Rare Find (2 page)

On top of that, keeping her off balance, was the fact that nothing had been quite
right
since she'd been a victim of a psychic attack. She felt as if people looked at her differently. She could certainly not explain to her employees what had happened to her. She had a few friends that understood, but as for everyone else, she could hardly tell them she left her body and hid in the ethers to save herself from the attack, now could she?

Without warning, familiar pain slammed into her head, followed by a ripping sensation crawling through her brain. She bent over, grabbing the edge of the desk for support.

Several painful gasps later, she managed to take an easier breath.
Christ.
The attacks were getting worse. Another long moment later she managed a tiny step. When that worked, she took a second. As a test, she straightened, and when that was fine, she tossed her long braid back. Good, her head no longer felt like it was splitting in half. Whatever had been there – it was gone.

A ripple of relief slid down her spine.

Stefan Kronos, her scarily skilled psychic friend and mentor, spoke to her telepathically.
The headaches are troubling.

And yet what am I to do
, she answered just as softly, her heart warming at Stefan's caring voice inside her head. His visits were always a surprise, and always welcome. They also came from his heart. He cared and that was special.
I can hardly ask a doctor.

He changed topic.
How are the nightmares?

Better. Still the same nameless faceless boogie man, but the nightmares come less often. I sleep deeply once I get there, but I wake up troubled
.

Hmmm.
With that, he left her mind without warning. He was good at that.

Out of habit, she sent out a wide sweeping wave of healing energy throughout the building as she turned to leave. Instantly a sense of loss, of grief, bounced back at her along with a sense of finality. Energies from the staff, the animals, maybe even the building itself seemed to be adjusting to the loss of her grandfather.

It would take a long time before the energy changed to a loving reminiscence without the pain of loss.

She was reaching for her purse and keys she'd dropped on her grandfather's desk when something brutal stabbed into her head again. Her knees buckled and a scream ripped through her mind. The sound carried so much rage ...and fear...and pain...

It wasn't her pain or fear.

But it felt like it was hers.

She groaned, trying not to collapse under the encroaching blanket of emotional darkness. She bent over and gasped for air.

Another bolt of pain ripped through her, forcing her to the floor. She cried out and arched her back as the next slicing pain whipped along her spine.

Then it was gone.

As in completely gone. Just like that.

She slowly sat back on her heels and clasped her arms around her ribs, gasping for air. She didn't know what the hell was happening, but Christ...it was bad.

And this had to stop. She couldn't deal with it. The pain was too much.

Tripod whined at her side. He dropped his massive head on her shoulders, his hot breath washing across her cheek.

"I'm okay, boy."

A slight film coated her skin and she shivered more from shock that anything else. Her t-shirt stuck to her and a chill walked over her back, raising the hairs on her arm. Standing was not an option. She was scared another bolt of pain would drop her. After a long moment, she slowly struggled to her feet, steadying herself against Tripod's huge body. A clammy chill and an overriding fatigue rushed though her.

She wanted a hot shower and a hot drink. The place was empty at this hour. She had night staff and security guards, but they wouldn't likely see her right now. She was so grateful that she didn't have far to walk, that her house was only five minutes through the trees.

Walking as gently as if she were recovering from a back injury, she made it down the short path without incident. After unlocking her front door, she entered her sanctuary. Tango's voice rumbled at her from the back. Her baby tiger was no longer a baby anything. In fact, he was an old man. But he was still her baby – or maybe it was the other way around as he'd adopted her decades ago. He hated it whenever she left. But it was hard to run a business with a tiger interrupting your world. She also didn't want the public in on Tango's rather dominant presence in her life. It was better to work from home much of the time.

Being scolded by a tiger was wearying but she'd miss it when his time came. He'd been depressed since her grandfather's passing. She hoped Tango stayed around for months so that she could grieve for one of the dearest males in her life, her grandfather, before having to grieve for another.

Tripod walked over to sit at the entrance to the kitchen. Almost as big as Tango physically, she'd never seen any dog, especially a three-legged one, eat like he did.

She could almost hear his voice saying,
Wouldn't have to scarf my food if you fed me more
.

She'd had Tripod since he was a pup, falling in love with him before she'd realized he'd grow bigger and heavier than her. Of course his size was a definite plus when he played with Tango. And the two old friends were inseparable.

Good thing Tango couldn't speak human. However she understood dog somewhat – so his message didn't go unnoticed.

Dropping her purse on the kitchen table, she smiled down at Tripod. She'd learned to communicate directly with some animals over the years because Tripod and Tango had insisted she learn. Not with words like people. And communication was different with each of them. With Tango, she often saw his emotions in colors while Tripod seemed more human than canine. He sent her both images and emotions although they could be hard to decipher. What wasn't hard to understand was when he told her off for being late.

Or when he was hungry.

Or when he was lonely.

She stopped and bent to hug him. He whined and then almost growled. She stared down at him. "What's the matter, boy?"

