Blood Rose (9 page)

My brows rose when she shut the door. I was at a loss of what to think at all of this. The dress was a simple white knee-length spaghetti strap. After redressing as she instructed, I sat on the bed feeling like I was waiting in a doctor’s office. The table was softer though and not covered in cold paper.

Not long later Adélia knocked on the door and came in. Hmm, just like doctors. “Wonderful, you are ready. Go ahead and lay down on your back.” She picked up the sheet as I laid back and slid it over me up to my neck once I was comfortable. “How’s the incense for you?”

“It smells really good.” It wasn’t over bearing or overly fragrant or even very smoky.

“Good. It’s sage and jasmine. They are my favorites,” as she spoke, she stood over me with a wooden bowl in one hand.

“Science has proven that every stone in the world transmits energy from the universe. People know this because every stone puts out sonic vibrations. The intensity of these vibrations varies with each type of stone. I’m going to place special stones chosen just for you over your seven Chakras. Are you familiar with the Chakras?”

I shrugged faintly. A knowing smile spread over her lips. “How did you know what stones to choose?” Skeptical yes but I was still curious about it all.

“Neesa chose them not me. I simply cleansed them. I’ll explain as we go alright?” Holding up a stone in her fingers for me to see, I studied its magnificent coloring. It looked like a picture of a nebula I had seen in college for it was so filled with colors.

“This stone is an Opal it intensifies emotions, power and luck. It also helps with purification of memory and astral projection. Often it is called the stone of happy dreams and changes. I will place this on the bed just above your head at the Crown chakra. It’s the seventh chakra and it is the center of spirituality, enlightenment, dynamic thought and energy. It allows for the inward flow of wisdom and brings the gift of cosmic consciousness.” She settled the stone on the table, above my head just against my hair.

The next stone was quite true to its name, black with white speckles that looked like large snowflakes. “This is snowflake obsidian. Mostly it is used for spiritual guidance.” Adélia paused as if pondering to what more she should say.

“I will place this over your sixth chakra, over your third eye in the center of your forehead. This is the center for psychic ability, higher intuition and the energies of spirit and light. It also assists in the purification of negative tendencies and in the elimination of selfish attitudes. Through the power of the sixth chakra you can receive guidance plus channel and tune into your Higher Self.” Surprisingly the stone was quite cold. For some reason, I had expected them to be warm.

“This one is hematite.” She showed me the third stone, simply black but quite shiny.

“Most commonly it is used for grounding and spiritual growth. I will place this on your throat chakra at the base of your neck.” She did so as she spoke. It too was quite cool.

“This chakra is the center of communication, sound and expression of creativity via thought, speech and writing. The possibility for change, transformation and healing are located here. The throat is where anger and discernment is stored.”

“Next is mahogany obsidian. It helps eliminate energy blocks. I will place this on your heart charka. A place not only representing love but acceptance as well as self-control.” She placed the deep brick red stone swirled with black in the center of my chest.

“Also you may like to know when the energy of your heart chakra, or your fourth chakra, is blocked it can cause great duress and severe insomnia.” Despite trying to remain still I flinched, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth lightly.

“This is rhyolite. Representing change, variety, progress and helps you break through barriers of the mind. It can help you discover your self-potential and it is well known for being a stone of resolution. I shall place this on your third chakra known as the solar plexus. Representing intellect and self-confidence.” She laid the rusty red stone speckled with white and black just a couple of inches below the one before.

“Moonstone- this represents new beginnings and guidance to our destinies, aiding in understanding and cleansing negativity. I shall place it over your sacral charka. Representing our feelings in social situations, self-worth and intimacy.”

Moonstone was beautiful too. Iridescent white, gleaming hues of blues pinks and greens. It was placed just a few inches below the last.

“This last stone is amber. Cleansing negativity, it converts all negativity to positive, bringing clarification. This will be placed over your root charka- the first of the chakras. This is our core for survival and houses all of our security issues.” Like rich honey frozen in form but clear and smooth. She placed it over my pelvic bone.

“Now turn your palms up to the heavens. Our palm’s placed up allows us to absorb energy into us. It makes us open to accept the gifts of the universe. Because human beings as well as all things in this world are constructed of pure energy, this is a great method of powering ourselves. Imagine a great magnet drawing in not just energy but the very essence of the universe. Remember thoughts are much like requests to the universe. Think bad things and bad things will come.

“But don’t worry. This meditation is purely to cleanse your mind and body in the fullest. I will guide you through the beginnings of your meditation. Once you enter deep trance meditation I will leave you to yourself.” Her smile was soft and soothing as her fingers began moving from one stone to the next as if she were somehow connecting them with an invisible string.

“Close your eyes. Feel the warmth from the light of the candles and energy of the stones. This warmth floods your body with tranquility. Breath in the incense slow and deep.”

She mimicked the breathing. “Let the smell of the burning sage and jasmine travel through you and ease your mind. As you breathe out let all your anxiety flow out of you with each breath...”

Her voice continued to guide me through the same breathing steps until it faded away and all I could hear was the sound of my breathing. Time slipped away from me. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. Of course, the dreams came on quickly. Once again, I was transformed into the other girl. So I thought at least.

* * * * *

In the middle of a thick magnificent jungle, huge trees that were draped in the brightest hues of green grew densely.  Ivy hung all around as if a web were connecting all forms of plant life and flowers grew everywhere in every color and size, some bigger than my entire body even.

The strangest part of this place was the jungle floor. There was no dead vegetation covering the ground. Anywhere plants did not grow the earth was covered in pure white sand.   Beneath my bare feet it felt soft as baby powder. I stood in a very small clearing. Before me there was a small hole dug and set up as a fire pit. In it a fire burned there already, aside from red and yellow it burned a pure magnificent white.

