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Chapter 229
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Leesa swung the Ford to the curb about half a block down the street from the entrance to her dorm. She would return the car to the rental company tomorrow; all she wanted to do right now was take a shower and lie down. She was not even certain which of the two she wanted to do more—maybe she would just lie down in the shower! There was something she had to do first, though.
Twilight was deepening into dusk as she limped up the sidewalk toward her dorm. The evening was growing cold, so she hugged her arms across her chest as she walked. She was glad she had nabbed a parking space so close to the dorm.
Inside, Leesa spotted one of her dormmates, a girl named Missi, waiting for the elevator. Leesa walked over to join her. More often than not Leesa used the stairs, but she was tired and with Missi having already pressed the up button the car should be there quickly. Leesa didn’t know Missi very well—really just to say “hi” to when Missi droppe
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 230
Cali turned the music down low and sat on the bed, scooting backward until her back rested against the wall. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins.“Okay. I’m all ears.”Leesa took a moment deciding where to start—there was so much to tell. She decided to begin with something that Cali already knew a little bit about.“You know how a couple of my dreams came true?” she asked. “And how I can sometimes move things with my mind?”Cali could still picture the vampire Edwina flying backward away from her, somehow propelled by Leesa’s anger.“Yeah, sure. How could I ever forget that?”“Well, it turns out I can do a lot more than just that.”“Really? Like what?”“I’ll tell you in a minute. But first, I need to tell you a little story.”Leesa told Cali about the waziri, and how some of th
Leesa's Advent Chapter 231
Back upstairs in her room, Leesa stripped out of her grimy clothes and tossed them into the canvas hamper at the bottom of her closet. She put on her comfy terrycloth robe and rubber flip-flops, grabbed her shower kit, and limped down the hallway to the communal showers at the far end of the corridor. At this hour of the day, she had the place all to herself, which was just fine with her.The sixteen girls on her floor shared five showers, each one separated by a red plastic curtain attached to a curved metal ring suspended from the ceiling. Leesa took off her robe and hung it carefully on the chrome hook behind the stall farthest from the door—she had learned from experience that things sometimes slipped off the hooks if you weren’t careful. The floor looked clean and dry now, but that did not mean it was going to stay that way. She pulled the shower curtain closed and turned on the water, standing off to the side while the water warmed up. The hot water heaters
Leesa's Advent Chapter 232
Leesa woke up again a little after six o’clock the next morning. Her room was still dark—the sun would not be rising for some time yet. While she still didn’t feel great, she was much more refreshed and alert than when she had awakened at midnight, for which she was profoundly grateful. She could not recall what had disturbed her so much then, but suspected it must have been a dream. She spent a moment trying to remember it, but it was gone. Oh well, she thought, if it was important, it will come back—she hoped.Pushing her covers aside, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. For a few moments she just sat there in the darkness, gently rolling her neck and stretching her arms and shoulders before finally standing up. She flicked on the overhead light and donned her robe, then risked a glance into the mirror.She grimaced at what she saw, which made her reflection even more unpalatable. Her hair was a tangled, snarly mess, and a pair of dar
Leesa's Advent Chapter 233
Later that afternoon, Cali was sitting at her desk studying when she heard a firm, staccato knock on the doorframe of her open door. She turned around to see two men in dark blue suits with black ties framed in the doorway. They were each tall and well-built, with short, but not quite military style haircuts. Both had light brown hair. Cali guessed they were somewhere in their late thirties or early forties—about the same age as her dad. They didn’t look quite enough like each other to be brothers, but they were close. More importantly, they looked like cops. No, she thought, not cops—more like FBI agents or something. Behind the two men stood a woman, but Cali could barely see her past the men’s bulk. All Cali could tell was that she was wearing a pants suit just a shade lighter than her companions, and that her shiny black hair was pulled back tight against her skull.Cali wondered what the men wanted. She didn’t do drugs, so it was doubtful th
Leesa's Advent Chapter 234
“No, you’re not,” Jones said. “It turns out there are no laws on the books about killing zombies—who’d have guessed?”“We’re just trying to gather as much information as we can about what happened,” Smith said. “Where those things came from, why they chose your dorm, anything like that.”Cali was struck by the thought that if the BSI guys had come yesterday afternoon, she would not have had a clue to any of those answers. After last night, though, when Leesa had shared her full story, Cali now knew about the Necromancer and the black waziri. She was not about to tell any of that to these agents, though. She hoped their arrival today was just coincidence and nothing more.“I’m sorry I don’t know more,” she said. “There was just so much going on—kids running and screaming, the fire extinguisher blasting—I just never got a clear picture of anything.&rdq
Leesa's Advent Chapter 235
When Leesa returned to her room after her last class, she found Cali sitting on the floor alongside the door, waiting for her. This was never a good sign—since Cali lived only one floor down, she could have easily just left a note on the door and returned to the comfort of her room to wait. Obviously, whatever was going on was important enough that she wanted to talk to Leesa as soon as possible. Leesa hoped it wasn’t anything that was going to get in the way of her being a normal student for awhile, but doubted she was going to be that lucky.Cali scrambled to her feet as soon as she saw Leesa emerge from the stairwell.“Hey, Cali,” Leesa said as she fished inside the pocket of her jeans for her keys. “What’s up?”“Not out here,” Cali said, her voice low, yet urgent. “Inside.”Leesa’s sense of foreboding grew as she inserted her key into the lock and pushed the door open. She stepped
