Heart Seeker (The Fire Heart Chronicles Book 1)

by Juliana Haygert

  “Oh my.” Sheila rested her hand over her heart and leaned against her grandson.

  “I had to,” Theron said sheepishly. “He wouldn’t stay with the others, so to bring him here, I had to sedate him. I couldn’t let him go. Here we can protect him. Out there.” He pointed past us, to where the nearest border fence was. “He’s like us, something the alchemists want. His blood and his heart are more powerful than ours. And his fur too.

  “No, you didn’t need to,” I said. “He would have come.”

  Theron’s shoulder sagged a little. “I didn’t know that.”

  Sedating the cat hadn’t been nice, but I certainly agreed he was better protected in here.

  They only want what is best for you. For some reason, I felt a strong connection with the cat. I want what is best for you too. I won’t let them hurt you.

  “I can … I can feel you talking to the cat,” Sheila whispered. She was still in shock.

  “And?”

  “That’s never happened before,” Theron explained.

  “Your powers must be strong,” Sheila added.

  “Or Felix just likes me.” To prove my point, Felix licked my hand again.

  The gleam in Sheila’s eyes gave me goose bumps. “Could be.”

  Uncomfortable with such attention, I scanned the area and found Ramon watching from up the hill. His eyes met mine and he left, his expression unreadable, but definitely hard.

  Felix purred, and I gave my attention back to him. In a flash, the cat opened his huge mouth and closed it around my forearm. Sheila yelped and Theron ran over to me. But I only laughed. Felix teeth barely grazed my skin as he tugged me closer and played with my hand.

  Theron tsked, his eyes shining with fascination over the scene. “Now, that’s something you don’t see every day.”

  17

  There was nothing special about me. To Sheila’s dismay, I wasn’t as powerful as she thought I was. I stayed with Felix for a while, and then she urged me to go back to training. After a few failed exercises, it was crystal clear. Apparently, Felix had chosen me to be his friend—just that.

  “I don’t understand,” Sheila whispered somewhere around me.

  Seated on the grass with my eyes closed, I wasn’t allowed to sense any nearby presences for this exercise. But I was also failing at it.

  “What, puri daj?” Theron asked, somewhere to my right. I hadn’t sensed him, but I could hear from where his strong voice was coming.

  “Mirella talked to the cat,” Sheila continued. “He wouldn’t choose a weak tzigane, or even a regular one, to talk to.”

  Sighing, I opened my eyes. “I’m not as strong as you first thought. To be honest, I think I’m much weaker than all of you.”

  Sheila halted before me. “You’re supposed to be meditating with your eyes closed.”

  “We’re talking, not practicing.”

  Her lips pursed in a tight line. “Fine. Now tell me why you think you’re weaker than us?”

  I glanced at the grass under me and brushed my fingertips on a green, sharp blade. “I don’t know. I just feel like it.”

  Her voice softened as she said, “Explain to me what you feel. It would help us understand your limitations.”

  I stood and wiped the loose grass from my butt. “I’m weaker than a regular tzigane. Perhaps it has something to do with my bloodline. Perhaps, my mother isn’t a strong tzigane, and my father, whoever he was, was even worse?” I shrugged.

  “It’s a possibility,” Sheila whispered. The way she spoke, with her mind elsewhere and glassy eyes, raised goose bumps on my arms. “Still, the cat’s willingness to open up to you. That’s strange.”

  As if being a tzigane wasn’t strange.

  At least, she dropped the subject and gave up practicing for the day. We agreed to meet again on Sunday.

  On the way home, Theron whistled and bumped the wheel along with the reggaeton playing through the radio of his open-top Jeep without talking to me. Not even a single word. Nothing. Not even a quick glance.

  What was up with him? Was he hiding something too? Did he know something I didn’t?

  It didn’t matter. I wasn’t curious. Or so I told myself. But I shouldn’t be. I wasn’t learning more about my powers so I could become a tzigane. I was learning so I could use them to defend myself should the need arise. That was all.

