Charmed to the Tenth Ch. 01

"Do you remember any singing?"

"No, do you?"

"No. I needed to know what you remembered before I gave you this." Jeff handed Kate an ordinary envelope. But he covered Kate's hand and shook his head when she reached to open the letter. "It's the translation of what's in that letter. I need to tell you the whole story first, start to finish, no interruptions or questions, and then you can read it."

Kate nodded and placed her hands in her lap.

"First, I scanned the letter written in Cyrillic then went on line to get a translation. I wanted the results right away. But what came back made no sense. Some of the sentences made sense but the others... Anyway, so the ones that made sense also seemed like a warning."

"Like what kind of warning?"

"This is a long story so just let me finish? ... As I was saying; I've got this translation and the only parts that make sense seem like a warning; like it was really important that I do what the letter tells me to. But the parts that are supposed to be telling me something are the parts that came out making no sense."

"When did you get this stuff?"

"For Christ's sake Kate, you want some tape for your mouth to remind you?"

"Won't happen again, promise." Kate smirked and covered her mouth with both hands.

"For some reason, I felt like it was really important that I keep the letter and its contents secret. Every time I pulled it out I got this horrible paranoid feeling, like someone was going to burst through the door and beat the shit out of me. When I put it all away, I felt normal again. I decided to take the letter to the Russian Language department at College Park, I was headed there to see Nikki anyway."

At that Kate rolled her eyes and seemed about to say something.

"NO. Shush. Listen. I put the letter in another envelope for transporting it. But as soon as I folded down the flap, I got that paranoid feeling again. Really strong this time. I put the letter down and started looking around thinking something was wrong. Then I came back to the letter and placed it back in the drawer. Feeling gone, in an instant." He snapped his fingers to illustrate his point. "I hate being freaked out. Decided I would master this stupid paranoid business. I grabbed the letter and ran for the door."

Kate began to laugh.

"Yeah I know, like I was going to outrun whatever was making me paranoid. But I can't tell you how horrified I felt, I just can't describe it; like I was going to die. The closer I got to the door the heavier that feeling got. Really, Kate it was... I don't know?"

"Why were you testing?" Kate placed a hand on her hip and pointed a wagging finger at Jeff. Using her memory of her mother's voice and accent she said; "Always listen to yourself." Then in her father's gruff voice and rough guttural accent, though not quite realistic, "If you don't listen to yourself, can you ask others to listen to you?"

Back in her own voice and her own dialect Kate completed the admonition. "What were you thinking?"

"Yeah, I know, but this time it was more than some kind of instinct, it was oppressive; physical. This time it was so different. It was focused on the letter. That's never ever happened to me. You?"

Kate shook her head and looked at the envelope with new respect.

"That's what I thought. It was driving me crazy, this letter, I couldn't understand, arriving out of the blue with the two charms. It meant something, that much I knew, but I had to find a way to get the letter translated and the letter seemed like it didn't want to be translated?" Jeff plopped his head on top of his hands, rubbed his forehead then ran his hands through his hair.

"Okay, so then I came up with an idea. I took the copy I'd made from the scan and then divided the sentences up. No more than a dozen and a half or so consecutive words per division. I printed out I don't know maybe twenty-five pages, each page holding only a about eighteen words. I divided up the papers into three piles, like dealing a deck of cards, one pile would go to College Park, one pile would go a Russian language tutor here in town, and one pile I would mail off to a Russian translator from this certified language translator business I found in DC. Stuffed each pile into an envelope, with a letter explaining my request and how to reach me with the results. The whole time I'm doing this I feel no warning or creepy feeling, everything is A-okay."

"I put my jacket on, stuffed one of the envelopes into my breast pocket and again...nothing. No feeling like I was being watched, no feeling like something terrible was about to happen. Okay so this can go forward, I think."

"So, I got all three envelopes dropped off or mailed to their respective translators and sat back to wait for the results to come back. By Wednesday I had all the results back from all the different translators."

"Now pay attention here, I go to see Nikki on Friday night, stay over then drop off the first pile to the professor there on Saturday. On Sunday, I go to County General to spend some time with Sarah."

Kate rolled her eyes again but this time she also licked her lips. Kate had always liked Sarah and hoped one day Jeff would announce that Sarah had discovered she'd been wasting her time with men and wanted a woman instead. So far it hadn't happened.

"Yeah Sarah's still into men."

"One can always hope..." Kate murmerd.

"Back to the story here. So, I'm leaving the hospital after playing doctor with Sarah on her break and something weird as shit happens. Never EVER happened before and it scared the shit out of me. But here's the thing, while it was happening, I never felt so wonderful in my life. Honest to God."

"What? What happened?"

"I think I fell in love." Jeff sat back and smiled, then shook his head and sat forward with a pleading look in his eye. This was not something Jeff ever intended to feel in his life and it wasn't entirely a welcome surprise.

"Well it's about fucking time. Glad to know your heart works after all."

