Fall From Grace Part 7

I quickly grab the steel napkin dispenser to double check that my lipstick isn't smeared across my cheeks, or that I haven't grown a third eye. All good, but it takes a few minutes for my stomach to settle. I don't think anyone has ever made me feel that uncomfortable before. I'm a fairly confident person, but her eyes seemed to grasp me like tentacles and read every insecurity I've ever had. I shake it off as they emerge from the back room. A small smile plays on her lips as they approach, but this time she averts her eyes and avoids any direct staring. Pulling a pencil from her ap.r.o.n, she grabs her note pad, ready to take the order. Ash sits back down across from me, with an awkward smile.

"What can I get you two then?" Beth grins at her notepad like there's a really funny joke I'm missing.

"I'll have the usual greasy steak sandwich," Ash replies.

"I'll uh, just have what he's having, thanks. Oh and a c.o.ke too."

"Ok, kids, I'll be back in a jif," she says with a bit of a mocking tone on 'kids' and a sarcastic smile on her face as she scurries into the kitchen.

"What was that all about?" I question him.

"What was what about?" he absently mutters, avoiding eye contact and playing with his spoon.

"Weeellllll, you walk in, seem to get along famously, reminisce about the good old days, she looks at me like I'm some sort of phirrana and all of a sudden she's all business and treating us like some young punks?"

"Well let's just say that Beth has had perhaps too much fun in her life and has a little less decorum then she used to. She's a bit of a handful but she has good intentions. Most of the time." He lets out a little laugh.

"How do you know each other?"

"She's an old friend of my Father's. They dated and it ended kinda badly." He's picked the menu back up, flicking through the pages, though he obviously isn't reading it.

"The way she was looking at me, it was really weird."

"Like I said, she's not 100% 'with it' Stella, cut her a little slack miss congeniality; You did just sit there all slack jawed and jealous," he says with a grin.

"Har Har. So not jealous, I was actually sizing up her b.o.o.b job. That mid-life crisis probably cost her a mini fortune. Or should I say, a slightly too big for her frame and a little lop-sided fortune."

"Oh. I see," he says with a laugh.

"Yup, definitely fakes."

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say."

I decide a topic change is in order.

"So you've lived in Burlington? You never mentioned that before?"

"I didn't? Huh."

"Ok then, well, when did you live here."

"Um, it was a few years ago, and it was only for a few months. We came here a lot to eat, Dad isn't much of a cook. He started dating Beth and then we moved away again. She didn't take it very well but she always had a soft spot for me. So where's your Dad tonight?" Subject avoidance. Interesting.

"He's in Boston, attending some conference," I answer, crossing my arms in front, leaning back into my seat. He's not getting off that easy, does he know me at all?

"So what does your Father do?" I question.

"Investor."

"In what?"

"Money"

"Good one. For whom?"

"Rich people."

"Are you rich?"

"Maybe."

"Like really rich?"

"I guess."

"Why move here?"

"He likes the solitude."

"Why leave before."

"He missed the noise."

"Do you like the solitude?"

"I suppose, look, what is this Stella? Twenty questions?"

"Just curious... and a little suspicious." I give him a hard stare. Or at least an attempt at one, I'm about as bad as my Dad.

"You do know that I can deal it just as well as you can, perhaps better. You might want to lay off before I make you tell me all YOUR dark little secrets."

"I don't have any."

"We all do Stella." His eyes capture mine in an intense stare, like he's trying to tell me something but can't seem to find the words. I'm definitely starting to sweat. Thankfully Bimbo Beth kills the tension and arrives with our food.

Ash didn't lie, it really was spectacular. Oozy cheese, amazing tender meat with a bun that wasn't so big that you only taste the bread. OH and the fries, G.o.d they were awesome. You know what I'm talkin' about, those homemade little gems that have just the right about of seasoning, and deep fried to perfection. Yes, I'm a bit of a junk food wh.o.r.e.

After dinner, Ash plops down a bunch of bills and we book it from old Gerry's. He gives a quick wave to Beth where she remained hovering in the kitchen for the remainder of our visit clearly avoiding us because it isn't as if the joint was hoppin'. I have a feeling that Mr. Grey senior might be a bit of a ladies man, or perhaps a jack-off.

As I open the door to leave, a cool brisk wind whips by us down the street, pulling out a few strands of my hair. I don't mind one bit though; it feels deeply refres.h.i.+ng especially after consuming that much meat. I breathe in a few deep gulps and adjust my purse, before Ash grabs my hand and we slowly meander towards the car. He smiles at me for rea.s.surance but I'm sure he can tell that it was the right move to make. His initial touch caught me off guard, the energy flowing between us seems to be intensifying. It's a little unsettling but in a good way. For some reason when I'm with him I feel more myself, as if a certain part of me is waking up for the first time.

