The Tree and the Tablet (The St. James Chronicles Book 1)

by Kathryn O'Brien

  Relieved that he let it go, I wondered briefly if he knew I was lying. I just couldn’t read him. Laying back on my pillows, I stared wide-eyed at the wispy, sheer material that was draped across the top of the four-poster bed as a canopy. It was a shimmering fabric that looked like the inside of an abalone shell with the light flickering across it. It was a large expanse of pearlescent material shimmering with pink, purple, and turquoise ribbons of color worked through it.

  On breezy summer nights I liked to light candles and open the windows to allow the material to shift and shimmer in the flickering light. The effect was quite extraordinary and entranced me with its undulating and swirling colors. Using meditation breathing techniques and focusing on the movement of the fabric proved to be hypnotic. That was the reason I chose that material. It calmed me and it also reminded me of the many dreams I had as a child. It also helped me think clearer about the things that were troubling me.

  Thinking back on what I recently experienced, I couldn’t help but to recall the many times when I was younger that I would have visions or go into a trance. It had been years since I felt this way and I thought I’d outgrown it. I used to cry myself to sleep at night because of the frightening visions. Mom always said that gifts came in different types of wrapping, and that I should be thankful for what I’d been given. My visions had stopped when I was a teen or maybe I’d just learned to control them. It was scary when they started up again right before ‘Drea announced her pregnancy with Kelsey. Even though mom thought I should be thankful, I’d looked at the visions more as a curse than a gift and I was happy when they went away completely after Mom disappeared. As a matter of fact, it had been approximately five years since I’d had a vision at all. When I was a child, there had been one particularly frightening vision I’d had that put me in a funk for two weeks. I couldn’t even remember it now. After that, I tried to block them out and only had visions every once in a while, between my teen years up until Mom went missing. It was a mixed blessing though. My last vision was of Mom screaming for help in a body of water. That was three days before the incident and the phone call from the Barbados port authority. Shuddering, I shook myself mentally and tried to let it go but I couldn’t help thinking that it might not be the worst thing to happen right now.

  If the visions help me find Kelsey, then I’m going to use them to my advantage. With that thought, I yawned and rolled over. I’d lost track of time thinking about my past, but I was more determined to find a way to get Kelsey home safe and sound. Even though I still hadn’t slept, I felt rested. Time to go talk to Andrea.

  As I entered the dining room, I noticed the door to the backyard was opened and the curtains fluttered in the cool breeze that wafted through it. Stepping out onto the deck, I saw that Daniel was sitting on the ground near the base of Andrea’s tree. A gentle chanting came from him like the rumble of a seismic eruption underground. It was mesmerizing. A deep feeling of calm enveloped me as I felt a stirring in my soul at the beautiful rhythm of the melody he was singing. Never had I heard such a sweet and soulful song before. An earthquake seemed to be occurring within my body as I allowed the sounds to surround me and penetrate my being. There was a bowl perched on Daniel’s lap with what smelled like sage burning inside.

  Slowly, I approached. His eyes were closed. He was wafting the smoke toward the tree using the raven feather that was on the thong around his neck. The embers glowed fiercely in the alabaster bowl. A gentle glow was emanating from the turquoise stone encircled in silver at the end of his feather. Curiosity, as well as some undefined sensation of an invisible rope surrounding and pulling on me, seemed to propel me toward him. Looking to the tree to see if Andrea was alert, I could see that the bark was fluctuating and moving in rhythm to his song. Her face appeared to be at peace, and she was mouthing the words to his chant.

  Before I noticed he was looking at me, it felt as if his gaze caressed my skin causing goosebumps to rise on my arms. They appeared to have changed from their normal seafoam green to a brilliant emerald color. Entranced, I continued to move forward. Suddenly, my heart felt like it was on fire and I struggled to breath. Stopping abruptly, I clutched my throat. He was still intently staring at me. He’d stopped moving and the bowl was gone. Dropping to my knees, I looked to him for help, but he didn't move. Reaching my hand out toward him, the air seemed to shudder and shimmer in a bright glowing light that twisted and turned in on itself.

