“Diana—his gifts have been stripped from him,” Gabe says, walking beyond me and breaking the circle. As he does so, the energy all around us dissipates like fireflies dispersing in the night.
If looks could kill—he’d be dead from the daggers she throws.
“Magical aftereffects aren’t always what they seem,” she says. “Just stay back—give me some space so I can work with him.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You were no longer in control—whatever you attempted to retrieve together, it was not allowed by Karmic Law. The information you were trying to access, it’s been sealed at the highest order. You stripped him of his gifts as payment for breaking the Law.”
“What are you even talking about?” she spits, fear blazing in her eyes.
“He’ll heal—but he will have to pay penance.”
“Penance? He was only doing what I asked. I should be the one doing penance,” she says through clenched teeth. Tears brim on the edge of her eyes, but she blinks them back as she turns to him. “Demetri—come back to me. We’ll figure this out together. I’m so, so sorry.”
Gabe bows his head, exiting the circle to return to my side. I take a deep breath, eyeing the singed earth. Even with all the energy and power—what I need has slipped right through my fingers and I’m back to square one.
The only thing abundantly clear is the force surrounding Diana and her memories is not to be trifled with. There’s potent magic there—and no one will unlock that information without expressed permission.
Whatever that may mean.
11
CLUTCHING at the charred remains of the map, the ashes flit through my fingers like tiny grey snowflakes.
My chest is heavy and my heart thumps unevenly in my chest. We were so close to having it all. Had we not gone ahead with Diana’s plan—I’d be on my way to find the others by now.
Silent tears stream down my face and my mind wheels through a thousand different scenarios all at once.
Anger wells up—not necessarily at Diana—but at the universe for guiding me here only to have everything fall apart at my feet. Literally.
“It’s all over,” I whisper. “How could this happen?”
Diana continues to work the energies still abundant from the moon, in an attempt to heal Demetri and harness the powers it gives. While the energy continues to flow, it’s clear it’s not doing what she wants it to.
“Dammit,” she mutters. “I’m going to get you some help, Demetri. Hold tight.”
She sets him down gingerly, running to the small outdoor table and grabbing a cellphone. Quickly, she dials.
“Yeah, hi—it’s Diana Hawthorne. I need someone at my cottage right away. Thanks, Stacy. Hurry—we’re in the back garden. My friend Demetri needs to go to the hospital.”
Dusting off my legs, I stand up and walk to Demetri. His face is ashen, but he blinks, trying to stay focused.
“Are you okay?” I ask, dropping to my knees.
Diana drops down on the other side of him, grabbing hold of his hand. “The paramedics are on their way, Demetri. We’re gonna get you to the hospital.”
“Mmmm,” is all Demetri says before his eyes close again.
“Will he be okay?” I ask.
“Do I look like a doctor?” Diana snaps.
It’s her defense mechanism, I know it is—but the sting in her words still hurts. Especially after everything we’ve been through.
“I’m sorry—I just meant—”
Diana takes a deep breath and bites her lip.
“I’ll—I’ll let you be. I’m so sorry. I hope Demetri will be okay,” I say, standing up and walking out.
Gabe follows immediately behind me. In the distance, flashing lights flood the streets, followed by the sirens of the ambulance. I point them to the location in the back and keep walking as they park in the alleyway behind the cottage and run through the gate.
Anger, sadness, desperation all wash through me in sequence. I have no words—nothing I can say or do right now. Everything I’ve been working on has gone up in flames.
“You’re on the right path, Morgan. Don’t let your faith waiver now. You never would have been brought here unless it was meant to be—” Gabe says, placing his hand on the backside of my heart chakra. I feel the energy he gifts me—as he always does when he knows I need it.
I sigh, knowing he’s right—but it sure doesn’t feel like it right now. This might not be the time and place—but it will set me on the path that is right. I was meant to meet Diana. I was meant to be here now and witness all of this. I might not know all the reasons, but I don’t have to. I simply need to keep trusting the process.
I also know, there’s nothing I can do to help Demetri. If this is Karmic Law, the only way to restore his gifts is by balancing it out—and he and Diana are the only ones who can do that.
“Looks like we’re back to square one,” I mutter, blinking back tears.
“Not exactly,” Gabe says.
“How can you say that? The map is gone. I have nothing to show for all the efforts.”
“Your portion of the ritual worked perfectly,” he whispers, taking my hand.
“What?” I say, my eyebrows scrunched as I turn to face him.
“You were trying to transmute the energy. Do you know what that means?”
I stop walking, pulling him up short.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying, you just need to be patient and—”
Suddenly, swirls of violet energy burst from the ashes still peppering my hands—a phoenix of sorts—as it makes its way to me. Flowing into my eyes, my vision is consumed with bright purple and white light, as it swirls together in a dance of mystery and magic.
Before I know it—I can see the angelic presence of all my angels. Every single one I’ve touched, helped, and awakened. I can also see the different color energy of the final five—the last of the angels I need to help on their path.
“Oh my god—” I whisper, raising my hands to my mouth.
“What do you see?” Gabe asks, touching my shoulder.
The universe must be laughing its ass off.
“Everything. Everyone.”
