“It’s weird.” Fale stepped inside. “But I’m not mad.”
“The assignment was to practice; it was what I got on you that was weird.” He crossed his arms, taking up half the space in his small entryway.
Fale was instantly intrigued. Something strange was definitely happening to her, but she didn’t know if she believed in reading the future or all Lisle’s spiritual mumbo-jumbo. “Do tell,” she said excitedly.
Lisle ushered her in and offered Fale a seat with his hand. Then he asked, “Would you like tea?”
“Sure.” Waiting impatiently for his revelation, she bounced her knee hastily. “Thank you."
Within a minute, Lisle handed her oolong tea with two sugars, the way she liked it, and Fale blew on it before taking a sip. Tea always calmed her nerves. Some kind of backwards chemical reaction to caffeine.
“When did you receive the gift of Sight?” Lisle asked unexpectedly.
Fale spit her tea all over the pillow next to her. “I’m sorry. Um, I didn’t anticipate that question. Why do you ask, Lisle?”
“I told you. I read it. You do have the gift, right?” Lisle leaned forward in his chair, careful to catch her every word.
“How could you know? I only found out yesterday. This was your assignment? And now your council of wizards know about this?” Fale felt panicky. How many people knew her secrets? Could any good come of this? She refocused, wizards only played at magic, right? This was Lisle.
“Yes, my leader knows, but what does it have to do with anything?”
“Probably nothing, but I don’t know who to trust. The visions started when I turned 18 and now they feel stronger. At first, they were feelings, then conversations, now scenes of events have started to come true.” Fale set her tea down and stared Lisle in the eye.
“Wow. You’re stronger than I thought then. From what the books said, you shouldn’t be this far along yet.”
“Lisle, you’re talking in riddles.” She gave a slight shake of her head. Was there a book on Sight? Of course, there must be, there couldn’t be a book on her.
“Sorry,” he said, adjusting the height of his black metal framed glasses. “I get excited when I encounter something so unusual.”
“Thanks,” Fale said dryly, but Lisle didn’t catch her sarcasm.
“You’re welcome. What did you come over for? Did you need something?" Lisle’s friendly smile marginally relaxed Fale. He ran a hand through his shock of uncombed blond hair.
“I wanted to tell you about these visions I’m having-“
“The gift of Sight.”
“Yes, Sight. And ask you what you know about it? What it means? Why me?”
“That’s easy. First, the definition of the gift of Sight:” Lisle picked up a book nearby and slid his finger along the text. “Upon a predestined time, the bearer will receive dreams, trances, visions of true events for the purpose of fulfilling a destiny and/or righting a wrong." He put the book down. “Second, what it means? You have a purpose to fulfill or a wrong to make right. And third, why you? Because you hold a great power- I saw it, I can feel it, but it’s dormant, I guess. Wow, it’s big, though.”
“Are you being serious right now? I can’t tell." Fale narrowed her eyes at Lisle who blew his breath out like a blustering horse.
“Of course I’m serious. I’m always serious.”
“Who else would know my visions, Lisle?”
“No one. They belong to you. Unless,” he paused. “Hmmm.”
“Unless what?” Fale pushed. She was sitting so far forward; her knees were touching the coffee table. Lisle’s train of thought was often dizzying to follow, so she didn’t want him to get too lost in his thoughts or she’d never catch up.
“I guess some serious black magic could be used to break the rules, but nobody around here has enough power individually.”
“What about a secret group? Nelson said my father met with a secret group that may have had something to do with his death…”
“It’s possible, but no one else would want to know what you’re seeing. It’s all personal information regarding you. Not that you aren’t fascinating.” Lisle’s cheeks were scarlet.
“Lisle, I know someone sees my visions. I changed the outcome of one and it saved Keron’s life. Now someone is after me. I had to change a vision this morning to escape a kidnapper, and my apartment was ransacked. I can feel the danger I’m in, and I’m afraid whoever knows my visions is one step ahead of me. I’m worried if I don’t change every vision now, my own life’s future could be unstable.”
“Fale, are you safe now?”
“I hope so. I’m staying at a friend’s tonight, and Nelson gave me some info on an object they seem to be after.”