  Now on all fours, I swore there was a large black bird rising behind Daniel. It was the most remarkable looking bird I ever saw. Taking the form of a Raven, it spread its wings and all the while, the song became louder and louder. Inky black eyes filled my vision. My breathing was shallow and I struggled to suck air into my lungs as I screamed inside my head for it to stop. His face turned toward me, but his eyes looked through me and with an immense clap of thunder which caused me to go deaf, a bolt of lightning struck Daniel. It appeared to engulf him and the giant raven opened its beak to let out a shrill cry. The scream was ripped from me for real this time, using what seemed to be the last of the air that was available in my lungs.

  Darkness engulfed us like black ink spilling over a white piece of paper. It was so thick, I thought I could feel it surrounding me. A sense of doom cast itself over me like a heavy velvet cloak. Is this what it feels like to die? All the oxygen within me felt like it was being sucked from every pore and orifice in my body, which caused me to convulse uncontrollably. My hands grasped the earth as I tried to pull myself forward toward him. Still, I couldn’t look away. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? What was happening? I couldn’t move and in my mind, I was crying out to Daniel to help me, but no words left my lips. Feeling like I couldn’t hold on any longer, the pain in my lungs was excruciating and my heart felt like it would surely stop beating any moment.

  Suddenly, it was as if a curtain had been pulled back. The world righted itself and I could breathe again. Blinking rapidly and sucking in great gasping breaths, I noticed that Daniel was no longer sitting on the ground in front of me. As I turned my head to search for him, I saw him standing next to me. The ringing in my ears subsided, and I finally heard the words he was saying. He was kneeling next to me trying to help me to my feet.

  “Maggie? Are you alright? Talk to me. What’s happening?” Shaking my head as I tried to continue to clear the confusion, I looked at him like he was out of his mind.

  Staring at him accusingly, I asked, “What the hell was that,” while trying to right my world and gain my equilibrium.

  He looked confused by my question. Cocking his head to the side and peering at me expectantly he asked, “Why don’t you tell me?”

  Tilting my head to match his, I asked, “You didn’t see any of that?” He shook his head with a look of concern on his face.

  Covering my face with my hands, I thought that I was losing my mind. How was it possible to have seen all of that and not have him see it? Looking at him more intently for any clue that he might be hiding the truth behind those beautiful green eyes, there was nothing but concern reflected back at me. Exasperated, I remembered all the times as a child where I was teased and abused by the other kids for my trances and visions. The school counselor told me that I had an active imagination and said that the only way to make friends would be for me to keep those things to myself. Again, I chose not to share with him out of fear. Getting to my feet, I looked over at the tree. Andrea’s face wasn’t visible and I shrugged the event off, “it was nothing.” All those years of conditioning myself not to tell anyone about my visions kept my mouth sealed tightly and I sensed he wasn’t buying it.

  At his questioning look, I forced a fake laugh and gave him the most cavalier smile I could muster, “I’ll be fine. I just tripped.” He still looked like he didn’t believe me. “Honestly, I thought you were standing right in front of me and when I fell, the wind got knocked out of me. That’s all.”

  “Maggie, you know you can tell me anything.” His voice was calm and even but his look was
one of disbelief and concern.

  Waving him off and trying to sound sure of myself, I laughed and said, “I’m fine! Really!” Internally warring with my insecurities, I turned toward the tree and Andrea, promptly putting an end to the discussion and ignoring the entire episode.

  “Andrea? Have you heard from Jaxon?”

  The tree fluctuated and shimmered and Andrea spoke hesitantly. “Maggie, what’s going on with you?” She sounded uncertain and afraid. Her voice quivered with the sound of unshed tears. “You know I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you too?” It felt like a question rather than a statement which caused me to feel defensive.

  Dammit, I thought to myself, even when I was younger, couldn’t hide anything from her. Irritated, I snapped, “Nothing. I’m just tired.”

  Andrea rolled her eyes, “You know better than that. You don’t need to be like that. I’m just trying to look out for you. Kelsey needs us all to be on the same page.”

