Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1) (12 page)

“Would you just talk to me?” he asked.

“Why did you even bother coming back here?”

“I came back because I have to keep you safe. I didn’t want to leave you that night without any explanation but I didn’t have any other choice.” He lowered his head and his voice, the tired pain behind his eyes making me think he was sincere. I wanted to believe him but this was all too much.

“Violet,” he said, taking a step toward me with his hand outstretched. “Please just take this slow. I know it’s a lot for you to take in but I promise I’ll explain everything with time.”

“But why tell me anything at all if you’re just going to keep me in the dark?” I asked.

“Because it’s important that you believe what I tell you. I’m trying to earn your trust first.” He took a step toward me and touched my arm with the tips of his fingers. Another step and his body was within an inch of mine. I felt the heat of his skin through both our shirts and my heart started pounding once more.

“You didn’t tell anyone about the night I saved you,” he whispered. His breath felt warm and sweet against my face. “I want you to trust me the same way I trust you.” He traced the crook of my arm with his fingers and it happened again.

I felt the darkness surrounding me, pulling me under. I heard him calling my name and the warmth of his words on my skin. His touch, his fierce eyes. I could feel the warmth spreading through my body, from my head to my toes, pulling me to safety
.

“Violet?” I heard Robert’s velvet voice. “Violet! Are you okay?”

My head spun and Robert was staring at me, concern written in each line of his face.

“Err… I’m fine,” I said. “I think.”

“What happened? Your eyes just went blank and it was like you weren’t here anymore.”

“I don’t think I was here.” A nervous laugh escaped my throat.

“What do you mean?” His eyes widened from concern to curiosity.

“It’s nothing. I just got dazed for a second.”

“Violet, that wasn’t nothing. Tell me what’s wrong? Did you remember something?”

“No, I mean yes, but not what you mean,” I said, trying and failing to explain the sensation.

“What was it?” Robert asked.

“It was just a flash, I mean, a memory of the night you saved me.” I looked up at him, searching for recognition of what I’d felt that night. Instantly I saw a change in the set of his mouth. “Your touch made me remember what it felt like.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, a little embarrassed, “When you healed me that night.”

He stared back at me with a blank expression, only a hint of confusion hidden in his dark, guarded eyes.

He released me and put some distance between our bodies. “I should walk you back,” he said.

Seagulls hovered on the gentle winds of a beautiful summer afternoon as I led the way back to my studio. The breeze was only slightly cooler than the temperature of the air and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

“Robert, why didn’t you come back that night?” I asked.

“I told you, I didn’t have any other choice,” he replied.

“You always have a choice.”

“Look…” He sighed.

“Please, Robert. Just tell me, you owe me at least that much.”

He didn’t say anything, just looked at the ground and kept walking. He lifted his head after a moment and stared at me. I could tell he didn’t want to tell me why he left that night but his eyes betrayed him, threatening to spill over with the answers I sought. I didn’t turn away from him, hoping whatever conflict raged inside his mind would bend in my favor. He abruptly looked at the sky, his decision made.

“I did come back, but you were still in the bathroom, freshening up,” he explained.

Damn!
I thought.

“Why didn’t…” I began.

He raised his hand to cut me off. “I was going to wait for you to finish changing but Brett and I got into it. She can be insufferable sometimes. We decided I should handle the situation before it got out of control and she would make sure you got home safe. We were all at risk and I did what was necessary to keep you and my family safe. The faster I found out what was going on the better. So I packed a bag and headed to the airport.”

“I guess I can respect that. I just wish you would have at least told me you were leaving. I was so angry with you.”

“You wouldn’t have let me leave without an explanation.”

“You’re right about that.” I smiled.

I thought about everything Robert had told me as we continued toward my studio. If I felt confused before I was utterly lost now. My mind buzzed like a beehive, stirring up more and more questions.

Robert followed me in as I unlocked the door to my studio. The summer sun had sent my body into hyper-drive, or at least I thought it was the heat and humidity. Every fiber of my being could sense him; I felt his eyes tracing the curve of my spine, the warmth of his breath in the air as he walked behind me.

