The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) Page 21

  “They can’t hear us. You don’t have to whisper. And no, it’s Portuguese. He’s from Brazil.”

  The man spoke in a smooth, cultured voice. “Your niece is in danger, or she will be. Just give her this, once a week. It will calm her and keep her safe.”

  “Safe from what?”

  “From outside influences. Just do it, Topaz.”

  “I don’t know,” her aunt said, running her fingers along the white tiled countertop. She fingered the pocket-sized bag the man had placed on the counter.

  “Will it harm her?”

  “No, it will only keep her safe. Please…” He seized her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.

  Marissa frowned. He’s doing that thing that Daniel does with his eyes – that hypnotic thing.

  “You only have to do it until she’s 16. After that, she won’t have any recollection of her abilities.”

  Aunt Topaz nodded her perfectly coiffed head slowly up and down. “I trust you, Armando.”

  Armando? Where had she heard the name Armando? It suddenly dawned on her – they had all talked about Armando Navid at brunch the other day. “Is that Armando Navid?” she asked through gritted teeth.

  “Appears to be, yes.” Tom spit out the blade of grass. It floated down and disappeared with a small snap.

  “What’s in the package?”

  “I don’t know, let’s keep watching.”

  Another loud gunshot-like crack rang out. Marissa and Tom whizzed into Aunt Topaz’ music room. The white walls held pictures of white orchids hanging next to the undersize window. White curtains framed the window which opened to the back yard and the only source of vibrant color. One dark wooden chair stood in the middle of the room for her aunt to perch on when she sat with her cello.

  Her aunt held a paint roller. She picked up a gray paint tray and wandered out into the hallway. The doorway to Marissa’s room framed brilliant light which poured forth from her teenage bedroom. Color bursts splattered the wall around her bedroom. Aunt Topaz dipped the roller in the paint tray, brought it up to the wall and painted the wall with some whitish-gray substance. The phosphorescence substance oozed and bubbled in the paint tray. Once it was applied to the wall it quickly disappeared, along with the color. The light began to dissipate, too.

  “That’s right,” the voice of Armando Navid said. “Cover up all the color. The color lets the light out. Next, use your hands to smooth down the wall where the light is trying to escape. Go down to the end of the hall, quickly before the fingers of light reach it.”

  Small, spidery bolts of light began furrowing down the wall. Rapid little cracks and snaps issued forth from the wall, where the light burrowed. Her aunt raced the length of the long hallway ahead of the light. When she reached the end, she walked toward the bedroom and swept her hands along the painted wall where the light leaked out. Wherever she touched, the light fizzled, snapped and disappeared. At times it appeared that her hand would touch a blemish in the surface. She paused, her face scrunched in concentration. She moved her hands around and around until see seemed satisfied.

  “What’s she doing?” Marissa asked Tom.

  “Casting some sort of spell, I reckon.”

  “You only have to do this until she turns 16. Then, her memory will be locked inside,” Armando continued.

  Marissa’s frown deepened. “Where is he? I don’t see him.”

  “He’s speaking through her mind.”

  “What? Is my aunt some sort of witch or some sort of Numen like Daniel? Like you?”

  “Not sure, really. Keep watching.”

  “Why can she do that and I can’t?”

  “Keep a watching, Ms. Em. We’ll find out soon enough.”

  “What memories are they talking about?”

  “Just wait. Let’s watch.”

  The diminutive discharge sounded again, and they whirled into the bedroom she had lived in as a child. The room was painted red and turquoise. I thought it was blue, older Marissa recalled. She watched as her 11 year old self tiptoed into the bedroom, along with her Siamese cat, Chum, by her side. “Shhh,” she said to the cat. Her brown hair was pinned in two bobbing ponytails. Freckles covered her nose and cheeks. “We can’t let Mom and Dad know or they’ll kill me.”

  The cat leaned against the wall and rubbed his head and side.

  “Look what I learned to do,” she whispered conspiratorially to the seal-point cat.

  Chum sat down and regarded her with his cool blue eyes.

