The Cobra of Smoke - The Burden of Sight

Chapter 13

As the women admired the engagement ring, Marcus pulled David aside. Shantali couldn't hear their conversation, but she could imagine her protective older brother giving some version of the "hurt her and I'll kill you" speech.

"So," Marcus said when they were all seated, menus open before them, "this seems rather sudden."

Shantali felt David tense beside her. "Not really. We've been together eight months."

"And living together for approximately zero of those," Marcus pointed out. "Don't you think a cohabitation trial period would be prudent before marriage?"

"Actually," David interjected smoothly, "we just signed the paperwork for our apartment today."

Sophia brightened. "That's wonderful! Where?"

"Riverside, near the park," Shantali said, grateful for the diversion. "It has built-in bookshelves and a balcony."

"And a large park across the road, and close to work for both of us. Although I do think we’ll have to decide whether we’re going to continue with the night shift or change to the day shift detail,” David chuckled.

"I think we've had enough night shift excitement for a while," Shantali replied with a meaningful glance that made David smile. "Days might be nice for a change."

Marcus narrowed his eyes, catching the subtext flowing between them. "What happened on your night shift?"

Shantali sipped her water, considering how much to share. "Let's just say we had an unusual experience that helped clarify some things."

"What kind of unusual experience?" Marcus leaned forward, his doctor's instincts engaged. "Tali, if you're experiencing hallucinations..."

"It wasn't a hallucination," David said firmly. "I saw it too."

Sophia placed a gentle hand on Marcus's arm. "Maybe this isn't the time for medical diagnoses, love."

Marcus exhaled slowly, visibly reining himself in. "I'm just concerned. You've been acting strangely for days, not returning calls, and suddenly you're engaged and buying property."

"I understand your concern," Shantali said, meeting her brother's gaze directly. "But sometimes clarity comes in unexpected ways. I've never been more certain of anything in my life."

The waiter arrived to take their orders, providing a welcome interruption. When he departed, Marcus seemed to have regrouped his thoughts.

"Tell me about the apartment," he said, clearly making an effort. "When do you move in?"

As they discussed closing dates and moving logistics, Shantali felt the tension gradually ease. By the time their entrees arrived, Marcus was offering recommendations for reliable movers and Sophia was discussing housewarming gift ideas.

"Have you thought about a wedding date?" Sophia asked as they shared dessert.

"Spring," David answered. "April, maybe."

"So soon?" Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Shantali smiled, fingering her engagement ring. "When you know, you know."

After lunch, as they stood outside the restaurant saying their goodbyes, Marcus pulled Shantali into a tight hug.

"I just want you to be happy," he murmured. "And safe."

"I am both," she assured him. "I promise."

He studied her face for a moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with whatever he saw there. "Dinner at our place next weekend? We can celebrate properly."

"We'd love that," David answered, shaking Marcus's hand with newfound ease.

As they walked away, Shantali felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "That went better than expected."

"Your brother just wants what's best for you," David said. "Can't fault him for that."

"No, I can't." She slipped her arm through his. "But I'm glad he's starting to see that you're what's best for me."

That evening, as they unpacked the small cobra statue in David's apartment, Shantali found herself examining it more closely. The craftsmanship was exquisite, scales meticulously carved into the stone, eyes inlaid with tiny amber beads that caught the light with uncanny intelligence. Along its base, hieroglyphics were etched in a flowing band.

"I wonder what these say," she murmured, tracing the symbols with her fingertip.

David leaned over her shoulder. "Maybe Dr Hassan could translate them."

Shantali considered this, weighing her desire to understand against her commitment to move forward. "Maybe. But not right away. Let's just appreciate it for what it represents."

She placed the statue on the bookshelf beside a framed photo of them from last summer, their first weekend trip together to the coast. The juxtaposition felt right somehow—their past joy alongside a symbol of their future promise.

"Besides," she added, "I think I already know what it says."

"Oh?" David raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"Choose love," she said simply. "That's what the cobra taught me, in the end. Choose love over fear, presence over obsession, reality over prophecy."

David wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as they both gazed at the statue. "Wise serpent."

"Mmm." She leaned back against him, savouring his solid warmth. "Though I'm still not entirely convinced it wasn't some kind of shared hallucination triggered by museum ventilation issues."

He laughed, the sound vibrating against her back. "Does it matter? Whatever it was, it led us here."

"No," she agreed, turning in his arms to face him. "It doesn't matter at all."

As David kissed her, Shantali closed her eyes, letting the present moment wash over her completely. No visions flickered behind her eyelids, no prophecies demanded interpretation. Just this, his lips on hers, the promise of their shared home, the quiet certainty of chosen love.

The cobra statue watched from the shelf, amber eyes gleaming in the fading daylight. If smoke ever coiled from heating vents to form serpentine prophecies again, it would find Shantali Mae Cross, soon to be Chen, no longer searching for answers in ancient mysteries.

She had found something far more valuable: the courage to embrace the unknown future with open arms, one ordinary day at a time, one extraordinary day at a time. Also, very soon, she would sit back down on their days off and work on her novel regarding the smoke cobra. Still, for now, that had to wait until have had time to move into their new apartment, something she was totally ok with, but she knew she had to write it just as Dr Thorne had saved her from choosing the wrong path, and a part of her hoped that her future novel might just help do the same for someone else.