CRISTAL AND BELVEDERE

One ... two ... three ... four!

Was it more? I lost count after the waiter had brought the fourth chilled bottle of Cristal to our table.

It was Cassie who had decided on the Belvedere Vodka chasers, Millie in full agreement, Helen reluctantly coming along for the ride ... at first anyway (after a few glasses of Cristal and shot glasses of Belvedere she was calling for the waiter to bring more champagne as loudly as anyone!).

The four of us exchanged our stories and talked in depth about the events of the past week ... how things had changed since the break in at Amanda, Oh! ... how we all seemed destined to be together, our lives intertwined by greater forces.

Cassie, as always, had done the most investigative work, she was quietly working away in the background, breaking down the facts and studying the evidence ... she had already formulated some ideas as to what could be going on ... ideas that she part shared with us, part kept to herself, she wanted to have more proof, be more sure, before she let us in on her thoughts.

As we drank, talked ... laughed and joked ... I started to sense the bond that held the four of us together, it was more than just friendship ... there was something deeper, greater ... stronger.

However, there was one thing that we all agreed on ... Trudie Hewitt was involved and the fact that Justin Gonzalez was also on the sidelines was a cause for concern.

'Justin is about to launch a new west End NightClub '... Cassie informed us.

''s'called GOTH-EX ... Picadilly ... all dungeons, whips ... you know the sort. Bondage for the rich, very exclusive I hear'.

Sounds like Justin alright, I replied, seedy, sordid and involving the pain and humiliation of others ...

When I had been married to his Father Justin had made it his mission to try and get me into bed ... his very name still made my skin crawl ...

On many levels I could see his attraction, Justin had inherited some of his Father's South American dark good looks ... and he was as rich as hell.

Yet, if you looked under the flash exterior there was something else, something dark, nasty ... hell .. rotten, about him.

It was late afternoon before the four of us poured ourselves into a taxi and made our way back to my apartment.

It was big enough for us all to chill out, sober up and just 'be togther in'.

The future was about to start ... right now.

FOUR LEAFED CLOVER?

Lunchtime.

The four of us met for the first time since we had been at my apartment ... how things have changed since then ...

All of us seemed different.

Our lives, our worlds were no longer what they had been ....

'..and thank God for that!' laughed Cassie as we took a corner table at Le Caprice.

Of us all Cass was the most upbeat, the most ebullient.

'How great is this?' the smile still on her face, 'we're like the girls from Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer!'

'Only this is real life, not television'. Helen appeared the most non-plussed. How was she going to fit fighting the forces of evil into her already, stuffed to the gunnels, personal organiser?

'If this could of all just happened the year after next,' Helen had that look on her face that shouted 'I am not amused', 'then i would have 5 years as Editor under my belt ... things would be so much easier.'

'Just like fellas', Cassie laughed,' the good ones always seem to appear just when you don't want them to!'

Let's get drunk ... I said.

We've all got a lot to think about, a lot to talk about and I can't see that being sober will do anything but weigh down the proceedings.

''sfine by me', replied Millie.

'After nearly getting knowcked down by a car yesterday and surviving only to find out that the man of my dreams thinks I've got supernatural powers or something like that ... I am sooooo ready!'

Champagne all round then, I instructed the waiter ... and as I'm paying ... (I looked at the others daring them to challenge me ... I know they are independent but sometimes when you want to treat you friends YOU WANT TO TREAT YOUR FRIENDS!) .. please make it Cristal. Total waste of money I know, but what the hell, I can afford it.

The waiter returned with the golded liquid and poured us all a glass.

I lifted my flute and proposed a toast.

To the four of us ... let's hope we can work this out and keep luck on our side.

'Like a lucky four leafed clover', said Helen.

We all drank to that.

BUMBLE BEE

I stood and dressed.

Nico and I had left Madame Zhou and had returned to the Soho Hotel for a bout of mind blowing sex.

Following my meeting with the ancient Lady I felt empowered, strong ... you could even describe me as ripe ... fertile!

