“Well, he hasn’t been absent. We’ve always been happy and together until last summer, before school started. My mom left. After that my dad has been like a zombie.”
I told him the whole sad story up until present day. I watched his face as I told him and saw that he was concerned but didn’t pity me.
“Hmm.” He rubbed his chin again and then ran one hand through his hair. I saw the same tattoo Caleb had on the inside of his wrist except his father’s half circle had Rachel’s name around the curved side. “Well, he must see that what is between you two isn’t going to just go away. That’s why he’s so frightened by this. I understand, I have a daughter myself. It’s hard to watch them grow up. I think this is just what he needed to wake up.”
“Yeah, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time. He said Caleb can’t come over in the mornings anymore.”
Peter jolted up.
“Now that is a problem. Hmm. I’d hate for you two to have outs with each other when you’ve just gotten him back in your life.”
“Me too,” I said truthfully.
“But you can’t deny the need for Caleb-”
“I know, believe me. Dad almost kicked Caleb out this morning and I...completely freaked,” I admitted quietly. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do but...we gotta figure it out somehow. If I just leave him like that, I don’t know what he’ll do. I’m all he’s got.”
Peter nodded and looked sincerely understanding.
“We’ll work it out, somehow, Maggie. We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”
“Ok, dad. So one more thing,” Caleb inched into the topic at hand.
“Ok,” he said warily.
Caleb pulled my sweater open and pulled the shoulder down to expose my upper arm. Peter growled his words out, just like Caleb had.
“Again? How?”
“No, dad, not again. This was a dream.”
His dad paled and leaned against the desk further to keep from falling. I jumped up to him.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
“Dad, what is it?”
“They have an echoling,” Peter answered breathless and then banged his fist on the desk.
“What’s that?” Caleb asked.
Peter looked at my arm and grasped it gently.
“This is an echo. A dream that is so real that it becomes real; tangible. They dream it and fashion it how they see fit and then send it, or echo it, to who the intended recipient is. They can imagine whatever they want and make it real. Make it happen to someone as if it were actually happening to them. They don’t have to even be aware that you’re asleep, you just receive the echo when you are sleeping. That’s why you have the offense mark. Because for all intents and purposes, it did happen.”
I stared at him and waited for him to finish and to tell me that there was some way to stop it or make it go away. But he just sat there thinking.
“So, they can just climb into my dreams whenever they want and hurt me?”
Caleb came closer and laced our fingers.
“Yes,” Peter said bluntly. “They can hurt you and drain you of your energy and essence. When you wake up you feel like you haven’t slept at all when they are in your dreams. Unless...” He sighed. “The solution is a little ironic I guess in this case.”
“What? Whatever it is, we’ll do it,” Caleb answered forcefully.
“Well, the only way to stop it is for Caleb to be with you. His touch calms you, it heals you and also keeps you from harm, from attack of another’s ability. He anchors you, grounds you, so to speak. He’s your shield.” I guess Caleb and I continued to stare at him because he sighed and said more bluntly, “You have to sleep with Caleb. Just sleep,” he insisted quickly, “but he has to be touching you while you sleep in order to keep Marcus or anyone else away. He’s your barrier.”
I blinked.
“I don’t understand.”
“Your imprint works so that you are always together, Maggie. You live best, work best, play best, love best and fight best when you’re together. You’ll even sleep best when you are. I know I do all those things best with Rachel.”
“I have no idea how we’ll pull that off with my dad the way he is lately.”
“Me either. Let me think on it. In the meantime, just stay together as long as possible. Ok?”
I nodded and then had another thought.
“I thought no one in their clan had ascended either? How can Marcus have abilities?”
“He doesn’t. Someone’s helping him. That’s what worries me most.”
I let Caleb pull me from the room. He called out over his shoulder.
“Bye, dad. Thanks.”
“Caleb.”
He came to the hall to speak.
“I know this is hard for you both. You’re both young and you’re trying not to hurt Maggie’s father but, this is inevitable. You two can’t be apart.” He looked at me. “Maggie, I know this is strange for you but I feel the need to stress the severity of the situation. It won’t just make you ill if you’re apart, Caleb will be ill too. I’ll work on trying to figure something out about your father but if it doesn’t pan out and he forbids you to see Caleb-”
“I understand. We have to be together, even at the cost of angering my father. I understand, I do.”
He smiled sadly at me.
“I’m so sorry, Maggie. Usually, for us, these first few years after imprinting are very special and joyous times. I’m sorry that it doesn’t seem to be that way for you now but, it’ll get better.”
“It’s ok. Thank you.”
“Will you stay? For a while? Rachel would love to have you both for dinner, I’m sure.”
I looked at Caleb and shrugged.
“Yeah. We’ll stay,” he told him.
“Good. I have got to get back to work. See you in a few hours.”
We made our way down the hall and into another wing, past a huge white foyer.
“The wing with my dad’s office is for business. This wing is where the bedrooms are,” he advised and we turned a corner, then he stopped at a wide door, “My room.”
