Erastas

The smell of flowers hit John’s nose the second he walked through the door. Of course, it was a flower shop, isn’t that what you’d expect to smell? But John had been in flower shops before. They always smelled nice, but the odors in this particular establishment were overwhelming. John looked around, and marveled at the rows upon rows of flowers that lined the store, almost like a beautiful quilt featuring every color of the rainbow, blanketing around the store. It should’ve made John feel peaceful and happy. And yet, an eerie gloom hung around the store, almost as if the aura itself could remind anyone who walked in here that no place could possibly be this good.

John’s curiosity was drawn to a pot of white roses sitting on a shelf just below eye level. Funny, he thought. They looked just like ordinary roses. Ignoring his better judgment, he took a long whiff, inhaling the beautiful, mysterious scent of the roses. Almost instantly, the gloom of the store seemed to lift, and John was no longer nervous. This was an excellent plan, he found himself thinking. There was no reason to be worried. He took another long sniff, and felt even better. He’d have to come back here once he was done. There were so many things he knew he could do, if only he had the right flowers…

“You’ll want to show a little more caution in here.”

John snapped out of his trance at the sound of the voice. It came a woman who had stepped in from the back. She was older, maybe in her late fifties or early sixties. Her long hair reached all the way down to her waist, and was dyed a shade of light purple. She was short, but her body had a firmness and strength despite her age, the kind of strength that came from a life of physical labor. She wore a loose-fitting green dress, and a chain around her neck with a small red ruby resting on her chest. She had a smile on her lips, but it didn’t seem to reach her eyes, which were a piercing blue.

“Beautiful aren’t they?”, she asked, walking towards him from behind the counter. “But they’re dangerous. Beauty and danger are often intertwined. They’ll give a person confidence. Nothing wrong with confidence, but plenty wrong with too much. Inhale enough of their scent, and you’ll think you can do anything.”

John nodded. So, this place sold roses that could increase your confidence? Well then, he was in the right place.

“My name is Miranda. This is my shop”, she said, reaching out her hand.

“John”, he responded, returning the handshake.

“So John, what can I help you with?” asked Miranda.

John too a deep breath. “I need to buy a marigold.”

The smile, forced as it already was, vanished entirely from Miranda’s face.

“Is that right”, she asked guardedly. “Sure I can’t interest you in any of our other flowers? I have some amazing dahlias that will lighten up any home. And there’s…”

John reached into his shirt, and pulled out the chain that was around his neck. A red ruby, identical to the one Miranda wore, was attached.

“A friend gave this me”, he said. “I was told this was the place to come to get what I needed. And I need a marigold.”

Miranda let out a long sigh. “I’d heard there was someone like you poking around, messing around with things that shouldn’t be messed with. I think I know what this is for. Well, you know I can’t refuse you. If this is what you really want.”

“It is.”

“Okay then. Let me go grab one from out back. Just remember what I told you: beauty and danger come oft together.”

John was on his couch when the clock struck midnight, the marigold sitting on the end table next to him. The door never opened-Erastas simply walked into the room. John jumped a little as she walked in. He’d been expecting her, yes, but nothing could really prepare you for seeing one of them for the first time. She stood nearly seven feet tall. Her skin appeared to be made entirely of dark, black soil, although no dirt was left behind when she moved. Her hair was a tangle of bright green vines intertwined with limp brown branched. She had no mouth, and yet somehow her voice reverberated clearly throughout the room.

WHY HAVE YOU SUMMONED ME, JOHN?

John swallowed, then stood up, facing the creature in front of him. “I have a favor to request.”

WHY SHOULD I HELP YOU?

John picked up the marigold and held it out to the creature like an offering. The summoning incantation was easy; getting the spirit to do what you asked was the tricky part. But John’s research had revealed that the Earth spirits would do anything for a flower, or at least the kind that Miranda sold at her shop. He’d learned that many of the spirits had their own preferences. Erastas liked marigolds. The creature looked at the small, golden flower, and then back at John.

WHAT DO YOU REQUEST?

“My wife, Lisa” he replied. “And my brother Joshua.”

Erastas didn’t say anything, she merely nodded, her head once, then walked out the room. John stood for a moment, then collapsed onto the couch. He’d done it. No going back now.

It had been three months since John caught the two of them in bed together. Three months since Lisa had moved out, destroying their marriage and breaking up their family. Three months since he’d had to explain to his children why Mommy and Daddy weren’t together any more. John sat back on the couch and laughed. Erastas would take care of both of them. John poured himself a glass of Merlot, then grabbed his cell phone. He had a missed call from his mother. John hit the Call Back button.

“Hi Mom” he said. “Sorry it’s a little late.”

“That’s okay” said the voice on the other end of the line. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a little. Your father’s back is hurting again. We couldn’t get a hold of you, so we dropped Michael and Sara off with Lisa and Josh. I know you’re still angry with them, but she’s still their mother. They’ll be fine for an evening.”

John’s blood froze. The kids were with Josh and Lisa. With Erastas. He should’ve listened to Miranda.