The Quickening

by Yvonne Heidt

  Angel hiccupped and began wailing. “No, Mommy, no.”

  Tiffany’s panic at hearing her daughter scream stifled her psychic probing, but she ran practiced hands along Angel’s body to search for wounds.

  “What do you have in your hands, munchkin?” Kat asked. “Can I see?”

  Angel held out her hands, and cupped within them was a tiny kitten that couldn’t have been over five weeks old, covered in oil and dirt from the parking garage. Its head hung at an odd angle. Tiffany reached for the little body, knowing before she even touched it that the spark of life was very dim.

  “It’s broken, Mommy. You can fix it, right?” Angel’s trusting eyes implored her to make it better.

  “Oh, honey,” she said to Angel. “I don’t think I can.” She stared at Kat. Her mouth was set in a grim, tight line, and Tiffany knew that she’d come to the same conclusion she had.

  Mark had been here first.

  Angel’s crying became more anguished. “No. We have to save the kitty. Please, Mommy. Help me.”

  “We have to get upstairs, now,” Kat said. Tiffany picked up Angel who had a death grip on the kitten, and then they retrieved their bags before rushing to the elevator. They didn’t run, but walked quickly to Kat’s door.

  When they locked the door behind them, Tiffany put Angel down in the foyer before she tried to take the small body from her.

  “Honey, I think the kitten is going to die.” Angel’s pain shot through her own body. Tiffany would spare her from it if she could. She gently cupped her hands under Angel’s. “Angel, let me have it, okay?”

  Angel kept her hold on the tiny ball of fur, closed her eyes, and began to hum softly. The notes had a haunting quality, almost eerie, and it gave Tiffany chills from her neck down to the base of her spine. She had never heard it before. A small breeze sprang up between them, barely stirring the air, caressing her cheeks.

  Tiffany became aware of the warmth spreading through Angel’s palms beneath her own, and transferring to the kitten’s body. She felt a tingling sensation and heard Kat’s sigh of wonder behind them. Angel’s tiny face was drawn as she concentrated, and Tiffany could swear her skin was lit from within. Tiffany felt a barely perceptible flutter in the kitten’s chest, followed by another. Fascinated, Tiffany held her breath and watched Angel’s face. The kitten’s heartbeat, faint and weak, grew stronger until it regulated itself under her palm.

  The kitten mewed and moved its head. A tiny pink tongue licked the air. Tiffany was shocked. Did her daughter just bring the kitten back to life? Or was she mistaken in the fact she thought it was dead?

  “Look, Mommy! See? I knew we could do it.”

  Tiffany didn’t have any words. Even if she did, she wouldn’t have been able to speak. Joy filled her even as a tiny trace of uncertainty remained. Where had Angel learned that song? Tiffany knew she would never forget that melody as long as she lived.

  “That was awesome,” Kat said. “How?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m still in shock.”

  “Let’s give her a bath,” Angel said. She curled the kitten to her neck, looked around the foyer, then headed to the kitchen. “Bring a chair, Mommy.”

  Tiffany slid one over to the sink and lifted Angel onto it. She’d always known Angel was incredibly gifted, but this had her reeling.

  Often, Tiffany would hear her laughing or having one-sided conversations in her room. She’d never figured out why she couldn’t connect with Angel’s ethereal companions. She’d grown used to it and put the worry out of her mind when Aura told her Angel would reveal her gifts in her own sweet way eventually. But Tiffany had never imagined she would have a healing gift of this magnitude.

  She turned the faucet on low and adjusted the temperature. Tiffany kept her voice calm despite the adrenaline pounding through her system. “So what do you want to name it?”

  “Airmitt,” Angel answered without hesitation. “Mitt.”

  That’s different. “Air-mitt?”

  “Uh, huh.”

  “Where did you come up with that name? I’ve never heard it.”

  “The pretty lady over there told me it was her name,” Angel crooned softly and continued to gently wipe the kitten, which didn’t appear upset at all and was, in fact, purring up a storm.

  “Oh? I didn’t see her. Is she still here?”

