Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1) (26 page)

“Sure, no problem.”

“Alright, see you in a bit,” she chimed.

“See ya.”

I saved all the changes on my computer and closed out the programs. When I went into the backroom I found Jessie cleaning up and shutting down. I let her know I was heading out and that she should probably head home too.

I turned the lights out as Jessie and I walked back into the front office and I locked the door behind me. Walking over to my desk, I switched off the computer monitor and grabbed my purse. After everything was locked, powered down and put away, I took a deep, reluctant breath and walked to the front of the studio where Jessie and Robert were chatting. I was the last one out the door and turned the lights off before securing the deadbolt.

I looked at my darkened studio through the glass window for a moment. Everything was still and the late afternoon sun made the room glow orange. I felt a small pang of sadness as I turned away from the building and toward my car. A piece of me knew this might be the last time I ever locked up after a long day.

Robert and I stayed quiet in the quick car ride home. As we walked up to the gate I finally decided to break the silence.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go to Yosemite,” I said, keeping my eyes on my keys as I turned them in the lock and swung the gate open.

“No, you should go. If your attacker really is here in Pismo, it'd be best if you were nowhere in sight while we take care of him."

I unlocked the front door and walked inside but didn’t hear Robert’s footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw him standing in the doorway.

“Aren't you going to come in?” I asked.

“No,” he stated.

“Why not?” I furrowed my brow and took a few steps back toward him.

“I have to go by the house and tie up a few loose ends before I follow you.” He laced his fingers around my wrist and pulled me close.

“You’re leaving me alone? Now? With everything that’s going on?” I placed my other hand on his chest, needing to feel his solid presence.

“You won’t be alone. Harriet is just next door and she can protect you until I get back.”

“But Harriet-“

“Is perfectly capable of watching over you for an hour,” Robert insisted, putting his finger to my lips and cutting me off.

“Robert.” His name came in a whisper on my lips. My anger toward him had completely faded. I was terrified of being alone, especially knowing we were so close to finding the man who attacked me.

“It’ll be okay,” he said, pulling me against his chest and wrapping his arms around me. I pressed the side of my face against his warm, solid body.

“It’ll be okay,” I said, repeating his words under my breath.

I started to pull away from him but he didn’t completely release me. Looking up at him, our eyes locked. I felt stupid for being so angry with him earlier. He’d done nothing but try and keep me safe and I’d acted like an undeserving brat every chance I got. I didn’t realize how much I’d grown accustomed to having him around. Having to say goodbye to him, even for just an hour, felt like tearing away some essential part of me.

I started unwrapping myself from the circle of his arms, but never broke our gaze. I couldn’t even if I’d want to. I saw something flash across his eyes as his arms slid away from me. He wrapped his arms tighter around my waist and pulled me back to him. He slid one of his hands into my hair and around the back of my neck. I felt his warmth spreading through me. I didn’t know if it was anxiety at the thought of our parting or the tension that had been building between us since the day we met, but something had finally snapped.

The warmth at the closeness of our bodies burned through every part of me. It was the same undeniable warmth I had felt when he saved me. It coursed through my body, bringing my blood to a boil. I thought I was going to melt into a puddle when he slowly leaned toward me. His warm breath sent a wave of pleasure through me. He hesitated for just a second before he gently placed his lips against mine. Wrapping my arms around his neck I closed what little distance was left between us. Our bodies pressed together, forming against one another and closing the circuit of warmth. Every nerve in my body burst at his touch. I squeezed my arms tighter around his neck, needing to be closer to him. Nothing had ever felt so right in my life, the comfortable feel of his lips on mine, the way our bodies fit perfectly together.

Slowly, he pulled away and looked down at me. His eyes blazed with the same fire I felt inside of me. He kissed me gently once more and then reluctantly pulled away.

“I won’t be long,” he said. He let his hand stroke my cheek then turned and walked away without another word.

I located the duffel bag in my closet and started packing for Yosemite, still in a haze from the kiss. I strained to focus on the task at hand but it was a lost cause. Robert had completely taken me off guard. I’d known a kiss was in our future but that wasn’t the one I’d seen. My heart sped up at the memory of his lips on mine and I packed on autopilot, completely lost in my thoughts.

Annabel appeared in my living room with a duffle bag just a few minutes before Becky and the girls arrived. I knew Robert would be close behind but not having him in sight made me jumpy. I’d never been more thankful than I was in this moment that Christy liked to hear herself talk. Too many thoughts bounced around in my head for me to be able to participate in a normal conversation, but that didn’t seem to keep Christy from chatting away. Becky kept eying me in the rearview mirror, though. She knew there was something up with me but wouldn’t dare broach the subject in front of the other girls, who were clueless to my mood.