Leesa's Advent Chapter 236
After dinner, Leesa and Cali bundled up and headed out from the dorm. The night air was cool, and a chill wind blowing out of the northwest made it feel even colder. Leesa wondered if there might be a storm on the way. It was getting late in the year for snow, but her friends had told her that every now and then New England got walloped by a March blizzard. Dominic would know if a storm was coming—he was better than any weather computer when it came to forecasting snow or rain—but predicting the weather was one of many wizard tricks Leesa had not yet even begun to learn. She wondered if her book of magic, which was tucked safely in the backpack slung over her shoulders right now, had anything about weather forecasting in it. Even if it did, she imagined that particular skill would be pretty far down on any list of priorities for some time yet.She tugged her dark blue knit ski cap farther down over her ears and trudged on into the wind. Beside her, Cali already ha
Leesa's Advent Chapter 237
Leesa had to admit, this was about as private a spot as she could imagine anywhere on campus. The fact that it sat atop a bustling library made it even better.“It does seem perfect,” she said.She took off her coat and hung it over the back of her chair. Cali did likewise.“Okay,” Cali said, smiling. “I want to see some magic. Show me what you got.”Leesa was glad to have Cali here with her. Ever since her magic had become diminished, practicing had been becoming more and more boring. It had been more fun when Jenna had added her magic to Leesa’s, but Leesa wasn’t sure when or if that would ever happen again. Both she and Jenna were likely to be a bit uncomfortable around each other for awhile.Cali would be an appreciative audience, Leesa knew. She just wished her powers were at full strength, so she could really show off. Still, Cali loved everything magical and supernatural, and she was bound to b
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Serena awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of fresh coffee brewing. She rolled over lazily, reaching out for Raphael, but the space was empty. With eyes still closed, she frowned. Where is that man? That man had probably been out of bed since the crack of dawn, beside himself with nerves for today’s big event, she thought regretfully. They were to be married today. Their lives intertwined for all of eternity. What man wouldn’t have cold feet at the prospect? And they’d known each other such a short time, too. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, and frowned again. She had awakened in the safe house. Last night, she’d killed a man in her own home, and knew she could never go back there ever again. She didn’t care how good the Brethren’s cleanup crew could restore her home. It would never erase the vivid memories and horrors of what had happened there. She and Raphael would have to find themselves a new home, together. Until such time, this place would be it, th
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It’s going to be a long day without Raphael, Serena thought, as she washed and dressed. But she carried on. With so many loose ends to tie up, final checks to be made, people and places to coordinate, she scarcely had time to think about anything else. Except for her father. In the quiet moments between the bedlam of planning a wedding, she reflected upon him and her heart ached. She had arranged for a nursing home staffer to drive him and his wheelchair to the Chapel of the Holy Cross for the wedding. They didn’t usually allow weddings there, but somehow, Raphael swayed their decision. Kemuel promised to wheel her father down the aisle beside her, and she loved him instantly for that. But her dream was to have him walk her down that aisle. A sob caught in her throat, and she quickly shook her head to whisk it away. None of that nonsense, Serena. Don’t be greedy. At least he is alive and here to be a part of it all. As the day waxed on to evening, Serena felt unsettled. She hadn’t s
Leesa's Advent Chapter 725
Raphael spent the next few days cloistered with Serena, away from everyone and everything, like a honeymoon before the wedding. But every morning he made creative excuses to tear himself away from her for a little while and work with Fred. To make sure she didn’t visit her father, he dropped her off at her shop first so she could plan a small wedding with Callie and catch up on the mountains of paperwork.The healing sessions with Serena’s father went spectacularly, and with Raphael’s charisma, he convinced the nursing home staff to keep any improvements secret from her. They thought it romantic that he came to help with his fiancée’s father’s rehabilitation. Everyone there rooted for him, amazed at his miraculous awakening. All of the therapists worked their tails off during his therapy sessions, wanting to see their severely stroke-damaged patient beat the odds and walk his daughter down the aisle.On the morning of the fifth day, Raphael got Fred walking without any assistance.“Co
Leesa's Advent Chapter 724
Raphael grabbed her hands. “Do it!” he demanded. He placed them on his temples and spoke to her through their bonded connection. She felt every thought he had had of Sirona over the years straight to the present down their threaded connection. She heard every thought he’d had of her, including every word he had spoken while holding her in his arms at Dr. Chappo’s estate. He sent her everything that filled his heart and soul about her, and finally, at last, she knew.She knew. And knowing was everything to her. He gently brought her hands away from his face, kissing her fingertips as he eased them down, and she took a few steps backward, looking at him as if for the first time. No one before had ever felt about her the way he felt about her, let alone express so strongly all he’d expressed when she’d lain dying in his arms.“You’re in love with me.” She gasped, astonished. Tears welled again in her eyes, but this time, for a very different reason.“Yes.” He took a bold step toward her.
