What did...you know, maybe I don't want to know. I think I'll just enjoy the dance while I can.
I thought about it for a long while as I watched Solomon take his position across from me in the circle. He was North—my true North. I could not, for the life of me, imagine what could have instilled such hostility and angst from my future self towards him.
The DANCE. BAH! What does Garth Brooks have to do with anything?
I was angry, hurt. It felt as if an old Garth Brooks song seemed to rip off old scars, leaving them open for the world to see and gawk at.
The dance—the chance to experience love with Solomon. He loves me and I won't ever believe otherwise.
Believe otherwise, Celeste. Don't be a fool and set your heart on someone that isn't dependable. Stop putting your faith in the bad boy when a bad boy is all he will ever be. He's a vampire—Father told you that.
My mind made a big clicking noise. Father? FATHER?! Are you saying that Dylan influenced you to keep you away from Solomon? What a jerk!
I wanted to start pacing the circle and begin pulling out my hair in huge fistfuls. That old man of mine was really beginning to get my goat and I wanted to give him an earful. He wasn't going to sway my opinion of Solomon no matter what. I could see how fickle and hostile I had become after Dylan's influence. I was going to do everything that I could to ensure that my opinions stayed my own. There was so much more to this than I could have ever guessed. This was something that I would have to take measure of in the future—something to pick apart.
I stood helpless as Other Me did all of the work. Really, she was one powerful nutjob. She blew away a clearing full of shadow demons and cleared the path for our future in a short, thirty-minute period. She deserved some respect, but I just couldn't trust her—she didn't love or trust Solomon. Or maybe she does still love him and he hurt her...terribly. I shuddered mentally again.
After everything was done, my vision went black and my body fell loosely into someone's arms. My conversation was broken and my thoughts began to haze as I struggled to gain consciousness. The darkness seemed insurmountable, though. Like a velvet tomb that had been wrapped around me to fit me perfectly and remove all of my will to struggle. But I was struggling—my mind, my body, every inch of my hope was struggling for control. Eventually I gave in—the darkness overtook me and I lost all consciousness.
22
The world began to swirl in a gust of motion. I finally found myself sitting in the mist...the mist that I had transported myself to before when I had a long heart-to-god conversation with Dylan, my father. Pushing off of the ground, I tried to lift myself onto my feet but I had to struggle to get even to my knees. Sitting there on all fours, I panted and looked at my hands, stretching out and gripping the misty floor like I was holding on for dear life.
Pushing out a gusty breath, I imagined myself standing—first up to my knees, hunching over, and then finally standing at my full height. I shrugged off the thoughts that were washing over my mind. Confusion, chaos, anger—all of them wanted to be at the forefront, but I couldn't allow them to take over my self-control. I had to be in charge.
Shaking my head, I cleared my mind and took a labored step forward. I wasn't pinned to my spot as I had been before, but I was thinking about every step as if it was my only thought. Just by doing so, I was able to control the prison around me. Well, I guess it wasn't truly a prison, but it felt like one because I honestly didn't want to be there. Closing my eyes, I released a cleansing breath.
"Well," a deep voice rose behind me, "it seems that you have survived no worse for the wear."
I turned around to eye Dylan standing before me in all of his ocean god glory.
"What do you want now?" I tried not to sound disrespectful, but I wasn't in a good mood, so it just came out that way. "I don't remember thinking about coming to this...place." I looked around to see if I could recognize the beach that had been in the background the last time that I had seen him.
"Ahhh, Celeste, you must know that I cannah keep away from mah daughter." He smiled down at me with his ocean orbs for eyes. They swirled in beautiful greens and blues that gave no semblance of anger. He was actually happy. No, I looked again. He looked...proud. GRRRRR!
"Tsk, Tsk, Celeste. You have done what you have set out to do." He nodded down at me as his hair swirled around him in undulating waves. That looks so very familiar. "I will soon have a granddaughteh." He leaned back and bellowed a deep, gusty laugh. "Ahh, it's been so long since I have had a little one on mah lap!" His eyes began to glow as his Scottish brogue became thicker and richer, mixed in with other random inflections.
