Reader, when we are told something that goes against how we understand the world, against science, against fact, we automatically reject it without a second thought. So when Phoenix told Elwood about nocturnes, he thought she was insane.
That is, until an orb of swirling white light appeared in Phoenix’s hand.
“This is what constace looks like,” she said.
Elwood staggered back, his mind searching for an explanation. A dream, he thought simply. I’m dreaming. That seemed to be enough for him to concentrate on Phoenix’s words.
“It’s the essence of deviation from reality.”
“Pardon?”
“I suppose it is hard for dinocts to understand. It’s the stuff that allows the world to break away from the laws of the universe. It’s akin to…magic.”
Elwood stood silently watching the swirling sparkling light. Suddenly, he felt something materialize in his pocket. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a glowing pink flower. With his other hand, he pulled out another flower identical to the first. More and more flowers materialized. They overflowed in the pockets of his jacket, suddenly spilling onto the gravel of the parking lot. His dream was apparently getting stranger.
“This is an example of what constace does,” Phoenix said gesturing to the flowers “Haven’t you noticed anything peculiar about this town? About the people who live here?”
Elwood shook his head.
“This place, this town has been an active site of constace since the stone age. There’s so much of it here, we’re practically swimming in it. That’s why the people here are so strange, psychics, seers, phyllokinetics, they’re attracted to this place. That’s why nocturnes first settled here. There was so much constace to manipulate, it was a cake walk to create metaphysical ports,”
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
Phoenix sighed. “Nocturnes. manipulate. constace. Constace. makes. things. weird. There’s. much. constace. here.”
Elwood nodded.
“But without nocturnes, constace does its own thing, especially in multitudes like this. That’s why strange things happen, like the frogs, and the glowing flowers piling at your feet.”
Elwood looked down at his feet again, where a small mountain of pink flowers was appearing.
“Lyra used to live here, and if she’s missing, and there are no nocturnes in this area…”
Phoenix trailed off for a second, contemplating.
“Mr. Evans…I think he might’ve been their guardian, and if he’s dead, we have a big problem.”
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ReplyDeleteAfter a moment he heard someone behind him clear his throat. He turned his attention to the young man who stood on the other side of pool. The warm mist blurred the edges of his profile.
ReplyDelete"Hello, Elwood, I was hoping you'd come up and enjoy the view and the waters. The plants are exceptional. They were recommended by a resident here at the Foxberry. Rose, do you know Rose?"
Jack smiled and Elwood, still a bit bewildered how he ended-up on the rooftop pool deck, nodded. He, in fact, had met her. "Yes. Yes. She's very nice."
"Yes." Jack paused then walk over to a table and picked up the box.
"I am sure you are familiar with this style of box." Elwood walk around the pool deck and smiled.
"Why, yes. It's a sakake-bako box."
Jack smiled at Elwood's response. "Of course." He paused then looked at Elwood. "There are so many questions that are, well, infesting our town. Perhaps you can find some answers for us. This box was delivered today by Bea. You know Bea, our mail person?"
"Yes, she's very helpful." Elwood looked at the box. It was an old one. Not the cheap, tourist-brand. He looked up at Jack.
"Yes, perhaps, Mr. Stars. Maybe I can help."
“Elwood followed Phoenix as she left the circus, but not before looking back to see the strange pink lion who was staring at him so intently before. But as he stared into the cage there was no lion.”
ReplyDeleteWhy does Phoenix want to get into Mr. Evan’s mailbox?
Maybe focusing more on Ellwood rather than the interacting character (Phoenix) would allow for more character development. Your blog focused mostly on Phoenix and her actions rather than Ellwood’s.