Reflections

by Susan Griscom

  Cael and Finn struggled in a tangle on the ground, wet leaves sticking to their backs and arms as they slid around in the mud. Gerry held Addie back to keep her from joining the two men.

  “Gerry, can you get closer? Close enough to take away his memory?” Addie asked.

  “I can do it from here,” Gerry said.

  “Do it and I’ll whisk him away,” Cael grunted.

  Gerry raised his hand toward Finn and Cael. They were moving too much; he couldn’t get focused on Finn’s head. His hand shifted back and forth, trying to line up with Finn. Cael was struggling with Finn to get the pistol. Gerry was sure the gun would go off into someone’s gut if he tried to get into the mix. Unsure if Finn’s finger was on the trigger, there was no way to send it flying. He’d never been able to use both of his powers at once anyway. Then he remembered Addie.

  “Addie, don’t try to move the gun.” Finn’s finger was sure to be on the trigger. Any movement could make it go off. “We could sure use some of your firepower right about now,” Gerry huffed out through gritted teeth still trying to keep his arm steady for a straight shot toward Finn. He stepped a little closer and Addie walked with him, sending out a stream of fire and igniting Finn’s pants leg, which went out as soon as he rolled over the wet ground.

  “I can’t. I can’t get a clean shot without hurting Cael,” she said.

  Tiny Breena stepped in front of Gerry; the child barely came up to his waist.

  “No, Breena!” Maia yelled, her blood-curdling scream drowned out by the repercussion of gunfire exploding in the air, twice. Breena stopped one of the bullets with her hand, deflecting it into a large limb in a nearby oak tree. The branch split with a thundering snap that reverberated through the forest as part of the tree hit the ground, sending splinters, leaves and dirt into the air.

  The other bullet hit Gerry in the shoulder, sending him backwards as he watched Cael and Finn disappear.

  “Cael!” Addie screamed.

  Maia ran to Gerry and squatted beside him. “Oh my God. You’ve been hit.”

  “Got me in the shoulder. I’ll live.”

  “Lay back. Let me see,” Addie said.

  Bart came running into the woods and saw Gerry on the ground. “What the hell happened?”

  Breena knelt beside Maia. “Just your average day in Whisper Cape, huh, Breena?” Maia said, placing her arm protectively around the child’s shoulder.

  “I guess,” she said, frowning. “Is he going to be okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t deflect both bullets.”

  “Breena, how long have you known you could do that, sweetie?” Addie asked, glancing back at the spot from where Cael just disappeared.

  “A couple days. Cael and I were playing catch and it happened. I’ve been practicing it down at the beach, learning how to control where things go.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “We wanted to surprise you and make sure I could do it without anyone getting hurt. We were planning to tell you tonight.”

  “What did she do? What happened?” Bart asked.

  “She made a bullet ricochet into a tree and a huge limb fell,” Addie said before turning her concentration to Gerry’s injury.

  “What the fu …?” Bart started.

  “Help me get his jacket off. This tux is ruined.”

  “Christ, like I care. Just heal me, for fuck’s sake.” He glanced at Breena, remembering what Maia told him about his language. “Sorry, sport.”

  She smiled. “It’s okay. It’s not the first time I’ve heard a swear word.”

  Addie rolled her eyes as she held her hands over Gerry’s shoulder, gently touching the wound, making him cringe with pain. “Gerry, you’ve lost a lot of blood. You’re going to need something to restore your energy when I’m finished.”

  “Nothing a piece of wedding cake won’t cure,” Bart said, then asked, “Where’s Cael?”

  No one answered him. No one knew.

  Addie closed her eyes and a tear ran down her cheek as she chanted, “Vis curatio vox secundum arts, vis curatio vox secundum arts, vis curatio vox secundum arts,” over and over again. Gerry knew she didn’t need to say those words aloud, but the fact that Cael hadn’t returned yet seemed to cloud everyone’s minds, especially Addie’s. The bullet eventually slid out of Gerry’s shoulder and his skin slowly knitted back together. When she finished healing Gerry’s shoulder, Addie looked at the spot where Cael and Finn had been struggling. “What’s taking him so long to get back?”

