The Venetian Chronicles: The Greenfield Solstice Dance

The Venetian Chronicles: The Greenfield Solstice Dance

Yuuko powered down her laptop and began reaching for her coat and scarf as she looked out from the window down onto the streets of Dublin, making special note of where the afternoon rain had frozen and become ice. “Last thing I need today is to slip on the way home,” she thought to herself as she finished buttoning her coat and dropping her laptop into her bag and slinging it over her shoulder as she made her way down the carved wooden stairs of the council's archives and out onto the streets. She stopped for a moment to admire the white Christmas lights in the window of the cafe across the street before turning and making her way toward the train station. The combination of the sun setting earlier then normal and lack of people on the street made it feel later then it was, the lack of people on the train didn't help matters either.

As she settled into her seat and watched the frost covered fields go by, she was of vaguely reminded of the forest of Siberia and the wizards imperial ball that normally attended this time of year, “not this year though” she thought to herself bitterly, the effects of the pandemic had rippled throughout the entire world,  both sacred and mundane, the wizard imperial ball had been among the secret world casualties. It would have been tolerable if it had just been the ball, but the pandemic had also prevented her parents from visiting, and stopped most of the Christmas festivities, leaving her in a world that was becoming increasingly bleak. She sighed to herself as the train began pulling into the station, the speaker chimed as the station was announced, “now arriving in Portmarnock.” As she reflected on her thoughts she felt a bit guilty at being upset over the disruption, “If Christmas and a party are all the pandemic take from me then I am luckier than most” she thought to herself as she made her way up the station stairs to where her vespa was parked.

Snapping on her helmet, she started the engine and began riding through the streets of Portmarnock. The sun had now almost completely set, the purple sky was now giving way to the black of night, as she turned from the parking lot, on to the main road, the street light had yet to come on leaving only the Christmas lights in the shop windows to light her way. She made her way down the market road, taking left at the primary school and then turning right on to the road out of town, the village towns lights dimming behind her as she turned on to the country road, until she came to the edge of the woods, the familiar steal sign saying welcome to Greenfield greeted her as she turned down the asphalt road through the woods. The woods soon gave way to the pastures and rolling hills, the scent of the sea drifting over them, giving Yuuko a familiar nose full of seaweed and cows as the farm came into view. She pulled up to the gate and checked the mail, a stack of bills, a Susan Hunter catalog and a box from Amazon addressed to Connar. She threw the mail in her bag and balanced the box on her lap, and drove up the gravel road to the house.

The lights in the house were off save for the glow of the colored lights on the tree, but she could hear the buzzing of a drill coming from the barn, so Connar was home. Opening the door and hanging her bag on the coat rack, walking past the tree, she noticed Tuk was not on his couch, and there was no sign that he had been there all day. She then headed up stairs to Connar’s study, she dropped the bills in the to do basket on his desk and set the package down on his chair. She then spotted a note pinned to his white board, “Please come see me in the barn - Love Connar”, outside she could see lights through the few windows in the barn and wondered what he was up to.

Making her way downstairs, outside and across the yard, she slid open the barn door and inside found Tuk looking down from the loft at her and Connar connecting the last few wires in some unknown device, intertwined with strings of Christmas lights. “Glad to see your home babe, I was afraid you would miss this.” Connar said as he slid down a ladder, Tuk seemed to disappear into the shadows and reappeared on the ground floor. “Miss what?” Yuuko asked as she slid the door closed behind her. “On this day, we normally have the Wizards Imperial ball, but that is not happening this year due to the virus. Also around this time of year your parents usually come to visit us but because of the virus it's not safe for them to travel. I imagined you were down because of this, and I was thinking of ways to cheer you up and then it dawned on me, that while I have met your family, you have never had a chance to meet mine.” Tuk looked up at Connar and huffed, “with the exception of Tuk,” the wolf seemed satisfied with the answer. Yuuko’s face became a mixture of concern and confusion, “that's because most of your family has been dead for over 200 years.” Connar smiled as he slipped a pair of bands around his wrist “And today is the solstice, the barrier between worlds is thin and those who know how can how can call the dead back. Since ghosts have nothing to fear from the virus, I thought we have a dance of our own.” With that Connar threw a switch next to a ladder, and the ground was suddenly covered in mist, as the christmas lights switched on covering the barn in a warm orangish glow. As he began channeling anima threw his hands, the mist began rising and falling, first forming hills, and then the outlines of people. Yuuko watched one of the outlines forming next to Connar and began to see the outline of face appear, a chin, a nose and a pair of large brown eyes, it was not until the mustache materialized, that she realized who she was looking at, causing Yuuko to suddenly jump back with a yelp as the mist took the shape of Albert Einstein.

