Abbey House was a beautiful old building with stone outer walls and the smell of old polished wood inside. Jane and Mark shared a room that was quite basic, but comfortable. It had a double bed, wooden wardrobe, a sink in the corner, and a chair and desk.
It was early morning and Jane stretched as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her sleep had been dreamless and she felt refreshed. She slipped on her dressing gown and left the room to go to the bathroom just down the corridor. The old house had a great feel about it and she could just imagine walking this corridor at night with a candle, like they did in the old days. Thankfully the house had been upgraded to electric bulb.
On returning to the room she noticed a stream of light coming through a gap in the heavy-set curtains. She opened them slightly so as not to disturb Mark and looked out of the window. Their room overlooked the lush green lawn, heavily laden with dew, and the grounds that led to the abbey ruins. Dawn was coming and the old broken stone walls of the abbey looked majestic against the lightening sky. Even in its ruined state, Jane got a sense of how powerful the abbey building must have been in its time. It was now a tourist attraction and the place where King Arthur was supposed to be buried.
She heard a groan from the bed. ‘Is it morning already?’
‘Yes, sleepy head.’ She moved to the wardrobe and dressed in walking trousers, a t-shirt and thick jumper. From looking outside it would seem the temperature had dropped. She turned to Mark as he got out of bed. ‘You best get ready, we’re meeting James downstairs at 8.30.’
They found James in the large foyer, pacing up and down. He greeted them and then quickly moved to the front door.
‘What’s the rush?’ Jane asked as he opened the door for her.
‘Rush? Not rushing, just hungry that’s all.’
Jane smiled as she made her way down the stone steps onto the gravel path. Hungry? Perhaps it had more to do with the fact they had arranged to meet Lola for breakfast at the Hungry Monkey on the high street.
The air had a chill to it and the sun was shining between batches of grey cloud. They walked, at quite a quick pace, to the entrance and turned left to reach the high street. Ten minutes later they were at the cafe and James hurried to where Lola was sitting. ‘Beautiful morning, my dear,’ he said.
Lola smiled shyly, her hands around a steaming cup of what looked like hot water with a slice of lemon.
Jane sat next to her, noticing she was wearing a cream flowery dress with a large pink crystal in the shape of a heart around her neck.
‘Did you sleep well?’ Lola asked her.
‘Yes, the Abbey House is so peaceful and quiet. And you?’
Lola smiled in a little more relaxed way. ‘I had a dream I wish to tell you about. But please order your breakfast first.’
Jane nodded and after looking at the menu she settled for porridge with fruit and a cup of herbal tea. She noticed Mark and James were struggling to choose and then realised the cafe was vegetarian. They both settled for cereal and coffee.
‘Tell us of your dream my dear, Lola,’ James coaxed her.
‘Let me explain that my dreams usually have a message and I think from what you told me yesterday, you would be interested in this.’
‘Of course, of course,’ James cut in.
Lola gently rested her hands in her lap and said, ‘My goddess guide, Brighid, came to me. She is the Goddess of Fire and Water. She took me into the past, to the time before the flood. I saw how we had become greedy, uncaring and spiteful to each other.’ She took a little breath, as if remembering this had caused her pain. ‘I saw a man and heard a voice tell him to build a boat that would withstand a mighty flood. Brighid told me that the spirit of the waters rose up and wiped away the badness. Those on the boat were saved and it came to rest on a mountain.’
‘That’s the biblical story of the flood,’ Mark said. ‘But what has this to do with us now?’
‘Brighid told me that the true purpose of the flood was to save us and the Earth.’ Lola paused and took something from her small material bag. It was a clear crystal. ‘The crystals hold the balance within everything. Their vibration can be programmed for good or bad.’
Mark nodded. ‘I know that, but the connection?’
Lola smiled sweetly at the crystal and it seemed to shine brighter. ‘Before the flood, man’s negative thoughts had began to influence the crystals, creating negative vibrations that were spreading throughout the Earth.’ She paused.
‘Of course, of course,’ James said, excitedly. ‘The flood wiped out those people creating the bad vibes only leaving those whose thoughts were loving and pure,’ he smiled at her.
Lola’s eyes focused on him for a brief second and she nodded. ‘The crystals changed and our Earth and us, were saved.’
The waitress came with their breakfasts and when she had gone, Jane said, ‘So are you saying that we’re going to have another flood?’