  Chapter 27

  Unfathomable

  Gerry sat up, rubbed his shoulder. “Thanks, Addie.” He followed her gaze to the place they both had last seen Cael and they stared, waiting. It pained him, but finally Gerry said, “Addie. Maybe he can’t get back.”

  “You don’t think Finn shot him, do you? Cael is strong.”

  Gerry shook his head but wasn’t sure if she noticed. “No.”

  “Once he got him away from here, I’m sure he used his skills,” she said. “I mean, Cael could take Finn in a fight anytime.”

  “He might not be able to come back.” Gerry brushed a strand of hair out of Addie’s face.

  “What? What do you mean?” She stood and he got up, moaned a little and stood next to her.

  “I don’t think he got shot. I’m not sure exactly what happened to Cael. When the bullet hit me, I lost balance. He might have received some of my …”

  “What? No!” Her face paled and she fought to take in air.

  “Breathe,” he said, stroking her back as Maia walked up and stood by her other side.

  “I don’t understand.” It was barely a whisper. She walked to where Cael had wrestled with Finn. “What sort of memory were you sending?”

  “That’s the problem.” Gerry shook his head. He didn’t want to have to tell Addie that she might never see Cael again. “God damn it! Why did Finn have to shoot me?”

  Addie stared at the vacant spot and whispered, “Gerry, please tell me what’s going on … Where do you think Cael went?”

  Gerry hung his head, not sure what to tell her. The tears staining her cheeks with streaks of mascara didn’t make his explanation any easier. He nodded when Maia put her arm around Addie’s shoulder. “Finn and I … and Careen … we go way back, honey. I thought it necessary to wipe his memory five or so years back and I was in the middle of doing that when the bullet struck my shoulder. Sweet thing, I didn’t get a chance to replace any memories and my aim may have gone haywire. I’m afraid Cael might not …” Addie shot him a deadly stare. “… he might not remember you or any of this and I have no way of knowing where he and Finn went.”

  She didn’t say anything, just stared at him, her eyes now squinting with anger. She shrugged out of Maia’s embrace and took a step back from him, and shouted, “No! This can’t be happening. He can’t not come back. He can’t just leave and not come back!” Addie bent at the waist, hugging her arms around her abdomen as though someone had punched her in the stomach, before falling to the ground on her knees. “Cael!” she shouted, looking into the forest as though he would be just on the other side of the trees. “Come back! You have to come back,” she sobbed into her hands. “Please come back.”

  ***

  The last of the wedding guests mingled around the bar. Maia and Gerry had made their apologies to anyone who asked, saying Finn escaped into the forest. To explain Cael’s disappearance, they spread the story that since he was a PI, he felt it his duty to track Finn. The truth was shared only with those who knew Finn and knew about Gerry’s ability, which didn’t amount to many people.

  Chief Thompson stood at the end of bar talking on his cell phone, nodding his head at whatever it was the person he listened to was saying. When he finished the call, he walked to where Maia and Gerry stood with Addie. “I just got conformation that the DNA on the necklace Cael Sheridan found matched Careen’s. Finn’s fingerprints were on the pendant too. That doesn’t prove he killed her, but with his confession earlier, I think we can put
all this behind us once Cael brings Finn back. Have you heard from him yet?”

  Gerry shook his head. “No. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”

  Addie wanted to scream. How could Gerry lie to Chief Thompson so nonchalantly as though Cael would come walking in any minute, dragging Finn along in handcuffs? She realized there really wasn’t another way to act, but she couldn’t bring herself to be cordial to anyone any longer. She reached into her small handbag to grab a tissue and her fingers brushed against her cell phone. Why didn’t she think of this earlier? She could simply call Cael on his phone. Wanting some privacy, she turned to walk outside when she noticed the phone on the table Cael had been sitting at right before the fiasco with Finn. NO! Her one spark of hope disappeared as she picked up Cael’s cell phone. Tears clouded her eyes and she slunk her way over to the corner table where she had first laid eyes on Cael after thinking she’d killed him with her truck. What a nerve-wracking day that had been, a day Cael would probably not remember anymore. God, it seemed like so long ago, but it had only been four months. Four very short months. Was that all the time she would have with the love of her life? She toyed with a straw, wishing she’d done something differently, wishing she’d blasted Finn to ashes, wishing she’d sent him flying into a tree, wishing she’d let Cael get her pregnant. At least then she’d have a part of him, something to remind her of him. She hadn’t wanted to get pregnant before they were married. Hell, she hadn’t even been fully resigned to the idea of having a baby with Cael, but now things were different and she’d give anything, anything, to have his little baby growing inside of her.