"So whatcha wanna do now? It had better be spectacular if you're going to top old Gerry's deep fried magic," I say as we stop in front of his car. He's staring at me with an fierceness that makes my stomach drop to my knees. He brushes some stray hair out of my eyes and holds my gaze as if he's going to kiss me. His hand works his way down my chin and neck as my breath halts in my throat. I give a mental halleluiah to the tic tac G.o.ds for reminding me that you 'just never know', and braced myself for the moment.

"I have something to show you actually," he says rather breathily.

"Ok, I'm game, what is it?" I stammer, fully expecting a full on make out session.

He pulls away and holds my door open as a very disappointed me begrudgingly gets in the car. Sometimes gentlemen suck.

Ash drives towards the University campus. I haven't been here in ages. I used to come with Dad when he was giving a lecture and just wander the paths and old buildings. Sometimes I would even sneak into an empty auditorium and pretend to teach a cla.s.s. I know, mega nerd.

I start to wonder what he might have up his sleeve. Maybe he's contemplating attending here in the fall? As we head up Colchester I see the Fleming Museum in the distance, another favourite spot of mine. The car starts to slow as we approach and he pulls into the visitor's lot.

"Well I love a good art exhibit Ash, but aren't we a wee bit late? Visiting hours ended at 8," I look over at him as he cuts the engine.

He smiles at me, "Ahh, Of corse you've been here before, I forgot about your Father."

"I haven't been back in ages though - c'mon the suspense is killing me, what are we doing here when it's closed?"

He opens his door and looks over at me with a devils grin before hopping out, "You'll see." He jumps out and makes his way over to my side. I open the door myself and slide out before he makes it over. Enough with the chivalry, my curiosity is peaked.

"I have a friend who works here, he set up a little private viewing for us. Shhh... don't tell anyone," he grins holding his finger to his lips.

"Ash you've been here for like a c.u.mulative total of what? Two months? Maybe less? How do you have a friend that works here too?"

He seems caught off guard by this statement, but I won't play games with this guy, this is just getting weird.

"He's actually a friend of my Fathers. They recently reconnected since we moved back. Is that a good enough answer? Did I pa.s.s?" he adds with barely concealed b.i.t.c.hiness.

"Look, I don't mean to give you the gears, but dude think of what I'm seeing here. I'm a curious person Ash so cut me some slack," I snap back crossing my arms in front.

"Sorry Stells. Look, OK ask away. Want to know my social security? Favourite colour? Political standing? I'll be an open book for you. Promise."

He seems mostly sincere I guess, and I do feel a nervous excitement over committing a B & E on my first date. "Alright, you win. But I do want to know who you voted for last election. I have my standards you know," I say with a scrutinizing eye stare, then jerk to the right around him and towards the dark building.

After giving the gla.s.s door a few taps, some big burly guy appears from the gloomy depths and aims a flash light right at our faces; I jump out of my skin and let out a little shriek. So much for playing it cool. A flush reaches up to my cheeks.

"Relax Stella, it's just Ed."

Just Ed? Ed it HUGE. He's sporting the typical security guard garb but I could definitely picture him in wrestling tights easily. He unlocks the door and we slip in un-noticed. Ahhh now I get the lack of lighting.

"Ok Ash, I'm not joking, touch anything, and I mean ANYTHING, and I'll kick your a.s.s from here to Agartha," Ed threatens, obviously convinced we're going to trash the joint. He's sweating buckets as the moisture drips down his cheeks and neck, forming a dark pool of wetness around his s.h.i.+rt collar. I mean, he IS sticking his neck out for us, he would certainly lose his job if we got caught. Which is why I found it weird that instead of placating big Ed, Ash shoots him a savage look, forcing him to cower away from us. Wha?

He senses my confusion at once and 'The Look' quickly evaporates into charming poor Dino Ed, "Relax guy, we're just here to have a quiet look around. No harm, no foul."

I look to Ed, about to rea.s.sure him myself, but he's staring at me, slack jawed, not saying a word. Ok now I'm starting to get freaked out a bit. I turn to Ash and he looks like he's about to say something, but instead he grabs my hand and lays a hand on Ed's shoulder. Seems innocent enough but the hulk actually stumbles back, as if by force, maybe he likes the drink a little too much?

"Get it together fella, I mean I know she's pretty and all, but she's here with me."

I blush at the compliment and Ed scrambles to move out of the way. It's almost like he's scared of Ash. Ginormous burly Ed scared? Absurd.

"Sorry Asher, I um, just... Sorry," he stammers and wipes a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.

"Can you give me a sec Stell? Head on up and I'll just be a minute."

I nod and walk towards the large staircase that leads to the exhibit rooms. The white marble is gleaming even in the moonlight as I make my way up the main steps where it branches off into two directions. There's a balcony overlooking the main foyer and I turn to take another glance around. You can really feel the history here. Ohh and the tension.