  Little Marissa tiptoed out to look in the hall and then slunk back into the bedroom. She lifted her small hands, squinched her face tight, and concentrated. Tiny sparks erupted from her fingertips. She opened her eyes and told the cat, “Now watch. This is the cool part.”

  She swept her hands in the air, painting colors and child-like shapes along the wall, using the electricity as her paintbrush and her imagination to apply the color. When she’d painted to her satisfaction, she shook her hands out by her side. The room was now spring green with childish trees and flowers dotting the surface. “Pretty cool, huh?”

  Chum lifted up a tiny paw and groomed it.

  “Watch this. This is even better.” She stooped down to retrieve a Barbie doll from under the bed. “Look,” she told the cat, as she placed Barbie in her metal waste bin. She held her small hands over Barbie’s head and laughed. “Bye, bye, Barbie!” Sparks erupted from her palms, catching the doll’s hair on fire. The fire spread to the plastic skull, melting the doll’s head into a smear of smelly beige and black remains.

  “Marissa?” her mother called, from down the hall. “Marissa!” she scolded. “Are you burning your dollies again?”

  Eleven year old Marissa picked up the smoldering doll, ran into the bathroom, dropped it in the toilet, and ran back out, slamming the door behind her.

  Her mother appeared in the doorway, frowning. “Marissa! You’re such a rebellious child! What are we going to do with you?”

  Twenty-six year old Marissa hovered at ceiling height, stunned. The memory of that moment leaked into her head, much like the light fissures racing down the hallway of her aunts. “My memories! They’re coming back! I used to play with light. I used to will it into shape and form and color. I used to comb it through my mom’s hair. She’d laugh. I’d laugh. We were happy!” A small sob escaped. “I even pretended I was a bad-ass cowgirl, shooting light from my fingers. I burnt my neighbor’s fingers when he yelled at me for torching his roses. Boy, did I get into trouble for that one! What the hell happened to me? I became an amnesiac!”

  The last snap and sizzle, like a cigarette being extinguished in a mud puddle, burst within earshot, and she and Tom once more floated above 15 year old Marissa, watching her swallow whatever vile concoction Aunt Topaz held. Fifteen year old Marissa gagged and coughed as her aunt wrestled with her to try to get her to swallow.

  “This is for your own good! Now swallow it!” her aunt commanded.

  Fifteen year old Marissa struggled and yelled.

  Topaz chanted in some strange language. As teenage Marissa stilled and swallowed the concoction, the great winged Coati-lumina appeared, its wings blowing the scene out of existence. It closed its claws over Marissa’s skull and took off into the air. This time, each hole produced by a piercing claw gushed with light, making Marissa the light source from earlier in the dream. This time, the lightning bolt down the front of her turtleneck vibrated with about a thousand watts. They sailed through the white-washed world, soared through the rain-soaked gloom field, and wheeled into vistas of color.

  Seconds later, 26 year old Marissa landed in her own bed, soaking wet and shivering, Sober’s nose pressed to her face. The dog now sparkled with light. His eyes danced with a bright glow, like two tiny flashlight beams. Pint-sized, luminescent wings popped out from his shoulders, beating as rapidly as his tail wagged. “Look at you, Sober! You’re my big, doofy, angel-dog!” She cast her eyes to her bedspread, and sure enough, light penetrated the colorful bedding and sp
illed out from beneath her sheets. “We’ve done it, Sober! We’ve restored our light!” She flung aside the covers. “How in the world will I cloak this?” Sober wagged his tail. “Easy for you to say. Today’s going to be interesting. I guess I’ll have to figure it out – after I feed my sparkling canine.”

  Chapter 24

  Cloaking herself turned out to be easier than she’d expected – she simply imagined painting a cloak over her bright, light-gushing body, and just like that, the light disappeared. “Well, that plus a sturdy overcoat,” she amended. “Cool, cool, cool!” she told her dog before she left. He wagged his sparkling tail at her, creating whirls of bioluminescence. “The neighbors might wonder about you today. Tell them you put on your party best. Tell them I bought you a new superhero costume.”