  “Addie?” Breena’s small soft voice questioned and Addie glanced up at the little girl’s somber face.

  “Come here,” Addie patted the empty chair next to her. “Sit with me.”

  Breena slid onto the chair and Addie wrapped her arms around her, squeezing gently.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What for?”

  “For not catching the other bullet.”

  “What?’

  “I was trying to catch the other bullet. If I had caught it, Cael would still be here.”

  Caught it? What other abilities would this child be capable of as she grew? “No, you don’t know that, Breena. This is not your fault.”

  Breena looked up at Addie. “But you’re so sad. I know if I had caught that bullet things would have turned out differently. Cael would be here and you two would be dancing, and ...”

  “Breena, you saved Gerry’s life by deflecting the first bullet. Please don’t feel like you did anything wrong. You were perfect and Cael would be very proud of you. You know he would.”

  “I wish I could have seen the future. If I could only have touched someone. I hate the stupid ability I have. It’s so useless. I can’t see the future unless I touch someone? It sucks.” Breena tugged off her gloves and threw them down on the table.

  Addie placed her hand on top of Breena’s.

  A couple minutes later, Breena whispered, “Please don’t cry.”

  Addie wasn’t crying at the moment and looked at Breena inquiringly. The little girl smiled and added, “Later. Don’t cry later.”

  “Breena, I think it’s time to go.” Siana stood at the table, looking down at Addie and Breena. She didn’t appear to be upset about her son’s disappearance. Of course not, why should she be? He wouldn’t forget her. Gerry said he’d only forget the last five years or so of his life and everything he and Addie had together. He’ll forget that he ever loved me. Then she remembered Siana’s intuitive gift and fought back her envious thoughts.

  “He’ll be back, Addison. I know he’ll come back.” Siana spoke with conviction and held out her hand to Breena. “Come on, sweet pea. How about we give Addison some time and you come back home with me tonight?”

  Addie smiled at Siana and gave Breena a hug, knowing full well that the child would receive every ounce of her sorrow as her emotions flowed from her into Breena. She couldn’t help it, though; she needed the hug. “Go on with your Grammy Siana. You can come back again soon, okay?”

  Addie watched Breena and Siana walk to the keg room by Gerry’s office. They would teleport to the Sectory from back there, out of everyone’s view.

  Addie fingered away the tear from her cheek as Aiden sat down in the chair Breena had just vacated. He placed a glass filled with something light brown in front of her and held on to an identical one. She glanced at him, but didn’t say anything.

  “Thought you might like something to drink,” he said, but when she didn’t acknowledge him, he grabbed the glass and started to stand. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “No. It’s okay. Stay.”

  Aiden sat back in the chair. She forced a glimpse at him but quickly returned her eyes to the tabletop and took the glass, circling her finger around the edge. “I’m just not very sociable at the moment.”

  “Understandable,” was all he said and they sat silently for a minute.

  “What is this?” Addie broke the silence, holding up the glass in question.

  “Whiskey. You look like you could use it.”

  “Do I?” Addie forced a smile as her thoughts went to the first time she had ever drunk whiskey straight. It was when Cael had been bitten by a rabid dog Eidolon had controlled with his mind, making it vicious. Eidolon had shown her how he’d killed her father and what he intended to do with her once he had possession of the book and the crystal. She’d gotten sick that time not only from the whiskey, but from a vision she wished she could forget but knew she never would. The book was now safely hidden in the newly constructed vault at the Sectory, but Addie still wore the crystal necklace around her neck. She would never remove it, either, as it was the last gift her father gave her. She wore it to remember him. Did Cael have anything to remember her by? Some small trinket that might jar his memory? Probably not. He would never remember her. “If only I could forget,” she mumbled more to herself than to Aiden.