  Theron parked his Jeep in front of my building then promptly twisted around in his seat, looking around. Even up to the trees lining the parking lot.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for Artan,” he said, a teasing tone in his voice. “He’s always here, and I enjoy arguing with him.”

  “Enjoy?”

  He turned a lopsided grin to me. “Yeah, it’s like being a warrior and like fighting, you know. Not that violence is a good thing. I just mean enjoying when you can beat the crap out of your opponent and you’re winning the fight. Just like that.”

  I shook my head. “You’re crazy.”

  He shrugged. “If you say so.”

  Theron was … fun. Spending time with him was freeing. I barely knew him, and yet I felt like I could relax and be myself, without any fear of judgment or being misinterpreted. I felt like we could talk about anything.

  “Hmm … Theron, I have a question.”

  He twisted in his seat, facing me. “Shoot.”

  “Do you know the Romani who go on Sundays to the Southend neighborhood?” He nodded. “Are they regular Romani?”

  He nodded again. “Yeah. They are the real Romani, you know, because their kind came before ours. But yeah, they are the real thing. They live in caravans just outside of town, moving around from town to town, but never going too far away. Then they come back.”

  “So … they are regular Romani, no powers?”

  “Their sixth sense is much more acute than gadjos’, and a rare few have some abilities like communicating telepathically or foreseeing the future.”

  “So their palm readings and fortune telling …?”

  He tilted his head at me, visibly curious. “I bet they say pretty things to enchant their clientele, but yes, I think some of them are being truthful.” I sucked in a sharp breath. Crap. “Why?”

  Should I tell him what that Romani woman said? Death is coming for you. If I told him, there was a high probability that he and the other warriors from Bellville would check on me more often. In turn, that would make Artan curious about why Bellville was so interested in me, and he and his band of warriors would start popping up more and more.

  No, thanks.

  “It’s nothing … I had to go there last month to buy new pointe shoes, and I saw them offering palm readings to everyone who walked by, and my curiosity was piqued. That was it.”

  Theron didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it either, and for that I was thankful. “Any more questions?” he teased.

  I shook my head. “Nope.”

  He leaned across the middle of the car and nudged me with his elbow. “Then get out of here. It’s late and I know you have ballet classes tomorrow morning.”

  It was still shocking that he—and Artan—knew my schedule by heart.

  Smiling at him, I opened the Jeep’s door. “See you Sunday.”

  “How about this one?” I pressed play on a silly song. I shook my arms and legs, making faces as if I couldn’t control my body. The little girls laughed and joined me, dancing silly too. All of them, except for Annie, who had stared at me with huge eyes during the entire class and had barely participated.

  Less than two minutes later, the song ended.

  “Again! Again!” they shouted.

  “We don’t have time.” I pointed to the clock above the door. “It’s time to go.”

  “Nooooo …” they said in unison.

  It warmed my heart to see them happy during my class. I promised them that we would dance silly longer in our next class, then ushered them out of the classroom, to their waiting parents. I glanced out the door and didn’t s
ee Phillip waiting for Annie. Sometimes, because of work, he was a few minutes late. Which was fine. I just had to keep her with me.

  I turned to let Annie know she got to stay with me for a while longer, and I stumbled back with the force of her impact against me. She hugged my legs tight, and rested her cheek on my stomach.

  “What happened, sweet bun?” I asked, disentangling her hold from my legs so I could kneel in front of her. Her blue eyes were filled with tears. “Oh, Annie.” I pulled her to me and embraced her. “Want to tell me what happened?”

  She sobbed. “You’re leaving.”

  I stiffened. That again. I ran a hand down her back, soothing. “Sweet bun, I’m not leaving. I don’t plan on going away. I’ll stay right here and teach dance for a long time. Okay?”

