A Wicked Beginning (11 page)

“Like if it was somehow outside of you?”

“Yeah, like that…like it was a real lynx somewhere that wanted to kill me.”

James’ face expressed surprise. He’d never known Cameron to engage in imaginative wanderings. He looked thoughtful. “If a real lynx was after you, you’d want to protect yourself. But you said this was a dream so, unless you are prophetic, I’d say it has more to do with something about you that needs some work.”

Cam felt apprehensive at having shared this much. He didn’t want James to think he was a nut case. “Okay. Makes sense…let’s get back to the anger topic.”

“Are you sure you’re finished with that topic, Cameron?”

“Yup…sure…”

James became quiet for a moment. “What, exactly, did that dream bring up for you? I believe you’re stonewalling me here.”

Cam’s quick, explosive temper flared to the surface. “It wasn’t a dream. And it brought up…brings up…all the weird shit I don’t believe in. And it fucking pisses me off, that’s what. Chérie and I can’t even…can’t even go there without this fucking dreamling trying to kill me or make its mark or something. Shit.” So much for his nice guy attempt. He bolted to his feet and now was pacing the room like a predator in the zoo. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth…he wished he still smoked right now.

“What do you mean it wasn’t a dream?” James asked gently.

“I mean this,” Cam growled, pulling up the leg of his roomy cargo pants. “This is what I fucking mean…”

Upon seeing the angry, yellow-green gashes, James whistled. “You weren’t kidding, Cameron. How did this happen?”

Cam slumped down in his chair. “Shit…it happened the day Chérie called…before she called. I was in the shower. I heard this scratching and then the door flew open, but there was nothing there. You know I don’t give credence to any of this bullshit, right, Doc?”

“I know, Cameron. I know how you feel.”

“So then this fucking nightmare stalks me and Chérie when we are in the woods and bursts out of the trees when we’re…you know…when we’re…”

“Okay, Cameron, I’ve got the picture. When you and Chérie were engaged in intimacy…go on.”

“Right… So this creature flies out of the trees, but we can’t see it. It looks like the heat waves you see on the highway when it’s hot. And the heat wave looks like it’s racing towards us only then it gets stopped by another heat wave.” Cam stopped speaking and ran his hands angrily through his hair. “Jesus Christ, this sounds fucking insane telling you this.”

“It’s okay, Cameron. Take a moment and continue when you are ready.”

Cam took a deep breath to calm down. “Okay. Shit. Well, then when I tried to kiss Chérie in my room the fucking thing did this to me.” He gestured towards his thigh. “And every time I try to engage with her it pulls some shit like this. I feel like I’m going out of my fucking mind.” He stood up and started pacing again.

“Cameron, the paranormal is outside of my scope of practice. I know that many people are subject to delusions about paranormal activity, but some people actually have the experiences that they claim to have. Hence, I know that it exists… And there’s simply no explanation when it gets down to it. I tend to keep a balanced mind when it comes to such phenomena…kind of a maybe yes, maybe no attitude. But frankly I’ve never seen marks such as those on your leg. I can feel the heat coming from them from across the room.”

“No shit?” Cam asked.

“Yes, it kind of feels like heat and cold at the same time… It’s quite remarkable.”

“Glad someone thinks so. I just want to figure out what is going on so I can deal with it.”

“I imagine so,” James concurred.

“My roommate says it’s a star dreamling. He tells me that the ‘Ancient Ones’ – whoever they are – tell of a tribe of people…beings…whatever…who travel the galaxy with their star dreamlings.”

“There are many mythologies amongst cultures on this planet.”

“Apparently, it’s no myth.” Cam sighed. “Fuck. What am I going to do?”

“You’re going to deal with it, Cameron. You’re going to face it. Whether it’s real or imagined, you are going to look it in the eye and deal with it. I’ll be your ally, here, Cameron, you know that. I believe in you. I believe that once you face and truly deal with the darkness inside of you, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

“If I live to tell about it, you mean.”

