Chapter Thirteen

 

Sableth.

That one word stopped me in my tracks. I turned slowly, the sound of the wind swooshing through the tall trees as I stared up at Julian. He was on his knees at the top of the steps, face flushed and eyes glittering.

I grated, “What did you say?”

Julian scrambled to his feet. “Please, come back inside and we can talk.” He glanced around uneasily. “It’s safer inside.”

“How do you know that name?” I demanded.

Julian held out a hand. “Come inside. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. But we shouldn’t do it out here.”

Part of me just wanted to run and put as much distance between me and them as possible. I wanted to pretend none of this was real, and that what had happened earlier in the library was all in my head. But the instinctive terror I felt at the mention of the name Sableth forced me to acknowledge something more was going on here. I grudgingly moved up the steps, my hand gliding along the smooth pine railing.

When I reached the top, I said gruffly, “Tell me how you know that name.”

“Of course. Just come back inside.” Julian said, stepping back into the building. He gave me a coaxing smile as he beckoned to me.

I hesitated, but then gritting my teeth, I followed. I hovered near the door, still wary of what they were up to. Irene stood a few feet away with hands clenched, watching me as if I were a pin-less grenade.

Julian cleared his throat. “If you’d be so kind as to close the door, Lorenzo? It will be safer that way.”

I narrowed my eyes, uneasiness eating at me. I didn’t trust either of them as far as I could throw them, but I needed answers. I grudgingly closed the door, but I stayed near it. “So talk. How do you know about Sableth?”

Julian said, “I learned about him from the man who died at your home last night.”

“Who was that old man?”

Pain rippled through Julian’s eyes. “His name was Professor David Buckler. He was my teacher and friend.”

“Teacher? What kind of teacher?” I frowned.

“He taught Folklore and Mythology at Fox Harbor junior college. I was one of his students.” Julian hung his head. “Decades ago, he’s the one who first recognized the prophesy. He spent his life studying the stories that told of your birth and what would happen next.”

Fear rose in my throat as I asked, “Foretold my birth? That’s a little hard to swallow. But, let’s say he was able to do that. What exactly is supposed to happen?”

Irene said softly, “That’s kind of up to you, Lorenzo.”

I blinked at her. “None of this makes sense. I can assure you, I’m nothing special.”

“You’re so wrong,” Julian murmured, his eyes fixed on me intently. “We know it and Sableth knows it.”

“Who or what is Sableth and why would he be after me?” I felt foolish even asking that. “Is he the thing from the library?”

“Yes.” Julian dropped his gaze. “To understand what I’m about to tell you, you’ll need to be open to the idea of other dimensions, Lorenzo.” A line deepened between his light brows. “I’m hopeful that being a psychic, you’ll already understand that’s a reality.”

I rubbed my jaw. “I know that there is the physical world and the spiritual world, yes.”

Raising his eyes to mine, Julian said, “There are more worlds as well. Worlds that exist at the same time as ours. They’re also real worlds.”

I frowned, trying to wrap my head around what he was saying.

Irene leaned forward. “Our worlds don’t usually intersect. They aren’t meant to. But thanks to Sableth and his scheming, they’re colliding.”

“How?” I frowned.

“Sableth has broken through to our world,” Julian said. “To be more accurate, his spirit has broken through. Sableth’s mortal body died long ago.”

I gave a harsh laugh. “Okay, let’s say this is true. Show me some proof.”

Julian didn’t seem offended. “Some people think your psychic abilities are insane and fake, but they’re not, are they?”

I hesitated. “No, they’re very real.”

“Then why can you accept the unseen when it comes to that, but mock what we’re telling you?” Irene asked, frowning.

“Because I’m not the one trying to make you stay in some psycho cabin, so the burden of proof is on you to convince me that what you’re saying is true.” I frowned. “And when it comes to my powers I just do what I do. I can’t stop it from happening. Spirits reach out to me whether I like it or not.”

“Yes, they do,” said Julian. “And Sableth is reaching out to you too.”

