by Aiden James
She added her usual ornery smirk before joining Harris, who was already picking out the sweetest spot inside the Escapade. A man after my own heart!
Meanwhile, I was given the unenviable seat between Meredith and Mom in the Land Rover, as Julien asked Dad to join him up front. Knowing my usual mental exercises would likely backfire on me, I focused on the gorgeous fall foliage alongside the highway headed south and tried to remember the aspects Dad and Julien had previously talked about concerning Tennessee’s involvement in the Civil War.
Honestly, it became a blur where I looked forward to being alone later that day, to sort through all that had happened since I retired last night. Upon our arrival at Shiloh, the ‘psychic five’ largely left me alone, seeking to enjoy the sights in this famed battleground/cemetery from long ago. Shiloh is actually one of my favorite places due to the unique spiritual ‘feel’ the area exudes—a strange mixture of peace and sadness, which seems to be a hallmark for hallowed ground that had seen so much death in a relatively short period of time.
To hear Grandma tell it, “some souls linger in sorrow, while others have moved on to the next world.”
Like spirits that are stuck between Heaven and Hell. Purgatory... and the perfect descriptor for my present mood.
“That was an interesting exchange this morning,” said Grandpa, coming up beside me. I had been looking out onto the Tennessee River from one of the park’s highest points. The view in all directions was truly breathtaking—although the leaves were just starting to turn into the usual gorgeous array of orange, red, purple and yellow the area is known for in the fall. “You’re doing great, if you ask me.” He laughed.
“What do you mean?”
I turned to face him, and he glanced slyly to where my grandmother and uncle were carrying Tamaron and Keileen, while Catriona walked along side. Dad and Mom were somewhere else in the park with Julien and Meredith. I assumed the same was true for my sister and her beau.
“I think you know, son,” he said, returning his attention to me. “You’re the only one who knows exactly what happened this morning. And, although I would advise you to proceed with your eyes wide open, I’m convinced more than ever that someone else is looking out for you and your best interests.”
“Wizard Gabon?”
He gave a slight nod.
“I’m always here for you, Sebastian, and will be standing by for an update on what happens next!”
Without waiting for a response, he merrily strode over to Adrian and Grandma, and soon held both toddlers in his arms. They babbled gleefully with nary a serious worry in the world.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t envy my new niece and nephew in their unspoiled innocence. Yet, despite my thoughts and emotions being pulled in so many directions, I also felt a sudden twinge of hope that Grandpa was right, and that my dream of Daciana bore more truth than fiction.
“Don’t give up on me, Sebastian!”
I smiled at the thought, although lingering on it for long could prove dangerous. Silently, I vowed to privately cling to the image of her face as she spoke the words... and embrace the feeling of my heart swelling with joy.
Chapter Thirteen
Wednesday, September 23rd.
Given all the excitement going on since my return to the ‘real world’ the previous Wednesday, one might expect the one-week anniversary to bring new, and possibly bigger, fireworks. Right?
Wrong.
I won’t bore everyone with mundane details, and for those curious about Alisia’s threats the previous morning, to confront me about what I hadn’t revealed about my dream of Daciana, well... it didn’t happen. Not Tuesday or Wednesday. Maybe it was due to Harris twisting his knee a bit after he and my sis played tag around one of the more prominent monuments at Shiloh. His reluctance to allow her or anyone else to heal it supernaturally became Ali’s focus for the rest of Tuesday afternoon and into the evening. Far more stubborn than ‘yours truly’, Harris didn’t relent until long after we returned home.
I still expected for Alisia to accost me at some point, but we never crossed paths Wednesday. Apparently, she was out the door at the crack of dawn, with a fun-filled day planned with her beau. Yeah, hearing that from Mom did inspire a little jealousy.
“You’ll find a nice girl too, Bas,” she said in passing. “Your grandmother has seen one coming soon into your world... it might be one of Alisia’s friends, although I won’t spoil anything. Just keep your heart open, son.”
