Rebekah's Refuge Read online

  Frederick knew he’d have to cut this conversation short. “Thank you, sir. I’ll just take the pastries along to the orphanage, anyhow. All she can do is say no.” He turned and blinked in surprise when he saw the golden-haired norn that he remembered from a week previously. The sharp-featured woman was with her.

  Frederick watched the norn’s confident walk as she approached the counter. She was so self-assured. She reminded him so strongly of Laura that a painful lump rose in his throat. He lowered his head, blinking rapidly to contain his tears.

  “I’d like a loaf of rye bread, please,” the girl said. “And a dozen cream puffs.” The baker went to fill her order.

  Frederick turned to her. “Might I pay for that?” he asked.

  The norn blinked in surprise. “I remember you,” she said. “Your voice sounds familiar.”

  Frederick smiled, although the norn could not see it. “You as well. You bought some cinnamon bread from me. You loved my rutabaga tonic, too.”

  Rebekah smiled. “It was the best tonic I’d ever tasted besides my mother’s.”

  Frederick frowned. “Your mother didn’t appear to enjoy her meal at all.” He laughed.

  Rebekah blushed. “Oh, she was just nervous.” She ran her hands along the counter and fidgetted. “I’d better—”

  “Your order, miss.” The baker set a bag and a pasteboard carton in front of the girl. “That’ll be fifteen gabricks.”

  “I’ll get it for you,” Frederick said quickly.

  Rebekah shook her head. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

  “I know. I just want to do something for you.” He cleared his throat nervously. “You remind me of a very special friend. Her name is Laura, too. I haven’t seen her in several years, but her personality was similar to yours.”

  Rebekah frowned. “Your friend’s name was Laura?”

  Frederick nodded. “Yes. She used to—”

  “Laura? Are you ready to go now?” The weary-faced woman spoke from a few feet away, and Frederick noticed that the norn lowered her head sadly.

  “Yes, Mother,” Rebekah said. She lifted her purchases and walked toward the woman’s voice. After a moment, she turned back around and leaned toward Frederick. “Thank you for buying this for me.”

  Frederick smiled. “You’re welcome.” He watched the norn approach the woman and take her arm. Why did the girl hesitate every time she said the word mother? Something was wrong. Frederick watched as the norn and her mother left the bakery. Both of them looked so sad.

  Frederick watched as a man approached the counter and addressed the baker. “Do you have any blueberry tarts? And I wonder if you might know whether the local flower shop sells periwinkles? They’re my fiancée’s favorite flower.”

  That was Frederick’s signal. He turned to the door while the plain clothes policeman and the baker conversed. Frederick left the bakery and hurried toward the orphanage. He saw out of the corner of his eye the two officers disguised as newspapermen. They nonchalantly fell into step behind him. As Frederick walked along, he thought of the norn he had just talked to. Why was she acting so strangely?

  ***

  “We must get home,” Martha said. “We only meant to go to the bakery.”

  “It’s such a lovely day. Wouldn’t you like to walk outside a bit?”

  Martha sighed. The girl was crafty, but it was indeed a lovely day. “I suppose for a few minutes,” she said. She felt guilty at how easily she gave into Rebekah’s requests. Perhaps she had always been an overindulgent mother. Had Laura been able to manipulate her as easily? She supposed so.

  It was so wonderful having a companion to walk with her. She missed her daughter’s companionship so much. As they walked along, Martha noticed that Rebekah had her head tilted to one side as if she were listening. “What is it?” she asked nervously.

  Rebekah turned toward Martha’s voice. “Mother’s singing,” she said. “It sounds different, somehow.”

  Martha frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s harsher, and there’s more than one voice. That usually means several norns are gathered in one place.” She tilted her head once more. “They sound so sad and weak.”

  Martha shook her head. “Child, you must face facts about your mother,” she said gently. “I’ve searched for Laura three years now. I’ll never stop searching as I said before, but you mustn’t think we’ll find your mother today. You have to—" She stopped talking as a peculiar sound reached her ears. A melody of desperate sadness crashed upon her. The melody was more unsettling than any she’d ever heard, and she felt submerged in a dark ocean, floundering to gain purchase so that she wouldn’t drown. But the white-capped waves pressed upon her, their storm-tossed cacophony filling her with desolation. In the midst of the tumultuous sound, Martha suddenly recognized one of the voices. She was holding Rebekah’s arm. Could that be the reason she was hearing the oh-so-familiar voice?

