The White Aura (The White Aura Series)

by Felicia Tatum

  “What? Why hasn’t anyone told me about this before,” I snapped my head up, my eyes wide.

  I almost screamed at her, interrupting her sentence.

  “Little one…it is legend. If it were true, it would more than likely start a war. It’s not worth it. You can wait six months, it will be painful, but you do have the advantage of dream walking. Others before you haven’t,” she said with her voice soft.

  I knew she was right. I loved my grandma. She was someone I admired because she was so wise and knew me so well. She stood at barely five feet tall, with dark brown hair that was beginning to get gray spots here and there. She had eyes the color of the ocean. Since she was a healer, she had this air about to comfort anyone and anything. One look at her and no one would believe she was one of the most powerful sorceresses out there. I had heard many stories about her, many legends in our books about her fights in the 1500’s. It was amazing the things she had survived, the powerful sorcerers she had destroyed, and the other creatures she had defeated. She had even fought vampires and won. Something unheard of in our community. Vampires were sneaky and almost impossible to kill. Yet, Grandma had killed quite a few in her day. She was my hero.

  “Why don’t you just listen in on her for a little while? You’ll feel connected with her and maybe it won’t be so painful…” she suggested with a smile and turned to leave. Once a sorcerer linked with his or her human, it became very painful to be away. Our bodies became ill and we slowly began to die without our heart mates. It seemed all in my family knew of their heart mate before age eighteen, so we had all had our share of pain. Luckily no one had died yet, but a few had come very, very close.

  Olivia

  History was my last class of the day, and I was beyond ready to head home. Mr. Mayfield, my English teacher, had been in an awful mood. Our reflection papers hadn’t been the best, and he spent most of the class chewing us out for it. I really shouldn’t have been concerned, because I made a 93, but something about being yelled at as a group irked me.

  Now, here in history with J, I couldn’t concentrate. We had less than a half hour left. Currently, Mrs. Steele was going over The Cold War. I knew that all of this information would be on the next test, but I couldn’t make my mind pay attention. The kid behind me was clicking her pen in and out, over and over. That noise drove me crazy, and it took all I had to not yank it out of her hand.

  “Psst.”

  I looked to my left, seeing Juniper slide a note across the floor. I stopped it from going under my desk with my foot. I nonchalantly dropped my pen and picked it, as well as the note, up.

  “So what’s up with u and Aiden? –J”

  I just shook my head at her. I wasn’t having this conversation in class. Especially through a note. Her face fell, and I could see the disappointment, but I couldn’t let that get to me.

  Juniper was my best friend. I knew she meant well. I couldn’t tell her that a tiny part of me was actually attracted to Aiden. She was very outgoing, and the minute I let it out, she would do everything she could to “help” me with him. But as a result, I would be embarrassed.

  Besides, I didn’t know if I wanted to date him or anything. I just liked the attention that the hot senior in school was giving me. It didn’t exactly hurt that he had dreamy eyes that liked to look me over and penetrate my soul.

  What was wrong with me though? By night I’m dreaming of this hot guy and totally sexing him up. By day I’m acting like I couldn’t stand the school jock when in reality I wanted him to pay a little more attention to me. Did I want either one of them? Heck, was the sexy guy even real? I didn’t know. Maybe he was someone I had seen in passing and now he had taken over my nights. Or maybe he was an actor I saw in a really bad movie, so I tried to rid myself of the memory of watching it but remembered him.

  The bell rang, startling me from my thoughts. I looked around and saw the class furiously scribbling something down on their papers. Oh, well, I’d have to ask Juniper about that later. I gathered my belongings and hurried to my locker. Juniper wasn’t far behind me. I knew what she was going to ask, though, so I threw my history books in and grabbed my math folder.

  “Olivia!”

  “Hey, Whitehead.”

  I could hear Juniper from my back and Aiden from my right, but I ignored both. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to either, so I just kept walking. I dodged in and out of the crowd of students until I made it out the back door. I could go this way instead of out the front, and they wouldn’t find me. I walked the back way to track practice, not looking behind me once.

