The Vessel

by Felicia Tatum

  When she finally calmed down, she lifted up, her face wet and covered in tear streaks. Blood shot eyes looked into mine, and her lips quivered. “It’s my fault, isn’t it?”

  “What? No! We don’t know who took them, but we will find them. It’s not your fault. Quit blaming yourself for everything.”

  “There has to be a way to find them, Scott. I can’t lose my parents like this,” she said, shaking her head. Tears rolled down her face again. I used my thumb to wipe them away, then gently kissed each spot. Her eyes closed, and she drew a shaky breath.

  “We will, my love. We will,” I reassured her. Now that I’d found her, I was determined to help her rescue her parents.

  Olivia

  Scott held me securely in his strong arms. His rough hands caressed my hair as he rocked me gently. He didn’t say much as I cried away all the pain I held in. He only comforted. And that was one of the reasons I felt so completely in love at this moment. I sniffled, grabbing a tissue to wipe my nose. His apartment hadn’t changed much, only looked a bit dirtier in places. From the things he hinted at, he spent the past three months searching for me and didn’t leave much room for anything else. My heart was filled with pain at the thought of my parents being gone for good. We’d been fighting a lot before the dance. I didn’t want those to be my last memories of them.

  “I think I should go to my house. See if I can find anything,” I choked out.

  “Of course, love. Do you want to go now? I can pop us over if you want.”

  “I thought you didn’t like doing that?” I asked, giving him a coy look. I wiped the tears that lingered off my face.

  “Don’t you know I would do anything for you by now?” he asked, his lips finding mine. He kissed me softly, his lips moving over mine with the slightest amount of passion. It was enough to make me want more. My hands wrapped around his neck, my fingers trailing the lower strands of his hair. I arched my body forward, eager to get closer. I was still stuffy from crying, so I had to pull away to catch my breath. Leaning my forehead against his, I let myself get lost in the intensity of his deep brown eyes. They penetrated my soul with the smallest of glances.

  “How do you do that? I’m bawling my eyes out one minute and completely turned on by you the next,” I said, winking at him.

  He chuckled. The sound was musical to me. I could listen to Scott laugh like that every minute of every day, and I still wouldn’t be satisfied. I would always be yearning for more of him.

  He shrugged and kissed me on the nose. “It’s a gift.” The corners of his magnificently sexy lips curved into a sexy grin.

  “It’s no wonder I call you Mr. Sexy. Everything you do is hot. Did you know that?” I asked. I bit my lip, attempting to stop myself from leaning in for his lips to take mine again.

  “Me? No, no, Livvie. I believe you are talking about yourself. You drive me wild…especially when you bite your lips like that.” He pulled me closer, wrapping his leg over mine. We sat in comfort for the longest time. We didn’t have to talk or be making out to enjoy each other. The closeness we shared was enough to satisfy.

  His grip tightened on my shoulders, sending tingles down my spine. I sighed contentedly when he piped up. “Hey, Livvie. I’ve been really curious about something.”

  “Ok. Ask away, handsome.”

  He let out a sexy groan, and his fingers trailed along my neck, causing me to shiver. “How in the heck did you figure out how to espy? It took me forever to figure that out. And I thought the room was blocked to magic, how did you manage getting past it?”

  I pulled away to face him. “I don’t know, Scott. I really don’t know how I did it. One minute I was there, and the next I was in this strange room. It didn’t look familiar at all. And my focus kept going to this door, I don’t where it lead, maybe a bedroom or a closet? Anyways, I somehow did that twice, so I thought maybe I would try coming to you. I had Aiden watch out, laid out in the floor to make it look like I’d just fallen asleep, and concentrated on you. Then I was in your apartment. I didn’t even know if the note would be real! I just tried it, praying it worked so you would know I was still alive….”

  He crushed me to him, holding tighter than ever. “I was so worried, Livvie. I thought I’d never find you,” he whispered. He released his hold, leaning back slowly. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes kept darting back and forth as he stared at his leg.

  “Scott?”

  “Did you go through the door?”

