“Really? Bish? Strange.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. So...what are you doing here?”
“Well, I heard a little rumor that you were a goddess or something.”
“Dad, come on,” I said more forcefully than I had intended.
“Hey. It’s true isn’t it? You are this Visionary person? So I figured, it couldn’t hurt to have your old man here to keep you grounded. Don’t let all this go to your head.” He winked.
“Thanks,” I said through a smirk.
A sense of urgency came over me. I knew the time had come to show the Champion what I had seen. I could hear their awe and wonder as they looked at me and the mark. They were waiting for something spectacular to happen.
“Kyle, Bish!” I yelled, startling Jen.
“What’s up? Uncle Peter! Hey!” Kyle hugged them as Bish came in and he was more stunned than I had been about seeing Dad.
Jen’s thoughts slammed into me. She was still just as interested and taken in by Bish as she had been before. He had been on her mind every since that day and it was driving her crazy. She bit her lip and looked at me quickly before looking away, ashamed knowing that I’d heard her thoughts.
“Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?” Bish asked.
“Just checking in.”
“Hey, Kyle,” I called. “Can you take Bish to the store and get some steaks? I’m gonna make some for tonight but I need to talk to Dad about some stuff.” He looked around and knew he was being left out of something. He took a deep angry breath. I stopped him before he started. “Kyle, please do this for me? I need you to.”
He softened a bit.
“Fine, but you show me later,” he compromised and pointed at me.
“Absolutely.”
“Show what?” Bish said just as he noticed Jen standing there.
He got a bright look on his face for a few seconds before he fixed on a blank expression.
Oh, what is she doing here? Daggumit! How am I going to keep an eye on Maggie with all these people here? Especially her. Gah, look at those arms... She’s just so...
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” she said softly and I felt Caleb tense. “How are you?”
“Good. How was your flight?”
“Good.”
“Good,” he answered and noticed us all watching so he cleared his throat and spoke to Kyle. “Steaks?” he said happily seeking an out.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Once they were gone I turned to them. Caleb stood next to his father and watched along with the rest of them. He wasn’t thinking he shouldn’t be with me, just that he would be in the way.
I looked at Peter.
“Champion, I have a message for you.”
He sighed in wonder and started to kneel.
“No. No, kneeling either. I need you to stand. You’re going to need to stand up, literally, for the task we have to do. We all need to. Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Dad,” I waited for him to look at me eyes. “Don’t be alarmed.”
“Why would I be?”
“Just don’t. I’m fine. It’s all fine.”
He nodded warily.
I closed my eyes and felt completely in power and control. This was what I was meant for. I could feel it in my veins. I tried to open myself but then realized I was forgetting something.
“Caleb,” I called and looked at him. “I need you.”
He looked surprised as he came forward.
“What do you need?”
“You.”
“Does this require a human sacrifice?” he said joking.
“No,” I laughed and heard Jen laugh too. “You remember I told you how I needed you at my side? I do, always. I can’t do any of this without you. Your touch is the trigger.”
“It is?” he said in surprise.
“You are just as important as I am. In the vision, I saw that you and I will be the key, not just me. Everything we’ll accomplish, we’ll do it together or not at all.”
He looked at me with an elated and humble expression. Peter and Rachel’s thoughts were so proud and happy for their son and daughter-in-law.
I looked back at him and put my hands on his upper arms as they went around my waist. I pulled him down to lay my head against his.
At my side, not at my feet, remember? Always, every time I show a vision, every time I have to speak to the our kind, every time I breath, even, I need you, right here. Ok?
He nodded.
I understand. I’m with you all the way.
I grinned.
Good.
I pushed up to kiss him quickly. Then I smiled at him as I laid my head against his again. I saw the energy ribbons before I felt them. It was a little different this time now that I’d had my first vision. As the blue ribbons floated and danced in a circle all around us, I heard a gasp from Jen and Rachel. Peter and Caleb had seen them before and weren’t surprised. I focused on Dad to make sure he was ok. He was thinking about some Star Trek episode as he let the ribbons go through his hand, so I assumed he was taking it in stride.
I began to replay the vision I’d seen in the library as they all watched it play out above us in a hazy glow.
I showed them the greed of our kind, the pride seeping in and corrupting us, the ignorance whittling away at our potential, the complacency of our leaders, and finally, the redemption that could be ours if we’d only try. I showed the book, how the words came to me and how they tasted as I looked on the people of our past. As this happened I could smell the taste I’d tasted in the vision on the air around us and from their thoughts I knew they did too.
I showed them me helping the guy from the ice cream place.
I then smiled as the vision I’d seen of Caleb and I fighting side by side and then old and gray together played across my eyes, Caleb saying he still loved me.
Caleb laughed happily and quietly into my ear as he pulled me closer to him.
There, written in stone in your very own vision that we’ll be together to the end. Do you believe me now?
I always did. I just didn’t want to see what was right in front of my face. You love me, I know that now without a shadow of a doubt. And I love you more than I ever thought was possible to love someone.
