by Yvonne Heidt
Chapter Eleven
Kat’s legs felt unsteady, but she managed to cross to the couch. She was reeling after Angel’s nonchalant statement. But hadn’t she felt a connection when she looked at Angel’s picture?
Shade stared at them both. “Well now, this is interesting.”
Before Kat could ask any questions, Sunny and Jordan entered the small foyer. Angel ran to them and everyone began talking at once. Kat wasn’t able to decipher much of the conversation. She was still in shock. Last week, she’d been working at her desk and seriously contemplating leaving her job while using the vacation time she had coming to her. Then she met the woman she had made a promise to centuries ago but who didn’t remember her. Follow that with the knowledge there was a sadistic stalker after them, and top off all of that with a statement from a four-year-old who knew who Kat was—in a previous life.
As open as she was to all the paranormal possibilities, there was still that part of her that was screaming for facts, something concrete she could hold on to. She felt as if she were spinning in a vortex and couldn’t get her feet under her.
What sounded like a whisper in her ear had her searching for the source. From across the room, Tiffany locked eyes with her, and Kat felt the chaos of her thoughts settle somewhat. She looked just as stunned and confused as Kat imagined she did.
Fingers snapping together in front of her face brought her attention to Jordan. “What?”
“I’m talking to you.”
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I just told you I made the necessary calls to the authorities. But you know how that goes.”
“They can’t do anything unless he does something first.” It completely pissed her off, but there wasn’t any proof yet that Mark was stalking Tiffany. “What about the break-in?”
“I reported it, but somehow I doubt he’d leave any evidence behind.”
“So we wait?” That didn’t sit well with Kat at all. She would much prefer being proactive instead of reactive.
Tiffany approached them. “I’m sorry for all of the trouble this is causing.”
Kat took her hand. “Don’t think for even one second that anyone blames you. This is not your fault.”
“I can’t help but think it is.”
“We’ll get through this. I promise.”
“Don’t say anything about Mark. I don’t want to upset her,” Tiffany said as Angel crawled onto her lap.
“I’m sleepy, Mommy.”
Tiffany looked sharply at Aura. “Does this have anything to do with—?”
“No, and I swear to you, nothing he can do will ever touch her.”
“Are you worried about the—?” Kat left off the last word when Tiffany shook her head.
“It’s past your naptime, baby. Let’s go get you settled in.” Tiffany stood and carried her down the hall.
Sunny motioned for Kat, Jordan, and Shade to sit at the table. “I’ll get everyone some water.”
Aura took the seat at the head of the table and waited for everyone to settle in their seats. Kat looked out the window and realized that Aura’s condo had nearly the same view of the Manette Bridge as Sunny’s house, the only difference being it was from the left side and a higher vantage.
“Okay, Mom,” Sunny said. “You didn’t go to the beach just to kick the waves.”
“Very perceptive of you. And no, I didn’t.”
“How much of this did you see coming?” Jordan asked. “Can you see what happens from here?”
“It doesn’t work that way,” Aura said. “I only had a warning.”
“What warning?” Kat asked. “What am I missing here?” Besides my mind.
Shade grinned at her. “Oh, it gets better.”
“I give up,” Kat said. “Could you all cut me a break here? And maybe help me make sense of this—in your out-loud voices?”
“Something that looks threatening, isn’t. Another looks innocent, and isn’t. Neither are what they appear to be,” Aura said.
“Oh yeah, Tiffany said something about that when I was in the hospital,” Shade said. “I received basically the same message.”
“I knew there was going to be a shift in our lives and that it was important I be prepared to answer questions.”
“Messages? Questions?” Kat wanted to bang her head on the table. “Please?”
“Can we get to the part where Angel said she knew Kat?” Shade asked. “Because that was freaking cool.”
Everyone’s attention turned to Kat, and the intense focus behind their eyes made her want to squirm in her seat.
“Welcome to my world,” Jordan said.
“How far back can you remember?” Aura asked.
“I’m sorry,” Kat said. “I’m as fascinated to know how Angel recognized me as you are, but shouldn’t we be talking about Mark and how we’re going to protect Tiffany and Angel?”
“Kat,” Aura said gently. “It’s all connected, and we have to try and find out how.” She paused. “Do you think it’s an accident you ran into Tiffany just when you did? That your friendship with Jordan brought you here at this exact time and place? That you’re writing a book about your memories of a clan of priestesses and warriors you dreamt of as a child?”
How did she know all of that? “Well, yeah, I kind of did,” Kat said. “But you’re going to tell me different, aren’t you?”
“I knew it,” Sunny said. “I sensed ancient energy. I just didn’t know where it came from.”
Shade leaned closer, and Kat could see that her eyes were full of questions before she started to ask them. “Where? What time?”
“We didn’t exactly have street signs,” Kat said. “Or calendars.” She waited for the skepticism and smartass comments, but none were forthcoming. “I can only tell you the village was on the shores of a river surrounded by forest. It was a society of women, a sanctuary of sorts.” She looked at the receptive interest around the table and paused. “I’d rather wait until Tiffany is in the room.”
