Seer (The Seeker Series Book 3) Page 3

  The next morning Rémy and I confronted Kate with our discovery of the night before: we were not meant to be a couple. We were both dismayed when she dismissed this revelation as nothing.

  “But Grand-mère,” Rémy sputtered. “We tried, as you wished. There was nothing, no feeling at all when we kissed. It was as if I were kissing Geneviève.”

  “Kate, please,” I began. “I am not in love with your grandson, but I am in love with my boyfriend back home. You said you understood, that you of all people should not tell me who to fall in love with, remember?”

  She stood up and began to pace in front of the couch where Rémy and I were seated. “I do remember, Ally. I’m not trying to pressure either of you, but I am also old enough to know love can grow. I don’t want you to so easily dismiss what the prophecy may mean. I have never seen two people have such a strong psychic connection and I have a hard time believing you are not destined to be together. I think we had better wait and see. Now, let’s continue your training.” She proceeded to push us especially hard during our session. She had found out about my physical powers, both the electric shock I had given Rémy during our first kiss and the violent blue energy pulse during the showdown with David Moore at the end of last school year, and attempted to provoke a similar reaction. Today I was angry enough that she might be successful! Thus far I hadn’t been able to recreate anything, but I hadn’t been angry like I was both previous times. Today, I was excessively pissed off and needed to vent. I wasn’t angry at Rémy, and I couldn’t begin to direct any anger at a little old lady, so after taking all I could handle of Kate’s nagging ‘just concentrate, Ally!’, I muffled a scream of frustration and directed all my pent up feelings at a small vase resting on a side table in the room where we trained. We were all shocked when it exploded, showering the three of us in sharp ceramic fragments. I felt horrible when I saw a small drop of blood on Kate’s cheek from a shard of the vase.

  “Merde! Ally, what did you do?” Rémy exclaimed as he rushed to his grandmother’s side, examining the small cut.

  “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Kate! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

  “It’s nothing, Ally. Rémy, don’t fuss! I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.” She took the tissue from his hand and pushed him away impatiently, going to look at the remains of the vase. “This is extraordinary! I have never seen such power! Has this ever happened before?”

  I shook my head. “No, never like this. I’ve never destroyed anything before. The last time it was just a pulse of energy that knocked Jack and a crazy, sadistic murderer down. Sorry about the vase. I hope it wasn’t antique or anything.”

  “Of course not. It was nothing. Something I picked up in a market. It was my fault for doing this in the middle of my living room, anyway. We’ll find a more suitable place for training from now on. That’s enough for today. I need to talk with the rest of the Conseil. Rémy, why don’t you drive Ally into town for some lunch and shopping? I’m sure you both would appreciate some time away.”

  We didn’t speak at all as we got into his car and drove into Rouen. I leaned my head against the headrest and closed my eyes. Finally, I rolled my head toward Rémy and opened my eyes. “It was an antique, wasn’t it?”

  “18th century Meissen. Worth several thousand euros.” I saw a half-smile as he stared straight ahead at the road.

  “Oh, my God. I’m a disaster. What is happening to me?” I wailed.

  He reached over and clasped my hand. “Don’t worry, chérie. We will figure it out. It will just take time.”

  “How much time?” I sighed. “Rémy, I want to go home.”

  “Ally, it’s only been a few weeks. Please, give it another week at least.”

  I pulled my hand away to wipe my tears of frustration. “What about your grandmother? She keeps trying to throw us together. She won’t take no for an answer and I’m tired of compromising my relationship with Jack. I’m done, Rémy.”

  “I know. Listen, we don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do. She can try all she wants, but you and I know what is in our hearts, no? We will concentrate only on our training, nothing else. Please, stay another week.”

  “One week. That’s all. Then I’m going home.” I sniffed, trying to sound firm.

  “So, you will not go on to Ireland then?” he asked, turning to look at me briefly.

  “I don’t think I’m invited anymore. Fionnuala was livid when I talked to her. I think I’ll just go home.”

