TUS NUA - ch 6

TUS NUA – ch 6

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

(*)(*)(*)

As Annora approached Alistar, Finola warned her, “Annora, mo stor, remember you still have not yet totally eradicated the drugs from your system. Stay close to my cousin. He’ll protect you.”

Evangeline, Alister’s wife remarked, “Please, make things easy for you and your sister. Have her pack only what she needs.”

Mia looked at the other women sitting around the table. “As you can see, we are here to take care of you, all of you. Make you healthy again. Make you able to make your own decisions. This won’t be done overnight, so while we wait the few minutes it will take Alistar and Annora to bring her sister here, please feel free to ask me anything or just talk among yourselves.”

Finola raised her hand quickly to halt all action. “Wait, Alistar. You can’t just pop in on a young girl without scaring her to death. Jules, are you up for a ride?”

Julie smiled, looked at her husband and said, “Mickey, finally, I’m going to feel useful. I’ll be back quickly.” She kissed him softly on his lips and joined Alistar and Annora.

Alistar tossed a small glowing orb in the air and as it slowly descended, it opened to an oval-shaped portal. The trio stepped through it and vanished.

One of the young women asked, “Ms. Finola, we saw her use your mirror to find her sister. Can we use that mirror to see how they arrive there?”

It didn’t take long for Finola to decide. “Yes, but only for a moment. We want them to have their privacy.” She called to her mirror: “Mirror, my friend, I need you again. Where Alistar is, we call to see. So, I beg you; so, mote it be.”

The mirror’s glass swirled, then quickly cleared and everyone watched in awe as Alistar, Julie and Annora stepped into view. They heard Annora, “CC, I’m here with two friends.”

As the mirror in Ireland cleared, her younger sister in New York turned and without hesitation, jumped up and grabbed Annora. “Rory, omg, Rory, you’re home. Where have you been?”

Annora answered, “CC, how much do you trust me?”

“With my entire life, heart and soul. Why, what’s going on?”

“Quickly, while mom’s out, pack a small bag. Pack only what you think you can’t be without. Whatever you need, we’ll get you when we get to my new home. This is, well, let me start with Jules. This is Jules Diehl and this is her cousin, Alistar. They helped me get here and they’ll take us to our new home. Are you willing to leave mom and live with me?”

CC sadly hung her head, “Ever since dad left, she’s never home. I don’t know where he is and I have no idea where she goes, so, I’m always here by myself.” Sounding a bit hopeful, she continued, “If we could be together, that would be better than awesome.” For the first time in a while, CC smiled.

“For the time being, we’ll be living with a few other girls about my age. Is that okay with you?”

CC’s smile grew wider. “A new family? More sisters? Rory, that’s better than fantastic. When do we leave?”

“Pack quickly then we’ll go.”

CC grabbed her backpack, stuffed in her art supplies and laptop and its charger. She slid her phone into her back pocket. In a small travel case, she tossed in some underwear, two pairs of jeans and a few tops.

“Rory, will I need a dress? Dress shoes? Shampoos? What?”

Annora answered, “What you’ve packed is perfect. Anything else you might need, we can get.”

She looked at Alistar and asked, “I know you made her necessary papers, but we won’t need them, will we?”

He answered quickly, “No, mo stor. They are safely back home with Finola. CC will need them once we get back. Are you ladies ready, then?”

Annora smiled. Swung her sister’s backpack on her own back and told CC to pick up her small travel bag. “Hold on tightly to my hand. Whatever you do, do not let go.”

She grabbed Julie’s hand, as Julie grabbed Alistar’s. He looked at their faces and before CC could ask a question, he said, “Let’s go.”

Using his free hand, he tossed the small orb in the air and as it slowly descended, it once again opened to the portal. The trio stepped through it with Annora yanking CC inside.

When the portal opened at Tus Nua, CC stood as still as stone, completely mesmerized, but also terrified. Finally, she stuttered, “Wh, wha, omg, what was that? What happened? Where am I? Where are we?”

It was Morena who approached CC, putting her arm around the girls shoulders.

“Welcome to Tus Nua, the Gaelic term for ‘New Beginnings”. She looked at Annora and encouraged, “Annora, I know you and your sister have so much to discuss. You already know what’s going on down here so why not take CC upstairs, pick out whatever room you’d like, and make yourselves at home. We’ll have supper in about ninety minutes. Oh, and don’t worry, Boots will follow you upstairs.”

CC looked at her sister, “Boots? Your boots are walking by themselves? What was that thing that got us – by the way, where are we?”

Annora held on to her sister’s hand and led her to a room at the far end of the hall. As she grabbed the doorknob, she noticed that the white door had changed to pale blue and their names were being written in bright white lettering. Inside, she found two beds.

She tossed CC’s backpack on one, said, “Just put your travel bag down and I’ll tell you everything I know. What I don’t know, I can promise, will be explained later.”

CC was still somewhat hesitant, but still declared, “Rory, the few people of your family that I’ve met, seem so nice. How long will they allow us to stay?”

Annora hugged her sister and dreamily replied, “Oh, honey, we’re here as long as we want to be. Oh, by the way, we’re in Greenan, Ireland.”

“Ireland? How, wait! We never got on a plane, how, what, I’m so confused!”

The cat jumped on the bed where CC was sitting. “Oh, by the way, CC, this is Boots, my kitten. Now, I’ll pour you some tea and explain everything I can.”