Branwen Council Chapter 1

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Dear Reader,
 
         This is the first chapter to a novel I am writing, Branwen Council. I have not revised this chapter yet and was hoping for some reviews to help me with that task. I want the piece to flow and I want it to be understandable. Let me know what you think, and how I can improve. Thanks in advance!
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Chapter 1

 
         ‘Look at them. All bustling about in their best wardrobe. It may be the happiest day of their lives.’ Tamia curled her brown hair around her finger, diddling with it in frustration. ‘It makes me so sick.’
         Belvedere Hall had seen many days like this. It was voted as Arizona’s number one wedding hot spot, or so that’s what the travel channel had said. Wedding planners and cooks relished at the thought of working in the hall. Tamia Benet happened to be one of the few chefs picked for the task. She should have been pleased with being selected about three years ago, but she had dreams that were not fulfilled in a kitchen.
         Delicate Arum Lilies were strung out over the walls, their pure white petals matched the heavenly theme of the ceremony. Centerpieces of crystal and candles glowed warmly on each table. A soft muted trumpet sent music throughout the room as several couples danced almost symmetrically to the rhythmic sounds. Others were dining on elegant foods and wines.
 
         Tamia leaned against one of the cream-colored columns, “Is it fair that I’m always on the sidelines at these events? You’d think after 30 weddings I would at least have met someone at one of them who had an eye for me.” Tamia appeared in her typical work gear, a black silky blouse and slacks to match. Her apron had numerous stains from the kitchen, they never bothered her. She was not your typical all around fuss about everything girl.
         “Now child, you know you are only 22 and you have your whole life to find that Mr. Right. Enough of this complaining, we need those vegetables stat. I am not about to hear a trifle lecture from the boss again.” Tamia knew Mrs. Centra had already put up with too much trouble. Just last week Tamia had gotten into a disagreement with the staff about certain courses that were to be prepared. It caused such an uproar that they almost had to cancel the entire party.
         Tamia simply nodded and got back to work. Her fingers begun to break open fresh green beans and tossed them into a sizzling hot pan along with other brightly colored vegetables. Her body was well into her work, though in her mind she often imagined what her life could be like. Instead of slaving over a hot grill for hours at a time, something she was not fond of, she imagined herself successful and actually enjoying her life for once. Of course she knew that the life she wanted probably never would surface and become reality. She had to accept herself and what was, at least for the time being.
 
         Off in the corner of her eye she spied her friend, apparently on his break. Smoke encircled his head in swirls and curves, dancing about his spiked-up dirty blonde hair. He wasn’t permitted to smoke in the kitchen and of course he didn’t really care. Tamia wondered if he’d ever really cared about anything. She turned her head to look at him, giving him a look stating that he knew better. “Maybe you should think about putting that one out, Nick?”
         His eyes jabbed at Tamia like piercing bullets. A cold chill ran down her spine and gave her goose bumps throughout her body, making her look away. She contemplated how such a tall lanky man like Nick could have such power with just a look. He appeared completely dark and mysterious, she loved it. It was a good thing he was completely harmless.
         “Isn’t it about time you go home, Benet?” Why he insisted on calling Tamia by her surname was unknown to anyone. She didn’t mind, really. It made her feel a little special, as if by some chance he held her closer than any other, secretly. No, no of course not. Who would find a wedding cook to be anything more than useful in the catering department?
         “Always trying to push me out the door, eh Nick?” Tamia winced a sly grin at Nick and wiped her hands on her apron. “It’s not like I have much to rush off to now, is it?” Nick shrugged his shoulders and dropped the butt of his cigarette onto the floor, pressing it into the grey concrete. Tamia’s mind wandered away again.
 
         “Tamia...” A muffled voice broke in, not quite breaking Tamia’s daydream. The voice came again, this time a pitch louder. “Tamia! You’re off the clock, go home!” She was startled and had jumped back knocking into a tray of blueberry muffins. Thankfully, they had not fallen from the impact of Tamia’s hip. How long had she been standing there drifting off? “You need sleep child, go home and get some rest.” It was Mrs. Centra again smiling at Tamia. Her smile was not that of a beauty, but it brought comfort to a weary mind.
         Tamia smiled back. “You’re right, I should go home now.” She took off her apron and slung it over her tired shoulder. She had to walk past Nick who was leaning on the wooden railing by the exit. Why would she feel so uneasy about this, Nick and she were very good friends. Something felt different tonight, she tried to decide if it was actually something to worry over or if it was just the lunch she had earlier disagreeing with her. Picking up her keys, she made her way to the door and was abruptly stopped in her tracks.
         Nick didn’t say a word. He slipped a piece of paper into her hand and walked off in an opposite direction. She closed her hand into a fist, breathed in one more breath of gourmet food-filled air, and continued out of the door.
 