I couldn’t control the shudder that ran through me. “Why? Why would he want anything to do with me? Because of the professor’s supposed prophesy?”

“That has everything to do with Sableth’s interest in you, yes.” Julian gestured to the couches. “Shall we sit? This isn’t a short story.”

“No, I’ll stay here. But feel free to make yourselves comfortable.” I felt calmer now. I didn’t necessarily believe what they were saying, but I also didn’t feel they wanted to hurt me. I was ready to hear them out. If only so we could get it over with.

Irene sat next to Julian, while I stayed in the walkway between the sitting area and the door.

“Why would Sableth’s spirit be after me?” I asked.

Julian crossed his hands on his lap. “First, I’ll tell you a bit about Sableth.”

“Okay, that would be great.” I nodded.

“According to the lore, Sableth was a powerful, twisted psychic born to a noble family in Viridia.”

I wrinkled my brow. “Viridia? I assume that’s one of your other worlds?”

Julian sighed. “They’re not my worlds, Lorenzo. This is my world. My home.”

“Right.” I grimaced.

“Anyway,” Julian continued, “Sableth wasn’t normal from birth. Even as a teen he was mean-spirited. Cruel. He burned animals to death with his powers. His parents had no control over him. Some even suspected he used his powers to kill other people, but no one could prove it. He was protected by his money and his family name.”

I exhaled. “This sounds like a fairytale.”

“It’s not,” Irene said firmly. “Sableth is very real.”

“You must admit,” I said gruffly, “It all sounds very silly.”

Julian’s mouth thinned. “There’s nothing silly about Sableth. He’s horrible and brutal. If you stick your head in the sand, Lorenzo, you’ll die. We all will.”

It wasn’t the anger in his words that got to me, it was the fear. I held his glittery gaze and said, “Go on with your story.”

Julian waited a moment then said, “You have to have an open mind, or there’s no point in me telling you any of this.”

I grimaced. “I’m trying, Julian. But you’re not really telling me anything. It’s all so vague. I’m hearing a lot of threats of what might happen, but no details. I need you to actually answer my questions. How do I figure into any of this?”

Sitting next to each other, Irene and Julian looked like fair-haired siblings. Their expressions were very serious, but where Julian’s eyes were light, Irene’s were dark.

He studied me and then he sighed. “I suppose I need to be more patient. I was born knowing my role in the world. You weren’t supposed to know until the time was right.”

“There you go again. Unless you can tell me why Sableth wants me personally, none of this feels real.”

Irene clenched her fists. “What happened to you in the library, that was real. You could have died right then and Sableth would have won.”

“How would he . . . win . . . by killing me?” I asked.

Julian leaned forward, his eyes bright. “You’re the key to it all.”

“Tell me how.” I shook my head. “Otherwise, it’s impossible to accept any of this is true.”

“It is true.” Irene sounded less patient than Julian.

I straightened, meeting Julian’s gaze. “You said the entity coming for me is Sableth’s spirit. How did he die? Why is Sableth here now? What does he want?”

Julian said, “He died in his world because he was finally caught in the act of killing. He murdered a young girl who rejected his advances. He was burned to death at the stake, but his spirit still lives.”

“So then, nothing can actually stop him?” I asked uneasily. “Not even death?”

“No, he can be stopped,” Julian said.

“How?”

Julian looked nervous but determined. “The prophesy Professor Buckler discovered spoke about Sableth’s breaking through to another world. Our world. His vengeful spirit goes on a rampage spreading anguish and despair. He . . . he will destroy this world unless The Vessel stops him.”

I squinted at him. I felt deeply uneasy about where the conversation seemed to be headed. “The Vessel?”

“Yes,” Julian said softly. “The prophesy spoke of a dark-haired, dark-eyed young psychic who’s called The Vessel.”

The way they both stared at me expectantly had my stomach aching with nerves. My mouth was dry and my throat tight as I said hoarsely, “Please tell me you don’t think I’m The Vessel.”

