Caitlin

Here’s the next chapter. Cate gets a little bit of action (nothing too dramatic, though). 10-pgs leisure style.




::Chapter 6::


“Marcus, can I ask you a question?” I had been wondering for a while, but had never had the courage to ask about the demarcation across his face.

He nodded his consent without looking up from what he was doing. Every time we met, he would have me studying, or practicing conjuring my element, and he, alongside of me, would be reading, or writing down notes of some nature.

“What happened to your…” I trailed off, hoping that he would understand what I was talking about.

A slight frown crossed his features as he pushed his notes away, sitting back in his chair. He stalled for a minute before speaking. “There was an unpleasant argument between an old friend and myself. One that didn’t go so well in my favor.”

He was a fan of telling half-truths. He wouldn’t go into the whole story about the situation, but I could tell that he was still angry about the incident. Maybe it involved a girl…

That would explain his seemingly contempt towards me. It was probably just towards females in general. Maybe this girl had left him for another man, and to protect his reputation he had to fight the would-be suitor off, but he lost. He lost an eye and his woman. Ah, that’s the stuff romance stories were made of, but I was letting my imagination get away with me.

He didn’t look like he wanted to talk about the matter any further, so I left it alone, merely saying, “Oh.”

--

We had taken a short break one day, and I began wandering around the large mansion. I didn’t dare venture upstairs for fear that I would get lost, but I began searching the rooms downstairs. I found the kitchen and adjoining dining room that held a large buffet table that could have easily sat at least twenty people. The sitting room that I had already been to was still in disarray; the library where we normally studied was nothing out of the ordinary; and the ballroom…

The ballroom…it was magnificent. Marble tiled flooring, gold encased vases and mirrors, a large crystal chandelier hanging above the entire room, and a newly polished grand piano.

I held my breath as I made my way to the piano, marveling at its grandeur as I gingerly sat upon the bench. I lightly ran my fingers across the ivory keys, reminiscing about the days when I took piano lessons. I don’t remember why I ever gave it up when I had always loved to play.

“Do you play?” His silky smooth voice startled me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t even heard him come into the room; much less known he was watching me.

“Only a little bit,” I said, modestly.

“Well, let me hear what little you can play.”

“Do you play?” I asked, turning the tables on him.

He only smirked lightly before bidding me to play. The notes came out softly at first, as if I were afraid that I would disturb something in the quiet house, but gradually became loud until it was the only thing that I could hear. My eyes had fallen closed of their own volition, letting me savor the melody of the classic song that flowed from my fingertips effortlessly.

I didn’t even feel him sit down next to me, but as his fingers brushed my own, my hand jumped and my eyes flew open, but he merely continued where I had left off. Hesitantly, I continued while he played an octave higher, the gentle tune gradually becoming a duet.

When the song finished, we both sat there in an almost awkward silence. “I didn’t think you could play,” I said, finally. He really hadn’t said that he could, but I assumed that he couldn’t when I had asked earlier.

He smiled lightly. “You know, music in itself is magic,” he replied, turning to face me. I completely agreed with him, and nodded my agreement. We both smiled at each other. A real smile from him, not the same old smirk that I was used to receiving. But it was brief. If I had blinked, I’m sure I would have missed it.

He was a mystery to me, and yet, I felt myself growing fonder of this mystery. This ever elusive, indescribable man that had continued to teach me even through my many disasters.

As if mirroring my own thoughts, I felt his hand come up to cup my cheek, the soft texture of his palm, rubbing gently along the contours of my cheek. My eyes fell closed for the second time that night, savoring the feel of his skin against mine.

I felt the gentlest brush against my lips, and my eyes flew open only to see Marcus pulling away from the feather-light kiss that he had imparted towards me. It hadn’t been but a brief touch, but it was the single most pleasant feeling that I had ever felt before, and I could feel a light blush creep upon my cheeks as he leaned his forehead against mine, taking my hands within his own. Maybe I was wrong about his contempt towards me.

“Caitlin,” he said, almost breathlessly. “You are a very special girl. Do you know why?”

Suddenly, it felt like a jolt went through my entire body and I jumped back away from Marcus. That phrase was eerily familiar, and it stirred something from the back of my mind, something that was struggling to surface.

I sat upon a blood-red couch, a fire blazing in the background. My father was there. He was trying to tell me something. \"Cate, you\'re a very special girl. Do you know why?\"

You’re a very special girl…

Was it a vision, or a memory? I couldn’t tell, but the scene that had played before my eyes was frighteningly real. But I couldn’t remember everything that had happened…Just bits and pieces were coming to me.

Shouting and a loud pounding on our front door interrupted him. He had a look in his eyes that was something akin to fear. \"Elizabeth,\" he yelled, calling for my mother.

“Caitlin…” A distant voice called to me. My head felt fuzzy and I realized that I was lying on my back. Somehow I had fallen from my perch upon the piano bench and Marcus was peering down at me, a mixture of concern and…possibly fear, etched upon his face. “Caitlin, what is it?”

The last thing I saw was my father\'s face, as he turned towards my cry of \"Papa!\" right before the front doors burst open.

