Surge Of Magic (3 page)

“May I come in?” her cousin asked.

“If I say no, I don’t suppose you’ll turn around and go home?”

Izzy lowered her chin and shook her head. “No. I still have the ability to blow down your door by the way. Missy told me about what happened. I know you want to stick your head in the sand, but that won’t accomplish anything.”

Great. Another lecture. Teagan knew when she was defeated though. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Izzy smiled. “Why, yes. I’d love some wine if you have any.”

This would prolong the visit, but it couldn’t be helped. In truth, Teagan needed someone to confide in anyway. If she called her parents—who were away on a two-year teaching gig in Florida—her mom would say that Teagan was being foolish, and a witch’s powers were often a curse. Teagan would have to deal with the fallout. Sometimes, it was a bitch having a powerful witch for a mother.

Teagan poured a California Merlot for her cousin and a Pinot Noir for herself then handed Izzy her drink. They both moved back to the living room where the seating was more comfortable.

Izzy sipped her wine then rested the glass on her thigh. “You want to tell me about this vision, and why you didn’t visit Randy in the hospital?”

This friendly chat was heading downhill fast. “If you know about my vision, then surely you understand why I have to keep away from Kip.” Her cousin’s brows pinched as her cousin studied Teagan. Feeling a bit self-conscious, she brushed her out-of-control hair from her face. “What?”

“I don’t understand any of your actions, but I’m trying to. Missy told me you had a vision in which you and Kip were standing next to each other. For starters, visions aren’t always accurate. Secondly, you might have confused Kip with his twin brother.”

“I thought about that but then dismissed it. I would have sensed it wasn’t Kip.”

“Sensed him? Are you two mated or something?”

“No.” Two Wendayans weren’t mated in the same way that two
Weres
are, but once their blue orbs have encompassed each other, then they would be in tune for life.

Izzy brought the glass to her lips again but didn’t drink. “Then you can’t be sure what’s really going to happen.”

“Nothing is for sure.”

Izzy nodded. “I came to tell you that Missy spoke with Randy at the hospital, and he told her everything.”

Teagan’s heart pounded. She hadn’t wanted to know exactly what had occurred because then she might be forced to change her mind about not visiting him. She was already in enough emotional turmoil. Without thinking, she rubbed her left arm. “What did she say?” Izzy smiled. “What?”

“Did you know that Randy was stabbed in his left arm? The same arm you’re rubbing?”

“No.” Her stomach churned, and she lowered her hand. Had she made a mistake in thinking the vision was about Kip and her, when in reality it might have been about Randy all along?

“Your first vision of you being with Kip could have been because he’s always on your mind. I know how miserable you’ve been without him.”

Izzy always did seem to have a sixth sense about her. “I’ll admit I miss him, a lot.” Along with the great sex, but she didn’t need to share those thoughts right now.

“Fine, we’ll table that discussion until later. You told Missy that you saw Kip swimming in a pool of blood. Could that person have been Randy?”

Teagan dragged a palm down her face, confusion swamping her. “Perhaps, since I was so upset that Kip might have been injured, it never occurred to me that it could have been his twin instead.”

Izzy sniffed the wine, sipped it, and then set it down on the coffee table between them. “Let’s suppose your vision was about Randy. That would mean this tragedy has already come to pass, so there is no reason for you to not be with Kip.”

Teagan shook her head and took a long drink of her wine, the sweet aroma and the relaxing warmth helped to soothe her troubled soul. “If what you say is true, Kip might have escaped this time, but what about the next occurrence? It seems that my visions are targeting those closest to me.”

“It isn’t
making
them happen—only foreshadowing what
may
come to pass.” Izzy leaned back and looked to the right then the left. “Do you remember Aunt Agnes?”

Izzy’s mom and her dad were brother and sister to Agnes. “Kind of. She wasn’t around much.”

“Do you know why?”

Izzy was trying to trick her. “No.”

Her cousin waved her glass. “I’m sure your parents told you that Aunt Agnes had premonitions like you.”

Teagan had been told she probably took after her aunt. “So?”

“She used to live in the Cove and was engaged to Rupert Smith. One day, she had a vision that was as strong as the one you just experienced. She saw Rupert being held at gunpoint at his job.”

Teagan only vaguely remembered the story because she couldn’t have been more than eight at the time. “Didn’t he work at a bank?”

“He did. Believing he was in trouble, Aunt Agnes called the sheriff’s department. They didn’t really believe a warning based on a premonition, but the Pompley’s were a well-respected family, so they dispatched a deputy to the bank. Good thing they did, because when they arrived, they found Rupert had been shot. Unfortunately, the robbers had just escaped.”

“That brings me some comfort knowing I’m not alone but didn’t she leave town shortly thereafter?” Teagan had thought that odd.

Izzy nodded. “Like you, she felt that her presence was bringing danger to those she loved.”

Teagan’s head swam with confusion. “How do you know this? You’re only two years older than I am.”

“Mom told me. Ask your father. He’ll tell you the same thing.” Izzy held up a hand. “Because Rupert was injured, and Aunt Agnes didn’t want anything else to happen to him, she moved away. She knew that if she wasn’t in contact with him, her visions would disappear.”

“I can relate.”

Izzy waved a finger at her. “What you don’t seem to understand is that bad things will happen regardless of your visions. I believe these premonitions are to help the people you love. You saved me, remember?”

Teagan closed her eyes for a moment and blew out a breath. “Yes. I’m just so confused.”

Izzy studied her for a bit, as if she wanted to see if Teagan would fall apart. “I’ll give you proof that visions are a good thing.” Teagan snorted and Izzy held up a hand to stop her from further commenting. “The story continues. Rupert recovered from his gunshot wound, but according to Mom, he wrote Agnes off.” She held up a hand. “Mind you, that was after many attempts to contact her. He had no clue why she had turned away and left after he had been injured. He spent a long time waiting and hoping she would come back to him, but eventually he accepted the reality that she’d left, and he moved on with life.”

