Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1) (24 page)

“No, it’s not.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“And what might you be thanking me for?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“Everything. You’ve been so patient and understanding.”

“You’re worth it.” Robert winked and nudged me with his elbow.

I smiled and didn’t try to hide the blush rushing to my cheeks. “We should probably head over to Becky’s soon.”

“You don’t mind me tagging along?”

“No. Besides, who’s going to save me from Becky’s twenty questions if you’re not there,” I said with a laugh.

Robert gave me a hesitant look. “I don’t want to impose.”

“It’ll be good for both of us to do something fun and easy,” I said and stood from the couch.

“Alright, I’m in.”

I did a quick freshening up and we were off. Dusk had finally arrived and a damp chill clung to the air as the marine layer moved in. I placed an order with this little hole-in-the-wall Chinese place Becky and I both loved and swung by the store to pick up a few bottles of wine. Robert and I discussed the link between my emotions and my visions more as we drove to Becky’s but we didn’t come up with anything more enlightening.

We pulled up to Becky’s house about an hour after leaving my place and headed inside. Becky wasn’t home yet but Aaron let us in. We popped open a bottle of wine as soon as the introductions were through and sat in the living room to wait for Becky. Robert had a way with people, and he and Aaron chatted like they’d known each other their whole lives. I’d normally have been much more a part of the conversation but I was exhausted and they started talking about the stock market, which was something I knew nothing about.

I got up to pour myself another glass when Becky came through the front door.

“Hey,” I said, heading to the kitchen.

“Hey, hope I didn’t keep you guys waiting too long.” She plopped her stuff down on the floor and followed me into the kitchen.

“Not at all.”

“I see you brought Robert with you,” Becky said, giving me a meaningful eyebrow raise.

“I believe it was you who invited him,” I noted as I filled my glass.

Becky smiled and pulled a glass from the cabinet for herself. “It was the polite thing to do.” She went about making herself a cocktail, pouring vodka and a whole collection of colorful bottles together to make something she claimed tasted just like a cherry Jolly Rancher.

“Uh huh,” I said, appraising her bartending abilities.

“Hey, you could have gotten out of it if you wanted.”

“True,” I said into my wine glass.

“You look tired, how are you?” Becky finished pouring her cocktail and clinked her glass against mine.

“I’m okay, it’s just been a long week.”

“Any more news about your parents?” She threw the take-out containers in the microwave.

“No, nothing new.”

“I still can’t believe it. All these years you thought it was a car accident.”

“I know, but my aunt did what they thought was right. They were gone no matter what. It was better for me to grow up thinking it was an accident.”

“You really think so?” Becky asked, frowning as she sipped her drink.

I knew so. The image of my parents flashed through my head. I had been furious at my aunt for altering my memories, but the more time I spent with the truth the more I realized it was the right thing to do.

“Yeah,” I concluded. “I don’t think I’d have been able to handle this as a kid.”

The guys laughed in the other room and drew our attention.

“They seem to be getting along,” Becky announced. She was always the best at changing the subject.

“They haven’t come up for air once,” I joked and took a healthy sip of wine.

I pulled some plates down for dinner and Becky took the food out of the microwave, setting it on the counter.

“Hey, chatty Kathies, let’s eat!” Becky yelled to the guys.

Both men stood up without acknowledging Becky and came into the kitchen to help with dinner.

Robert and Aaron poured themselves another glass of wine and Aaron grabbed a few of the cartons off the counter. I started grabbing the stack of plates when Robert stopped me.

“Allow me,” he said with a small smile.

“Thanks,” I replied as I grabbed the remaining containers.

“You okay? You look a little pale," he said under his breath.

“Just tired.” I fought a yawn as I took my seat at the table.

Everyone passed the cartons back and forth, dumping mounds of food onto our plates. I hadn't realized how famished I was until the smell of spicy eggplant and orange chicken wafted up from my plate. Words escaped me as I deftly twirled Chow mein onto my chopsticks and shoveled chicken into my mouth. Thankfully, Robert took the conversational reins and regaled Becky with stories about Europe. She clung to his every word. If there was anything Becky loved more than her computer it was traveling.

After dinner, Becky and Aaron refused to let us help clean so Robert and I went to the living room and sat on the couch to nurse our full stomachs.

“How you doing?” Robert asked as he gave me a thoughtful smile. We sat close together. The smell of his cologne hung in the air. I was already a little lightheaded from the wine and the smell of Robert so near made my head spin.

“I’m fine, why do you keep asking?" I cocked my head to the side.

“I’m just making sure.” He leaned even closer so he could keep his voice low. “You used a lot of Magic today. That’s not something your body’s used to yet.”

“I’m much better now that I have food in me.”

“Good.” Robert smiled and brushed my hair behind my ear.