  “Laura?” Martha whispered, apprehension and hope galloping through her veins. “I-It can’t be.”

  “You hear it, too?”

  Martha trembled violently. “Y-Yes,” she stammered. “It’s coming from our right, from the east.”

  Rebekah nodded emphatically. “We must find them! They’re in danger.”

  “I’ll go,” Martha said firmly. “I must keep you safe. I’ll take you back to the hou—” The word died in her throat. Without Rebekah, she might not be able to hear the music. How long had she imagined she heard Laura’s voice only to be disappointed later? Even so, a fledgling of hope fluttered in Martha’s heart. She gazed at Rebekah’s earnest face. Martha bowed her head in surrender. “We’ll go together,” she said wearily. “The only thing that lies to the east on this street is Periwinkle Terrace.”

  Chapter 15

  “You dare to come back?” Doris glared at Frederick, her hands on her hips. She stood beside the orphanage gate, the morning sun glinting on her straw hat. “My charges were gravely ill because of you. I don’t know if it was food gone bad or what, but for you to blatantly show your face here again is downright disgraceful!”

  Frederick observed Doris calmly. His heart was beating so loudly, he hoped she didn’t hear it. He tried to adopt a self-assured tone. “Haven’t I faithfully brought food to the orphans every week? Has there ever been anything amiss about it? I’d never intentionally harm them.”

  Doris sneered. “Yet you show little reservation about preparing poison for others.” She stared at him intently and laughed when he flinched. “Yes, I know all about that.” She looked at him pityingly. “This world is cruel, young man. You do what you must to survive in it. You’d best thank your lucky stars that Laura is safe. Go back to your work, and no more needs to be said. If the police come poking their noses into the orphanage’s affairs, which I doubt they will, I’ll claim I left the eggs sitting out too long or some other such nonsense. A mere case of overreaction on my part.”

  Frederick’s mind reeled. The officer’s suspicions had been right. It was a shock to discover this woman’s true nature. He shook his head. “I was a fool,” he said. “I won’t be responsible for anyone’s death, least of all children.”

  Doris shook her head in disbelief. “Are you truly so gullible? The children wouldn’t have died. I lost a child ten years ago and have made it my life’s mission to care for the unwanted and unloved children of the world. Do you think I’d risk children’s lives?” She frowned. “In this world, you do what you have to do to get by. Anyone with high ideals ends up drowning in their own tears. You’d do best to listen to me and return to your work.”

  Frederick turned away from her in disgust. “You’re aware that the police informed me about the poisoning incident?”

  Doris’s eyes widened. “I never informed them.”

  “An officer came to the drugstore, spouting some bluff about not being able to divulge an informant’s name. I came to you to say that I won’t allow you to get me into trouble.”

  Doris smiled. “So,
you truly only care about saving yourself.” She shrugged dismissively. “That’s typical of your kind, I must say. I told you. If you simply agree to give the courier what he needs, we’ll say no more about it. I only need two more batches of wormrack at the most. Two more events like what transpired at Wickson should be enough.” She smiled as if at a secret joke.

  Frederick shook his head. “I don’t appreciate you making assumptions about my character,” he snapped. “Release Laura. I’ll pay you fifty gabricks.”

  Doris frowned. “Fifty gabricks? That’s rather a low sum. I have to make a living, you know. I have children to provide for.”

  Frederick couldn’t contain a smile. The officer had been correct. Doris was greedy enough to take the bait. “One hundred, then?”

  “I was thinking more like five hundred. And, you’ll continue your work, of course.”

  Frederick shook his head. “That’s not an option. I’ll give you a thousand gabricks if you give me a day or two to collect that sum. You’ll release Laura now. I’ll pay you enough for that at least. What do you want, anyhow? Why are you seeking to hurt innocent people?”

  Doris laughed. “You foolish man! You have no concept of what I want. As for harming people, do you think I haven’t been harmed?”

  Frederick bowed his head. “You knew of a norn who was hurt during the Bind Weed Project. Perhaps that norn didn’t survive. You want vengeance, is that it?”

