Journey of Souls (The Mortality Series)

by Melanie S. Pronia

  The drive back home gave Justine too much time to think. Once she had finally arrived back into the sanity of her own apartment, she quickly grabbed her cordless phone and curled up in her recliner while dialing Patrick's number.

  "Hello." His voice instantly soothed her, but she had to bite her lip just to keep from bursting out in tears.

  "Patrick."

  "Justine, what's wrong?" He could sense the emotions in her voice immediately.

  "Are you busy?"

  "I'm never too busy for you, babe."

  "Come over?"

  "Okay, babe, I'll be there in a half an hour."

  Quietly Justine clicked off the phone. She stood to get her dry throat a drink and stopped when she noticed the purple magick book sitting on her table, almost glaring at her, almost as if in smug defiance.

  Justine picked up the book by the front cover and viciously swung it into her garbage can.

  "I'm done with you! I'm done with all this bullshit!"

  When Patrick arrived, he instantly noticed that the previous sorrow that had laced Justine's voice had been replaced by a violent anger. Her face was flushed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The storm that was raging in her mind was frightening even to a man who had grown up with several sisters. He cautiously approached, making sure to keep his own hands behind his back.

  "Justine, wanna tell me what's got you so pissed off?" His logical voice did nothing to soften the fury of her temper. She continued to pace back and forth for a moment while deciding what she wanted to say. Quickly she spun around and faced Patrick. He knew, or at least hoped, that her anger was not directed toward him, because the intensity springing out from her eyes just might have the ability to instantly squish a man.

  "This stupid 'gift' that I have. I never asked for it. I don't want it. I want it to go away, I want to be normal and blind to it, I don't want to see what others cannot see." After the venomous words flew of out her lips, some of her anger seemed to dissipate with them.

  "Justine, unfortunately that's not your choice. I don't know why you have the sight, but you do. Some day maybe you'll understand why you do, and then again, maybe you'll never know. But the fact of the matter is that you do have it and there is no way to make it go away, it's a part of you. You just have to learn to be comfortable with it."

  "But I don't want it!" She threw up her hands practically stomping while Patrick stared at her in the same way he might stare at an insolent, spoiled child.

  The look was not lost on Justine one bit. She settled herself into a chair and ran her hands through her hair, before taking a deep breath.

  "I know I'm acting like an idiot. But after the day I’ve had, I feel it's pretty damn justified." Once she had caught her breath, she went on to explain the events of her day to Patrick, who sat silently and patiently, letting her vent. Her story was so intense, and he knew that she was counting on him to make some sort of sense out of it, he felt overwhelmed and at a loss for words.

  "Justine, you need to get your mother some professional help. This is just too big for you to take on by yourself."

  Sighing, Justine stared at him for a moment before replying.

  "I know, I know. I just don't know where to go for that help, and wonder how much my mother will hate me for it."

  "Don't worry about how much she will hate you. She won't once she's sobered back up."

  "Where do I start, Patrick? I mean, do I just call one of the local hospitals and say “hey, my mother is a drunk and I don't know what to do about it"?

  He chuckled softly, causing Justine to smile for the first time since he had seen her that day. He knew that with Justine, he could at least always rely on humor.

  "Well, it's a start. But I'll tell you what, my mother has a friend who went through something very similar, let me ask her exactly what they did about it. Whatever it is, I'll do it with you, if you need me to Justine."

  She silently digested the words. Not only was she immensely embarrassed by her mother's condition, but this beautiful man whom she loved so deeply was offering her a hand to hold onto. She immediately felt lighter.

  "Thank you, Patrick, as soon as you can, talk to your mother, so that I know what steps I need to take."

  "Will do. And Justine, as far as this ghost in the graveyard thing goes? You don't have to be everyone's savior. You did what you could, don't feel guilty for not being able to solve all of the problems in the world. She'll find her way."