  ###

  My feet pounded the track. Sweat dripped from my forehead and slid down my face. My heart pounded, and my breath came fast. Running was my escape. Practice was finished twenty minutes ago, but the frustrations from everything weren’t gone. So I ran. The sun was setting, but not enough that it was dark, yet.

  I completed a circuit of the track when I heard a whistle. I slowed, breathing deeply to calm my insides. I saw Aiden standing by the bleachers. I looped around and came to a stop beside him. I worked to catch my breath as I stretched my body. Running was exhausting. “Hey,” I said in between breaths.

  He gave me a half smile. The wind gusted lightly, causing his hair to ruffle. His eyes were bright and mysterious. As always. “Heya, Whitehead.”

  Seeing him standing in the dimming light made my heart beat faster. He looked at me intently, and I couldn’t stop myself from wondering how long he had watched me. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to talk to you after practice, but you kept running. So, I waited.”

  “The whole time?”

  “Yep.” He looked around briefly, reached into his back pocket, and produced an ice cold water bottle. He half bowed and presented it to me like he was a butler.

  Laughing, I took the water. “Thank you oh-so-much, kind sir.”

  “No problem. Hey, I’m here for you, Whitehead. I’m at your service.” He grinned that fabulous smile, and I couldn’t help but smile back. He moved closer.

  I looked up at him and noticed him staring. I took a long drink. The cool liquid felt amazing sliding down my throat, and it helped me to stop thinking about Aiden’s eyes. “Wanna walk for a few minutes? Just once around the track…”

  “Sure. I’d love to spend more time with you.”

  We kept a steady pace. We were both runners, so walking wouldn’t tire us out easily. I sipped more water and wondered why he wasn’t speaking. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “I just wanted to hang out. I want you to like me, Whitehead. What better way than to let you get to know my amazingly fantastic personality?” he asked while bumping his body into mine.

  My skin felt alive after the explosive contact with his. As much as I didn’t want to be, I was attracted to Aiden Cavalier. “Then tell me more, Cavalier.”

  “I’m not as smart as people think I am. I’m just good at memorizing the information. If you asked me half the stuff on my history test, I couldn’t answer it now,” He leaned in like he was letting me in on a big secret. “And the test was this morning.”

  I laughed loudly and punched his arm. “People don’t like you for your brains. You’re mister jock star. Remember?”

  His face fell a little. “Oh, yeah. I’d rather people think I’m smart. Being a jock isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Yeah, I get privileges…I have a good body…teachers think I’m a god…which is all fine and dandy. But then…I meet someone like you. You aren’t impressed by any of that, are you?”

  He looked sad, and I couldn’t help reaching to comfort him. I placed my hand on his arm and squeezed him. “No. It doesn’t. Realizing that is kind of impressive, though.” I winked at him.

  His eyes got wider, and his face lit up. He hugged me, and I felt the warmth of his body pressed against mine. I breathed in his scent and felt dizzy from it. I leaned back and looked into his eyes. I could see he wanted to kiss me. I pushed myself away and said, “Well, tha
nks for waiting for me, Aiden. This walk was fun, but we’ve circled around once. I really need to get home and cleaned up.”

  He started to talk, but I rushed off. I felt bad about leaving so abruptly, but I had to get away. Being that close to Aiden…smelling him and holding him…it was dangerous. I didn’t want to want him. I must be more careful.

  Scott

  I was going to be late for my English class. I had less than five minutes to get to my building, and I was on the other side of campus. While I could use magic to get there, it was a big risk. I’d rather be late. I ran across the courtyard, my backpack beating me up along the way. Out of breath, I saw the building. I stumbled up the stairs and in the front, running smack dab into a crowd of students. “Excuse me. I’m sorry.” I yelled my apologies as I hurried up the three flights of stairs to my classroom. I looked at my watch, seeing I only had one minute until class began. My professor was one who locked the door as soon as the clock struck the starting time. I couldn’t afford to miss another class, especially this close to finals.