  She shook her head, her nose rubbing against my neck. “You won’t. I know you won’t. You’re leaving.”

  That was just crazy.

  I pulled back to look into her eyes and ask her more about it when Phillip burst into the classroom.

  “Hi,” he said, breathless. He put a hand on his chest, catching his breath. “I ran here. Sorry, I’m late.” A frowned marred his brows as he took in his daughter crying. “Sweetheart,” he whispered. He approached us and picked her up in his arms. She wound her arms around his neck and buried her head on his shoulder. “We talked about this, Annie. It’s just a nightmare. Please don’t bother Miss Reyes with it, okay?”

  She lifted her head to look at him. “But—”

  “No buts.” His tone was firm, but full of concern. My heart squeezed. He set her down. “Now go grab your bag and put on your shoes.”

  With trembling lips, Annie stomped her feet to the cubbies and benches along the hallway, where students left their shoes and bags.

  I stood. “Is she okay?”

  He turned to me. “She has been acting normal. A little shy but happy. But …” He ran a hand through his hair. “She has been waking up early in the morning yelling that you’re leaving. I think it’s a recurring nightmare. I tried talking to her, explaining to her it’s just a dream and she shouldn’t worry …” He glanced to the door. “I don’t know. Maybe I should talk to the therapist at her school, see if it’s some other unseen problem that has arisen.”

  I reached for him and took his hand in mine. “Hey.” He turned his blue eyes to me. “I’m here for you two, you know that, right? If you need help with her, let me know.”

  He smiled at me. “Thank you.” He leaned toward me then paused. “Am I allowed to kiss you here?”

  I smiled. “Probably not.” But, I grabbed the collar of his shirt anyway and tugged him to me. Just a brush of my lips on his and that seemed to be enough. Enough to awaken the desire I felt for him and wish for more. More time, more privacy, just more.

  His gaze slid down my throat. He lifted his hand and brushed his fingertip over the necklace he had given me. “I like seeing you wearing it.” His fingers traced the thin chain up my neck, his skin grazing on mine.

  I shivered. “I never take it off.”

  “Good.” He leaned into me and placed a quick peck over my lips. Then he pulled away and straightened. “I should take her home.”

  “Right.”

  He turned to leave, then halted and faced me again. “Oh … I hate to do this, but I’m going on a business trip again tomorrow.”

  “What?”

  He pressed his lips tight. “Sorry. There are certain things in my line of work that I can't control and meeting with clients when they want is one of them. I should be back Sunday afternoon. I’ll call you, okay?”

  My shoulders sagged. “Okay.”

  From the classroom’s door, I watched as Phillip picked up a sad Annie, and after another wave of his hand, they left.

  I sighed, a little disappointed with Phillip and his work schedule, but also a little worried about Annie. Recurring nightmares about me leaving? That I was leaving the studio? The town? This world?

  I wondered if gadjos could have an acute sixth sense, and I made a mental note to ask Sheila about it. Because … if Annie really did have an acute sixth sense, what did it mean? Shit, was Annie telling me I was going to die?

  The doorbell rang and I thought about ignoring it.

  Who the hell could it be on a Saturday afternoon? By now, my mother had her own keys. Ellie was still avoiding me, and Phillip was out of town. The only other people I could think of were Artan and Theron, but both of them would linger outside instead of knocking on my door.

  Unless there was something wrong.

  The doorbell rang again.

  Groaning, I dragged my feet to the door.

  Darcy and Oscar stood in the hallway.

  “Hello, dear,” the old hag said with a rehearsed smile. Like before, she wore a long dress as if she was about to start dancing flamenco at any moment, and too much jewelry.

  From beside his mother, Oscar placed a fist over his heart and bowed. “Good morning, Mirella.” His tone as serious and cold as the first time I had seen him.

  “Won’t you invite us inside, dear?” Darcy asked.

  Grunting, I stepped back and let them in my apartment.

