Finding Insight

by Katherine Kim

The sun poured in through the kitchen windows and the whole morning had that sort of gentle excitement of possibility that clear sunshine and blue skies could portray. Gabe’s sleep ruffled head stuck up over the back of the sofa and the kid blinked at him, but Sebastian couldn’t get enough of his thoughts together yet to hold a rational conversation. Images skidded through his mind, slowly melting one into the next, bringing him back to the present.

  David yanking on Gabe. Gabe’s nightmare at his wooded campsite. Olivia at the Apothecary being obnoxious. Gabe’s panic attack in the kitchen. The more detailed version of the story Sebastian had already heard once, now with the so-called curse of visions. David lurking around outside. After that little discovery last night, Kai had carried a sleeping Gabe to the sofa so he’d be comfortable, and Sarah had draped a patchwork quilt over him. There had been some mandatory teasing of how paternal Kai looked at that moment, but Kai had admitted that he didn’t want Gabe waking up before morning, so he’d sort of added some magical help to his sleep.

  Sebastian wasn’t sure he approved of that, but agreed that the last thing any of them wanted was David following Gabe around in the middle of the night.

  Kai had then ducked out the back door and gone to keep an eye on David until the man finally left his surveillance and headed back towards San Jose in his SUV in the early hours of the morning. Kai had checked in on them briefly and then headed home himself. The runes and wards protecting Sarah’s house were deemed enough to keep them safe for the time being.

  “Coffee?” Sebastian asked once the pot had gurgled its last.

  “If that’s okay. I’m so sorry I fell asleep last night. You should have woken me up, I’d have gone home,” Gabe said.

  “Whatever, man. Don’t worry about it. Milk? Sugar?”

  “Just some milk, please,” Gabe answered. Sebastian poured two cups and brought them over to the living room. He handed one over to Gabe and sank into a chair, almost draining his own cup in one go.

  “Also, you were exhausted last night. A vision, a panic attack, and a few major revelations that alter your whole worldview, all in a row? And you ate what, four burgers? I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did,” Sebastian chuckled, but his smile didn’t last long as he sipped his coffee. “Besides. That David guy was outside watching the house. We weren’t about to let you get followed home in the dark.”

  Gabe sucked in a sudden breath. “David was here? Why? How did he find this house?”

  “I’m guessing he followed Sarah and Doc,” Sebastian drained his mug and stood to refill it. “He’s perfectly aware of where you’re working, and probably made an educated guess that following one of them would lead him to you. I’m more concerned with the fact that he stayed out there for hours. I think he knew you were here somehow, but I’m not sure. Maybe he was just hoping that you’ve been staying with Sarah. I don’t think he saw you though, or had a plan if he did see you.”

  Sebastian frowned when he sat down again. The fresh cup of coffee would last longer now that he’d had his first jolt.

  “I don’t like that guy. I hope he’s not your best friend or something, I just get a really bad feeling from him,” Sebastian said.

  Gabe grimaced. He shook his head and rested his half full mug on his leg. “No, he’s just a guy I met. He and Olivia were hanging out near the place I was staying in Orange County. It was a homeless shelter and there were a bunch of people who’d come though. Sometimes they wanted day laborers, sometimes they were reporters.” Gabe shrugged. “David and Olivia weren’t anything, so far as I could tell. They’d just walk through with their weird crystal necklaces and frown at people. They came in a couple of times, like they were looking for something, and we got to chatting at some point. I dunno. They were friendly, I guess. Olivia more than David. David’s always been a bit of a jerk.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably being nice,” Sebastian grumbled.

  “I guess more than a jerk if he’s following people home and watching their houses in the middle of the night, huh?” Gabe asked.

  “Yeah.” Sebastian nodded. “That’s straight up shady behavior.”

  Gabe nodded and looked down at his mug. Sebastian heard a muffled thump from the bedroom as Sarah started getting up. It was early for her to be awake on her day off. She must be worried about her guest.