"No, no, you haven't heard the whole thing yet. The moment our eyes met I felt this... this... I don't know this sense of knowing, like I was supposed to be here and she was supposed to be there and we were supposed to be together? I can't explain it right so I'm not even going to try. God I get all stupid when I even just think about her. Anyway, she is absolutely beautiful, the most perfect woman I have ever seen. We're riding in the elevator, I'm trying to time it right to get her talking to me and in comes this old lady who, oh my God that was funny, she starts crying right, like she's just lost her best friend or something. So Eva, that's her name..."

"The old woman's name?"

"No no, the beauty in high heels. So Eva looks at the old lady all serious and come to find out ... Oh wait let me back up. Eva starts being all nice to the lady and the lady starts to cry and cry. Eva tries to get the woman some help; we're both thinking the woman just had someone die on her. But turns out, she's leaving the bedside of her neighbor who is doing fine. She's crying because her fifteen year old cock-a-poop that's blind and deaf ran away and she's afraid she'll never find the dog since it can't see or hear where it's going."

At this Jeff breaks into guffaws but after a moment he notices his sister is just staring at him.

"What? You don't much care for dogs either?"

"No, I actually really hate dogs, but I could still see the sadness here. Jeff, you really do have something missing you know that?"

"No wait, I wasn't laughing at her misfortune. Christ Kate, I'm not a beast. I was laughing because Eva was so sympathetic toward the old woman, thinking she had lost someone significant, thinking the hospital blew it by not taking care of the poor old thing, thinking the poor woman was in a state of shock and needed someone to guide her, help her find a relative or a friend who can help take care of her in her time of need and sorrow... Holy shit did I just say all that?"

"There's hope for you yet big brother."

"Yea, so anyway it was a funny situation and when Eva realized she'd stepped into a pile of shit thinking she was helping the lady out of the mud, she looked at me. She looked right at me and I melted, became completely helpless." Jeff refilled his wine and topped off Kate's.

"So, eyes meet, connection's made, falling in love. Got me so far?"

"Oh, can I talk now?"

"No, not yet. I follow Eva and the woman out of the elevator at the lobby floor. Without even thinking, I grab the woman's other hand and lead them all to the cafeteria. Uhh uh, shush. I pull out a chair for the old lady and then pull out a chair for Eva. I sat down and took over. Me. I got involved in another person's problems, willingly."

"Got the woman's son on the phone and explained what had happened and where I was. The guy was pissed about the dog, cause it was his son who was supposed to be taking care of the damn thing. He's on his way over to the hospital anyway because he was supposed to pick up the old lady at about this time. I explain all this to the old lady then I offer to get us all a soda or something. Tea for the old lady, water for Eva and I got a coke. We then walk her to the front entrance and just as soon we got there she saw her son pulling up. Walk her out to the car, bye bye, yes you're welcome, best of luck with Poopsie and finally it's just Eva and me."

Jeff took another sip of wine to calm himself. The strange part was coming up and he wanted to be able to explain without sounding freaked out.

"I turn to Eva at the same time she turns to me. She looks right into my eyes and once again, all thought goes from my mind except 'Gotta make this woman mine, all mine.' I think I may have even said 'mine' to her. Don't ... just... don't Kate; let me get through this?"

"Eva puts her hand on my chest and says, I kid you not; 'My eyes do that to people. Usually I wear glasses to dampen the effect. You were very nice but we weren't meant to be.' Then she turns, and walks ... away. I watch her go thinking I'm going to die without this woman. I begin to walk after her but she notices I'm following so she picks up her pace, like I've scared her. So I yelled, 'Eva, I need you ... and you need me; we are meant for each other.'"

"You what? No." Kate slapped her hand down on the table and looked aghast.

"Yes, I said that. Have no clue where it came from, it just popped out of my mouth, like someone else was saying it. Okay, now we're almost at the end so stay with me here. She stops dead in her tracks. She pivots in place. She walks up to me looking angry. Then she says, 'Show me.' I look in her eyes thinking I'll find the answer there somewhere, but nothing. In desperation my eyes roll down her face and land on the patch of skin between her breasts, which by the way are nowhere near what we like but I couldn't stop salivating, but there between her breasts... is... this."

Jeff picked up one of the charms from the box and showed it to Kate.

Kate's eyes became huge rounded circles and then she shot up from the table and pointed her finger at her brother.

"Okay you son of a bitch, you had me going there for a while. Damn good story, really applause all around." Kate began to clap.

Jeff remained still and silent, he held Kate's gaze and waited for her to return to listening mode.

Kate continued to smile and clap but after several minutes, her smile lost its edge, her clapping slowed down. Then she stopped all together and sat back down.

"Bull shit." Kate dared Jeff to prove it. She was about to be very unhappy.

"Remember the time line. I met with Nikki on Friday, stayed the night and dropped off the papers with the professor on Saturday morning. Also on Saturday, I mailed out the other two piles, one went to DC the other here in Annapolis. Sunday, I visit Sarah and end up meeting Eva. I didn't get all the translations back until Wednesday."

"Here, take a look at this. This is the on-line translation that was mostly crap. You see anything that connects with me meeting Eva, other than the charms?" He waited for Kate to shake her head. "Keep in mind, I wasn't able to get a look at Eva's chest until the very last possible second. After all those... whatever, and after I called out to her with someone else's words. Okay, with me so far? Just nod don't talk."