It was like my body had spent all my life preparing itself for this and now it was ready.

Although Nico had always been able to satisfy me this time it had seemed different, better ... more satisfying ... more intense.

I looked down at him on the bed and the poor guy looked worn out ... he smiled giddely at me, a soporiphic look on his face like the one you see on a drowsy bumble bee ...

'See you later...?' he mumbled.

Not sure handsome ... gotta meet the girls.

I had one last look down at his chiselled body before I leant, kissed him on an intimate area ... and left.

I walked a couple of blocks before hailing a taxi, the fresh air clearing my mind and enabling me to formulate plans for the day. I still had the major Amanda, Oh! launch to prepare for and I sent a quick text to Tomas to see how he was feeling today as I walked.

'Three heads are better than one' - came his reply - I guessed that he must be recovering nicely under the two young nurses I'd arranged for him!

As I settled into the back of the cab I sent texts to Millie, Helen and Cassie. If what Madame Zhou had told me had any element of truth about it, it concerned them as much as me.

I smile crossed my face as I composed my messages using predictive ... the time for action was fast approaching and I had never felt more ready!

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

Half an hour later the three of us descended the steps from the Refuel bar at the Soho Hotel and made our way out onto the street.

Nico, unabashed and unshamed had eventually been able to return to our room to dress, the Night Porter had not been impressed by Nico's display of naturism in the foyer of his hotel and it took some of my negotiating skills and a £20 note slipped into his top pocket to eventually see our side of the story.

The whole experience had added somehow cemented my relationship with the older lady ... and whilst I was still unsure that she wasn't some cuckoo celeb stalker ... I liked her.

With Nico dressed and back with us I thought it better to escape the hotel and go and grab some breakfast at Pauls.

Ten minutes later we were squeezed around a small round table filled with steaming cups of Parisienne coffee and pain au chocolats.

Madame Zhou, relaxed and friendly, talked openly about the extra-ordinary forces that control us, that wrap themselves around us, controlling, guiding when they can, letting us slip free if the mood takes.

Nico, Greek by origin, was must more receptive to this whole concept ... although a Greek Orthodox he was more than aware of the 'evil eye' and that there were other forces out there to be reckoned with ...

With this in mind Madame Zhou passed a small sliver necklace across the table to me, an unusually crafted pendant hung from it.

'Think of this as your lucky charm' she said as Nico picked it up and hung it around my neck.

A couple of hours passed before we left to go our separate ways ... Madame Zhou had described in some detail what I had to do ... and what I had to do was to meet up with my three best friends as soon as I could.

Nico and I returned to our hotel ... there was time for him to remind me just what I had seen under that towel earlier before I had to do what I had to do ......

THE CHOSEN ONES

I sat and listened as Madame Zhou told me of her childhood in the misty hills of China and how her history had changed when her family had moved to England.

She told me of the bizarre incidents that had occurred in her childhood as her powers manitested themselves to her ....

She told me of the elders, how they spoke to her, how they advised, guided ... and often infuriated her from the spirit world ....

She told me of my destiny ... how she knew of my birth ... how she knew of the powers I would one day possess ...

'Powers that may differ from mine', she explained , 'but powers that will help you in the fight against the forces of darkness'.

She told me about my friends, Millie, Cassie and Helen ... how each of them were tied to my by some greater force, by some ethereal beings ....

'You are all beautiful, talented and intelligent ... the elders have picked well'.

She also told me about the 'other side' the shade at the side of the spotlight, the shadowed corners in every room.

'They desire power for the sake of power ... they use lust, greed and human weakness to get what they want ...'

I was mesmerised by her ... although it all sounded nonsensical, it also seemed to make perfect sense ... how could that be ....?

As I mused on her words the quiet in the room was shattered by shouts and the noise of scuffling.

'Where is she ... Amanda are you all right ..?'

I turned to see Nico being held back by the night porter, he had obviously awoked and worried where I was.

Unfortunately he had left the room hurriedly with only a towel concealing his most initimate parts. During the scuffle the towel had fell and there he stood naked and harrassed.