  “Do you want to, love?”

  She blinked at the endearing term, then imagined that where Aiden came from men used expressions like that quite frequently when they spoke to women. She shook her head. “No. Not really.”

  “This won’t make you forget, but it might dull the ache for a short time. Not that you should start drinking all the time, mind you, but for now, I don’t think it would hurt.”

  She placed her hand around the glass but didn’t pick it up. “I doubt anything could make this ache go away. I’m more scared for him than anything else. I’m worried he’s hurt or in danger. Finn did have a gun.”

  “You really love him, don’t you?”

  Looking up from the shot glass and memories she never wanted to forget, Addie nodded at Aiden. “Other than my dad and Maia, I’ve never loved anyone so deeply. And now … now I can’t sense him.”

  “What do you mean?” Aiden asked.

  “Oh, um, Cael and I have … had a bond.”

  “Yeah, Gerry told me.”

  “Oh. Well, then you know Cael and I could communicate telepathically.”

  “That should help locate him, shouldn’t it?”

  “That’s the problem. I can’t even sense that he’s alive. I get nothing and the emptiness is unbearable.” She looked at Aiden, felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She blinked and one tear escaped and slid down her cheek. Picking up the glass, she downed the contents, grimacing as the burning liquid scorched her esophagus on its way to her stomach.

  “He’s a lucky guy,” Aiden said. “To have you—I mean, a woman like you.” Aiden twirled the glass on its edge, averting his eyes as though embarrassed at what he’d just said.

  Addie frowned. Aiden was a handsome man, had a dreamy voice and could probably have any woman he wanted. Why didn’t he have a “someone” in his life? Addie shook off the thought, wondering why that even entered her mind. He peeked up at her and smiled then rubbed his finger over the slight dent in his chin—a dimple. She frowned. Cael had dimples. God, where was he?


  The last of the wedding guests finally left and Maia and Gerry came over and sat with Addie and Aiden.

  “Addie? Are you going to be okay? Would you like to come home with us?” Maia asked, placing her hand on top of Addie’s.

  “No. No, it’s your wedding night! I need to go home. If Cael returns tonight and I’m not there, he’ll freak out.” She had to believe he would come back, otherwise she didn’t think she could go on living—not in this town where she’d see his face, his smile, his eyes everywhere. She didn’t think she’d be able to sleep in their bed or walk through the beach house without losing it, but she had to try. She had to be there when he came home.

  Gerry touched her arm. “Addie, I’m truly sorry. I know how badly this is hurting you. If I had known …” he shook his head, “there’s just no way of knowing … I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do to change things.”

  “You did what you had to do. I told you to do it.”

  “But you didn’t know I’d … um, miss.”

  “You wouldn’t have if you hadn’t gotten shot. Thank God Breena redirected the first bullet. Who knows what would have happened.”

  Maia and Gerry got up. “If you’re sure you’ll be okay, we … uh … we’re going to go home now, then. Nick’s here to close up so don’t worry about that.” Gerry gave her a half smile and slightly squeezed her shoulder.

  “Do you need a ride?” Maia asked.

  “I’ll take her home,” Aiden offered.

  Addie shook her head. “No. Thank you, though. My truck is here, remember? We used it for transporting all the presents from the ceremony. I’ll be fine, really.” She just wanted to go home and cry herself to sleep. Healthy or not, that’s what she needed.

  Chapter 28

  A Re-consummation

  The ride home seemed to take forever. Maia stared out the window at the night sky. A scattering of clouds hovered over the full moon, shielding most of it as well as many of the stars. It was a dark night in many ways. She sighed; her wedding night, ruined by Careen even in her death, just as the witch had wanted. Would Careen’s brief presence in Maia’s life continue to haunt her? God, she hoped Cael returned soon. Maybe Gerry could restore his memory—at least some of it. But then, there were so many private moments Cael and Addie shared that no one else would know about. Now, only Addie. Maia swiped the tear off her cheek, glanced down at her left hand and stared at the beautiful ring on her finger, hearing Finn’s words in her head, “Why should you have your happily ever after?” Finn’s dream had been destroyed, as well as Addie’s and Cael’s. Finn murdered his own dream, but still, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.