A smile spread across Connar’s face, “Hi Al! I was almost positive you wouldn't hear!, It's good to see you again”, Einstein chuckled as he shambled over to embrace Connar, “I don't think there was a soul connected to Gaia that didn't hear you and this is?” He said as he stared a Yuuko, “This would be my girlfriend Yuuko Shirakawa.” Yuuko smiled and waved to the ghost as he approached and attempted to kiss her hand only to have his pass through her, “My apologies miss Yuuko, I sometimes forget I lack a physical form...On that note Connar...there are refreshments I trust?” Connar put his hands down in the mist and suddenly tables of food and drink formed from them, “I knew I could count on you my friend.” The ghost shambled over to one of the tables taking a plate of ethereal cookies from the table, Connar turned to yuuko as he stepped aside revealing a mini-fridge behind him, “Don't worry I got us covered” he opened the fridge and knelt down, “So what are you drinking tonight”, “Just the diet coke, I have to work tomorrow.” Connar tossed her a silver can, as he pulled a red one from the fridge, another ghost from the increasingly growing number approached them, this one a older looking man dressed in the style of the 19th century, with a pair mutton chops, “It's good to see you again Dr. Hamilton” Connar said sheepishly. The old man looked Connar up and down before saying, “Well...I guess you had the last laugh on this one, eh lad. Pity your dissertation was erased from the histories though, you could have had the whole field named after you.” Einstein spoke up, “He was not right on everything, he very seldom is.””So we meet again Dr. Einstein '' the old man said, wandering away from Yuuko and Connar to argue with Einstein's ghost. “Who was that?” asked Yuuko, “That was Dr. William Hamilton, my advisor for my phd.”