  “I’m sure she’s calmed down by now. You should definitely call her before you decide. But it is ultimately your decision. I will support you in whatever you decide. I do hope you’ll give us another week, however.”

  It was my turn to give him a half-smile as I reached for his hand again. “Thanks, Rémy. Your support means a lot, you know? I feel kind of like it’s you and me against the world right now.”

  He took me to lunch at Le Mouton Noir, a small crêperie where I had one of the most delicious meals I have ever had: a savory crepe with Pont-l’Évêque cheese and herbs, a sweet crepe with honey and nuts, and a glass of le cidre de Normandie, a slightly alcoholic apple cider that was apparently a regional specialty. The bill for lunch was accompanied by two small glasses of cider liqueur. I would need an AA program by the time I left France. After lunch, we walked along the Rue du Gros-Horloge, stopping in at whatever shop looked interesting, all the while working our way toward the giant clock that watched over the street. We exited a small boutique when a vision, my first in months, slammed into my mind.

  Jack, running through the rain. Mud covered his combat boots and water streamed down his face, into his eyes, making it difficult to see where he ran. He followed another soldier closely, trying to make it through the obstacle course, but it rained so hard he couldn’t see what was ahead. He didn’t see the low-hanging branch in time to duck. He ran into it at full speed and went down, unconscious, blood streaming from a head wound.

  I gasped and reached blindly for Rémy, my breath coming in gasps. He led me to a nearby bench and sat down with me, rubbing my hands between his.

  “It’s all right, Ally. Show me what you saw.”

  I shook my head, but he saw the vision that I couldn’t erase from my mind. I wrenched my hands from his and fumbled through my pockets, searching for my phone, trying to control my shaking hands enough to dial Trina’s number. It took an agonizing amount of time for the international call to connect. “Trina? Is Jack okay? I don’t know; I have a really bad feeling that he’s hurt. Yeah, please call the base and find out, okay? I know it sounds crazy, but please just do it for me. Thanks. Yeah, I’ll wait for your call.” I hung up and sat staring at my phone, willing it to ring and for Trina to tell me he was all right. Rémy didn’t say anything, but rubbed my back soothingly while we waited. I spent the longest fifteen minutes of my life waiting for my phone to ring. “Trina?” I practically yelled when it finally did. “He’s okay? Oh, thank God! What happened?” She proceeded to tell me that Jack had been hurt that morning during a routine training exercise, hitting his head and splitting it open on a tree branch. He had been taken to the infirmary where he had been stitched up and checked for a concussion.

  “He’s okay, mija,” Trina assured me. “But how on earth did you know? You and Jack must have some sort of crazy mind connection. I don’t know what to think about this.” I could picture her crossing herself.

  “I don’t know, either, Trina.” I hated lying to her, but had no intention of telling her how I really knew. “I just got this really bad feeling about him. But you’re sure he’s okay?”

  “Yes. They actually let me talk to him for about two minutes. He said that he’s just embarrassed and the rest of the guys are teasing him ruthlessly. He said to tell you that he loves you and misses you. I didn’t have time to tell him you were in France, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay, Trina. Thanks for calling and finding out. Sorry I freaked out. I’ll talk to you when I get back to Albuquerque, ok
ay?” I hung up and looked at Rémy. “He’s fine. Just a few stitches. Sorry for the drama scene.”

  He laughed a bit and pulled me up from the bench. “It is not a problem. I’m glad Jack was not seriously injured.” At my doubtful look, he continued, “You wound me, chérie. Just because I don’t particularly like him doesn’t mean I wish him harm. Now, let us find a place to get you some refreshment. I think sugar helps you after a vision, no?” He led me a little further down the street to a small sweet shop called Chocolaterie Auzou, where he introduced me to the wonder of French macarons. Oh. My. God. I fell in love with the brightly colored cream-filled cookies, unable to decide whether I liked pistachio or coconut better. Or maybe chocolate. Yum. We walked down the street, eating our treat, laughing at how we each ate the cookies: Rémy ate his in what he said was the ‘grown-up manner,’ biting through the cookie, while I pulled the cookies apart to get to the cream filling, like I ate Oreos. I stuck my tongue out at him and enjoyed the cookies my way. My phone buzzed with a text notification and I struggled to juggle my cookies and reach for my phone. Rémy took my packet of cookies so I could check my message.

