Unknown Touch (7 page)

"That's too cool," I proclaimed.

"Now keep talking to me as I'm moving things. It'll help improve my concentration if you try to distract me."

I babbled about miscellaneous stuff, even reciting the alphabet. He continued moving the firewood around from spot to spot doing very well.

"How about a moving object? Can you stop something I throw at you in mid-flight?" I prompted him. At that moment, I reached down, grabbed a fairly heavy limb and lobbed it directly at his torso. Half way to its destination of hitting him the limb bounced off some invisible wall and fell straight down to the ground.

Dominic gleamed, "I deserve an "A" for that one! Honestly, Kara, I don't believe I ever tried that before. The objects I've always moved have been still. That was a good idea to try out."

"I would think that skill could be used as a form of protection if someone was trying to hurt us." I contemplated several images in my head of dangerous scenarios playing out and Dominic coming to the rescue.

Dom gave me a huge smile, since he had picked up what I was thinking about him having the role of a superhero. His ego was going to explode if he didn't watch it and if I didn't watch what he was grabbing out of my brain.

He suggested I try some more experimenting with mind reading on Tessa or Zac or even Eli. Dom said I should be able to have mental conversations with others that don't have telepathic abilities as long as I initiate it. Obviously they could not read my mind, but if I entered their minds like I did so easily with Dominic, and made them conscious I was there for a chat, then in theory they should be able to communicate with me.

I sat back down at the picnic table and focused on Eli. I figured it was his turn for me to test myself on. And I knew he'd be impressed. In my head I pictured what Eli looked like and the aura of his being. To be polite, I didn't want to scare him to death with my instant intrusion into his mind, so I gently thought his name several times and pretended as if I was knocking on an imaginary door to get his attention.

Then I said,
Eli, it's Kara. Can you hear me in your head?
I realized that had to sound pretty silly but whatever worked.

Kara?
Eli sounded thrilled with this mental connection.

I answered,
How am I doing? Am I coming through loud and clear?

Yes, I can communicate with you just fine. I see Dom is doing a good job encouraging you to keep pushing yourself. You're a natural at this. Try Zac and Tessa out. This will be extremely important and helpful in our future endeavors,
he affirmed.

It sounded like a fun plan to me. I told Dom what I was up to and proceeded to make mental connections first with Tessa and then Zac. I sensed Tessa gasping from the surprise of me talking in her head. Zac grumbled a bit having been caught off guard but was glad that we could keep in contact with this alternate way of speaking. Dominic was able to do this type of telepathy with them at any given time. He only chose appropriate times to use this skill though; otherwise it tended to drive the others crazy.

I decided to try connecting with Daniel next. This time I would be awake instead of dreaming and I figured the experience should feel different.

Daniel, it's Kara, are you there?
I really tried to focus but was having a hard time with Dominic walking around. Again,
Daniel, I'm trying to contact you while awake, are you there?

If you could imagine trying to talk to someone who is on a cell phone with a horrible connection, that was what it felt like. I thought I mentally heard him say my name, but couldn't swear to it. I definitely wanted and needed to work on this project some more. Perhaps Daniel and I both had distractions that could be interfering with our mental bond at that precise moment. Who knew what he was actually doing down in Kentucky right then. I doubt he was just lounging around staring at the ceiling waiting for me to start up a telepathic conversation with him. I'm positive I sensed that he was aware of my effort to contact him, though.

It was getting late in the afternoon and Dominic mentioned we better return to our underground quarters so he could make supper. I was starving and as long as I didn't have to make anything, I was content to head back down and help out with other chores.

As we walked, I kept trying to think of intelligent questions to ask. I remembered one in particular and blurted out, "Do vampires exist, too?"

Dominic got a kick out of supplying me with information. He proceeded as if he were giving a speech, "Yes, there are good and bad vampires just like there are werewolves. And vampires can transform recently dead people into zombies. They can also turn humans into their own personal servants. These poor, unsuspecting people are completely under the control of the vampire but haven't been turned into an actual vampire yet. A complete conversion is not done on them when they are to be used as servants. Let's see, what else…there are various types of demons scattered around and witches seem to be making a comeback."

