Entry #293990, added on 06-24-06 @ 8:12 am EDT
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| Chapter 7 - Dancing With Destiny | Entry #293990 |
“What needs to be done?”
“First of all, take a deep breath. Prepare yourself for the journey. Imagine yourself in the tower with Victoria and Paul. Plan your defense.”
“I’m not a violent man. But my hostility has been building toward Paul for a long time now. I understand from Victoria’s diary, he is quite strong. Although, he was also a heavy drinker. I would imagine the alcohol was working on him that day. I’d hate to think he was in his right mind when he did that to her.”
“I can give you the advantage...and you will have the element of surprise working for you.”
“Advantage?”
“A weapon perhaps.”
“A gun?” Elliot questioned.
“A knife.”
“What would you do in my place?”
“I’d want every possible advantage. Imagine going to all this trouble and failing.”
“Okay, I’ll take a knife. But make it a little one, and keep it withdrawn. I won’t pull it unless necessary.”
“Fair enough. I’ll paint it clipped onto your belt. Anything else?”
Elliot thought for a moment. “Yes, I’d like you to add a fresh gardenia bush in full bloom beside the cottage. It’s Victoria’s favorite flower.”
“Gardenias it is! Now stand still and ready. God speed, my friend.”
Elliot closed his eyes and imagined himself in the midst of conflict. Jason began to paint him into the tower between Victoria and Paul's images. With each brush stroke, Elliot began to feel slightly weakened, until finally his presence was nearly translucent on the shoreline. Jason quickly completed the task of painting Elliot into the tower, added some last minute landscape details, then sat in his chair and watched.
Elliot quickly became oriented to being in the tower. He glanced at Victoria for a moment, but dared not gaze too long into her eyes, knowing he could easily get lost in them. Instead he turned toward Paul.
“Who are you? How dare you interfere?” Paul yelled. “This isn’t any of your business!”
“How dare you? I’m making it my business,” Elliot screamed back while swinging wildly in Paul’s direction without making contact.
The two figures struggled near the tower’s ledge as Victoria watched. Paul forced Elliot perilously close to the edge of the drop off point then snickered while relishing his advantage. It was in that instant Elliot had one chance to draw his knife. But before he could, Victoria decided to take action. She charged toward Paul and pushed him over the edge of the tower. Suddenly, he grabbed her arm. He began to tumble over the side with Victoria as his unwilling companion. Elliot lunged and scooped Victoria toward him to save her from following Paul over the side. She clung to her hero and watched Paul drop to his final fate, then buried her head in the safety of Elliot's chest as he clung tightly to her.
“Well, whatta you know! He didn’t need the knife after all. Victoria took care of business!” Jason cheered while staring at the painting from his unique vantage point.
“Victoria, it's okay,” Elliot reassured her with a soothing voice.
“Elliot, you left everything behind to come here and challenge Paul,” Victoria said through labored breath as she gazed into his anxious eyes.
“No, I thought I was coming here to save you, but actually you've just became your own savior.”
“You gave me a reason to fight Paul. I’m afraid going back will not be as easy.”
“I understand. Guess you might be stuck with me.”
“The way you’ve been stuck with me all these years?”
“It’s a mutual destiny now.”
“Please, let’s leave this place. I don’t ever want to come up to this tower again.”
“Then we never will.”
The two strolled down to the beach and walked toward the cottage, lined with endless gardenia bushes in full fragrant bloom.
“Gardenias everywhere! Where did they come from? Are you a magician as well as a hero?” Victoria exclaimed while inhaling the intoxicating scent of the perfect white beauties.
Elliot watched her do a graceful flower dance across the picture perfect row of endless blooms. It was in that instant that he caught a glimpse of a weathered family crest mounted above the cottage entrance with the name 'Proctor' engraved in the center. "Well, I'll be! Victoria, do you mind if I ask who built this cottage?"
"It was built by my grandfather on my mother's side. His name was Jason Proctor."
He reached for his knife, cut a perfect single bud and carefully placed it in Victoria's flowing auburn hair.
“Jason is the magician,” he murmured, knowing he had made the right choice.
The End...And The Beginning
RubyRed
Write from your heart.....but first, listen to your soul
** #846593 Not An Image ** |
© Copyright 2006 Celestial (UN: celestial at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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Content Rating Notice: Recommended for Readers 18 Years and Older Only
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