  Jack: I’m fine. I swear. Stop worrying.

  I gasped and texted back quickly, wiping away a sudden tear.

  I had a vision. Are you sure you’re okay?

  Jack: Fine. Gotta go. Luv u.

  I stared at my phone, willing him to text something else, although I knew he couldn’t. I gave a small sob and lowered my forehead to my phone. Rémy led me to a bench and sat me down, rubbing my back softly as I cried. “He’s fine. I don’t know why I’m crying.” I sat up and wiped my eyes, determined not to fall apart.

  “It’s a natural reaction, chérie. You are relieved now that you have heard from him.” He remained silent for a few moments. “I’m sorry about last night, Ally. I’m sorry I kissed you.”

  “Oh, Rémy,” I sighed.

  “I mean it. I’m sorry. I see now the depth of feeling you have for Jack. He doesn’t begin to deserve you, but you love him very much. I am done trying to come between the two of you.”

  I stood and pulled him up with me. “Come on. Let’s get a drink and then head back to your mansion.” He smiled and led me farther down the street to a bar called Delirium, where he had a beer and I had another glass of cidre.

  We chatted amiably on the way back to the estate and were still talking as we entered the house, where Geneviève met us with a dour, “We have guests.”

  ***

  Rémy and I, with some trepidation, followed Geneviève into the living room where Francoise argued with none other than Fionnuala.

  “We didn’t kidnap her! The child came here of her own free will!” I certainly didn’t appreciate Francoise referring to me as a child.

  “She knew nothing about you until you sent a spy to seduce her into coming here!” Fionnuala didn’t give an inch.

  “Seduce?” I cried.

  “Spy?” Rémy yelled at the same time.

  “There you are, Ally dear.” Fionnuala rushed over to hug me and otherwise fuss. She had apparently moved past the fury with which she had greeted my earlier phone call. “Are you all right?”

  I hugged her briefly, but then pushed away impatiently. “Of course I’m all right. I did come here of my own free will. Rémy is not a spy and there was absolutely no seduction involved! Jeez, Fionnuala! That’s just inappropriate!”

  “Well said, Ally.” Kate floated into the room, followed by the rest of the Conseil. She came to a halt in front of the Irish Seer. “Are you going to stand in my house and accuse my grandson of spying on and seducing the new Oracle?” The two elderly women stared at each other for a moment. Fionnuala’s body language, from her pinched mouth to the arms crossed tightly in front of her, made me wonder when the yelling would start. Kate was not much better, with hands on hips and her chest heaving with indignation. Her next statement caught me completely by surprise. “It’s been a long time, sister.”

  Wait, what?

  The two women stared at each other for a full moment longer before Kate moved forward to throw her arms around Fionnuala, who remained stiff and unyielding for a few seconds before melting into her sister’s arms. I turned to Rémy, my mouth hanging open like a fish. “Wha—?”

  Geneviève appeared between the two of us, squealing, “Oh my goodness! Can you believe it?”

  I shook my head, disbelieving. “Rémy, did you have any idea?”

  He said nothing, shaking his head as I had, apparently speechless.

  The two women finally disengaged and turned to us as Kate spoke. “Fionnuala, I want you to meet my grandson. Rémy, come and greet your Aunt Fionnuala.”

  I stood in the background, watching as Rémy met his long-lost aunt and Fionnuala and Phillipe got reacquainted. I tuned back in when Kate turned to peer behind Fionnuala, asking, “Are you going to introduce your friend?” I had been so focused on the events unfolding in the center of the room I hadn’t noticed the other guest. We all turned to look now; the young woman standing off to the side appeared embarrassed at the sudden attention.