“You really didn’t have to walk me back,” I noted. I tried to sound casual but my emotions were all over the place.

“I’ve already saved your life once.” A flirtatious chuckle escaped his throat. The walk seemed to have lightened his spirit’s some. His shoulders relaxed and he carried himself in a more straightened, confident gait.

“Speaking of saving my life, did you want to explain that?” I asked. I stopped in front of my desk and turned to look at him.

“Not right now,” he said and lifted his hand to my cheek.

“But you said you wanted me to trust you. What better way to earn my trust than to tell me the truth about how… how you saved me.” I stumbled over my words. The touch of his hand tingled against my skin as his fingers gently pinched my chin.

“I do want you to trust me, but baby steps remember.” He smiled.

“Uh huh,” was all I could manage with his fingers so close to my lips.

“I should get going.” He sighed and stepped away.

“Alright,” I said in a soft voice.

I didn’t want him to go. I wanted him to talk to me, wanted him to let me in. But something hidden in his expression stopped me from saying or doing anything else. He might not want to talk now, but I’d get it out of him sooner or later.

“I’ll come by your place later,” he promised.

“Later?” My stomach leapt at his words.

“Yeah, I need to run by the house and talk with my family, but I’ll come by later to check up on you.”

“You don’t need to do that,” I said, a little annoyed. I didn’t want to be treated like a damsel in distress.

“Yes, I do.” He nodded, smiled and left.

Despite everything that had happened this afternoon I still had a million questions. I leaned against my desk and threw my purse on the floor. So much for getting some work done today. I picked up the sandwich I had brought with me to work and tossed it in the trash. Normally I wasn’t one to waste food, but the smell of sweaty meat and congealed cheese left me with the distinct reminder that someone wanted me dead.

.

Unable to think about anything other than my conversation with Robert, I decided to head home. The sun just started its fall over the horizon when I got home and I desperately wished that I too could fall off the edge of the Earth and rise again to a new day. I still wasn’t very hungry but I knew I should eat something. I threw a boxed dinner into the microwave and leaned against the counter while my processed food revolved round and round. I thought I wanted to know everything, I thought I wanted to know how Robert saved me, but the more I found out the more I wished I didn’t know anything. Why couldn’t I just let things be? Why couldn’t I just be grateful I was alive and stop asking questions?

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. I took a deep breath, smelling the sweet aroma of boxed Kung Pao chicken. Chef Mike, also known as the microwave, announced my food had been transformed into something edible.

Using the tips of my fingers, I delicately removed the piping hot tray from Chef Mike and plopped it on a plate. I grabbed a Stella from the refrigerator and headed to the living room to watch some TV while I ate.

The seven o’clock news sprang to life. An over-dressed woman behind a fake desk declared, “
A building collapsed today in Seattle…
”I changed the channel before the anchor could finish her sentence. The last thing I needed to watch was the sensationalized news.

I flipped through the channels until I found a harmless episode of
Friends
and went to work on my food. The spicy sauce and tender chicken gave a comforting warmth to my stomach. It felt good to return to the routine of eating a TV dinner, back to the ordinary and familiar, two things I’d been craving in my life lately. The tension in my back slowly eased with each bite as I sank into the couch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep the thousands of thoughts from bouncing around in my head like Roger Rabbit on a sugar rush. I took a long swig of beer in the hopes it might relax me a bit more.

As I finished eating I scooped up the last peanut covered in gooey Kung Pao sauce and popped it into my mouth. I had already seen this episode, the one where Phoebe tries to teach Joey how to play guitar, but it felt nice to relax, so I sat back, beer in hand, and tried to focus on the TV. I wasn’t sure if it was the solid food or the beer but the anxious feeling that had been eating a hole in my chest lessened a bit.

I took another sip of beer and wondered what Robert was up to. It pained me to think about him, but seeing him again had stirred something inside me, something ancient and primal. It wasn’t just sexual attraction, although that was certainly a factor. I’d never felt anything like this before. It left me wondering what it was about him that affected me so much. I could understand if it was just a romantic or lustful pull toward him. No one could deny he was a good looking man. But this was more than that. Something inside me called to him.

