by Kelly Hall
Ray busied himself at his stove cooking a pot of chili to surprise Tia for dinner. “Let’s not waste any time. I’ve got a date.”
“No, let’s not. I just might have a date tonight myself.” I gave him a wink. Talon wanted my answer about us, but I mostly rejoiced in the opportunity for some peaceful time alone and away from Light Keeper drama.
Ray made a face but otherwise ignored me. “Today’s mission: share a vision. Lily, you’ve had them before so this time I want you to share it with Owen. Coach him. Pull him in. Use your instincts just like last night.”
“Wait. Sometimes my visions are... private.” It sickened me to think of all the things I didn’t want Owen to see. He and I kissing ranked high on that list.
“Privacy, that’s what you’re worried about? He’s your soul mate. It’s not like he won’t know everything eventually anyway.”
“So you say,” I snapped. Ray seemed so adamant about that I started to wonder why he kept pushing it on us. And that was the least of my worries. Kevin had become a problem where my visions were concerned, and I didn’t want either of us having to face him, especially in front of Ray.
“Well, if this works then you’ll know I’m right. After all, your visions are achieved when your soul travels. If Owen can follow you, it means his soul is attached to yours. So why don’t you give it a go and we’ll just see if we’re wasting our time?”
“Fine. It’s not going to work anyway,” I mouthed. Then I remembered Alyssa. She’d brought my soul into her visions. I did feel we had a connection, but I didn’t know if it qualified on the soul mate scale.
Ray went back to his chili and left us on our own. We sat down and Owen reached for my hands but I pulled away because I didn’t think contact was necessary.
“What?” He furrowed his brow.
I didn’t want to disappoint him any further. “It’s just, I have to call the Light and then hold it and we’ll both look into it and concentrate on the same place. I think that’s the best way to make it work, since I’m not getting any help.” I shrugged and looked over to Ray who nodded in time with stirring his pot. Instincts. I scrambled for what to do, but Ray seemed so wrapped up in his chili that he wasn’t going to be much help this time. Perhaps this was a test.
“I’m nervous about Kevin,” I whispered, taking the canteen that Ray kept close and taking a long pull. I wanted to be ready for him. Owen frowned and glanced at Ray but remained quiet.
I called the Light and it hovered in my hand. Then I told Owen to focus on the shack and imagine it as clearly as possible because it would be a safe place. I hoped being familiar would make it easier.
Instead, we ended up somewhere I’d never been before with a stream and a fallen tree on its bank. Owen sat on the log looking around with his mouth open in wonder.
“Owen?” I asked, hoping this was real.
He spun around to face me. “Lily? Where are we?”
“I was hoping you’d know.” I shrugged. He walked to the water and stared across it in wonder. I looked at the surrounding woods that seemed different from the woods at Bragg though equally secluded.
“Not a clue, but we’re here together. That’s all that matters, right?” He walked over and took my hand. “Ray has been telling the truth. We’re soul mates, Lily.” He smiled and looked deep into my eyes. My heart sank. I couldn’t speak. I had been so sure Ray was wrong. I wanted him to be wrong. Didn’t I?
I looked around. The prettiest blue sky was reflected in the stream, too perfect and pleasant for a dream. The soft grass almost matched my eyes. I sat down on the ground and stared out across the water. Owen joined me.
“What is this place?” Owen said. “Are we in Heaven?”
I raised my hands, still unsure. “We must be in the Veil.”
We both looked like ourselves, ordinary Owen and Lily, but the things around us seemed to be crisper, clearer. Dust motes stirred in the God rays that shone on the ground, and I smelled the sweet scent of the flowers growing in the distance. A soft breeze blew loose tendrils of hair into my face.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. I looked over to see him staring at me. “You’re mine.” He laced his fingers in mine, gripping them tight.
“No.” I started to pull away, refusing to agree.
“Yes! Here and now! In this place, our place, you’re mine and I’m yours.” He stopped just inches from kissing me.