“I thought you implied they were after you.”
“I’m not sure what they want.” Fale shrugged.
“What are these ‘secret people’ coming for?” Lisle held up his fingers in air quotes.
“A key I have.” Fale spread her hands. “I think.” She slumped back against the seat and sighed.
“Must be special. What else can you tell me about it?”
“I don’t know much yet about how it is important. All I know is my father gave it to me, and it means my life.” She didn’t want to tell Lisle too much about the key, in case his leader asked him any more questions. Her father had said it was her destiny. Had he had a vision of this? Could all this running away be the pointless destiny she had thought would be so important one day? What a cruel joke that would be.
“I can run it by my council leader if you want, and see if he has any more in depth readings for you.”
“Do you trust him?” she asked.
“Yes,” he nodded.
“I don’t know about this, Lisle. I guess you can.”
“Do you know what it goes to?” he asked.
“I have an idea, but it isn’t solid,” Fale said. “I took some notes from Nelson’s books on old lore and the key might go to an important machine, but it’s about that vague. It’s called the Key of Effailya.”
“Sorry, I’ve never heard of it.” Lisle shook his head slowly, pouring himself another cup of tea. “But I haven’t read all the sacred history yet. Maybe I should start?”
“Can you get the gift of Sight and find out what’s going on?" Fale asked.
“No,” Lisle cleared his throat. “It’s a different kind of magic. Wizardry is conjured by mortals in spells and readings, etcetera. It’s a darker magic in color. The gift of Sight comes from natural magic; it’s passed down from parent to child. Did your father have it? Do you know?”
“Nelson said he did.” Fale nodded. She sipped her tea and leaned forward in the plush purple chair, Lisle’s deep violet curtains throwing patterns over the coffee table. His apartment was dim and lit with glowing orbs of all colors and sizes. Lisle was a collector of antique orbs.
“Perfect, then we know its origin. Did he practice any other types of magic?” Lisle asked.
“I wouldn’t know,” Fale said dejectedly. “He kept so much from me.”
“It seems to me like he was protecting you from something,” Lisle offered.
“How can I fight what I don’t know?" Fale lamented, finishing her tea.
“Let me read your leaves,” he said, reaching for her hand. Fale handed Lisle the cup and felt it tip out of her grip as her vision warbled.
It was at that moment, she plunged gracefully into a trance. It felt like traveling through water, being weightless, but warm and tingly. She let go of the teacup and it was as if she let go of her body, floating like a balloon. Everything went black.
Suddenly she was outside in a very real storm, covering her head from the rain, and running with a little girl toward shelter.
Where am I?
The humidity was stifling and the rain pelted down against her skin like tiny shards of ice. A robot stepped before her. No, not completely a machine. A fully metal bodied man with a fleshy human face and what looked to be a blood
y heart encased in thick glass in its chest. He stepped in front of her and grabbed her by her short hair as she slid to a halt.
Since when do I have short hair?
“Where do you think you’re going? Get back to work! You aren’t metal, the rain won’t rust you.” The guard threw her on the ground into the slimy mud that soaked her rough cotton pants.
The guard pulled out a baton and raised his arm. “I said, get back to work!”
He cracked the baton against her head and Fale saw stars dancing in a midnight sky. He was about to strike her again when the young girl next to her raised both hands and shouted, “Go away.”
Fale’s mouth dropped open in shock as he did what the little girl said, and widened her eyes looking upon the girl with curious admiration. How is this possible? The girl looked deep into Fale’s eyes and said, “You’re not my brother. Who are you? Get out.”
Fale was instantly pulled back into Lisle’s living area. “That was interesting,” he said in the greatest understatement in the history of Algea. The magazines, candles, side table and pillows around Fale had been thrown askew.
“What was?” Fale asked, looking around.
“Meeting the young man who just astral projected into your body, I assume.” He was bouncing with excitement.
“In layman’s terms, Lisle.”
“It appears you switched places,” he said. “You entered his head wherever he lives, and he was here in your body.”