My focus is trained on these two 'old friends' as Ash is quietly but aggressively whispering to Ed like he's giving him the what for. He senses me looking and flashes a forced grin, Ed looks up and meets my eyes for a second before quickly averting them and staring back at the floor. Ash pats him on the back as Ed flinches from the touch. Ash turns to leave and takes the steps two at a time to meet me.

"What was that about? He's acting like your b.i.t.c.h, you sure you don't have mob ties or something?" I smile but really I'm not so sure, some things aren't adding up.

Ash looks away from me, smiling, and grabs my hand as we make our way up the steps. Hmmm avoid the question much?

"So what is this all about anyways? I mean we could have come tomorrow when it was actually open. If you're trying to impress me, I think a bag of chocolate covered almonds would have sufficed," I say with a grin.

"I was hoping to -- well, something like that yeah," he says grinning back. His eyes betray him though; I can tell something is off. If I was born with a natural gift, it's definitely intuition. He's totally hiding something.

"Actually there is something I want you to see. I know that being a patron of the dark arts, you might find it intriguing," he says with a grin.

I shoot him a quizzical look but follow him nonetheless. We make our way into one of the main gallery rooms for special exhibits and instantly I'm taken aback. I'm overcome with the strangest sensation. Like a hot lava running through my veins. Ash is looking at me hesitantly, like he's waiting for something to happen. I break my hands from his grasp and walk towards the antiquities that fill the room.

"What IS all this stuff?"

"Most of it is from the middle ages. Some items much older. I heard through the grapevine that you are a bit of a super natural enthusiast," he says with a little smile as he slides his hands into his pockets and walks up beside me.

"Oh G.o.d, who told you? I'm going to kill Gabs!" I'm blus.h.i.+ng madly.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me Stella. I have to admit I'm drawn to it too," he says gaining uber points by bringing me here.

"I feel like an idiot, but yes, I have an embarra.s.sing affinity for the weird and unexplainable." I walk closer to a small painting, an oil of a witch being tied up to a stake, about to meet a horrific fiery death. The small plaque below reads: 'Salem Witch Trials 1692'. I swear for a second I see her moving, writhing in pain, as the flaming tendrils rise up to lick her face, melting it like a plastic doll. I blink my eyes a few times and it's back to normal, must be the darkness playing tricks on me.

"It's a pretty fascinating exhibit really. A jumble of items of either unknown origin or use. Each one has legends tied to it though that tell a more fantastical story."

Ash indicates this giant broadsword with an almost greenish black tinge to the metal blade. It looks like it must weigh about 30 pounds, how did anyone even carry that monster?

"Take this sword. Myth has it that it was forged from a unique and blessed metal, designed by this mad blacksmith in the 1400's. He claims he created it to ma.s.sacre the so called 'Gretel' demon; legends of Demonology were a more learned subject back in the day. This particular demon was a truly nasty s...o...b..that fed on the life force of children. I think it was named after the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, you know, two kids lured to their death by some crazy witch. Well, apparently the Gretel slaughtered a whole town's young population; a horrific nightmare case that was never actually solved. The demon seemed to have disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again..." he trails off leaving an eerie silence hanging in the air.

"Ohhhh, sccccaaaaaarrrrrryyyyyyy..." I went all phantom voice on him, and it echoed eerily throughout the room, great acoustics.

Ash pays no attention to my awesome attempt at funny quips and keeps going.

"Now this bowl shaped object right here is 'supposedly' an ancient and magical mortar that warlocks created potions in. The story suggests that ordinary herbal ingredients took on new supernatural properties and very powerful infusions were made to a.s.sist in spells and rituals."

"Supposedly, meaning, you don't think it's true?" I question.

"h.e.l.l no, it's just an old bed pan!" he laughs.

Giggling with him, I wasn't expecting that answer at all.

When I compose myself I look up at him and smile, "This stuff is amazing, thanks for taking me here." I hug my arms into myself trying to calm the still present heat in my body.

"I thought if we came at night, away from the screaming kids and sceptics who don't get 'it', you would get a better feel of the spooky factor. I love this stuff too... " he trails off.

I avert my eyes back to the artifacts and see a really strange and teeny knife, almost like it couldn't kill a flea. When I say it's teeny, I mean the blade is small, the base is very large and quite grand. Perhaps it was broken? The hilt is very heavy looking with an intricate latticework design that spans around the perimeter of the handle. Your hand slips inside and is nearly all covered as you wrap your fingers around the inside shaft. The blade is blunt with a square edge and it's only about 1 or maybe 2 inches long.

"Do you know what this is? Has it been broken?"

"Ahhh, yes I have heard of this before; the Seela Dagger. Legends claim that it was designed for only the purest of hearts, a magical being known unoriginally as 'the one' who would save the earth from chaos taking on the nastiest of demons from the underworld. A super natural superman, or super human Buffy if you will."