The Air Singer (The Cantors)
Read The Air Singer (The Cantors) Online
Authors: K. Huber
The Air Singer
The Cantors – Book 1
By K. Huber
Copyright © 2013 by K. Huber
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Mom and Dad, thank you for encouraging me to take chances.
I love you.
Prologue
“He’s an inconsiderate bastard!”
Tally pulled the phone away from her ear. Kate never did like Brad.
“He’s working late, and stop calling him a bastard!” Tally defended her boyfriend. “
Are you going to pick me up or do I start walking home?”
She knew the answer before Kate uttered the words. “Stay by that oversize paper weight you call a car. I’ll be right there
. Give me ten minutes.”
Tally put her phone back in her purse
. Early July was sweltering in the East Valley and she hated to leave the shaded bench outside the coffee shop. The setting sun colored the sky orange and purple announcing the end of another day. A slight breeze picked up bringing some relief from the heat. Tally stood and closed her eyes as she turned her body to face the wind as it blew her long blonde hair away from her face. Feeling the breeze grow stronger, she opened her eyes and gasped at the sight. A fast moving wall of dust at least a mile high darkened the horizon. It rolled over the buildings across the street like an ocean wave swallowing everything in its path. Tally ran to her car, hoping to find shelter inside. The dirt-filled air blocked the remaining rays of the setting sun and pelted her without mercy. She pushed against the force of the wind, struggling to reach her car. The parking lot lamps tried to illuminate the brown air, but light could not penetrate the blinding dust. Small trees snapped like twigs and brushed the pavement as they swept across the lot. Tally’s hair whipped around her face and an invisible force pushed against her body. Covering her head with her hands, she knelt on the ground near her car. The storm howled around her, challenging her ability to take a simple breath. She shut her eyes, hoping it would pass quickly.
A
s if by a switch, the wind stopped, but the roaring in her ears remained. She opened her eyes, and saw the wind blowing around her as if she were the center of the storm. Above her, spinning shades of brown and grey framed a blue cloudless sky. The sight was hypnotizing, bringing a sense of calm. Her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. A gentle vibration began inside her, comforting at first, until it accelerated. Her skin tingled with electricity when a brilliant white light replaced the once blue sky above. She gasped in awe until the light rushed toward her hitting her with such force it knocked the air out of her. Tally collapsed on the warm pavement near her car gasping for breath as the wind overtook her.
When she came to, Tally found
herself covered in dust, but unscathed. She rose up and leaned against the rear tire well as she dug in her purse for her phone. Ten minutes, it had only been ten minutes. Kate would be here any moment.
Dust storms in Arizona were common in the summer, but this acted so different
. Could a dust storm become a tornado? Was she struck by lightning? She’d be in pain if it were lightning. Wouldn’t she? Her hair would reek too. She pulled a tangled dirty strand under her nose. It didn’t smell burnt.
As if on cue, the familiar silver SUV pulled up alongside Tally’s broken down sedan.
Kate rolled down the window and leaned out. “Did you see that storm? It was huge!”
Tally looked up to her friend continuing to hold her hair to her nose. Kate pointed to her upper lip. “I don’t care what new organic, guru endorsed
, beauty regimen you read about this week, but the ladystache is not the newest trend.”
Tally dropped her hair
and laughed as she stood and dusted herself off.
“C’mon
, let’s get cleaned up. I’ll buy the first round tonight,” Kate offered.
The unexpected dust storm was all over the news
. Pictures of the brown cloud enveloping the city took over the televisions hanging behind the bar. A DJ on the other side of the room kept everyone’s feet tapping, but the dance floor empty. The bartender filled the two empty mugs in front of the women as Tally reached for her bag. A small puff of dust filled the air near her lap as she grabbed her purse and dug for cash.
“I thought you changed!” Kate waved her hand trying to fan the dust away.
“I did.” Tally answered as she placed ten dollars on the bar. “You didn’t give me time to change purses.”
She turned to hang her purse on the back of her chair when she noticed a small group enter the building.
“Brad?” Tally whispered.
Kate turned to watch Tally’s boyfriend walk in with
a young woman on his arm.
“Working late, huh?” Kate growled.
Tally’s heart fell as she tried to rationalize what she was seeing.
“I’m sure they are just taking a b
reak.” Tally turned back toward the bar and took a huge gulp before turning back to watch the couple. “She probably works with him.”
Brad walked along the far wall guiding the petite brunette with a hand on the small of her back
. When they reached a table near the corner, he pulled out her chair and let his hand slide down to brush the curve of her butt as she sat down.
Kate let out a low whistle.
“Can I call him a bastard now?”
Tally’s temper flared
. She glared at Brad as he pushed a stray hair away from his companion’s face. The woman giggled, oblivious to her enraged audience and leaned in for a quick kiss.
That’s when Tally felt it
. The vibration from the windstorm returned but this time it accelerated to a high pitch hum. Her vision blurred just before the lights in the bar began to buzz and flicker. Patrons yelped in surprise as the light bulbs hanging over their tables burst showering them with small white shards.