  Doris sneered with contempt. “You know nothing about it. Whoever you’ve been talking too knows nothing, either. You never shall understand. Perhaps I can agree to the sum of a thousand gabricks.” She reached out a hand for the carton of cream puffs. “I suppose I can accept your offering for the children as well. You know, I didn’t even send you locks from Laura’s head. The locks were from this.” She reached into the folds of her dress, withdrawing a heart-shaped locket which she opened. Inside nestled four golden leaves in the shape of locks of hair. Her hands trembled as she held the locket aloft. For a moment, her self-assured mask crumpled. “I had a daughter once, but she was taken from me. Now the children here are my family. My daughter and I were captured long ago, you see. She had such lovely hair. Before they took her from me, they cut her hair.” She swallowed convulsively and clenched the locket tightly. “She was an infant, but her hair was so very long. They took my daughter and her hair, but I managed to collect a few locks. I keep the locket to remember the one who was stolen.” As she spoke, her mask of assurance was replaced. She sneered at Frederick. “Leave now, and fetch me the sum you owe. Or, perhaps you’d like me to doctor these pastries, too? Perhaps with something a bit more interesting. Nothing I give the children will harm them, but symptoms can cause alarm, and your reputation can be destroyed quite effectively. I could make you suffer quite—”

  Splat! Doris gasped in surprise as an onslaught of cake and cream connected with her face. Frederick clutched the now opened box to his chest, his face livid. “Where is Laura?” he hissed. “Tell me this minute!”

  Doris grinned as she wiped cream from her face with a dainty handkerchief. “Such a temper! Of course, that’s quite typical as well.” She laughed. “I can’t imagine who could have contacted the police so soon. I planned to contact them tonight.”

  “Actually, I took that liberty.” A woman’s voice spoke behind them. Martha Brunswick stepped forward, her face ashen. “Doris, what is the meaning of this? You sought to hurt innocent—”

  “Martha!” Doris tried to compose her cake-splotched features into a kind smile. “This young man and I were merely discussing a misunderstanding.” Her eyes strayed to Rebekah. “Well, now. The norn returns.” Her smile broadened. “I couldn’t imagine how you could have guessed about the food being poisoned, Martha. Of course, norns can detect the slightest hint of poison in the air.” She leaned toward Rebekah. “You smell poison now, do you not, my dear?”

  Rebekah trembled, but she spoke with a strong voice. “Yes. Wormrack smells very strong here,” she said. “I also hear norns singing. Where are they?”

  Doris laughed. “Singing? I hear nothing.” She grinned at Martha and Frederick. “Do you hear singing?”

  Frederick shook his head, but Martha spoke matter-of-factly. “Yes, I do. That’s why Rebekah and I are here. We followed the music. What I want to know is why there are norns in your establishment, Doris?” Her tone grew deadly. “What is my daughter doing here?”

  Doris surveyed Martha calmly. “There are no norns in my establishment,” she said. “And no one would believe your word over mine.”

  “Then you won’t object if we take a look right now.” A burly police officer suddenly appeared, stepping from behind a hedgerow that skirted the orphanage grounds. He nonchalantly placed a newspaper under his arm. “I brought some candy for the children anyhow. Lovely morning for a walk, so I thought I’d just pop on by. Interesting conversation I’ve been overhearing, another mate of mine and me.”

  Doris tried to smile, but her expression wavered. “The children are asleep,” she said. “They mustn’t be disturbed. And, you have no warrant to search these premises.”

  “Really?” Another officer sauntered onto the grounds, holding a piece of paper aloft. “We’ve had our eyes on you for quite some time. You don’t think we haven’t noticed the unusual amount of activity happening here? People coming and going? So many packages arriving? People talk, you know, if given the right incentive.”

  Doris abruptly turned and ran toward the orphanage. “After her!” the officer barked to his colleague.

  As the officers hurried toward the orphanage entrance, Rebekah suddenly stiffened. “No,” she whispered. “No. Mother, don’t!”

  Martha was instantly alert. She clutched Rebekah’s arm. “What, child? What’s wrong?”

  “H-Her hair,” Rebekah whispered. “Mother’s hair smells of wormrack. It’s growing stronger every minute.”

  Martha sniffed the air but could smell nothing. But she knew Rebekah’s sense of smell was keener than her own. Norns could smell odors humans could not. “Is it just your mother’s hair?” she asked.

