The Archangel of a Black Feather. Al Crown
used to embed the girl within such a despicable emblem.
A patient of Dr. Daniel was conversing with the cleric of the town about Elena: “That girl is a bad omen for the whole community. She is spoiling day by day her family’s reputation. We should send her far away, reverend! I have to confide an incident I witnessed outside the Morgairs’ house. I exited Daniel’s dwelling after he gave me some medication, noticing Elena torturing reptiles.”
The priest enquired, “What do you mean ‘torturing?’ Be more specific.” The embarrassed male pointed out, “I saw with my eyes that little imp thrusting tiny scales of wood inside the head of lizards. The reptiles were writhing in agony while she was laughing, displaying a giggle of contentment. I cannot forget that!”
“What you are telling me is mischievous, contorted for a little girl,” “There is more, your eminence! A friend of mine told me that she saw
Elena smashing frogs with flat rocks along the lagoon; she was disgusted and vomited. Elena Morgair is always harming little helpless animals, talk- ing to herself. She could be…” a moment, “A bruja,witch!” replied the cleric while the confessional portal closed behind him. Elena was carried in front of the church sentry soon after, forced to gaze at the Holy Mary obelisk a few yards from the altar. She was forced to recite a haunted spell in order to obliterate Elysa’s devilish seventeen birthday ciphers…1609. The priest helped by the verger restrained the imp.
“Why don’t you show yourself, Lucifer? Dwelling in this little arrogant brat? Release her, and free her family from this curse. In the name of God, I expel you! It’s he that gave us the authority,” yelled the cleric, while Elena was kicking and booting hysterically, screaming, “Let me go, please, let me go! It is my sister the devil, not me! I want my father, help me!”
The situation was out of control. Daniel ran to the cathedral to rescue his feeble daughter, after being alerted. Moments later, Elena briskly escaped outside the sanctuary layout, screaming, and threatening to attempt suicide by plunging into the river.
She was able to get free, feeling betrayed by her own family, “My aunt! She is the one who hates me! Elysa, I despise you! You both are a desgracia (disgrace),” screamed a furious Elena in distress. She was venting years of anguish and jealousy, drooling like a possessed soul. The priest was cross- ing his chest and reciting the exorcism, while Daniel in panic attempted to save her. He said: “Elena, I love you. I am your father, please! Forget about your aunt and Elysa, I am here for you, little princess. Calm down and do not act like that!”
Daniel climbed to the cliff and dived in the river as soon as his daughter jumped. He saved her life. From that day on, Elena never spoke with her sister again.
In time Elysa had acquired a wide knowledge of medicine and natural treatments as well, using various manuscripts and notes she made in those years assisting her father.
Three weeks before her birthday, their aunt got sick, and the two girls had to stay at home with her. Daniel went northeast to San Sebastian for an emergency. In the afternoon, a wagon with horses from the monastery arrived outside the Morgairs’, asking for help. One young student was seriously sick and could not breathe properly—the novice was part of an important devout clerical family and was assisting his uncle in his profession. They moved from Rome to Spain for a couple of years.
A man faced Elena on the doorstep. “We are looking for Elysa, they gave us this address, it is very urgent, please!” Elena stared at the male with an ugly face and answered, “I do not know her!” She stepped back, while Elysa introduced herself to the stranger.
“We need your help, please, we were told you are as good as your father. There are no doctors available. We went to the closest villages, and everybody mentioned you.”
Elysa grabbed what was at hand, collecting everything in a bag. It was the end of August…dark and raining outside. They rapidly approached the monastery, while someone from the window said in a loud voice, “The magic healer is coming up.” Elysa was scared and in a state of agitation. For the first time she was going to assist a sick person without Daniel’s support.
The big heavy portal opened with a sound of crunching hinges, while the angel was brought swiftly into the novice’s room. The young fellow was mumbling because of high fever, rumbling with a hard respiration. He was confused and in a state of delirium.
“He got sick all of a sudden! He got worse yesterday, and today, as you can see…” The girl replied, “I know what to do, I just need your assistance to move him…It is not too late!”
Elysa suspected it was a virus, perhaps an infection, deciding to utilize several herbs to make an infusion. Her goal was to lower the fever, freeing the neophyte’s nose and throat. She spent all night in the room, and at dawn he opened his eyes and saw the angel who had saved his life, an angel he would desire forever. “What a gorgeous young lady God sent me—she is an angel fallen from the sky. Whoever you are, you saved my life,” the young novice whispered, eyeing the gem. Her eyes were those of a fawn, largely deep with a wider expression. Prolonged eyelashes moved like sails, giving origin to the wind of passion.
At the beginning he could not properly hear the people conversing around him, spellbound by the gentle dance of her full lips, whispering in silence. He was struck by Elysa right inside the heart, admiring her long wavy hair descending upon a dream of lost love. He was distraught and confused, lost in melancholic deep emotion.
Elysa was asked almost every day to come and visit her patient. She was attracted by his kindness…a mutual respectful feeling of love, which soon after spread around rumors of a scandalous affair. Daniel came back one week later, having cured numerous people affected by an unknown disease. He was so pleased and proud of Elysa for taking care of those medically in need.
“I am very glad for you, my love,” he told Elysa. “You took the best part of your mother’s personality. You deserve much more from your life, much more. I will tell you about my patients’ illnesses and how I treated them, but first your story. How did you save this young fellow? I heard he is part of an authoritative, wealthy family, which means you brought luster to the Morgairs!” Daniel kissed her, saying that only she could have saved her mother, while behind the slightly opened door, Elena was peeping in a distressed, hateful agony.
She was wishing Elysa a horrible desgracia! Elena’s jealousy toward her sister was growing every day, especially when rumors about the lovers’ affair became redundantly persistent. The eleven-year-old started conspiring within her troubled soul, concocting a cold, malicious revenge in time. Daniel and Elysa went home to celebrate the event, while two envious eyes full of covetousness were staring in darkness outside…a sight of fear…
CHAPTER XI
Mysterious Island
Inspector Kevin did not intend to lose time on pointless, unproductive fact-findings, he needed real consistent evidence, and for this reason he decided to locate the antecedent chaplain of the North Vancouver
reserve. On the other hand, Giacomo had all the reason to raise doubts about Larry’s sudden transfer, because not enough explanations were given by the Vancouver diocese.
Toronto investigators rapidly traced the chaplain, who provided police with a series of documents produced by the Roman Vicariate, in which he requested personally to be moved close to his family. He needed to assist his sick old mother. As a solid reason, he presented a medical certificate to the officers, clarifying the whole confusing scenario. However, even if the cleric had never met Larry, for being in Vancouver and Toronto in different times, he had something curious to tell: “Larry loved writing, making innumerable manuscripts and coded scripts, especially in his favorite old Latin. He left in the sacristy crypt a notebook dedicated to the Oak Island mystery. His findings referred in particular to the expeditions and local aboriginal legends. Larry strongly highlighted that the island was placed on the 44 parallel North of the Earth equatorial plane, crossing Europe, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. (Washington State Vancouver is crossed by the 45parallel North.) It was a line of prophecy, as Larry wrote on the parchments,