Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1)

by Allison Sipe

  “How?” I asked.

  “There’s an energy inside you that wasn’t there before. Clear your mind and try to focus. It’ll be very subtle at first.”

  I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. I wasn’t sure what exactly I was supposed to focus on, so I listened to my heartbeat from within and focused on my lungs expanding with each breath. In and out. Thump-thump, thump-thump. In and out. Thump-thump, thump-thump.

  Robert wrapped his hands around my wrists like gentle manacles and lifted them from my sides.

  “Let me guide you,” he said, caressing the insides of my palms.

  I let out a ragged breath and gave myself over to his influence. A tingling sensation started in the tips of my fingers. It slowly moved up my arms and throughout my entire body. The hunger that had been growing just under my ribcage the last few weeks relished in the sensation and expanded to fill me from head to toe. Bit by bit the energy left my extremities and rushed to my core. It coursed through my veins, ready to be freed from the shell of my body.

  “Now try thinking about a blanket of protection. Let it wrap around you and feel its defense,” Robert instructed. “Use the energy inside you to make that blanket into a barrier between us.”

  The room had grown so quiet that his voice startled me. I took a breath in cadence with the hum inside me and tried to picture an impenetrable blanket wrapped around me.

  “Open your eyes,” he said.

  I hesitated for a moment. This is it, no turning back now. I still had some reservations about Magic but I’d honestly come to terms with it. Now it was time to let go and release the Magic within me.

  Cautiously, I opened my eyes and glanced at my extended hands. Robert was no longer holding onto me. Looking up, I couldn't believe what I saw. A beautiful, golden shimmer hung between Robert and I. The barrier rippled like the ocean and was transparent enough that I could see Robert standing on the other side of it. I looked up again and the golden barrier disappeared.

  “What happened?” I asked. The smile faded from my face.

  Robert chuckled and said, “It takes a lot of concentration to keep up a shield.”

  “So I did it then?”

  “Yes. Now that you’ve seen how your shield manifests itself, it should be easier to bring it up again.”

  “Manifests itself?”

  “Everyone’s shield is different. When you tap into your Magic, you’re tapping into the essence of who you are. Even though I can teach you everything I know, healing aside, your Magic will manifest different than it does for me.”

  “What does your shield look like?” I asked.

  Before I could blink, a burning red shield flew up between us. It was the most remarkable thing I’d ever seen. It rippled as different shades of crimson wove in and out of each other, flowing to an unheard beat. The shield hung between us like a piece of transparent fabric. I reached out and let my fingers graze the shield in front of me the way I used to run my fingers across the water when I was a kid. I could feel his energy and tried to push my fingers through the sea of red but couldn't penetrate the barrier. I looked up at Robert, amazed as a smile spread across his face.

  “This is unbelievable,” I said under my breath.

  “It’s all real. The world is at your fingertips,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the red curtain. I felt his energy as I passed through the shield, the same warm energy I’d felt the night he healed me.

  “How’d you-”

  “It’s my shield,” he explained before I could finish my question. “I’m in control of what comes through it.” One of his arms found its way around my waist.

  I reached out to touch the crimson waves and the shield disappeared leaving a current in the air that was almost palpable. Robert watched me carefully, curiosity written in all the lines of his face. He still had his arm wrapped around me and it brought all my emotions bubbling to the surface.

  “What?” I asked, trying not to blush.

  “I’m just surprised. You’re handling this much better than I thought you would.”

  I sighed and picked a piece of lint off his shirt. “It’s important for me to accept this side of my life.”

  “Violet.” He lifted my chin so I had to look at him. “It won’t matter that it’s important if you don’t truly embrace this side of you.”

  “I’m getting there.” I smiled and leaned in a little closer to him. My heart had gained some speed with his arm around me and I desperately wanted to break the tension between us.

  “Shall we try again?” he asked, releasing me and taking a deep breath.

  “Sure.” I stepped away and closed my eyes.

  This time I found the energy inside me without Robert’s help. Now that I knew what I was looking for and how it felt, it was easier to stay focused. It took much longer to summon up the same force Robert had on my own, but slowly the electric hum built up inside me. I saw the beautiful golden shield in my head and tried to focus on seeing it in front of me. Robert stood quiet in the room somewhere, watching and waiting. I felt the electricity ease some and opened my eyes. A golden shimmer hung in the air and quickly fizzled into nothing.

  “That was really good,” Robert said with a proud smile.

  “Really good? Nothing happened. It didn’t look anything like it did the first time,” I lamented.

  “Violet, it’s not easy. For doing it on your own, that was perfect. It didn’t take you nearly as long as I thought it would for you to summon the Magic.”

  “How long did it take you before you were able to do it instantly?”

  “Just try again,” he said, avoiding my question.

  “How long?”

  “It doesn’t matter, everyone’s different. Now try again.”

  I closed my eyes again and found the flicker of electricity inside me once more. It took even longer this time to build up the same sort of intensity and I felt like I was going to break a sweat as I wrinkled up my face in focus. Once I thought I was strong enough, I imagined my shield. I pictured the golden shimmer wrapping around me like a cocoon. I felt the electricity bubble over and let it flow out of me with ease.