She gave me a light kiss on the cheek before heading out the door to go ‘antiquing’ with Meredith. Dad was already out golfing with Julien at the local country club, and I’m not sure where Grandma and Grandpa were.
“Sure... I’ll try,” I told her, adding a forced smile while making sure my head was as empty as possible.
“Good... see you later this afternoon!”
Actually, having the house alone might be a good thing, if I dared to slip in moments to replay my dream—sparingly, I might add. Obsessing on anything wouldn’t be wise at this point. Besides, the further I moved from the dream, the less real it seemed.
At least Lucian was feeling rambunctious and ready to keep me entertained. And, later Wednesday afternoon, I picked up a babysitting gig from Catriona and Adrian, as they had a dinner date planned and Matilda and Arthur Albright (their usual ‘sitters’) encountered some sort of emergency that pulled them back to England for the evening. (There aren’t any wormhole restrictions for constables, by the way.) Honestly, I was kind of surprised my uncle and his lovely wife asked me to step in, until I considered their limited options likely came down to me or Manuel’s surly bride, Sebrina.
So, I was left to entertain my young niece and nephew for a few hours. It proved to be a nice distraction, and I answered my own question as to whether either one had inherited anything preternatural from Adrian. Even though most mortals have to go through naștere la întuneric to become a bonafide witch or warlock, I saw evidence that these kids might be a bit like me and Alisia—born naturally as a warlock and witch due to our parents both being semi-immortal. Catriona’s status as a mortal might be enhanced by her Celtic heritage... maybe there’s a Druid tie or something? Regardless, watching Keileen direct Lucian’s chew toy to fly across the room, and Tamaron to pull it back in midair was quite entertaining. Especially when it freaked out the dog, who hopped into my lap for protection from our giggling toddler witch and warlock.
By the time Adrian and Catriona returned to collect their pups, everyone else came home as well. I was kind of relieved that my parents and grandparents all seemed ready to call it an early night, retiring to their preferred sections of our massive house. Taking advantage of an opportunity to quietly reflect on where things were at in my own volatile world, I headed for the privacy of my bedroom.
I’m not naive enough to believe that Adrian, Mom, and Grandma weren’t scanning my head from somewhere nearby. Maybe this was also true for the Albrights—even if they were still overseas. No doubt, Wizard von Stroheim and his gangly cousins were ready to check in on me from their downtown abode, if they hadn’t already. And you damned well could bet that Alisia hadn’t given up trying to take a peek as well—regardless of what she and Harris were up to at that moment.
So, I immersed myself into my video game characters for a few hours, be it a new ‘super stud’ quarterback for the Chicago Bears or a Call to Arms warrior saving the day.
Despite all of my efforts to do otherwise, it was tough to not think about Daciana. I hoped the occasional view of her tear-streaked face and gorgeous emerald eyes ablaze went unnoticed by any of my aforementioned psychic voyeurs.
All in all, a pretty ‘ho-hum’ day and night, right?
Yeah, my thoughts exactly.
When I awoke Thursday morning at the same frigging time—just before six-o’clock, and thanks to that damnable ‘fartnickle’ across the street, I worried another boring day awaited me. I rolled over, away from the window, pulling my pillow over my ears. My dul
l existence could wait, prodded by the steady death of my belief that Daciana’s dream visit was anything more than a desperate phantom unrooted in reality.
Life would go on... or drone on, I feared.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It started with a loud crash upstairs, in the long hallway to the left of my bedroom. Sounded like a large vase hit the floor—and I pictured the sound being the demise of one of two Chinese urns from the Ming Dynasty, both sitting on tables next to the hall windows. This event was followed by the scent of ozone drifting into my room through the space beneath my door.
“Sorry about that, Georghe!”
Julien’s distinctive drawl was punctuated by an irreverent laugh, along with Grandpa’s hearty laughter and Dad chuckling along with both of them.
Huh?
For a moment, I wondered if this was some bizarre dreamscape I had drifted into, until I opened my eyes to the bedroom’s brightness. A glance at my clock showed the time as 9:03 a.m.