I returned his smile and held his gaze for a moment. His eyes were soft and tender. I looked down, trying to hide the blush that had rushed to my cheeks, but Robert lifted my chin back up to look at him. The tenderness remained but I saw a fire that wasn’t there a moment ago. I leaned a little closer to him and he moved his hand from my chin to my hair. I could feel the hesitation in his shoulders as our lips grazed and he pulled me against him.

A loud crash came from the kitchen and the magic of the moment disappeared. His hand fell from my neck and I backed away from him.

“Everything alright?” Robert called out, clearing his throat.

“Yeah!” Becky yelled from the kitchen, followed shortly by angry mumbling between her and her brother.

Becky and Aaron joined us a minute later and Aaron selected a movie on Netflix. Becky sat on the couch next to me in a way that made it impossible for me not to be pushed against Robert and Aaron sprawled out on the loveseat to the left of us. The movie was a thriller and while I normally loved them I found myself not in the mood to see people get hunted down and killed. I thought Robert could sense I wasn’t enjoying the film because he put his arm around me and gave me a slight squeeze. It was a reassuring gesture and I was grateful to have someone who knew the ins and outs of what was going on with me. I did feel a little guilty that Becky wasn’t this person. She had always been my rock to lean on in the past, but there was no way she could comfort me now. I picked up my glass to take another sip of wine but discovered it was empty.

“Let me,” Robert said, taking my glass.

Aaron stood needing a refill as well. “Another one, Beck?” he asked.

“Yes, please,” she said with a smile. Becky paused the movie and the guys went to the kitchen to refill our drinks.

“You seem different with him,” Becky noted.

“I feel different,” I bit my lip trying to keep my feelings from gushing out of me. After all, the guys were just in the other room. 

“You guys balance each other out.” Becky’s smile stretched from ear to ear as she lightly bounced up and down next to me. “He seems good for you,” she added.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I said, needing to hear the words myself.

“You can’t honestly tell me nothing’s happened between you guys.” Becky leaned closer, anticipating some juicy gossip.

“Not a thing.” Resentment laced my reply. Had Becky and Aaron not caused such a ruckus in the kitchen then maybe something more would have happened, but c’est la vie.

“Well why not?” she asked, near whining with disappointment. She eyed me and I could tell that she assumed I was the one holding things up.

I shrugged. I really didn’t have a good answer for her and it frustrated me as much as it did her.

“So you do want something more to happen,” she declared, reading me like a book. Becky’d always had a knack for picking up on my emotions.

“It’s complicated,” I sighed.

“What’s holding you back?”

“Honestly, nothing on my part. He’s the one who’s hesitant.” I let out another sigh. I did want something to happen between us and knew it would eventually. I flushed, thinking about the kiss from my vision. It was filled with so much passion, so much need. My skin tingled at the thought of his touch. I really did hope this was a vision and not just a fantasy.

“Bullshit, I’ve had my eyes on him since I got home. He watches you when you’re not looking, and he dotes on you like you’re royalty,” Becky challenged.

“He’s just worried about me,” I mumbled. Of course he looked at me like I was royalty. The Magical world had been waiting for me for generations.

Robert and Aaron came back in the room and Becky let the topic drop. Robert handed me my glass and sat back down beside me. We finished watching the movie and I had to turn my head from the screen for the last half. I couldn’t stomach watching people be brutally murdered, even if the blood was just red-dyed corn syrup and the victims were just actors. Robert put his arm around me and I rested my head against his chest. As I listened to the even beating of his heart, exhaustion took hold of me and I fell asleep in his arms.

I awoke the next morning still feeling a little worn out. A low hum resonated deep within my bones. My magic wasn’t the monster of anxiety it had been before, but it had definitely grown in strength while I slept. I stretched my arms and legs and rolled over to look at the clock on the nightstand. Seven thirty-two. I had a good half hour before I actually needed to start getting ready for the day so I grabbed the journal Robert had given me from off the nightstand.

Propping myself up with a couple pillows, I got comfortable. The journal felt like a ton of bricks in my hand as I ran my fingers over the soft leather cover and gently flipped it open. The binding crackled like kindling as I slowly turned each page. I stopped a couple of entries in and began to read.

14 December, 1789

Belinda’s words fill my thoughts. My bones will be               dust in the earth by the time her prophecy comes to               pass, but I cannot help wondering about the future. It               must be such a curse to know all that has passed and               what is to come, to not be able to live in the present               moment. I admit to seeing the benefit of getting a               glimpse of the future now and again, but what would I               do with that sort of information? Would I stop trying               in the now and simply wait for the future to come?               Would my inaction lead to an alternative future? It is               silly of me to ponder such things, I know. Soothsayers               aren’t like the rest of              us. The blood in their veins               gives them the strength to              harness their ability.               Still, I can’t help but wonder if it must be hard for               them to always know.

