Seduction

Twenty-eight

Jac lay on the grass to the side of the Celtic ruin. Minerva leaned over her, taking her pulse. Theo hovered nearby, nervous, concerned, watching.

“When was the last time she said anything that made sense to you?” Minerva asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Try to remember,” Minerva said.

He ran through the last hour. “In the cave, she picked up a totem and was talking about how similar it was to something the ancient Egyptians buried their dead with.”

“And then?”

“She sort of disappeared. Not literally of course. But she was looking off into space and not responding to anything I said. And then the few things she said didn’t make any sense or even sound like her talking.”

“What did she say?”

“Gibberish. Nothing I could understand. No, that’s not true. She said a word, maybe a name: she said Brice a few times. At least that’s what I think it was.”

Minerva was listening, nodding.

“Do you have any idea what’s wrong with her?” he asked.

“Not really. She seems drugged, but you said you didn’t see her take anything. Did she drink the water in the cave?”

“Not that I saw. But even if she did, could water do this?”

“The water could be tainted with goodness knows what. Or there might even be fissures in the cave with hallucinogenic gases escaping that she inhaled. It’s not unheard of at all on the island.”

“But I’m okay.”

“She could be more susceptible for any number of reasons.”

“Can you help her?”

“I should be able to. None of her vital signs are worrisome. Move back a little and be quiet. I want to try to talk her out of it, but for it to work I need her to hear my voice without any distractions.”

Reluctantly, Theo walked off and leaned against an oak tree, close enough to give his aunt room but still allowing him to see and hear what was going on.

“Jac, I want you to listen to me. It’s Minerva. I want to help you.” She was speaking softly, rhythmically, in an almost singsong voice. “I want to help you. I want to find you and help you back.”

Jac remained unresponsive. Her eyes were open but she didn’t seem to be focused on Minerva. She was still weeping, but silently and more gently now. A steady stream of tears like a late-afternoon rain.

“Jac, all you have to do is listen to my voice,” Minerva chanted. Her cadence was soothing even to Theo. And she was swaying a little too, like a human metronome, he thought.

“I want you to know you are safe. I’m here and Theo is here. And we care about you and can take care of you, no matter what is wrong. We can help. You don’t have to stay where you are. Even if you think you’re trapped, you’re not. I can bring you out. Just listen to my voice. Listen and let go of your fears. Listen and let me help. Listen and I will pull you out of where you are. Just listen to my voice. My voice is a powerful thread made of spun gold, twisted with copper, as strong as a tree trunk. Just listen to my voice and grab hold of it. Feel how strong it is? It’s so strong that if you are holding it, I can pull you out of wherever you are. Just relax, and listen, and hold on, and I will pull you out. Just listen to my voice. I’m pulling you out. You can feel yourself being pulled back. Back to where we are. Where Theo is. Where I am. Keep holding on.”

Theo thought he could see some change. Jac seemed to be leaning forward a bit. Swaying slightly to the rhythm of Minerva’s chant.

What was his aunt doing? Hypnotizing her?

“You’re going to be fine now, Jac. I have one end of the thread and you have the other, and I’m pulling you up. You’re surfacing. Up. Up. Out of the dark place where you’ve been trapped and into the light. Theo is here and waiting for you, and we’re going to go back to the house and have dinner and be together. You’re going to be fine. And safe. Just listen to my voice. It’s a strong, strong thread that is pulling you up, pulling you out of the dark. You’re not to be scared anymore. Or sad. Or worried at all. You’re going to be fine. Just hold on to the thread.”