“Oh, geez. It’s not even possible. Now I’m switching places with a boy? How does this all tie together? I’ve never been to that place Lisle; I was in a grassy field. Real grass everywhere, not potted plants, I’ve never seen anything like it outside of books. And there were completely metal men; one was going to hit me but a little girl made him go away. Then she… pushed me out. She said I was her brother. Actually, she could tell I was not her brother. What kind of magic did you do to me?” Fale held her head and posted her elbows on her knees.
“It wasn’t me, for sure. I had no idea what was happening. It scared the bejeebers out of the boy, too. I don’t think he’s used to indoor lighting." Lisle smiled to himself and his deep brown eyes crinkled at the corners. “Quite a few rude accusations, I must say. His speech was accented and he didn’t appreciate being in your body. I would like to see it again.”
“I wouldn’t,” Fale nearly yelled at him. “I didn’t like being projected into his body, any more than he did mine. How can I stop this from happening again?”
“I can only guess it was because you weren’t in control of your thoughts and the magic took over,” Lisle suggested. “Keep your focus strong and don’t let your mind wander or you may slide into whatever connection you have with this person. I can’t figure out… You said a grassy field?” Fale nodded. “No indoor electricity.” Lisle thought out loud.
“I saw lots of huts, and I heard animals; like the Stockyards, but there are no small cities outside of there. Where could he be from?” Fale asked.
Lisle grasped his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I can’t think of anywhere on Algea that fits all of those qualities at the same time. Even Harvest Region has electricity, and not much space for empty fields, though it is spring. We would have heard of a nomad tribe with metal men, wouldn’t we? Maybe one of the Islands?”
“I’m sure somewhere fits the description. But this was lush summer grass, Lisle. And the air was stifling, even though it was raining.”
“Hmmmm.”
“Have I stumped you finally?” she laughed. “Point one for me.”
“If it wasn’t the season we’re in…” She nodded for him to go on. “And you’re sure?" Fale’s eyebrows lifted and she tilted her head as if to say really? “Then it was probably another… hasn’t been done in centuries…" Lisle’s cat bound up on his lap and Fale jumped.
“Another what?” Fale asked impatiently.
“Huh?” Lisle lost his train of thought. “Oh, in the Crion language we call it a dimetiri, but I don’t know if that’s it at all. It’s another dimension, or plane of existence. I’ll look into it for you, if I have the time. I have a lot of extra work lately, but since it has involved fortune telling for my friends, it’s not too bad.”
“What’s the Crion language?” she asked.
“Someone wasn’t paying attention in history lectures,” Lisle chastised. “The language is pre-Algean, dating back to the archaic times. It’s widely used in spell books.”
Fale smoothed her now rumpled pants and stood, laughing lightly. “Thanks for all your help, Lisle, and the tea and history, but I really need to go. I have a class to train at the TacTrac tonight. By the way, what did my leaves say?”
“The colors are dark and I saw the shape of a dog…it means loyalty,” Lisle said. Fale smiled, thinking of Keron. Lisle picked up her cup, squinted and turned it clockwise in his palm. “And definitely a raven. That stands for some really bad fortune, friend.” Lisle looked over his glasses at her and rose to his full six feet of slender height.
Fale hugged him. “Oh, great.”
“Sorry I wasn’t more help, Fale.”
“It’s all right. At least I was with you when I astra-what?”
“Astral projected.” He swept Fale’s hair over her shoulder with the back of his hand.
“Oh yeah, see you, Lisle,” she said. “If you need me, send word by the TacTrac.”
“Okay. And I’m always here if you need me.” Lisle walked her out and closed the door. Fale stepped out of the alley to stand in the late afternoon sun. Her body shook with trepidation. What would Keron think if a boy suddenly popped up in her body? Could this new guy adapt to my world? Fale knew he wouldn’t be able to teach her classes or anything, but maybe he could learn to not freak out if it happened again. How would it be possible without having Lisle there to explain what was happening? She didn’t know what was occurring herself. Her anxiety was building with each heartbeat.
Fale was nearly to the TacTrac when she heard Izzy. “Hey Fale.” Izzy fell into step with her on the street.
“Hey Iz. How’s it going tonight?”