Connar flipped another switch and music began to play over the speakers hidden throughout the barn, a mix of contemporary and classic holiday favorites, “Can you please play something decent instead of this modern dribble.” Connar’s back instantly straightened as he fumbled with his phone, to switch tracks. The form of a woman in a nuns habit began to take shape, “I see our gallant hero still fears original sin, and that he knows to still listen to the woman who taught him his letters and sums, who saw him off to Trinity and delivered his son.” Connar grimaced at the last dig, before sighing, “Yuuko, this is mother Murray, she taught the children of Greenfield for as long as I could remember and probably longer.” the Nuns misty hand smacked Connar upside the head, “210 years and you’re still a smart ass, though apparently modern women find that charming, right miss Yuuko.” Yuuko smiled and answered, “He can be nice when he wants to, he just gets that way whenhe feels hurt or threatened. But yes, I think his wit is one of his more enduring qualities.” The ghost raised an eyebrow to the comment, “...I see you know how to handle him. Tell me, what was your wedding like.” the ghost, asked. As Yuuko began to stammer out a response, Connar pushed her behind him, “well...you see Mother Murray..the thing is...customs have changed a bit since your time and...now its common place for two people too...” The nuns face became stern, “you mean to tell me that you two are LIVING IN SIN!” flames shot from her eyes as Connar tried to put distance between her and Yuuko, before seeing the nuns face turn to a laughing smile. “Don't you patronize me, Connar Green, It was a common thing when I was alive, it just wasn't accepted then like it is now.” Connar groned, as he realized how he just panicked over nothing, “Didn't need to shoot fire out of your eyes if you're just teasing me.” the Nun smiled, “I wanted to see if you would protect her and you did, besides shooting fire from your eyes never gets old, I just wish I had been able to do it when I was alive.” The nun left to join the ever increasing throng of ghosts in the barn. “Was she always that playful?” Yuuko asked as she dropped her soda can into the recycling, “When I was an adult, yes, when I was child, no, far from it. Original sin was the name of her paddle, said it was made from an old oake that vikings used for sacrifices and that it still thristed blood.” Yuuko smiled, “I see she is a storyteller too”,  To a degree“ Connar said as he opened another can ”...but not nearly as good as this guy!” The mist took the form of an old man who shambled over to embrace Connar. “Yuuko, this is Pate Durkan, Old Pate to the Greens. He used to work on our farm and was like a second Grandfather to me and my siblings.”
The old man waved off the praise, “All I did was take you to the pub when your parents were being married, I was no more a grandfather to you than some random villager.”
“Of course, because random villagers tell bedtime stories”
“Ever been to Galway lad, you ask for directions and soon they tell you about the whole history of Ireland”
“You’re from mayo, Pate!”
“Does Not change the fact that they still do that in Galway, still it's wonderful to see you again Lad and who is this? ” The ghost said, looking over Yuuko. “This is Yuuko, she lives with me” Pate smiled at her and went to embrace her only to go through her, “Damn it! I keep forgetting I am dead. Still its wonderful to make your Acquaintance,” the ghost then took Connar aside and said something to him, “remember lad, it should feel like your feeding a horse, that's when you know she's ready” The ghost then rejoined the ever growing party of ghost. It took Yuuko a minute to process what he said, but when she realized what he had been talking about her face went beat red, “...it..it doesn't feel like feeding a horse, does it?” “It doesn't, that's just his go to relationship advice.”

As Connar and Yuuko walked among the spirits, they were approached by two more, one took the form of a young woman in a green peasants dress and the other a boy who looked to be about 12, who upon seeing them transformed himself into a young man, dressed in a suit from the 19th century. “So Mr. Immortal, I see you finally decided to call us home, after all of these years,” The woman said, smirking. Connar rolled his eyes “You know damn well there was nothing here for most of the 20th century, I only just avenged everyone and started to rebuild.” The man spoke up, “didn't you say you had avenged your family something like 80 years ago?” Connar was now visibly annoyed with the spirits. “He was notoriously hard to kill, the first time didn't take, plus I had to track down his minions around the world.” “If you had done it right the first time you wouldn't have had to do it the second time, and you know I probably could have done it in one go” The young man smirked. Connar answered by putting the man in a headlock, “Say it!” he snapped as the spirit tried to pull away, “Jesus, I was just teasing, there is no need to be violent about it.” Connar refused to let go, “I didn't ask if I over reacted, I told you to say it!” The ghost groaned, “fine!...I love you brother.” Connar smiled at the ghost's admission “Wonderful! Now say I am taller” “NEVER!” Yuuko cleared her throat to disrupt the argument, “where are my manners, Yuuko this is my sister Isabel (Izzy to us) and my brother Michael ” Connar said releasing the ghost, “As you can see he is prone to trying to puff himself up.”
“And I was doing a fine job too, until you decided to be a bully about it.”
“You were teasing me about avenging my dead family, I was not bullying you!”
“Both of you stop it now!” a feminine voice cried out from the mist as another man and woman formed, “We only get so much time here, don't waste it arguing about nonsense.” Connar straightened himself up before turning to Yuuko, “This is Jon and Martha Green, my mother and father.” Connar's mother gave him a side eye as she approached Yuuko, Connar responded by clearing his throat and saying “And I am sorry for fighting with Michael” he said trying to force a smile, to which Martha let out a sigh, “Its pleasure to meet you dear, you can call me either Mom or Matti whichever you prefer.” Yuuko blushed a little at the idea “Thank you, it's a pleasure to meet you, but Connar and I aren't married.” “We know that, we heard Mother Murry giving you the business, and I know how things work in this century, though I don't pretend to understand it. But that's probably just a result of being dead for almost 200 years. So you can still call me Mom or Mattie or whatever you liked.”
While Connar was discussing the farm with his father, Yuuko saw another shape come out of the mist, a tall slender man dressed as a catholic priest, his long brown hair and beard giving him a christ like appearance, while his large blue eyes portrayed a kind of kindness that made him approachable. Yuuko left Connars side and approached the ghost, “Excuse me, are you Duncan MacDuffe?” Yuuko asked cautiously, The ghost smiled as he sat down on a bench, “I see my reputation precedes me, come sit with me child.” Yuuko sat down next to the ghost as Tuk came out of the mist and sat down next to the priest, who began scratching him behind the ears. “The way the lads heart was broken after the fire, I didn't think he would find love again, but low and behold hear you are and that does my heart good.” Yuuko stuttered out “you...how’d you know!?” “The way he clings to you, it was obvious, and was only when he got lost in something that you were able to get away. He clings to the things he loves, because he is scared he will lose them and he only lets go when he feels confident, like when he is talking about running the farm. Only reason he didn't follow you over here is because he feels safe right now. He’s been like that ever since he was a boy.” Yuuko smiled at the thought, “You know he still talks about you all the time” “Does he?” “Oh yes, he says you were the wisest person he ever knew, he is always telling me about what you had to say on this or that.” “I see, I guess he was paying attention. Tell me, is my babbling still helpful all these years later.” “Most of the time I think, usually when he tells me what you said, it's when something bad happens and I am trying to make sense of it, sadly that's been a lot lately.”