  The cloth-like shield glowed all around me. Not at all as vibrant as when Robert helped me, but it was there. I smiled. I was really doing this. This was real. I looked at Robert, my smile still in place as the shimmering light faded around me.

  I tried twice more to produce the shield but both times nothing happened. Feeling like the wind had been knocked out of me, I sat down next to Robert on the couch.

  “Why can’t I do it anymore?” I asked, near panting as I caught my breath.

  “It takes a lot of energy to use your Magic. It’ll get easier with time. You’ll build up your strength but for now you did amazing,” Robert said, beaming.

  Robert’s eyes held mine and I let myself fall into their warm, russet depths. He had accomplished the impossible; he had helped me believe in the Magical world and he couldn’t be happier. I let the moment linger on a little longer and then tore myself away from his warmth and happiness.

  Despite being absolutely spent, I sighed with wonderful relief. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me, the anxiety and torment that had been living inside me was gone. I wondered if that was what my aunt meant when she said it went against our nature to abstain from Magic. Had the unused Magic inside me caused my anxiety? I let my head fall back and gave myself over to my senses. The raw, ancient hunger that had been gnawing at me flickered with satisfaction deep at my core.

  “Huh,” I said.

  “What are you thinking?” Robert asked.

  I sat up and pulled a pillow into my lap. “Have you ever gone a long period of time without using Magic?”

  “No, why?”

  “It’s just something my aunt said.”

  “Care to enlighten me?”

  “She said that it goes against our nature not to use Magic.”

  “That’s true. Using Magic is like breathing for us.
It just happens naturally, sometimes without thinking.”

  “Well I was wondering, if our souls became a part of each other the night you saved me, then I’ve gone quite a long time without using Magic.”

  “And what exactly were you wondering?” he asked.

  “I was wondering…” I rolled my head his direction. “If that’s why I've been so anxious lately, because the Magic was building up inside me.”

  “It’s possible, but you’ve been having visions since that night, right?”

  “Yes,” I said, furrowing my brow, unsure where this train of thought would take him.

  “When you had the visions, were you emotional in any way?” he asked, picking up on my mood.

  I thought back over all the times I’d had visions, of the future, the past. I guessed my emotions were heightened somewhat in those moments. Whenever I thought about the night I was attacked I seemed to get sucked back into that moment. And then there were the couple times Robert’s touch had sent my heart into overdrive, which resulted in my seeing that kiss I so desperately wanted.

  “Yeah, I guess you could say that,” I finally replied.

  “Well, that’s probably why you had the visions. Your Magic had been building up inside you and when you were in an emotional state the Magic bubbled over and resulted in your visions,” Robert explained.

  “Hmm, I guess this isn’t an exact science is it?” I laughed.

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “And what might you be thanking me for?” he asked, sounding surprised.

  “Everything. You’ve been so patient and understanding.”

  “You’re worth it.” Robert winked and nudged me with his elbow.

  I smiled and didn’t try to hide the blush rushing to my cheeks. “We should probably head over to Becky’s soon.”

  “You don’t mind me tagging along?”

  “No. Besides, who’s going to save me from Becky’s twenty questions if you’re not there,” I said with a laugh.

  Robert gave me a hesitant look. “I don’t want to impose.”

  “It’ll be good for both of us to do something fun and easy,” I said and stood from the couch.

  “Alright, I’m in.”

  I did a quick freshening up and we were off. Dusk had finally arrived and a damp chill clung to the air as the marine layer moved in. I placed an order with this little hole-in-the-wall Chinese place Becky and I both loved and swung by the store to pick up a few bottles of wine. Robert and I discussed the link between my emotions and my visions more as we drove to Becky’s but we didn’t come up with anything more enlightening.

  We pulled up to Becky’s house about an hour after leaving my place and headed inside. Becky wasn’t home yet but Aaron let us in. We popped open a bottle of wine as soon as the introductions were through and sat in the living room to wait for Becky. Robert had a way with people, and he and Aaron chatted like they’d known each other their whole lives. I’d normally have been much more a part of the conversation but I was exhausted and they started talking about the stock market, which was something I knew nothing about.

  I got up to pour myself another glass when Becky came through the front door.

  “Hey,” I said, heading to the kitchen.

  “Hey, hope I didn’t keep you guys waiting too long.” She plopped her stuff down on the floor and followed me into the kitchen.

  “Not at all.”

  “I see you brought Robert with you,” Becky said, giving me a meaningful eyebrow raise.

  “I believe it was you who invited him,” I noted as I filled my glass.

  Becky smiled and pulled a glass from the cabinet for herself. “It was the polite thing to do.” She went about making herself a cocktail, pouring vodka and a whole collection of colorful bottles together to make something she claimed tasted just like a cherry Jolly Rancher.

  “Uh huh,” I said, appraising her bartending abilities.

  “Hey, you could have gotten out of it if you wanted.”

  “True,” I said into my wine glass.

  “You look tired, how are you?” Becky finished pouring her cocktail and clinked her glass against mine.

