Circles
The moon was still high when Vesta emerged from the lean-to. She knelt by the fire and added kindling to the embers coaxing it to flame then added larger pieces of wood. She could hear steady rhythmic breathing and snores. The babe still slept soundly as well. Vesta was certain her daughter was in good hands. She needed to go and quietly sit away from camp in order to decipher the dreams that so disturbed her rest.
A movement to her right caught her eye, a red fox. It had stolen a meaty bone and was scampering away from camp. Sly little fox, they were never to be trusted Vesta had learned. They’re too smart for their own good she remembered as she thought back to the time she’d watched one get over confident when trying to steal from a wolf. Its greed had been its undoing. But, that was nature’s way. The strongest and more intelligent species survived.
She wrapped a fur blanket around her shoulders and started walking through the foothills toward the flat land. From the edge of a grove of trees, yellow eyes followed her.
Vesta sat on the precipice of a hill facing east marveling at the beginning of a new day as the sun began to rise. Below her a herd of mustangs grazed peacefully. Spirit was among them. A crow cawed – it was the beginning of her premonition. She saw it very clearly – it was the future. A bitter, lonely old woman dressed in crimson red. It was Amarelle. She was surrounded in finery. Oh the riches she had in that large mansion all to herself. Flashes of lost friendships and a barren life devoid of children or love circled around the old maid. Death revolved around her. The people in her midst, turned crazy, withering and falling into dust as she grew giddy and vibrant from their lost energy. Amarelle was infiltrating the minds of others and stealing their life energy. Entranced Vesta watched as visions of Amarelle’s future swirled about her. There was a path that her sister could use to become a true leader but she kept ignoring the signs instead choosing to follow rich, greedy, vulturous people who used others. Greed clouded Amarelle’s mind and hardened her heart.
The Cunning Folk had spoken of the Fates. They decided on a soul’s destiny in the afterlife. Amarelle’s future would be entrenched in suffering if she did not circle around and return to her true calling. Runs with the Moon’s people spoke of demons which sucked energy from others. But Amarelle – a demon? This, this revelation was well beyond her healing capability; Vesta had known only one Healer with the capacity to correct a fate such as this. Nell’s face appeared before her and Vesta heard her voice, “Remember, my spirit will be there to guide you, look for clues. Ask for help, I can come into you during any healing ceremony.” A random picture of a yellow eyed wolf flashed before her. “I watch over you and keep the fox at bay until we meet again in the future – as sisters next.”
Vesta shuddered and inhaled deeply. Her premonitions and visions were confusing – hard to decipher. Everything was tangled and knotted together. Her destiny joined with that of two other women and webbed together in a strange design. Crow cawed loudly as the face of her daughter flashed suddenly before her returning her to reality. Her daughter was in danger. She must hurray back. Funny, she hadn’t noticed all of the wild roses about her earlier; they lined the path toward the camp. In the distance a black wolf stood like a silhouette watching her with eyes shining yellow from the sun. It turned, loped down the path ahead of her then disappeared into shadows of an unknown origin.
Vesta was breathless when she returned to camp. Her babe was nestled quietly in Amarelle’s arms. Amarelle was cooing softly to the tiny girl. The babe’s pudgy little hand was lifeless and her arm flopped without volition. But, Amarelle was vibrant. Giddy as if she was intoxicated.
Runs with the Moon and Xheng dozed beside the fire.
Vesta gasped and yanked the listless baby from her sister’s arms. Her once rosy cheeks were white, her face ashen. Vesta removed a protective amulet around her neck and placed it around that of her daughter.
Amarelle’s face fell. “Vesta, why did you take her from me like that? Can you not see my love for her?”
“You know not what you do Amarelle,” Vesta growled protectively. “I’ll not let you suck her energy like you do with all others around you. She is an innocent.”
“Vesta, I don’t know what you are saying…”
“You are a taker, Amarelle. You have become selfish and hard-hearted. You suck the life from others and you are stealing her energy! I can see your life sucking tentacles reaching toward me at this very moment. You will not manipulate my mind the way you do with others Amarelle. Your spirit reaches for light but it reaches for the light within others then steals it. I will not allow you to steal from my light or the light of my daughter, Amarelle. That is not the light the light that we seek on our true path, sister. Xheng has warned me about your vindictive and greedy ways. When one has powers such as yours, it is imperative to follow the ways which Nell taught. And, you Amarelle have missed your path!”
“Are you insinuating that I’m a …,” Amarelle paused searching for the word. Her eyebrows arched. “You speak of dark magic. I am not a Witch. The path? Those ways are sacrilegious. The path, to which you speak, will have you tortured and burned at the stake, Vesta. I beg your pardon – Red Willow,” Amarelle goaded. “A taker you say? I do not care for poor, lazy, buffoons or for the wealthy idiots among the colony. They all deserve to be used. They choose to give of themselves freely. I will take from those mindless slaves what they give and without guilt.”
“You do not understand, sister. You are afraid. What we don’t understand, we fear. What we fear, we kill,” Vesta spoke calmly. “You are killing your own heart and mind. If you continue infecting yourself with the energy of others Amarelle, you will become the insanity you are causing them to suffer. And, for centuries to come. The Fate’s will see to it.”