My body shook in anger to his laughter. "Will you just stop it please?" I tried to keep from leaping across him and yanking on his annoying hair. "What do you want?" When it came out of my mouth I shut it tight to keep from saying anything more.
Dylan paused as he heard the tone in my voice and eyed me cautiously. "Hmmm, yes." He reached up with his huge hand and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well," his accent was back to American now, "I have brought you here to discuss your powers."
I eyed him suspiciously. "You know, to be honest, I don't think I could really say that it was me doing all of the work at the ritual. It was me but it wasn't me. Ahhhhg," I shook my head frustratedly, "I know it was me but I didn't do all of that—it was me from the future. At least I think it was me from the future." I was confusing myself. This is all just so very Twilight Zone that I don't know if it's me talking right now.
Dylan laughed deeply as he continued to eye me. "Well, yes, it was you from the future. I understand what you are talking about." He smiled down at me with kind eyes.
"Really?" I squeaked. "Can you explain it to me?" I must have looked pitiful because he nodded gently down at me as he reached out for my hand.
I looked down at his huge glove of a hand and gulped loudly before I placed my tiny hand in his. His fingers wrapped around mine like they were holding the handle to a bicycle, squeezing ever-so-gently. It was amazing to think that this ancient god knew how to be gentle at all. My mind eased slightly at the thought that I was actually safe in his hands.
"Look, at this point you just don't know enough about magic to control all of it yet. You can't control the pent-up energy and swirling magic like a true master can. At least, not yet."
"But..." He put his other hand up in the air to silence me. Really? My father's telling me to 'talk to the hand'?! My eyebrows furrowed at the hand and he switched it to holding up just his index finger. It was like he was saying 'I'm number one and don't you forget it.' Silly.
Dylan frowned down at me and I knew that he was reading my thoughts yet again.
"Your daughter has been conceived. And now it is time that you relinquish...some of your powers." His voice was level. He was trying to give me bad news kindly and I knew it, but I didn't know if it really was bad news. I honestly didn't want all of the power that I had wielded at the clearing—it was frightening to think that I was actually that powerful. And with that power, I had accepted crazy notions like Solomon wasn't good for me. THAT was the kicker. I knew that Solomon was good for me and I was good for him. We were meant to be together. But staring down at me was one of my largest roadblocks to that beautiful future—my father, the stick-in-the-mud.
I shrugged at him. "What does some of my powers mean?"
"Well, you will retain a good portion of what I have returned to you. But I must buffer out the ones that could cause devastating harm to those around you." He sounded hesitant and I didn't understand why. This sounded like a good thing to me.
I eyed him from head to foot. It's funny that I hadn't noticed that he was wearing beachcomber wear complete with the tan cargo shorts, button down Hawaiian shirt and sandals. He looked absolutely ridiculous, but I didn't dare put it into words or even thoughts—he would have caught it all.
"Okay." I replied simply.
Dylan looked taken aback with mild shock. Huh, I guess you can surprise a god. A s
mile began to form on my lips as I watched him try to gather his wits about him.
"You're...okay with my removing powers from you?" He sounded even stranger as he put the confusion to words. I nodded up at him, and then looked down at my hand hidden in his.
"It's for the best, I know." I looked back up at his eyes as they seemed to ebb with emotions.
He just nodded as he looked down at his hand as well. "Then it is agreed."
His hand began to glow with a rich green glow as my hand returned the favor and glowed with blue. Together there were lights pouring out of our joined hands that streamed across the mist like a crazy disco ball in a bad 70's movie. The lights sprayed across Dylan's face as he looked down at our hands as if he were concentrating on something complicated. Finally the lights died down and he reached over with his other hand to pat our clasped hands in front of him. Basically he was patting his own hand because mine was so small and feeble compared to his that it was almost lost completely.
"You're a good girl." He nodded at me now with a look of remorse in his eyes. "I know that you have gone through quite a challenge and you have many more that await you. But you are a good leader, a good queen. You have always been strong and that strength will carry you through so much more."
