He extends his hand and introduces himself with spirit. "Hello, Lili. I’m Sebastian. I’ll be taking you to school. It’ll be a grand time full of extraordinary things." He winks at me then proceeds to move towards my mom. I'm a ball of nerves as I anticipate Mom's reaction to Sebastian. He's interesting, in an offbeat kind of way, which intrigues me and typically irritates her. "Hi, Ms. Araica, I'm Sebastian. I'm going to be taking care of Lili throughout her stay at school. Don't you worry about a thing. I've got it handled. Lots of boys and books and grades. Gotta think about those grades." A grin creeps up on me unexpectedly. What a weird choice for a school advisor. I wonder if all Celestials are like Sebastian.
My mom leers as she gives Sebastian a once over. She seems alarmed by his weird tone and ensemble choice, a dark navy-blue pants suit and a flamboyant silk shirt with bright colored paintings on it. My mom sarcastically responds to Sebastian, though her mockery is lost on him. “Yes, well who wouldn’t want a cartoon character looking after their child?"
Sebastian nods, winking at me as my mom heads back to our kitchen table. He follows Mom in fascination, like an animal in the zoo. His eyes explore our house, full of bright colors, family photos, and religious crosses on every wall.
The smell of breakfast must have caught his attention as he turns dramatically toward our kitchen table and says, "Breakfast time? I'd love to join." He moves to the table and sits down, helping himself. I decide to sit down next to Sebastian urging my mom to do the same. She reluctantly sits, turning her back to Sebastian as if he's not there, like a toddler just about to throw a temper tantrum.
Sebastian is unbothered by the fuss and takes a bite of eggs, then inquires, "Ms. Araica, I see crosses throughout your house, so I assume you're religious. What are your thoughts on good versus bad energy?" He looks at me as I widen my eyes in alarm.
His eyes light up mischievously in response, as my mom slowly answers Sebastian’s question. "Good is good and bad is bad. What else is there to know?"
Sebastian frowns, turning to me and asking, "What about you? Do you believe the same?"
“I’m unsure, but I guess you can't have good without bad, so they're dependent on each other to a degree.”
Sebastian looks directly at me without blinking, like he’s observing a new species. He then turns back to my mother and continues his interrogation. "Ms. Araica, tell me about Lili as a child. Was she a precocious rascal?"
My mom takes a long pause to debate whether to answer any more of Sebastian's questions. Luckily, her love of talking about me wins out. "She was the sweetest thing. Wouldn't hurt a fly.” She giggles then continues, “Literally, I once saw her talking to a spider as she carried it outside into the trees. She had such an imagination, always talking to her pretend friends.” She pats my head. “Thankfully, she grew out of all that. Though she still wouldn't step on a bug if you paid her."
Sebastian's face is twisted deep in thought as he seems to forget where he is and talks to himself aloud. "I see. She can communicate with energies."
My mom's eyes widen as she quickly replies to Sebastian's absurd comment. "She was a normal kid pretending to talk to things. No one said anything about ‘energies.’"
Sebastian quickly fixes his mistake. "That's what I meant." He then turns his stare my way, as if he's trying to see deep into my soul. I surprisingly hear his voice within my head. "Can you hear me?"
The voice sounds like Sebastian, so I look at him and answer within my mind. "Yes. I've never talked like this before to anyone living. Is this how Celestials communicate?"
“It’s a rare gift among Celestials.”
“Rare in what way?”
Sebastian squints his face before answering in my mind. “I believe rare is defined as not occurring often or in large quantity.” Great, I have a comedic Celestial as a mentor.
I see my mom staring at me. She tilts her head and asks, “Are you okay?”
I nod just as I disconnect from Sebastian and hear him speaking out loud. "Lili, it's about time to hit the road. I'll take your bag to the car. Come outside when you're ready." Sebastian grabs my bag and kisses my mom’s hand. “Gracias. Mucho gusto.” Then he quickly exits the house, leaving my mom and me alone to say our goodbyes.
