Mystic Awakening

by J L Lawrence

  Wearily, she went back to her seat. And just when she thought she had maxed out on shocks for the day, she received another. This day was never going to end.

  A man walked in and stood in the center of the platform. She assumed he was the leader of the Council, but what stunned her was that he was the spitting image of Xander. Even the blue piercing eyes.

  Angrily, she stared into Xander’s eyes with a bewildered and accusing expression. “Did you forget to mention something along the way?”

  He leaned close to her ear. “Sorry,” he whispered. “We are bound by an oath not to speak of the Alpha, leader of the Council, outside of this realm. This is done for protection. It is usually the Mystic, but Rowena wanted him to lead us.”

  Looking completely guilty, he turned his head and faced the man. “Hey, Dad, how’s it going? I’d like for you to meet my mate and our Mystic, Kate. Kate, I’d like you to meet the leader of the Council, who happens to also be my father, Marcus.”

  Kate’s mouth settled into a grim line. She was tired of all the secrecy in this realm. She would deal with him later. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Marcus. Although I must admit, I was not aware that you are Xander’s father.”

  She heard a soft laugh as Pam walked in and sat beside Nikki. Marcus grinned as he stepped forward and placed his hands on Xander’s and Xavier’s shoulders. “We don’t always see eye to eye on Council business, but I’m so glad to have you both home again.

  “It’s pretty common that they forget to mention that little fact even in places where they can. I try not to take offense.”

  She could tell by the affection in his voice that he didn’t care or wasn’t offended by the issue.

  Xander leaned over and whispered again that he was sorry. She ignored him for now, but understood how knowing his identity could have been extremely dangerous with a traitor on the loose. Still, he should have told her at his house.

  Stepping back into his seat, Marcus focused on her. “I’m afraid we do not know much about you, either, or at least your future.” He sighed. “I sincerely wish we knew more about what is to come, but let us finish introductions first. Then we can get down to other details. We want you to feel welcome here. While I know you will choose to live with Xander for now, though I’m not sure why.” Xander raised his eyebrow and gave him a wry look. “This will always be your home as the Mystic.”

  He pointed to his left at the man on the end. “This is Tristan, leader of the Gliders and, I guess, the Rogues. His main goal is to eliminate vampires killing humans, an increasingly difficult task given the world’s current fascination with them.”

  Tristan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, apparently vampires are romantic and have morals these days.” His voice dripped with contempt. Yikes!

  She met his stare and saw through the sarcasm. The vampires of his kind were probably using the current pop culture to find easy prey while ruining the name of the entire species. She acknowledged he was right since she’d seen first-hand the stupid tendency, especially in females, to trust the unknown more times than she cared to remember.

  Despite the scowl on his face, he was extremely handsome with those brooding silver eyes, black hair, and a straight nose. He had a lot of angles to his face, but they fit together perfectly on him. She’d expected gliders to be paler, but Tristan had olive skin that had a healthy glow.

  His shoulders slumped slightly, giving her the impression of how much he had to handle. Nodding in his direction, she decided to create a rapport with him. “Hello, Tristan, I’d like to learn more about your people when you have the time. I want to understand and help you.”

  She must have said the right thing, because he suddenly smiled, transforming his whole face from handsome to gorgeous. She could feel his entire energy level lift up. “Thank you, Kate. There are many that don’t accept our kind, believing that we can be too easily swayed into darkness. I appreciate your willingness to learn the difference.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip. “All people of any species can be turned. Maybe it’s easier for some than others based on what they need to survive. You’re living proof that gliders can abstain from the temptation and hold onto their beliefs staying true to their kind and others.”

  Marcus cleared his throat. His smile seemed strained when he pointed to the man beside Tristan. “Kate, this is Micah, our Seer.”

  He beamed a sickly sweet smile, and she sensed his interest in her pouring off him. His long blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck, and his blue eyes flashed at her. Ugh!

  She didn’t want to dislike anyone already, but he had an air of arrogance that was unparalleled. She hated misplaced arrogance almost as much as she hated demons. “Micah, it’s nice to meet you.”

  She tried to keep her voice smooth but could feel the tension radiating from Xander. Obviously, there were some serious issues between the two. That’s what she needed today ... more drama.

  Micah stood and formally bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you. We have long awaited your arrival. I have seen many visions of you over the years, but none compare to your actual beauty.” He continued to stare at her as if she was a tall glass of water in the middle of the Sahara.

  Pure anger flooded from Xander. She immediately laced her fingers through his and sent him calming energy. When he finally settled back down, she could see the smirk in Micah’s expression. Okay, definitely some issues there, but she didn’t want to deal with that now.

  “Okay moving along,” Rowena said. Apparently, she didn’t want to deal with him either. Micah locked his jaw, but sat down quietly.

  “The last member you haven’t met yet is Camilla.” Rowena laid her hand on the woman beside her. “She is a witch and will be supervising your training in the Wiccan arena.”

  Kate smiled and nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

  She seemed quiet and shy as she returned the greeting. She was pretty in a more traditional way. She had average facial features that gave her a simple beauty. Her eyes were a warm topaz, and she had a wide smile that lit up her entire face.

