Epilogue or Dreams and...

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and thus this arc comes to end.
I leave you with some answers
some questions
and a little bit of hope!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following podcast is a work of fiction.
All characters are the creationof Peter Williams.
Any resemblance to someoneliving or dead is purely
coincidental.
Thank you, alex has gone home,but her story is far from done,
as she has received an invite tothe cottage to see an old

(00:22):
friend.
Sam has once again returned tothe Café Solfeggio.
She will help Caitlin, she willhelp Harmony watch over them
and Caitlin's grandchildren inparticular.
Lastly, it seems Silas hadfinally come under suspicion.
But none of these things arepart of today's story.

(00:43):
Today we return to the towerArista, jonah and oh.
Before we do, let me remind youthat this podcast may contain
images of graphic violence,child endangerment and naughty
salty language.
Sadly, today I don't believethere's any of that Naughty
salty language.

(01:04):
Sadly, today I don't believethere's any of that.
Now, hold on to those tentaclesa little bit longer as we
conclude this arc with Chapter22, epilogue or Dream's End.
Before we end this story, wefirst need to go back Back a
year before the events of Aristabegin.

(01:25):
We find ourselves on a lushseminary ground, students
milling about, laughing,preparing for their classes.
A lone figure moves among them,wearing a forest green hoodie
covering her face and features.
She enters the hall, climbingthe stone steps and makes her
way to an open desk area.
She enters the hall climbingthe stone steps and makes her
way to an open desk area.
Surprised not to see SecretaryFritz toiling over some

(01:48):
paperwork, she decides toapproach the office door.
Bishop Brock, meanwhile, sitsbehind his desk sipping coffee
while flipping through a largefile.
He hears a knock at his door.
Come in.
He calls out and slowly thedoor opens and Joan Hollander
slips in.
Joan, the bishop says, standingup, what do I owe the pleasure,

(02:09):
hello bishop, do you have a fewminutes?
He can see her face is linedwith concern and motions for her
to sit in one of the redleather chairs.
Bishop Bill, please?
She looks at him nervously,smiles while wringing her hands
and restarts the conversation.
Bill, the dreams are back.
She almost said the last part asa whisper.

(02:30):
You mean like when Jonah wasturning 14?
Yes, the bishop or FatherWilliam Brock had been involved
with the Hollander family sincebefore they took him maggy.
He knew of their unusual life,I guess you could call it, and
he himself had been a member ofthe Sacred Dawn since he was
about 17.

(02:50):
But that's another story, maybefor another day.
What are they about?
Do they have to do with Jonahagain?
She was already shaking herhead.
No, no, maggie.
Maggie, yes, and it's hard tomake out, but it's okay.
Please tell me.
Bishop Brock says, trying tocalm Joan down.

(03:12):
I see her holding Joan's handand then feathers scattered in
every direction, as if shebegins to cry.
I can't say the rest, bill.
I love that woman as if she wasmy own child.
Tom did too.
Yes, yes, I know.
He leaned back thoughtfully inhis chair before opening a desk

(03:34):
drawer and pulling out anenvelope with Joan's name on it.
This was delivered to me a fewdays back.
It seems someone knew you werecoming to see me.
She opens the letter and itreads Joan, give this to Maggie.
It holds a promise, was all thenotes said, and pouring out of
the envelope, on a gold chain,was a beautiful black

(03:57):
heart-shaped pendant.
A promise, she asked.
Looking at the beautiful stone,it reminded her of Jonah's left
arm, obsidian colored, but itfelt alive in her hands.
It's what the note says.
The bishop replied.
I don't know to what end or who, but it seems that someone is

(04:17):
working behind the scenesputting things in place.
In place for what and when?
Should I give this to her.
Joan asked pleadingly.
I don't know, I guess it's upto you.
Joan began to get up feeling alittle better about things.
She was wondering who could beworking behind the scenes and

(04:37):
what were they trying toaccomplish.
By the way, joan the bishop,said as she began to exit his
office yes, bill, do you knowwhat the name of that pendant is
?
No, how could I?
Joan replied it's called theHeart of Hope.
Jonah slept fitfully as Aristadid her best to watch over him.

(04:59):
She could see the shadow thatkept its distance but constantly
watched him.
It's okay, arista said.
I won't hurt you.
If you had meant any harm tohim, you would have already
tried, but the shadow would notapproach.
Was it afraid, ashamed?
When Arista left the room, shecould sense it move near him,

(05:21):
hovering over him, but as soonas she approached it would once
again back away.
It had already been three weekssince Arista had returned here
to help Jonah.
She had done as asked anddelivered a message to Alex.
Such a sweet girl, suchpotential.
Mikal, meanwhile, had beenusing the hidden Solomon Gate to
bring medical aid and, ofcourse, a few friends.

(05:42):
They had thought about takingJonah to the cafe, but decided
that life there would bedifficult enough just to get
Harmony back on her feet.
In the early morning, aristawould sit and read to the shadow
, hoping to connect, hoping toreconstitute the person so
damaged by the world and others.
That darkness was the firstform it remembered and thus

(06:03):
wrapped itself in.
Finally, one morning, bishopBrock arrived and it was the
first time the shadow hadreacted to anyone other than
herself.
He paused, looked at the shadowbut said nothing.
He smiled to himself A promisefulfilled, I see.
And he wondered what directionit would take her and how long
before she regained her trueform.

(06:25):
Arista, before I leave today,can we sit and have a cup of
coffee?
Yes, that would be nice, shereplied.
The bishop approached Jonah andput his hand on his forehead.
He's running a fever.
Yes, his body's trying tofigure out how to maintain the
demon energy exposed when helost his arm.
Yes, that body's trying tofigure out how to maintain the
demon energy exposed when helost his arm.
Yes, that would make sense,bishop.

(06:47):
Yes, arista, he once told methat Mr Alistair trained him to
fight as if he lost his arm, soI believe he'll be okay.
They left the room and sat downat a table set for thirteen.
Arista brought out a tray withcoffee, biscotti and yes,
cookies.
Upon seeing them, the bishoplaughed.

(07:08):
I hope I haven't spoiled you,miss Arista.
She smiled no, but I do enjoythese.
Taking a sip, he began to tellher of Joan, the visit and the
heart of hope.
Arista, of all people, neededto know.
As they talked, jonah finallywoke up from his fitful dream.
He scanned the room and saw noone Looking over the bandaged

(07:31):
stump.
He frowned I see, I lived afterall.
He lay back down, exhaustionstill clinging to him.
He wanted to sleep, to dream,to dream of a girl surrounded by
black feathers that had pickedhim up, the girl that assured
him I've got you, as she flewhim here home, because it always

(07:52):
began with dreams Dreams offriends, dreams of family,
dreams of loved ones lost butnot forgotten, and dreams of
black feathers.
And.
And thus this arc Arista comesto an end with hints of the

(08:14):
coming story, hints ofpossibilities and hopes hanging
in the balance.
We hope you enjoyed thispodcast and we ask that you look
for the next one, if all goeswell, probably next September
with Warren Stevens, finale.