Venom And Vice

26

We both leaned in to hug one another, and when she pulled back, there was excitement brimming in her eyes. This was a step for her, and I was thrilled. Rebecca had never taken well to change. The move to Belfast had affected her in so many ways, and this was yet more evidence of the tremendous strides she’d taken. I was happy to do whatever I could to support her. The three of us talked for a few more minutes before they returned to Lochlan’s apartment. Once they were gone, I changed into flannel pajamas with wool socks. I still hadn’t thawed from my unsettling experience at the pub, and Lochlan’s words about the mysterious killer hadn’t helped. Hoping Knight would warm me up, I called him over to join me on the couch. I pressed my cold toes under him and put on a TV program as background noise. Once I was situated, I opened up my laptop to see what Google could tell me about Seers. I wasn’t sure why I sought such unreliable sources except that I hated to sit in ignorance. Patience was a virtue I’d never quite mastered. I had a magical ability, and I needed to know more about it. After several searches, I quickly discovered that anything more in depth than “a person who uses supernatural abilities to predict the future” was related to specific fan-fiction sites. I did learn a couple of possible tidbits that might have applied to me. According to one source, the “Sight” was reportedly involuntary, the magic choosing the person who was helplessly subjected to the visions. I hated to think my visions would be without rhyme or reason, but that had certainly been how the first one had appeared. I also read that a Seer often had telepathic abilities or other mental powers, which went along with my ability to insert myself into other people’s memories. Would those two “gifts” be the extent of my mental abilities, or did I have more surprises to uncover? Those two alone felt overwhelming. As much as I liked the idea of being powerful, I hoped I’d seen the extent of my mental superpowers. Rain began to pound on the large windows of the living room as time drew on, the perfect soundtrack to drown out my racing thoughts. I turned off the television and snuggled up next to Knight. He adjusted himself to make room for me, then gently licked my arm before lowering his head again. Snuggled up next to his warm body, I allowed the rhythmic patter of the rain and his even, deep breaths carry me to sleep. OceanofPDF.com Chapter Ten OceanofPDF.com ASHLEY I lounged in bed the next morning longer than normal after moving from the sofa halfway through the night. While I had enjoyed the comfort Knight had provided, he was a little too cuddly for my taste. He was also a sofa hog. I’d woken around midnight nearly suffocating in fur and sweating in places I was embarrassed to admit. After a mostly full night’s sleep, I was feeling less overwhelmed by the events of the day before. I lay in bed amazed at the fact that I’d had a prophetic vision. I’d seen the death of a woman before it had happened. What an incredible discovery! Not only was my elusive magic working, but it could be incredibly useful. Think of all the pain and suffering I could help prevent! Not one to dwell on the negative, I pushed aside thoughts of the psycho killer on the loose and the increasing danger I’d be in if people knew what I could do. I allowed myself instead to daydream about the good I could do and envisioned all the possibilities. By the time I finally rolled out of bed, I had pruned away the weeds in my garden of optimism and was confident good things were coming. I took a quick shower and dressed in my favorite blue T-shirt. The color made my eyes pop, so it was a staple in my wardrobe, and this particular shirt was slightly fitted to outline my curves as well. I’d have to wear a jacket over it to start the day, but that was just a fact of life in Ireland. “Hey, Knight. I’m gonna work from the coffee shop this morning. You want some scones or maybe a croissant?” Still sprawled on the sofa, he slowly eased to the ground, stretched his back in a classic downward-facing dog, then padded over to me with a toothy smile. “I’ll take that as a yes on both counts. Come on, let’s go.” Becca had explained not long after Knight first showed up that he refused to eat dog food. I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to eat that crap either. He wasn’t a cheap addition to the household, but I was quickly adjusting to ordering for two. Once I set down my coffee and scone, I took a couple of baked goodies outside for Knight. As always, he downed my offering without even chewing. “I’m not sure why you care what you eat. You don’t take the time to taste it.” He answered with a doggy burp and a lolling tongue. I chuckled and returned to the table I’d set up inside to start working. About a half hour in, after I’d finished my coffee and breakfast, the girl who’d asked me about Knight the day before came over to take my plate away. “Back again?” she asked with a smile, collecting the dirty dishes. I got a warm vibe from her the same as I had the day before. It occurred to me that I hadn’t really made any friends since coming to Belfast aside from a couple of the Huntsmen, and guy friends weren’t the same. Becca was spending more and more time with Lochlan, and while I’d gotten closer with Cat, she was still primarily Rebecca’s friend. It would probably do me a world of good to nurture a few new female relationships. “Yeah, I’m going to have to start paying rent if I’m not careful.” I grinned. “My name’s Ashley. I live around the corner.” I gave a one-handed wave. The girl’s grin spread wider. “I’m Elleree, but everyone calls me Elle.” “I’d ask if you wanted to sit for a minute, but I know you’re working.” She set the dishes back down and helped herself to the opposite chair. “They won’t mind back there. We’re past the morning rush at this point.” “Perfect! I haven’t been great about meeting people since I moved here.” “How long have you been in Belfast?” “About six months. Well, maybe more like five. I came over with a friend just to get her settled but ended up moving here myself.” “That sounds like an interesting story!” I gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded. It was an interesting story, but one I wouldn’t be sharing. “Yeah, so are you a Belfast native?” I redirected the conversation. She nodded. “Only place I’ve ever lived, though I plan to travel one of these days.” “Do you have any place in mind?” “I’m fascinated with the Orient—their customs and lore. It would be a big change, but I’d enjoy the challenge.” Her brown eyes glinted with intrigue as she spoke.