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Chapter 374
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Leesa hated the worried tone she heard in Rave’s voice, but he was no more anxious about all this than she was.
“I don’t think I can concentrate any harder.” Even as Leesa voiced the words, she reached out toward the book. “But I guess it can’t hurt to try.”
Concentrating as fully as she could on the need to fix her son’s arm, she rested her palm on the cover of the book for several seconds before opening it to another random spot. Once again, though, her eyes were met by nothing but empty white space. She stared down at the pages for several moments, almost as if willing words to appear. When nothing happened, she slammed the book closed.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice tinged with a bitterness she knew was unfair. “Either there’s no magic the book can give me that will help, or whatever exists is beyond my current abilities so the book won’t show it to me. Either way, I’m afraid
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 375
Leesa’a fears proved well-founded. The first thing she did when she awakened the following morning, after giving Rave a quick good morning kiss, was to check on Ralin’s arm. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and headed directly to his crib. Pale daylight leaked into the bedroom through the thin curtains, but she called forth a golden illumination sphere as she crossed the room to provide better light for her examination.She found Ralin lying on his back, eyes open. He smiled happily up at her. She reached down and tickled his ribs for a long moment, drawing an extended series of playful giggles from him. The sound warmed her maternal heart even more than usual. Finally, she pulled her hands away from his sides and turned her attention to his arm.At first glance, everything appeared fine, and she let out a soft sigh of relief. A closer look, however, showed her that the tips of his fingers were beginning to darken. The bluish hue wasn’t all
Leesa's Advent Chapter 376
Even though Leesa realized that time was of the essence, she knew she had to be completely prepared before she put her plan into action. And before she could even begin, she needed to rid herself of the grim anxiety still gripping her.She closed her eyes and drew in several slow, deep breaths, slipping into her familiar everywhere/nowhere state. In took a bit longer than the instant relaxation she was accustomed to, but finally she felt calm and centered.“Keep an eye on Ralin,” she told Rave. “I’ll be right back.”She turned and headed toward the back door. Without breaking stride, she walked right through the closed door. Dematerialization would play an important role in what was to come, and she wanted to be sure she was fully ready.Inside, she turned her attention to the old table she had rescued from the side of the road with Cali so long ago. Even back then, Leesa suspected she might one day have a use for the scarred
Leesa's Advent Chapter 377
Leesa didn't waste any time. She had already rehearsed what she was about to do countless times in her mind. The time for thinking and rehearsing was over—now was the time to do it for real.She walked alongside the table toward the rope swing, the fingers of her left hand trailing lightly across the table’s slick surface. As before, she felt no trace of the dark powers locked within its black depths. She didn’t let that fool her, though. What she was about to do was probably the most dangerous thing she had ever attempted or faced.When she reached the swing, she stepped quickly up onto the thick board that served as the seat. She took a moment to clear her mind then began slowly swinging the rope out toward the table. As the swing brought her closer and closer to a position above the tabletop, she began focusing on her ability to dematerialize.In one strange way, she was less worried about this part of her task than when she was trying to le
Leesa's Advent Chapter 378
She shoved the ring deep into the pocket of her jeans, where it would stay until she found him.Now that she had taken care of the ring business, she was back where she started—suspended in the void without knowing what to do next. Without much hope for success, she tried walking, but as in her dreams, she felt like she was merely swinging her feet in the air, getting nowhere. Next, she tried a breaststroke-like swimming motion, but once again had no sense that the effort was taking her anywhere.Her frustration mounted. She had managed get inside the table easily enough, but seemed unable to do anything now that she was here. Floating in the darkness for the rest of her life was definitely not what she had in mind when she jumped into the table. Breathing deeply, she centered herself again with everywhere/nowhere, banishing her frustration.If she couldn’t move—and for now, she had to accept that she couldn’t—then perhaps she could
Leesa's Advent Chapter 379
“Think”, Leesa told herself again.She could imagine any number of different ways this dark void inside the table might be separated from the outside world—energy walls, solid matter of some sort, even magical barriers could do the trick. Abstract possibilities were of no use to her, however. She needed something she could visualize clearly enough to cast her telekinesis at.Only one kind of boundary came to mind that fit her needs—the smooth black material the table had been fashioned out of.She felt her heartbeat quicken at the thought. The marble-like stuff was not only a logical choice to make up the boundaries of this place, but it was also one she could visualize in clear detail, having seen it up close just a short while before.She forced herself to calm down, centering herself once again. Excitement here could only get in her way. When she felt ready, she opened her eyes.One direction was as good as another, so sh
Leesa's Advent Chapter 380
Leesa had no more time to spend on the bloated corpse of the Necromancer. The dead wizard was a thing of the past—her concerns lay in the immediate future, with doing everything she could do to save her son.Invigorated by the knowledge that Dominic had emerged victorious over their hated foe and thus was probably still alive somewhere in this godforsaken place, Leesa cast her telekinesis out into the darkness once again. For the first time since she entered the world inside the table, real hope flared in her breast. Her optimism was further buoyed by the thought that if Dominic had indeed destroyed the Necromancer, he might not be too far away.As she drifted past the Necromancer’s body, Leesa realized she needed a way to make sure she was moving in the right direction. The last thing she wanted to do was to head off at an angle that might carry her farther away from Dominic.Reaching into her pocket, she took out her ring. What she saw surprised he
Leesa's Advent Chapter 381
Dominic thought for a moment, stroking his pointy beard as he did so. “Perhaps I could. But that assumes we can get out of this place. I don’t suppose your book taught you a way to accomplish that, did it?”“No, it didn’t,” Leesa admitted. “I was kind of hoping you and I would be able to figure a way out together.”Dominic shook his head slowly, a wry smile playing upon his lips. “If I could escape this place, don’t you think I would have done it long ago? My magic has grown weak. Something about this place seems to absorb it. The more you use, the less you have left. I had to employ quite a bit to destroy the Necromancer, but it was a necessary sacrifice.”The last thing Leesa wanted to hear was how weak Dominic’s magic had become. She watched as he sat down again, his legs dangling over the invisible edge the way they had when she first came upon him.“What’s that you&rs
Leesa's Advent Chapter 382
Rave sat on the thickest limb of one of the backyard trees, his legs dangling into the empty air, watching Ralin play in the branches above. His son was scampering about the upper reaches of the tree a little less aggressively than usual, and Rave guessed it was because his hand was beginning to bother him to the point where he was now favoring it. Even from here, Rave could see that the discoloration continued to darken.As he had done so many times already in the past two hours, he glanced down at the black table below, hoping to see some kind of light or movement in its dull black surface. Once again, his eyes found nothing but the same frustrating empty blackness. He didn’t let his gaze linger upon the tabletop—doing so was pointless, and he didn’t want Ralin noticing how much attention his father was paying to the table. Ralin had no idea his mother was somewhere inside its dark depths, searching for the man Leesa and Rave both hoped could fix their son’s hand.Using only his goo
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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