  "Or become one of the cases Spectrum investigates." She could no longer keep it in and bubbled over with a joyous, cleansing laughter. Chapter Seventeen

  While Justine made the two of them a simple dinner of chicken pasta with fresh steamed

  vegetables, Patrick talked to his mother on the phone. As Justine hummed feeling very homey in the kitchen preparing a meal for the man she loved, she paused to question herself. Why did I call him when I was upset? Will I ever be able to handle anything by myself? Will I become like my mother, always relying on others? Am I weak?

  The questions deeply disturbed her, but she knew that now was not the time to try and tackle them, now she had to concentrate on getting her mother some help. She could beat herself up later for it.

  Patrick walked into the kitchen behind Justine and pulled her against him, holding her and kissing her neck softly.

  "Mom wants to meet you."

  The idea both frightened and delighted Justine. She had spent many hours wondering what Patrick's family was like.

  "Well that's fine, anytime that's good for you and her."

  "She wants us to come by tonight after dinner."

  "Okay, but I'm a mess, I need to at least do my face and hair." Justine felt the nervous tension spread out over her body.

  "Oh stop it Justine, don't put on airs for my mother, she's a normal every day person."

  "Well I'm sure she is Patrick, but she's also your mother, the mother of the man I love. I want to be presentable, it's a woman thing you wouldn't understand."

  Patrick decided it was wiser to let that go then to argue about it. He was excited about introducing Justine to his mother and he knew that both women would adore one another.

  The balmy night air seemed to cleanse away Justine's frustrations and uncertainties. She was making a determined effort to not worry and just enjoy the beautiful night. Patrick drove casually over a dirt road that was bumpy in a comforting, used sort of way. Trees lined either side of the drive before they thinned out and opened up revealing a large, ranch style home. The white house gleamed in the night, almost as if shining with its own powerful luminescence. A large porch sat at the front of the house invitingly. There was red barn to the left of the house that could only be described as charming, along with a small stable house and a pasture for the horses.

  Patrick pulled the car to a soft stop and looked over at Justine who would have looked beautiful even if she hadn't dolled herself all up. He placed a gentle hand on her thigh,

  "Ready?" She smiled at him, trying and doing well to conceal her nervousness.

  "Yep."

  When Justine stepped out of the car and felt the soft soil beneath her sandals, she was hit with an immediate moment of familiarity. She had been to this house before, she didn't know when, but she knew within the deepest chamber of her gut, that she had stood in this very spot before. She also realized that the time she had spent here must have been pleasant as a feeling of comfort flooded into her bones.

  Patrick watched her like he did everyone he took to his family's home for the first time. It was a sure test of whether or not you had magickal abilities. Justine's reaction said it all, without having to say a word.

  He swung around to her and grabbed her little hand in his own, his pride swelling, running over into his heart. He had told his mother a lot about her and was now happy to be able to let his mother see why he loved this girl so much.

  Patrick stopped at the front door and knocked once firmly before entering the house.

  "Mom?" H
e called out.

  "In here Patrick."

  The two of them followed the sound of her voice. She stood in the kitchen washing dishes by hand. She was a short woman, about the same height as Justine herself. Her dark hair was shiny and long without a single hint of gray. When she turned to look at Justine, Justine was taken aback by her eyes.

  These were eyes she knew and knew well. Wiser and set in the face of an older, female version, these were Patrick's sapphire blue eyes. For a moment, Lila simply stared at Justine as intensely as Justine stared at her.

  She finally broke the silence when she stepped forward after quickly putting the dish and wash cloth back into the sink.

  "Justine!" To Justine's surprise, she hugged Justine tightly, which Justine awkwardly answered by shyly returning the hug.

  When Lila released Justine she flushed, and stumbled for words. Patrick stared at the two women he loved curiously.

  "I'm sorry Justine, it's just that I haven't seen you since you were a babe. You're Ethan's girl. I was curious at the name, but those beautiful green eyes of yours confirm it without a doubt."

  Ethan was the name of Justine's father.