What in the hell?
I rarely oversleep, and to my recollection, I have only done so one other time since Y2K failed to happen.
“Shit!” I whispered.
I hurriedly dressed and set out to investigate the disturbance outside my bedroom.
“Well, hello, sport!” Julien greeted me, as I stepped into the hallway. Grinning mischievously, he held a small wand with a glowing blue tip—one of the ‘child’ versions my grandparents had long kept handy for training new witches and warlocks in the family. “You just missed my horrid attempt to levitate your grandmother’s prized vases to switch window tables.”
His playful drawl threw me for a loop, since attempting something like that could prove catastrophic for most mortals—even those we’re fond of. Especially true if Grandma were present in the house. As I had pictured, one of the vases lay in shattered fragments upon the floor.
“Did Julien screw up the incantation sequence again?” Adrian called from downstairs.
“Afraid so, son,” Grandpa called back to him, still chuckling along with Dad. “Can you put Florina’s prized vase back together once more?”
Adrian didn’t respond right away, and Dad’s impish grin began to fade.
“Maybe... but at some point, this is going to end like things did for Humpty Dumpty,” Adrian responded. “You need to find something else for Julien to practice with!”
“Got it, son... but can you go ahead and try, Adrian?”
“Sure.”
Instantly, the one intact vase moved from its precarious perch on the edge of its table toward the center, while its broken mate seemingly leapt off the floor and was fully intact by the time it reached the other table.
Honestly, as much magic as I’ve witnessed during my lifetime, I had never witnessed a repair spell working without a warlock, or witch, performing such a feat in immediate proximity. Then again, I hadn’t been around my uncle much since he had completed his wizard training.
Now I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.
“Ah, that’s so sweet, Sebastian,” said Adrian, teasingly commenting on my thoughts. He peered at us from the other end of the hall, where the kitchen staircase sat. I pictured him floating up to the second floor, since the rear stairs creak louder than the main staircase in the foyer, and he had arrived like a ninja assassin. “Maybe you can become a wizard one day... provided you don’t drag us into World War III with the Mateis in the next week! Speaking of which, Alisia and I were just now discussing your obsession with Daciana’s tear-streaked face from the other night.... Care to join us downstairs for a moment?”
Way to go Bas—you’ve royally blown your cover, doofus!
“I just got up... can you give me a few minutes? I’ve gotta pee, man!”
And, maybe while I’m in the bathroom, I can look for a razor to abort this cruel life and avoid the double whammy of facing both him and my psychic sibling!
Just kidding, of course. But after Adrian motioned for me to take care of my personal business—with the expectation of my butt being planted in a chair at the kitchen table in five minutes, I frantically tried to come up with a scheme. I needed something—anything—to help me weasel out of giving up the truth about Daciana’s dream visit two nights ago.
Sadly, in that very moment, I understood that the dream itself had hardly faded—contrary to what I had told myself the past two days. It was as fresh as ever—as if it had happened just hours ago.
“Have a seat, Sebastian.”
After I crept downstairs, Adrian pointed to an open chair between him and Alisia at the kitchen table. My beloved kid sister was dressed more like I remembered prior to my imprisonment, with frayed jeans and a colorful ‘Ten Years’ t-shirt. Like me, her long locks were allowed to flow.... Part of me was glad this wilder side still existed within her 2020 persona; although, it was a bit foolish on my part to believe the rock n’ roll side of her had ‘up and died’ during my absence.
In her lap sat Lucian, and he joined her in staring at me as I took my seat. Of course, I didn’t have to look Adrian’s way to know he studied me just as intently.
“Here’s your chocolate Pop Tarts, and your choice of either milk or another of my Atkins shakes,” said Alisia, pushing a plate containing my usual preferred breakfast while motioning to my beverage choices like one of Bob Barker’s models on The Price Is Right television show back in the day.
“Is this my last meal before my execution?” I chuckled tiredly.