Her heart pinched. Teagan was aware that Kip might become so disgusted with her antics that he’d write her off too. While that would be devastating, losing Kip would be far worse. “That’s so sad.”

“She did it to herself. Rupert was understandably upset that his own fiancée turned her back on him when he was injured. She only visited him in the hospital one time.”

Teagan didn’t like the direction of this conversation. There were similarities, but their situations weren’t the same. “I see your point, but Kip wasn’t injured. If he had been, I would have been by his side.”

“I hope so, but I bet Kip considers Randy an extension of himself. Has Kip called you?”

“Yes, but I haven’t answered,” she mumbled. The guilt caused her stomach to nearly revolt. “Do you think I should visit Randy?”

“That’s up to you, but let me finish the story. I want to drive home this point. About six months after our aunt moved away, Rupert was drinking at the bar with his buddies. Sources tell us he was still pining over Aunt Agnes. Apparently, he’d had too much to drink but drove home anyway. He ran off the road, crashed into a telephone pole, and died.”

Her pulse pounded, and she sucked in a needed breath. “I remember that now!”

Izzy shrugged. “Here’s what you don’t know. Aunt Agnes didn’t have a premonition about the incident because she had distanced herself from him.”

“Are you saying that if she’d stayed, she might have known something bad would have happened and offered to drive him home?” With a clearer picture in her mind now, Teagan polished off her wine.

Izzy did the same, and then placed her empty glass on the table. “If she’d stayed, he might not have been drowning his sorrows at all. But yes, she could have warned him.”

“I need time to think about this.”

“Take all the time you need, but if you two are destined for each other, don’t make him wait too long. Remember, being a Wendayan isn’t easy. It comes with a lot of responsibility. The gods gave you powers, which means you need to learn to deal with them. You can’t be so afraid that you lose sight of who you really are.”

What Izzy said made sense, but she wasn’t ready to rush back to Kip yet. “It’s not easy changing one’s beliefs.”

A voice in the back of her head told her that what Izzy was saying about her powers and deciding to stay away from those she loved might be true, but Teagan was too scared right now to change. The internal guidance system that had always told her what to do was wavering far off course.

A small smile lifted Izzy’s lips, and the sparkle indicated victory. “I agree. On a different note, how are you progressing with your telekinesis?”

Teagan was relieved that the previous conversation was over. “I haven’t been practicing much. I have enough on my plate right now. Even you have to admit my abilities seem to be more of a liability than anything else. The telekinesis works all too well when I’m extremely angry or scared. It’s trying to move something while I’m calm that I’m having a hard time with.”

Izzy’s mouth opened. “Missy said you accidentally pushed the table into the counter and knocked over the crystals, and one fell and broke. That’s not what happened, is it?”

Teagan’s whole world seemed to be crashing down on her and she wasn’t sure how to right it. “No.”

Izzy leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “I know you are confused.”

“Confused? I’m drowning.”

“That’s why I’m here. To suggest you meet with Rosa Rivera. You’ve met her, right?”

She was an old witch who also had premonitions. “Yes, a few times.”

“I think she might be able to help you figure out how to handle these visions.”

Teagan swiped some moisture from under her eye. “Handle them?”

“Let’s just say I made a few inquiries.” She held up a hand. “Discreetly. Rosa has had some horrible visions, and yet she’s able to keep things in perspective—
handling
them in a less emotional manner, shall we say. She understands why she has this power.”

Figuring out what was going on was Teagan’s new goal. “Hell, if she can help, I’d be eternally grateful.”

Izzy smiled then stood. “Awesome. I’ll find out a good time for her and let you know.”

Teagan stood and hugged her cousin. “Thank you.”

“Just remember that love conquers all fears. I should know. Look what I gave up for love.”

“Love? You have it all wrong. Kip and I are in lust, not love. We fight too much to ever be a couple.”

“You argue over your visions and how they affect you. Once you learn to deal with them, you’ll find true happiness. It can change your life. Trust me.”

She was happy for Izzy, but Teagan had never really known peace in her life. “I’ll work on it.”

Izzy hugged her again. “If Kip calls, he might just need a friend to talk to. He has to be hurting too after seeing Randy in such pain, both physically and emotionally.”

“You’re right, but I’m not ready to be with him again. I think it would cause more frustration on both our parts.”

Her brows rose. “You won’t know until you try it.”

Without another word, Izzy picked up her purse and left. Teagan wanted to believe everything her cousin said was true, but her scrambled thoughts were blocking all rational consideration.

No sooner had Izzy left than her cell phone rang. It was Kip again. Well, damn.

‡

P
arked in front
of the Silver Lake Hospital, Kip paced back and forth next to his truck, willing Teagan to pick up. The sun had dipped below the horizon and the clouds were covering up the three-quarter moon, making the evening a bit chilly.

The doctor had Randy taken down the hall for some tests he wanted to run. Since Kip needed to speak with his sister and parents, he thought it best to have the conversation outside the hospital. If all of Randy’s tests came back negative, his brother would be released tomorrow.

Answer, damn it.
If there was ever a time he needed Teagan, it was now. Her cell went to voicemail. Stubborn woman. Missy said she told Teagan that Randy had been stabbed, and the woman he knew would have rushed to help. But she was avoiding him. Why?

The beep sounded. “Teagan, it’s me. Look, I just need to talk with you. Call me, okay? By the way, Randy’s injuries should keep him cooped up for only a few days, but the bad news is that he seems to have lost his powers.” Kip wasn’t sure if Missy had spoken with her again after she’d left the hospital.