“I…why did you say that,” I demanded.

He was speechless for a moment. “Because it’s the truth,” he said.

I knew that he had nothing to do with the vision I just received, but I couldn’t help feeling the littlest bit of terror creep across my spine as he offered his hand to help me up off the ground. I could trust Marcus. He was the only one who had offered the truth willingly to me. Not the whole truth, but I was sure in time I would learn everything I ever wanted to know from him.

“What did you see?” He asked the question as if he knew that I had had some kind of vision.

But it was too personal to say. “I couldn’t…It was all jumbled together. I couldn’t make out anything.”

He nodded his head in understanding. “Its difficult to understand visions sometimes, but with practice--”

I stood up without his help, and hurriedly said, “I have to go, Marcus. I’m sorry-” And I left as fast as I could.

The images I saw, they frightened me. I didn’t know what they meant, and I didn’t know if they were real. I had always had the dream before, so why now did it come to me, and why so vividly? Had it merely been triggered by what Marcus had said? Was this another one of my powers? I was so confused, I didn’t know what to say or think.

--

It was another Wednesday night. During my whole training process, I had never once forgotten Movie Night, and I wasn’t about to start now. It was Lucas’s choice this time, and, of course, he chose a blood-and-guts action movie.

But my mind wasn’t focused that night. I was still feeling awkward about the whole vision thing. I hadn’t been back to see Marcus since that night. But it wasn’t because I felt suspicious about the man. It wasn’t anything like that. I just felt like I needed some time to think about the whole situation.

It was strange the way he had said almost the exact same words that my father had used. And what did this mean about my mother? Had she deceived me once again? Was my vision the truth about the night my father disappeared? I didn’t know. And I really didn’t feel like bringing it up to my mother again. I was so confused.

I wasn’t even paying attention to the movie. If you asked me, I couldn’t tell you what it was about, but Lucas seemed to be enjoying it. Thinking about Lucas made my mind wander back to Marcus and the kiss. It was a sweet simple gesture, but one that made a lasting impression in my mind. There was no doubt that I would forget it soon.

I realized that I had been staring at Lucas while I had been thinking about the kiss, no doubt a dreamy gaze plastered upon my face. And when I realized that I had been staring at him, I also realized that he was staring right back at me, with a different kind of look on his face. His green eyes held a slightly mischievous look to them as he stared at me, and his breathing took on a more rapid pattern than before.

It was then I noticed that we were close. A little too close to each other. But before I could stop him, he moved even closer, his mouth seeking out mine, and then I found that I didn’t want to stop him. He was a good kisser I’ll admit that. So good, that my mind shut down. I didn’t stop to reason that this might not be such a good idea, as I was prone to think. I just let him have his way, my mind traveling to distant place as I reveled in the feeling of someone needing me that way. The part of my brain that was still thinking rationally told me that I really wished it was someone else, but I quickly shut that thought away.

Lucas loved me. He had always been a faithful friend, so why had I been so adamant about not being with him? They always say the best friends make the best lovers…right? I finally had to shut down my brain, and give way to the here and now.

Lucas had wrapped one of his hands around my neck while the other one was positioned in the small of my back, both hands pulling me closer to him as he continued his ministrations. I let my mouth part slightly, allowing for him to plunder its depths as my own arms came up to wrap themselves around his neck. He gently suckled at my bottom lip as his hands guided me into lying down on the couch, Lucas joining me in the process.

His kisses became hot and fervent, and his hands began wandering. I didn’t stop them. I let him continue, his mouth traveling down my neck as I arched against him. One of his hands apprehensively traveled upwards, lightly caressing my breast through the fabric of my clothing.

It was then that my brain was brought back into gear and I realized that this wasn’t right.

“Wait,” I said, breathlessly. I had to make him stop. I couldn’t do this. Not with him. God knows I loved Lucas, just not in the way he deserved to be loved. “Luc, we need to stop. This isn’t-“

“Cate, this is right,” he argued, pulling away from me. “This is how it’s supposed to be between us. You and I-“

“I can’t…” I saw something flash through his eyes that made him appear darker for a moment before he relented, pushing himself up off of me and back into a sitting position.

“Who is it?”

“There’s no one.”

“Don’t give me that. You’ve barely been home since that night you disappeared. Staying out until all hours of the night, and you want me to believe that you’re not seeing anyone?” He looked at me, a pleading look in his eyes this time. “You don’t have to lie to me, Cate. We’re friends, aren’t we? You can tell me what you’ve been up to, I won’t get mad.”

“Luc, I- I can’t. Its not…” I couldn’t explain it to him. There was no way that I could tell him that I was practicing magic in my spare time. It just wasn’t acceptable.

“Fine,” he said, angrily. He gathered his things and left as quickly as humanly possible.

I felt terrible about the whole situation. Like I had betrayed my best friend, and in a way, I had. He deserved to know, but I wasn’t sure that I was ready to tell him. Magic, even now, isn’t widely accepted, and those who practice it are seen as outcasts. I knew he wouldn’t turn on me like that, but I still couldn’t bring myself to tell him. Not yet, anyway.