Page 40 of The Second Sight
“What do you mean, controlling them?” I asked, the idea that I might have any power over these terrifying visions seemed impossible.
Seven shifted on the bed, moving to sit cross-legged facing me. He took my hands in his, his touch an anchor in the storm of my emotions. “Precognition is one of the strongest fae gifts,” he explained. “Your mother would have had full control of her visions. She is able to summon them at will.”
“I can’t do that,” I protested. “They just happen to me, usually when I’m asleep.”
“Because you haven’t been trained,” he said simply. “Your abilities are undeveloped. But with practice, you could learn to access your gift consciously rather than being ambushed by it during sleep.”
I stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. The idea that these frightening visions could be a gift, a power I might control rather than something that controlled me, was both terrifying and exhilarating.
“How?” I asked.
“We start with the basics,” Seven replied, straightening his posture. “Breath control and mental focusing techniques. The fae understand that breath is the bridge between conscious and unconscious thought.”
How did he know all these things? In this light, Seven’s face looked almost human. He looked so intent on helping me. It was hard to reconcile this man with the blood-drinking predator I’dmet in a club. I had never believed in love at first sight, but I loved him without rhyme or reason. I loved him despite all the warning signs that came with him.
“Close your eyes,” he instructed, his voice taking on a hypnotic quality. “Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, hold for seven, exhale through your mouth for eight.”
I followed his directions, feeling slightly foolish but willing to try anything that might give me control over the frightening visions.
“Again,” he said after my first attempt. “But this time, as you exhale, imagine pushing your consciousness outward, beyond your physical body.”
I tried again, focusing on the sensation of my breath moving through my body. On the exhale, I attempted to visualize my awareness expanding outward. Nothing happened, but Seven seemed pleased.
“Good,” he murmured. “Your energy is strong. I can feel it responding already.”
“I don’t feel anything at all,” I admitted, opening my eyes.
“You won’t, not at first,” he said. “This is like learning any other skill. It takes practice, repetition, building pathways that didn’t exist.”
“But will it help me understand what I saw? About Desmond and my mother?”
Seven’s expression grew somber. “The vision you had was a warning, Kasi. Desmond Moreau is one of the most dangerous beings in the supernatural world. He’s a Bambara Hunter, their leader. He has pursued the Fae and other supernatural creatures. The Bambara use magic to capture and kill. Desmond is what humans call a shaman or Warlock. I’ve seen the Bambara kill. If he’s looking for you, we don’t have much time.”
“For what?” I asked.
“To prepare you,” Seven replied. “To awaken your abilities fully. And to find your mother before Desmond does. Yumboe have more than visions. You have magic inside you that only your own people can unlock. You need Theia to help you so you can protect yourself. I will do everything in my power to protect you. I would lay down my life for you and I have an army of vampires, but fae magic is strong, and we need all of it to fight the Bambara.”
The vampire who had threatened me in an alley announced he would lay down his life for me. He was now my protector, my teacher, perhaps my only ally against whatever was coming for me.
Chapter
Sixteen
SEVEN
Iguided Kasinda toward the hidden entrance of our sanctum, my hand resting lightly at the small of her back. The ornate bookcase in my study slid silently aside as I pressed the concealed mechanism, revealing the ancient stone staircase that descended into darkness. Accumulated secrets waited below, a world that few humans had ever witnessed and survived to remember. Yet here I was, voluntarily bringing my half-fae girlfriend into the heart of vampire territory. Her golden eyes widened as she peered into the shadows, the flickering torchlight from below casting dancing patterns across her beautiful face.
“Stay close to me,” I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear. “My coven will be curious about you.”
She nodded, her pulse quickening beneath her skin. I could hear it, the steady drum of her heart speeding up with anticipation and fear. The sound was intoxicating, and I forced myself to focus on our descent rather than the temptation of her blood.
The staircase spiraled downward, each step worn smooth by vampire feet. Torches ignited as we approached them, an ancient enchantment that had cost a small fortune but had proven its worth. The flames illuminated the stone walls,revealing carvings that chronicled our coven’s history, which began long before I became their leader.
“How far down does this go?” Kasi whispered.
“Nearly a hundred feet,” I replied. “The sanctum was originally part of a network of tunnels beneath the city. We claimed this section during Prohibition and have expanded it over the decades.”
I felt her shiver slightly beneath my touch, though whether from the descending chill or the reality of entering a vampire nest, I couldn’t be certain. My instinct to protect her intensified, an unfamiliar but not unwelcome sensation. Four centuries of existence had taught me to guard my attachments carefully, yet in the span of a day, this woman had slipped past defenses I’d maintained for lifetimes.