  I flung the door open, hitting someone on the other side. Shocked, I slowly dropped my hand from the knob and looked around the door. There, looking stern and angry was my professor. My mouth dropped open and I muttered an apology. Horrified by almost knocking my professor out, I rushed to my seat. Grabbing my notebook, I attempted to be as quiet as possible. It didn’t really work because I accidently dropped my backpack on the floor. Professor Galloway gave me a look designed to stop my heart. I lifted my hand in an apology.

  I spent the rest of the class lost in thoughts about Livvie. I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive the next five months, but I somehow had to. I longed to be able to talk to her, to hold her in real life, and to just enjoy her company. I wanted to get to know her better. I only knew bits and pieces from our dream walking. It wasn’t enough, though. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. Her favorite places, her favorite foods, her favorite subject in school. Everything.

  The shuffling of book bags and people moving broke my trance. I moved my way to the front of the class, stopping to apologize to Professor Galloway one last time. I couldn’t help but feel it would affect my grade in the long run. As long as I passed, I guess it didn’t really matter.

  Olivia

  Lying on my stomach on my bed, I was flipping through the songs on my mp3 player. I was frustrated that I couldn’t find one to fit my mood. Not that I knew what my mood was. I was upset with Juniper for implying Aiden was showing interest in me. Though I wasn’t quite sure why that made me upset. I was also annoyed with my parents for working too much. Most of all, the most important factor of my mood, was the fact that I have some strange guy I was dreaming about and I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I mean, who does that? I was losing it.

  The phone rang and J’s picture popped up on the phone.

  “Hey, J.”

  “Hey, Liv, are you still upset with me? I was calling after you while you were at your locker.”

  I knew that sound. It was caution and sadness mixed together. I picked lint off of my skirt.

  “No, J, I’m not mad. I dunno what’s up with me today. I didn’t hear you,” I lied, “Hey, why did you say that stuff about Aiden? He doesn’t like me,” I said it so sharply that it sounded like I was biting at her. What if Aiden did like me? What would I do? I couldn’t stand the guy most days, but the thought of hurting him upset me. A lot.

  “Wellllllllll…..” she started with her I-know-something-you-don’t-know-but-will-want-to voice.

  Oh, fantastic.

  “He asked me for your number today after school. And I gave it to him.”

  “You did what? Without asking me first,” I asked in shock. Jumping to my feet, I paced the floor. And even kicked the wall, bruising my toe. Why would he ask her? He waited for me after practice and didn’t say anything about it.

  “Liv…I think you’re just scared, but I’m going to help you…” She was cut off by a beep. Call waiting. And a number I didn’t know. Hmm, wonder who that was.

  “Gotta go, J. My mom is calling.” I hung up before she could protest.

  “Hello,” I said timidly.

  A deep voice answered, “Hello, is this Olivia?”

  Oh, dear.

  “Yes, it is. May I ask who is speaking?”

  “This is Aiden Cavalier from school. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked that music girl you hang around with for your number.”

  “Music girl?” He didn’t even know her name. “She’s called Juniper, and I guess it’s ok…though, I’m not sure why you didn’t just ask me after practice today.” I hoped he would tell me why he wanted to talk.

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I don’t know what I was thinking. Sooo…uhh…I was wondering if you…listen, I know you don’t like me very much. And that’s weird to me, because all of the girls like me. But I was wondering if you wanted to go to the spring formal with me?”

  It all came out in a very fast breath. Was he nervous?

  “Umm…well, you’re right. I don’t like you very much. You’re very cocky and arrogant in my opinion.”

  I couldn’t be anything but blunt no matter how hard I tried. I had been a difficult child to raise, or so I had been told. My parents had great stories of my abrupt manner from some of our holiday parties. He laughed a deeply, and I realized he didn’t sound so bad on the phone.

  “Well, I want a chance to change your opinion. Will you let me try?”

  I did need a date to the formal…and I would take any excuse to buy a new dress.

  “Ok, Cavalier, I’ll consider giving you a chance. But if you do something between now and then to totally turn me off, our deal is off.”

  And I hung up the phone. What was going on with me? I was some kind of crazy lady lately. Must be the teenage mood swing/hormonal stage that adults always talked about.

