Essentia (2 page)

    After chatting about random things for a little while, Jeremy declared he was hungry. So he dragged Abby out of the book shop after making sure I didn't want anything. That boy can sure eat. I don't think I have ever seen anyone eat as much as he does. I laugh to myself as I get back to work.

     Come five o’clock, I walk to the front of the shop to flip over the closed sign and lock the door. On my way, I see that there are a couple more boxes of books I hadn't put up yet. I must have overlooked them while my friends and I was chatting. I think to myself 'I might as well go ahead and put them up, so I don't have to do them Friday.' I started unpacking them and realized that there are some really old books in this shipment. Getting a good look at them and making sure the spines and bindings were in good shape, I placed the ones that need to be repaired in a separate stack, I price them and put them in the appropriate spots in the antique display case.

    One more box and I can get out of here. I sigh to myself. I open the last box to find that it had a beautiful wooden box inside it surrounded by packing peanuts. The box had the words Bohyne Terra carved into it. I don't recognize the language, but it clearly says Terra on it. I wave it off as just a coincidence, so I think nothing of it. I pick up the ornately carved box from inside the shipping box and packing material. Being careful not to drop it. Thinking the entire time that this must be an incredibly valuable book for it to be shipped this way.

    After setting the box on the table I use for book repair, I turn on my light and I start to inspect the carvings on it. On each side of the box, there is this beautifully carved mural of warriors in battle. The men with long hair, armor and giant swords and shields. It looks like something out of a fantasy storybook. On the front panel, a gorgeous woman is holding a bouquet of flowers in her left hand and a book in the other, her hair blowing in the wind. She is wearing a beautiful corseted looking dress. 'A book. How fitting' I thought to myself. On the lid, there is beautiful scrollwork carved around the corners along with the words Bohyne Terra. The box its self is a work of art. After I get done admiring the Beautiful box, I straighten it on the table.

    "I bet the book inside is just as Beautiful" I say out loud. Not wanting to wait any longer I go to open the lid and it won't open. "Hmm, maybe it's stuck." No matter how hard I try, it won't open. Maybe it has a secret lock or something.  Like some of those Chinese puzzle boxes I have seen. I feel around the edges and the bottom, but nothing is there." There has to be a way to open it". Scratching my head, I can't figure it out. I have never had this much trouble trying to get to a book. I laugh inwardly. Oh well, it's getting late I guess I can work on it some more tomorrow. I decide to put the box in the shops safe, just in case it is valuable. Not saying we don't have expensive books because we do carry some but, I just have a feeling that this particular one is special for some reason.

    After locking up the box and turning the lights out, I head out the front door and lock that up too. It still feels kinda odd locking up the shop by myself. I bought this old bookstore from Mrs. Bowden right after college and I have been here ever since.     Mrs. Bowden was an eccentric old lady. Probably in her early 70's. She always wore really wild and vibrant colored clothes and lots of jewelry. She kinda reminded me of an old Gypsy. And she loved to gossip. I giggled at the memories I have of her. I used to come to this shop a lot and had been since before I started college. I always loved her odd book collections. She always held the books that she thought I would be interested in reading.

    The last time I saw her, I had gone to the Broken Bindings Bookstore. She was talking to me about wanting to travel the world. I thought to myself. 'Why in the world would a 70 something-year-old woman want to travel the world. So I asked her.

    "Because I have seen many many different worlds in my books." She looks around at all of the books on the shelves. "But I have never actually seen much of the real world. I would like to do that before I die," she said with a faraway look on her face. I was shocked at what she said next. "So I have decided to sell My Bookstore." I just stared at her for a moment.

    "Well, how much do you want for it?" I asked her with a smile on my face. She and I joked with each other all the time.

    She looked at me with a serious expression on her face. "Well, how much you got?". Ha ha ha.

    She’s joking with me now. So I told her "I have thirty-five hundred in my savings" Then I laughed. But she didn't laugh with me. The only response was "Sold".

    Was she serious? Huh? "You can't mean that. That's way too little for this shop Mrs. Bowden. It is worth way more than I can pay" I replied. With all of the rare books alone it had to be worth over a hundred thousand.    

    "Don't be silly child. I don't need the money. I just want someone that respects and cares for the books and I don't know anyone else that would care for this shop like you would." she said with a smile. I cannot believe that she wants to sell it so cheap. Even if she doesn't need the money, it would be a huge loss.    

    Astonished at what she said I told her "I do love this little shop." And I did. Very much so. I have since the day I walked in the doors.

    "I know you do Hun. It's yours if you want it." What was I supposed to say? It's always been my dream to have my own bookstore.

So I told her "Of course I want it. But are you sure on the price?".

     "Yes dear. Just bring me three thousand dollars and it's yours" She chirped. So that's how I ended up owning the Broken Bindings Book Store. She still sends me postcards now and then from whatever country she is in. A couple of times she has sent me books from far off lands as she says. I laugh at the thought.

    As I continue home, I walk my usual route. It's dark and not very well lit, but this has always been a relatively safe neighborhood. So I have never really been scared of walking by myself. I don't live but two blocks away from my little shop which is very convenient.

    Once I get to my little house, I unlock my door and step inside. Bolting it behind me. I put my stuff down on the table in the living room, and I hear a familiar sound. "Meow, meow." "Hey there Le'ander." The big ball of Black fluff wrapped his self around my leg. "You want to eat some dinner?" I ask Him. "MEOW!" He yelled up at me while he was stretching. "Excited to eat as always I see." I laugh at him. I go to the kitchen and fix his food for him.

