Page 19 of The Fallen

?The antiquated, Victorian-style house was adorned with a variety of creepers and plants. Marie thought the house was cute; it reminded her of the stories she had been told in her childhood. The gingerbread trim complemented the small tower at the very top of the house. She had never seen a green, blue and pink house before. They weren't the colors she would have picked for a house.

?They passed a row of fig trees and parked the truck near the side of the house. Brenton got out and walked around to open Marie's door. She climbed out slowly, looking past the house at a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall. This area was connected to the mountain, although isolated from everything else. The water fell down to the river, which flowed around the house in a circle.

?Marie trotted up the steps of the stone porch, anxious to see who occupied this space. She noticed the door was already ajar, and she eased it open a little further. It was even more amazing inside the house than it was outside.

?It was two stories high with clerestories along the wall to the right of them and bay windows on the other side. Panels adorned with intricate artwork, separated the living room from the dining area. On them were green, stained leaves that curled up from the bottom of the metal frame.

?The walls were a smoky blue color, the floor white marble with plants everywhere. The wall that housed the winding staircase was actually a vertical arrangement of plants and flowers. English ivy crept down into the base, which was an aquatic area, made of glass and filled with sparkling water. The blue azaleas added a splash of color. Light fell through the skylight in the ceiling above the staircase directly onto the plants below.

?The amount of detail put into the décor struck Marie with wonder. The house was old, but all the furniture was modern: glass tables, white, egg-shaped seats and eclectic artwork filled the walls. She had never seen anything more beautiful.

?Marie called out, but no answer came. Brenton started walking toward the back of the house, and she followed.

?They went past the kitchen through a door that led outside to the backyard. Marie was astonished by how vast the area was. The land spread out in front of them with several rows of more assorted plants and flowers.

?Brenton continued forward. She tried to keep up with him, but stopped when she saw a group of plants she couldn't describe, ones she had never seen before. She touched the tip of the neon pink flower, and the petal moved like it was caressing her back.

?She jumped back and then looked around for Brenton, but he was no-where to be found. She started to panic as she scurried through each row, calling his name. She stopped and concentrated on finding him. She tried to speak to him in his mind, but she was hitting a wall. That had never happened before. Was he blocking her on purpose?

?A blue trail lingered in the air and continued to somewhere on the other side of the oak tree at the center of the garden. She took a chance and followed.

?When Marie reached the end of the blue trail, she saw Brenton, standing in a daze, not moving. She ran toward him to see what he was looking at. He appeared paralyzed, and his face was expressionless. She went in the direction he was staring in and saw a woman sitting at the base of the tree, legs crossed Indian-style, palms on her knees facing up, eyes closed.

?“Nice of you to join us Marie,” the woman said in a wispy voice.

?Marie looked around, mystified. “What's wrong with him?”

?“Nothing. He is just in a meditative state. I am showing him something.” She stood, and began to move toward Marie. “My, how you've grown. I know you don't remember who I am, but we can fix that. Follow me.”

?The woman walked past her back toward the house. Marie was stupefied.

?“But what about Brenton?”

?“He'll be fine. He can come find us when he's done.”

?Marie stumbled, trying to keep up with her. From the way her mom had talked about Helena, she had expected a crone, but instead she looked like a goddess.

?Her long, curly blonde hair, which hung down to her waist, swayed in the wind, glistening. Her eyes were the bluest of blues and glowed against her pale skin. She wore a long, white, flowing dress, a dark purple band around her waist and a band of the same color around her head.

?Marie was mesmerized by her. In her heart, she knew she would follow her anywhere. Her legs felt heavy as she fell in line behind the woman. Her feet dragged along like they had a mind of their own.

?They went back into the house and ascended the winding staircase. The house smelled of a peculiar incense, one she couldn't place, but it was sweet. It swirled around her and made her feel like she was on cloud nine.

?They made it to the top of the stairs in front of a double doorway. Helena opened the doors and Marie couldn't believe her eyes. This whole floor was one giant room.

?The room looked exactly like the garden outside, with plants everywhere. In the middle of the room, was a circular fountain, in the center of which was a stone sculpture of a tree. Twelve small, granite cherubs sat on the branches with water sprouting out of their mouths. Koi circled in the water, avoiding the places where the water splattered and made bubbles.

?To the left of the fountain more English ivy and vines covered the wall. The back wall was made entirely of glass, and looked onto the backyard.

?The room was the same shade of blue as the downstairs, with the same white marble floors. Moving around the room, Marie saw books on shelves, a canopy bed with white, flowing sheets over it and beautiful statues. But the thing which shocked her most, were the hummingbirds freely fluttering around the room.

?“Have a seat Marie,” the woman beckoned.

?Marie obeyed.

?“I've been waiting on you for a while now. Renea was determined to keep you hidden, but I told her one day you would find your way. There was no guarantee the block would hold since you are more powerful than anyone realizes. But either way, I aim to please,” she said, shrugging.

?“What are you?”

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