  “Of course.” Fionnuala reached out to pull the girl forward. “This is my young protégé, Mina Addair. She is showing signs of great power, much like Ally, and we are working with her. I thought it would be a good idea to bring her with me.”

  I experienced a sudden feeling of something like jealousy: Mina was beautiful, with long, black hair and piercing blue eyes. And she was powerful, too? Even as I chastised myself for my unreasonable, instant dislike of this new girl, I felt relief that maybe there was another contender for the Oracle title. I watched her flush becomingly as Rémy lifted her hand and kissed the back, murmuring, “Enchanté.”

  I must have vocalized my disgust, because Geneviève leaned in, whispering, “What? She is lovely, don’t you think?”

  “If you like that obvious sort of beauty,” I said and sniffed.

  “Well, Rémy apparently does. You’re not jealous, are you?”

  I gave her a look that hopefully said I found her remark ridiculous. She just laughed. I rolled my eyes and stepped forward to interrupt the mutual admiration society between Rémy and this new girl, Mina. I reached my hands simultaneously to pull Rémy’s hand away from Mina’s, touching both of them at the same time. What happened next took the snarky comment I planned to make right out of my mouth. My hands felt instantly glued to their arms as the room faded away and a loud buzzing engulfed me. The word ‘Jessamine’ appeared in my mind, as it had months ago when Rémy first kissed me, and I’m not sure if I said it aloud or if I only thought it. I heard glass shattering as if it were from a great distance, accompanied by screams. That brought me out of the trance, or whatever it was, to see the room was much darker than it had been and the curtains were blowing in at the windows.

  “What happened?” I asked as I dropped Rémy and Mina’s hands. They both shrugged, looking around in confusion.

  “Kate!” Phillipe cried as his wife collapsed on the sofa. Fionnuala and Francoise rushed to Kate’s side as I looked around the room at the others. Arnaud attended to Geneviève, brushing pieces of what looked like glass out of her hair. I noticed others doing the same.

  “Aw, crap! What did I explode this time?” I sighed.

  “I’m not sure it was you this time,” Rémy said as he and Mina looked around the room. “Or that it was only you, Ally. I think all three of us may have had a hand in this.” He turned to address his cousin. “Geneviève, what happened?”

  “I’m all right, Arnaud. Thank you,” she assured him. For someone who felt he was too old for her, Arnaud certainly rushed to her side when things got dangerous. Very interesting. Geneviève approached the three of us, still brushing bits of glass from her hair. “When Ally touched you and Mina, the lights flickered and then burst. Then the windows exploded and there was a sort of glow around you three. That’s when Grand-mère started speaking a new prophecy, right before she fainted.”

  “I’m fine!” Kate int
errupted, sitting up on the sofa. “I did not faint. I felt a little weak. That’s all.”

  Rémy walked over to the sofa and knelt in front of his grandmother, taking her hand between his. “Grand-mère, can you tell us the prophecy?”

  She cupped her hand against his face and leaned forward to kiss his forehead. “Oh, my dear boy. Ally, Mina, come here, please. You all need to hear this.” We both followed Rémy’s lead and knelt on the floor in front of Kate. The rest of the Conseil gathered close, although they had already heard the prophecy while Rémy, Mina, and I were in our trance, or whatever it was. Kate held on to Rémy’s hands as she spoke:

  “The binding is before you. The time of the Seers is at hand. Before you stands the Oracle, the Shield, and the Heart of the Oracle. Behold the power of the three.”

  We were all silent for a moment before Geneviève broke in. “What is ‘Jessamine’? Rémy and Ally said it at the same time.”

  Mina spoke for the first time. “It’s my name.”

  ***

  While the Conseil began to debate all the possible meanings and ramifications of the new prophecy, Rémy pulled Mina and me aside to a corner where we could talk quietly. It was nearly impossible amidst the increasing volume and rancor of the older Seers in the room.

  “Tell us, Mina, please. We have been hearing the word ‘Jessamine’ in our heads for months now. You say it is your name?” Rémy began.