“And?” he urges.
“Looks like we’re heading back home,” I say, verging on the edge of laughter.
Gabe chuckles, “Sure, why not. Nothing like going full circle.”
Taking a deep breath, I shake away my doubt. The flames were never a part of the ritual Diana and Demetri were doing alone. It was the transmutation all along—it just hadn’t finalized. We literally changed the map’s guidance to one I could see on my own. Ingenious.
I glance back toward Diana’s cottage. The lights flash brightly—then suddenly erupt brighter as the ambulance clears the corner and flies by us on the street.
I may not be able to help Demetri gain his gifts back, but after everything Diana’s been through, the least I can do is set her on her path. This is part of why we were meant to come together.
My vision alters from the here and now to a man with black hair and dark eyes as he sits at the small coffee shop counter around the corner, drinking alone. With my newly enhanced vision—I can see perfectly the path he’s meant to be on, and how it intersects with Diana. Releasing the energy to start dominoes falling, I experience the beginning of a new adventure for her.
She may not have gotten what she hoped for tonight—but it’s because her journey is more complicated than she’s aware of. Integrating a new life, a new way of being takes time. And it takes reintegration into the world again.
She may not have realized it—hell, I didn’t realize it at first—but the energy of the Violet Flame left its mark on Diana in unexpected ways. The transmutation worked far better than either she or her friend realizes.
What she does with it now—is up to her.
To Be Continued in Oracle and Awakening
Oracle
Chapter 1
WHY THE HELL do I even bother
being polite to people?
Pretty sure I’d fall over from disbelief if even one of them could care about anyone beyond their own godly selves. Truth-be-told, being around most of them, really kinda pisses me off.
The arrogant ass who cut me off on the already-narrow-sidewalk continues on his way, oblivious to the rest of the world. He doesn’t even spin his dark head of hair around to grace the woman he nearly toppled into the busy street with a passing look of apology.
I oughta kick him in his annoyingly perfect-shaped ass.
I give my sopping wet foot a shake, hoping it will alleviate the inevitable squish in my running shoe for the next three blocks. Of course, it doesn’t.
There is simply no way I can be part of the human race.
The thought makes me snicker.
By the time I reach my office, I’m ready to peel my shoe off and throw it against the wall—just to see if it sticks like a wet noodle. Unfortunately, my first appointment is already pacing outside; hands wringing, and hair frazzled like she’s been pulling on it. Her eyes are wide as I walk up to my private entrance at the back of the building I rent out and shoot her a half-smile.
Why do they always wait to hijack me at this time of the morning?
“You must be Amber,” I state, matter-of-factly.
She looks like an Amber. Tallish, blonde cropped hair, wide blue eyes, and pouty lips.
Amber nods, her hair flopping up and down frantically.
“Cool. Come on in,” I tell her, nodding to the black abyss inside. I push open the door, flick on the low lighting, and take a seat to unlace my shoe. “Sorry about this, but I’m gonna need to go barefoot, or my foot’s gonna transform into a regurgitated prune.”
I toss the shoe aside and fling the sopping wet sock over the radiator in the corner, before starting on the other foot.
Amber still hasn’t said anything, not even a chuckle at my lame attempt at a joke. Instead, she stands awkwardly in the middle of the room, tugging on the frayed end of her sleeves and looking around.
This is about a man.
I sigh deeply. Why does it have to always be so obvious? Just for once, I’d love a challenge.
“Okay, Amber…have a seat,” I say, pointing to the chair beside her.
I walk around the small table to position myself directly opposite her. If I had more time, I would have set out the ambiance—a little incense, some crystals. Maybe even a little Enya going on in the background. Who doesn’t love Enya?
She sits quickly, biting her lip, and grimacing like she chewed on a box of nails.
I brush the bright pink chunk of bangs from my face and tuck it behind my right ear. With a deep, cleansing breath, I close my eyes, and clear my mind. Images rush in without restraint; faces, places. Hands holding hands. Steamy sex with a dark haired, green eyed man. The green expands from his eyes, turning into flashing green lights.
Green means go.
I open my eyes, already well aware of the answer.
“Go ahead. What’s your question?” I ask.
“Is he the right one? Should I stay with him? Does he really love me?” The woman blurts out her first words of the day in one big jumble. Her eyes are glossy as she pleads with me, searching my face for her answer.
Knew it.
I grin, searching for the best ambivalent words.
“He can be, if that’s what you choose. I’m seeing green lights. They sorta mean universal energies are open to going forward confidently. However, the ultimate path will be decided by the actions you and he make…beginning now.”
“Is that a yes?” Her tone is desperate as she scrunches her face and leans forward, digging her fingertips into the table’s edge.
“It is a yes, at least for now. Free will has a way of course-correcting, though. So be careful. However, that said, what I see presently is he is very clearly meant to be in your life—as you are in his.”
She nods, tugging her eyebrows in, clearly hoping for more.
“What I want you to do,” I begin, “is remember to take things one step at a time. Be present with him in this moment, without jumping to the next. It’s your job to ground the two of you because he can’t. He isn’t to your level, yet. Do you understand?”
I’ve found assigning a job helps ease a person’s mind and gives them an active role to focus on.