“Aren't like the rest of us?” I said, re-reading the line. What could the writer possibly mean by that? I rose from bed and walked to the living room in search of Robert. As I turned the corner, I re-read the paragraph again.

I looked up from the journal as I reached the back of the couch to see Robert still fast asleep. One arm lay across his chest while the other lay on the pillow above his head. He wore a grey t-shirt and a quilt over the bottom half of his body. His hair was messy and his face wore the stubble of a long night. My heart tugged at the sight of him and I smiled at how peaceful he looked. I wanted to go to his side and run my fingers through his unkempt hair, but instead I settled for the loveseat adjacent to him. Turning my attention back to the journal I flipped forward a couple pages while I waited for Robert to wake up.

9 April, 1790

My love’s betrothed has been sent on an errand that               will take him away for a week at the very least. We’ve               made plans today to meet behind her father’s barn,               where we can steal away for the afternoon. My heart               swells with the thought of our meeting, and the reality               of the present situation is suspended momentarily. If               only I could get a glimpse of our future, to be certain               that we will find a way to be together for all of time.

I smiled and traced the words on the page with my index finger. I could feel the magic growing at my core, so I closed my eyes and let it take me.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in front of a modest two story house. The stones making up the exterior looked smooth and worn by countless storms. Several steps led up to a large front door. Curtains hung closed in all the windows, and if not for the smoke rising from the chimney I would have thought the house was empty.

A crisp, cool breeze wafted through the grey sky. Dust rose around me as someone rode past on horseback. I looked around, but there wasn’t much to see, nothing but tree-lined, open fields besides the house. I could just barely make out another house down the block and through the trees.

A young man came out of the house just then, taking the stone steps two at a time. He wore a white linen shirt, a dark-colored jacket and matching pants. He was very handsome and walked with a regal posture. His brass-buttoned clothing indicated I was definitely somewhere in the past, but I still wasn’t sure what I was seeing. He looked up and down the path, as if to make sure the coast was clear. Satisfied no one was in sight, he tore off down the street. I followed him, curious where this vision would take me.

A long, wooden fence held up by stone columns stretched as far as I could see in each direction. Once the house the gentleman had come from was out of sight, he jumped over the fence. I followed close behind him. He looked over his shoulder as I landed in the tall grass and my heart leapt into my throat. He couldn’t see me, could he? I looked over my shoulder, but saw nothing behind me. Cautiously I turned back toward the gentleman and to my relief found him already walking away from me.

His frantic, urgent demeanor seemed to transform into something more peaceful the longer we walked up the low, grassy hill. I followed him through the tall grass at an easy pace until we reached the top of a hill where he paused. I stopped beside him. At that moment, I knew exactly where I was and where we were going. A small barn sat at the bottom of the hill. Further out, I could see a few more houses and a small town off to the left. The barn just below us must have been where the lovers were meeting. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched William run down the hill toward the barn. When he was about fifty yards away, Constance appeared out of the shadows to meet him. She flung herself into his arms and they kissed with a longing that pulled at my heart.

I could feel reality pulling me back, but I watched the lovers for as long as I could. Robert had told me they would end up together and I wished I could tell William he would get to be with the woman he loved so much.

The vision gave way to my living room, and I smiled at the love I had just witnessed. “Welcome back,” Robert smiled up at me from his makeshift bed on the couch.

“How’d you-“

“I could see in your eyes that you were somewhere else.”

“I saw William and Constance.” I let out a small chuckle of delight and looked at the journal in my hand. Something about putting a face to the man whose journal I read was kind of thrilling.

“Really?” Robert asked as he sat up.

I nodded. “They were meeting each other behind her father’s barn.”

“I’m glad you’re reading through the journal.” Robert tossed the quilt off of him and sat up.

“Yeah, I haven’t really looked at it much since you gave it to me, but I was curious what else was in here besides the prophecy.”

“It’s a diary just as much as it’s a way of passing information on to the next generation.”

“I gathered that.” I smiled again, thinking about William and Constance.

“So, is there a reason you’re reading in my bedroom instead of yours?” Robert gestured around the living room.

“Actually, yes. I came across something I wanted to ask you about but you were still sleeping.”

“Alright, but coffee first. Some of us aren’t morning people,” Robert noted as he pushed to his feet and stretched his arms above his head.

I followed him to the kitchen and flipped the journal open to the entry I had read first that morning.

“Soothsayers aren’t like the rest of us. The blood in their veins gives them the strength to harness their ability,” I read out loud. “What does he mean, Soothsayers aren’t like the rest of us?"