  I shook my head. His actions were perplexing. “Why?”

  Excited, he jumped up. He paced in front of me. I pulled my knees closer to my chest, resting my chin on them. The blanket still covered me, keeping all the warmth we created close. “Scott? Are you ok?” I said, a small laugh escaping with the question.

  “What if your parents were trying to lead you to them?”

  Eyes widened, I flung the cover off. Hopping to my feet, I gripped his shirt in my hands. “Scott! Do you really think that could be it?” I couldn’t hide the hope that filled my voice. I was also a little perturbed he was the one to think of it and not me.

  He nodded, smiling widely. I jumped in his arms, hugging him with joy. My mind raced with thoughts. I had to try to find them through espying. Scott and his army of warriors searched for them the whole time I was gone, and found nothing. It seemed it was all up to me.

  He stroked my cheek, pushing my hair behind my ear. “What are you thinking?”

  “I have to try to find them that way again.” I raced around the room in frenzy. I noticed a big enough spot on the floor near the kitchen, and dropped to my knees to get situated. I was about to lay flat when I heard Scott clear his throat behind me. Frustrated that he was keeping me from my mission, I turned quickly and spouted, “What?”

  “I’m going with you. Come on.” He walked to his bedroom while I stared at his back in wonder. How could he go with me? It was projecting my spirit. Now, I wasn’t completely familiar with all of this, but I didn’t think this plan would work at all.

  “Scott, come on,” I jumped to my feet and rushed after him, talking the whole way. “This won’t work, and we’re just wasting time. Let me go by myself. I know exactly where to send my spirit, and I don’t even have to think about it. I just have to relax and it happens. Please, let me do this?”

  He turned abruptly. I staggered little while attempting to not collide with his chest.

  “Olivia, all we have to do is hold hands, and my spirit can follow yours. My parents and Grandma did it to teach me how to espy. I wasn’t very good at first.”

  “Really? You’ll follow me?”

  He nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. I got the feeling he didn’t like that I was the one that held the answers. But that was a conversation for another time.

  “Ok. Let’s go.”

  Aiden

  Anna’s tests weren’t hurtful or scary, but they were very time consuming. Sadie came in with food not long after we made ourselves comfortable. I devoured every bite and had seconds. She sat and watched me with a strange look in her eyes. She made my heart beat a little faster with the gorgeous dark eyes she possessed, but there wasn’t anything kind or familiar in them. Sadie was different from Olivia in every way, but she was just as beautiful. Unlike Olivia, though, she seemed to share her brother’s hatred for me.

  After she left, Anna started her testing. She first inspected my hands. And I mean she really looked at them. She concentrated on every line and dent I had. Her velvet hands traced mine over and over again. Each finger was the focus of her eyes, searching for something, anything, but she found nothing.

  Next, she took a vial of something off the shelf behind her. The liquid was hazy, but clear. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I sincerely hoped she wasn’t going to be putting that on my body anywhere. She placed a small bowl and a round wooden stick on the table in front of me.

  “Aiden, I need you to do something for me.”

  Oh, great. This was going to be bad, I could feel it
. “Ok…what is it?”

  “You have to help me on this one. I’m going to see if I can get the last day you remember to replay for us, in this bowl. But first, I need you to cut your finger just enough for one drop of blood, and I need one strand of hair. You have to be the one to do both, however. I will just recite the spell. Here is a sterilized needle. Go ahead when you are prepared.”

  The needle was small, a bit larger than one you’d find in a pin cushion. I held my index finger over the bowl, and the needle about a foot away. I thought the best way would be to do it as quickly as possible. I exhaled and pricked myself. The pain was minimal, especially compared to what all I had been through recently, but I didn’t go deep enough. No blood would come out, no matter how hard I squeezed. I tried again, this time really shoving it beneath my skin. Anna gasped beside me as the red liquid began pouring out of me. It dripped all in the bowl and ran down the length of my hand. Anna gripped me tightly with a towel, applying an immense amount of pressure. Way more than I would expect from this gentle older lady. She reminded me of my grandmother, maternal and always looking out for others. I briefly wondered if my grandmother was doing well.