The episode of
Friends
ended so I got up to change my clothes. I threw on an old t-shirt and cotton shorts. As I walked into the bathroom I took a long look at myself in the mirror. It was still me. The reflection didn’t look any different, but I felt like I was changing. My whole world had been turned upside down and everything looked slightly askew. I shook my head, frustrated that I didn’t feel in control of my life anymore and pulled my hair into a ponytail.

Twirling my hair behind my head, I walked back to the kitchen to grab another beer. A knock echoed on the other side of the door and I paused halfway to the refrigerator.

Quietly making my way to the front door I grabbed the bat hidden in the closet.
I’m going to have to keep this thing by my side from now on
, I thought. I leaned up to the peephole when the person knocked again. It made me jump and step right into the stand next to the door.

“Violet, it’s just me, open up,” Robert’s warm voice came through the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief but still checked the peep hole.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I opened the door.

“I told you I was going to come back and check on you tonight.” He stepped inside, looking around.

“Right, but how did you get in here without buzzing me?” I closed the door, a little annoyed that he just assumed he could come in but I decided it wasn’t worth picking a fight over.

“I have my ways.” He gave me a mischievous smile.

“A little warning would have been nice,” I said and lifted the bat in my hand.

He looked me up and down and shrugged a little sheepishly. “You weren’t already in bed, were you?”

I looked down at my attire. “No, just being comfortable in my own home.” I pulled the corner of my shirt down to better cover myself.

“How was the rest of your afternoon?” he asked as he walked toward the living room.

I frowned, a little disoriented, and followed him. “It was fine, yours?”

“Productive. I caught up with my family and we think it would be best if you weren’t alone.” He perused the living room, picking up the magazines on the table and inspecting my book collection.

“Ok.” I watched him, my brow furrowed.  “So does that mean we’re going to hire a bodyguard or something?”

“Or something.” He smiled at me. “I’ll be staying here and watching over you until this is over.”

“You’re what?” I asked in disbelief.

“I can crash on the couch,” he said, fluffing a pillow.

“Excuse me, but you are
not
crashing on my couch.” My voice sounded a little squeaky and I bit my lip, bewildered at the thought of him staying here.

“Be reasonable, Violet,” he said, looking back at me. “You don’t honestly think I’d leave you unprotected while you’re in danger, do you?” He shook his head and turned toward the TV.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem leaving me unprotected for the last few weeks. Why the sudden concern for my safety?” I shot back.

“You think just because I wasn’t here that we weren’t watching over you?”

“Who’s we?” I shivered, self-conscious at the thought of being watched without my knowledge.

“My family, and others we trust,” he answered nonchalantly.

“If that’s true, then why are you here now? Why can’t you just continue the way you have been?” I bit back as he sat on the couch.

He sighed. “Will you have a seat?” He gestured to the spot next to him but I didn’t move. “Look, I know you’re struggling with all of this, but…”

“But nothing, Robert. If you want to protect me then do it from a distance.” I turned away and walked toward the sliding back door. “I’ve been fine this whole time without you so I don’t see the point in you staying here now.” My reflection looked pained in the glass, my eyes red from holding back tears.

“Violet, please. You don’t understand how important you are,” he said.

I could see him stand up and walk toward me in the reflection but I did nothing to acknowledge his presence. His words reminded me of my Aunt Beth and how she always said how talented and special I was. His voice rang with the same sort of intensity. The thought of my sweet, loving aunt broke down some of my defenses.

I sighed and covered my eyes with my hand. “Then help me understand,” I said, turning to face him.

“Come here.” He placed his hand on my arm and guided me back to the couch. “We’ll start with the prophecy, where it all began.”

I sat beside him without saying anything. I felt my heart accelerate and my palms begin to sweat. I knew I wanted answers but wasn’t sure I was prepared to hear the answers Robert had.

“In England, back in the late seventeen-hundreds, there were five very powerful families in our community: the Deardons, the Ainsworths, the Landons, the Patridges, and the Maxwells. In the middle of the night, one member of each family was summoned to meet with Belinda, a very gifted Soothsayer,” Robert began.