“What the hell?” Brad stood up and shook the shards from his pants then turned to his date. “Are you okay,
baby?”
Tally’s muscles tightened as the high pitch hum became a roar of energy
. Doors burst open and windows shook from the force of a sudden wind blowing against them. Dust and debris from the outside rushed in blowing napkins and flyers across the room.
The DJ rushed to cover his equipment when feedback screamed through his speakers causing everyone to cover their ears.
Kate looked up and saw Tally just staring at Brad, unaffected by the chaos around her. Grabbing their purses, Kate took Tally’s arm and began pulling her out of the building.
Instantly the vibration stopped and Tally snapped back to th
e present moment. The wind died and the speakers went silent. She yanked her arm from Kate’s grasp as they exited the bar. “What are you doing?”
“If you want to rain down hell fire and brimstone on the lying piece of shit, fine
! Let’s just make sure no one else gets hurt in the process!”
Tally calmed down
at once and her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what happened. Did I hurt anyone?”
Kate placed a reassuring arm around her friend and walked her to the vehicle. “No, but next time give a girl
a little warning would ya?”
Tally shook her head. “I don’t get it
. I was fine, but when I saw Brad with that woman, I got so angry. I couldn’t control it.”
Kate clicked the key fob on her alarm and both women climbed into the SUV.
“How did you know it was me?”
“You were the only one not freaking out.” Kate laughed as she left the parking lot, “Next time you decide to control the weather, aim a lightning bolt at his ass!”
Tally smiled to hide her apprehension. She’d lost her temper before, but nothing like that ever happened. Even working as a psychic, she’d never experienced that kind of power. Reading people’s cards and sensing energy seemed like child’s play compared to what she just did. She must work on her shields and self-control. That must never happen again.
“I’m not ready yet, hang on!”
The doorbell rang incessantly while Tally Chambers grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her as she stumbled toward the front door. “I said I’m not decent!”
“I know, but for some reason I’m still your friend. Now let me in!”
Tally recognized Kate’s voice at once and opened the door while strategically keeping her body hidden behind it. “You said 8:00. It is 7:30.”
Kate
burst in the room, threw her purse on the table and dropped into the sofa. “You’re always complaining how late I am and the one time I’m early you bitch.” She looked up to see Tally using a towel to keep her hair from dripping on the carpet. “Wow, you’re not even close to ready.”
Tally continue
d to rub the towel in her hair, “You are never on time. I figured I had another hour.”
“How do you make mo
ney as a psychic when you can’t keep track of your best friend?”
Kate dodged the wet towel that flew
toward her head.
Tally returned to her bathroom and
tried to keep from smiling as she turned the hair dryer on. The hum of the motor drowned out the rest of Kate’s comments on her lack of abilities. Kate Lambert knew better than anyone what Tally was capable of. She was the one friend that never tried to take advantage, but always encouraged her. She even found Tally a job at a local metaphysical shop. If not for Kate, she would still be the accounting clerk at the bowling alley. Tally turned the hair dryer off and ran a brush through her blonde hair when she found that Kate had continued talking the entire time. The topic had changed to fashion, specifically Tally’s lack of.
“Tonight you should wear blue. It will make your eyes pop.” Tally poked her head out of the bathroom to see Kate rummaging through her closet. She grabbed a sky colored tunic and threw it on the bed. “Your skinny jeans and brown boots will be perfect.”
Tally leaned
over the vanity to apply mascara, “You know I’ve gotten dressed all by myself for the last twenty-three years.”
“I know and look where
it’s gotten you! Single, jaded, and in need of highlights.”
“And to think, this whole time I’ve been advising women to better themselves from the inside out and all they needed was a trip to the beauty salon
and a fashion mag.” Tally walked to the bed and grabbed her clothes before kicking Kate out to the family room.
She finished her
makeup, dressed, and accessorized with a pair of silver hoops and a moonstone pendant. Grabbing her purse and guitar, she followed Kate to her car.
Tally thr
ew the guitar case in Kate’s back seat and settled in to the passenger side of the small SUV. “So which open mic are we headed to tonight?” They both loved to go to the local bars or coffee shops and listen to the undiscovered talent. It was always fun when a jam session erupted because Tally held her own on the guitar. Kate was moral support and liked to admire the more physical qualities of the musicians.
“Taproom is on the list tonight.”
Kate pulled out of the apartment complex. “You haven’t played there before have you?”
“
Nope,” Tally checked her makeup one last time in the vanity mirror. “This is turning out to be a night for trying new things. First night in history that you are early and now this? Can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Musicians packed The Taproom for Thursday night's open mic. A couple students from ASU were making a good attempt at a Counting Crows tune. Tally signed up for stage time, found a table at the back, and waited for Kate to get their drinks. After scanning the audience, she noticed a few familiar faces from other open mics. She set her guitar case along the wall behind her and closed her eyes. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel the energy of the room. The nervousness of a few first time performers lingered near the front of the stage, the serenity of a songwriter hovered in the opposite corner, irritation was coming from the bar, and a familiar void had just sat down at her table.