  “Are you ok, Aiden?” she inquired.

  I nodded, though my vision was beginning to blur. The towel was soaked in blood by now, and she appeared to be worried. “Why is this happening?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Sadie! Come in here, now!” She screamed out, in the direction of the kitchen.

  Sadie came running through the door, slightly out of breath. “What is it, Grandma? Did he hurt you?”

  I glared at her, then motioned for her to look at my hand. With blood everywhere, it was hardly possible for me to be hurting anyone. “Seriously?”

  Sheepishly, she turned back to Anna. “What happened?”

  “We were doing the Yesteryear Spell and when he pricked his finger, this happened,” Anna informed her.

  “What? This happened from a prick?” Sadie looked shocked. She stepped forward, searching for a towel behind the table. She stepped up, standing beside Anna.

  They changed them out, though the blood was beginning to clot. Slowly, but surely, it looked like I wouldn’t bleed to death today. Sadie left to get more food, to help replenish my strength. I lay my head down in my arms, fighting the urge to sleep. Anna kept talking to me, keeping me conscious. Sadie returned with a plate of the food she had cooked, orange juice, and a pastry. I managed to get some in my stomach. I overheard Sadie whisper to Anna that I looked “scary pale.” Her statement didn’t make me feel any better. I gulped the orange juice and rested until it brought my blood sugar up a few notches.

  Once I was feeling stronger, I looked up at Anna. I glanced between her and Sadie, “What next?”

  “Are you sure you’re up for this?” Anna asked.

  I nodded.

  “Ok, then we shall continue,” Anna stated.

  Scott

  Livvie and I lay side by side. Inhaling, I could smell the strawberry shampoo she used to wash her hair. Her hand felt small and fragile cupped in mine. Her breathing was deep and heavy, making me wonder if she was nervous. Tightening my grip, I whispered, “Relax.” Sighing, her body became less tense. Soft fingers circled my thumb in a soothing motion.

  She let out a long, deep breath, “I’m ready.”

  Closing my eyes, I concentrated on her spirit. She was leading me, so it was a different way to espy. I focused on the light she radiated from within; the glow of her skin, the brightness of her smile. Her body sunk down when she projected, and my spirit rushed to follow. It was such a strange experience to follow someone like this. Like you were just walking behind them, but their body was see-through and almost blurry. My spirit released, and I saw we were in the room Livvie had described. It was undecorated and kind of boring. The door she described was right in front of us. A big wooden door that somehow managed to look scary. Livvie stuck her hand behind her, reaching for mine. I grasped it, and we continued, past the silent man sitting in the chair, past the boring shelves, stopping at our destination.

  She glanced back at me, her eyes wide and hopeful. I squeezed her hand and nodded. Her other hand gripped the knob. I noticed it shaking a little, and I hurriedly pulled her away. The guard looked around, and I knew he’d heard. I nodded in his direction, and placed my finger over my lips, making the shh gesture. Her eyes widen in recognition. Nodding, she scanned the room. She was new to this, and it was stupid of me to not explain more to her before we’d come on this journey. I walked ahead of her, pulling her close to me. I relaxed, gliding my body through the door. A few seconds later, Livvie appeared behind me. Excitement lighted her features. Her smile was wide and her eyes shining. She bit her lip, looking from me to the door. I knew she would enjoy that, so I grinned at my love and stepped aside.

  She looked around, but no one was here. A worn couch sat in front of the wall in direct line of our vision. It showed signs that people were recently here. A small, rickety table held a plate and used napkins. There was a pile of clothing in the corner. Livvie glided over to it, her focus fixated on a navy blue jacket. I stepped closer, leaning to communicate with her.

  I mouthed, “What?”

  Her bright green eyes filled with tears as she held it up for me to see. “My father’s,” she mouthed back.

  I nodded, taking her in my arms. Her body felt unnatural, light and thin. I pulled back, holding her face in my palms. “Home,” I mouthed, kissing her forehead.