I stared at him in horror. How did the mainstream public not know about all this? He did mention before how the government had their hands in this and are very capable of cover-up stories.

Dom filled me in on how he and Eli had been covertly working together on this mission and a few smaller ones over the last six months. He admitted that within days of his arrival in Highland he had sensed my presence in the area. Dom informed Eli of my psychic potential and started monitoring me around that time. He checked in on me about once a week to observe how I was doing. During those six months, they drove to Kentucky in an attempt to help Daniel with the disturbances between the two wolf packs. They had little success but while down there they got to know the area fairly well. Another trip was made to Daniel's resort once Zac and Tessa came on board. Eli wanted to make sure Daniel knew The Liaison people and felt comfortable being around them. The idea was to try to be a mediator. But if violence and killing were the only thing on the bad wolves' minds, then Zac would step in and basically kill the ones causing all the trouble. Dom explained how some werewolves and vampires teeter between good and evil. There are the ones that can be helped and persuaded to come back over to the good side and try to co-exist with humans but those that are too far gone, too evil, have to be killed.

As we ate our supper that night, each of us took turns and openly discussed how productive his or her day had been. Eli agreed with Dominic we would be going to Hamlin, Kentucky within the week. Everyone was visibly pleased that my psychic skills had progressed to a level beyond what they had expected from me, at least so quickly. I was tired after all this talk and wanted to flop down and relax for the evening, maybe even watch a show on TV. I drowsily excused myself and went to my room.

After a few hours, I fell into a wonderfully relaxing sleep. Sometime during the night, almost like clockwork, I had that familiar dream creeping into my head again. Without a second thought, I knew it was Daniel, looking as seductive as ever. I started to reel him in to a clearer mental bond with me and to let him know I was there.

Daniel, I'm here.

He looked deeper into my eyes and the realization of what was happening showed on his face.
You tried to contact me today, didn't you?

I smiled and said,
Yes, but I did that while we were awake. It didn't work very well. Can I keep trying to make that mental connection during waking hours, if you don't mind? I think it would be useful…
I trailed off with that comment. Not totally sure what I meant by useful.

Absolutely, Kara. I would like that very much,
Daniel seemed distracted and his face appeared frustrated.

What is wrong? I can see and feel that you're upset about something,
I pressed him for an answer.

It's Stephen. I fear for the safety of anyone near him, including animals he should leave be. One day he behaves and the next day he pushes the limits of our rules we've always lived by,
Daniel clarified.

Let me try to calm you. It's one of my abilities.
I offered to help him. He stood still with a look of anticipation. In our unconscious states, I took his hands into mine and looked up into those beautiful black eyes of his. With intense concentration, I placed feelings of comfort, calmness, peace into his mind. I even threw in the graphic images of waterfalls and laying in a hammock between two pine trees for good measure. I sensed he was going to "his happy place" now, slowly shifting into a different frame of mind.

Kara, you are a miracle worker. I do feel better now. It's as if you've taken away my anger and replaced it with good thoughts.
Daniel was ecstatic that I could do this for him. He immediately grabbed me up in a hug and swung me off my feet. Then he planted a gentle kiss on the top of my head. It was so sweet and his gratitude dripped off of him.

At that moment, and I swear it sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard, Dominic's voice broke into this scene between Daniel and myself. It was only his voice, but nonetheless it was still intrusive. From what I gathered, Dominic had decided to drop into my mind for a few scant seconds and encountered my mental connection with Daniel. Can you say, weird?!

Oops! Sorry if I interrupted anything here.
Dominic seemed to be snickering.

I replied,
Well, you'll be glad to know I was able to use my skills to help Daniel calm down.
For some reason, I had this unsettled feeling with Dominic popping in as he did. I felt like I was caught doing something wrong, in a way. After this awkwardness, all three of us said goodnight and faded out.