         The warmth from the kitchen was rapidly escaping from Tamias olive toned skin into the night. How she wished she had brought her leather jacket to keep warm. Hastily she made her way home by foot, which was only a few blocks away. She enjoyed these walks home, they gave her an opportunity to relax and come down from the stress of her job. Though tonight, she felt her surroundings were somewhat awkward, as if they were shifted somehow. Tamias stomach began to stir and churn. Whatever it was she felt was affecting her physically. She felt as though a heavy weight dropped onto the back of her neck and shoulders. Finally she made it to her front door. It was a struggle in itself, but she was able to unlock the deadbolt and slide inside.
         Tamia literally fell face first onto the couch. She was dizzy and sick to her stomach. She heard what she thought were hundreds of voices in her head. All of them jumbled up incoherently. Not one single thought of her own could enter her mind. Absolute chaos and fear overwhelmed her emotions. Then, all was silent. A striking blow was felt to the backside of her head and all went dark.
 
 
         “Can you hear me?” A voice uttered though the silence. Tamia was sitting in what felt like a wooden chair. A soft light shone down on her highlighting her dark brown tresses. She looked around into an infinite void. There were no walls, no ceiling, not even a floor. “I say, can you hear me dear?”
         “What’s going on? Where am I?” Tamia replied, trying to fathom where she was and how it would be possible to be on a wooden chair in the middle of nothingness.
         “Oh good! We have finally been able to make contact with you. We are pleased!”
         “I can’t see you, where are you?” She peered through her hazel eyes, confused.
         “Yes, yes! Let us help you see.” A cool sensation draped over Tamias body, tingling her skin. A wave of color and sound washed around her and in an instant she was sitting on her wooden chair in the middle of a meadow. Birds chirping harmonious songs, leaves of autumn hues adorned each tree, and a small stream flowed from the east to the west, trickling over various sized stones. Near the stream, a woman stood in a flowing white dress which gave off a soft blue haze. “Come over to us my dear.”
         Us? There was only one person here aside from Tamia herself, why did she keep referring to more than one? Tamia stood up and crossed over the lively green grass to the lady in white.
         “You have no idea how long we have waited for this moment. Over trials and tribulations, wars and reconciliations. We have struggled to make contact with you, my dear.” The lady in white was facing away from Tamia, toward the stream. Her almost white hair flowed in the gentile breeze.
         “Please tell me what is going on?” Not knowing what to make of all of what she had been seeing and hearing, Tamia beckoned for knowledge. She tugged on the lady in white’s arm which turned her to face Tamia. Tamia froze in her place. There was no face, no eyes, no nose, no mouth. There was nothing but what appeared to be some sort of liquid screen in it’s place. It looked like mercury moving steadily and continuously in a slow current.
         “We are the Branwen Council. The fair, white ravens of Despoina. We sent one of our people to find you and haven’t heard from her. Has she made contact with you?”
         “I’m sorry, all of this is overwhelming. The Branwen Council? Despoina? I haven’t heard of these names before. And no, I haven’t met anyone new recently.”
         “We haven’t the time to go into details. In fact, unfortunate as it is, it is time for you to go. Have no fears, my dear. You will have your answers in due time.” A mild ringing began in Tamias’s ear. “Perhaps next time it won’t be so unpleasant for you.” Tamia looked to her left and saw a little black phone sitting on a table. This wasn’t here before. It was ringing, and ringing. “I believe that call is for you dear. You have things to take care of before you visit us. You best get going. We’ll talk again.”
         Tamia hesitantly picked up the receiver, “Hello?”
 