“Of course,” Aura said. “Let’s go make some snacks, girls.” Sunny and Jordan got up to help her, leaving Shade at the table, who continued to stare at her.
Kat stared right back. Since she didn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. She was going to have to perfect holding her own in a family of psychics.
After a minute, Shade laughed. “You’ll do, pup.”
Kat felt something tug at her subconscious for a split second.
*
Tiffany lay curled up next to Angel, humming softly until she knew she was sleeping soundly. She carefully got up and then stood next to the bed to look down at her. The uneasy fear she’d been holding on to all afternoon eased its way into determination. She wasn’t a victim and she sure as hell wasn’t going to volunteer this time around. She was going to fight until her last breath. She wondered what other secrets Angel held but didn’t want to pressure her in any way. She wanted to find out as much as possible from her family first.
She closed the bedroom door gently. As she was walking back to the dining room, she heard Kat’s voice and stopped for a minute. She’d thought of her as family. Was that because of the time they’d recently spent together or their past connection? She may not know the answer to that question yet, but she did know how important Kat had become to her in this very short time period. She had slid right past Tiffany’s defenses.
She continued down the hall and turned the corner. She bit back laughter when she saw the look on Kat’s face as she sat across from Shade and Sunny. “You look like you’re facing a firing squad.”
Kat smiled at her and Tiffany felt an immediate flutter in her chest. Oh yeah, she thought, definitely connected. But at this point, did it matter if it came from the past? She was much more concerned with here and now.
Tiffany crossed the room to sit next to her. “No one is going to bite you.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“Shut up, Shade,” Tiffany said and turned to Kat. “Don’t
mind her.”
“Can we start this conversation?” Jordan drummed her fingers on the table. “I’m dying to know the details that my friend Kat neglected to tell me about herself.”
“Just a minute. Shade, does that box hold any more of his power?”
“Hell no. I sent that shit back to him. He’s probably sleeping in an alley somewhere like the trash he is.”
“Sent it back?” Jordan asked. “As in, I’m rubber, you’re glue?”
Shade nodded. “Just like that.”
“Sweet.”
“Good,” Tiffany said. “I’m ready.”
“Wait, before we start, can I get a reincarnation 101 breakdown so I can keep up with you guys?” Jordan looked at Kat. “I’m sure you’ve done your own extensive research, but go easy on the newbie here. I’ve only dealt with ghosts so far.”
Tiffany looked around the table. She felt a tiny shift of clarity and shivered.
“Are you okay?” Kat asked.
“Yes. That’s the thing. I had one of those moments where everything just fits. Jordan, we’ll let Aura give you a rundown.”
“I thought you told me you did the past life stuff,” Kat said.
“Yes, but I learned from Aura.”
An expectant hush filled the space in the circle around the table as Aura began talking. “The old matriarchal religions teach that dying is just an intermission. Our lives are a cycle. As the seed grows into a flower, blooms, then dies, it is the natural order of the universe. In the spring, the plant blooms and repeats the life cycle again. That too, is irrefutable truth. Our natural state is spirit, and each life provides lessons that are designed for the soul’s personal growth and are needed in order to evolve. These challenges are chosen before a soul reincarnates.”
“I have a hard time believing I chose my mother,” Jordan said.
Sunny bumped her with her shoulder. “Look where you ended up.”
“Yeah, the payoff for that was pretty great.”
Shade fidgeted. “Can we get on with this?”
Tiffany pressed her thigh against Kat’s under the table while she reached for her hand. She was being very quiet. Kat’s warmth seemed to travel through Tiffany, and she let herself lean against her. Tiffany loved listening to Aura. She remembered hundreds of afternoons sitting at her feet while she taught the girls how to use their gifts.
Aura gestured while she talked, and the silver bracelets she wore emphasized her words with the sound of tiny ringing bells. “Some souls,” she continued, “reincarnate for various reasons. It could be that they feel cheated by death and have unfinished business, or they lost someone they loved, and continue to return until they’ve found them.”
Tiffany felt the muscles in Kat’s leg tighten.
“When they come back, the new child could be filled with a sense of urgency, dream of events, or have a great sense of purpose to find the one they lost.”
“So that fits my experience,” Kat said. “I’ve also read that recent studies have been done on children who have night terrors, some of which report they’re reliving their death while sleeping.”
“Angel has never had nightmares,” Tiffany said. “Yet, she remembers Kat. How come I don’t?” She didn’t want to feel left out, or broken in any way, but she did.
“Tiff,” Aura said. “I’ve noticed our newest generation has the oldest souls. They don’t always relive their deaths, especially if they had a good life and were satisfied with it when they passed. They bring forward great gifts and show a mastery of them way beyond their years.”
“I still don’t know what your memories are,” Tiffany said and faced Kat. “Or how I fit in them.” She felt sad knowing that. The time they’d had together had been so focused on working for Parker and Tiffany’s problems, she hadn’t taken the time to really look at Kat’s soul, her innate spirit. The protective bubble she lived in may have protected Tiffany, but it also kept others out.
“Soul mates connect on all levels,” Aura said. “Physically, mentally, and spiritually. Their experiences together carry forward through time.”
“So why doesn’t Tiffany remember me?” Kat asked.