“So the bartender
is not thrilled to be here.” Kate set down a diet cola in front of her. Kate had been a friend so long that Tally no longer saw the energies around her. She couldn’t even read Kate’s cards. It had something to do with being too involved with a person. Kate’s choices usually had a direct effect on Tally, so the ability to be truly unbiased was gone.
“He’s worried about making enough money tonight.
Open mic nights are not known for bringing in heavy tippers.”
“Well there is no way I’ll go out with him if he doesn’t improve his attitude.”
“He asked you out?” Tally turned to give her friend her full attention.
“
Not yet, but when he does I would hate to think one bad night ruined our chance at happiness.”
Tally fed
Kate’s delusion for the moment, “So he’s the one?”
“Oh sure!
He might not be the last one, but he can definitely be the next one.”
Kate continued to describe her soon to be meaningful
relationship with the gentleman tending bar for the next half hour until Tally was called to the stage for her set.
She breezed through her first son
g, a Sarah McLachlan cover, getting comfortable in front of the Tap Room audience when something changed. Her palms burned as Tally tried to scan the room from the stage while playing the first few chords of her next song. The door opened and a ripple of energy went through the room that Tally never felt before. She forgot to start the first verse and fumbled a chord before regaining her composure and repeating the first few bars again. Her voice floated through the air as she watched him walk in the room.
Tally
felt her way around his aura, but unavoidably noticed his appearance. Dark brown hair tousled stylishly in the front while kept clean and off his neck in the back. Wearing a charcoal gray long sleeve tee and a pair of Levis, he wasn’t dressed to stand out, but his presence was undeniable. His shirt hugged a well-built chest with his sleeves pulled up exposing a small tattoo on his left forearm. Tally couldn’t help but watch him as he moved to the bar and ordered. The bartender handed him a bottle and he turned toward the stage. A day’s growth followed a strong jaw line and his tawny skin made his light eyes hypnotizing. His gaze met hers and for a moment, she couldn’t look away. She continued singing, but focused on the stranger. A person’s mere presence never alerted her like this before. Tally forced her eyes closed and tried to regain her center. She kept them shut as she finished the song. Opening her eyes, she avoided looking in the direction of the stranger and excused herself from the stage.
T
he room filled with whistles and scattered applause as she maneuvered through the tables with her guitar strapped to her back. Tally made sure to avoid looking toward the bar and knelt behind the table to put her guitar back in its case. Her hands, still tingling with the energy that she felt on stage, fumbled with the latches. She wanted time to figure out what happened. Of course, Kate would have none of that.
“I see a tall, dark and handsome man in your future.”
Kate did a horrible imitation of a gypsy fortuneteller. “Oh look! There is one at the bar, how convenient.”
“I am not going
there Kate.” Tally grumbled as she tried to regain the sensation that came in with him. What caused it? Was it him or something she hadn’t seen yet? Tally closed her eyes and tried to center herself again.
“Why not?
You don’t have far to go.” Kate leaned over the table to whisper, “He hasn’t stopped watching you either.”
Tally
glanced back at the bar before she could stop herself and saw that Kate was right. A desperate smile appeared on her face. His expression was warm, but as soon as she thought a smile was forming on his lips, he turned away and took a seat at the other side of the bar.
“I need to go outside for
a minute.” Tally grabbed her purse and rushed toward the door before Kate could stop her.
Th
e night air felt warm on her skin. A full moon lit the parking lot and Tally found a rarely used bike rack to lean on. What caused such an intense reaction? Was it a warning or just the universe telling her to take notice? Could it be simple attraction gone haywire, messing with her senses? Sure, he was attractive, but to disturb her buffers that easily, there was something more to this. She attempted to calm the churning in her chest and released a deep breath that allowed the tension in her shoulders to leave. Tally cleared her head as she admired the stars that outshone the parking lot lamps. She never encountered someone she couldn’t block before. As a reader, she exposed herself to so many unstable people that good shields were vital.
Get yourself together Tally.
You are better than this.
She needed to get back inside before Kate came looking for her.
She dug in her purse for a mirror to check her face and found a clear blue stone loose in the bottom. The tiny blue beryl rolled in the palm of her hand. She kept a small medicine bag in her purse and this little rock must have escaped the satchel. As she held it, she remembered that she had chosen that particular one because it represented the power to release fear. She smiled at the ability of the universe to speak so plainly when she needed it. She put the stone back in the medicine bag and grabbed the mirror. Making sure that she was presentable, she headed back in the bar promising herself not to be affected like that again.
Don’t look for him
and don’t give him any signals. The rest of the night should run smooth. Have a couple drinks, join a jam session. What’s the worst that could happen?
As soon as she
past the door, she had her answer.