I looked at him in wonder. "Okaaaay." There were questions left to ask about what he had just said, but my mind was racing—clearer. I could think again and wrap my mind around many different issues at once. It was like I had a cavern of space in my mind and I could answer questions that had been plaguing me for years. That's new.
"Yes," Dylan smiled as he continued to pat his hand. "You have new abilities because I have removed others. Because you are no longer laden with the power for destruction, the power for peace and concentration are free to take hold. There are many other new abilities that will surface in time. You will be much more than you ever have been, and radically stronger." He smiled down at me.
"But...I thought that you were taking powers away...not giving more to me." I suddenly felt heavy with responsibility while all I really wanted to be was free. It instantly came to my mind that I had always wanted to be free—to be normal. I instantly knew that this was never going to be the case—not while I was alive.
Dylan's eyes swirled and lit up as if someone had turned the light on to the giant aquarium in his head. "Well, I guess that's it." He released my hand from his and I felt it fall to my side.
That's IT? That was all? Huh, that was easy.
Dylan's forehead creased as he turned slightly to his side as if he heard something that he didn't expect. "Huh, I guess it was easy. But not everything has to be difficult. Just remember that."
A sigh of relief escaped me as I turned towards the outskirts of the mist and noticed the outline of the Learjet on the tarmac at Durango's airport. "So I just go back. Nothing else?"
Dylan thought about it for a minute and then twitched his head again, tilting it to the side. He sighed deeply as he turned back to me and nodded toward the ground.
"Nothing else." His words seemed insincere, but I was going to take them and run.
I turned towards the misted outline of the Learjet and began to walk away, thanking my lucky stars that nothing else had been discussed.
"Oh, one more thing." Dylan's voice boomed behind me, sending a sudden icy chill up my spine like fingertips tickling my back.
I stopped in mid-step and turned my head towards him, clearly indicating that I was on my way out. "Yes?"
"Stay away from the vampire." He huffed. The mist around me seemed to swirl with the gust of his breath. "And the demon too." And then he was gone.
23
I stepped out of the mist to find Solomon standing at the steps to Leo's Learjet. My heart immediately began to pound like a sprinter on a weekend relay. My feet stopped in their tracks of their own volition—I was frozen.
My mind was cycling rapidly through all of the possible reasons for my behavior before. What was he going to think? What explanation could ever cover what happened? Would he be kind if I told him the truth? Would he be as troubled as I was with my future self? I was going to have to broach the subject soon because the expression on his face spoke of utter pain.
I turned my head from side to side—appearing as if I were assessing the environment. Honestly, I was trying to shake all of the negative thoughts and anxious fears from my mind. I could never really function like that. Who could?
Solomon looked as if he wasn't shocked that I had just appeared on the tarmac. His eyes held mine for a few seconds longer than was comfortable and then he took a step closer to me, pausing to gauge my reaction. He was nervous...possibly even afraid.
How could a vampire that was 650 years old be afraid of anything? I scanned him again. His eyes showed it all—he was definitely afraid. He was afraid of me.
My eyes guiltily sought the ground for comfort. I didn't want to see his eyes full of pain and questions—it was just too much for me to bear. I shook my head again to clear my mind and then I looked up at him once more.
This was not a situation that I had ever pictured myself in—having to face Solomon after I had hurt him so badly. Well, it wasn't you doing the hurting, so we just need to communicate and get over it. Communicate. WOW, I really sounded like a therapist. Do I even trust therapists? Hmm, going to have to come back to that one.
Solomon took another tentative step in my direction as I eyed him. Hot Hades, he was gorgeous. The darkness cast shadows all over him, adding a darker tone to his dirty-blond hair. He was insanely handsome, and my knees went weak just thinking about him, much less drinking him in like I was at the moment. I felt like an old woman in the audience of La Bare's—I didn't belong here, this close to a man that was as close to physical perfection as anyone could ever dream of.
