathroom tap on. "What is this strange feeling?" He felt frustrated. Jessica was in the other room and since the meeting with the doctor he had begun to have strong feelings for her…he pushed water onto his face, and used the water to slick his hair back.
"Felix…" a muffled voice shouted from the other side of the locked door "Are you ok?" she sounded worried, he thought.
"Yes Jessica…" he shouted back, as he looked at himself in the mirror…"I am even weak to the feelings of love, how pathetic…Felix fallen for the angel…what would the boys say…" he said to himself, turning the tap off and drying his face. He unlocked the door and saw her standing there. It was odd how his breath was swept from inside of him. He was becoming increasingly afraid of what this place was doing to him…
He quickly looked down when he realized she was staring back at him. Something he had never done. Yet, his body had urged him to do at that moment.
"An odd reflex" he thought to himself.
"Don't be embarrassed Felix…" she said softly
"I…I…" stammering too he thought, a puzzling thought occurred to him. Nerves? "I just get nervous at the sight of you…if I am being frightfully honest. In Tellüs I am never nervous around women…"
"Well never say never…" she smiled. That behavior told her Jack was still in there and that he loved her.
"True. Art thee staying tonight?" Felix enquired.
"Yes, if that’s ok with you… I will put a few pizzas and you can tell me more about yourself…and I will tell you about myself." She was taking Sofie's advice, anything to get Jack back…at least for the briefest of moments.
"Splendid." He said smiling. He sat on the comfortable sofa he had awoken on last night while Jessica went to the kitchen. Although he thought it resembled a torture chamber he noticed Jessica always seemed to find comfort in there.
Minutes later Jessica came out with a silver tray with two steaming pizzas which she placed delicately on the glass coffee table in front of the sofa.
"Wine?" she inquired.
"Only if its Nautician's finest…" the words just popped out. He was so used to saying that as an automatic response.
"Haven't got any of that…will New Zealand's finest suffice?" she smiled.
"Of course…" he smiled. He watched closely as she walked to the wine rack pulled out a bottle which she quickly un-corked. She pulled out two small wine glasses and slowly poured the wine, allowing the gas bubbles to die down before she brought the glasses to the sofa.
Their glasses clinked, marking the start of the evening.
* * * *
"So we murder him in his own palace? And take over Veija?" I asked.
"Precisely." Revari smiled.
"And the people won't mind?"
"To them you are a God, you can do anything. Oh how I love religion."
"Are you sure?" I wasn't convinced.
"Word of mouth hath spread since the execution to the point where thou art now seen as The Dexthor…" he smiled, "with a wee bit of help of course…"
"The Dexthor?"
"That seer legend I was telling thee…too much yatsu tea."
"Well, you know I never pay attention when you speak Revari…" I said quickly, I was curious, but I had learnt it was not in my best interest to deny any knowledge.
"True…"
Revari searched in his pocket for a scrap of parchment. Which he found, opened and began to recite dramatically:
"He shall be born in the Land of the Mixed, a beast brought up in the House of Sin where the lure of wealth turns him into a Thief. His adventures will come to a deadly end.
For his sins, he will be sent to the Realm of Hell.
When he accepts his destiny the darkness will be lifted and his power will surface. He will become Dexthor, a mighty leader of Tellüs. Onto Tellüs shall he be placed to rid the soil of the evil seed and destroy the God that should not have been.
Tajkitha - a blade forged by the Necessity from the stars to guide Dexthor against this evil shall help him dismiss that which makes humanity frail - temptation.
This is all the necessity gave us to help us fight off the evil in the world."
* * * *
"A load of tales, save for in ages past whence the Unknowns wert a threat. The seers wert more sanguine yonder. Nowadays, predicting Doomsday is all they seem to do."
"Yeah, tell me about it, no matter where you are Religious fanatics always love to talk of Armageddon…"
"The Unknowns wert eradicated centuries ago, but people still believe in the fable of the Dexthor, more so now that thee hath survived death…" Revari grinned
"What about the Sundrian Army? A mob with pitchforks can't do much against that…"
"We hath converted many Officers and civil Officials. watching a man die and cometh back to life doth that."
"Oh stop it…you're making me blush Revari…"
"The fact is thine stunt would have made thine Uncle proud…The Underworld will rise and Veija is ours for the taking!"
"Oh yes…Uncle, proud…" I faked a look of sadness.
"Felix, one more thing…" Revari paused. "Thou art a terrible Thespian".
© 2012 H Williams. All rights reserved