Hypnotized

‘The mistral wind is blowing through the orange leaves making them detach and rain down on me. I put my hand out and an oak leaf has fallen into it. There is a red ant on it. It is running everywhere in a panic, but I’m not going to hurt it. I put it down on the ground and watch it running into a hole in the soil… Anton told me yesterday that under our feet there are mushrooms waiting impatiently for the rains to come…so the earth will become damp…and they can sprout.’

Her expression was contented.

‘I want you to leave that beautiful scene and to remember what happened to you two days before your car accident. Can you do that?’

She nodded.

‘What do you see?’

She remained silent.

‘Tell me what you see,’ I urged.

Her face changed, hardened. A frown marred her forehead. ‘I am at the hairdressers having my hair and nails done. There is a party later tonight.’

‘But you are not happy?’

‘No. There is a knot in my stomach.’

‘Why is there a knot in your stomach, Olivia?’

‘Because it is an Invisible Society party.’

I frowned. ‘What is the Invisible Society?’

‘It is a secret club…for billionaires.’ Her voice was subdued and flat.

‘And you are a member?’

She smiled slowly, an odd, knowing smile. ‘No. You have to be a parasite or a scavenger to join.’

That was the first warning that I was going where I had never dreamed I’d go with Lady Olivia.

‘If you are not a member why are you going to the party, Olivia?’ My voice was calm.

‘I’ve been paid to attend.’

I felt a sense of unease. Yet, it was my duty to walk her up to the dark mirror and see what was hiding there, forgotten by time. ‘Where is the party being held, Olivia?’

‘Underground. It is always held underground… In one of the iceberg houses.’

‘What is an iceberg house?’

‘It is a house that has many floors dug into the ground. They have secret rooms underneath the house. You could never tell by simply looking at the house from the street.’

‘Move forward to the party.’ I waited a few seconds and then I asked, ‘Are you at the party?’

A slow nod.

‘Tell me what is happening.’

‘I am sitting in a pool of light in a dark, cavernous room. And I am naked but for a pair of shiny black stiletto boots. There are people in the shadows. They are arranged in a circle around me.’

Son of a gun! ‘Who are the people in the shadows?’

‘I cannot see their faces. I’m not allowed to.’

She breathed softly.