I watched the landscape change colors with the sunset and finally plunge into darkness. I kept looking behind us, hoping I’d get a glimpse of Robert’s car. Since I didn’t know what he would be driving, I soon realized how futile this was. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of my stomach every time I turned to look for him and came up empty. What if he wasn’t following us? What if something held him up? I tried to keep the trepidation building with each passing minute at bay.
This isn’t the time or place to have a panic attack, Violet
, I told myself.

“He’s right behind us,” Annabel whispered and gave my arm a gentle squeeze.

I gave her a small smile and took a deep breath. I guess I wasn’t doing a very good job at hiding my feelings.

Despite trying to stay in the moment, my mind kept wandering back to Robert and that kiss. My stomach tightened at the memory of his body pressed against mine. Each time it did, I had to fight for control of my emotions. Something was developing between us but I wasn’t sure what that might be.

We stopped for fast food on our way to Yosemite and Becky cornered me while the rest of our group visited the restroom.

“Is everything okay with you?” Becky asked.

“Fine, why?” I replied, trying to blow off her concern.

“I’m your best friend, I know when you’re lying so spit it out already.”

I debated for a moment over what I could safely tell her. Nothing Magical of course. I could tell her about Robert but I had to be careful what I did and didn’t say.

I sighed and said, “I’m just trying to sort some things out. He keeps giving me mixed signals.”

“Are we talking about Robert?” Becky asked and smiled.

“It’s just, there’s so much more to him, to all of this, that I’m not sure about starting a relationship.” I trailed off, frustrated. “It’s just complicated I guess.” I did my best to be vague about the situation. I didn’t want to drag Becky into the Magical world.

“It shouldn’t be. Look, Violet, I’ve seen you guys together and there’s something really right about the two of you.”

“I don’t know, maybe,” I admitted, thinking about the kiss. I could feel myself blush and a small smile started forming on my lips.

“There’s something you’re not telling me.” Becky studied my face with a wry grin.

“Something may have happened just before you picked me up tonight.” I pinched my lips together, hesitating. Part of me wanted to keep it secret and safe from the rest of the world.

“I knew it! Tell me everything,” she said, excitement oozing out of her.

“You guys ready to get back on the road?” Christy asked as she, Rachel and Annabel exited the bathroom, ending any further conversation between Becky and I. Christy and Rachel didn’t even know Robert was in my life and if we opened that can of worms now we’d never get out of here.

“Yep, let’s go,” I replied, standing up from the table and giving Becky a meaningful look.

She nodded in acknowledgment but I knew I’d have to answer to her later. Becky was relentless when she was after something and right now she was like a hawk circling her prey.

The further we got from Pismo the more I felt like me again, the old me. I slowly started falling back into a rhythm with the girls as the night went on. That being said, I still wasn’t one hundred percent in the moment. My thoughts kept finding their way back to Robert and in the back of my mind I was acutely aware that my attacker was still out there. But being with the girls was like breathing fresh air. For the first time in a long while I felt myself start to relax. By the time we pulled up to the cabin in Yosemite I was joking and laughing right along with them.

I made a beeline to one of the bedrooms when we arrived, in desperate need to freshen up. Moonlight spilled across the floor and filled the room with an otherworldly glow. I placed my bag on the bed, tore off my sweater, grabbed my toiletries bag and headed to the adjoining bathroom. I closed the door and went to flip the light on when someone grabbed me by the wrist and threw their other hand over my mouth.

My body tensed and I bit into the hand over my mouth. My heart slammed against my ribcage.
This is it, he’s going to kill me
, I thought.

“Violet, it’s me, it’s Robert,” Robert said, trying to shake off my bite. He slowly released my hand and took a step away from me.

I swung my bag at him, clipping the side of his head, and shoved him into the wood paneled wall.

“What was that for?” he asked and flinched. I could barely make out his shape in the dark, but his voice held a humorous edge to it. I contemplated swinging at him again but thought better of it.

“You scared the shit out of me!” I said, grinding my teeth to keep from yelling. My heart still pounded and my body was tensed for a fight.

“Keep your voice down. We don’t need an audience.” Robert flipped on the light and locked the door.

The bathroom was small and made of the same dark wood as the rest of the cabin. It had a small porcelain sink that matched the toilet and shower-tub. A shelf above the toilet held folded red towels and little mountain trinkets placed around the room added a rustic ambiance.

I turned the water on and let it run, then spun around to face Robert while it warmed up.

“What are you doing in here?” I whispered.

“I just wanted to check in with you,” he said in a hushed voice and leaned against the door.

“But how did you get in here?” I tested the water with the tips of my fingers, still freezing. I wiped the icy water off of my hand with a towel hanging to the right of the sink.

“Do I really need to answer that?” He pushed himself off the door and placed his hand over the faucet. “That should do,” he said as steam rose from the sink.

I ran my fingers under the water again and this time found the temperature perfectly warm.

“Right, Magic,” I said under my breath. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and splashed some water on my face. “So did you get all your loose ends tied up?”

“Most of them, but there’s something I need your permission to do.”

“And what might that be?” I asked, grabbing my face wash and rubbing it into my skin.

