Men of the Cave (Symbol of Hope Series)

by Burgess, Marisette

  “That’s unbelievable.” Kasey shook her head.

  “You will find that most things in the immortal world are.” I showed her the way to Max’s room. He was at his desk. As a good mannered gentlemen would, he put down his medical book and stood to greet us.

  “How are you feeling Kasey?” Max asked.

  “I’m all right thank you.”

  “Would you mind if I see for myself?” He asked and took a step closer to Kasey.

  She stiffened and glared at me as if I had betrayed her.

  “I’m fine, really.”

  “All I will do is wave my hand in front of you, to make sure. I do not need to touch you I promise.” He showed her his hand palm out.

  She nodded but her shoulders lifted and her hands made fists. Max’s hand glowed as he waved it over her body like a scanner. Kasey’s jaw dropped, her eyes fixed on his hand.

  “Your vitals are back to normal. You should not run on an empty stomach. It is not a good idea. If you are careless again you could faint once more,” he said and stopped his exam.

  “Yeah… cause that’s what made me faint.” She replied with sarcasm.

  Max did not like her response he folded his arms across his chest. There was an apparent awkwardness between them.

  “This should have never happened,” he said.

  “You don’t have to worry. It’s not like I’m going to tell anyone,” Kasey retorted.

  “I know you will not. People would think you are mad. No one would believe you,” Max said monotone.

  “Well…um…” Kasey looked at me for help.

  “Kasey needs to get back. Thank you again Max. I will stay with her until dinner. What time would you like to meet up tonight?” I asked.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Do you think it is wise? I thought we could go to Palma tonight to eat.” He always tried to keep me from her.

  Kasey gave me a strange look. “Um, you chaps can go. I think I am going to stick around town. Valete.”

  We walked out of the room.

  “What’s valete?” Kasey asked.

  “Latin for good bye.”

  “Is Max angry that I know your secret?” she asked.

  “Yes. It is an unspeakable law that humans are not to know of our existence. Sometimes accidents happen.” I sneered at her.

  Kasey stopped in the middle of the hallway. She looked around. “Where’s your room?”

  “Do you not have to get back promptly?” I did not want her to see my room.

  She eyed me warily. “Nope, I think I have time to see your room.”

  “Ah… some other day.”

  “Why?”

  Something told me, she was not going to let me get out of this.

  “I am not the tidiest person.”

  “It’s okay; I’m not going to look at the mess. I don’t care,” she urged.

  “You cannot miss it. It is the door across from Max’s,” I said hesitant.

  She headed for the mahogany door and walked in.

  “Holy shit!”

  I lowered my head and followed her in.

  “Yes, I know, it is a mess.”

  She chuckled, “You are such an oddity. Why are their piles of cloths everywhere?”

  She walked around the room.

  “It is how I organize my clothes. See this pile is my clean colored cloths. That one is my dirty light colored cloths. These are the ones that need to go to a dry cleaner…”

  “Why don’t you put them away?”

  “I hate putting cloths away. I do a lot of ironing because of it. But who is going to change a two thousand year old habit.” I plopped onto my bed.

  “The room is decorated with an Astronomical theme. Do you like Astronomy?” she asked.

  “Yes, I love the stars. We have a big telescope on the roof. I shall take you up there sometime.”

  “Hmmm… all twenty-seven houses and to the roof to see the telescope. Seems like you’re going to have to take me many places,” she teased.

  “I would show you the world if you wished.” I enjoyed our line of conversation.

  “Interesting the world could be fun. Perhaps someday I will take you up on that.”

  “In due time, my dear,” I replied.

  Her demeanor changed and it seemed like some type of light turned on in her head.

  “Did John have any future visions of me?” she asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice. I sat up and got serious. What do I tell her? The truth or can I lie.

  “Yes.”

  “When?” she asked.

  Why did she have to ask me this?

  “The first day we heard you were coming to Deia and after you and I were conversing by the ocean,” I answered.

  “Wait, before you even met me?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did John see?” she asked again.

  “Kasey, maybe we should…”

  She interrupted me. “Dion, I have a right to know. Good or bad, what did he see?”

  Hesitant and ill feeling, I answered. “He saw us…and you…you told me you loved me.” I murmured the words.

  Her jaw dropped and her eyes stood still in shock. This was as uncomfortable for her as it was for me. How could she see this coming?

  “Oh, um…” She turned bright red. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “There is nothing you have to say. Let me take you home now?” I stood from the bed. I wanted nothing more than to give her a reassuring hug, but I held back.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” she whispered.

  We walked into the hall, down the stairs, out the front door, and into my Mini Cooper in utter silence. When we reached the end of the driveway she spoke again, “How much of what John sees comes true?”

  “All of it.” I looked straight at the road.

  “So fate is predestined no matter what?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh…” She did not like my reply. “Dion, What did Martin see?”

  “The first time he saw a man.”

  “What man?”

  “Martin described him as being our age with curly dirty blonde hair and tan.”

  Based on her expression I thought she recognized the man I was describing.