“Not bad. You got the Tigers’ class?”
“Yeah. They’re fun.”
“Better you than me.” Izzy flashed a bright smile. “Don’t forget, tonight’s the fundraiser. What are you doing after?”
“Ah, going to Keron’s.” Fale hesitated, pausing her steps in uncertainty. How much should she reveal?
“Reeeally.” Izzy’s smile grew wider. “Do tell.”
“It’s nothing, really. My place got broken into-“
Izzy looked taken aback. “Number one, why am I only now hearing about this? And two, why did you go to Keron and not me?” She pouted with arms akimbo.
“Sheesh Izzy. I just now saw you, and Keron was with me when it happened.”
“You sure are spending a lot of time with a guy who calls you ‘squirt’ like you’re five years old. I hope you don’t get attached again,” Izzy said.
“It’s Sprout, and I’m not. My head is in the game."
Sort of.
“Oh yeah, Sprout. Like that’s better.” Izzy rolled her eyes.
“He hasn’t called me Sprout since… well, the last couple of days,” Fale defended him.
“Yeah. You’re eighteen and can drink at the pub now,” Izzy sneered.
“What does that have to do with anything? Iz, I can’t have this conversation right now. I’m gonna be late.”
Fale ignored Izzy’s dark look of incredulity at being blown off and hiked her bag onto her shoulder. She hurried to her locker, changed, and spent the next few hours working with a class of young girls. Focus, Fale, she continued her mantra, emphasizing fluid movements and letting go of the stress she felt building like a tide coming in. Her life was becoming a puzzle, and she was missing pieces.
Since she had skipped her own challenging routine, she felt like she still had more energy to burn. Fale decided to forgo her usual shower. She left on her form fitting b
lack capri length pants, tank top, and soft black leather slip on shoes. When she took her bag off the peg, a piece of paper floated to the floor. It was a note from Izzy, “Sorry. I want you to have fun, but be careful. Heart you. Lunch tomorrow? Our pub at noon. –Iz”
Fale smiled, tucked the note in her bag and threw it across her body. She tightened the strap as far as it would go and began to run toward Keron’s apartment. She pumped her arms and imagined the grassy field from her vision, no, projection. Perspiration beaded on her skin as Fale’s muscles pushed past the burn, and she picked up speed. She flew like a star shooting across the night sky. She reached Keron’s building at ten ‘til seven, and she decided to stretch. Her body thrummed with dopamine and Fale pulled her limbs taut. She was in a squat with one leg out straight, toes up, when Keron’s voice resounded in the stairwell.
“You run here from the TacTrac in that?” He gestured to her outfit, sounding slightly impressed.
“Yep,” she confirmed. “And spare me the ‘predator lecture.’ I can take care of myself.” She smiled and flexed a bicep.
“I brought dinner.” He gave up on chastising her and held up a brown handled sack. “There’s not much food in the apartment.”
“Good. I’m famished.” She breathed deep, standing and jumping lightly.
Keron’s eyes took her in from her ponytail to her shoes in open appreciation. Fale’s cheeks turned pink and she lowered her lashes. She wasn’t used to so much attention. She had always worn flowy shapeless clothing, but her workout gear left little to the imagination. Keron opened the door, saw her embarrassment, and chuckled, “Come on, Sprout. Let’s eat." She felt better about the undesirable nickname this time.
Fale showered first in Keron’s gray-themed bathroom. The tub was tiled in tiny gray and white checkered squares and the vanity was made of white marble with veins of gray and silver. It had been furnished with a soft charcoal colored rug on the lighter shaded linoleum floor and four matching dark gray towels. Keron had his personal items laying out, but Fale used her own supplies and repacked them, not knowing what the next plan would be. She instantly felt anxiety about her situation. Where should she go now? Should she get another apartment? How long could they stay here before she put Keron in real danger? Fale put on large boxers, her University t-shirt, rolled up her hair, clipped it, on her way to the kitchen. Keron had laid out a fresh salad for her. “Thought you’d like something healthy.”
The Key of F: a young adult fantasy romance (Freedom Fight Trilogy Book 1) Page 6