  Frustrated and scared like a cat in a corner, I snarled, “Andrea, lay off already! I get it. There’s nothing you need to worry about right now.” At her look of concern, I reigned my emotions in and asked calmly, “I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’m just worried. Did Jaxon find anything yet?”

  Daniel grunted under his breath, “Sure,’’ and I shot him a scathing look that caused him to put his hands up in front of him in a posture of defense.

  Andrea looked down in concentration and then glancing back up at me, she said, “No, nothing concrete yet, but he thinks he found a clue. He’s following it now and will report back as soon as he knows something. He’s showing me a picture of a small town to the west of here but he’s trying to find a sign or something that will help us find it.”

  Turning to look out at the water, my mind raced. Where could she be? Running through my visions and thinking out loud, I said, “He should look for a place where there is running water and caves.”

  Daniel had stepped up behind me sensing my troubled thoughts. Speaking softly so as not to interrupt my thoughts, he asked, “Why would he do that?”

  Startled that he was so close to me, I suddenly realized that I’d spoken my thoughts, rather than keeping them in my mind and I abruptly turned, shaking my head as if to clear cobwebs. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.” At his questioning expression, I said a little gruffly, “Call it a hunch.” Trying to hide my angst, I turned back to Andrea. “Remember that wierd thing I lost?”

  A knowing grin split across the formation of her mouth in the tree bark and she said, “Really? Have you found it again?” She sounded more excited than I was.

  Nodding absently while chewing my lip, “I think so, but I’m not certain.”

  She started to talk excitedly but also concerned and skeptical, “Magpie, How?”

  Staring at the ground, I gently shook my head. My eyes darted apprehensively toward Daniel and then back toward her in a pleading manner, “Please, Andrea?” Rocking my head sideways and raising my eyebrows in an effort to indicate that I didn’t want him to know, I attempted to sound calm when my insides were churning with apprehension, “I’m not sure.” She started to speak again, and I stepped closer, giving her my most pleadingly dramatic expression, “Please?!?”

  She seemed to understand my barely spoken plea not to share any further information with Daniel there to hear and making eye contact said, “I understand. Let me know what I can do.” With a curt and hopefully imperceptible nod, I mouthed the words, “Thank you,” followed by a loud proclamation, “I’m going inside. It’s getting late. I’m sure it’ll be too dark for Jaxon to continue his search for the night and suddenly I’m famished again. I’ll come see you in the morning.”

  A branch sneaked through the air and gently plucked a stray lock from my face. “I love you, Maggie.”

  Smiling gently at her and playfully swatting at the branch, “Geez! Do you know how weird that is?”

  She laughed, “Sorry.”

  Grinning at her, “I love you, too.” Turning on my heel, I walked into the house. Not stopping to see if Daniel followed, I sensed his closeness as if he were a dragon on my back.

  It was getting dark quick and the absence of a moon made it sort of creepy. No wonder I was hungry. As I reached for the door handle to go inside, I turned to ask Daniel if he was hungry and my eyes met the beady ink black eyes of the raven. Gasping, I stumbled backwards. Tripping over the threshold of the door frame, my eyes and hands simultaneously sought out something that I could grab hold of to steady myself. Daniel’s hand stealthily slipped through the air and grasped my wrist to catch me. When I looked up at him again, he had magically returned to normal. The raven’s eyes were gone, and I took a couple steadying breaths to cover my confusion.

  Snidely, Daniel quipped, “If you keep falling over like this, I’m going to have to buy you a set of padded body armor. I can’t always be here to catch you, y’know?”

  A small squeak escaped, and I laughed as I blushed, “Yeah, right.”

  He shook his head as he chuckled at me and as we stepped into the dining room, I couldn’t help but wonder what it all meant.

  Chapter Fifteen

  As I stood in my pantry, digging around, looking for food items, Daniel laughed, “Do you think you have enough ranch dressing?”

