Beyond Sight (Coastview Prophecies Book 2)

by Simone Pond

  I attached Vago’s collar, and we headed over to Marlo’s house. I couldn’t wait to see what was so urgent.

  Chapter Four

  Sibyl

  As Vago’s blue spirit guided me through the neighborhood to Marlo’s house, the vision rattled around in my head. A chill lingered. I wasn’t sure if it was from the fog rolling in, or remnants of the vision. That lizard creature manifesting from the belly of the fire-winged demon was unsettling. Perplexing was probably a better description. What did it mean exactly?

  “I wish it was a little more specific, you know?” I said to Vago.

  Woof!

  “It’s like we’re in some totally messed up Scooby Doo episode or something.”

  Woof! Woof!

  “Sorry. That’s wasn’t a barb on you. I just wish things didn’t have to be so … supernatural … But I guess we have to trust we’re on the right path.”

  Woof!

  I shut up. Vago didn’t need to know every single thought inside my head. Like how were we—three supernatural newbies—supposed to go up against something like that? This is my territory. And my reign will reach to the sea and beyond … How much land did it need? I read in Esther’s books that greed was the catalyst for the supernatural battle in this region. They called greed the insatiable monster that always wanted more. So I guess the demon wanted all of it.

  Vago led me up the bumpy walkway to Marlo’s house. The sweet scent of roses wafted around me. Before the accident, every time my family drove by the Knights’, Marlo’s mother was outside pruning, trimming, and watering her roses. All the nice restaurants displayed her flowers on their dinner tables. But as we walked up the path, I didn’t hear any water spraying. I didn’t see Mrs. Knight’s spirit in the garden. It was quiet.

  Before I had a chance to knock, the door creaked open and Marlo stood before me—her radiant turquoise spirit twinkled all around her edges like the fresh blue waters of tropical islands.

  “Oh, finally!” She yanked me inside, hugging me.

  Woof!

  She bent down and rubbed my attention-grubbing dog’s head. “Hi Vago! I didn’t forget about you!”

  “Marlo, honey, who’s at the door?” Mrs. Knight’s voice came from another room.

  “It’s Sibyl.”

  Woof!

  “And her dog, Vago.”

  Mrs. Knight’s footsteps made a slow approach toward the foyer where the three of us stood. When she appeared, her spirit was a dim and flickering peach color. Washed out and faded.

  “Good to see you, Sibyl, dear. I never got the chance to thank you for saving my Marlo’s life. It’s just awful what happened to you girls. I haven’t quite recovered from the shock.” She stood close to Marlo and their spirits intertwined, which caused Mrs. Knight’s peachy hue to brighten up a bit.

  “We saved each other,” I told her.

  “Sibyl’s being modest. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here,” Marlo said.

  Mrs. Knight began sniffling and a sob rolled up her throat. She tried to catch it, but the sound escaped and she turned away.

  “Mom, it’s okay. I’m okay now.”

  “But you were doing so well. Going to MIT. Now you’re staying here. It’s just … I wanted the best for you,” she whimpered.

  “Maybe this is the best? Maybe I’m supposed to stay close to home. A wise woman once told me: Things happen for a reason. We might not know why at the time, but one day we will. I’m living by those words. And I hope you will too. Maybe go tend to your roses. That always makes you feel better.”

  I stood there with my mouth hanging open because those were my words. Words I had shared with Marlo at the coffee shop when she saw me waiting in line before the whole city hall thing went down. She said she was sorry about what happened to me, about me losing my eyesight and no longer being able to play softball. But I had told her those very words. Because I had to believe that losing my parents, my eyesight, and everything was for a higher calling. Those things happened so I could be given the ability to see spirits and divine visions. I didn’t tell her that part though.

  More sniffles from Mrs. Knight and a honking nose blow.

  “Really, Mom. I’m fine. Sibyl and I need to talk about some stuff, so we’ll be upstairs if you need me,” Marlo said.

  “Are you staying for dinner, sweetie?” Mrs. Knight asked.

  “Thank you, but I need to get home to Aunt Ruthie. She’s making a special dinner since she was in the hospital for my birthday.”