“The virus?” Duncan said, “How’d you know?” Yuuko asked “The dead are talkative, and sadly I have heard a lot about your current predicament. For what it's worth, you're handling it pretty well.” “We are!?” “Aye, no states have collapsed, no wars have started, and the majority of people around the world are doing their best to stop it. Though I fear that the minority may ruin it for everyone.” Yuuko looked down in despair, “2021 isn't going to be any better is it”, “I can not say for sure, the dead are as blind to the future as the living, but I can safely say that come what may I know you and the other good people of the world will be able to handle it. As your time would say “you got this””. Tuk’s ear suddenly perked up as he darted into the mist, after something only he could see, Duncan looked at a clock on the wall bathed in the orangish glow of the christmas lights, its hands ticking tword 2:30am. “Our time here is coming to an end, but I think there are a couple more people the lad would like to introduce you to, go find him and tell him Father MacDuff says hi.”

Yuuko got up to find Connar and saw him across the barn, speaking with a woman, a tall woman with long wavy blond hair, a woman looked like every picture of an angel that Yuuko had ever seen. Connar looked back at Yuuko and beckoned her over. Looking into Connar's eyes, Yuuko could see fear in them, but she also saw sadness, loss, regret and a bit of shame. She heard Connar swallow hard before saying, “Yuuko, I would like you to meet Lilly, my former wife.” Yuuko looked at the woman’s ghost who seemed to be glowing, making her look even more like an angel, “It's a pleasure to meet you” she said, as watched Connar’s reaction. The ghost floated around her, before settling back down in front of her and smiling, “He always did have an eye for the cute ones. Does he treat you well?” “Always, he’s one of the kindest people I have ever met.” the ghost laughed, “I always thought so too.” Out of the corner of her eye Yuuko could see Tuk darting in and out of the mist chasing something, it was not until he heard a boy cry out from the mist, “DAD! MAKE HIM STOP!” Upon hearing this voice, Connar’s eyes lit up with both happiness and sorrow, he called to the wolf, and his son. ”Tuk, let up on the lad. Jon, come here, there is someone I want you to meet.” The mist began to take the form of a small child, maybe about 4 or 5, with spindly little legs, and a large head covered in a mop of brown hair that covered a pair of piercing blue eyes, that were almost identical to Connar’s. As the mist finished taking form, Jon darted behind Lilly, Connar smiled as he turned to Yuuko, “He is a little shy, but he’ll warm to you. Jon, this is Daddy’s friend Yuuko, would you like to come say hello.” The boy peaked out from behind his mother and only briefly waved darting back behind her. Yuuko crouched down and waved back, “Hi Jon, it's nice to meet you. Your dad has told me so much about you.” The boy peered out from behind his mothers ethereal skirt, only to suddenly be pushed out by the large black wolf, “DAD!, he is doing it again!” “He is trying to get you to play with him lad, the best way to get him to stop is to chase him back.” The big black wolf suddenly took up a play bow before lunging at Jon and bouncing back to where he had been. Looking to Connar, and then at Yuuko he stepped out from behind his mother and awkwardly, lunged forward to try to grab Tuks tail. The wolf dodged and repeated his play lunge, and soon, Jon had chased Tuk back into the mist.