"Celeste?" His voice shook slightly as he reached out for me with his powerful arm, I mean hand. Gosh! Why am I staring at his bulging arms?!
"Yes?" I sounded stupid as I answered his question with a question. Really? I didn't have to pretend that I had no idea that I had been a cold, and aloof wonder woman of the supernatural. He already knew all of that. No, no, no! I was framed!
Solomon turned his head slightly sideways and smirked with the sexiest expression I had seen in a very long time. He knew what I was doing and he actually thought it was kind of funny. Even sexier. I loved him even more for that. My heart swelled so quickly that I felt a sharp, beautiful pain underneath my breastbone. It spread across my chest and almost shattered my facade.
I smiled coyly up at him as he turned back to face me completely, his eyelids dropping just low enough to make his steamy eyed expression appear almost scalding. Pausing for a second with a lifted hand, Solomon finally reached over and offered me his arm. YES! Come to Mama, biceps!
I accepted his arm as I slowly ran my fingers across his bulging muscles and golden-toned skin. I was suddenly inundated by his manly scent and I closed my eyes to drink in the memories of us together. Every fragrance that made his true smell was full of separate memories and thoughts that we had shared—it was like taking a trip down memory lane in just one whiff. Forcing my eyes open, I looked up to find Solomon's blue-green eyes shining down on me. The sound of the ocean suddenly crashed in my ears. Oh my gosh! This guy is so HOT that the ocean is the only thing that can cool me down.
Stay away from the vampire! Dylan's voice rattled in my ears.
I'll take that into consideration, thank you for your input. I smiled back up at Solomon as he turned us toward the hatch steps of the Learjet. Would you please butt out of my love life? I knew that was going to push him.
LOVE LIFE? Dylan's voice shook in my mind.
Of course. Now, thank you for your help. I have friends to see and places to go.
Friends. That really was the truth—I had friends beyond Tisha, and I was in the center of one strong, complicated, dysfunctional, and beautiful family. I smiled to myself as Solomon let me go up the stairs first, patting my hip as I pulled
myself up. Well, he really was sort of grazing my hip—his hand was elsewhere.
"Hey, watch it, mister." I teased as I sped up the steps, attempting to get away from Solomon's reach.
"I am watching it—that's why I had to pat it." I heard Solomon's smiling voice behind me as we walked up the steps. Well, there goes the tension between us. Thank goodness!
As I stepped into the cabin, my spirits lifted. My family was surrounding me with anxious faces. I sighed as I walked through the cabin, every eye in the room watching me cautiously. Sitting down slowly into my chair next to Jack, I leaned forward onto my knees and sighed.
"Okay, let's have it."
Silence clung to the air for about one minute and then, true to form, Von had to open his big mouth.
"So. What the hell happened? Why were you acting that way? How the HELL did you blast all of those shadow demons away?" The questions were always so many and opportunities to answer so few with Von. My eyes automatically rolled in their sockets in response to his questions and I was deeply hoping that he wasn't going to miss it.
"You know, Von. I don't miss the questions when we are separated."
Jack snickered next to me as he leaned his shoulder in for a quick tap. He was so thick and sturdy that it was easy to sway with his weight. My eyes took in his disheveled hair, his deep, hollow eyes and I knew—he had much more to be upset about than I could ever dream about.
"Are you okay, Jack? How are you holding up?" I leaned into him and reached over to lay my hand on his.
Jack looked down at my hand and then sighed. "Yeah, I'm going to be okay. Just...," he looked away because he obviously couldn't finish the thought.
"Not right now." I squeezed his hand as I looked at the back of his head.
His hair was in fits of matted strands of hair—whipped into a frenzy from the wind and dirt that had helped to decorate it. He was sporting a windblown, tangled shaggy dog appearance and that definitely would not do. So, being one of his closest friends, I immediately began to do what I could. I reached up and began to brush his hair out with my fingers until his shoulders shot up to shrug me off. My hand drifted back down to my lap. He couldn't handle being touched right now—the hurt was too deep and too raw.
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