I couldn't help but giggle ... glancing at Madam Zhou I was pleased to see a smile on her face too ....

HOW DO LIKE YOUR COFFEE?

The young waiter guided Madame Zhou and I to a quiet table in the corner of the restaurant and waited whilst we seated ourselves.

‘Coffee …?’ I could have done with a stiff Gin and Tonic but coffee would have to do….

‘Madame Zhou…? She nodded her head at me and I ordered coffee, croissants and a selection of Danish Pastries for the pair of us.

The old Lady slid her hand across the table and took mine in it, again I felt the strange electrical surge passing between us … it felt so good, almost sexual ….

‘Amanda, it is so nice to meet you in person at last, you have grown into a fine and beautiful woman, I am very proud of you …?

Like before on the telephone she was speaking to me as if she actually knew me … obsessive fans often do believe that they are intimate with the object of their affections … hell I once had a man who believed that he and I were married, that we had three children together …!

‘I know that it is hard for you to understand, to believe what I am about to tell you … but I do hope that you will try.’

The surge of energy passing from her hand into mine intensified, I felt alive, strong … yet powerless to object to what she had to say … I know that it sounds rather freakish to say this … considering that I was sitting in the company of an old Chinese Lady whom I had never met before … but it was as if I was about to experience the most amazing orgasm, I could fell the heat the power rising, I was welcoming it … I wanted it to happen.

‘Since your birth our destinies have been woven together …. The selection of the chosen ones is complex and unusual … I still do not understand it myself, I have asked the elders for an explaination but have never received a satisfactory answer.’

I felt myself smiling at her … I could do nothing else.

‘I have been angry, sometimes furious, as to why they picked me, why my life had to be so …. Sometimes I just wanted to be normal like everyone else.’

I knew what the old bird was saying, since I’d married Emmanuel my life could be described in the same way …

‘The good thing about you Amanda’, Madame Zhou continued, ‘ is that you live an extraordinary life already … you have already learned to be strong, to be tough, to stand apart from the crowd. Your life so far has probably been a test and you have tackled each challenge and won. I can see myself now I am with you that you are ready … and that is good.’

She let go of my hand and this point and I felt my body shudder, I gasped for breath … I felt myself flush … an old Chinese lady had just given me one of the most intense physical experiences I had ever had … I felt incredible, powerful, satisfied and, most of all …. Alive.

STATIC

As I took the Old Lady's hand in my own I felt what I can only describe as a surge of power passing from her to me ... it felt a little bit like static electricity ... only this wasn't unpleasant ... unlike static electricity I didn't want to pull my hand away, I wanted to hold on, I wanted to enjoy it ... I wanted it to last.

I looked down at the tiny hand encased in my own and suddenly felt myself pull back ... I wasn't sure what was going on but this wasn't a social visit ... a friendly ... this old woman had made some fairly distrubing statements about me and I wanted to know why.

I let go of her hand and looked down at her. In my flat shoes I stand at 5'9" tall ... this little Chinese lady would barely hit 4'10".

She looked ancient, her hair was grey and her face and hands a network of lines revealing a very long life - strange how things like this happen but as I looked at her one of my own Grandmother's favourite sayings popped into my head - 'what is the point in living your life with the intention of leaving it in a pristine, unlined carriage?' - a sentiment that I had always endorsed myself.

'Who are you ....?' the words fell from my lips as I stared at the other woman.

'My name is Madame Zhou', her voice was calm, quiet ... yet held authority.

Well Madame Zhou, what can I do for you?

'Please let us sit, can we take a table? What I have to tell may take some time and I need to make you listen, need to make you understand.'

There was something about her, something that I couldn't ignore, something inside me that knew I needed to listen to what she had to say.

'You've got half an hour'

. I turned and led her to the breakfast room. It was empty apart from a handsome young waiter who looked like one of the stars from some American drama that I couldn't quite recall.

'Half an hour Madame Zhou ... and it had better be good.'