  Rebekah shook her head. “All of them,” she said softly. Fear burned within her.

  Martha stared around the grounds, observing the bleak surroundings. Rebekah had created lush beauty only a few days ago. What had happened to it?

  Doris’s voice floated to them from the orphanage steps. “Stay back, or I’ll release my sisters. You don’t want to meet them, I assure you.”

  “Your bluffing is useless,” one of the officers scoffed.

  “I have nothing to lose. But what of the orphans sleeping in their beds? What of everyone in this village, in this whole world, in fact?” She bowed her head, mournfully. “The Bind Weed Plague can wipe out entire towns in a mere few days. I would hate to cause such unwanted pain to families.”

  “Grab her, George,” the lead officer said gruffly. “We’ll hold her until we complete our search.”

  “Wait! Don’t!” Frederick cried out in alarm as George advanced on Doris. He had suddenly noticed that the hat covering Doris’s head was moving. Why was it moving? The hat fell from her head, and Doris cried out in a piercing wail.

  “My sisters! Come to my aid!”

  George had just enough time to jump back as the orphanage door opened with an earsplitting bang. Seven willowy figures floated out of the building, descending the steps and gathering in a circle. They raised their hands, and their dark, golden hair billowed about them in an invisible breeze. The seven norns raised their voices in a sad song:

  “Grow, grow, our sister waits

  For flowers of pain that we shall create.

  Spread, spread throughout the land

  Bringing pain and peril without end.”

  Doris threw back her head, her own dark, golden hair twining about her head like a coven of snakes. She joined her voice with theirs. Warty mushrooms of a putrid color burst from the ground, and vines began to emerge, their tendrils snaking outward as if groping for
prey. Frederick realized with a sense of shock that Doris was a norn as well.

  Chapter 16

  Rebekah’s mind reeled. Mother was here! What had happened to her? She gasped as a wave of noxious fumes assailed her, the sweetly sick odor of decay. Rustling filled her ears, and she knew that some sort of plant was sprouting throughout the orphanage grounds. What kind of plant it was she didn’t know. Weakness enveloped her.

  A trembling hand grasped Rebekah’s own. Martha’s voice came to her through the fog. “Laura is here,” she whispered brokenly. “My daughter is alive.”

  Rebekah blinked rapidly. Martha’s voice was so sad. “So is Mother. We have to help them.”

  “How?” Martha squeezed Rebekah’s hand. “They’ve become monsters. I think Doris has infected them with Bind Weed Plague. She must be a carrier.”

  Rebekah shook her head. Mother was no monster. “It’s wormrack I smell,” she said. “Doris might be a carrier, but I don’t think the others are. I think she’s made their hair grow wormrack. They’re still norns,” she said. “Maybe I can help them remember our true song, the one of Creation and healing that all norns are born hearing.” Shaking, Rebekah took her hand from Martha’s and stepped forward. A blast of poison-laced air slammed into her face as the frenzy of destructive creation continued. Rebekah gagged as she tried to open her mouth to sing. “Mother,” she whispered, her voice a gossamer thread. “Please stop.”

  Laughter filled her ears as a hand latched onto her arm. “Naïve girl!” Doris hissed. “Do you realize the potential we norns possess? We can gain ascendency over all creation. Do you know that I was taken when I was sixteen? I was shut away in a cage, forced to endure painful injections! Do you know the pain in my body when my hair began to change, how very frightened I was?” She gasped as if she’d been pummeled by vicious fists. “For months I languished in that cage. I had a child, a little girl whom the guards took away from me. They said they would find someone to feed her. I never saw her again.” Her face convulsed with pain. “When I was released, I searched for her but to no avail. You have no inkling of what I had to do in order to survive. The demands for potions to fulfill any desire. The beatings from those who want and want but give you nothing but pain in return! I had to learn to conceal my identity.” She glared at Frederick, Martha, and the police officers and spat upon the ground. “Humans will only use you until you are an empty husk, an automaton to serve their purposes. Better to prove your strength and protect yourself. Better to be a weapon, a fighter who survives at any cost. You may think the poison with which my sisters’ hair is embedded will cause devastation. Perhaps it will, but only if those who seek to hurt us refuse to listen to reason. I can make you into something new.” Her grip on Rebekah’s arm tightened.