  “Kasey, let me explain John and Martin’s abilities, and perhaps you can better deal with their visions. In the beginning, after we awoke from our sleep, they struggled. They were unable to control the visions and an attack happened at any minute. They would get visions of death all the time. It took us many years of working together to try to help them learn how to keep it under control.”

  “Now, they rarely get a spontaneous vision, only if someone close to them is in danger, or a major event is about to happen. For the most part, they can summon up what they wish to see. For example Elena Castillo, we are close to her family and were close to her. The minute she got into the car Martin and John received their visions. Even so, we were still too late. It is not a perfected science. For a few years, they decided to work with the police. Focusing on the crime scene, they could see how the murder happened and where the killer was hiding. They did not do that for too long. All the death got to them. With you, because of your…well your…future connection to me, the mention of your name gave them an instant vision.”

  “Dion, about what they saw for me…”

  “Kasey wait, before you go on any further let me say this. I have been accustomed to their fortunetelling for hundreds of years. The best advice I can give is this, yes, fate will happen the way it is intended, but it is not going to ensue sooner than meant to. Even though John sees the future, the future must happen in its right place in time. It is impossible to speed it up. Do you understand this?” I parked the car in front of el Restaurante Caracoles.

  “I understand. I think.” As fast as she could she opened the car door and got out. I raced with my ability to meet her before she entered the restaurant. With a gentle grip, I held her forearm.

  “Are you alright?
” I asked.

  Kasey forced a smile. “Yeah, of course.” She looked away. She was lying.

  She leaned up and kissed my cheek.

  I released my hold on her and she entered the restaurant.

  8. Kasey and Destiny

  “Kasey, he is so hot! We are going dancing tonight in Palma. Would you like to come?” Madhu and I shared a big bowl of Catalan cream at el Restaurante Caracoles. She had stopped by for lunch and we were finishing desert.

  “I’m sorry, Madhu, but correct me if I’m wrong. Aren’t you engaged?”

  “No, I am betrothed. Not the same thing. Plus how could I pass up this beautiful Italian bombshell that moved into my building?” She had an exaggerated way about her.

  “Are you allowed to see other men knowing that you are supposed to marry some guy back in Bangladesh?”

  “Yes, I do not have to marry until we are both finished with school. I can see other people as long as I remember not to get too close. If I get too close, I leave.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t believe you.”

  “I do not have to worry about my parent’s watchful eyes over here. I am going to explore as much as I can before I have to play housewife for the rest of my life.”

  We spoke in depth on the subject of arranged marriages. I never understood how calm she was about the whole thing. She accepted it as part of her culture, and it wasn’t a big deal. Madhu found it amusing that the whole concept would irritate me. I was willing to go to war with her parents and battle this backward notion. She didn’t want any of that. She liked the guy she was supposed to marry, and they knew each other since they were kids.

  “So, Kasey will you come out dancing in Palma tonight?” She questioned a second time.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Sure, that might be fun.”

  She took another spoonful of cream. “Why not call Dion, and ask him to come?”

  “Hmmm…” I shook my head no and took another serving of cream.

  “How long has it been since you guys have spoken?”

  “Three weeks.”

  “Kasey, why not call him?”

  “I got my license and Fernando helped me rent a car. I don’t need him to drive me anymore. He was someone who did something nice for me nothing more.” I played with the silver spoon. I avoided the Kleon family as if they were a nest of snakes. They didn’t come every night to the restaurant like before. I suspected they respected my wishes and stayed away.

  “Well, that is the biggest bull I ever heard,” she said.

  “What?”

  “Come on Kasey anyone could see you two connected. I do not know what happened, but it has bothered you all these weeks. You know you want to talk to him. Call him, and invite him to go dancing.”

  “What do you mean we connected?”

  “Kasey it was obvious. You two are disgustingly adorable. I shall see you both tonight.” She smiled and stood to go.

  “Madhu…I …don’t think…” The cream sat heavy.

  “Bernando and I will pick you both up at ten thirty.” With that, she left the restaurant.

  After clearing the dishes, I went upstairs to find Garcia sitting in front of a chess board. He was staring at the pieces scattered as if they were in play.

  “What are you doing?” I broke his concentration.

  “I like to practice. My father is quite good, and one day I shall defeat him.”

  I loved how close the Castillos were. Garcia always looked after Rodrigo and never complained about it. They enjoyed each other’s company. Fernando and Beatriz were model parents, the kind I never had. Their only fault was that the restaurant took too much of their private time, so it left them with little free time. That’s why I think the boys were so close. The whole family willingly helped with the family business, even Catalina. There was no question where their priorities lie. I sat down across from Garcia and asked, “Want to play a short round?”

  “Short,” he asked confused. “Chess is not short,” he informed me.

  “Well, against me, I bet it will be the quickest game you ever won.” I placed the pieces in the starting position.

  His eyes lit up, “Let us play then.”

  As we moved our pawns one at a time I said, “Tell me about Catalina. How was she before?”

  I wanted to be cautious and not bring up anything that would be too sad for him to relive.