  She sped into the garage and hopped in her little car. She’d only been to Daniel’s once. How’s that for funny? I don’t know the way to the house of my soul bound boyfriend or mate or whatever he is. She tapped his address into the GPS. “Address not found,” she read. “Of course not. Well, let’s just test this soul binding business.” As usual, just thinking about him stirred the tendrils of heat into fiery longing. She backed out of the car and raced down the street.

  Finding the way was easy. She only doubted herself once and turned the wrong way. The tendrils of fire flared out in a tangle, like knotted fishing line, as if confused. All she had to do was stay on track and feel the heat between them. Twenty minutes later, she pulled up the driveway, past the stony lions, past the cavorting goddesses, whipped into the driveway in front of his home and screeched to a halt.

  Daniel stood outside, wearing black shorts, a sweat-stained light orange t-shirt, and black and gray Nike running shoes, wiping his sweaty face with an orange towel. His wet, dark hair laid slicked back from his face. The day was warm, the sky was clear, and the man was hotter than hot. Damn you, Daniel Navid. She took a deep breath and leapt from the car.

  He beamed at her. “Hello, gorgeous. What a pleasant surprise.”

  “Your father helped my aunt suppress my memories! And look!” She peeled open her jacket and searchlight-bright beams flared from her body.

  “Whoa!” he said, his face crumpled into a curious expression. “I see you’ve made progress in restoring your Light Rebel self.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “But what are you talking about with my father?”

  “You know that little trip Tom said he’d take me on?”

  “Yes, it was to be an ether trip. I take it you went?” He draped the towel around his neck. “How’d it go?”

  Marissa’s eyes scanned up and down his body, stopping at his hips and belly. His shirt was pasted to his torso with sweat, revealing the six-pack of muscle. The fluttering birds in her pelvis combined with the galloping ponies inside. I want you inside me, right here, right now. Another deep breath. Focus, Marissa. Focus. She swallowed and clenched her hands. “I’ll tell you how it went. I got my memories back. I found my way back to my rebellious self and now am full of light.” She extended her arms and let the light issue from her palms.

  “Oh, baby,” he said, his eyes glittering and feral. “That’s pretty cool. Good job. Tell me about it.”

  His blues eyes bore into her and his damn tongue flicked out to touch his mouth. She wet her lips and swallowed, hard. Focus, focus, focus. Tell him how you feel about his dad! Tell him how bizarre that whole ether meeting was! “Maybe in a minute.” Want.

  He took a step toward her, eyes ablaze. “A minute?”

  She stepped backwards. “Or two.” Want. All I want is you.

  He moved closer. “Or two?”

  His eyes landed on her chest. She glanced down and rolled her eyes. Gah! Good one, Engles! “I buttoned my shirt all wrong.” She folded her arms.

  “You did.” He took a step.

  “I was in a hot hurry.”

  “You must have been.” Step.

  Damn this soul bound stuff! “Uhhh, Daniel, we’ve got things to discuss! Things to talk about! Your father and my aunt betrayed me. Your dad showed my aunt how to tamp down the light and color that streamed out of my bedroom, and they drugged me.”

  Daniel eased even closer. “It sounds like I need to have a chat with my father. And you need to get to the bottom of things with your aunt.” He fingered one of her long curls and tucked it behind her ear. “I won’t be able to do that for another hour or so, though.”

  Marissa closed her eyes and breathed him in, all hot sweat, musk, and sunshine. Want. She opened her eyes. Electricity sparked and shot from her fingers in an erratic manner. “Because?”

  “Because,” he said, leaning down toward her lips, “I might want to do something else first.”

  You bound our souls together without asking. You stunned Jason. You’re capable of anything. Daniel’s lips enveloped hers. Thwack! I cut off heads and hands. Maybe I am, too.

  His hands circled her head and worked their way around to the colorful cotton hair tie she had fastened around her silky tresses. He gently pulled it off and buried his hands in her hair. He deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue inside her mouth. He sucked greedily on her tongue.

  Small stabs of pain shot through her mouth. Pain. Pleasure. More. I want more. Her fingernails dug into his arms and she raked them down his triceps.

  He thrust her backwards. An unreadable expression colored his face. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  “Do what?” she panted.