Her eyes gloss over, and I reiterate, “You need to enjoy each other. Be happy where you are in each stage with Jason because if you—”
Amber gasps. “I… How did you know his name? I swear, I didn’t say it. I was trying not to give too much away.”
I wince.
Even after all these years, I can still slip. As much as people want to believe what I say is real, they kinda don’t want to know for sure, either. I mean, what if it means I can sense everything, you know? Like that extra piece of pizza they ate when they shouldn’t, or the name of the man they cheated on with last night. The thought of it all wigs them out.
And it should. Because I can.
“I’m sure you mentioned it in our phone consult,” I lie, with a cheesy smile plastered on my face.
“Yes, yes… I must have. Thank you, Diana,” she sighs, nodding to herself. Amber stands, shaking my hand absently.
“You are most welcome,” I tell her. “Now relax and enjoy the ride.”
“I will. I mean, I’ll try. Thank you.”
Our exchange comes to an end and I find myself alone. Blissfully—peacefully—alone.
Unfortunately, it’s not meant to last long.
My assistant, Renaldo bounds through the door moments after Amber exits. If he weren’t so damn good at his job, I’d fire his flamboyant ass for being late every day.
“Well, hey there, sunshine. How’s the most ah-mazing boss in the world?” he says, doing a flourish of his hand as he takes the seat recently vacated by Amber.
With my face deadpan, I slowly blink from him to the clock on the wall.
He ignores me. As he always does.
I sigh. “I’d be even more amazing if I had a decent assistant who could tell time. Or at least bribe me with coffee.”
“If that’s what you really wanted, you would have foreseen someone different to hire, honey. Instead, you’re stuck with me,” Renaldo says, his pearly whites shining broadly. “Besides, you know you love me. Warts and all.”
I roll my eyes. Damn if he isn’t right. All signs pointed to having him by my side, though I’m still not sure why. The universe has a funny way of making paths clear for everyone but me. All I can figure is it must be a sick cosmic joke, because I’m sure as hell not clued in.
“So how many lovesick birds have you dealt with in my absence?” he asks, gathering his hands up by his chin and fluttering his eyelashes.
“Just the one,” I laugh, giving him a knowing look. “So far.”
“And I’m sure there will be many more for the day. It’s almost Valentine’s Day, after all. I better get the front stocked up with lovers’ potions and scented candles. I’m telling you, we need some blindfolds and whips on display with the whole Fifty Shades of Spanking obsession still sweeping the nation. We’d make a killing,” he winks, dashing to the front of our small store entrance.
The instant he says it, I know he’s right. We’d make a ton of money, but that would mean dealing with more people. I have enough to deal with, thanks. Then again, I suppose it’s why I hired him. He can deal with it.
“You’re not paid on commission,” I call after him, shaking my head. “You get that, right?”
“Maybe the idea of lust-bunnies having passionate kinky sex is enough mental payment for me,” I hear him call back.
“Brody withholding again?” I say, chuckling.
“Oh, honey, do not get me started,” Renaldo says, walking to the doorway with his hands on his hips.
“Darling, I have already foreseen it.” I say, watching his bright face freeze. I wait just long enough for the color in his cheeks to drain before adding a final, �
��Kidding.”
He lowers his eyebrows and spins on his heels. “There’s a special kind of hell for people like you, Diana Hawthorne.”
“Don’t I know it,” I chuckle.
Honestly, he has no idea how right he is. Whatever this is, this life I lead, it’s like a Groundhog Day loop of hells especially crafted for me. I mean, ironic much? I can’t stand people, but here I am working in close proximity daily as I try to do for them what I’ve never been able to do for myself. It’s kinda messed up, actually.
If I ever meet God—or whatever—I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind.
The bell of the shop door dings, as a man and woman walk in. The man’s a closed book; apprehensive and skeptical. His aura exudes disdain, while the woman on the other hand is drowning in grief and worry.
Renaldo shoots me a sideways glance before trotting over to them in his signature walk.
“Why hello there, is there anything I can do for you?” he says, cocking his head slightly to the side. His perfectly groomed, dark hair flops slightly with the gesture, showing off his accentuated part he’s had his stylist carve in.
The man’s left eye brow twitches upward, but his lips tip down.
I walk back into my reading room. There’s no question, they’re heading my way and I need to cleanse myself first. There’s a helluva lot of grounding I need to do before they invade my space.
Standing in the middle of my mental circle of light, I call upon the universal energies to wash away all the shit no longer serving me, so I can become an open vessel to help those who need my gifts. The white light washes through my system, taking away anything unwanted, or clinging to me from the previous encounter with Amber. Not to mention, discarding any of my own BS from perfect-ass-man.
“Eh-hem,” Renaldo clears his throat, but by the time he knocks on the doorframe, I’ve taken my final cleansing breath before releasing the light.
Turning around, I grin as genuinely as I can.
“These lovely folks would like a word with you, if you have a moment, Diana,” he says, swinging his hand out to put them on display. “It’s important.”
The Chronicles of the 8th Dimension - Limited Edition Box Set (4 Books): A Supernatural Thriller Box Set Page 6
