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Chapter 236
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2024-10-29 19:42:56After 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
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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
Leesa's Advent Chapter 238
The storm Leesa had been wondering about arrived with a flourish the next morning. Not snow, though, as she had been thinking—unfortunately, the air wasn’t quite cold enough for that. Instead, great sheets of rain pounded down, driven at a sharp angle by a howling wind out of the northeast.Rumbling explosions of thunder had pulled Leesa from her bed shortly after eight o’clock. For a brief moment she had been startled and frightened, wondering in her half-awake state if she was under some kind of magical attack, but then she recognized the thunder and lightning for what they were. She quickly slipped into her terrycloth robe and fur-lined slippers and went to the side window, where the view of the storm would be best. When she pulled the curtain open, she was not disappointed in the least.Snug and warm in her robe and slippers, she stared in wonder at the fury of the storm. The morning was dim and gray under dark, low hanging clouds, with pelting ra
Leesa's Advent Chapter 239
The storm had weakened considerably by the time Leesa and Cali headed for the library after dinner. It was still raining, but nowhere near as hard as it had been that morning, and the wind had died down to almost nothing. Still, it was a cold, wet night, and both girls were wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas. Since it had rained all day, the sidewalks and streets were minefields of giant puddles that reflected pale golden circles of light from the streetlights above. The falling raindrops made the reflections shimmer and dance. Leesa imagined that some of the puddles might be deep enough to dive into, though of course she knew that was foolish.“This is kind of fun,” she said, enjoying the unsettled weather as always.“Which part?” Cali asked as she swerved left to avoid a puddle that covered most of the sidewalk. “Freezing our asses off, or having to watch every step we take so we don’t fall into one of these monster puddles a
Leesa's Advent Chapter 240
Not too far from campus, another bit of magic was also in play.Three figures stood in the darkness of a deserted cemetery. In front of them were three freshly filled in graves, the loose dirt and sod atop them turned muddy by the storm. Two of the figures held umbrellas up against the diminishing rain. The third squatted close in front of them at the edge of one of the graves, protected from the rain by their umbrellas.“We know the bodies were dug up here from the police reports,” Rome said to Smith and Jones. “I can sense that magic was used here, but what kind exactly, I cannot tell. It’s been too long and the traces are too faint. But it was not the kind that could reanimate the dead, of that I’m certain.”The men thought for a moment.“Perhaps the magic was used to unearth the bodies,” Smith suggested.“And then the reanimation was performed elsewhere,” Jones said, finishing the thou
Leesa's Advent Chapter 241
Six or seven cars sat in the lot, telling her there were ample potential victims inside. She hoped at least one of the drivers had come here alone. Keeping to the shadows, she skulked as close to the building as she could and peered in through the long plate glass windows. Most of the diners sat in pairs or trios, eating and chatting away, but there were two men seated in booths by themselves. The guy closest to her seemed to be nearing the end of his meal. Satisfied that a bit of patience would soon be rewarded, Leah melted back into the trees and waited for her opportunity. While she waited, silent and invisible as a wraith, a dark SUV pulled into the lot and swung into a spot not too far from where she hid. Leah watched closely, unable to see into the vehicle past the bright glare of the headlights, but thinking perhaps she might get lucky and the driver would be alone. She readied herself to pounce, just in case The motor shut off, leaving the night in sudden sil
Leesa's Advent Chapter 242
Shortly before noon on Saturday morning, Leesa and Cali walked out of the dorm together. Yesterday’s storm had blown out to sea, leaving a blue sky dotted with giant cotton ball clouds and temperatures that had climbed into the low fifties. The warmer air was carried by a stiff breeze out of the southwest. Leesa was wearing her grey sweatshirt with SAN DIEGO written in dark blue script on the chest, while Cali had donned a black and white striped knit sweater that had big purple streaks zigzagging down across the front. Both girls were wearing jeans.Dominic would be coming by in a little while and Leesa wanted to intercept him before he entered the dorm. She didn’t know that the BSI agents had been outside her dorm last night, nor did she know how close she and Cali had come to running into them on the way back from the library. Even so, she did not want to take the chance the agents might come around when Dominic was there. She had no idea how sensitive the Rome
Leesa's Advent Chapter 243
“It’s just a guess on my part, but yes. It’s one reason why we waziri kept such a low profile for so many centuries. The xenorians are zealots. And like most zealots, they are ruthless in following their beliefs. They do not care how many innocent people suffer in their quest to destroy anyone with magic. They have killed far more ordinary humans than they have people with magic, but to the xenorians that is simply the cost of what they seem to think of as a holy quest. They are totally heartless in their zeal.”“This is way worse than I thought,” Cali said. “The woman was totally creepy, for sure, but I never expected anything like this. Maybe you and Leesa need to get away from here, at least until we know Smith, Jones and Rome are gone.”Leesa watched anxiously as Dominic pondered the idea. She did not want to leave, especially with Rave gone. With no means to contact him, how would he ever find her when he returned? I
Leesa's Advent Chapter 244
The next week, zombies returned to Leesa’s dorm. Not the lurching, lumbering, flesh-eating kind that you needed to stab in the eyeball with a pen to kill—no, these were Leesa’s schoolmates, turned zombie-like by the arrival of midterms. The transformation had begun on Sunday night, but really picked up steam on Monday and Tuesday. Long hours of reading and studying combined with little or no sleep turned many of the kids in her dorm into creatures resembling the walking dead. They had dark circles under their eyes, slack jaws and lank, unwashed hair. Fortunately, Leesa was not among them—not too badly, at any rate. Her midterm schedule was really pretty favorable: one test on Monday and Tuesday, followed by a day off on Wednesday, and then two of her easiest exams on Thursday. She only had four tests instead of five because Dr. Shader had assigned papers to her English class in lieu of a midterm, and had very kindly not made the papers due until the following week.
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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
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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