Leesa's Advent Chapter 723
A bundle of nerves, that’s what she’d turned into. Since leaving her father’s, Serena had been nothing but a bundle of nerves, rehearsing over and over again what she would say to Raphael up on the Rock. Looking all around her now, frightening memories kept popping into her mind, making her think that at any moment, Steve or Wheezer were going to jump out and nab her. Unfortunately, she had gotten to the summit way too early, and now paced like a caged bobcat. It had to stop. The bad guys are dead, Serena. Think positive, and let go the past. So, finding a suitable rock to sit on, Serena decided to do a little meditation to soothe her worried heart. “When I see him, I’ll know the right words to say,” she notified the birds. It may sting for a bit, but it’s for the best.****Raphael showed up at the base of the mountain with time to spare, and noticed Serena’s Jeep already parked. Perfect, he thought. He checked his pocket for the millionth time, making sure the ring box hadn’t fallen
Leesa's Advent Chapter 722
Raphael watched Serena leave the nursing home from behind one of the bushes in the front. She seems in good spirits, he thought. Only when he saw her disappear down the street did he dare to venture out of his hiding place. He walked into the nursing home and headed straight to the reception desk.“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Sikes.” He smiled amiably at the receptionist.“Wow, two visitors in one day. Fred’s a lucky guy. Sign in right here, please. You’ll sign out before you leave. Take this badge so we know you belong here. Room 103 is down the hall, make a left, and he’s at the end on the left.”He looked at her name tag, and winked. “Thanks so much, Judy.”Walking down the hall, he found himself fidgeting with the badge in his hand. Am I actually nervous? Hell yeah! Raphael, the man, is about to meet the father of the woman he loves. Raphael, the man, is about to ask for this guy’s daugh
Leesa's Advent Chapter 721
Great! Just great! There’s a leak in my bedroom ceiling. Wait a minute, that’s not right. I’m not in my bedroom. I’m locked away in Dr. Chappo’s house. She remembered more. Being bound to a gurney, her body broken and dying. But I’m not lying on a gurney now, and I actually feel great. How could she be dying and still feel great? And what’s with the rain shower on my face? Slowly her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped.It was raining. Angel’s tears. Raphael’s tears, to be exact.She lay in his arms, and from the way he shuddered and sobbed, she thought maybe he didn’t know she lived. To be honest with herself, she’d only realized this fact just a few moments before. Iridescent wings were outstretched and trembling though no breeze made them flutter so.She gently raised her hand to caress his cheek and whispered softly. “Shh…there now, Raphael, shh. It’s all right. I’m ok
Leesa's Advent Chapter 720
Raphael noticed a knob on the box. It made sense to dial it to its lowest setting. He followed the tubing to its clamp on Serena’s side and decided to completely clamp it off. Now, no more blood could flow. But he still needed to get the needle out of her arm. He found gauze and tape on the tray stand and proceeded to extrude the catheter from her arm carefully so as not to injure her. He replaced it securely with the gauze and tape. His hands shook. I can’t fall apart like this right now! He quickly shrugged off the threat of paralyzing fear.“Hey, Raphael, this guy says his name is Steve. Isn’t that the name of one of guys who assaulted Serena?” Gabriel asked.“Yes, yes it is,” he said through gnashed teeth. Rage filled him and he clenched his fists, trying to gain some semblance of control. “Bind him, tightly. Make sure he can see Dr. Chappo. I’d like him to see what happens to assholes like him when they choose
Leesa's Advent Chapter 719
Searing hot pain shot like lightning throughout every inch of Serena’s body. Well, every inch she could feel, which left her very disturbed indeed, because she couldn’t feel anything past her waist. She could barely breathe without severe pain ripping through her chest and back. She knew what that meant—broken ribs. But what about her legs? Where were they? And why did her wrists feel shackled? Oh, dear God! What’s become of me? Her shallow breaths quickened. Her heart raced and fought for freedom behind her aching chest. Tears burst through her closed eyes and flowed untapped down the sides of her face.A voice sliced through the whooshing sound in her ears. A voice she knew all too well, and had come to despise with every molecule in her being.“Uh, Doc, I think she’s coming ’round. What do you want me to do?” Steve asked.“Hmm? Oh, nuffin. Nuffin, Seeve. Jus’ keep watchin’,” Dr. Chappo sl