‘No!’ Mark cut in sharply. Jane turned to him as he continued, ‘We have…’ he stopped, then said, ‘I have created something that is self-generating. Even if everyone on the earth was wiped out, the crystals would continue to destroy themselves.’
Jane heard a slight whimper come from Lola and when she looked at her, she saw sadness in her face. The crystal in her hand had dropped in brightness too.
‘But if good people just energise good thoughts into the crystals, wouldn’t it stop it?’ Jane persisted, not wanting to believe that there was nothing that could be done.
‘Good people have negative thoughts too, but that’s not the problem. The virus is self-sustaining.’ Mark dropped his head, as if in shame.
‘But, there must be some hope!’ Jane cried.
Lola gently touched her hand and Jane felt gentle energy flowing into it.
‘There is hope, Jane. Brighid told me a saviour had been created. Someone who can change the crystals’ vibrations.’
‘Is that you?’ Jane asked.
Lola smiled warmly. ‘She didn’t say, but I think so. Ever since I can remember, I have loved crystals and they respond to me as you can see,’ she paused and looked at the crystal, which brightened. ‘If I can be of help, I would like that very much.’
Jane gripped Lola’s hand and squeezed it. She felt an overwhelming feeling of compassion fill her. ‘You are our angel!’ she said softly. She turned to Mark in time to see his face suddenly take on an anxious look. Making eye contact with him, she saw his slight head nod to the cafe door. ‘Well. I think I need to walk off my breakfast. Mark, fancy a walk down the high street?’ Mark nodded.
‘I’ll stay with Lola and sort out our travel arrangements then,’ James blurted out.
‘Travel?’ Lola asked.
‘Yes, my dear, to Africa. How are you fixed?’
Lola’s face brightened and Jane saw it was almost shining in radiance.
‘Africa, birth place of humanity. That’ll be so wonderful,’ she said gleefully.
Jane got up with Mark. ‘We’ll see you later then. Where shall we meet you, James?’
‘Oh please come to my home,’ Lola said, her eyes bright like an excited child. ‘I want to hear more of Africa from James.’
Jane saw the look of complete satisfaction on James’s face and she grinned. ‘We’ll see you at Lola’s house then.’ She took Mark’s arm and they left the cafe. Outside she squeezed his arm. ‘What’s wrong?’
He gave a big sigh. ‘Lola isn’t going to be able to save the crystals.’
‘Why?’ Jane was shocked.
‘Because it has got too big.’
‘But… but if Lola can change the vibration of the large crystal in Ferrand’s mine, it will change the rest, surely?’
Mark took her hand from his arm and held it. They began to walk down the street. ‘Until I try her with some infected crystals, I don’t know.’
‘Try her? You don’t mean she has to touch them, do you?’
Mark nodded.
‘But she could be infected like James’s men were.’
‘How else do you think she would do it?’ Mark said stiffly.
Jane felt her joy slowly slip away. ‘Could she not think it?’ she said flippantly.
Mark pulled her to a stop. ‘No! So before you get your expectations up, I think you need to consider the dangers to Lola. I expect she will have to make contact with the main transmitting crystal and I don’t know if Lola has enough goodness in her to repel the negative vibes being sent through it.’ He looked away as if thinking of something else.
‘What else?’ Jane said annoyed.
He turned back. ‘The picture in Africa showed me using the universal power.’
‘Yes, of course. It will help Lola send her goodness into the crystal. That’s the answer.’ Jane felt her spirit rise, but the disbelieving look on Mark’s face pulled her up.
‘I don’t know if it will do that, but it could…’ he stopped.
‘It could what?’
‘Kill her.’
Jane felt as if Mark had punched every hope from her body. Every positive thought demolished in just those two words.
‘You see, I can bring the energy into being, but it’s unpredictable and very powerful. When I did it last time, it nearly consumed me, so I put it into something else. It consumed that and everything around it.’
Jane gulped, ‘I… I didn’t know.’ She felt lost and completely helpless.
Mark pulled her hand into the crook of his arm and walked on. ‘I need to do some work on this. There may be a way of creating a master crystal.’ He patted her hand. ‘Don’t despair, Jane. I’ll try to find away to do this without hurting Lola.’
Jane looked up into his face and he smiled, but the look in his eyes gave her no hope he could do what he said. Jane let her head drop and tried to distract herself by looking into a shop window selling crystals. The pieces in the window twinkled back at her like stars in the night sky, but their pleasant colours couldn’t penetrate the deep gloom that was slowly crushing her from inside.