  Oscar closed the door behind them, and then the three of us stood in the middle of my tiny living room, sizing each other up.

  I crossed my arms. “What are you doing here?”

  Both of them exchanged a brief glance.

  Then Darcy turned her eyes back to me. “We have much to talk about, child, and we would love if you came to the enclave with us. We can talk while we show you around.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not sure …”

  “I know you must feel cornered right now,” Oscar said. “But we don’t want you to feel intimidated.”

  “Is this because I went to Bellville? Seriously, this rift between your two enclaves drives me crazy.” And the fact that nobody bothered to explain it to me was even crazier. “I won’t let you all push and pull me.”

  “I understand that.” Darcy stepped toward me. “But I think it’s only fair if you give us a chance. One chance. Just come with us and see how Lovell is with your own eyes.”

  I stared at her, hating the guilt she made me feel. “I don’t know …”

  “I think I can change your mind.” She outstretched her hands to me. “May I?”

  A crease deepened among my brows. I unknotted my arms and placed my hands on hers. “What now?”

  “Now, you’ll close your eyes and use your sixth sense to feel me.”

  My curiosity won over and I closed my eyes. “Say what?”

  “Haven’t you done this before? Take the walls out of your mind and feel your surroundings.”

  I had done this before, I just didn’t feel comfortable doing this to Darcy. But …

  I did as I was told. I let the walls around my mind crumble away and reached out to the world around me. The beams of colors swam around me. They formed patterns I didn’t understand. Then they all moved closer, squeezing into each other, and became one thick beam radiating white light. The beam’s form changed and became the figure of a lady. An old lady. The old hag.

  I could see the outlines that composed Darcy. Her long hair, her most notable wrinkles, her wide, knowing smile. Here, she was pure light, pure energy. Simply pure.

  I shot my eyes open and pulled my hands back, still not understanding what I was supposed to know. “That was …”

  “Power. Our power. You saw how your senses were attracted by my power. They came to me, they rested on me, and you saw me with your eyes closed.” She twisted her hand, like a flamenco dancer, and I felt a sudden and strong shock rippling from my head to my toe. I froze. “You have that same pure power inside you. Now, you just need to learn how to use it properly.”

  Properly …

  Intrigue and curiosity gnawed in my stomach. I bit my lower lip. Of course, it sounded awesome, to have powers, but how did I know this was true? How did I know I could trust her? Why would I train with her when I could train
with Sheila?

  How did I know I wasn’t insane, and we were all a group of insane people who thought they had powers?

  “Your disbelief is staggering.” Darcy let out a small chuckle. “But I understand your frustration. You never heard of any of us before and here we are. Asking you to trust us.”

  I didn’t want to trust her, but I had seen her. My senses told me she was made of pure light. Pure goodness.

  “If … if I go with you, what will happen?”

  “We’ll show you around our enclave,” Oscar said. “We’ll try to explain to you all we can. We’ll answer all your questions, and when you want to come home, we’ll bring you home.” He placed his fist over his heart again. “That is a promise.”

  I opened up my senses to him too. Although with Darcy the experience had been more intense because she had poured her powers into me, I still could feel Oscar’s senses. And right now it all rang true.

  “Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll go with you.”

  18

  “Give me a couple of minutes to get my things, and I’ll meet you outside,” I said before closing the door in Darcy’s and Oscar’s faces.

  That was probably rude, but I wasn’t worried. I just didn’t want them free around my apartment while I was inside my bedroom.

  I picked up my phone and shot my mother a text.

  Me: Darcy and Oscar are here. But you probably knew that.

  I changed my tank top for a short, loose dress, put on flat sandals, and put my bag across my shoulders. Something was missing. I picked up a dark green shawl with lots of fringes and wrapped it around my shoulders. Now, I liked that.

  I was brushing my hair when a text came through.

  Mom: Yes, I told them you’ve been going to Bellville. They are worried about your safety. As I am.