“Falsehood. Nothing but falsehood and lies, just like the promise you made and never fulfilled years ago, Vesta. And, for that, you will make payment!”
“I left you with protection Amarelle…”
“This?” Amarelle reached into her cloak and brought forth a golden rock. “This protective piece of pyrite? It’s just a rock Vesta. You keep it. Your people will need it in the future,” and she threw it on the ground spitefully. “What I needed was a sister. But, I don’t need you any longer. I don’t need anyone. First, you lost Nell. Now, you’ve just lost your sister. Our relationship is ended.”
“Chin, get the horses,” Amarelle ordered loudly enough to wake him from his slumber. “I wish I’d never come west on that wagon train with the Captain,” she seethed. “Uncivilized heathens! Let’s leave these savages to the wilds where they belong!”
In the distance a wolf howled. The eerie sound sent shivers up Amarelle’s spine. The hairs on her arms rose.
“You are lost Amarelle,” Vesta whispered eyes down cast, “I do not want our sisterhood to end, but I cannot help you find your way. I pray Nell can for she is not truly gone. Please, Nell, help heal our sister for the sake of humanities future.”
Amarelle glowered at Vesta.
“Let your soul slip aside, Vesta,” an out- of-world voice guided quietly. “Be not afraid, Vesta. There are no endings, only new beginnings.”
Amarelle gasped as a face that resembled Nell’s super-imposed over Vesta’s image. The strange entity moved slowly toward the lean-to, placed the babe inside then faced Amarelle.
“Ole Ma?” Amarelle choked. Color drained from her face but a vindictive, hateful glint remained within her blue slitted eyes.
“You could have been a Way-Shower Amarelle,” the face resembling Nell spoke sadly. “Never mind, the choice will remain open for you to revisit. Life is an endless circle where crossroads are presented along the way, where the choices you make, will eventually lead you home from the labyrinth of lost souls.
We are all connected like circles spiraling together – circles within circles, within circles and so on. It’s important to notice who you are attached to and who has attached themselves to you. How you feel is an indication of whether or not the relationship is toxic. You, Amarelle have taken the path of a follower and those you have attached yourself to be sinister, as is the gleam sparkling in your eyes. There may be nothing I can do to stop the Fates who determine human destiny, Amarelle. You have chosen to shun your natural healing gifts and use them instead to cause harm and profiteer from that harm. The sly lurking monster of greed has been imbedded in the shadows of your mind. This character defect will follow you into the future. Only you can heal it Amarelle. That is the secret you will find hidden in the depth of your soul if and when you choose to look for it. The key is within you. I can only hope the Fates will eventually lead you away from misery and suffering to return home from the labyrinth of lost souls.”
Amarelle’s eyes bulged. The word she wanted to scream was stuck in her throat. The word was, “Witch!” She hiked up her petticoat and ran as fast as her feet would carry her to Chin and the horses. Her maroon cape flying behind her as she raced away.
“You are smart like a fox Amarelle,” Nell’s out-of-world voice mused, “but, if you do not change then beware of future events for you’ll be entering the den of a wolf!”
Nell was always wary when a fox appeared, for it meant someone in her midst was not to be trusted. In the future she’d need to beware of a foxy woman in red. Sadly, Nell knew the woman in red would be her sister. She, herself, would be likened to a lone wolf searching for perfection among roses. Vesta was the vessel needed to bridge the waning gap. She would retain the Cunning Folk ways now and into the future, passing them down through generations of children. Time would have them incarnated again as sisters. This, the destiny of three entwined spirits. As fate goes, timing has to be perfect for one’s future destiny to evolve. The perfect time would come. A time of change. A time for the Power of Three.
“See you in the future sister,” Nell whispered to Vesta as she exited her host’s body and dissolved into depths of an unknown origin.
Yellow eyes blinked quietly from the shadows. A she wolf, black in color licked her lips. “In the world of the Mystic there are no endings, only new beginnings. There is no time. Time is an illusion. The time is perfect. Time for the Power of Three.” Fate lifted her head and howled, “The future is now!”
Ends
Start at the beginning and read the entire story by clicking the link: Vultures
There’s a lot of wisdom in the words of this post. I like the idea of everyone being entwined in circles where crossroads are presented along the way. Vesta has some hard times ahead for her, but one day she’ll find her way out of the darkness.
Maybe the same can be said for a lot of people. Some people repeatedly cause needless harm to others and themselves, but there’s always a way out of the harmful patterns they’ve entrapped themselves in.
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Thanks for your kind comment!
I agree, people can always find a way back, hopefully Vesta will! 😊
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Oops… pardon me…
Hopefully, Amarelle will find her way…
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It sounds like Amarelle needs more than the words of Nell to “find her way”. This story is so full of intrigue and wisdom. Another well-written instalment!
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Thank you so very much Terry!
Yes, words are only helpful if one is prepared to hear them…
She may reflect on them in the future though! 😊
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Excellent!
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😊 Thanks, I’m very happy that you liked it!
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It’s really very interesting! Awesome.
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💓💕
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Peace.
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