“That all depends on whether you come clean, or not,” said Adrian, pulling my attention to him. His irritated smirk told me he was only slightly joking. “To save time, we already know that Daciana appeared to you in the very same attire she wore when caught by her guardians in Bucharest Tuesday morning. Blue dress, which is traditional for one betrothed to the noble bloodlines, such as Ninnius. To her credit, managing to send her spirit forth in a conscious state is remarkable. She’s quite the witch, or so it seems.”
“Uncle Adrian, you’re not helping!” Alisia scolded. “It’s not like she’s going to be able to astral travel ever again—at least not anytime soon!”
My sister’s ire seemed far hotter than warranted, and I worried about what was obviously happening elsewhere to heat things up like this.
“Well, that fact is true, my darling niece,” Adrian replied. “No doubt, this is why Gregorius Ninnius saw fit to arrange her marriage to his youngest descendent—one who has already begun his wizard apprenticeship, I might add. And, I daresay, Magnus is a warlock whose age and experience on this Earth far surpasses yours, Sebastian, by nearly a century. Sorry, but those are the facts—and the very reasons the Mateis throughout the world have pushed for this union as well.”
I met his penetrating gaze with my own seething one, caring little that my eyes were surely aglow. Alisia reached out and gently grasped my right hand, and I flinched. But before I could pull it away from her, she tightened her grip.
“Don’t fight it, Bas—it won’t work,” she said, softy. “It can’t work—not with nearly one third of our brotherhood and sisterhood unanimously aligned on this. Adrian can tell you more, but none of the Radus or Mateis are in your corner. And, if you’re not careful, they’ve threatened to travel here to intervene.”
Her voice shook with emotion, and I shifted my gaze from our uncle to her face. I could tell she was on the verge of tears.
What in the hell am I doing? Nobody wants this, but me—and maybe Daciana. Meanwhile, I’m hurting those whom I cherish and who love me!
“Not only that, nephew, but you’re putting so many of your extended clan in danger,” Adrian advised, his sharp tone from a moment ago subdued.
My heart literally was breaking—more completely than I had thought possible. Yeah, I thought I’d already reached that point a week ago, but this was worse. I have never felt anything hurt this badly—likely made far more painful by Daciana’s nocturnal visit to my bedroom.
“And, it could only become more wretched from h
ere on out,” Adrian continued. “Thankfully, the EEC has stepped in—and I do mean harshly. Until the nuptials are completed this Saturday, Daciana has been bound by a spell to restrict her to Ninnius’s castle, located just outside Bucharest. Having lived there for several years, I can attest to the natural barriers that have kept his fortress impregnable for more than a millennium. But with this spell? No one other than the great Wizard Ninnius himself can penetrate, or hinder, the shield that now surrounds Daciana.”
If he was trying to make me feel better by pointing out how hopeless things were, it wasn’t working. I grimaced, wishing I could just find some dark corner on Earth where I could hide for eternity.
“But, why, Bas?” Alisia asked, and to be honest, I no longer gave a damn about either of them peering inside my head. Apparently, my meager protection of a ‘haze’ upon my thoughts had finally ended. “The only way to heal is to move on. Hiding will only keep you where you are right now—and possibly make it even harder to ever heal!”
She tentatively removed her hand from mine while offering a subtle nod to Adrian. I glanced at him long enough to see him return her gesture.
“Here, Bas... take a look,” said Alisia.
She slid a photograph of a beautiful slender girl with strawberry-blonde hair and big green eyes. Kind eyes, I might add, which often speaks to a loving soul. Her smile was gorgeous, too.
“Her name is Rhianna Johnson, and she’s become one of my closest friends,” my sister explained, and I noticed her tone brightened as she continued to talk about this girl. “She’s the one I mentioned to you recently, and when I told her about you, she said she’s interested in meeting you, Bas. She’s eighteen and will be nineteen in March. Grandma says that’s a good month for your actual birthdate, in November.”
“A Pisces for a Scorpio?”
Yeah, I had long heard that’s the best match.... But, here’s betting I could find a long list of divorces for those two signs getting together, too.