A lot of memories come rushing through my mind. Some good and others complicated. But in this moment, I choose to focus on the good "I just want you to know, if you need anything, give me a call and I'll be there. Never let anyone make you feel small."
I shake my head in response as I begin to tear up. "I love you, Mom. Thank you for everything. I'll call you as much as I can."
She hugs me tight. "I'll see you during Christmas break. This isn't goodbye." I give my mom an extra squeeze as a chill runs down my spine, letting me know a spirit is watching.
A frightened female voice enters my mind saying, "You're not safe at the school. Don't trust anyone." Her energy vacates as quickly as it came, leaving an alarm ringing inside of me as I head to Cognosco.
CHAPTER THREE
Beginning
Lili - On the Move
The car ride with Sebastian is terrifying. He swerves in and out of traffic like Godzilla is chasing us. He cuts across three lanes, almost hitting a large Ford truck and enraging the cowboy driver who yells with his hands raised in the air. The driver begins tailing us intent to run us off the road.
Sebastian peers in the rear-view mirror asking, “Why so angry, Bob?” Then he raises his hand in the truck’s direction, sending a force of energy to Bob’s truck. I turn in my seat, worried for the driver’s safety, but I’m surprised by a joyful and laughing Bob, who waves in our direction.
Sebastian waves back, smiling with satisfaction. “Bob was having a bad day. So I helped him have a better one.”
“Is it common to change human’s emotions?”
“Not common, but there’s no rules against it.” His answer worries me. I don’t think anyone should change someone’s emotions, no matter the reason. Sebastian stares at my reaction then asks, “I know your mom is religious, but what about you?”
I hesitate to answer questions about religion, always afraid to offend others. “Uh, the jury’s still out.”
“I think you’re the first Celestial I’ve ever met who doesn’t know if there’s a God.”
“I didn’t say that, I just, I’m just unsure.”
We continue to drive through downtown Austin, with its unique mixture of forest green trees, tall glass buildings and brightly colored mom and pop shops. The streets are full of legions of people carrying on with their daily errands completely unaware of the extraordinary Celestial world hidden around them. I envy them—the joy of a simple life without worries of turning dark and dreams of the future.
Sebastian suddenly takes a sharp left across oncoming traffic, making my breath catch. I grab the car’s handle praying for this ride to end. We turn down a small gravel road surrounded by trees. The farther down the road we travel the more the environmental energy begins to change, like we've entered another plane of existence.
Sebastian points ahead. “The school is just through these trees; we are almost there.”
I spot Cognosco peeking through the leaves in front of us. A mixture of anxiety and excitement leaves me lightheaded as my jaw flies open. Cognosco is an ancient castle in the shape of flower petals, with an inner garden ward in its center. The castles walls are made of tan stones with golden specks that shine into the sky. Golden statues of Celestial men surround the exterior, and I have no idea of their names or stories, but I’m sure that will soon change. There are remarkable glowing flowers in golden planters that aren’t from this Earth, or at least the Earth I’m familiar with.
The Celestial school has me looking above the castle into the sky, searching for Angels singing and playing harps above me, but the empty skies bring me back to reality. My awe of the school ends abruptly when out of nowhere I feel my abilities tightened, like there’s a patchy wi-fi signal slowing down my range and speed. I ca
n't fully access my energy, and the security blanket I've grown accustomed to for fifteen years is taken away. An image of darkness from last night's dream pops into my mind and fear overtakes my senses.
The slow-moving car gives me the perfect opportunity to make a run for it, so I open the door and jump out, hitting the gravel road with a thud. I wipe grit from my aching knees and begin to run towards the freeway and the life I used to have. I quickly lose track of my direction, stopping to gather my bearings. I feel lost, spinning in circles, unsure of which way to head. I can’t even run away correctly. To my horror I hear a loud noise above me in the trees. I look up, watching as the sturdy trees spread apart with ease as Sebastian floats down in front of me.