Strangely I could feel the energy radiating from him. It made me feel fuzzy inside, like my chest was stuffed with warm cotton. Deep inside was a muffled voice trying to be heard like a warning cry, screaming at me to stop before things went too far.
“I love you,” he whispered before brushing his lips with mine. Helplessly, I clutched my fist into his hair as he deepend the kiss. I wanted to explode with anger, but then my shoulders slumped and I gave in. For a moment it seemed right. He laid me back on the plush grass and my vision, the one of opening my eyes to him, came to life and startled me back to reality.
I opened my eyes to find Owen staring at me.
“That was amazing,” he whispered. Ray was still fussing over his chili, probably trying to appear as preoccupied as possible.
“That was so messed up.” The voice from the deep had risen to the surface. “Take me home now.” I jumped up and started pacing, my hands wringing together in panic. What was going to happen with Talon? Should I tell him?
“Lily.” Owen took my arm and pulled me to him. “You can’t ignore this.”
“I can’t keep doing this. I’ve messed everything up!” My voice grew louder as I grew more and more angry with myself. I’d let the vision happen all along. One instance of giving in to him and I’d let it happen.
Ray looked up from his pot.
“Was I right? Or was I right?” He chuckled, flashing Owen a proud wink like they’d just won the big game.
My jaw clenched. “This is not funny. This is my life.” I caught a faint trace of something suspicious in Ray’s expression. It looked like worry, or maybe anger, but I took note.
“So, what did you see?” he asked.
I gave him a look.
“Come on, it can’t be that bad. Owen looks happy.”
Owen threw him a glare. “You’re not helping. And we didn’t end up anywhere, just some place with a stream and a fallen tree. It looked like Heaven, or our own private paradise.”
“It may as well have been hell.” I sighed, pushing my hair away from my face.
“Ouch!” Ray said. Owen looked like I’d slapped him. “Relax, whatever happened only happened in spirit. Your bodies were right here behaving themselves.” He walked over to join us.
“It was just a kiss,” Owen said.
“Just a kiss,” I snapped. “Are you crazy? That was so much more than just a kiss.”
Owen looked proud. “Really? You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Owen! We practically made out.”
“Way to go, man!” Ray slapped Owen on the back, and I ran from the house out to the car.
I couldn’t wait to get home to Talon. Tomorrow I would confront him with what had been going on. I’d also come clean about the sessions with Ray. It seemed wrong. I had to be honest if I wanted him to be honest with me. I’d even tell him about what I saw on his computer.
“Tomorrow,” I told myself, hoping everything would still be okay.
***
Talon was waiting out on the steps when we arrived at home. He poked away at his phone with a frustrated look on his face as I joined him. “Hey, did you have a good nap? Are we still going out?” I frowned. I had looked forward to the date for days.
“Oh, yeah, we better start getting ready.” He tried to look like everything was okay, but he did a poor job because his tone was clipped. I was trying too, but the events at Ray’s still nagged at me.
“Talon?” I held his arm. “Did you get a bad message?” I pointed to the phone in his hand. Could it be the girl?
He shrugged and shifted his ey
es. “No, it’s nothing. Did you have a good time at Ray’s?” He changed the subject.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll tell you all about it later.” I walked in and went to my room to get ready, sure that he was, once again, hiding something from me. I had been patient. I had given him time to come clean. Date or no date I had to say something. Tonight. I couldn’t wait another day. Besides, my own guilt would kill me by then. We’d taken things slow and he still waited on my answer, but I couldn’t allow any more secrets. My heart sank with worry, but everything had to come out, and then whatever happened would just happen. With a deep breath the uneasy feeling dissipated. This was how it had to be.
***
Talon disappointed me at dinner with news that our plans had changed. “I really wanted everything to be special, but, well—we’ll just say I owe you.” He nibbled on his crust and dropped it on his plate.