"Here are the translations. The paper on top is where I put them all back together again. The papers underneath are the broken up sections I sent out and their translation underneath. I need some air, so take your time reading them."

I greet you Jesiff, son of my brother. I send greetings to Katerina the girl child of my brother. This missive must come as a shock to you, after all these times have gone by. You will not understand and be much in anger with your Uncle. There is important reason of the secrecy and this you must keep above all. My brother, your father, fled this country long ago to keep his Other safe. You must never search for or find your family names. I have different name too to keep all safe. I wish to be saying everything different, but this is truth and some you must know.

These Charms you must wear at all times. You must not ever remove them. You must keep them out of sight until such a time that you are prepared. Once these preparations have been successful, the charm may be put in such a place that your Other will find it. Do not think hard on this, it will happen as it should. She needs you and you need her, you two were meant for each other.

When my brother, your father, left this world, his Other also went with him, of course. But they had little time to tell you all you must know. I cannot write in this way, it would be far dangerous more than even this old man would undertake. I so regret that your future must come to you this way, but all is as it should be. You remember the chant, the song you sang as my brother, your father, and his Other moved on to the Next? That chant will be your home. It will be important and have special meaning. Remember it, but do not repeat it unless you feel there is no other way.

Names are important and my brother, your father waited longer time than right to name you Jesiff. Your name means governor. My brother, your father made the right choice.

Katerina, your name means chaste one, pure one. Why your mother insisted on this name I will not know, but I wish you great happiness even though you will never marry.

Now my children, be good to each other. Know that you do have family and we watch over you. It is not safe for us to be together now. Keep your faith, allow it to enter your hearts and open your minds.

Your ever loving, Uncle Boris

"Oh my fucking God." Kate was torn between laughing, crying, and throwing something really, really hard. "What is this supposed to mean? I'm the pure one? You've got to be kidding me?"

Jeff had walked back into his loft but wished they could move the conversation out to his balcony. He loved looking at the setting sun over the Severn River. He never felt more peaceful than when he was sitting on his balcony at sunset. But it was not private out there and this conversation could not be overheard.

"We can start with that bit first if you want. Yes, you are the pure one who will never marry."

"How can you say that to me? Especially right now with everything with Yvonne and all. And you know I have as much sex as you. This ...," Kate cupped the air that encircled her crotch. "has seen some action. No this whole letter is bullshit."

"Kate, our dear Uncle Boris grew up in Russia, the old part, where newfangled ideas like hot lesbian sex as a way of life didn't exist, well not in the open. You've never "known" a man. You've never had sexual intercourse with a man. You never intend to, therefore you never will marry A MAN. But it doesn't say anything about another woman." Jeff smiled as Kate began to relax and realize she hadn't been cursed with eternal loneliness after all.

"Now I want you to try something. Just relax and open your mind. Open your hand now." Jeff gently placed a charm in Kate's palm then closed her fingers around it. "Think about love, just what that feels like. Don't try to picture anything other than what love feels like."

Jeff sat silently and waited. Just as he was getting impatient, Kate's eyes flew open and she dropped the charm on the table.

"What did you see?" Jeff had no idea if this would work for Kate as it worked for him. He had discovered it quite by accident. After he came home from his encounter with Eva, he sat at his desk and looked at the charm wondering what it could possibly mean. He picked it up and absentmindedly began replaying his encounter, trying to figure out what that mesmerizing pull was, how to define it.

As he focused on how he felt, Eva's eyes, bright as day, popped into his head. That connection from the first instant their eyes had met in the elevator flared in his brain and in his groin. Eva, Eva, such a beautiful name. She was a lovely young woman. He was in love with her. As his wandering thoughts latched onto the word love, the image of Eva grew stronger in his mind. Eva's image changed from that of a memory, to an image happening and reacting in the right here and right now. She had been looking at herself in the mirror, when she pulled back in astonishment. Then he heard Eva say directly to him, 'So it is you?'

Jeff, like Kate, had been so shocked he dropped the charm on his desk and the enchantment evaporated.

"I saw a woman, but I don't know her. She is so beautiful, her eyes are really magnificent. I felt like she saw me?" Kate whispered.

"She did. That's what I think these charms are. They let us see our Other, and if our Other is holding or wearing the Charm, they will see us." Jeff picked up both of the charms again and offered one to his sister. "The thing I can't figure out is the warning of secrecy, how the paranoid feeling fits in, why it's such a big deal that we have these charms that link us to our Others? Why should we not let anyone else know? I mean, aside from the absolute other-worldliness and unbelievability of it all... seems very harmless to me."

"That's because you don't understand. Now get out of my vision."

"Oh, and you do understand Kate?" Jeff demanded.

"Understand what? What are you talking about." Kate was still holding her charm trying to figure out who the woman from her vision could be.

"You didn't... oh I thought I heard you mumble something about understanding..." Jeff didn't know why he felt compelled to keep the voice, and what it had said, to himself. But he decided it would be best to follow his instinct at this point. Besides, he was now certain the voice was Eva's. What he wasn't certain about was why she sounded so pissed.