  In an instant, our spirits slammed back. Her back arched and she gasped beside me. With a hand over her heart, she tried to catch her breath. I lay a hand on her leg, so she wouldn’t try to move just yet. I relaxed as my spirit settled back into place. The feeling was something you never got used to. Being disconnected with your body, then, reconnecting.

  “Are you ok, love?”

  “Yeah. They were there, Scott. I know this belongs to my dad,” she said, her fingers gently tracing the fabric. Her eyes were full of sadness and disappointment.

  Deep down, she had hoped we would find them today and this would be over. I hugged her tightly, inching her closer to me. I had to help her find them. My heart was breaking, seeing her so upset. “I know, baby. I’m sorry. I promise we will find them,” I declared.

  I wasn’t sure where we would go from here, or if we really would find them. But I had to do everything in my power. I had to.

  ‘Cause deep down, I’d hoped too.

  Olivia

  Scott banished me to Anna’s, claiming to need time for research. Why I couldn’t help him with that, I didn’t know. I took the jacket with me, eager for Anna’s assistance. I had no idea how to send my body from place to place, or that I even could, so Scott did it for me. It felt like I was being sucked through the air, quite like when I espied, only I didn’t slam into anything when I got to my destination. I simply stood in Anna’s front hallway, holding the jacket like I’d been there the whole time. Shaking my head in disbelief, I called out for Sadie.

  She rounded the corner, a delighted smile on her gorgeous face. “Liv! I didn’t hear you pull up.” She walked to the window, looking around for Scott’s vehicle, I assumed. “Hey, where’s Scottie?”

  “He sent me away. He said he had to look into some stuff about my parents’ disappearance.”

  Her face fell. She pulled me into a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry about that, Liv. We’re doing everything we can.”

  “I know,” I said, smiling at her. I held up the jacket for her to notice. “We found something.”

  She looked at me quizzically. “A jacket?”

  I nodded. “It’s my dad’s. We espied on a room I found when I was captured today. We found this. I know it’s his. But…they weren’t there anymore,” I choked out. I breathed deeply, determined to not cry again.

  “Hey, come on. We’ll go talk to Grandma. I’m sure she can get something off this about where they are or something. Follow me, she’s in with Aiden.”

  Aiden. I
’d somehow forgotten about him in all this. I’d just deserted him here with people he didn’t know, and who didn’t seem to like him. Anna would be nice to him, but I couldn’t say the same for the rest of my bunch.

  We stepped into a massive library. Books lined shelf after shelf. Every wall was covered, as well as tables in the middle of the room. The whole room contained the “old book” smell that I so loved. I breathed it all in, closing my eyes for the full effect. I smiled a little thinking about all the stories and places in between all these binds.

  Beside me, Sadie laughed. “You alright, Liv?”

  I peered out one eye at her. “Yes. I like books. Don’t sue me.”

  She chuckled again, directing me to a shelf in front of us. Pushing on it slightly, it opened into another library of sorts. Only this room possessed much more than just books. It looked like a lair or something off a movie. I gingerly stepped inside, taking in my surroundings. My eyes swept by the books, by the chair in the corner, by the shelves of dishes and supplies, and stopped on the herbs and bottles filled with liquids. I could only imagine what those were for, but I guessed making potions had something to do with it. Fascinated, I moved forward, eager to inspect the contents.

  Anna slid her body between me and my goal. I broke my focus, looking at her instead. “Hi, Ms. Anna.”

  Her slightly wrinkled hand found its way to my shoulder. “You have sorcery genes in you, dear Olivia. No one would be that drawn to my potions if they didn’t. If your aura wasn’t enough proof, this is.”

  I smiled a half smile, not sure what she meant. My eyes found their way back to focusing on my current fascination. Something in me was determined to touch and explore everything on that shelf, while the other part of me was wondering why in the heck I was acting this way. Anna moved her head, catching my attention again.

  “You can’t until you’ve been taught. I know you’re longing to explore all those bottles have to offer, but that could get dangerous. You must be trained first.”