  “How is your aunt?”

  “She’s doing great. Got a job with the historical society, so she’s on cloud five million.”

  Mrs. Knight chuckled softly, her peach spirit brightening up a bit. “The whole town is so incredibly grateful for her courage. If it weren’t for her alerting Officer Hochberger about Chief Pike they never would’ve found those bombs in city hall. I can’t imagine … all those people on voting day … She’s a hero. I heard they’re making a plaque for her.”

  I nodded, smiling for reasons only a few others knew.

  After the city hall incident, when the entire town nearly became a blood sacrifice, I ran into Officer Hochberger at the hospital and we had a little chat. Since he witnessed Eli shooting streaks of lightning down the police station hallway toward Chief Pike, I had to tell him what was going on. Not a detail you can just skirt over. He promised to keep our supernatural secret under wraps, and we promised to help him behind the scenes. He got promoted to chief of police. And Aunt Ruthie became the town hero. She still thinks the hit on her head must’ve knocked out part of her memory. There are many unexplained incidents, like why the entire town was down at city hall on a Sunday, but Hochberger was able to divert the focus back to celebrating Aunt Ruthie’s heroism.

  Upstairs in Marlo’s bedroom, she handed me a t-shirt and boxer shorts so Vago could shift into his human form and join the conversation. Vago would’ve been fine with a towel wrapped around his waist for the duration of our visit, but not me. Marlo knew we were coming, so she had raided her dad’s drawers ahead of time. I really needed to start carrying spare clothes around in my bag.

  “Use the closet,” I instructed him, tossing the clothes onto the floor and shutting the door behind him.

  Vago came out a minute later, pulling the t-shirt over his messy hair and grinning at Marlo. We let her in on our supernatural secret at the hospital during one of our visits. She wouldn’t shut up about that night at the shack and how I hit that guy in the head from across the room without the ability to see. Also, when Vago was driving to the hospital—when we thought she was unconscious—she overheard parts of the conversation. A blind girl who sees demonic spirits, a guide dog who shifts into a human, and the whole chat about the blood sacrifice at city hall. It was a little difficult squeezing out of that corner. So I told her the truth. Something told me I was supposed to tell her anyway.

  “So, what’s so urgent?” I asked, sitting on her bed.

  “I don’t know how to explain it, but ever since that night at the shack, some weird stuff’s been happening,” she said.

  “You’re telling me.” Vago sat next to me.

  “Like what?” I asked.

  “It’s probably better if I just show you.”

  “You’re forgetting that I can’t see. I mean, I can see your spirit, but not you. I can only see Vago and Eli. The rest are spirits or demonic things,” I reminded her.

  “Just watch.”

  Marlo stood in front of us. Two seconds later, her turquoise spirit was gone. Vago tapped my shoulder and pointed across the room. Marlo’s spirit was twinkling bright blue about ten feet away from where she was just standing. She had moved without moving.

  “What just happened?” I asked.

  “Looks like Marlo can teleport,” Vago said.

  She came back over to us. “I didn’t think it was real, but it happened a few times in the hospital. I ignored it because I thought I was going crazy. Post traumatic shock or something. But aft
er you guys told me about your gifts, well, I figured I had one, too. And I kept hearing your voice, Sibyl. About things happening for a reason. After your accident, you got your abilities to see the unseen. So, maybe after my trauma at the shack with those evil men, I got my abilities? That’s why I decided to stay close to home and transfer to Hillside University … So I could be close to you guys.”

  “But you’ve been home for over a week,” I said.

  “I wanted to be sure. I don’t even know what any of this means.”

  I laughed. “Join the club. But obviously you’re meant to stay in Coastview and help us figure it out. Welcome onboard the mystery train, friend!”

  She leaned down and gave me a huge squeeze, her honeysuckle scent wrapping all around me. I stroked her hair, picturing what she looked like. I remember Marlo having sandy brown hair with pretty waves and almond-shaped brown eyes. She was slender and tall like a gazelle. Vago moved in and hugged us until we couldn’t breathe. We laughed, shoving him off.