Over the next several days, life seemed like it was more or less repeating itself. Practice and experiment with our skills, have meals and discuss the latest accomplishments and most nights I had brief mental bonding encounters with Daniel. Since we knew Dom could drop in anytime he chose to, Daniel and I didn't pursue any deep conversations while we slept. During the day, I was starting to have better awake sessions contacting Daniel, too. Dominic was usually standing nearby when these took place. The telepathic link was getting much stronger and clearer during these awake states, in part, I believed, because of the nightly contact and getting more familiar with each other. I knew Dom was jealous of Daniel and me. I sensed this and he couldn't hide it from me. I didn't want to think too deep or hard on that right now, because I greatly cared for Dominic too.

Tessa recommended I keep calling my parents every few days, maintaining as close of a relationship as I could with them. Hopefully it would ease their worry and prevent them from sending out a search party for me. With Thanksgiving being so close, we knew they would be more emotional since I was not going to spend the holiday with them.

The day before Thanksgiving, Dominic had a major achievement with his skills when he moved the tractor with his mind. This was a first for him to move something of such weight and size. We felt this could be beneficial for all of us as we imagined the things he could have control over now, even ways to protect us from harm.

Thanksgiving Day arrived and Dominic was busy in the kitchen whipping up the fanciest meal I'd ever seen. That man truly liked to cook and I absolutely hated it. He realized that cooking was not my specialty and didn't push the issue by asking for any help. I made myself useful by setting the table, washing the dishes, and general cleaning when needed.

Our little team gathered round the table and made the best of it. The food was delicious without a doubt. We took a little extra time off for the day to relax, chit chat and try to acknowledge that it was actually Thanksgiving. As the day ended, tension started to fill the air as everyone wandered off to their rooms. We had to pack and get prepared for the next day's drive to Kentucky. It was time to go meet the werewolves.

Chapter 6

Moving

I woke up on my own that Friday morning. No one had to wake me and no alarm clock was needed. My emotions were having a battle between excitement and fear over the upcoming events. Daniel and I had a brief telepathic connection as I sat on the edge of my bed before I joined the others for breakfast. We would soon be seeing each other in the flesh instead of just in our minds and in our dreams.

Daniel, by early afternoon we will arrive at your resort. I can't wait to see you.
I couldn't help myself from gushing out the thoughts.

He replied,
Yes, it will be my pleasure to give you a real hug in person. But we all know that this trip is not for fun and games. I can't help but worry about your safety.

I'll admit, I'm pretty wired, but I have improved my psychic powers tremendously over the last week or so. Dominic has also been beefing up his skills and his ability to control objects with his mind is amazing. We have all been prepping ourselves for this mission. I'm ready for a little mind to mind combat.
I was psyching myself up and trying to ease Daniel's concern at the same time.

Daniel quickly snapped back,
Kara, I don't want you having ANY type of combat if it can be avoided. But I understand why Eli and Dominic brought you on board. You will have to attempt calming Stephen with your mind. But I promise you this…I will not let Stephen harm you and if he does, then he must be killed.

Daniel, I don't know what to say. Thank you…I should get ready now. I'll see you soon.
I ended the mental connection with a powerful push into his mind relaying comfort and thankfulness.

Over the next two hours, our team had breakfast, tidied things up around the facility and loaded up the van with the necessities. Zac and Tessa kept reviewing a checklist which dreadfully sounded like items that could be used in hunting or a combat scenario. I tried not to pay too much attention to them as what they discussed made me nervous. Eli always seemed to be more the brains behind the action. He hadn't been as involved in the previous week's preparations. Eli was always in research mode being the scientist and doctor he was. He also planned to use his mediation skills when called upon. Dom and I really didn't have to think much about what to take. Clothes and personal items were all we needed to take since our minds were our weapons, and of course we didn't need to pack those.