Irene spoke first, her voice wobbling with excitement. “Of course you are, Lorenzo. We’re sure of it. Professor Buckler was positive too.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Oh, hell no. You’re wrong. I’m definitely not The . . . Vessel.”

“I understand your skepticism.” Julian was calmer sounding than Irene, but his gaze even more fervent. “However, we can prove it.”

I blinked at him. “How?”

He leaned forward eagerly. “Do you have a birthmark in the shape of a star?” When I widened my eyes, he smiled. “You do, right?”

I laughed gruffly. “Is that your only proof? That I might have a star-shaped birthmark?” While it was odd he’d have known that, I was hardly going to take that as definitive proof that I was the savior of the world. “I’ll bet there are other people with birthmarks just like mine.”

“That’s probably true.” Julian pursed his lips. “But you also have the ability to speak to the Mossfire Stone.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“The stone Professor Buckler gave you last night before he died.” Pain fluttered through his light green eyes. “That stone is called the Mossfire Stone.”

“He didn’t give me any stone.” I wasn’t sure why I was lying, I just felt compelled to keep the stone a secret.

Irene smiled slyly. “He’s lying.”

“Yes.” Julian narrowed his eyes. “I know.”

My face warmed. “Says who?”

Julian said, “It’s good that you’re keeping the stone hidden. It shows you’re bonding to the stone.”

I had no response.

“I will tell you, though, that the stone is how I found you today at the library,” Julian said. “You touched the stone and awakened it. I was able to sense that.”

A memory of rubbing my thumb over the green jewel came to me. It was true the stone had seemed to vibrate like a living thing when I’d stroked it. Still I said nothing, driven to keep the stone a secret.

“The Vessel can awaken the Mossfire Stone,” Irene said.

Julian’s expression was more serious. “The problem is Sableth can sense when the stone is awakened also. That’s how he found you at the library.”

I said hesitantly, “For argument’s sake, let’s say I have the stone. Why does Sableth want it? Can it make him more powerful?”

“Yes.” Julian nodded. “The stone was made for you, Lorenzo. However, if it doesn’t respect you it can choose another master.”

I scowled. “Respect me? How would a stone respect me?”

“If you’re willing to fight Sableth, the stone will fight with you. But if you’re weak or a coward, the stone will turn against you. It will reject you and bond to the next strongest soul, alive or dead. That would no doubt be Sableth. Then with the stone’s help, Sableth will be able to do whatever he wants in this world.”

“But you said the stone was made to fight Sableth.” I frowned. “Why would it bond to him?”

“Because the stone can’t help being drawn to the strongest soul,” Irene said. “It’s a flaw in its design. The witch who created the stone was ambivalent about destroying Sableth. Her doubt crept into the stone when it was formed.”

I shuddered thinking of the faceless figure in the library today. “How am I supposed to trust the stone then?”

Irene shrugged. “So long as you remain brave the stone will be loyal. But if you falter.” She grimaced. “That’s another story.”

“Why didn’t the stone help me today in the library?” I asked. “I had no power against that thing today. If that was Sableth, I had no ability to fight him.”

“The stone isn’t a guard dog,” Julian said. “You have to tell it what to do.”

“Hmmm.” I frowned. “What about the fact that Sableth is way bigger and stronger than me?”

“It’s not a physical battle, Lorenzo.” Irene wrinkled her brow. “It’s a psychic battle.”

Feeling overwhelmed, I rasped, “I talk to dead spirits. I . . . I help people connect to their loved ones and lost pets. I’m not a warrior. I can’t have . . . psychic battles with evil forces.” I shook my head, panic setting in. “No, you have the wrong person. I can’t do whatever it is you need. I can’t.”

Irene looked flustered. “Lorenzo, you’re stronger than you know.”

I inched toward the door, sweat breaking out on my face. “You’re wrong. The stone didn’t help me today. If Julian hadn’t come, I’d have burned to death today. The stone was useless.”

“You have to work with the stone. You’re a team. The stone will help you become stronger, I promise. Irene and I are here to help you. Thomas will help you too when he comes. Your talent is more than just finding lost pets, Lorenzo.” Julian sounded frustrated. “That was fine before, but it’s time for you to step up and fulfill your role in the prophesy.”