Robert hesitated and said, “I need to cast a spell on you.” I could feel him holding his breath as he waited for my response.

“What kind of spell?” I grimaced but continued thoroughly rubbing the face wash into my skin. It was a waste of time being surprised by anything anymore.

“It’s a connection spell. It allows me to feel your emotions. That way I’ll know if you’re in trouble. I can’t keep close enough to you with the girls around.”

“Isn’t that why Annabel’s here?”

“Yes, but if something happens I won’t know about it until it’s too late.”

“I see, and what exactly will you be able to feel?” I asked, bending over the sink to rinse the soap off.

“Everything. Every emotion that passes through you, I’ll feel inside me,” he explained, handing me a towel as I turned the faucet off.

“Why haven’t you asked me to let you do this before?” I asked, the towel muffling my voice.

“It's a complete invasion of your privacy, plus putting a spell on someone isn’t something one just does whenever the mood strikes.” He pulled the towel away from my face to look me in the eye.

“Would I be able to feel you too?” I was curious at the thought of finally getting under his tough exterior.

Robert smiled. “No, I would make the spell only go one way. You don’t need the added distraction.”

“But it can go both ways?” I raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him.

“Yes.”

“And you’ll undo it when we’re back home?” As I studied the lines of his face his mouth twitched to the side and I could tell he was uncomfortable asking me to do this.

“Of course,” he said.

“Alright, go ahead.” I threw the towel in the sink and took a deep breath.

“You’re sure?"

“Yes,” I lied, but nodded. I was getting used to the idea that Magic was a real part of my life, but it still unnerved me.

Robert stepped toward me and took my hands in his. He gave me a small smile and closed his eyes. “
Tíegan mín sáwol eac hie sáwol
,”
he chanted. His hands began to glow as he continued, the bright light made its way up our arms and over our bodies.
“
Alǽtan mec áfindan eall breóstwylm fléding geond hie
.” He looked up at me and we were both wrapped in the soft silvery light. It was the most beautiful and amazing thing I’d ever seen. Tendrils of light crawled over my skin like ivy. As each coil danced up my arms, another vine would branch off until my shoulders were completely covered in the silvery light. Looking down, the ivy light curled down my chest and settled over my heart. Every emotion I was feeling bubbled to the surface: awe, excitement, fear. It was overwhelming and my eyes began to fill with tears from the raw sensation. Just as quickly as they had come, the vines began to recede back over my chest, down my arms and up Roberts arms until all of the light moved from me to him. He dropped his hands and inhaled deeply as the last tendril vanished over his chest.

“Did it work?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Yes, but just to be sure…” Robert said, trailing off as he closed the gap between us. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and let his hand linger on my cheek. I tried to swallow but my throat dried up, clenching shut. My heart accelerated and the butterflies in my stomach alighted in full flutter. Our bodies were less than an inch apart as he leaned toward me. My hand found its way around his neck and I closed my eyes.

Someone knocked at the door. “Violet, are you okay in there?” Annabel asked. Her voice sounded muffled through the heavy wood door.

Robert and I both jumped at the noise. I could feel his breath on my lips and desperately wanted to curse Annabel for the intrusion.

Robert smiled. “That was interesting,” he said under his breath as he pulled away from me.

“Violet?” Annabel called again.

“Yeah,” I said and cleared my throat. “I’ll be right out.” I did my best to keep my voice even as I whispered, “You’ve got to get out of here.”

“Don’t worry, they won’t see me leave,” he said as he leaned against the door again and crossed his arms.

I put my face wash back in my bag and fiddled with the zipper. “I should get back to the girls.”

“You should,” Robert agreed but didn’t move away from the door.

I took a step toward him and put my hand on the door handle. He shifted his body so we were face to face and his shoulder leaned against the door. I looked up at him and saw the uneasiness in his eyes.

“I’ll be fine… and if anything happens you’ll feel it,” I said and turned off the light, placing my hand flat on his chest. I could barely make him out but I still felt the warmth radiating off of him.

“Just be careful,” he said, taking my hand from his chest and kissing the back of my palm.

“I will,” I promised with a hushed voice. My heart gave a gentle squeeze as I undid the lock and turned the handle.

Robert leaned away from the door so I could step through.

“Goodnight, Violet,” he whispered.

“Night,” I whispered back and closed the door behind me.

I leaned back against the smooth wooden door and let out a shaky sigh.
This is going to be a long weekend
, I thought as I made my way back to the girls in the living room.

>>>><<<<

The next morning we got up early and made a quick breakfast. Yosemite could get crowded this time of year so it was best to hit the trails just after sunrise. I finished putting my pack together and checked again to make sure I had remembered my zoom lens. Becky tried several times to get me alone so we could finish our conversation from last night, but thank goodness we found little privacy in a cabin with five people. I couldn’t avoid Becky forever, but I hoped I could delay this conversation at least until we got home.