He opened the dark oak door and I was bombarded with his scent. The scent I smell when I inhale the skin at his neck, my favorite smell. I took a deep breath and walked in after him, he closed the door as I looked around.
It was a strange room for a college boy I thought. It was clean and his bed made. He had sheet music and guitars everywhere with a baby piano in the corner and a trumpet on the wall stand. There were no posters above his bed. Just a plain room with lots of shelves, filled with books and cd’s.
“I like your room,” I said truthfully.
“Yeah? I like it too. Mom tried to guy it all up when I left for school but...”
“Guy it all up?” I asked cocking a questioning brow at him.
“Yeah. When I came back my first break from college, she had decorated everything in swimming. Water waves bedspread, Michael Phelps posters, my old trophies and metals on my shelf. She even had a poster over my bed that said ‘Swimmers Do It Right’.” I laughed and then covered it with my hand. “Yeah, so I fixed it. I like things plain, not loud.”
“Me too.”
He kicked his shoes off and walked to the piano. I took my flops off and sat on his bed while he played something I’d never heard before. It was sweet and slow.
“Did your uncle- the one who can learn and teach anything, whatever he’s called- did he teach you to play all these instruments?”
“Nope. And he’s called a Novice.”
“A Novice? But doesn’t that mean beginner?”
“Yes, smarty. Technically, he’s a beginner until he learns it.”
He looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back and then laid back on the bed and listened to him while I thought about what to do about my dad and everything that was going on.
I hadn’t gotten very much sleep the night before. Went to bed after midnight and got up before seven. I hadn’t realized how tired I was. I felt so at
ease in his room, so comfortable in his bed, peaceful and safe with him there. And I fell right to sleep.
I felt cold. I was shivering and my teeth chattered. I found myself in Caleb’s bed still but Caleb wasn’t here with me. I felt that ping of anxiety rise up at that thought. I heard the door creak behind me. I rolled over slowly to see a silhouette of someone in the doorway. I squinted to see who it was.
“Caleb?”
“You wish,” a deep voice answered me and I froze.
“Marcus,” I whispered. “How did you-”
“Poor little Maggie. You’re exhausted aren’t you? Caleb keeping you up too late?”
“How?”
“How am I here? Well, you went to sleep. And your knight in shining armor is banging away at his piano, oblivious.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you.”
“Caleb. Caleb!” I shouted. “Caleb!”
“He can’t hear you,” he sang.
“Oh, yes he can.”
I concentrated like I did before, so he could read my thoughts. I got it together and pushed it toward Caleb.
Caleb!
Marcus looked instantly peeved.
“I don’t know how you can do that but, fine. He won’t be right next to you all the time, little human.”
I felt warm hands on my cheeks and woke with a gasp to see a concerned face over mine. I panted as my heart calmed at his touch.
“Maggie. Are you ok?”
“It was him.”
“I know. You sent me your thoughts. I saw him. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I fell asleep. You were playing and I was so tried and...”
“It’s ok. He didn’t hurt you, did he?” he said and caressed his thumbs over my cheekbones.
“No, not yet.” I was calm for the most part except Caleb was still over top me. His legs straddled me and he rested on his elbows as his hands warmed my cheeks. Now I was getting breathless for another reason. “I’m fine,” I breathed.
He frowned and sighed.
“I can’t protect you, even when I’m in the same room with you,” he sighed again harshly and tried to get up but I grabbed his shirt to stop him.
“Don’t. It was my fault. I fell asleep.”
“No, it wasn’t.” He let him nose touch mine and I breathed deep. “You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry. I’m just not gonna leave you again until we figure this out.”
I nodded which made our noses bump. His eyes closed and I closed mine too. I thought, this is it. He’s finally going to kiss me...but he just stayed close, then his bedroom door opened.
“Caleb, your father said- Ah! Oh!” Rachel said startled and started to shut the door.
“Mom, wait,” Caleb said scrambling off the bed to help me sit up. “It’s not that. She had an echo attack.”
“An echoling?” She pushed the door open all the way and it banged against the wall. “Oh, no,” she breathed and covered her mouth with her hands.
“Dad’s working on it.”
“Well, he said you were here and you’d be here for dinner but you didn’t say anything about an echoling.” She shook her head and grimaced. “Are you alright, Maggie?”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” I insisted but was no longer sure.
“Ok. I’m gonna go start some supper.”
“I can help-”
“No, honey. Thank you, I appreciate it, but you need to just stay with Caleb, ok. Just stay together as long as you can.”
She went out and shut the door behind her again. I flopped back on the bed again and closed my eyes at the throbbing behind them. It was exhausting to worry so much. Caleb lay down beside me and I instinctively moved to my side to lay against him. At first I was a little shocked at myself but his arm came around to hold me to him just as instinctively.
It felt perfect, like it was right where I was meant to be.
“You’re always so warm,” I muttered sleepily and put one of my legs under his.
I heard him chuckle as he pulled a blanket over us from the end of his bed. Then he turned on his side facing me and wrapped his other arm around me.