I swallowed a sip of my cola before responding. “I really just wanted your company. I’d be happy anywhere with you.” Anywhere we can talk.
“Well, good.” He laughed. “I hope you really mean that.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What? What’s so funny?” The joke was on me when he told me of his plans for the rest of our evening.
He motioned to the waitress for the check and then continued. “I’ve brought you a change of clothes and my bike’s waiting at the shack.”
I dropped my fork. “What? Why?” I didn’t follow.
“We’re going to the old house, the one in the woods. I know there’s something strange going on, Lily. I just need to go there and check it out.”
“You mean you’re still suspicious of Ray?” I had to admit that I didn’t like Ray either. His arrogance was loathsome, but I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize my learning. “I know he’s an ass, but seriously, he has been helping us with our powers.” I assured him, knowing full well I could never share it all. “I understand you’re worried, but he did save you last night. If he hadn’t shown up, there’s no telling what would have happened to you.” I winced at the thought.
“Seriously, Lily, wasn’t it a little odd how he showed up just in time to save the day? How did he even know where we’d be?” His tone was sharp as he glared across the table.
I had no idea how he knew. “Instincts,” I replied as Ray had.
Talon sighed. “You can’t be that naive.”
I picked at my cold slice. “You think he planned it?”
“Come on, isn’t a little odd how he’s focused on you and Owen from the start? How he has all this information about your dad, and not to mention those books of Birdie’s that he hasn’t even let you glance in? And what the hell is he? A Guardian? He and Owen guard the well and protect you. Isn’t that just a little coincidental that we all end up here and your Guardian just happens to be here too? I think everything’s connected.”
“Ray says it is totally normal for us to find our way.” I thought of how Owen and I had found our way on our own just hours before.
“Possibly, but let’s just say for argument’s sake that it’s my instincts telling me to check out that house. Would you trust me?”
“Sure.” I stared deep into his eyes. “Of course, I trust you,” I lied. Trust no one. Those words rang out in my mind along with the sickly pink screen.
***
We left the pizza place and hurried out to Bragg where we ditched the truck, leaving it beside the shack on the side where it wouldn’t be noticed if anyone passed by. Talon and I changed from our date clothes. When he’d said he had it all planned, I didn’t think he’d even taken time to pack my ratty riding clothes, and to stash his bike. I gritted my teeth, thinking of how long it took me to fix myself up for the date. My hair had taken some time on its own, only to be wasted on the wind. I twisted it up into a pony tail using a tie that I kept in the truck and we headed out to the pipeline.
After a long ride, we arrived at the house which looked abandoned as Hunter had described.
“No one’s here,” I said, taking in the old house. It looked as if it hadn’t seen life or love in years. From what I could make out in the dark, the old, white, wooden house had a rusted tin roof and sat on large stones instead of cinder blocks. The steps that led to the rotten porch looked like they could cave in at any time. I’d never paid it much mind, but I’d passed it a time or two while riding with Talon. A few times we’d gone down those pipelines for miles and miles, until I thought we’d never find our way home, but usually I only saw his back on those rides.
Talon cut off the bike and kicked out the stand before helping me down. “I’m just gonna peek inside.”
“Talon, there’s no one here. This is just some old house that someone’s using as a hunting camp. Besides, it doesn’t look safe.”
He left the headlight on his bike pointing at the house and turned on the camping lantern that he’d brought. “It’s okay. I’ll be careful but I am getting to the bottom of this. Besides, I know I saw a light on, Lily.” He furrowed his brow, growing angry. “Are you calling me a liar?”
Wow, what a loaded question, I thought. I shook my head and followed him up the creaking steps, across the shaky porch and to the door.
He cracked it open. “Hello, anybody here? Hello?” He stepped inside and I stayed close behind, imagining spiders and rats lurking in the shadows and glad it would be him and not me who would walk through any webs. The floor creaked beneath our feet and I heard Talon’s breathing. Just as Talon fidgeted to turn his flashlight, a small flame lit in the distance. A single candle shone from a tiny pot on the other end, where a fragile woman crouched in the corner near a small cot, her face as wrinkled as a prune.