  “I’m happy to be a part of the supernatural club,” Marlo said.

  Vago grinned. “You say that now, but wait until we have to do something insane. Like stop a blood sacrifice from happening.”

  “Or find a lizard demon with yellow eyes,” I added.

  Marlo sat on the bed next to me and didn’t respond. She was still suffering from PTSD. It took me a year to recover from my accident. Aunt Ruthie kept telling me trauma and grief aren’t things you can just check off a list, that’s why she was so patient with me. And if Marlo’s emotions were anything like her intellect, she’d be meticulous about moving through the healing process.

  “We’re all learning as we go,” I assured Marlo. “Eli’s grandmother was supposed to be our coach, but Chief Pike killed her before she had the chance. But she has a library of books that we’ve been studying. I haven’t come across teleportation, but I’ll ask Eli to start digging around.”

  She stood up and walked around, her spirit flickered from turquoise to dark blue. “It seems to happen when I’m stressed out. What if it happens while I’m in class? How do I explain that to the person sitting next to me? Maybe I shouldn’t even go tomorrow. I could take a semester off. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? You’re still taking a break, right, Sibyl?”

  Though Marlo meant no harm, it felt like an arrow went straight through my diaphragm, causing my lungs to collapse. I touched the face of my watch and stood up.

  “It’s almost six, and I need to get home for dinner before my aunt starts sending paragraph-long texts. You have nothing to worry about, Marlo. Just breathe through your stress. I’ll start studying up on teleportation. We’ll figure this out together. Remember: you are not alone. Okay?”

  Vago went back to the closet to shift back into his dog form.

  Marlo gave me another embrace. “Thanks for being here for me, Sibyl. For saving my life that night.” She choked back a sob.

  “You saved me just as much as I saved you. Remember that.”

  Vago’s blue spirit came trotting out of the closet, and he stood by my feet. I patted his head.

  Woof!

  “Eli’s picking us up tomorrow for class. Do you want a ride?” I asked.

  “I thought you weren’t taking any classes.”

  “I’m not. But Vago here is.”

  She laughed.

  Woof!

  “Human Vago, of course. I’m going to hang out on campus and do my own course studies on the supernatural. It makes sense. Just in case my aunt comes home for lunch and wonders where Vago is.”

  “Sure! That sounds great. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

  As Vago and I walked home, I thought about what Marlo must’ve gone through that night at the shack. How those vile men stole her innocence and destroyed the life she had mapped out so perfectly. But out of that painful experience and that darkest moment, she gained a higher purpose. And with that came the ability to teleport. Now we needed to figure out how she fit in.

  Chapter Five

  Vago

  When Sibyl and I got to the house, it smelled like pot roast or some other cooked meat. I immediately began salivating. Aunt Ruthie prepared enormous meals every Sunday, spending the entire afternoon futzing about the kitchen. The leftovers were supposed to last throughout the week, but with me in the house they rarely made it to Wednesday. Aunt Ruthie commented on Sibyl’s incredible metabolism every time she’d open the fridge to find the leftovers gone.

  “We’re home,” Sibyl called out as we headed to the kitchen.

  I dashed down the hallway, leash dragging behind me, and ran up to Aunt Ruthie. I sat at her feet, wagging my tail. I knew she couldn’t resist. She handed me a few big chunks of the tender meat. I inhaled the savory pieces in seconds. I couldn’t wait to fix myself a plate after she went to bed later. Though leftovers weren’t nearly as good as hot out of the oven.

  Sibyl joined us. “Smells like a lot of food.”

  “Enough for leftovers. I’m going to be extra busy this week. Those ladies at the historical society expect only the best! I wanted to make sure you had enough food in case I get home late.”

  Woof!

  Aunt Ruthie tossed down another chunk of steaming beef.

  I licked my chops and danced around her ankles.

  “That’s enough, Vago! Go on, out of the kitchen!” she ordered.

  I whined a little bit.

  “Okay, fine. Just get out from under my feet,” she said.