    While he eats, I go to my room and put my comfortable pajamas on. Then I go sit on the couch with my laptop. I go to my search engine and type in the words that were carved on that beautiful box. Bohyne Terra, Enter. SO for the next couple of hours I read various things about the Goddess Terra. Mother earth. Bohyne was Slavic for goddess. So maybe the box and its contents are from one of the Indo-European countries.

     "Hmm, I guess I wasn't named after a flowerpot." I laugh at myself. My best guess would be that the book that is hidden in the box has something to do with mythology from a foreign country. "I will figure it out eventually," I say to myself. Well, enough of this for tonight, it has been a long day. After a small meal of leftover Chinese and a much-needed bath, I head to bed for the night.

    Tucked in my warm bed all nice and cozy, I lay there thinking about the events of the day. My friends, the new books at the store and the mysterious box I still can’t get off my mind. What secrets does that unopen able carved box hold?  After thinking on this for a few more minutes, I finally doze off.

                      
 
Chapter Two

                                 Terra

        There it is. My Tree.  It's big sturdy branches and its full foliage on display. Wait. Something feels different this time. It's a strange feeling. Like something has changed. The sky was still angry, but it wasn't as dark as it usually is. The wind blows as usual, whipping the leaves to and fro. I feel it though. Only just a little. In all five months, I have never felt the wind in my dream field. What's different though? Why has it changed?

    The rain follows, thick as usual. I guess, not everything is different. I sigh. Lightning strikes far off in the distance, lighting up the sky like a strobe light. It really is beautiful to watch. I am just glad it’s far off. While waiting for the thunder to crash which is what always happens next, I look around and glance up at My Tree. I have never seen it lose any of its leaves, but low and behold two leaves are fluttering to the ground. I reach out to grab one.

    Just then a Sorrowful voice said “Bohyne." Just barely louder than a whisper. I jumped at the sudden intrusion in my dream. Never has there been a voice other than mine in my dreams. Shaking I say "Hel-hello?" Stuttering my words. "Hello?  Is there someone there?" 

    The same sad far off voice replied “Bohyne help me." The voice sounds so forlorn, almost as if they are in pain.

    "Are you alright?" I ask trying not to stumble over my words again. "What's your name?" I ask.  The distant voice started to reply "The---" BUZZZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZ.  I wake with a shock. My alarm clock Buzzing in the background. Uhhh, Morning already?  "Meow, Meow MEOW!!"  Sometimes I hate having a pet.     "Alright, Alright I'm up" sighing I pull myself up out of the bed and look at the Loud ball of fur. "Ok Le'ander, I'm up. I guess you want food huh?". His usual answer "MEOW!!" Then he scampers off to his food bowl to wait for me. This is a routine of ours. Every morning he starts meowing as soon as the alarm goes off demanding food. You would think, as much as he eats, that he wouldn't be able to walk. But he manages just fine. Waddling to and fro. Funny little fur ball. I laugh inwardly.  If only my alarm clock and Le’ander would have waited a few more minutes to decide to get me up, I would have learned the name of the man with the mournful voice in my dream.

     All day at work I couldn't get the dream off of my mind. I was lost in thought, not paying attention to anything around me when someone said "Excuse me" tapping me on the shoulder. Startled I jumped at the contact.

    " I am so sorry. May I help you?" I say as I spun around, little out of breath. A man, well to be honest, a very handsome man. Probably in his mid-twenties, was standing there with a wry smile on his face. He was holding what looked like a very old book in his hands.

    He said, "The sign stated that you repair old books?"  Glancing into his ice blue eyes that looked like an endless arctic sea. And then down to the book he was holding in his large hands. 

    I replied "Yes I do. May I see it?" holding my hands out. He gives me the book. Very worn and the cover was tattered. I could tell that this was a very old book indeed.

    "This is a unique book to my family, and it has been damaged in our journeys. Please tell me you can repair it". The way he spoke seemed a little old, like from a different time. And the accent was a little hard to distinguish its origins. It wasn't uncommon for foreign customers and collectors to visit the store looking for old books, so I didn't think too much of it.    

After handing me the book, I tell him to follow me to the back of the shop. I can get a better look at the old book under my light at my table. While examining the books damage, I open the cover to check the inside and notice something very familiar. There on the inside of the cover was the faded word 'Bohyne’ hand-written there. It was very shocking. This word keeps showing up. First on the carved box, then in my dream and now in this stranger's book. The book was written in a different language, and I couldn't read it, other than the one familiar word.  The inside pages look like they are in good shape. 

    I look at the man and tell him "The inside is in good condition, but the spine is broken, and it needs to be re-covered. " Nodding his head as he listens to me. "I can do both for you, but it will take a little time to do."

    The man looks a little downhearted, but he said "Yes, please do it if you have the time to." he says with a small grin. "It is a very important book to my family. Please take care of it".     After discussing the cover material and time frame of the repair, he agreed on a beautiful red hue leather for the cover. I told him my charge for fixing the book and he looked at me like I was joking "Why so little?" He asked.

    "Well, it's simple. I love books. And I like to restore them to their former glory. Bring them back to life so to speak, so it's not just about making money for me." I state, then in a small voice. A mere whisper I say " It makes me happy."

    "Interesting" was the only thing he said. A small smile on his graced his handsome face. I did not think he heard me at first. I didn't mean to let that last comment to slip out. I'm usually not like this. I guess all this dream business is starting to get to me. Not to mention his good looks are distracting me. I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts. Ok. Let's try this again. A smile rose on my lips, and I looked at the guy standing in my shop and asked him what his name was for the paperwork.

    He looked at me with confusion for a moment and said "Enre Arthfael." I don't know why but when he said his name he looked a little worried. "What a Beautiful name," I say to him. And it was. I have never heard that last name before. He has to be foreign.     The look of relief almost instant on his face. "May I ask your name?" he asked. I cannot believe that I did not do that earlier.