Before I can run again, Sebastian raises his hands and begins calmly talking to me, like he's cooing a wild animal. "It's okay, Lili. That's just a barrier at the school, so second and third-year Celestials can't use their abilities outside of classes. It's for your protection." His explanation is plausible, so I continue to listen to him, though I’m not sure if I want to be convinced or not. "You are currently safe; I promise you. Grab my hand, feel my truth."
I hesitantly do as he instructs and feel the protection radiating from him. I realize my energy reading abilities are still present, just with less power than before. Part of his energy is similar to mine, allowing me to understand him and believe what he says.
I ask for more information, not wanting to be caught off guard again. “There’s a barrier—is anything else different at the school?"
His voice remains calm as he says, "There are no spirits within the school, so you won't be able to talk to the dead. The barrier keeps them out." Sebastian grabs my hand and begins to walk me towards Cognosco again. I pull back, unsure if I want to follow him. His expression saddens as he warns me of the consequences of my actions. "Lili—you are a Celestial. Going to school is the only choice you have. It’s a Celestial law for all new Celestials to attend training. Right now, as far as anyone knows you are just a student, not a danger to anyone. If it was discovered you ran and had early abilities, they would hunt you down. Do you understand?"
"Yes.” I feel the weight of his words hit like a grenade. If there’s no way to escape my destiny, then I’ll just have to stop it from happening.
Lili - New Beginnings
The school's mahogany doors let out a soft creak as Sebastian and I enter. The interior of Cognosco transforms into large arches that climb 30 feet into the air, framing the grand entrance and the large walkways that flank the entrance. The ceiling has fluffy clouds in muted purple, pinks and blues that have lightning brewing inside of them. It reminds me of a jellyfish, in a weird sort of way. There are solid rectangular glass cases following the school’s walkways. Each case contains ancient artifacts and artwork fit for a museum.
The interior architecture isn’t the only thing that draws my attention. The Cognosco entrance is full of Celestials ranging in sizes and ethnicities. Everyone is young, including the professors in their golden robes.
Curious as to why that is, I ask Sebastian, “Are there any old people here?”
Sebastian responds as though he’s discussing the weather. “Celestials don’t age past sixteen, when we get our full abilities. We are immortal.”
“Immortal—Like vampires?”
Sebastian picks a piece of egg from his tooth. “I suppose, except we don’t drink blood. What a nasty habit.” The revelation of my immortality should freak me out, but at this point it’s just another cherry on my already rich banana split.
This is the first time I can recall being in a room full of people without feeling a heavy weight overwhelming me. The harness on my abilities may have scared me when I first arrived, but at the moment I’m relieved to not feel like a freak amongst my peers.
Sebastian remains silent as we continue to walk through the school. Maybe he’s contemplating how to escort a crazy person without any more running incidents. We enter a long hall directly in front of us that seems endless. The walls are filled with large paintings that have 3-D effects to them so the images on the canvas are reaching out and drawing you in at the same time.
Sebastian stops walking, standing in front of a painting of two male Celestials fighting in a lightning filled sky. Sebastian points directly at one of the painted men. “All these painting tell of our history. This one is of Michael, he’s the head Celestial. God’s one and only.”
I move closer to the painting to get a good look. Michael is handsome and large, but his eyes are empty and his body posture almost fake. He reminds me of a duller version of The Rock. I then get a closer look at the other Celestial in the painting. His body is thick and chiseled like stone, but his face is filled with emotion and his eyes seem deep and wounded, drawing me in. The longer I stare at him, the more I feel connected to him.
I point at the unidentified Celestial and ask, “And who is this one?”
“That would be Adem. Humans tell stories of him, though most of them are fabricated. I believe they call him the Devil.” I’m shocked by this revelation, turning from the painting quickly. Sebastian notices and whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry. We all think he’s handsome. Plus, he’s not really the Devil per se.” Sebastian continues the tour speaking with excitement, "Lili, your room is up these stairs to the left."