James did not respond to that statement. “Whatever it is, Cameron, I’ll help you deal with it. But ultimately you’ve got to figure it out on your own. So tell me…does Chérie believe you?”

“Chérie can sense it…feel it…yeah, she believes in it…in me, I mean.”

“She must be something special.”

You have no idea
, he thought.
No fucking idea…
“I’ll say…” Cam guffawed. “Thanks, Doc…thanks, James. I appreciate this. I guess I’m ready to talk about that anger stuff.” He gave a self-deprecating smile.

“We’re almost out of time, Cameron. I was going to give you something, though, that may assist you in dealing with your anger.” He got up and opened the top drawer of the end table next to his chair. “Here…” He extended his hand to Cam, dropping a small, smooth golden orb into his palm. “It’s Cymophane – also known as cat’s eye.”

Cam jerked his hand, almost dropping the stone. “I don’t know, James. Why are you giving me this…this cat eye thing?” He looked at the opalescent stone, marveling at the milky band of light extending along its surface.

“A client gave it to me. He said he got it from a shaman in Peru. The shaman told him it is a stone which has a stabilizing influence on the wearer, opening one to a sense of self-worth and forgiveness. It’s also supposed to make the wearer invisible in battle.” He chuckled. “That might come in handy.” Then he became serious. “The client told me that it was not his stone – he knew that it had been given to him to give to another who needed it. I believe this person is you.”

Cam regarded the stone with suspicion. “Huh…well, thanks.” He rolled it between his fingertips, squinting one eye and observing it with the other eye. Then he closed his palm around it. Sure enough he felt somewhat grounded…the rock seemed to contain warmth…softness, even. It reminded him of holding Chérie. That was an image he could definitely deal with. “Thanks…I mean it,” he offered with more sincerity.

“You are welcome, Cameron. Next time you are angry, try holding the stone and see what happens. Just as an experiment…”

“Okay, Doc, sure…”

“Okay, then…time’s up. I’ll see you next time, then?”

“Yup, you got it, James.”

“Oh…one more thing, Cameron… I almost forgot to mention it. I wrangled a deal with a friend of mine to have you shadow him at the next Teen Wilderness Camp week. I’ll give you a call to fill you in on the details.”

“Good, James, thanks,” Cam said absentmindedly. He got to his feet, reached out and shook James’ hand, and let himself out into the sunny Seattle day.

As Cam strode to his vehicle, he flexed and closed the fingers of both hands into fists over and over like warming up for a fight. He felt angry, agitated, churning with energy. The part about the Teen Wilderness Camp hadn’t even registered in his brain. All he heard was the shit about the star dreamling. Look the star dreamling in the eye and deal with it…ha! As he approached the car he noticed a convenience store up the block. Without hesitation or thought, he made a beeline, walked in, and bought some smokes and a lighter.

After he got back in the car, he tore open the pack, took one out, but did not light it. Instead, he held it between his lips and flipped the little wheel on the lighter until it made a little chit sound and the flame flickered. He inhaled the scent of tobacco and willed himself to not light the cigarette. Chit… Chit… Chit… He moved the flame closer to the smoke until it almost torched the end. As he toyed with the lighter, he felt powerful…dangerous even…why this feeling was always associated with addiction, he didn’t know. What he did know was that it felt good to feel this powerful, this strong. He thought about how last year when he’d left Chérie and hooked up with Angela, he’d discovered that he’d been keeping something in check around Chérie. He always tried to be tender and caring around her, but his angry outbursts coupled with her shy, delicate nature caused him to repress something primal…something feral…some essential part of his core. Well, she sure wasn’t delicate anymore – she seemed to be surer of herself than he’d ever witnessed. And maybe he had changed too. Chit… Chit… Chit… Damn…this was like playing with the devil. He liked the feeling – like walking an edge…a razor sharp edge…temptation on either side. He rolled down the window and glanced at the clouds forming in the sky. He stared at the water drops starting to sprinkle along the asphalt. Finally, he tossed the lighter on the seat, held the cigarette between his fingers and tore out onto the street.