“Soothsayer?” I interrupted.

“It means speaker of truth. It’s a person who can see the past, present, and future. You would call her a psychic.”

“A psychic.” My eyes practically bulged out of my head. I couldn’t believe this mess stemmed from some lady who claimed to be a psychic hundreds of years ago. Robert couldn’t believe in that stuff, could he? I felt like I was reliving the past all over again and Robert was about to tell me he was a part of some 'group' just like my ex. Why did I always attract the crazy ones?

“It’s not what you think. The world has taken a sacred tradition and corrupted it into a money-making machine that feeds on the desperate and insecure. Now just the word psychic means cheap parlor tricks and lies but a true Soothsayer would never use their gift in such a disgraceful way.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and looked at me a little embarrassed. “Anyway, Belinda told those five men a war would come about in the Magical world and the only way to stop it…” He paused and looked at me, struggling to find the right words. “The key to peace would be a woman named Violet, who would wake The Lady and stop Morgana before it was too late.” He blinked, looking at me with admiration. “Each person was instructed to pass this information down to their heirs, making sure that when the time came, you wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.” His mouth formed into a hard line. “Which almost happened once already.”

Robert looked at the palms of his hands as a shaky breath escaped his lungs.

“You said Magical world?” I asked, frowning in confusion.

“You’re jumping the gun a little,” he noted, looking back up at me. Not a trace of the sorrow gripping him a moment ago remained.

“I’m in charge of what I think I can handle. I want to know,” I said as calmly as possible, but frustration laced my voice. I was really getting sick of only being told bits and pieces.

“I know you are, but like I told you this afternoon, I want to gain your trust first so you’ll believe me when I tell you everything.” He stared into my eyes, making that primal instinct hum deep in my core.

“Fine, but if I’m so important, how come I’ve never heard of any of this before?” I did my best to stay focused on the topic at hand, but the nervous energy inside me made it feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to take some terrible leap.

“That troubled me too at first. I would’ve thought your family would have told you about who you are,” he reasoned, not looking at me.

“My parents died when I was young.”

“I know that now. That’s part of what I found out while I was in England.” He paused and finally looked me in the eye.

“Oh, well what else did you find out while you were there?” I asked, not wanting to talk about my parent’s death.

He accepted my avoidance of the topic and continued, “My family needed me to make sure you were The Waker before we did anything else.”

“And how did you find that out?”

“I spoke with a few people from the other families to make sure they didn’t have any other prospects, and then I spoke to a Soothsayer who
happened
to be in town and she confirmed what I already knew.” He chuckled.

“What?”

“It’s not a coincidence she was there. Soothsayers can see the future, remember. So it was just further proof you were The Waker.”

“But how can you be sure you have the right Violet. There has to be a million people with the same name as me.” I fiddled with the necklace around my neck.

He moved his head to the side and studied me a moment then said, "Nice necklace." He nodded to the small pendant in my fingers and his eyes crinkled at the corners in satisfaction.

"Thanks, it's a family heirloom," I dropped my hand and looked away from him, "Stop trying to change the subject."

“Sorry, you asked how I could be so sure?" He paused and I nodded my head. "When I healed you I felt the essence of who you are. I knew without a doubt you were who we’d been waiting for.” He smiled and placed his hand on mine.

His hand felt warm and comforting against my skin.

Suddenly I was standing on my front porch with the sun overhead, watching myself and Robert. “It’ll be okay,” he said, pulling me against his chest and wrapping his arms around me.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“It’ll be okay,” I repeated his words under my breath.

As I watched myself in his arms, he slowly leaned toward me. Closing the distance between us, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He held me tight against his chest, his hand in my hair and slowly bent to kiss me.

Just like that it was over. I was back in my living room with Robert sitting beside me.

I pulled my hand from his and leaned away. My heart pounded in my chest. I could still smell the crisp wetness of the rain. Man, my daydreams were starting to get really intense.

“You okay?” Robert asked. His eyes roamed over me, puzzled.

What was going on with me? It made me shiver, thinking how real everything had felt. It was the same as this afternoon. When he touched me, I could clearly see and feel everything that happened the night he saved me.