“I want to, I really do. But every time I’ve tried to do a past life reading on myself, I run into a black wall.” Tiffany didn’t mention that it also filled her with terror and anxiety. She’d had enough of that to deal with after Mark went to prison and she began the long road to healing.
“A death that was very traumatic could permanently imprint itself into our consciousness,” Shade said. “I have clients who address that.”
Tiffany recalled her recurring nightmare of the horseman and his bloody ax approaching her in slow motion. She must have really been in denial, as she’d never made the connection before.
Aura continued. “Relationships are not accidental. Everyone we meet is for a reason. That too is universal. As individuals, we draw people to us that have something to teach us. You know the individuals that you meet and either know on the spot or are repulsed by? By knowing that, we can assess which relationships need to be healed and transformed. We will continue to meet these individuals in each life until we master what we’re supposed to learn or right some karmic wrong from the past.” Tiffany recognized that in herself. She’d been attracted to Mark because she had unfinished business with him. And if her nightmare was any indication that he would continue to terrorize her through time, this was the time to change it. Break the pattern once and for all. Kat began to fidget and her leg began to bounce.
“We also have soul groups that reincarnate together. A good analogy that I can use is how kids start kindergarten and stay with the same people until they graduate, which in this case, would be to cross over.”
“Can we get to Kat’s memories now?” Jordan asked.
Kat shook her head. “Excuse me. I need a minute.” She got up from the table then left the room.
“I’ll go.” Jordan stood.
“No, please,” Tiffany said. “I’ll talk to her.”
*
Kat splashed cold water on her face. She was feeling a little overwhelmed, and right this second, she didn’t much care about the theories of reincarnation or soul groups. She already believed in them. She was more invested in how best to protect Tiffany.
There was a soft tap at the door, and Kat turned off the water. She opened it and Tiffany stood on the other side, looking worried. Kat pulled her arm to bring her inside then shut the door.
“Ssh. Let me hold you for a minute.”
Tiffany wrapped her arms around Kat’s waist and rested her head against her chest. “I can feel your heart beating,” she said.
Kat swallowed a small lump in her throat. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not share our story for the first time with the entire group.”
Tiffany looked up at her. “Of course, but may I ask why?”
Kat took a step back to lean on the counter, bringing Tiffany with her so they kept contact. “Because it’s so personal for me. I’ve had this story locked up inside me for years, and it’s very special to me. I don’t want it dissected in the middle of the table.”
“I understand that. I’m also sorry it appears that we’re ganging up on you.”
“No, I don’t feel that. It’s just that it’s very important to me that you don’t emotionally link your traumatic memories with my treasured ones. I wanted to share them with you first. Is that bad?”
“No, but I want you to know that I can’t help which ones are prevalent for me. What I got out of the conversation at the table was that I’m supposed to serve Mark a big fat karmic hamburger.”
“Good one.” Kat chuckled. “Okay, I’ll give you that. Maybe I’ll just admit that I’m tired, and it’s been a very long couple of days.”
“Are you leaving?”
“I thought you were coming with me,” Kat said. “Isn’t that what we decided?”
“Yes. I thought you meant―never mind.” Tiffany ducked her head.
&nb
sp; “I am not going to run away from you. Not now, not ever.” Kat lifted Tiffany’s chin and kissed her gently. “We’ll get through this. We may not get through exactly how we imagined, but we’ll get by.” Kat was used to an orderly life. It may have been chaotic at times, but she’d always had a clear path in front of her, one that provided answers and a direction. But right now, while she held Tiffany in her arms, she didn’t much care if the road ahead wasn’t paved yet. Kat only knew that she wanted to cut through it with Tiffany and Angel.
“Hey! Get a room, you two.” Shade pounded on the door. “I have to use the bathroom.”
Tiffany looked up at her. “Let’s start the good-byes now because it’ll take another hour before we get out of here.”
*
When Kat pulled the car into the underground garage, Tiffany felt her shoulders relax a little. The ride to the city had been torturous for her. She had to keep conversation light and airy to keep Angel occupied with small talk that didn’t involve how serious their situation was. They sang songs along with the radio, and it surprised her that Kat joined right in.
Tiffany appreciated the way Kat tuned in to her own energy so seamlessly. She didn’t feel alone when she was with her, and she imagined this was what a normal family would feel like—full of unspoken compassion, and the intelligence to know what was appropriate for a young child.
Angel hadn’t said any more about knowing Kat, and Tiffany refused to bring it up again until she did. She wanted her to come out with it as naturally as possible. Asking her questions about it could insert false memory.
Kat pulled into her spot and turned the motor off.
“Are we here?” Angel asked.
“Yup,” Kat said. “Your castle awaits, princess.”
Tiffany got out of the passenger seat and turned to help Angel out. Kat got their bags out of the trunk before they turned to head toward the elevator.
“Mommy!” Angel screamed and ran back to the car. Kat dropped the luggage as Tiffany’s purse fell, and they sped after her.
Angel was folded over herself and kneeling on the cement in front of the car. Tiffany reached her and wrapped her up in her arms. “What, baby? Are you hurt?”