He nudged her waist. She bent and hugged him again. Waves of worry emanated from him. He missed her grandfather. She studied his energy waves. They rippled. Some higher, some tighter and still others were lackluster and almost flat. There was a buzz or a hum to them.

She'd spent years trying to decipher those waves, but she hadn't been able to figure all of them out. The buzz happened when they were communicating and she was not listening. With so many animals on the reserve talking to her, she'd been forced to learn to turn it on and off at will.

While most of the time it was a pleasant, almost comforting background hum, sometimes it hit an irritating crescendo and she was forced to shut it off.

Tripod nudged her again with a whimper deep in his throat. Something was wrong but Tabitha didn't know what. She did know Tripod was worried about her.

Then she felt a stab of hunger emanate from him and realized he'd switched from worry about her to worry about his food.

She smiled. Now that was normal.

"Come on, boy. Let's feed you."

By the time she was done feeding the animals in the house and herself, Tabitha was running on empty for energy. She needed a shower and a nap. Since her grandfather's death, her emotions had worn her down. She would love twelve hours of sleep and would be lucky to get four and she had no idea why sleep seemed so elusive these days. She'd tried everything but drugs. Drugs and psychic abilities were so not good together. They left her groggy and disoriented. Herbs were fine and natural and didn't mess up her system. Only she was now out of those and had to go shopping to get more.

There was so much they didn't know about energy work and the world was in desperate need of energy workers. Dr. Maddy was the best she knew, but there were others like Tabitha who had similar abilities. Tabitha's abilities and connections worked best on animals.

Some of the people she knew were seriously talented. They could all communicate telepathically with their partners, and often with other people. Unlike her. Most seemed to have mastered something she could only dream about.

Liar.
Stefan Kronos's warm teasing voice rolled through her mind.

She snickered.
Except with you, and no one has said you're human.

If not human, what am I?

His dry voice was so deadpan she had to giggle.
A god, according to most women.

Oh, please don't get started. My feet are made of clay and I am as far away as possible from being anything heaven sent.

She gave a small tired laugh at that.
Okay, how about you're just a good friend?

I can work with that.

Did you have a reason for being here?
she asked as she headed to her bedroom. She changed out of her clothes and into a housecoat. Sometimes, it took several showers to wash away the animal odors. Tripod sat at her doorway watching intently. He always got an intense look on his face when she communicated with Stefan and this time was no exception.

He's probably listening in.

She grinned. Thank heavens for Stefan and that relationship of acceptance and understanding.
So few people would be able to understand this conversation.

More than you think. And many more becoming aware that 'this' exists.

True
. She stepped into the bathroom and groaned at her appearance
. Crap. Stefan, I look like I've been hit by a truck. You should see the circles under my eyes.

Lack of sleep? Overwork? Stress?

All of the above, I suppose.

You've just lost your grandfather. And what else...?
That knowing voice was calm and understanding. But...

She stilled. And asked cautiously,
What do you mean: What else?

Do you think I don't hear you every time you cry out in pain?

She winced.
Oh, that.

He waited, stoic and steadfast but unyielding.

It's not more blackouts,
she rushed to reassure him.

Good.

I don't know what they are,
she answered honestly.
Stabs of black pain. As if something was ripping into my skull. Then it stops. Comes on suddenly and stops suddenly. I can't figure out the triggers…

He was silent for a long moment.

Psychic attacks?
he asked cautiously.

I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I can tell you that I've never felt anything like this before.
She didn't add that she hoped to never experience it again. He'd know that.

Are the headaches getting worse?

The last few have been. And there have been a few more than usual. Weird ones. They come on suddenly and then just disappear. Like the pain. Then today, there's been a bizarre sense of waiting for something to happen. Then the sensation eases off again and I can almost forget about it.

When did they start?

She sighed.
A couple of weeks ago, maybe longer. But today was bad.

Silence.

As in they happened before you spent a week in hospital and disappeared into the ethers – or after?

Tabitha hated to be reminded of that week.

And is that also when you started having trouble sleeping?

Yes, but honestly I think it's just a residual problem from being in the hospital. You know how hard it is to come back to physical reality after a long stay out of body.

Hmmm.

She winced, not sure she liked that thoughtful pause.

What are the chances that someone is trying to contact you and you aren't hearing them? Someone might have caught your signature while you were in the ethers and think you are still there.

Her gaze widened in surprise. She hadn't considered that.
Like who? And why wouldn't they be able to communicate with me? When I'm working with the animals, I'm always open.

Again that irritating pause.

Curious, she asked,
What are you thinking?

Just considering the information.

I'm sure I'll be fine,
she said.
A good night's sleep and I'll be much better
. At least she wanted that to solve everything.

I hope so. I'll say good-bye then. But let me know if anything changes.

Stefan drifted out of her mind. Sometimes he snapped out and other times it was similar to a good-bye hug. She loved the latter.