Curse And Craving

22

“What happened? I hope nothing too bad.” You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. “We just happened on bad luck after we left. Ash and I were pulled into a nearby alley and mugged. She ended up with a broken arm, but otherwise, we’re okay.” “Oh, shite, Rebecca. I’m so sorry! I hope Ashley’s okay.” I could tell she was genuinely upset. Her concern made me feel bad that I couldn't tell her the truth, and at the same time, pleased that I had a friend here when Ash headed home. It was good to know that not everyone in Belfast was out to intimidate or harm me. “Thanks. I’m sure in the future I’ll be much more careful.” “Actually, that reminds me.” She dug in the bag that she had carried in with her. “I dabble in making jewelry, and this was a little something I made. It’s yours if you want it.” She slid her hand across the table and revealed a soft, light-brown leather bracelet with ties on either end. The band was about half an inch wide and decorated with a repeating design of lines and dots that had been artfully burned into the leather. “This is gorgeous! You made it?” Fingering the delicate markings, I wasn’t sure I had ever seen something so simple yet so beautifully crafted. She nodded and offered hesitantly, “Would you like some help getting it on?” “Definitely.” I extended my left wrist, and with deft fingers, she tied the strings into an intricate knot before using a small pocketknife to cut off the excess. “Thank you, Cat. I was thinking that we ought to get some coffee or have a drink after work sometime. I want to hear more about your jewelry and any other hidden talents you might have.” “I’d like that. Maybe once Ashley’s gone home, and you have more time. Anyway, I’d better hurry up and finish, or Fergus will have my hide.” “I don't think Fergus could harm a fly if his life depended on it. He certainly wouldn't get upset with you. You're like family to him.” “You've never been on his bad side. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, look out!” She shook her finger at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her and the image of Fergus on the rampage. He was firm and had high expectations, but he was all marshmallow on the inside. NOT LONG AFTER LUNCH, Fergus offered to finish my tour of the exhibits that had been cut short on my first day. I jumped at the chance to learn what he knew about the remaining artwork in the museum. We picked up at the bronze stallion sculpture that I had found so captivating. Fergus explained that it was a permanent piece in the museum created in the Japanese Meiji Period in the late 1800s. From there, we made our way to a temporary exhibit on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland as part of an Artists of the UK Exhibit. “This first piece is The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania painted by one of my Scottish kinsmen, artist Joseph Noel Paton in 1849.” “I remember this one from my studies. It’s a depiction of the argument between the king and queen of the Faeries from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I had not paid particular attention to the painting on my first trip through the museum, but in light of recent events, I was much more intrigued this time around. I quieted the questions bouncing around in my head to pay attention to what Fergus had to say. “Indeed, the couple fought over the custody of a child. Each wanted to keep him for their own reasons. Oberon, doubting the veracity of Titania’s reason for wanting the child, tricked her into thinking she was in love with a man with a donkey’s head to punish and distract her. You can see the child, who was rumored to be an Indian king’s son, hiding behind Titania. Eventually, the two reconcile and forgive one another, but only after Oberon has taken the child.” “To be his henchman, or knight, I believe.” I tried to recall the story's details, but I had studied the literary elements more than the mythical legend and would have to review the writing again to refresh my memory. “Correct. The piece was painted around 300 years after Shakespeare wrote the play in the 1500s, so the imagery was impacted by the techniques and customs popular during Paton’s era. Nudity on a canvas would not have been tolerated in decent society, which meant his Faeries had to have wings to differentiate them from humans. Naked men and women would have been risqué, but if they were Faeries, the rules didn’t apply.” Fergus raised his brows conspiratorially. “You can see by the Faeries swarming the owl at the top of the painting and in the more grotesque appearances of some of the characters in his depiction that the Faeries were not entirely benevolent. This was thought to be representative of the violence occurring at the time in the Scottish Highlands.” As his summary came to a close, we both stood deep in concentration, taking in the many details of the painting. My mind raced with questions. Were Titania and Oberon truly king and queen of Faery? Was there any truth to the Shakespearean tale, or was it merely fanciful imaginings? If it had been real, how would Shakespeare have known about the Fae? I made plans to see what I could dig up on Titania and Oberon when I got home, adding the names to my mental list of possible characters in this new world I was discovering.

BEFORE BED THAT NIGHT, I called my mother. I had a question for her, but I also wanted to hear her voice before surrendering myself to my dreams. Even my sleep no longer felt safe. “Hey, Mom!” “Hey, sweetie! I’m surprised to hear from you again so quickly. Is everything okay?” “Yeah, just had something kind of odd happen. I’ve started having that dream again about the shadow man. I was wondering what was in the incense you used to burn in my room as a kid. I’m hoping I can locate some here, and it’ll help me sleep better.” “Oh, honey. I hate that you’re having to deal with that. It always made you so upset.” “Yeah, but I was a kid then. It’s just an annoyance now.” “I wonder why it resurfaced?” she mused. Could be the supernatural mugging or the creepy vampire lady, but who knows. “Probably just my brain out of sorts after the move. I’ll bet it was a fluke and won’t even happen again.” I wish. “I hope so. If not, my offer to come out there stands.” I smiled sadly. “I know, Momma. Thank you. I’m sure the incense will be plenty to restore my balance.” I didn’t want Mom to worry and wouldn’t have asked about the incense if I wasn’t in desperate need of help. I never wanted to face whatever I experienced the night before again. “I don’t know everything that was in it, but the two key ingredients were frankincense and myrrh.” “Like the gifts the wise men brought when Jesus was born?” I asked, surprised.