“No, no.” I moved toward the door, reaching in my pocket for the stone. It was cold as ice as I grabbed it and set it on the small table by the door. “I don’t want any part of whatever this is. I’m not a vessel or a savior of any kind. I’m just an average guy with average psychic abilities. I promise you that.”

Irene watched me, her face pale. “You’re rejecting the stone?”

“You guys can have it. You can use it to . . . fight whoever.” I opened the front door, fear driving me. “I’m not a hero. I’m just not. I’m sorry,” I mumbled, moving down the steps. “I’m truly sorry, but you have the wrong guy.”

“Where are you going, Lorenzo?” Julian called after me.

I had no idea where I was going, I just had to get away from Irene and Julian. They had to be nuts. I wanted no part of the bullshit they were spewing. They could take their vessels and stones and evil entities and shove them up their asses. I had enough problems of my own.

Behind me I could hear Julian calling for me and Irene’s higher pitched voice. But the blood was rushing through my head so loudly, I couldn’t make out the words. I didn’t care what they were saying. It would just be something designed to make me stay, and that wasn’t going to happen.

When I was halfway down the dirt road, I heard the sound of the Mini Cooper behind me. The driver beeped the horn a few times and revved the engine.

“Lorenzo, please, at least let me drive you into town,” Julian yelled.

I glanced at him over my shoulder. He was alone, and there was no sign of Irene in the car. I slowed down and stopped walking, and he braked and came to a rest beside me. His face was flushed through the windshield, and his eyes glittered with worry.

When he rolled down the passenger side window, I bent over cautiously. “I can just walk,” I said gruffly.

“That’s silly when I can drive you.”

“How do I know you won’t take me back to the cabin?”

He sighed. “Just get in, Lorenzo. Come on, you’ve known me for years. We’re not going to chain you up and kidnap you.”

“You literally did just kidnap and try to detain me,” I pointed out.

“Well, I won’t do that again, okay?”

I hesitated, but trying to walk back into town would take me hours. By now Julian had to know if he took me back to the cabin, I wouldn’t cooperate. I straightened and opened the door. I slid into the passenger seat, giving him an uneasy glance.

He held out his hand and in his palm was the Mossfire Stone. “Take it.”

Scowling, I said, “I don’t want it.”

“You’ll be safer with it than without it,” he growled. “Take it, Lorenzo. Don’t be an idiot.”

My fingers itched to take the stone, even as I dreaded having it back in my possession. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was mine and it belonged with me. I didn’t want to accept the strange bond I already seemed to have with the damn stone, but I also knew instinctively I’d feel better if I had it back.

I grabbed the rock and dropped it into my hoodie pocket. “It didn’t do me any good in the library.”

“That’s what you think,” he muttered, pressing the gas so that the small car lurched forward. “If I hadn’t found you, you’d have died. That rock is how I found you.”

“Well, according to you it’s also how Sableth found me.”

“He’s already well aware of you. I’m sure you’ve sensed his presence. You prefer to bury your head in the sand, but the war is happening whether you want it to or not.”

“Are you going to lecture me the entire way home?” I mumbled, staring out the window at the thick trees on my side of the car. “I’m telling you I’m not up to the task. I don’t know why you won’t listen.”

“Because we’re all doomed if you don’t even try.” His voice broke and he gripped the wheel tighter. Once he seemed calmer, he said, “Surely you understand why we’re upset. We can’t fight him without you. The Mossfire Stone is the only way to destroy him and only you or God forbid, Sableth, can control the stone. You were our only hope. With the professor gone, and now this, I don’t know what to do.”

Guilt nudged me because he sounded so young and scared. I sighed. “I’m sorry, Julian. But even if I foolishly agreed to what you want, I’d fail anyway.”

It was still difficult for me to believe Viridia existed, but both Julian, Irene, and the professor had seemed so completely convinced, I had to at least contemplate that it might be real. One thing I could not accept, though, was that I was the hero in this crazy scenario.