I gasped and Talon startled. “Oh my... ” he exclaimed, stepping back to encourage me to the door.
“Don’t go, but stay where you are,” the woman hissed. Her scratchy, familiar voice gave me chills. I’d seen her before in my dream. He’s coming. I remembered. It was her, the strange lady with the warning. Her head raised and when her vivid blue eyes fell upon mine, my heart started to race.
“Mrs. Chandler?” I spoke.
“Alyssa,” the woman breathed and put her free hand to her chest.
“No ma’am. I’m Lily, her niece.” I stepped forward and held the light to illuminate my face.
“I know who you are. It’s just that you have her essence.” Of course she knew me. She’d warned me. Talon had been right. This was what Ray didn’t want anyone finding. I took another step closer.
“Stay where you are, child. He’s got a trap.” She raised a shaky, twisted finger and pointed between us.
Mrs. Chandler would have to be at least a hundred and fifty years old if a day. I knew for a fact that Alyssa referred to her as an older woman in her day and even Alyssa would have been at least one hundred and thirteen. Being frail and withered, Birdie hunched over, crippled. I realized that even on the Water, age will catch up to a body eventually, but she looked like she’d been through much worse than hard life.
I choked back a bitter taste and shook my head. “What has he done to you? He’s a monster.” I looked around at what the candle and flashlight revealed and wondered how any person could live in such a way. The house was filled with things, though dusty and unkempt; with as many leaves on the floor as on the porch. I remembered reading how Alyssa would come to help her clean, but this wasn’t the same house, was it?
“Dark magic,” she answered. “There’s a barrier to keep me here and others out. It usually cloaks me as well, but I can get past it when I’m stronger.” She lifted a bony finger and pointed between us as a reminder. “I’ve tried to reach you a few times. I save my strength when I can.” She got quiet, as if contemplating to tell us more or not. “Do you hear that?” She perked her head up and peered around the room behind her. “Someone’s out there!” I turned to Talon and our eyes narrowed. We hadn’t heard anything. But still, she persisted. “Check on it, boy,” she said to Talon. He stepped outside to check. That’s when she came closer. I steppe
d back. “Don’t fear me child. I can help you.” Talon’s steps came closer to returning and she hurried. “Come, alone. Come early. We can talk. I have to tell you about Alyssa—about everything.”
Talon walked up onto the porch behind me. “There’s nothing out there. I think she’s gone batty,” he whispered close to my ear as Birdie took the opportunity to raise the gnarled finger to her lips. She came to me in my dreams too, which meant she still had some ability, and I wondered if the light they’d seen before was her Light. Ray had said she was a Guardian like him and Owen. Or had he lied about that too?
I looked around the room, hating to leave her there. Even though I understood her request, it terrified me. How would I make it back to the place alone? Had she been so abused by her own son that she couldn’t trust anyone?
Just as Talon asked her if she needed anything, we could hear the sounds of someone coming up the trail past the house towards Ray’s. If we didn’t act fast, we’d be caught. So, with a promise for a quick return, Talon ran for the bike to crank it and Birdie waved me away saying to come back soon. I ran to the bike and jumped on behind Talon, who took off as soon as my hands clasped around him. We went to the shack, changed back into our date clothes and ditched the bike where it would be safe until morning.
Once home, Talon and I sat on the sofa contemplating our next moves. He insisted we had to tell Hunter, but didn’t think we could trust Owen. All I really cared about was how to get back to Birdie’s house without them knowing. I didn’t even worry about trusting her; something told me I could.
I tossed Talon a throw pillow and then took one for myself. “Of course we have to tell Owen if we tell Hunter. He won’t be easy to live with when he finds out we kept this from him.”
