Birthrights (9 page)

"Wow, these really are quite outstanding, Jaxon.
They're so real, so full of emotion. I'm surprised you convinced
the artist to let them go. How did you say you found them
again?"

"I was in this old bookstore a few blocks down, and
there they were, just hanging there. I started asking questions,
and it just felt like the right thing to do, you know? I mean, I
could just see them here, in our gallery." Jax covered
nervously. She really hadn't expected Ronald to be so inquisitive.
Maybe bringing Caislyn to the show wasn't such a great idea after
all.

"So when are you planning an opening? I imagine since
you've gotten it all ready, then it must be soon. I'm beginning to
think your excitement is contagious. After seeing these, I can't
wait to hear the cash register, uh, I mean the door chimes ring,"
Ronald blushed as he put the drawings back on the table.

Jaxon gave him her best "uh huh" look with eye brows
raised. He definitely meant cash register.

"Email me the information so I can be sure to let
Seth know," he said as he quickly walked out the door.

Jaxon shook her head as she walked back around her
desk. 'Crap,' she thought, now she was going to have to push up the
opening sooner than she wanted. This meant she still had to get a
picture of Caislyn. Art collectors are quite peculiar about the
work they collect. Many collect for the piece, but some collect
because of the artist. Maybe she could get a really good picture of
her, and some brief information. Give them just enough to make her
more mysterious. That would intrigue some of the collector's but
the picture may bring some leads to Caislyn as well' she thought as
she picked up her phone to call her friend. "Now if I can just
convince Caislyn..."

There was no answer on the phone, so Jaxon decided to
make the short trip to Hidden Dimensions. As she walked in the
store, she noticed a tall, blond woman looking in the window from
the street.

"Hi! It’s open. I know the owner, and I'm positive
she will have whatever you are looking for," Jaxon greeted the
woman, assuming she was just an interested customer. The woman
looked frazzled at Jaxon's arrival. She quickly put her sunglasses
back on and took a few steps to distance herself, waving her hands
as if in a dismissal of Jaxon's comment. "No, no. I was just, um
window shopping," she replied and turned quickly away.

Jax stood a moment longer outside the door watching
the woman scurry away. 'Huh', she thought, 'Some people are so
odd.' She walked into the bookstore and heard the wards jingle her
specific chime. Every time they sounded off she was reminded that
she wasn't who she had thought she was. Her life was changing
everyday, so quickly. She'd always felt a bit different but had
thought it was a side affect of being adopted. Now, she understood.
The feeling came because she was different. It was a terrifying
thought, yet exhilarating all at once. Shaking off her internal
dilemma, she proceeded to the back of the store where she knew
Caislyn would be. "Hey you," she said as she came around the corner
of some shelves. Caislyn looked up to her from her spot on the
floor, surrounded by several books.

"Oh hey. What's up?" she replied and then went back
to her research.

"What are you doing?" Jaxon asked her friend, knowing
that she would have to breech the subject of the photos and the
gallery appearance subtlety.

“I'm trying to see if I can find out more about your
birthmark and what my parents were looking at in this book before
they disappeared. Call me crazy, but something tells me there's a
connection."

"Huh?" Jaxon responded as she plopped down on the
floor beside Caislyn, "What do you mean? Between my birthmark and
your parents?"

"Yeah, see, I was going through the copies of my
sketches and there was one that I did when my parents were taken.
It showed a book on the pedestal clearly when everything else was
blurred and in shadows. But I can't find that book. So I'm looking
at all the other books that are cross referenced with that one
trying to find out what they may have been looking for."

"Okay. And that has to do with me how?" Jax
questioned.

"Because they all make reference to your birthmark,
or rather the lineage of witches associated with that mark,
and that Seer's Prophecy thingy. But I can't find that prophecy
anywhere. I think my parents found something and they were taken
because of it."

Jaxon shook her head, "I am so confused." She held up
her hand as Caislyn started to explain again. "You know what, don't
worry about it. I think I just have to process it all, but I have
to get back to work soon, so I kinda need a slight favor from
you."

"Oh?" Caislyn said still looking through the book in
her lap.