“Bethany didn’t tell you?” Robert asked, pouring grounds and water into the coffee machine.

“Tell me what?”

“The only way a person can be a Soothsayer is if they’re a direct descendant of Merlin. That’s what William means by the blood in your veins.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with Soothsayers being different?” I asked with only a little difficulty. The fact that I was a descendant of Merlin was a hard pill to swallow, but I had decided to accept all of this and stamped out the screaming doubt in my mind.

“Your Magic is directly connected to the most powerful person the Magical world has ever known,” Robert continued.

“
I still don’t know what that has to do with anything.”

“Magic comes from your soul. Where does your soul come from?" He asked as his eyebrows rose on his forehead.

“I don’t know,” I replied, a little shocked at the turn of the conversation.

“Ever heard someone say that a trait in a person must have skipped a generation?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s because each generation before you is a part of your soul. Your soul happens to be connected to Merlin and that’s what gives you the ability to be a Soothsayer.”

“What do you mean each generation is a part of my soul?" I shook my head trying to decipher what he meant.

Robert took a breath and explained, “When you were born, your ancestors were already a part of you. Their essence, their souls played a part in creating you. It takes more than just DNA to create a person, Magical or not. Your families’ Magic has had an influence on you since the day you were born.” The coffeemaker groaned and spat the last remnants of the dark liquid into the pot below. Robert reached for it enthusiastically to pour himself a cup.

I set the journal on the counter as he handed me the mug of steaming hot coffee and proceeded to pour himself one.

“Then why wasn’t I born with a Magical soul? It doesn’t make sense.” I said, emptying a sugar packet into the steaming drink and stirring in a splash of French vanilla creamer.

“Your soul is still unique to you, they just influence you a little. It’s the same way genes work. No other combination could have made you exactly as you are. You were born the way you were meant to be born, without Magic,” Robert said.

“
So anyone in my family has the potential to be a Soothsayer?”

“No. I can assume since your Aunt is a Soothsayer and she is your mother’s sister that the bloodline is on your mother’s side. No one on your father’s side of the family could ever be a Soothsayer. But if you or your Aunt were to have children, they would have the possibility of being a Soothsayer.” He poured a little creamer into his own coffee and took a sip.

“I wasn’t expecting a lesson in genetics this morning,” I noted as I rubbed my forehead, mildly dazed.

“I know it can be a little convoluted, but that’s why you’re different from the rest of the Magical world.”

“What does he mean though, that Soothsayers have the strength to harness their ability?” I asked, reading from the journal again.

“You’ve seen things already in the past and future, correct?”

“Yeah, and?”

“And what did you do with what you saw?"

“Nothing.” I shrugged. What was I supposed to do with what I saw?

“Exactly,” he said, taking a sip of coffee and leaning against the counter. “Your gift comes with the ability to know but not let that knowledge rule you. Any other person, Magical or not, would either try to prevent it or drive themselves crazy waiting for the vision to come to pass.”

I thought about all of the things I’d seen so far, including the electric kiss between Robert and myself. I started to blush. Robert, consumed by his coffee, didn’t notice and I quickly pushed my thoughts in a different direction. Would William have been able to handle knowing his future? Could he have been able to know he would end up with Constance but still be able to wait? I yearned for that kiss, but knowing it was somewhere in my future comforted me instead of making me anxious.

“What are you thinking?” Robert asked, letting his fingers trace the cover of the journal.

“Nothing,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee and propping myself against the counter next to him.

“Still feel the need to keep secrets from me?” There was a playfulness to Robert’s voice that made me smile.

“No, it’s just… I was thinking about some of the things I’ve seen,” I said, staring down at the toffee colored liquid in my cup.

“What about them?” Robert asked, sipping his coffee.

“I was just thinking about how it makes me feel, knowing the future.”

“And how does it make you feel?"

“Calm,” I said with certainty.

“Really?" His eyes opened wide and he pursed his lips together.

“Yeah, it’s weird. It’s like I don’t have to worry about that particular event because it’s out there somewhere in time, waiting to happen.”

“That doesn’t drive you crazy though, waiting for something you know is going to happen?”

I blushed again and this time I couldn’t hide it from him.

“What is it?” Robert asked.

“I do get a little anxious sometimes,” I said and took a sip of coffee in an attempt to hide my embarrassment.

“About anything in particular?”

“No,” I blurted out too quickly.

I saw Robert smile out of the corner of my eye and hoped he wouldn’t push to learn more.

“What’s it feel like for you, when you see something?” he asked, thankfully changing the subject as he cradled his steaming cup.

“Depends on what I’m seeing. Like when I saw William and Constance just now I felt comforted. It was warm and loving there,” I explained. I looked up and smiled, remembering the feel of the tall grass and the smell of the crisp, cool air in my vision.