As the ghost child and wolf darted in and out of the mist and a new song began playing, the Christmas Canon. Connar Looked at Lilly and said, “if you will excuse me love, there is something I have neglected to do.” He stood in front of Yuuko and clicked his heels together in a stiff mechanical way before bowing and saying “Miss Shirakawa, would you do me the great honor of allowing me this dance?” Seeing several of the ghost couples had already paired off and begun to dance, she grabbed her imaginary skirt and curtsied before replying, “I would love to.” Connar took Yuuko's hand then began lead her in a waltz, as they danced through the mist, lost in the music, she looked up into his eyes and saw all the love and care in the world, hidden behind a face that had been worn by time and stress but that never lost its boyish charm. She noticed that his hair at his temples and that the base of his beard was starting to go gray, though she didn't know if that was from the strain of the spell that summoned the ghost here, or if he had always had it. Though she had been so fixed on him that she didn't hear the song end or the next one start, a jaunty tune, called the Yule fiddler. The ghosts began to clap, the fiddles played, Connar turned, to Yuuko and said, “the dance for this song requires more than two people...would you mind sharing me for a bit.” Yuuko looked back at Lilly, “Not at all” she said with a grin, Connar beckoned Lilly over to him and Yuuko and took each of their hands in his as they began to dance in circle, this dance was the complete opposite of the waltz that had come before, Connar leapt and tapped the floor like an epileptic chicken at a rave as Lily laughed and twirled her misty skirt as Yuuko spun in circle and the ghost clapped along to the song, the dance seemed to go forever until the clock struck 3:00am and the mist began to fade.

One by one, the ghost dissolved back into the mist, departing the order that they had arrived, Connar and Yuuko bid each of them farewell. He embraced his brother and sister, mother and father, one last time each before they departed, Father MacDuff clapped Connar on shoulder and reassured him that he was doing fine before dissolving. Then it was Just Yuuko, Lilly, Jon, and Connar left. Lilly touched Connar’s face and asked, “will you be alright my love?” Connar sighed and said, “It always hurts to see you go,” he then turned to Yuuko, “but I know that I will be fine.” Lilly left his side and floated over to Yuuko, “I'm glad he found you” she said before kissing Yuuko on the forehead and dissolving into mist. Connar then snatched up Jon in his arms, “I don't want to go” Jon said with a whimper, “I'm afraid you have no choice lad, but don't fret, I’ll come visit you next year, same spot as always.” “You promise,” he asked, “I do” Jon then jumped out of Connar’s arms and ran over and hugged Yuuko's leg before running back to Connar and hugging him one last time before dissolving into mist. Then it was just Connar, Yuuko, and Tuk in an empty barn filled with Christmas lights. Yuuko took Connar by the arm and said, “I am glad I got a chance to meet them all.” Connar only smiled and said, “Me too, Babe, me too.”