  "Yes, how did you know him?" The question tumbled out even before Justine had time to consider it.

  "Well that's a long story actually. You two go sit on the porch while I bring us some iced tea." Lila busied herself with filling glasses of ice while Patrick and Justine went out the front door and sat in a swing on the front porch.

  Lila briskly walked out onto the large porch with three generously full glasses of ice tea with lemon slices. She beamed a bright smile at Justine and had to stop herself from embracing the beautiful girl again. She hoped fervently to herself that Patrick would hang on to this one, or rather that Justine would keep Patrick.

  Her eyes turned from Justine to Patrick. Her son had grown into a fine man, but he lacked the idea of adulthood and maturity, however, Lila knew that her son was as far as she knew, and she thought she knew her son pretty well, head over heals in love for the first time and finally ready for it. And Justine was Ethan's daughter, imagine that! Lila had to consider how things tend to work themselves out. Had things been just slightly different, Justine would have been her daughter. Lila had been so badly hurt when Ethan had married Alice whom she had always felt was a poor choice for him. Then again, at Lila's age, now she knew that the path was written for a reason and that reason could very likely be for Patrick and Justine to come together. There was such a strong magick between the two of them and Lila couldn't help but wonder if the two of them even knew it. Though she hoped that they did.

  "Justine means justice, did you know that Justine?" Lila finally broke the easy silence.

  "Yes, my father was intent on naming me that." I just hope I can live up to my name, Justine thought to herself.

  Patrick simply smiled enjoying the comfortable banter between the two women he loved the most and laid a comforting hand on Justine's thigh in the most casual yet distinctly possessive gesture, his mother noticed. Oh yes, his heart was sunk like a ship weighed down with iron anchors. Good, Lila thought, he needs some stability.

  "I knew your father well, we even dated for a short while, he was a brilliant man." Lila intentionally down played the intimacy she and Ethan had shared. Some things were meant to be kept a secret. At least until it was the proper time to reveal them.

  "Yes he was. Did you know my mother?" Justine asked politely.

  "Alice? Oh yes." When Lila gave no further information, Justine sensed that Lila held a strong dislike for her mother.

  Forcing herself to appear friendlier about the subject, Lila said,

  "I'm sorry to hear about her condition, but there are ways to help."

  The flash of stubborn hope in Justine's eyes reminded Lila so much of Ethan, it was nearly heart breaking.

  Lila wanted desperately to read Justine's cards, but knew that is entirely too soon to approach her with an invitation of that sort. Maybe she could get lucky enough to sneak in a glimpse of her palm even, anything to answer her burning question.

  Lila jumped up quickly, surprising both Patrick and Justine.

  "Shoot! I have a video that I need to return tonight."

  Patrick stood up casually and stretched,

  "I'll take it back if you want, Mom."

  Smiling and feeling inwardly mischievous, Lila said,

  "Oh, are you sure you don't mind, Patrick?"

  "Not at all."

  Justine stood up as if that was her cue to go.

  "Justine, you can stay with me if you like. The video store is right around the corner, Patrick won't be gone long, you know how small Green Cove Springs is."

  "Oh, okay," Justine replied softly reclaiming her seat on the brightly painted red swing.

  Patrick went into the house and grabbed the DVD off of the entertainment center before leaving noticing that it did not need to be returned for two more days. He wished Justine luck and sent a thought directly to Lila cautioning her to go easy on Justine. A thought that his mother received and agreed with.

  Justine couldn't help but notice the strange look exchanged between mother and son. Even though she had instantly like Lila, she suddenly felt

  apprehensive.

  "Justine, would you like to see the horses? I like to check in on them before I settle in for the night."

  "Oh yes, I'd love to!"

  Lila smiled and stepped off the porch with Justine following closely behind. The moon stared down at the two women, watching them walk silently to the stables. Both of them enjoying the balmy night air and the magickal sounds of a southern night.