  Aiden had transferred to our school when I was a freshman. He immediately had everyone’s attention. The girls all wanted him, the boys all wanted to be him. He had always seemed full of himself though. His parents never showed up to any games, meets, or ceremonies. I kind of thought that maybe he had a hard home life. He also never spoke of any siblings, so it was like he didn’t have anyone. I almost pitied him. When my parents weren’t around, I at least had Juniper to talk to. I didn’t think he was close to anyone like that. I threw the phone on the nightstand. I got off of bed to greet my mother as I heard the front door open.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  I studied my mother. She looked a lot like me, or I should say I looked like her. She stood a few inches taller than I, with light brown hair that had natural red highlights. Our faces were remarkably similar, with many people commenting on the fact that we could be sisters. My mother loved hearing that one.

  She reached to hug me and said, “Hey, baby girl. How was your day?”

  I led her to the kitchen table, and I told her about everything that happened. From the sleepover request to the odd interactions with Aiden. She listened intently, and when I finished, asked me a question that floored me.

  “Are you sure you aren’t attracted to this boy, Olivia?”

  I just stared at her. Maybe she wasn’t listening intently after all.

  “Mom…I just said he’s in love with himself and snobby. Why would I like him?”

  “Well…you did say yes to the spring formal…doesn’t sound like he disgusts you or anything. Just an observation.”

  She winked and prepared to make dinner. Pots hit the counters with thumps, and silverware sliced the vegetables on the cutting tray. Oh, my gosh, something weird was going on. Everyone in my life was mental today. I stood and walked to the island in the middle of our kitchen. I chopped onions for our sauce, deciding I would just ignore their comments for now.

  Scott

  Dammit!!! I threw a book across the room. Pacing with my hands in my hair, I tried my best to not punch the wall. I plugged in just as Livvie and her friend had started talking. I cou
ldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but I noticed she was frustrated. Then she talked to someone else, and I knew it wasn’t her mother like she said. She seemed nervous, and the conversation wasn’t one to be had with someone like a parent. She spoke to the person on the other line about proving himself. At least, I suspected it was a male. She confirmed my suspicions when her mother actually came home. She had a date. For the dance. The one I absolutely couldn’t take her to because it was in two weeks.

  Picking up the book, I stuffed it in my backpack. I came back to campus because I’d forgotten to turn in a project to my art professor. The quietness convinced me to stay and study. I was in my second year of college, with an undecided major. I loved painting, but I wanted to major in something financially acceptable. I needed to start putting away money. After all, I had a very long life ahead of me. I found this little study area one day last week. It was perfect for when I needed some quiet time. When I espied Livvie, I simply looked like I was resting my eyes. But if anyone tried to talk to me, I couldn’t respond. So it was best if I stayed in places with low human traffic. The nook was on the very top floor of the library, away from all the books and computers. It was a small room with a door, a comfy chair, and a long table. I guessed it was for studying, but I wasn’t really sure. I glanced around to make sure everything was as before and headed home.

  ###

  After turning on every light in the apartment, I sat on my bed. Resting my head in my hands, I just stared at the floor. I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t get to her. I couldn’t physically meet and make her fall for me. Not yet, anyways. I blindly looked around the room when a book caught my eye. Not the large, torn black text I threw, but another. A brown, leather bound volume. One of the accounts on my family’s history. Maybe…I’d never tried to talk to Livvie in the dreams, but maybe I could tonight. I strode across the room, lifting it from the shelf. It was wide and heavy. It also looked old and used. Which was expected: it had been in our family for many years. Opening the cover, I saw where each fifth generation sorcerer before me signed the pages just inside the front. I did this myself when my family had presented it to me on my fourteenth birthday. It had been a big deal with my parents throwing a get-together and everyone celebrating the occasion. I smiled at the memory, but shook my head to lose it as I remembered my task. I leafed through the pages, looking for something to forbid me from doing this. I really didn’t want her to die, so I had to make sure it was safe first. Of course, her falling in love with someone else would be as hard on me emotionally. Regardless, I wanted Livvie to live a long, full life.