Tales of Olsen

10

I was so shocked that I stumbled backward almost knocking Jordan to the ground. The man standing before us was the spitting image of Keith and the terror inside me was overpowering my better judgment.

“What the hell is this?” I asked

The man took a step forward and although I wanted to step back, I was afraid that if I tried, I would fall.

“Look closely Eloise,” he said

I didn’t know what he meant, and I was suddenly very aware of how close he was standing.

“Eloise,” he repeated

There was something about the way he said my name and the way my heartbeat picked up when I felt the heat of his body near me.

“Who are you?” I asked realizing that there was something very different about this man.

“This isn’t Keith,” Jordan said from somewhere behind me.

It was then that I noticed the scar on this cheek. It was almost invisible but the closer I looked the more noticeably different his face was. Keith’s face was always clean shaven, but this man sported the faintest mustache.

“Who are you?” I asked once again nervous yet anxious to find out what was happening.

He was silent for a moment as he observed me closely.

“I’m Alexander,” he said, “son of Olsen.”

The way he said his name reminded me of the way Keith had said his name when we were at the warehouse.

“You look exactly like Keith,” I said

“So, my brother has met you,” he said, “that explains your appearance here.”

I was still shocked and confused.

“Can you explain what’s happening?” I asked

“Do you know who you are Eloise?” he asked

“She’s the princess!” Jordan exclaimed from behind us

I threw her a quieting look, but she shrugged.

“She’s right,” he said, “but is that all you know?”

I didn’t want to reveal what I knew but then again, I didn’t know enough to hold back.

“It’s basically all we know,” I answered, “we have a book with some stories back at our apartment, but I don’t understand it.”

He had a quizzical look on his face.

“Didn’t anyone guide you as a child?” he asked

I shot him a mirrored quizzical look.

“Who would guide me as a child?” I asked

He shook his head once again and looked at me in complete astonishment.

“So, you have no idea what’s happened or why you’re here?” he asked, “you have no idea who I am?”

“If I did then I wouldn’t have asked you who you are,” I replied

I was trying to keep my annoyance from showing but all this cloak and dagger talk was becoming too much.

“We should go somewhere else.” He said, “does anyone know you two came here today?”

“Just the groundsman,” Jordan replied

I looked over at her once again and she shrugged and smiled.

“My chambers are upstairs,” he said

I stopped and folded my hands.

“What?” he asked

“So I’m to just follow you up these steps and expect that my body won’t be found in a bag a few days from now?” I asked

He looked down at me in utter surprise and with total disgust.

“You’re the most precious thing on this earth,” he said matter-a-factly. “if I hurt you I destroy the only hope humanity had left.”

There was something else besides respect in his voice but I couldn’t make it out.

“Please just follow me.” He continued, “I have a lot to tell you about what’s happening.”

After a moment Jordan and I reluctantly followed him up the narrow winding steps that led to an upper floor I didn’t even realize existed. The door to his chambers was charred but surprisingly, the inside was fully intact. It looked as though the fire had burned everywhere else except inside this room.

“Please, sit,” he said pointing to a set of chairs that stood before a small oak desk. The office was bare except for a few swords that looked old, a red cape hanging against the wall and a few plants. Inside felt like a completely different world than the one beyond the door.

“What’s going on?” I asked refusing to give him any time to gather any lies to tell us.

He looked over at me and smiled.

“You haven’t changed,” he said

Slowly he removed his cloak and I realized he wasn’t different between him and Keith except for the scar on his face. He was just as tall and handsome and thin.

“You didn’t bring me up here to insult me, did you?” I asked

“I think we should begin here, Eloise, I am prince Alexander of Olsen.” He said, “the heir to the throne.”

I shrugged not thinking much of his title. I didn’t really have much interest in all this fantasy world in which they all seemed to live.

“Where is Olsen?” Jordan asked

“I’m glad you asked,” Alexander said, “I’d assume Eloise doesn’t know either.”

I didn’t reply but I knew he could tell I was being passive-aggressive.

Standing, he walked over to one of the walls. With the flick of his wrist, a doorway opened. I straightened in the chair and Jordan snickered.

“How can you be so trusting?” I asked

“He’s not a threat.” She replied, “I can identify a threat, Eloise.”

I shook my head and watched Alexander as he carried a box towards the desk.

“This is my orb.” He said opening it to reveal a beautiful glass ball.

Jordan and I moved closer as the orb began to illuminate with different colored lights. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and it was moving independently of anything in the room. It reminded me of the way the medallion had lit up the first time I touched it.

“What’s happening?” I asked

“It’s showing me my home,” he said

Soon the lights dimmed, and we looked down at a city that looked as if it was made completely of glass. The people there were flawless and beautiful beyond anything that existed on earth.

“Where’s this?” I asked

“Olsen,” he replied in a low respectful voice.

“You’re the prince here?” Jordan asked

“I am one of the two,” he replied

I looked over at Jordan who was transfixed.

“Keith is my twin,” he continued, “I am the elder and the heir to the throne.”

“Why are you guys here and not in your home?” I asked

Alexander’s mood seemed to control the ball because the moment I asked the question it flickered off.

“So, we must now move to the next part of this whole issue,” he said, “my brother and I are in search of the princess.”

All eyes in the room turned to me and I cringed uncomfortably.

“Why do you keep doing that?” I asked

“You are the very last daughter of Tamar and Lod the Gods of Ethel.” He said, “your royalty extends beyond the lineage of anyone in Olsen,”

“Those aren’t the names of my parents,” I replied

“Your body may belong to this world, but your soul is as old as your sun.” he said reverently, “you are immortal.”

I wanted to laugh but the seriousness in his face warned me not to.

“I don’t believe in immortality,” I whispered trying to take the heat off myself, “who are these two people?”

“Lod is the conqueror of the stars,” Jordan replied, “Tamar is a celestial being.”

“What?” I asked

“You mother was a celestial being, like an angel, and your father is the God of wrath.” Jordan replied, “it’s in the book.”

I shook my head. If I let a book control my life, then I’d be the crazy one.

“You said they had more children, why not fixate on one of them?” I asked, “why me?”

“I wasn’t clear,” I replied, “you are the last mortal form that the being will take. This is the last time you will be reincarnated before you return to Etel, to be with your parents. None of your siblings have ever taken a human form, you are the only one.”

“So, you’re trying to tell me that I’ve been reincarnated?” I asked, “there’s so much going on here. I can’t get the story straight.”

“The last time we met,” he said coming to stand next to me, “you complained about the voices in your head. I told you that the many lives you lived speak in different voices but once you actualize, they’ll become one.”

I was surprised he knew that bit of information because I hadn’t told anyone about the voices in my head for fear of being thrown into an insane asylum.

“This is too much,” I said turning away from him.

I was suddenly panicking and the only thing I wanted to do was run and leave. I stood and began walking to the door when Alexander rushed towards me and grabbed my arm.

“Please let me help you.” He whispered, “you have no idea what he will do to complete his mission. You are less prepared to do it now than you have ever been. I think he knows, which is why he tried to kill me.”

I snatched my hand away from him.

“I can just leave!” I said, “I can pack my things and go, and no-one will ever find me.”

“You don’t understand.” He said, “you have been bound to anyone who has ever touched you. He will find you Eloise and he will kill everyone who has ever come in contact with you to get to you.”

The way he said those words left no doubt in my mind.

“Let him help Jordan whispered.”

I looked up at Alexander who wore the sincerest expression I had ever seen.

“What should I do?” I asked