I smiled at him as he gazed at me in unabashed adoration. His lips turned up slightly and then he put a hand on my cheek, brushing my hair back just like he did that first day, the day I met the love of my life.
The love poured out of him. It was like, for the first time, we both were completely sure of each other, ourselves and our destinies. It didn’t matter what was thrown at us, we would weather it together.
He pulled my face up to his, his fingers sending warm calm through me as he kissed me softly. I could hear the thoughts of the others as they watched the energy ribbons dance around us. They were happy, so happy and so proud and rejoicing with us. Even my father was in a complete trance of happiness and humbleness.
I pulled back slightly and we laughed a happy breath with each other before turning to face our family. I knew Peter had questions but so did everyone else. Rachel was crying, tears streaming down her face as she watched her son love his significant. And the fact that I was the Visionary was just the cherry on the sundae.
I turned to look at Peter and waited. He had to understand. He had to see the truth. Our clan was chosen for this task for a reason. And it was up to us to see that it was carried out.
~ Eight ~
“I’m still kind of in shock, actually,” Peter continued on. “All those horrible things you showed us, all the terrible things our ancestors did to others. It makes sense why our abilities were taken but why our family to be the beacon of reason? Why now? Why us? Our imprints were taken like everyone else’s.”
He’d been talking and going over everything we’d seen together at the dining room table for about twenty minutes. I expected Bish and Kyle anytime and wondered how long they all planned to stay. Bish was already so susp
icious. I tried to bring up that subject but Peter was stuck on the vision.
“The visions were so precise in purpose. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t that,” he continued. “Maggie, what were you doing when you got the vision?”
“I was just sitting in the library, looking at photos and books. I ran across Grandpa Ray’s record book and when I opened it I saw the picture of him and Gran on his birthday.” I looked at Caleb. “The one you told me about, where she got the tattoo for him.” I ran my fingers over his wrist tattoo with envy. He laced my fingers with his as I sat on his lap where he’d pulled me when we first came to sit down. “Then I opened the book and read it to the end. Then the vision came.”
“What tattoo?” My dad asked.
As Peter explained it to him I talked to Caleb, taking the break in conversation.
What are we gonna do about Bish and Jen?
I don’t know. He sighed and rubbed his chin. I’m not sure we should do anything. Maybe better to just leave it alone. Jen would never break the rule.
Yeah, I know. But I don’t want them to start to like each other even more and be stuck with no where to take it. You know? Bish has had a...hard enough life without all this.
I started to choke up just thinking about it. He was such a good man and he deserved better than what he got. Caleb put a hand on my cheek to calm me.
I don’t know what we’re gonna do. We’ll keep them busy, keep them apart as much as we can. Don’t worry. He’s my family now too which means he’s my family’s family. He’ll be taken care of and it’ll all work out.
I hope so. I ran a finger down his wrist again as I studied his tattoo. I hate that Bish will never feel what I feel for you for himself, or Jen for that matter.
He nodded sadly.
“How are you holding up, Maggie?” Rachel asked as I turned to find her and Peter watching us over the rims of their coffee cups.
“I’m ok. It’s Bish I’m worried about.” Jen’s eyes shot up at his name. “He’s not just curious anymore. He’s mad. He knows. He doesn’t know what he knows but he knows there’s something I’m keeping from him.”
“Are you two being careful?” Peter said and I saw the worry in his eyes. “Kyle was complaining to his father on the phone that you were flaunting your abilities.”
“That rat,” Caleb muttered under his breath. “No, we’re not flaunting. Besides, you have to have abilities before you can flaunt them.” Everyone stared in stunned silence. I rubbed his arm. “It’s ok. I’m just saying, I haven’t felt any pull or anything. I don’t think it’s coming, Dad.”
Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Well, son, I’ve never heard of this. It’s unprecedented but everything with you two has been so...I’m not sure where to start looking. I’m sorry but, I’m not giving up.”
“It’s ok, like I said, I read everything through Maggie anyway. Besides, we have more important things than my measly lack of abilities to worry about.”
“I’ll work in it, son. I promise.”
“Thanks. Now, I have some unrelated news.”
He told them all about his gig and how he’d been practicing. Then he said he was gonna buy tickets to the Mutemath concert in few days and Rachel gasped and squealed. Peter was laughing and Jen was shaking her head. Caleb just smiled. He had told me she loved them but I thought he was just giving his mom a few extra cool points.
“So, we’ll go, whoever wants to. There’s this great little band from Florida opening at the venue, Fusebox Funk. I can’t wait,” Caleb explained.
Rachel clapped her hands and leaned into Peter’s side looking at Caleb.
“Oh, thank you, baby. It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen them,” she crooned making me smile just as I heard the front door open.
“Honey, we’re home,” Kyle yelled loudly to announce to us to shut-up the Ace talk. “Steaks all around.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took them and dreaded cooking them all. But I started it so I’d finish it. “So, who wants theirs rare?”
“Let me do that, if you don’t mind. I’m sure you and your father have a lot of catching up to do,” Rachel assured and took the apron from me.