We head towards a large glass wrap around staircase with floating spheres that run up the center. The circular structure makes it almost impossible for me to see what’s ahead of me as I cautiously ascend upward. I look up only seeing bits and pieces of people until I come around the corner and am facing a familiar face from my dream. I recognize Easton, my boyfriend from my premonition. He's just as perfect as he was in my dream, handsome with brown hair that shines like the moon and a stoic look that surprisingly causes my heart to race ahead, leaving me fumbling in its wake. He’s holding the arm of a gorgeous blonde, who shoots a hateful glare in my direction, making me shift my eyes away from Easton as quickly as I can. However, our eyes unintentionally connect, spinning me into another vision.
Easton and I are kissing in the darkened halls of the school. His hands are cupping my face, and I’m falling in love with him. His touch sparks on my skin, amplifying my energy with his in an undeniable chemistry that neither of us can ignore.
My vision ends suddenly, and I return to reality where I’m currently laying face first on the stairs with a pounding headache. I see a group of Celestials standing around me with Easton's blonde girlfriend laughing at my embarrassment. I fear my stumble may make me an outcast again like at my old school, where I sat alone during lunch and read about people I could never meet, playing out pretend conversations in my head.
An embarrassed flush covers my face, doubtlessly making me look like a lobster ready to eat. Sebastian begins to help me up, then I see another hand reach for me through the crowd of onlookers. Once it touches me a surge of vigor moves through my body, defying the energy barriers the school has in place. I know the hand is Easton's without looking, and I allow him to assist me. I try to keep my eyes down, afraid to connect with him further. I feel like a bird with a broken wing.
He speaks, calling me to answer. "You okay?"
I feel a familiarity that I can’t explain. "Yes. I just, I had a… Thank you for the help.”
I begin to look up at Easton, unable to resist my urge to see him again, but I am interrupted by an overly worried Sebastian. "Let's just get you to your room before anything else happens.” I feel irritation shooting from Easton's energy, which isn't muffled like everyone else around me.
Sebastian grabs my arm and slowly helps me up the stairs like I'm an old lady without her walker. I try to tell him to stop with a death stare he doesn’t understand. Doesn’t he know I have to pretend I didn’t just collapse for no reason so everyone will stop staring at me? I look in front of me and see the girl Easton was hanging on earlier. She is giving me a demented look, and I know this will undoubtedly give me trouble later.
I tr
y to ignore her, turning my attention back to Sebastian. "Sebastian, what’s up with the guy who helped me?” I know Easton's name from my dream, but besides that, he's basically a stranger.
Sebastian's face tells me he knows Easton well. "That's Easton. He's a second-year and interesting just like you." He notices the blonde girl's deadly stare and adds, "He's pretty popular with all the Celestial ladies.”
Interesting? I glance at Easton again, which causes my skin to prickle like a porcupine as I talk to myself aloud, forgetting all about Sebastian. "I wish he wasn't so cute in person."
Sebastian's eyebrows arch as he giggles and playfully shakes his head. "Don't we all... Plenty of time for him later. Let's get you all set up in your dorm room."
We turn the corner, and I swear I can still feel Easton's gaze following me.
Easton - Post Sight
Gwyneth bounces through the school’s halls while I reluctantly follow behind her. She waves and smiles to Celestials we pass like she’s making a bid for president. I try to slow my beating heart, which is still reeling from my encounter with Lili. I felt a bolt of electricity shoot through my body when our skin connected, and I can’t stop replaying the moment over and over in my mind. I swear a part of her energy entered mine, filling me with light and feelings I’ve never experience before.
Gwyneth’s light gait turns heavy once we finally arrive at my dorm room. She turns towards me, giving me a dirty look before she enters. She’s obviously irritated, but I truthfully don’t care. My lack of concern is nothing new. I don’t know if it’s a character flaw, or a side effect of being dark.
As soon as I enter my room, Gwyneth grabs my shirt, making her voice penetrate the room with distaste. “What are you playing at? When do you help anyone?”
New Celestial : A teen paranormal romance series (The Celestial Series Book 1) Page 3