* * *
An hour later they were back at Lola’s house. Lola answered the door. Her smile was stunning and the warm glow on her face showed how happy she was. Jane could not remember seeing anyone who could radiate such warm, loving energy as Lola was doing now. It connected with her own aura and lifted her mood.
‘You had a lovely walk?’ Lola asked as Jane and Mark entered the house.
‘Yes,’ Jane replied softly, before taking a seat on the wooden chair by the fire in the lounge. James was on the sofa, smiling. She hadn’t ever seen him so happy.
‘Trip is all booked, we leave tomorrow,’ he said eagerly.
Mark moved across the tiny room to stand behind Jane, whilst Lola returned to her seat next to James. They smiled at each other and James took hold of Lola’s hand. It was a wonderful sight, but Jane couldn’t rejoice in seeing it. She and Mark had decided to tell Lola the risks involved and she knew James wasn’t going to like it. She saw James look over to her.
‘Well you two don’t look overly pleased, what’s up?’
Jane glanced at Mark and he cleared his throat with a cough. ‘James, I’ve been thinking about how we are going to reverse the effects of the crystals.’
‘That’s good,’ James said, distracted with pushing back Lola’s hair from her face and kissing her cheek. Lola smiled shyly and looked to the floor.
‘Ah… well… I think, but I can’t be sure that…’ Mark paused struggling with the words.
James laughed, ‘Spit it out man, for goodness’ sake.’
‘There’s a risk to Lola.’
James stopped laughing, his head swung round sharply and he stared at Mark, ‘What risk?’
Mark pulled at his jumper neckline and placed his other hand on the back of Jane’s chair for support. Jane put her hand over his and gave it a squeeze.
‘What risk?’ James repeated.
‘She will need to touch the infected crystals.’
‘NO. NO WAY!’ James shouted, rising from the sofa.
Mark squared up to him, ‘What did you expect, James. That, having found our fifth person, everything was going to be okay?’
James pointed accusingly at Mark, ‘This… this is all your fault. You got us into this mess so you can fucking get us out of it.’
‘I can’t without Lola’s help.’
‘Help! You’re going to kill her!’
‘It’s the only way.’
James shook his head violently. ‘NO! You find another way. I won’t let you do this.’
Jane saw anger on Mark’s face. She stood up fearing there would be a fight.
‘You hypocrite! I bet you wouldn’t be saying this if Lola had been a man!’
James went for Mark and Mark shoved him hard in the chest forcing him to step backwards. Jane slipped in between them and was about to shout, when Lola suddenly leapt up screaming. ‘STOP IT, stop it!’
James quickly turned round as she took hold of his arm and Jane could see tears streaming down her pale face. ‘Please don’t fight. I don’t like these feelings,’ she sobbed.
Jane noticed a sudden gloom in the room and a feeling of sadness filled her. Mark stood back and Jane felt him take her hand.
James immediately pulled Lola to him and hugged her. ‘Don’t cry, my dear, it’s okay.’ Lola held him tightly and gradually the atmosphere in the room lightened. ‘I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise,’ he said, wiping away her tears.
She touched his face. ‘I know, but you cannot control my destiny. I have been waiting for my time to come and this is it.’
James shook his head, but she stopped him with her hands cupping his face. She kissed him tenderly on the lips.
Jane felt a lump appear in her throat and swallowed it quickly.
Lola made James sit back on the sofa and she snuggled next to him. ‘Please tell me the risks, Mark.’
Jane sat down on the chair and listened as Mark told Lola what he had told her. She saw James flinch and stiffen with anger, but Lola just placed her hand on his chest and the emotions disappeared. Jane wished Lola would take away the heaviness that seemed to be permanently on her own shoulders.
After Mark had finished speaking there was silence and then Lola said, ‘I understand what you are saying. I want to help.’
‘No, Lola, please,’ James pleaded
Lola put her finger to his lips, ‘Is it not true that if I don’t try, I will still die once the virus reaches here?’
James’s eyes closed for a second and when they opened, Jane saw they were watery.
‘But if I do help, there may be a chance that we can save every one and free my crystal friends from this virus.’ She turned to Jane and Mark. ‘Tomorrow we leave at 7am. If it pleases James, I would like him to stay here tonight.’
Jane saw him nod slightly and then rest his head on Lola’s shoulder. All the pleasure she had seen in him when they arrived was gone and she felt awful because it was all her fault.