  Kat stood at the door, and her eyes went wide. Tiffany stifled a chuckle. In spite of all her problems right now, the spark of life filled her spirit and lightened her heart. Maybe it was a sign to pay attention to the miracles.

  “Airmid,” Kat said.

  Angel beamed. “Uh-huh.”

  “You know her?” Tiffany asked Kat.

  “Keeper of the Spring, one who can regenerate life. She’s also known for bringing back the, uh, dead.”

  Tiffany’s arms broke out in goose bumps under the warm water. She grabbed the towel Kat had put on the counter and reached to take the kitten, but Angel insisted she could do it. “Put me down now, please.”

  Angel’s hands and shirt were covered in grease and dirt. “Okay, but now we have to get you cleaned up as well.”

  Kat returned to the foyer and picked up their bags. “I’ll show you to the guest room.”

  Tiffany followed her down the hall and wondered how much more she could take before she broke down. None of the challenges of the last week had any resolution. She’d had a gorgeous stranger recognize her from a past life, suffered vivid nightmares of her own death, felt the emotions and fear from three murders, discovered an ancient curse, and, oh yeah, her murderous ex-husband was on the loose.

  And ostensibly, her daughter could raise the dead.

  Where did she go from here?

  Kat helped Tiffany put their things away. “My neighbor’s cat had kittens a few months ago. I’ll go and ask her if she has anything we can borrow for Mitt. If not, I’ll go to the store and buy them.”

  “I can,” Tiffany said.

  “Absolutely not. You will stay here.”

  Tiffany felt her shoulders stiffen at Kat’s bossy tone. Evidently, she had more backbone than she thought she did. She deliberately stood straight, to prove to Kat, and herself, that she stood on her own two feet. “I won’t have you telling me what to do.”

  “It’s for your own good.” Kat crossed her arms over her chest.

  “So now you’re going to go all controlling on me and dictate how I can come and go?”

  “Jesus, Tiffany!” Kat said then immediately lowered her voice for Angel’s sake. “I’m not Mark, and I’m not trying to keep you a prisoner. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

  “No fighting, Mommy.” Angel was sitting on the bed with Mitt wrapped in her arms. “Be kind and gentle.”

  Tiffany’s temper deflated and she sighed. “I know that. I’m sorry.” She moved to where Kat stood and put her arms around her. “I appreciate it. I really do.” She stood on her toes to kiss her lightly on the lips.

  Kat returned the kiss, but her arms stayed at her sides. “I’m going to Lizzie’s to see about the kitten.”

  “Okay.” Tiffany was a little hurt. But really, could she blame Kat? Tiffany had been nothing but hot and cold since they’d met. She couldn’t read Kat to gauge her feelings or thoughts. Maybe she had decided Tiffany was too much trouble to pursue.

  Tiffany couldn’t blame her at this point.

  “Lock the door behind me. I’ll take the deadbolt key.”

  “All right.” Tiffany followed her and did as she requested.

  Angel called from the other room. “Mommy!”

  “I’m coming.” Tiffany took a deep breath, then went to draw Angel a bath.

  *

  Kat juggled the box in order to unlock the door. When she entered, the sound of Angel’s laughter echoed down the hallway. She was struck with a rush of emotion, almost as if she’d reached for that brass ring and touched it. But the circumstances that currently surrounded them prevented her from swinging on it. The longing for that missing pie
ce ached in her soul, making her stomach ache.

  The sound of splashing water told her that Tiffany had Angel in the bath. She wanted to run to them and join in the family interaction, but instead she went to the kitchen to unpack the supplies.

  Tiffany had told her she didn’t want to pressure Angel for details, and Kat agreed with her, but she also felt the conversation was long overdue with Tiffany. She couldn’t just keep herself on the edge, waiting for the perfect opportunity to tell her of her childhood memories. It was so difficult to act as if she weren’t in love with Tiffany already.

  Did it matter anymore where the love started? Whether it was a thousand years ago or last week? She didn’t think it did.