  Following his eyes, I saw that his view landed squarely on the partial case of extra-large bottles of ranch dressing I had purchased by accident when I ordered from my online food vendor. Chuckling at the site of twelve jugs stacked in a row on the middle shelf. A cursory glance over my shoulder and I replied, “Well, you know, I felt it was necessary to be prepared for any occasion including the next zombie apocalypse.”

  “Well, I’m sure that no matter what you eat, it will be well seasoned.”

  “Yes, well, better to be safe than sorry is my motto.”

  His view must have shifted as he soon noticed the wine fridge on the other side of the pantry and sighing in appreciation, he crouched down and withdrew a bottle of a locally made blackberry merlot. Noting his choice, I remarked, “My favorite, I know you're supposed to drink red wine at room temperature, but I prefer this one chilled.”

  A broad grin spread across his face, “I know the winery well. A very good choice. And I agree, it’s best chilled.”

  “By all means, please open it.” Heading out of the pantry, I pulled a bottle opener out of a drawer and handed it to him. He graciously accepted and I followed up by pulling two wine glasses from the cupboard for him to fill.

  Soon, I had determined we would be eating a basic salad of greens and tomatoes with a couple leftover sandwiches from the other day. It was quick and easy, and he sat silently watching me prepare the food. Occasionally, I’d look up to find him watching me with a soft smile on his face. He handed me the glass of wine and I nodded with a brief, “Thanks,” as I continued the preparations. Suddenly shy and aloof, I couldn't think of anything to say and it seemed he was alright with my choice not to make idle chatter during the food prep. Choosing to sit at the island to eat, I put the food down and motioned for him to take a seat.

  Grabbing the bottle, he set it on the counter in front of us and sat next to me. “Thank you, Maggie. I know this must be a lot for you.” Studying the meal placed before him, he mockingly observed, “Well, all doesn’t seem to be lost. I was worried when I saw your almost empty pantry that we might have ranch soup, but again, you surprise me with your resourcefulness.” Lifting a turkey on rye, he waggled his eyebrows at me, and said, “But this looks very promising.”

  Not to be outdone, I retrieved the bottle of ranch next to me and laid it across my arm like a sommelier, asking politely in a snooty sounding voice, “Would you care for a sampling of our most desired salad pairing, sir?”

  Trying to stop himself from chuckling at me, in a serious voice, he asked, “What year is this bottle?”

  “It’s of the finest quality, Sir, I assure you.” Flipping open the cap, I asked hastily, “Would you care to smell the cork?
”

  “Don’t mind if I do.” As he leaned over to take a whiff of the salad dressing, I squeezed the bottle slightly which caused a small splattering of ranch to shoot out and cover his forehead. Not expecting it to do that, I started cackling like a deranged lunatic and promptly set the bottle on the counter as I reached for a napkin to wipe his face. He grabbed my hand and held it in his, staring at my fingers briefly before he let his eyes wander to my face. Our eyes locked on one another and I held my breath in anticipation. Releasing my hand abruptly, he spouted in a stoic voice, “Madam, I have decided not to endorse your establishment on the basis of poor customer service and lack of culinary options.”

  Blinking at him in confusion, he began to raucously laugh at my bewildered expression. Realizing he was joking, I sputtered and soon found myself engulfed in a joy that caused a tingle throughout my entire body. Raising my glass in silent toast of his ability to bring me out of my funk, “Touché, sir.” He clanked his against mine, and smiling broadly, gulped down his entire glass of wine. Not to be undone, I mimicked him, and he immediately filled both our vessels with another round of blackberry heaven. With another drink in hand, I remarked, “I’ll be certain to convey your complaints to the owner.” His response was a gentle smile and a nod followed by another rapid emptying of the sweet nectar. The rest of the dinner was amiable with very few words and very many glasses of wine. As I finished my last bite of sandwich, my eyes drifted across the countertop taking in the scene. Not quite sure how or when it happened, but I was surprised to see two empty bottles sat on the counter. Glancing up at the clock and nursing what might have been my fourth glass of wine, I spoke softly, “I know I’ve been tense. It’s all been a bit much for me, but I wanted to say that I know you were trying to do the right thing, and, well, thank you.”