  “She was a weirdo, but not this strange. She and Elena were close. Like Rodrigo and I. I think Elena kept her a little normal. So when she passed, Catalina lost it.” He shrugged and moved another pawn.

  “How did you do that?” His pawns progressed. “Does she hate Americans because of Elena’s boyfriend?”

  “Yes, she thinks Americans are reckless and don’t care about anyone. But you are not like that Kasey, you are very nice.” He reminded me of my little brother, they were the same age. Garcia blushed slightly and took another knight from me.

  We played for about an hour, and he pulverized me. After our game, he went to help downstairs, and I headed for my room. Every day I checked my phone about ten times waiting for Dion’s number to pop up. It hadn’t. What would I say to him? How am I supposed to ask him to go dancing when we haven’t spoken in three weeks? He might not even come.

  Would his brothers have told him I would be calling? Was I to go out with him tonight? I stood in front of my desk with my phone in hand. I found his number, then I put the phone down and sat on my bed. If I call him would I be setting into motion a chain of predestined events? Then again, am I being over analytical? I did miss his chats. My gut feeling screamed danger, warning. Then again, I have always been attracted to things I shouldn’t. I walked over to the phone and pressed the talk button.

  It rang once, please let it go to voice mail, it rang twice, three times. “How have you been Kasey?” His deep, lyrical voice came through.

  I let out the breath I was holding. Why did he have to pick up?

  “I’m …I’m good and you?”

  “I have been well. So, you can drive. What car did you rent?”

  “A Suzuki Jimny. It’s nice, but it’s no Mini Cooper.”

  He laughed, “I knew you had a good sense about you when it came to cars.”

  I envisioned his alluring smile.

  “Yeah, I was calling because Madhu, some guy she met, and I are going dancing tonight in Palma. We wanted to know if you would like to go.”

  He snickered, “We…huh…sounds like fun. I would love to go out on a date tonight.”

  I cringed at his comment. He knew! I bet he knew I would call.

  “Okay…yeah…um… they are going to be here at ten thirty.”

  “Not a problem. If it is all right, could I arrive early? Would ten fifteen work?”

  “That’s fine.”

  “See you then.” He said and clicked the phone off.

  I let out a huge sigh. That went oddly well. I couldn’t believe that I called him. Now, how do I get the nerve to go out on a date? My anxiety level rose. I worried about his expectations. Did he think of me as the perfect woman predestined for him? What if he’s disappointed? We are so different, yet there was something about our differences, I couldn’t resist. My thoughts were driving me crazy. If I was going out late, I needed a nap. The drowsiness, quietness, and the stillness of the room lent itself to the perfect afternoon siesta.

  ******

  A few hours later, I awoke feeling refreshed. I jumped into the shower for a rapid wash. Standing in front of my armoire, I faced the most difficult choice of the night. What do I wear? I wasn’t exactly the clubbing type and my wardrobe definitely did not lend itself to the occasion. What would he be wearing? More importantly, what would he like to see me wear? Did he like the short skirt and string tops that girls normally wore to clubs?

  He’s two thousand years old. What kind of woman would someone like him want? I grabbed all my skirts and threw them on my bed. Then I grabbed the sexiest night appropriate tops and began my wardrobe debac
le. After many attempts, I went back into my armoire and pulled out my only special occasion outfit. My mid-thigh ivory slip with a detailed lace overlay. The sleeves flared out at my elbows. The dress belonged to my father’s mother, Adora. She passed away when he was young. I let my curls fall free and slid on my white knee-high leather boots.

  Wrapped up in getting ready, I lost complete track of time. The knock on my door came as a surprise. Was he here already? I picked up my phone and sure enough, the numbers read ten fifteen. Crap, I went over to the door.

  “Hi. Impeccable timing,” I said. He was dressed in a shimmery black shirt and white slacks. Dion looked flawless.

  “I am usually punctual. You look stunning.” He smiled, leaned forward, and tried to peck my cheek. Nervous, I stepped back, so that he couldn’t. He sighed disappointed.

  “Thank you. I wasn’t sure what to wear.” I turned from him into my room.

  “Good choice. What happened in here? It looks as bad as my room.” He viewed my clutter.

  “This doesn’t even come close to that bad,” I said closing the door. “I have a few things to finish up. Make yourself at home. Where ever you can.” I walked into the bathroom but left the door opened in case he wanted to talk.

  “So,” his voice came through the crack, “How have you been, Kasey?”

  “Good.” I left it at that. I began to apply my eyeliner.

  “Just good? Last time we talked…well…we had an interesting day.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “I must admit I am pretty surprised that you did not call earlier. I thought you had many questions. Then when you do call you invite me out on a date.”

  “Whoa…we are just going dancing with other people. This was Madhu’s idea.” I said, coming out of the bathroom.

  He sat on my desk chair with a very sexy grin. My cheeks blushed.

  “Dancing, with another couple, it sounds to me like a double date. But call it as you wish.”

  I huffed.

  “I…I don’t know why I didn’t call Dion. I guess it was all overwhelming and I was nervous.”