  It was time to sit Tiffany down and let her know how she felt. Kat was only human, and it was getting harder and harder to withhold her actions and reactions to honor Tiffany’s request that they progress slowly.

  She started toward the bathroom when Angel ran naked, wet, and giggling out of the bathroom and toward Kat’s room.

  “Angel, you get back here! You’re not dry yet, honey.”

  The mural.

  Tiffany was quick to follow, looking a little harried. Kat stood where she was and waited for them to come out. When they didn’t, she took small steps to the bedroom to join them.

  She stood in the doorway and watched Tiffany and Angel staring at the painting in awe.

  Angel laughed and pointed at the warrior. “Kat!” She also said several other things, but as she was speaking toddlerese, Kat only understood a few words, one of them being, Mommy.

  Tiffany looked at Kat. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  The kitten appeared and wound herself around Kat’s ankles. Angel ran over to pick Mitt up. “Look,” she said. “That’s where you’re from too.”

  It was almost too much. Kat made her way to the end of the bed and sat. She didn’t know what to say, which questions she should ask, or in what order. All her journalistic skills were gone in an instant.

  She was so used to burying how she felt and not talking about the secret she’d kept for decades. But she’d been dropped in the midst of a gaggle of women who not only assumed her visions were possible, they shared knowledge of them. Her entire paradigm had shifted completely in the last week. It wasn’t a bad thing, just a big one.

  Tiffany wrapped Angel in the towel that was hanging over her shoulder. “I’ll be back. Let me get her pajamas on, and I’ll set her up in the guest room with her portable DVD player.”

  “I’ll meet you in the living room. Do you want me to pour you some wine?” Kat knew that she needed a glass.

  “Sure.”

  Kat went back into the kitchen and set up the litter box and food for the kitten. She put some warm milk in the cat food and carried it to the guest room. Tiffany was brushing Angel’s hair. There was something so comforting and normal about the scene, she felt some of the day’s strangeness leave her.

  “Thank you,” Angel said.

  “You’re welcome, honey.” Kat left to find the wine. She wondered briefly if she had anything stronger in the liquor cabinet but decided against drinking any of the hard stuff. She wanted to keep her head during the conversation.

  She poured the wine and took the glasses out on to the deck. She realized they hadn’t eaten dinner yet so she left the glasses on the small table. She hoped pizza two nights in a row was okay, because she didn’t have anything quick in the kitchen.

  She had no idea of what Angel liked so she included cheese sticks and wings into the order.

  The large yellow moon was making its appearance in the early evening sky when Tiffany came out to lead her into the living room. “Here, let’s sit on the couch.”

  Kat grabbed the open bottle and poured herself another glass before she complied and handed Tiffany the one she’d already poured.

  “Thank you. God, what a day, right?”

  “It feels like a week.”

  “I know and I’m sorry.”

  “What are you sorry for? Please stop saying that. You are not a bother, not a burden.”

  Tiffany stared at her, and Kat could see the shadows under her eyes due to the stressful situation. She imagined her own eyes had a couple of shadows as well.

  The silence stretched, and neither said a word. Kat would have, but didn’t know where to start. When she realized Tiffany wasn’t going to talk, she began. “You know,” Kat said conversationally, “I’m usually very charming and charismatic.”

  “Are you now?” Tiffany raised an eyebrow. “Tell me more, please.”

  Kat grinned, appreciating her light-hearted tone. “But from the moment I’ve met you…”

  “I’ve been nothing but trouble.”

  “That’s not what I was going to say.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Stop that.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”

  Kat put down her glass then took Tiffany’s from her and put it on the coffee table. Then she tackled her and began tickling her.

  “Stop it! What are you doing?”

  Kat laughed at Tiffany’s giggles. She attacked her again until they were both out of breath from laughing. When they were lying still, Tiffany’s hips began a slow roll underneath her and Kat instantly heated with lust.

  Kat stopped and let herself roll off into a sitting position. Angel was in the other room.

  She helped Tiffany up from the position on her back and whispered in her ear. “I want you so bad, Tiffany. I ache with it. I want to make love to you under the moonlight. And when we’re done, I want to do it again.”