“Why do you have such little faith in yourself?” He glanced over. “You’re a very skilled psychic.”

I gritted my teeth. “You’re wasting your breath. I won’t change my mind.”

“That doesn’t make what I’ve told you untrue.”

As we reached the main road, a flurry of missed calls and text messages came in, beeping every few seconds. I tugged my phone out of my pocket and saw several missed calls from Claire and one from Detective Monroe. My stomach ached when I saw the call from the detective.

“Maybe you can drop me off at the police station,” I said gruffly. “I need to grovel to the detective in charge of Professor Buckler’s death. I’ll get my car from the library later.”

“Please let me take you back to the cabin.”

I shook my head. “No. I’m sorry.”

“But we can’t keep you safe out there in the real world. You need to be protected. Why can’t you understand that?”

“Julian, if you won’t drive me to the police station, I’ll just walk. I can’t just disappear from my life. I’m not going back to the cabin. I’m sorry.”

He clenched his jaw, then said, “Fine. I’ll drive you. But only because it’s safer for you.” He pulled out onto the road.

We didn’t speak for a few minutes, then I slid my gaze to him. “I’m sorry about the professor. It sounds like you were close.”

“Thanks.” He stared blankly out the windshield. “I don’t know what to do now. You’re not cooperating, and he’s gone.”

My guilt grew, but I couldn’t simply agree to whatever they wanted because I felt bad. They had the wrong guy. I wasn’t hero material. The professor must have got it wrong.

Julian asked softly, “Did the professor suffer?”

I pressed my lips tight, remembering last night. “A little, yes, I’m sorry. I had a . . . friend with me when he died.” I cleared my throat. “He’s a doctor, and he suspected the professor was poisoned.”

Julian grunted. “Yes. The professor knew he was dying. That’s why he went to you. He wanted you to have the stone.”

“He should have gone to the hospital, not to me.”

“It was too late.” He pressed the accelerator to pass another vehicle. “You were what mattered most to him. To all of us.”

Shame nipped at me again, but I pushed it down. “I wouldn’t have thought poison was something Sableth would need to resort to.” I dug my nails into the arm rest as Julian passed yet another vehicle. I was beginning to wonder if I’d have been safer walking after all.

“Sableth will do whatever he must to win.”

I glanced at Julian. “Are you sure you’re not just dealing with a crazy human? Maybe Professor Buckler had some enemies you don’t know about. Maybe he died of a heart attack.”

He huffed. “Just because you’re in denial doesn’t mean we all are, Lorenzo.”

“You call it denial,” I mumbled, “I call it logic.”

He scowled at me. “How can you even say that? After the things you’ve seen in that library? After how the professor died in your home warning you about Sableth? I know you can sense his evil presence. I know you can.”

“I’m not saying something weird isn’t happening. I’m not even saying a spiritual battle isn’t possibly brewing. I . . . I’m saying I’m not your hero. I’m not the one who can defeat Sableth. I don’t believe God or whoever is running things would put me in charge of saving anyone. I’m far more likely to get someone killed than to save them,” I muttered.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“No,” I snapped. “Thinking I’m your knight in shining armor is though.”

He clammed up after that, occasionally mumbling to himself and gripping the steering wheel tight. We didn’t speak again until we reached the police station. I glanced over at his stern profile as I opened the door to exit the car.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said.

“You’re welcome.” His tone was curt.

I sighed. “I’m sorry, Julian. I know you’re disappointed in me. But you can’t really expect me to just blindly accept the things you’ve told me today. Perhaps if you or the professor had come to me before and tried explaining this stuff to me, I’d have had time to digest this craziness.”

“It wasn’t my call to make. The prophesy unfolded as it was supposed to.” He didn’t look at me as he said, “I’m still hoping you’ll come to your senses, Lorenzo. Before it’s too late.”

“I won’t because I’m not the hero you think I am.” I got out of the car, and he drove away before I could even close the door all the way.