“Thanks, are you sure? I’m sure it was a long flight.”
“I’m sure. I live for the kitchen.”
“Ok.” I started to turn but she touched my arm.
“Your hair really does suit you. It’s very elegant that way.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely as I absently touched my locks. “It’s growing on me, I guess.”
Caleb grabbed my hand from behind me.
“I’m going to go take a drive with Dad while you catch up with yours.”
“Ok. Hey, listen.” I felt a fuzzy and gnawing feeling in my belly. I pulled him closer to whisper in his ear. “Everything’s going to be fine. I don’t know why... but I feel like something’s going to happen. Something to do with you and it’s important. I don’t think you should worry about your abilities.”
He pulled back to look at me.
“Is this Maggie talking or the Visionary?”
“Does it matter?”
He laughed and shook his head.
“Nope.”
He kissed my forehead and headed to his father.
Dad, Bish and I sat out by the pool in the loungers, with Bella by my side as I scratched her head, and he told us about the police investigation being called off. The town was buzzing with gossip about me and he’d had tons of calls and people stopping by to check on me. I was floored, actually. I didn’t think anybody there really cared about me anymore.
He also asked Bish if he wanted to move back and told him he’d love to have him in the house again. I was grateful to him for that. Then, I could have smacked him when he brought up Jen. No one had explained to him about the no dating?
“So Bish, Caleb’s sister is a pretty sweet girl.”
Bish seemed taken aback that my dad would be so blunt but recovered quickly, crossing his ankle over his leg in that grown up, serious way he did.
“I’m sure she is.”
“Dad,” I butted in. “Um, how’s work?
“It’s good,” he answered and looked back to Bish. “So, what do you think of my offer?”
“I think I like it. It would really help me out if you’re sure you wouldn’t mind.”
“It would help me too actually. I don’t like to live alone.”
“Alone? But Maggie will be home soon and...”
He seemed to catch on and I saw his jaw harden.
“I’m leaving for school, Bish,” I defended.
“I’m sure Caleb just happens to go to the same school, right?” he said sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes at him, pulling my knees up to my chest and looked over to see Jen coming with drinks in her hands.
“Hey, Mom thought you might want something to drink before supper.”
Bish was forcing himself not to look at her and Jen was studiously doing the same as she gave an already sweating glass to me, then Dad, then Bish. I watched closely as their fingers avoided each other to exchange the glasses.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
“You’re welcome. Have ya’ll been having fun here? We always loved it here when we came during the summer.”
“Oh yeah,” Bish sneered. He leaned forward as Jen stood with her hands behind her back. “Caleb and Maggie have been all over each other. Maggie is acting like a freaking psycho, running off in the Jeep for hours, not caring about who’s worried about her and then lying to my face about it all. Kyle is the only sane one in the lot of them.”
I locked my gaze with the grass. Jen’s thoughts were sympathetic because she thought he had been too hard on me, but still understood where he was coming from. Dad was worrying because Bish and I have always been so close before all of this. I was just hurt. He called me a psycho. I was sure I deserved some form of that word but to me, knowing the truth of what was really going on, it hurt
.
I got up, leaving my glass of tea behind and made my way out to the beach. Bella trailed behind me to catch up and then walked with me. Jen wanted to stop me but refrained and just went back inside. Bish felt sorry that he had said those things but didn’t think they were untrue so didn’t really regret them.
I plopped myself down in the sand once I reached near the waves and looked at all the surfers and swimmers. I ran my fingers through Bella’s coat and said innocuous and random things that people croon to dogs to keep them happy. The wind was blowing especially hard and I picked up some sand and let it blow away through my fingers, like my life.
I kept my heart rate normal and tried not to feel too upset so Caleb wouldn’t come back early and not talk it all out with his father. I didn’t hear anyone come up behind me but I heard Rachel’s thoughts.
Oh, Maggie. I’m so sorry.
I looked up at her and shielded my eyes with my hand.
“It’s ok. I’ll just have to let him think what he wants. It’s not like I can tell everyone I know about us now can I? It won’t be too long before Beck is asking questions and not speaking to me either.”
I felt her sit down beside me in her expensive slacks and silk shirt as hot tears burned my eyelids.
“What bothers you more, Maggie? That Bish thinks you’re a silly girl or that you have to lie?”
“I hate lying. It doesn’t feel good and it makes everything harder.”
She nodded beside me.
“I understand that. I’m sorry you’re having a hard time.”
“It’s fine. I can deal with it, I just needed to get out of there.”
“Do you miss your mom?” she asked softly.
I started to lie again and say I didn’t but I’d had enough for today.
Poor girl, I wish I could do something for her.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“I understand. I miss my mom too.”
“Do you ever see your parents?”
“Sometimes, but for the most part, I only see them every few years or so. Caleb, Jen and Peter have only ever met them a few times. It felt very strange to me in the beginning but each clan is separate. It was just the way things were. You are so young...I can’t imagine leaving my parents when I was only seventeen.”