  “So how did you all meet up here again? It’s a long way from Orange County.” Sebastian was starting to get more than a simple bad feeling about these two.

  “Well, while we were talking one day a couple of months ago, David got a phone call. Olivia kept talking to me about random stuff, like if I’d been to any of the amusement parks around there, as if a homeless kid has that kind of money.” Gabe snorted at the thought. “Anyway, when he came back he was really upset. Said his cousin had disappeared while working on some joint project. He was just sort of storming around and throwing his arms out and he smacked me in the arm when he stomped past, and, well…”

  “You had a vision.” Sebastian was leaning forward now, elbows propped on his knees and completely focused on Gabe’s story.

  “Yeah. It wasn’t a big one, even, just a minor question and answer, but it was enough to make me dizzy and I almost fell over. Olivia got really quiet and then really worried about me. She wanted me to go see a doctor, but again, a homeless kid doesn’t exactly have the money to afford popping off to a doctor for every little thing.” Gabe shrugged. “I didn’t see them again till I got up here. David was still crazy, but Olivia kept asking after my health. She suggested that I hang out with them a bit and that they’d found this medicine— like a vitamin supplement or something, you know? Anyway, she thought it’d help me. She noticed how weird I got after David touched me and that I got dizzy after and she said she’d thought of me when they found it.”

  “And you took it?” Sebastian couldn’t keep the incredulity from his voice and Gabe flinched.

  “Yeah, well. I’d been having a really awful time with dreams of all kinds of creatures that I couldn’t recognize. I was exhausted and I was afraid to sleep anymore.” Gabe finished his own drink and put the cup on the coffee table in front of them. “I guess I was a bit desperate. I went in three times that first week. It tasted like that nasty cough syrup with the fake cherry flavoring, you know what I mean? It was horrible. And then I’d get really dizzy and blank out. When I woke up I’d be lying on one of their motel beds and they’d be having a heavy conversation about something, and I’d leave. And then after a really bad night, I’d be okay for a few days. That’s the crazy part!” Gabe looked up at Sebastian saw the hope in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have any visions or dizzy spells or anything. It was amazing!”

  “I can tell that’s not the whole story.”

  “No. After a few weeks, it started making me really sick after I took it. Then I started having really bad dreams. Like much worse than I used to have, much more vivid and I’d get a lot sicker after I woke up. I only went back a few more times after that started, then I just avoided them for a few weeks. That was just before you saw David trying to get me to go back.”

  Sebastian nodded. Sarah perched on the arm of his chair and leaned on his shoulder.

  “It sounds like they’re not really trying to help much,” she said. “Do you know what was in that potion they gave you?”

  “Potion?” Gabe blinked at her.

  “What you describe sounds to me like they were giving you some kind of magic potion. Probably from a warlock because no honest witch would just send something like that off without at the very least meeting the patient. There’s too many things that could go wrong.” Sarah wrinkled her nose. “Doc was worrying last night about your dizzy spells. I know she wants to try to help you out with that now that you know what we are, but it’s up to you. If you decide to give it a try, she’ll ask you all sorts of horribly invasive questions and frankly, at least half of them are just because she’s nosy.” Sarah laughed. “But it’s important so that she can make sure she is helping, not
hurting, you know? That’s why we just cast a generic sort of good health spell over the tea at work. It’s super low-level and incredibly general, so nobody will have an adverse reaction.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Gabe said.

  “You can watch us work, if that would help you decide, too. You’ve obviously had a pretty bad experience with potions and magic already, so it might help you feel better about the whole idea,” Sarah pointed out. “Besides, I’d like to find out more about where this potion came from. It could be a real problem if there’s some sketchy operator out there.”

  “I don’t want to ask them, if that’s okay with you guys. I don’t want to see David again, thanks.” Gabe shuddered.

  “I totally can’t blame you,” Sarah said. “When I saw him outside last night…” It was her turn to shudder now. They all fell silent with their thoughts on the strange couple that seemed intent on keeping Gabe under their influence.