  She exuded warmth and safety. Her hair was a light brown color that braided and looped to encircle her head, creating a type of bun. It looked intricate and suited her.

  Turning, she addressed Kate. “While you are not a witch, you will still want to understand the spells, potions, and power sources that exist. You don’t need this form of power, but you will encounter it.

  “Your training will be divided between Rowena and myself, so you can learn both. Rowena will handle most of your training in the beginning, so you can get control of your powers. That’s the first goal.

  “No offense, but we don’t want you to accidentally fry anyone by lightning strike. So first things first.” Everyone laughed but realized the serious implications of the moment she became a full Mystic.

  Introductions were done, and there was nothing else left to say. Silence held them all captive as Kate gathered her courage to ask the all-important question that no one but Rowena could answer.

  “Rowena, how do I receive or embrace my full Mystic powers? What do I need to do?”

  There, the question had been asked and everyone, including the Council, leaned forward on their chairs and held their breath, waiting on the answer. That meant only Rowena knew what was going to happen. Curious.

  Waving her hand, Rowena cleared the room of all furniture. Stunned faces glanced around the room as they realized they had all been moved to create an outer circle.

  Kate hadn’t even felt the shift. She was so not ready for this kind of power. Xander had a death grip on her hand while Xavier leaned protectively in front of Angie. They were the only ones left in the middle of the circle. Gregory had been moved to the outer circle. He scowled and crossed his arms in anger. Guess he didn’t like being pushed to the side. Not that she blamed him.

  Rowena joined them in the center. “My child, you were born a human and a Mystic. Your human half is dominant and must give way for the Mystic to rise. We know C
assius performed a spell to hide his future descendants. He wanted to spare them his fate.

  “His wife was a Seer and probably had a vision of you. He never told us, and so, we weren’t prepared for his actions. However, you cannot change a person’s destiny. I think he knew better but had to try. In all my visions, it appears this spell was meant to be, just as you were meant to be the Mystic.

  “Visions only give us the keys, but we still have to open the lock to discover the why.”

  Kate guessed she was telling the story for those in the room who never understood how everything had happened. She didn’t mind hearing the whole story herself.

  A fire began to glow in Rowena’s eyes. This was it, no going back now. “The weapon used by Cassius to kill the demon was the same athame used to seal the spell. It is a weapon of great power, thousands of years old and has slain two Omegas. Some say it was made by the Angels themselves to help us fight the demons in our realms. Whether this is true, I cannot tell you. But its power is beyond question.”

  She walked over to her, and the athame appeared in Rowena’s hands. Kate gasped. The weapon called for her, begging her to accept it.

  She stepped forward, because she couldn’t resist. It pulled her under its spell. She felt Xander move with her and felt comfort in his touch. She approached her new fate.

  His hands sat at her waist, warming her and giving her confidence. Xavier and Angie moved closer, but stayed at more of a distance.

  Gregory and Nikki looked ready to jump in any second to protect them. Maybe Micah had been right about everything after all.

  She was stronger with them near her. They were a part of her power and confidence.

  Their journey had made them stronger, made them a unit, and made them a family. Despite all their issues within their group, they stood as an unbreakable force. Not that a single one of them would ever admit it to Micah. She knew they’d take that notion to the grave.

  “Cadence Hope Smith.” Rowena’s voiced echoed through the air.

  Kate flinched. Uh-oh. The whole name was never a good sign.

  “You are the Mystic, leader of our People and all that exists in the realms. It is a huge responsibility, but the Council believes beyond a doubt that you are up to the task. You have demonstrated your great power even within human boundaries. You have already learned to control much of the energy pulsing inside your body.”

  Rowena raised her hand, and all of the Council members nodded their heads in assent.

  “We, the Ancient Council, accept you as our new leader, and we will follow you into the Rising. It is time for your Awakening. Time to take your place within our Council. You have our allegiance always.”

  Taking the knife, she sliced across the palm of each Council member’s hand. Pam followed behind her healing them. The athame soaked in the blood like it was a living entity. So weird.

  Rowena turned back to Kate. “Once you become the Mystic, your fate is sealed. The need to fight at the Rising will be undeniable, and your views of the universe will change irrevocably. Know we are here for you, but some decisions will be completely in your hands.”

  She fought the desire to run away. Great, all I need is more pressure. She tried to refocus on Rowena, but her nerves were completely shot. I’m not ready for this.

  Rowena raised her hands to the sky, and lightning popped from the ceiling into her hands. Her skin shined a brilliant shade of gold with silver specks circling within it from all the energy pulsing around her. The electricity had everyone’s hair standing straight up. As if an electrical storm had hit.

  Kate began picking up Rowena’s feelings, and panic filled her chest. Pain. Secrecy. She’s hiding something and doesn’t want me to find it.

  The moment Rowena had opened up her energy field, she lost complete control of her emotions. What’s she hiding?

  When Rowena spoke again, her voice had changed and become more ethereal and haunting. Her eyes became a pale bluish-green color, while wild red hair fanned out like flames. Her clothing became solid white. Oh shit!