Kneeling down before the small fire I reached to my right where clusters of wooden bowls were laid out, each containing something different. Red powders and white ones, yellow grains and iridescent blue beady looking things- one contained a thick red liquid and the one beside it a lock of long human hair that was a wavy dark ashy brown.

While chanting words unknown to me I threw different amounts of all the various things in to the fire. To my left was a blade, hand crafted but beautiful. Picking it up I sliced my left palm deeply without hesitation or even a wince of pain and mixed my blood with the bowl of red liquid. Registering it mentally as blood as well.

Taking the knife, I cut a large lock of my own hair and braided it in with the other. I poured some of the bowl of blood over the braid. All the while engrossed with the chant whilst placing the hair into the fire. At long last I picked up the bowl drinking down the rest of the blood myself without so much as a scoff.

As I looked up to see across from me, leaning against a tree was a very crudely made mirror. Its reflection was wavering but what I saw was shocking. In every dream from before, I was an entirely different person. But the reflection was me. Really me, Lianna. Not the girl from the dream who spoke a language I had never been able to place.

Even after twelve years of studying different languages, I had never identified it.

Never once had I been aware of my real self either. I looked away from the mirror down at her hands confused to see tan skin covered in exotic painted tattoos and worn homemade jewelry. Everything from silver to leather all uniquely and exquisitely decorated in beads and jewels. Hair hanging down past her waist was straight raven black.

Looking down at the clothing, she had sheer vanilla cloth wrapped around her hips in a very short mini skirt fashion. Over her breast the same material barely covering much at all. As well, the same tattoos covered her body head to toe.

Instantly I looked back at the mirror to see pale skin and auburn hair hanging half way to the elbows. We wore the same clothing and jewelry, minus the tattoos.

Every feature in the mirror was my own, yet every feature of the woman in the jungle was someone else’s. Somehow we were both here together, our conscious bodies and minds coexisting as one but neither of us could understand the other.

Ohhh let me tell you it’s a strange feeling having someone share your head.

After a few minutes of sitting and wondering how I could communicate with her she reached with her left hand to gather up a good deal of sand, using it to put out the fire.

In the same instant, I woke up alone back in the room in the Wildflower. It was dark though. The candles had burned out. It didn’t bother me though, I was very used to the dark. What bothered me was the taste of blood in my mouth with no feel of pain. A quick inspection with my tongue. No busted lip. No bitten cheek or tongue. I shivered.

“Neesa!” I yelled, wondering if I could take the stones off myself or not. I wasn’t going to give her a second more than a minute before taking them off and getting out of here. Just an instant after that thought, the door opened spilling light into the room.

“Hey, Anna.” Neesa stood in the door flipping the light on. Thankfully, the light was very dim but it still caused me to squint as my eyes adjusted. “Sorry. Least it’s not too bright though. How do you feel?”

Shrugging to evade her question, in turn I asked another one. “How long has it been?”

“Two hours. Anna... there’s-- you’ve got blood on your mouth sis. Are you okay?” Her eyes were wide and nervous. Just as they had been during the reading she’d given me.

Cleaning my mouth off with the back of my hand, I gave a slight nod. “Help me up.” Strangely, I hadn’t budged an inch. Even my hands were palm up, I realized.

Neesa quickly came to my side and started removing the stones, placing them into a small bowl left on the shelf with the candles. Once she was done, I sat up slowly to make sure I didn’t get dizzy. Surprisingly, no feeling of vertigo came over me and I wasn’t even stiff from laying in such a way for so long.

“I’ll leave you to get dressed and wait for you in the hall. Momma’s ready for you in the reading room.” Somehow, I bet she didn’t mean books.

“Alright.” With that she left with the bowl of stones and shut the door.

“RAIN”

The next two weeks went by rapidly. When someone tried to speak to me at work suddenly, I would become quite busy. One horrible night I’d gotten into a god awful fight with Carrie in the back store room. John got himself involved. He followed me out that night as I left for work and followed two blocks before I stopped hearing footsteps.

Mostly I didn’t answer my cell phone but when I did it was to answer calls from classmates needing help with one thing or another or to reschedule a study session. We’d all agreed to stick to the online sessions for a while. It wasn’t the flu affecting Jenny. We didn’t ask what it was but we all wished well. I sent an e-card and I ordered flowers online to be sent.

Work was the hardest of course. It was very easy to keep busy on our heavier workdays but on slower evenings, it was very nearly hell. Neesa was the one most concerned or at least the one who was freaked out because she knew the reason for my silence.

“Anna, you have got to talk to me! You haven’t said more than two words to me since we left my momma’s place two weeks ago!” She grabbed onto my arm begging me with her eyes. Her full mocha painted lips trembled ready to cry. Again. Call me heartless but I felt no sympathy for her.

“Neesa, I’m fine, really. Now please just drop it already.” It came across harsh as frostbite but it couldn’t be helped any longer. Smiling as big and fake as ever, I left Neesa staring after me as I took off with a pitcher of water around the tables.

As I tried to duck into the servers station Carrie came busting through bumping into me and dumping the remains of the pitcher all over me, the counter and the floor. “Watch it, creeper!” she hissed in a rage while pushing past me to get to the bar. John snickered as he watched. Carrie was smug with satisfaction.

It was the first time I had ever felt as if my anger were a living breathing organism within me, not just a part of who I was. My eyes clinched shut as I took a deep breath to fight the rage that had boiled up so suddenly out of nowhere.

My hands were shaking as I put the pitcher down on the counter. Of course, there were no towels in sight either. So I took off my half soaked apron and made an attempt to stop the water from the counter creating a steady flow to the floor, all while scraping ice cubes into the sink.