"Yeah, see Ronald really wants to do the show as soon
as possible and I need a promo photo of you."

Caislyn looked up at her friend, "A photo? Of me? Is
that a good idea?"

"Well of course it is. One, it helps with the sale of
your sketches. Two, it could lead a suspect right to you. I mean
the more temptation we give someone the better they may take the
bait, right? With you there, you might be able to spot someone
quicker than I could and it will give you a chance to see if anyone
is a little too interested in your sketches." Jaxon smiled, hoping
her arguments were convincing enough.

"Oh whoa, wait. I'm not going to the show. There is
no way. A picture, maybe, but I'm not going to be there! The point
was to put the sketches out there and see if they generated a lead.
If I'm there, I may chase them away, or even become a target
myself. No. Absolutely not."

Jaxon's smile waned. "Really? There's no way I can
convince you, is there?"

Caislyn stood and placed the books she had been
looking through back on the file cart and started towards the
counter. "Nope."

Sighing heavily, Jaxon followed her. "Fine. I'll have
to come up with something to tell Ronald. I'm sure he will not be
happy, so it will have to be good."

Caislyn paused and looked at her friend. "Tell him it
will add some allure, some mystery. Aren’t most of the artists
always trying to push their work? This time, the artist is in the
shadows. It will make people curious."

Jaxon tilted her head as she thought about Caislyn's
suggestion. "Hmm, that is a good point. But I'm not sure Ronald
will see it that way." She started towards the door, "Well, I'm
going to go back and see what I can do with him. Maybe that
customer will come back now that I'm not here to scare her
away."

Caislyn walked with Jax to the door. "What
customer?"

"Some blond lady was looking in the window when I
came up. I told her you were open, but she got all jittery and ran
off. I know I'm pale and all, but geez you'd think that people
would get the whole me being in the sunlight makes me not a
vampire." Jaxon huffed and rolled her eyes, "Okay, I'm off. I'll
see you later."

Caislyn giggled at her friend as she breezed out the
door and down the street.

***

Black Tie Insights

There were so many people in the gallery, Jaxon
almost felt claustrophobic. She weaved in and out through the crowd
talking to patrons and answering questions about the spectacular
sketches adorning the walls of the gallery. She was trying really
hard to keep herself aware of who was asking questions and about
what. After all, the whole point of this was to see if it conjured
any leads to help Caislyn find her parents. She was sure Caislyn
would be waiting anxiously to know if she found anything.

‘It’s all so spy-like' she thought as she noticed
Seth walking along the wall taking a huge interest in the sketches.
She grabbed a glass of Chardonnay off of the server's tray as she
walked by and paused a moment to watch Seth's reaction to the
drawings.

“Quite a tasteful display, don't you think?" Stacey
asked her co-worker as she walked up.

"Scrumptious," Jax replied nonchalantly, still
staring at Seth.

"So glad you finally agree with me. He definitely is,
but I was talking about the artwork. You might want to mop up the
drool before you mess up the artwork!" Stacey giggled. “Seriously,
you did great tonight!”

Jaxon straighten and looked at her friend, a slight
hue growing on her pale cheeks. "Thanks, Stace! I really wasn't
drooling over Seth though."

"Uh-huh, sure. Why don't you go talk to him? It seems
he may have a question about that sketch he's so into," Stacey
replied as she sauntered away.

Jax turned to look at Seth. He was standing before
one of the sketches that Caislyn had done over 10 years ago. It was
of a young man wearing armor and wielding a sword. There was so
much detail in the face and body of the subject in the sketch that
it was hard not to reach out and touch him to see if he was real.
It was also one of the only sketches Caislyn said she had drawn but
never actually saw the scene take place. She guessed it was because
it was a past event and not a future one. Caislyn had explained to
her that it was a rarity to draw the past, but it sometimes
happened. At the present though, Jax was more interested in the
shocked look on Seth's face than why Caislyn had actually drawn the
sketch.

She walked up to Seth and looked at the artwork and
then at him. Jaxon wasn't sure if he noticed her arrival or not as
he seemed so intrigued, but she was curious as to why.

"Wonderful detail, don't you think?"