  “Hey, by the way,” Sebastian perked up. “I was talking to Kai last night and we’ve got all this stuff that we’re doing at the Village— renovations and stuff— and we were wondering if you wanted to lend a hand? We’ve got a studio apartment empty and about half painted that you could crash in while you’re working with us, and it’d probably be more comfortable than a cave. Especially if you’ve been doing manual labor and god only knows what around the apartment. If I told you what I deal with every week, you’d turn me down flat, so I won’t. But it’s safer, too, if David’s going to be a problem, not to be out in the woods somewhere all alone.”

  “What?” Gabe blinked at him and Sarah started laughing.

  “Um. Do you want a job with an apartment? It’s a small place, and the work is kinda crummy, but honestly Kai and I aren’t really comfortable with you sleeping in that cave. We were talking about it before we even noticed David last night, and I probably should have led with it this morning, but I don’t think really well first thing.”

  Gabe sat silently staring at Sebastian for a long time. “Why?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “We like you. And you work your ass off at the Apothecary and honestly, once the appliances start coming in to be replaced in a couple of weeks, I’m going to be swamped. I really could use some help. You don’t even have to stop working at the Apothecary if you don’t want.”

  “You can take your time to think about it, Gabe. Don’t let this goofball push you into anything,” Sarah said. “He’s just excited at having an idea.” She laughed again and stood up.

  “Hey!”

  “You’re like a puppy once you get hold of something. Overeager and you’ll piss on everything while you bounce around.” Sarah was still laughing and danced back when Sebastian threw a pillow at her. “Gabe, you’d better back up in case!”

  “So mean to me! Gabe, she’s so mean!” Sebastian turned to the sofa looking for support, but Gabe couldn’t help him. He was laughing too hard.

  17

  “Gabe! Welcome to the Village at Rancho San Calafia.” Kai smiled wide and waved Gabe through the pedestrian gate. Sebastian grinned, and had to admit that Sarah was right. He really was excited to get some help around the complex, and he was doubly glad his assistant would be someone he already knew and liked.

  “Thanks. It seems like a nice place.” Gabe looked around, wide eyed. The path they stood on was right behind the wrought iron gate set in the brick wall that wrapped around the complex and led back out to the street. Ahead of them was a narrow strip of lawn between the wall and the side of the closest building that contained the leasing office and above that, Kai and Sebastian’s apartment. Trees shaded the small courtyard space, and a water feature trickled cheerfully beside a small seating area and a table. The whole space had the feeling of a hidden garden, but the path led past it and around the corner of the building to the front entrance to join the sidewalk next to the road leading back to the parking areas.

  “It is a nice place, but this is just the little front corner where the kids sometimes bring their dates to try to make out before we yell at them. The real action happens over by the pool and on the Village Green.” Kai waved Gabe along the path and deeper into the complex. He and Sebastian took turns pointing out features and areas of importance until they had walked the full perimeter of the property. They turned in to duck between two buildings and headed for the Green.

  “This is where we usually all gather and get social. We have cookouts every few weeks over here by the pool when the weather is nice enough. We barbecue and have a potluck and it’s really pretty cool,” Sebastian said.

  “Like at Sarah’s last night?”

  “Yeah. Well,” Kai shrugged. “Marcus usually can’t come to the potlucks. Too much daylight. So we try to have some stuff that he can come to. Sarah picked up the slack this time. We’re thinking of moving the potlucks to the evenings instead of the afternoons, but we haven’t run it by anyone else yet.”

  “The perils of being a vampire, I guess,” Gabe said. Then he shook his head and let out a loud breathy laugh. “I never thought I’d say that and mean it.”

  “Yeah, it’s a lot. But remember, you’re one of us, too, really,” Kai said. “You may be human, but you still have your own magic. Being a seer is a rare talent. I know it seems like a curse, but hopefully we can figure out a way to help you. Mr. Young might have some ideas when he gets back from his sabbatical.”