  “I’m okay, it’s just been a long week.”

  “Any more news about your parents?” She threw the take-out containers in the microwave.

  “No, nothing new.”

  “I still can’t believe it. All these years you thought it was a car accident.”

  “I know, but my aunt did what they thought was right. They were gone no matter what. It was better for me to grow up thinking it was an accident.”

  “You really think so?” Becky asked, frowning as she sipped her drink.

  I knew so. The image of my parents flashed through my head. I had been furious at my aunt for altering my memories, but the more time I spent with the truth the more I realized it was the right thing to do.

  “Yeah,” I concluded. “I don’t think I’d have been able to handle this as a kid.”

  The guys laughed in the other room and drew our attention.

  “They seem to be getting along,” Becky announced. She was always the best at changing the subject.

  “They haven’t come up for air once,” I joked and took a healthy sip of wine.

  I pulled some plates down for dinner and Becky took the food out of the microwave, setting it on the counter.

  “Hey, chatty Kathies, let’s eat!” Becky yelled to the guys.

  Both men stood up without acknowledging Becky and came into the kitchen to help with dinner.

  Robert and Aaron poured themselves another glass of wine and Aaron grabbed a few of the cartons off the counter. I started grabbing the stack of plates when Robert stopped me.

  “Allow me,” he said with a small smile.

  “Thanks,” I replied as I grabbed the remaining containers.

  “You okay? You look a little pale," he said under his breath.

  “Just tired.” I fought a yawn as I took my seat at the table.

  Everyone passed the cartons back and forth, dumping mounds of food onto our plates. I hadn't realized how famished I was until the smell of spicy eggplant and orange chicken wafted up from my plate. Words escaped me as I deftly twirled Chow mein onto my chopsticks and shoveled chicken into my mouth. Thankfully, Robert took the conversational reins and regaled Becky with stories about Europe. She clung to his every word. If there was anything Becky loved more than her computer it was traveling.

  After dinner, Becky and Aaron refused to let us help clean so Robert and I went to the living room and sat on the couch to nurse our full stomachs.

  “How you doing?” Robert asked as he gave me a thoughtful smile. We sat close together. The smell of his cologne hung in the air. I was already a little lightheaded from the wine and the smell of Robert so near made my head spin.

  “I’m fine, why do you keep asking?" I cocked my head to the side.

  “I’m just making sure.” He leaned even closer so he could keep his voice low. “You used a lot of Magic today. That’s not something your body’s used to yet.”

  “I’m much better now that I have food in me.”

  “Good.” Robert smiled and brushed my hair behind my ear.

  I returned his smile and held his gaze for a moment. His eyes were soft and tender. I looked down, trying to hide the blush that had rushed to my cheeks, but Robert lifted my chin back up to look at him. The tenderness remained but I saw a fire that wasn’t there a moment ago. I leaned a little closer to him and he moved his hand from my chin to my hair. I could feel the hesitation in his shoulders as our lips grazed and he pulled me against him.

  A loud crash came from the kitchen and the magic of the moment disappeared. His hand fell from my neck and I backed away from him.

  “Everything alright?” Robert called out, clearing his throat.

  “Yeah!” Becky yelled from the kitchen, followed shortly by angry mumbling between her and her brother.

  Becky
and Aaron joined us a minute later and Aaron selected a movie on Netflix. Becky sat on the couch next to me in a way that made it impossible for me not to be pushed against Robert and Aaron sprawled out on the loveseat to the left of us. The movie was a thriller and while I normally loved them I found myself not in the mood to see people get hunted down and killed. I thought Robert could sense I wasn’t enjoying the film because he put his arm around me and gave me a slight squeeze. It was a reassuring gesture and I was grateful to have someone who knew the ins and outs of what was going on with me. I did feel a little guilty that Becky wasn’t this person. She had always been my rock to lean on in the past, but there was no way she could comfort me now. I picked up my glass to take another sip of wine but discovered it was empty.

  “Let me,” Robert said, taking my glass.

  Aaron stood needing a refill as well. “Another one, Beck?” he asked.

  “Yes, please,” she said with a smile. Becky paused the movie and the guys went to the kitchen to refill our drinks.

  “You seem different with him,” Becky noted.

  “I feel different,” I bit my lip trying to keep my feelings from gushing out of me. After all, the guys were just in the other room.

  “You guys balance each other out.” Becky’s smile stretched from ear to ear as she lightly bounced up and down next to me. “He seems good for you,” she added.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I said, needing to hear the words myself.

  “You can’t honestly tell me nothing’s happened between you guys.” Becky leaned closer, anticipating some juicy gossip.

  “Not a thing.” Resentment laced my reply. Had Becky and Aaron not caused such a ruckus in the kitchen then maybe something more would have happened, but c’est la vie.

  “Well why not?” she asked, near whining with disappointment. She eyed me and I could tell that she assumed I was the one holding things up.

  I shrugged. I really didn’t have a good answer for her and it frustrated me as much as it did her.

  “So you do want something more to happen,” she declared, reading me like a book. Becky’d always had a knack for picking up on my emotions.