  Lila quietly opened the wide double doors and entered the stables nickering and calling out,

  "Aradia, Brigid, Rhiannon, Pan. Mommy is here. How are my lovely's?"

  The horses greeted her eagerly, their large soulful eyes curiously settling on Justine. Pan in particular seemed interested in Justine, he whinnied and stomped a heavy hoof before he moved as close to her as the low gate would allow.

  Without even stopping to consider the question,

  "Is it your time?" Lila asked her directly.

  "My time?" Justine asked in confusion.

  "Your monthly." Astonished, Justine took her time in answering.

  "Ah, yeah actually it is. Why?" Lila laughed and patted Justine's back reassuringly, filled with the suspicion laced in her voice.

  "Well Pan here was just recently gelded and the scent still makes him aggressive. He seemed to take such a fast interest in you that I thought of letting him out of his stall, but I think we'll save that for another time."

  "Oh." Justine let herself relax into a relieved laugh, reassured with Lila's explanation.

  "Would you like to give them some treats?"

  Delighted with the idea, Justine quickly agreed.

  "Come here, let me introduce you to Aradia, she's a wise old girl, even gave me three fouls, Pan is her youngest colt."

  "Wow! That's wonderful, she's so pretty." Justine stared in fascinated amazement at the beautiful black Tennessee Walker who proudly stood fifteen hands high.

  "Here, take this carrot and keep your palm very flat and hold it up to her mouth. You'll be her friend for life."

  Nervous, but delighted Justine did as instructed while Lila stood next to her gently petting Aradia. Justine laughed as the mare took the offered carrot greedily tickling her hand with her soft muzzle.

  Lila watched the exchange quietly, her heart blooming with joy at the sight of Justine's left palm.

  Patrick entered the stables just in time to see his mother's little magick trick with Justine's palm, he wished he could have watched them unnoticed for a little longer. However, when Brigid picked up his scent, he knew he could not remain an observer hidden in the shadows any longer.

  Brigid whinnied in excitement greeting her master as he opened her stall and immediately began petting her, talking so softly and sweetly. Justine stared at him, admiring his love of the gorgeous Palo
mino.

  "Hey girl. How's my baby?" He crooned to Brigid.

  "Brigid is Patrick's horse, but he doesn't spend enough time with her lately." Lila chided

  affectionately.

  Patrick smiled at the two of them. Justine realized that there was still so much that she didn't know about Patrick.

  "Do you ride?" Lila asked Justine.

  "Oh no, well I never have." She moved on to pet Rhiannon who's coat which was chestnut was very akin to Justine's own hair color.

  "Would you like to?" Lila asked.

  "Yes, well I think so." Although Justine was amazed at the magnificent creatures, she was a bit frightened of them being such large, powerful animals.

  Lila laughed at the look of indecision wrinkling up Justine's brow and couldn't help but remember that her father had much the same reaction when she had first asked him.

  "Oh these guys are harmless, they're big babies." When Aradia seemed to whinny her protest, the three of them laughed together.

  "Patrick you should bring Justine by next weekend. Take her riding and then we could have a nice dinner together."

  Patrick glanced at Justine who nodded at him eagerly.

  "Okay Mom, that sounds good."

  Lila walked them out to the car. She hugged Justine warmly.

  "Please come back soon Justine, you're welcome anytime." Justine assured her that she would and thanked her for a lovely night.

  When Patrick and Lila embraced, Justine was already sitting in the car.

  "You love her, don't you," Lila whispered into his ear.

  In the dark, Patrick's blush was undetectable to her vision, but she knew it was there.

  "Yes I do, Mother."

  "Marry her." Lila spoke earnestly.

  "I plan on it Mom, but it's much too soon now."

  "I know it is Patrick, but don't let her go."

  "That's not gonna happen Mom. Now let me go before she starts to wonder what we're talking about." He chuckled and hugged his mother again before sliding into the car next to Justine.

  Chapter Eighteen