Chapter 12 – Chérie

When I got back to the house – via buses and lots of walking, mind you – Kayden was lounging on the grass, holding the stem of some plant in his fingers. He always took my breath away. As usual, he looked breathtakingly beautiful, sprawled out and completely relaxed like some wild beast, languorous in the heat of the sun.

“Why didn’t you pick me up?” I started, crossly.

“Hello, to you too, sexy girl. Care to try again?” He patted the grass next to him.

I sighed and plopped on the ground with no grace whatsoever. “Hello, there, beautiful man-like creature. I’m sorry…I just feel like a liar around Cam now.”

“Chère…” Kayden began. He fingered a lock of hair out of my face.

“And you could have picked me up.” I glared at him. “I had to take the
bus
.”

“I was not asked to do so,” he replied evenly. “Do you think I read your mind?”

I spluttered. “You view me when I have sex with Cam, you pluck thoughts out of my brain when it suits you…yes, and I believe you read my mind when it’s convenient for you to do so.”

Kayden shrugged. “Temper, temper…I was actually otherwise engaged. Natalie wanted to discuss something with me.”

I blew my breath out of my mouth. “What does
she
want?”

Kayden arched his eyebrows. “
She
…as you put it…is quite concerned about the star dreamling stalking your boyfriend.”

“What do you know about it?” I asked eagerly.

“I know a lot about it as do you…only I remember where I came from…you don’t.” He gave me a haughty glare.

“I’m trying, Kayden. I’m getting closer.” I gave him a wan smile.

His face softened, and he leaned closer as if to kiss me. When his lips had nearly reached their mark, he paused, as I knew he would. “Yes, mon amour,” he whispered. “You and I are getting closer all the time.”

It felt like liquid amber was pouring into my mouth from his nearness. My lips and cheeks started to tingle. I closed my eyes. “Oh, God, what you do to me, Kayden.” Then I opened my eyes abruptly and leaned away from his intoxicating flesh. Only, it felt like our lips were held together by some invisible glue that stretched like scrumptious taffy when I moved away, causing the tingling to radiate throughout my face. I closed my eyes and snapped my face to the right causing the connection to break.

“Ouch…” Kayden uttered. “Be gentle when you break contact, ma chère. I’m afraid this calls for a do-over.” Once again, he inclined his face towards my lips, holding my face between his hands. The sensation pulsing from his palms was like being held by lightning. I could almost hear the crackle and zing. His mouth was within a millimeter of contact…so close, yet still not touching.

I became very tranquil, captivated by the sensations of his exquisite touch and the nearness of him. “You seem to have grown more powerful,” I breathed, eyes closed, intoxicated.

“As have you, chère...we complement one another. Feel this…”

Feel I did. Energy started streaming through my face like a wind, lighting up a pathway of electric bliss as it pulsed through my body.

“Now, gently disengage from me, chère…should you want to do that.”

“I don’t want to any longer,” I whispered.

He chuckled softly, causing warm breath to caress my skin. “Nor should you ever want to, sexy girl. But for the purposes of our lesson, s'il vous plaît…please…”

This time I gently pulled away. I imagined the thread of our connection growing thinner as I eased away. Finally the tendrils just let go, falling away, causing a small, pleasurable quiver in each of our lips.

Kayden gave me a satisfied, erotic smile and licked his lips. “Much better, ma chère... Much better…”

He raked his fingertips along my neck, causing electric sparks to spread along my skin. A tiny earthquake shook through me. “Kayden…” I said. My head arched backwards. “I need to concentrate here.” His index fingers traced spirals down my arms. Hypnotized, I watched the miniscule whorls rise up in a golden glow and poof into thin air. I wanted to fall into the sea of bliss with Kayden…I really did…but there were more important things to think about. Only I had suddenly forgotten what they were. Kayden’s fingers were now moving across my breasts and down to my belly. He gently drummed his fingers on my tummy and solar plexus, and then swept his fingers up towards my heart. An erotic sensation spread from my pelvis into my chest and pulsed with every heartbeat throughout my body. “Oh, God, Kayden…” I moaned.