  She heard Tiffany’s sharp inhale of breath, and Kat felt the sound travel directly to her core. The pressure between her legs began to build, and she tried to steady herself but wasn’t having much success with it.

  Kat moved back on the couch so she wasn’t touching Tiffany. It didn’t help much. Her scent was moving through Kat’s system, curling around her, far more intoxicating than the wine.

  “Okay,” Tiffany said. “Give me a second. It seems like all we’ve done with all of this attraction is a push-me, pull-you dance.”

  Kat began to protest. “But―”

  “I know that’s on me. I’ll own that. But oh, woman, you kiss me breathless. You make all my reasons, all my justifications, and more importantly, all my arguments feel flimsy and invalid.”

  “I’m sorry?” Kat asked.

  “Touché. But I very much want to, what do the kids say now? ‘Get busy’ with you?”

  Kat laughed. “Really, Tiffany? You are so freaking adorable.”

  “We both know Angel is in there, and I have more problems than I know what to do with right this minute.”

  “I know how to be responsible.”

  “Oh, I know that. I didn’t think you’d take advantage of that. My argument is this: You deserve, we deserve, my entire attention.”

  “If you say it’s not you, it’s me, I’m going to flip you over and tickle you again until you cry uncle.”

  Tiffany laughed. “I’m not finished yet. I deserve to know your whole story before I do anything else. Your connection with my daughter has me a little bewildered. I need to know all of it.”

  “I’ll tell you.” Kat paused. “From the beginning.”

  “Would it be easier if I hypnotized you?”

  “You can do that?”

  “Yes. Do you trust me?”

  “Of course. But why would it be easier?

  “Because I can reach and talk to Kat in the past, in the first person, without your memories or thoughts getting in the way.”

  “Jesus. That’s amazing. I don’t think I can be hypnotized.”

  “They all say that, honey.” Tiffany laughed. “We’re just going to get you relaxed. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

  “You’re not going to make me take my clothes off and cluck like a chicken are you?”

  “Not this time. Maybe later.”

  Kat picked up her wineg
lass and emptied it in two swallows. “Ready.”

  “Sit back, close your eyes, and relax your shoulders. Let’s start with letting down your defenses. Breathe in and out. Slow, even breaths, and visualize the walls around your mind and memory coming down brick by brick.”

  Kat did as she asked. It was more difficult than she imagined. They’d been built up so long. The years since she’d shared the story with anyone only served to make the mortar between them thicker and harder. She concentrated on Tiffany’s soft voice.

  “Now imagine the bricks at your feet, crumbling down into the earth where green grass sprouts from the rubble, growing, growing, until it’s an emerald carpet at your feet. Now imagine it spreading out in all directions and stopping at the edge of a forest. We’re walking down the tiny path that curves in and around the trees. You can hear the water bubbling in a nearby stream. Can you hear the birds singing?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good, now focus on the sights and smells of your surroundings while you’re moving at a gentle pace through the woods. You turn a corner and see something in the distance. Can you tell me what it is?”

  Ahead of her, Kat saw the roofs of the village huts. The large sacred hall, along with smaller circular huts, scattered over the hillside and near the river. The sun was warm on her face, and she was filled with a sense of peace.

  “I see you smiling. What do you see?”

  “Home.” Kat heard the dreamy quality in her own voice as if she were standing outside herself.

  Time appeared to have folded, twisted in on itself. Kat stood with one foot in the past and one in the present. The feeling was surreal. Kat snapped her eyes open.

  “What’s the matter?” Tiffany’s concern was evident in her voice.

  “Nothing. Give me a second.” Kat stood and reached for Tiffany’s hand. “Come with me.”

  Kat took Tiffany to her room and stood before the mural. “This is where I went. I was there, in that place.”

  Tiffany touched the canvas lightly. “I can see you painting every detail and each blade of grass. I feel the emotion and pain that sparked the creation.”

  “What else do you see?” Kat had hoped that Tiffany would connect with Tanna.