  “Who’s Mr. Young?” Gabe asked. They stopped at the fence and gazed at the swimming pool. A young woman with a toddler stood waist deep in the sparkling water and waved at Kai and Sebastian, her eyes flicking to Gabe. Kai waved back and smiled, and gave her a quick nod and she seemed to relax slightly before returning her attention to her daughter.

  “Mr. Young is the oldest resident of the Village. He’s pretty powerful, too. A god in his own right, and he has a few odd quirks, but he’s a great friend once he decides that he likes you.” Sebastian watched the antics of the toddler and smiled when the little girl caught sight of them and waved.

  “Bassy, look! I swim!” the girl yelled before pushing off her mother’s arm and turning a bright shade of aqua and she did indeed get a few feet away from her mother before being caught and hauled back in.

  “Becca, what is the rule about that?” The young woman cast a terrified look over her shoulder at Gabe, who was clearly struggling not to gape.

  “It’s okay, Rachel. This is Gabe. He’s one of us,” Kai said.

  “He works with Doc and Sarah at the shop and he’s agreed to help me out with the updates this summer. He’ll be moving into a studio over in C building,” Sebastian added. “Gabe, this is Rachel and this cutie here is her daughter Rebecca. They’re water sprites.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am,” Gabe said. He tried a small smile at Becca who giggled into Rachel’s shoulder. Rachel gave him a long stare, but then finally relaxed and stepped out of the pool to reach a hand over the chest high gate.

  “If Kai and Sebastian vouch for you, then that’s okay. It’s nice to hear Seb will have some help this summer. They’re being pretty ambitious I think, but I’m not going to complain about it. I’m looking forward to the new appliances. I’m hoping that the new dishwasher is going to be quieter than the thing we’ve got now.”

  Gabe shook her hand and they chatted for a few more minutes until Rebecca started fussing to be let down to play. The three turned back to their tour and Kai pointed out the work that was still being finished in the clubhouse.

  “We didn’t mean to renovate in there, but we figured that if we had to repair and replace the poolside windows we might as well do the whole space.” Kai shrugged as he spoke, but Sebastian could see the tightness of the motion. It would be a long time before Eric’s betrayal didn’t cut them both every time they thought of it.

  Gabe nodded and let the subject drop. They finished the tour at the half-finished studio apartment.

  “It’s kind of a mess in here, I’m afraid. The last tenant moved out because of family problems and h
e had to head to Canada to help his sister sort it all out, but he’d lived here for what, almost twenty years?” Sebastian looked at Kai who nodded. The room smelled musty even though the two windows were left open to let the breeze in. The carpet was pulled up but hadn’t been replaced yet, and only two walls were covered in fresh paint. The five gallon buckets and the rollers sat waiting in the corner next to a folded drop cloth.

  “We can get the paint finished up today while you’re at the shop, but the carpet will have to wait till next week. That’s when it was scheduled to come in and I do not want to have to deal with them again. They’re not the best at customer service on the phone, but they’re really good on cost.” Kai grimaced at the thought of having to make that call.

  Sebastian was watching Gabe who was staring around the room in something that looked like shock.

  “You… you want me to live here?” Gabe whispered. His eyes never landed on anything for long, which was impressive since there was really nothing there. The kitchen was just a shallow, galley style nook wedged into the extra space created by the bathroom, which was the only other room in the place, and the only one with a door for privacy.

  “It’s about as basic as it gets. We have three of these apartments in this building, and another nine across all of the other buildings, but most of our apartments are family sized,” Kai explained. “I have no idea what these rooms were originally meant for, but we have a few bachelors that like to stay near their folks, or who moved here for school and didn’t want roommates. We guessed that you’d be okay with it even though it’s pretty small, but if—”

  “No! This is… It’s…” Gabe took a ragged breath, then another that was a bit steadier. “This is more than amazing. I can’t accept this, I can’t pay rent.”

  “Gabe, you’re going to be working for us. That pretty much means that you can afford the rent on this place. We don’t exactly charge normal Bay Area rent prices for the most part anyway,” Sebastian said.