  The athame spun in her hand. Kate held her breath, knowing the time had come. She wanted to shut her eyes, but couldn’t. She expected a lightning bolt to hit her any second.

  Still spinning, the athame launched into the air. Everyone’s eyes were transfixed on the knife suspended all by itself.

  Rowena’s eyes blazed white. “Return to your master!” she shouted in a deep resounding voice.

  In the blink of an eye, the athame plunged into Kate’s heart. “No!” She gasped and fell back into Xander’s arms. The dagger was cold, but the pain was excruciating. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

  She tried to grasp the meaning. But taking a breath became harder and harder. Her lungs filled with blood and stopped working. Her mind began to drift away, and her vision failed her. Everything was a blur, including the noise surrounding her.

  She could hear the screams and weeping. Panic and fear engulfed the room as despair wove its spell around the hearts of everyone there. Their emotions became hers. She was too weak to block them out.

  Xander reached for her mentally, but her human half was dying rapidly. He couldn’t hold her to him. And the Mystic inside wasn’t strong enough to save her. What happened? What did I do wrong?

  Did the traitor defeat us after all? She was supposed to help me, not kill me.

  Using what little energy she had left, she told him she loved him. Her vision faded to black. She let go and took her final breath.

  Chapter 17

  “Hang on, Kate!” Xander cried.

  Angie fell to her knees, weeping, with Xavier’s arms around her. Silence and shock reigned, followed by an eruption of emotion.

  Horrified, Xander watched the blood flow out of Kate. Her breathing slowed. He couldn’t breathe. It couldn’t be real. He couldn’t save her. The ritual had failed and she would die.

  He’d kill that bitch one way or another.

  Tears filled his eyes, blurring his vision, but he could still see the red surrounding him. His hands were covered in her blood.

  “I love you, Xander ...” Her mental link lasted for a moment, then faded away.

  As her heart stopped beating, total chaos broke out and uncontrollable rage erupted.

  Xander launched at Rowena, but Marcus and Xavier grabbed him and held him back.

  He struggled to break free. He couldn’t see through the red haze of pain that replaced his vision. His powers were popping out of control.

  Rowena still hadn’t moved.

  Gregory ran to Angie and held her. Tears poured down her face. She rocked back and forth, full of fear and pain.

  Tristan, Micah, and Camilla started moving toward Kate.

  Xander was still fighting off his dad and brother. He struggled to break free from their grasp, but his father had magically bound him. He yelled and screamed, but couldn’t break free. Why aren’t they attacking Rowena? She’s the traitor.

  His only goal was to kill her. He didn’t care what his punishment would be. He’d gladly die as long as he got to take her down with him. He tried every spell he could think of to break free. He even begged Xavier to help him, but his own brother was ignoring him and helping their father trap him.

  Rowena had betrayed them all. For what?

  Raising her hands again, Rowena threw everyone, including all the Council members, against the wall and pinned them there with sheer force alone.

  Xander’s rage had become so potent that it vibrated through the entire structure. He fought to get back to Kate. He used all his strength to break through the invisible wall holding him in place.

  Agony and panic dominated his mind, and he began to give up the struggle. He couldn’t save her. He’d brought her here to die.

  He dropped to his knees and hung his head to grieve. A bright glow caught his attention. He raised his head and witnessed the athame pulsing radiant blue. Drawing everyone in, the brilliant light managed to restore some order in the room.

 
It grew brighter and brighter until he and everyone there had to turn their heads to stop the pain from the light.

  He shielded his eyes, while still trying to see what was happening, but questions began forming in his mind.

  Another strike of lightning came from the sky and struck the knife buried in Kate’s chest. She jumped as if she’d been hit with resuscitation paddles.

  He blinked rapidly to clear the tears from his eyes. What the hell? The blood flowing out of Kate had turned to a pale ice blue.

  Is this the Awakening? A small thread of hope wove around his heart, which threatened to jump right out of his chest as it pounded away in desperation.

  Gasping in air, she took a breath, but still seemed to be stuck in a trance.

  His palms were sweaty, and his hands shook as he reached out to stroke her hair. Was she alive? Was she still his Kate? Even though he’d seen her take in a breath, he was afraid to give into the hope that everything would be okay. He wanted to scoop her up off the floor but didn’t dare. He didn’t want to cause her any pain.

  Rowena’s eyes slowly went back to their normal color. She walked over to Kate. The athame had stopped glowing, and she drew it from Kate’s chest.

  Having been released, Camilla rushed behind her to quickly put a salve on the wound.

  As the wound began to close, Rowena freed everyone else from the wall.

  Xander started to calm as he finally believed deep in his heart that she’d be okay. He stroked her hair, but abruptly jerked backward.

  Kate began to glow from the inside--the same color that had come from the knife.

  It traveled from her heart throughout her body until light literally came from her head, fingertips, and toes.

  Rowena no longer had to control the crowd. Shock and amazement took care of that now. Even he was back under complete control, believing her to be alive or close to it. He didn’t care, as long as she still loved him. But what if she didn’t? He had to believe their bond was strong enough.