"Yes, I was just thinking that. Do you know who this
is? The young man in this sketch?" Seth asked, still studying the
piece.

"No, I don't, and the artist doesn't either."

"Really, well that seems a bit strange don't you
think, to have such a detailed picture of someone you've never
met?" Seth questioned turning his full attention to Jaxon. "Where
did you say you met this new talent?"

Jaxon tensed, her entire being going on alert. She
couldn't decide if it was Seth's line of questioning or how focused
on her he was at that very moment, but she could feel his
determination. She took a deep breath and decided a general answer
was best.

"I don't find it strange at all. Many artists draw
from their imagination and their interpretation of the visions they
have created in their mind's eye. I'm quite sure I never said where
I met her."

"She's quite talented, this Ms. Vadoma. Is she here?
I'd like to speak with her," he stated as he started looking about
the gallery.

"No, she isn't. But you know that already. Ronald
told you that Ms. Vadoma isn't the type to stand in the limelight.
She was quite pleased at the opportunity to sell her work, but
doesn't like all the fame that comes along with it. She opted out
of appearing at the show tonight. Ronald and I felt it would add
some mystery to her work and be good for sales," Jaxon fibbed.
Caislyn was adamant about not coming. Jaxon had told Ronald that
Caislyn had come down with something and wouldn't be available.

Seth smiled at Jaxon. "I must have forgotten. Her
work is splendid. I haven't seen anything like this in many years.
I'm just curious as to what motivates her sketches and where she
gets the ideas, or visions, as you put it. Usually there is a theme
with artists and their work. These seem so random. You know, Jaxon,
I'm quite pleased that you were able to produce such results in
such a short time. You do live up to your reputation."

Jaxon stumbled slightly over his quick change of
topic. "Um, thanks." she said not to eloquently. She took a sip of
her Chardonnay to give her a moment to think. Seth confused her. He
was arrogant without a doubt, but there was so much more going on
in that mind of his. His looks went right along with his arrogance.
His hair was clean cut, with the front just slightly longer so that
it would occasionally fall across his brow, giving one a sense of
vulnerability. Jax bet that there was nothing vulnerable about this
man. He was slim built but you could tell even underneath his
tailored black suit, that he was well defined. He moved with grace,
an air of power. There was something else, something dangerous
lurking beneath the surface. To Jaxon, he felt like a predator
stalking its prey. Waiting for the opportune moment to strike. That
thought gave Jaxon a slight chill down her spine, but she continued
her quick assessment of him.

He didn't tower over her like most others do. Jax was
only 5'4" and though she was wearing 4 inch heels, it only put her
a few inches shorter than him. She could almost look straight into
his eyes, but she wouldn't dare. His eyes would ensnare you. They
were hauntingly mesmerizing, and a bright shade of green that she
had never seen before. Sometimes Jax wondered if they would glow in
the dark, and at the moment he was using those eyes to watch her
mouth as she sipped her wine. Without thinking, she nervously wet
her lips and glanced at those gorgeous eyes. They seemed to darken
with the slight movement of her tongue and her heart skipped a
beat.

'Oh yeah, that's great,' Jax she thought to herself,
'seduce the corporate boss. I have such a great sense of business
ethics!' She turned from his penetrating stare and walked to
another of her friend’s sketches that was hung upon the wall of the
art gallery.

"So, are any of the other sketches here as alluring
to you as that one?" she asked trying to get him back onto the
topic of Caislyn's art. She was hoping his interest could lead to
more information. Seth had connections all over. It was possible he
might know something about Caislyn's parents

"There are many alluring features that I see at this
very moment" Seth remarked, his eyes not leaving Jaxon.

Jaxon felt herself blush slightly. This was not going
in the direction she had hoped. 'Great, the one possible lead I get
tonight, and I'm throwing it to the wolves! What is wrong with me?'
She straightened herself up, smiled coyly at Seth and walked away
to go see what the patrons of the show thought of the art. She
tried to make her exit as much of an art form, until she stumbled
right into the solid body of a very well muscled man. Her cheeks
flared with heat and color as she looked up at the man she had just
run into. “Oh, I am so sorry, I didn’t even see you there.”