  “Draw blood.” His breathing came out ragged and the muscles of his neck bulged in rigid cords. His nostrils flared like a wild horse.

  Her eyebrows knit together, and she stared at her fingers as if they were a stranger’s. Lightning bolts arched from her fingertips. Tiny droplets of blood seeped through small lacerations in Daniel’s skin. “Oh! I didn’t mean to…”

  “Yes, you did.” His eyes flashed something cold…something deadly.

  Her eyelids narrowed.

  “You don’t yet know what I’m capable of.” He was back in Marine mode.

  The earth beneath her feet shook in tiny tremors. A small tear split the asphalt, just like she’d seen on their first date. It opened to darkness and wisps of red and purple. In a flash, it sealed shut.

  “Daniel! What’s happening?” Her fingertips flared.

  “Don’t ever do that again.”

  “Do what?”

  “Draw blood.” He seemed to be in agony. His eyes squeezed shut tightly and he gulped deep, slow breaths. “This is a problem we’ll both have to deal with – together.” He said the statement as if it was a challenge rather than an invitation.

  “What is?” She stood ready to bolt.

  His breathing resumed normalcy and his eyes opened slowly. Sweat dripped along his face. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re freaking me out! What are you, Daniel?” She pushed against his chest.

  “I…I can’t tell you.” His eyes appeared wounded.

  “What are you? What am I soul bound to? Tell me, Daniel, please.” Her body shook.

  “I hope you never have to find out. It’s a fate I couldn’t bear.” His voice sounded both chilling and sad.

  A shiver ripped up her spine. “Daniel, you’re scaring me,” she said. “Are you going to hurt me?”

  Daniel’s eyes immediately softened. He shook his head side to side. “I’m sorry, cariño. I don’t know what came over me. You…you affect me in some pretty strange ways. I’m back. I’m here.” He pulled her tight.

  Conflict riddled inside of her. I already adore this man. He scares me. He arouses me. I’m doomed, soul-bound to this mysterious stranger.

  Daniel clutched her to him, breathing hard.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” he said, his nose nuzzled in her long hair.

  His hot, damp chest pressed against her breasts, causing them to ache and tingle. She ran her hands up and down his muscular back, her sensitive fingers exploring, tracing, and memorizing
the shape of him through the soft, damp fabric.

  “You’re more potent than before.”

  “I know. I thought I’d fry to a crisp.”

  “Me, too.” He smiled. “You’re way more potent than I imagined you’d be. You’re a powerhouse. It changes things.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He hugged her tightly to him. “It evokes something in me as well. You need to focus on your training, Marissa. You’ve got quite a task ahead of you to catch up with ten years of lost training.”

  “I can do it,” she whispered, melting into the heat and heartbeat of her lover.

  “I believe you,” he whispered back. He rocked her back and forth. “Oh, Marissa.” He spoke as if no one but him could hear. “My beautiful, beautiful Marissa.” He gave her a smothering embrace. “Tell me what happened.”

  “I have to go to work.” Light rays extended from her arms around the edges of Daniel’s back, competing with the rays of the sun. One of the beams highlighted the bronze goddess next to the house. Marissa blinked and pulled away from Daniel. “That goddess! She’s glaring at me!”

  Daniel’s face instantly closed down. “It’s only a bronze sculpture.”

  The goddess resumed an expression of frolicking gaiety. Marissa blinked. “Right.” She blinked again. “As much as I’d like to stay, I have to get to work. I don’t want to be late.”

  “I wondered if you had work today or if I’d get to spend the whole day with you.” He turned her away from the bronze figure and put his arm around her shoulder. “You could call in sick.”

  “No, sorry, I can’t.”

  “Bummer. I can think of far more interesting things to do. We have much to discuss.” He kissed the top of her head. “Dinner tonight? At my house? I’ll give Karin the night off and prepare dinner myself.”

  “Dinner sounds great.”

  “Bring the dog. In case you’d like to stay over.” That wicked smile appeared.

  Marissa loved that smile. “Sober sparkles, too. He had little wings when I left him.”

  “Does he?” Daniel laughed. “Your Doberman is great. I could fetch him while you’re at work. He and I could do a little male bonding.”