“Just rest for a few, sleepy girl. I’m here this time. Nothing’s gonna happen to you.”
“Thanks.” I moved my hand to rest on his neck and felt my headache ease away. “Maybe just for a minute.”
“Yeah.”
He kissed my forehead and I felt his smile against my skin. I smiled too as I drifted off for a completely restful sleep.
I woke later, who knows how much later, to voices in the room. They were hushed but concerned and I peeked to see that Caleb was still asleep against me. Our arms were around each other and his face was right next to mine.
“I know all that, Peter, I’m just worried is all,” I heard Rachel say. “She’s so young, but it’s not like we can stop them. They need each other. I just don’t know how to control it.”
“You know Caleb has a good head on his shoulders. He’s responsible, he’s reliable, and he’s more careful, considerate and attentive of this girl that I’ve ever seen him with anyone.”
“Well, of course he is. But he never cared about that dating rule anyway-”
“He’s a nineteen year old college boy, Rachel. I guarantee you, he cared,” he said dryly. “He just understood. He saw the merit in it. If anyone in our clan deserved to be the one to receive this gift, it’s him. And I’m not just being biased because he’s our son.”
“I know. I know. I just remember being brand new with you.” She laughed softly and it startled me how girly and young she sounded. “You couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
“Yes, I remember,” Peter said and I could hear the smile in his voice. “But they’re different. They didn’t know each other at all beforehand like we did. I’ve watched them together. Even though they feel the pull, they aren’t giving into it. They both have incredible restraint. Don’t worry about them.”
“But when I came in earlier...and now.”
“Sweetheart,” I heard shuffling. I assumed he was embracing her. “He needs to comfort her. They have to touch, they have to be together and after this echoling dream situation, he’ll have to sleep with her and be with her even more. I still haven’t figured out a solution without her angering her father, we’ll think of something. But, honey, they are soul mates. They are eventually going to be consumed with each other and there’s nothing we can do.”
“I don’t want to stop it, I know how it is and how it needs to be. I just wish I could convince them not to go too far, too soon. They are so young.”
“He loves her already,” he said and I fought not to gasp. “I can see it. That’s why he uses his restraint, Rachel. If he didn’t, he would give in to his urges because they are uncomfortable for him and it wouldn’t take much persuasion for Maggie to give in, you know that. We didn’t have to use restraint. We were older and ready for it. They are doing remarkably well for being so young and unprepared for the over load of emotions.”
“You’re right. You are. He’s a good kid. And so is she. I don’t think I could’ve picked a better person for him. She’s adorable and sweet. She’s gonna be so good for this clan. Just what the clan needs to perk up a bit.”
“I can’t wait to see what their abilities will be,” Peter mused. “I have a feeling they’ll be spectacular.”
I felt the bed depress behind me and a hand on my leg.
“Sweetie.” She shook my arm a little. “Maggie, if you don’t get up and eat you’ll be late getting home.”
I roused slowly as she shook Caleb’s leg as well. He pulled me closer and nuzzled my head when she tried to wake him. I heard them both chuckle. She shook him harder.
“Caleb. You have to take Maggie home.”
His eyes instantly opened and he saw me, our faces almost touching. He smiled.
“Hey. Did you sleep?” he asked.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Come on you two,” Rachel beckoned. “Sup
per’s been ready.”
Her and Peter left and I slowly sat up and stretched. I felt so much better it was like night and day. He sat up beside me and ran a hand through his hair so I did the same.
“No dreams?” he asked as he stood.
“Nope. None.”
“Well, I didn’t want to take all your dreams, just the bad ones,” he said softly and he lifted me by my hands to stand in front of him.
“I usually don’t remember them anyway.”
I couldn’t believe how refreshed I felt. How my body seemed to sing with contentment. I came to see it was Caleb. We’d have physical contact for who knows how long now while we slept. Both of us calming and soothing the other. It was actually good for me to sleep with him.
Peter was right. It was pretty ironic that the thing I needed most was going to be the biggest fight with my dad. I had no idea how to make it work, but I hoped we’d figure it out.
“I’m starving,” I mused and smiled at him. “Come on.” I grabbed his hand. “Point me towards the kitchen.”
He laughed.
“The dining room actually. Follow me.”
I held his arm as we walked. I even put my head on his shoulder and could feel Caleb’s happiness about it beaming through to me. He didn’t want to push me but wanted us to move forward in our relationship. He wanted us to be happy and at ease with each other but he wanted things to go on my pace. He was happy that I was getting more comfortable with him.
I felt so strange yet utterly put together at the same time. It was the sleep, I knew but I felt more bold and confident and comfortable with Caleb than I ever had.
Twelve
“This is so good, Rachel. Thank you,” I said and then took another big bite of mashed potatoes.
The dining room was grand. The walls were a soft yellow with green floor tiles and a big oak table that could have easily sat ten. We all sat at one end together.
“Good, I’m glad you like it. It’s one of Caleb’s favorites.”