 
         “Benet, didn’t you read my note? I’ve been waiting for you to call me.” It was Nick. How Tamia was so relieved to hear a voice she recognized. She was in her home again. Everything was trashed, her television and various other electronics were gone. The front door was propped open letting the now morning dew filled air into her once cozy livingroom. “Benet? Is everything ok?”
         “Yes, for the most part. Why did you want me to call?”
         “Yesterday on my way to work I saw a bunch of police and an ambulance at the side of Aegle Road. I figured it was just another car accident, but when I took a closer look I saw a woman lying in the grass. I couldn’t tell if she was alive or dead. There were no cars, nothing but a woman. A bit of an odd sight to see.”
         “You wanted me to call you for you to tell me about this woman?” Tamia began to pick up the pieces of her thrashed livingroom pausing for a moment to remember the dream she just had. She mumbled in almost a whisper, “I wonder if she was the one that lady was asking about ...” Bending over, she continued to clean up. That was all just a dream, it was foolish to think otherwise.
         “What? She was strange, Benet. Wrapped up in some dirty grey cape ... Listen! I’ve found something ... I didn’t want anyone to know, anyone except you. It’s a trinket of some kind. It looks like it might be broken, I’ve never seen anything like it before and I think it might have belonged to that woman.”
         “Oh I see. You want me to try to fix it for you, huh?” She was always good at fixing gadgets and gizmos, a trinket wouldn’t be a challenge at all. In fact, she was rather good with her hands. She spend many of her days painting and sketching, all a form of a hobby, but one she absolutely loved.
         “Well ... I was hoping you’d say that. Hey, I’ll be right over. I don’t have anything planned.”
         “Wait, my house is a rather big mess right now, it’s not a good time!” It was too late. Nick had already hung up and was on his way. Hastily Tamia cleaned as much as she could before Nick arrived. She had a moment of sadness thinking about who could have robbed her like this. They must have been horribly needy to have to do this awful job for money. “Ouch!” Her head felt like it had gotten hit by a baseball bat. Those feelings of sadness for that individual quickly changed to madness. ‘They didn’t have to hit me! Why did they have to hit me?’
         “What happened here?” Nick stepped into Tamias home, the door was still open. He began to help her clean up the mess. “I hope the authorities find whoever did this. You did report it right?”
         “No, I am not worried about it. I’m sure they could use my things more than I. It’s not like I even watched that television. All that ever comes across it is bad news.”
         “The fact sill remains. You worked hard for all of your belongings, you should fight to get something back.”
         “I’ll just take it as my contribution to the needy for the year. Besides, it finally gives my friends and family something to get for me when the holidays come.” Tamia tried to put on a grin, it was all for show. She was pretty stubborn when it came to her own feelings. Always putting others before herself. Never had she placed herself as an equal to others.
         “Well, since I know there is no way for me to change your mind on that, I’ll get right down to the thing I found.” He pulled out an old rag from his pocket and unwrapped it displaying a silvery amulet. The edges were scraped up a bit and it was caked with mud. “Think you might be able to fix it up? The clasp is broken on the chain, it must be why she lost it.”
         “I’ll see what I can do.” Tamia took the amulet from his worn hands and placed it on a nearby table. “After I finish getting my house straight of course.” The two shared a smile and got back to straightening up.
 
         As the day progressed, her house once again became a home instead of a heap of trash. Everything was in it’s place, aside from the missing television and radio and a handful of her jewelry. The two plunked down on the couch sighing with relief.
         “This time you’ll be sure to lock up, right?” Nick’s little comments sometimes got onto Tamias nerves. She focused on ignoring the sharp sides to his words. She knew he was chuckling on the inside. It wasn’t his fault really, his father was the same way. A child does watch his parent’s and learn from them, after all.
         “Of course I will. Though, if someone did break in tonight they wouldn’t have much to take.” Grinning from ear to ear Tamia reached over and gave Nick a hug. He smiled for a moment, and then backed off a bit.
         “Hey now, none of that mushy stuff!” He wasn’t very good at hiding how he felt, but he thought he was. Tamia knew he liked her hugs, and her company. She would give him more if he didn’t act so off about it. She liked that physical contact, it made her happy inside. But, she wasn’t about to force it on someone who acted like he hated it. “I think I should get going, it’s getting late. Let me know if you can do anything with that trinket.” Nick stood and tilted his head up.
         “Have a good night, Nick.” She gestured a slight wave as Nick walked out the door, closing it behind. Now what was there to do? Her stomach grumbled out of a fit of hunger. “Just what I need ...” Tamia stood up and casually stepped into her kitchen, grabbing the bread and some meat from her refrigerator. Rarely did she take half as much effort to fulfill her own hunger needs as she need her patrons. A simple sandwich filled her just as easily as any of her well known concoctions would, why waste the energy?
         Sitting down in one of her wooden kitchen chairs, she flashed back in memory of the dream she had. How odd, a woman with no face who kept referring to herself as more than one person. Silently she pondered about what she was told.