  Sibyl sat at the kitchen table while Aunt Ruthie fixed up two plates. She meandered over to the table and plunked down across from Sibyl, taking a moment to say a quick prayer. Ever since the thing with Chief Pike and city hall, she started praying a lot more. And going to church. She couldn’t remember anything about that day; just waking up in the hospital. She had no recollection of alerting Officer Hochberger to the bombs Chief Pike and the Sons of Cain had planted throughout Coastview City Hall. Nor would she, since that’s not how it happened. But that’s the story the town believes.

  “So, Sibby. Fall semester starts tomorrow,” Aunt Ruthie said between bites.

  Sibyl kept a pleasant countenance like she wasn’t at all bothered by the statement, but I knew it killed her that she wasn’t taking any classes. She avoided the topic every time someone broached it. I figured she felt embarrassed, or inadequate. She still had some kinks to work out. I thought if I registered for a couple classes, she’d be encouraged to do the same. But my plan backfired. She vehemently steered the conversation in the opposite direction whenever I brought up my classes.

  “Mm hmm,” Sibyl mumbled with a full mouth.

  “And you still don’t feel up to taking even just one course?”

  “Not really. But I’m going to check out the campus with Eli tomorrow,” Sibyl said.

  Aunt Ruthie couldn’t swallow her bite fast enough. “Oh, that’s wonderful! I think you’ll enjoy that. Much better than hanging around the house all day alone.”

  Woof!

  “You know what I mean, Mr. Sensitive.” Aunt Ruthie tossed me another nibble of beef.

  “That’s what I was thinking. It’ll be nice to see, or rather, hear what it’s all about.”

  Though Aunt Ruthie was bursting with delight, Sibyl had no intentions of enrolling in any classes. They finished eating dinner, chatting about fall plans and ideas for dinners. Ruthie’s banter filled the kitchen like background noise from a radio station. Sibyl nodded and smiled, but behind her facade I sensed something else going on. It wasn’t fear. It was shame.

  The sun was still out by the time Sibyl and her aunt cleared the table and put away the dishes.

  “Wanna go get some ice cream?” Sibyl asked Aunt Ruthie.

  I cocked my head at the odd request.

  “That’s awfully sweet of you, but I want to stay home and read through this file Mrs. Pearlman dropped off earlier.” Aunt Ruthie hoisted a file folder the width of a career criminal’s rap sheet and made her way to the living room.

>   “What about you, Vago? Ice cream?”

  Woof!

  Sibyl grabbed her messenger bag, and we left the house.

  As we strolled down Church Street in the cooling dusk, I expected her to explain the reason for this excursion, but she was tight-lipped. I stopped walking and blocked her path.

  Woof! Woof!

  “You know me too well.” She rubbed my head.

  Woof!

  “I want to stop by Sandy’s Sports Shop before they close. Pick up a few things. And I’ll need you to shift in the changing room so we can chat.”

  Woof.

  At Sandy’s Sports Shop, I guided Sibyl to the changing room in the back. She came in with me and opened her messenger bag, taking out my same old jeans and black t-shirt. Now that I’d be walking around in human form in daylight hours, I needed some new clothes, big time. She turned around while I quickly shifted and pulled my clothes on.

  “So why are we here?” I asked.

  “I’m stocking up on some baseballs.”

  “Uh, why?”

  “This is gonna sound crazy, but I keep hearing something—like a prompting—that I need to get baseballs. I think I’m supposed to use them for protection,” she said.

  “Protection?”

  “I’m not sure. I think it has something to do with my pitching arm.”

  “So you’re gonna wing balls at demons and evil dog shifters that are more powerful than normal human beings?”

  “I told you it sounds crazy. But I figure I might as well follow the instructions. They feel connected to my visions. It’s hard to explain.”

  “I hear you.”

  “Also, I have a pretty decent fast ball.” She laughed, leaving the changing room.

  “That’s right! I’m with Coastview’s very own softball champion and MVP.” I gave her a light punch on the shoulder. “You’re a badass, Sibyl.”

  “Mm hmm.” She grinned half-heartedly.

  “You’re a born leader. Without you coaching us, we’re lost. So, let’s go find you some balls.”

  She laughed again. “Balls. Sounds funny when you say it.”