Page 19 of Dima's Vision
“De whispers, are dey leadin’ you somewhere, cher?”
I shake my head. “Not somewhere. Someone.” I hold her gaze. “Someone special.”
“Like you?”
I fidget with my fingers, “No, like Maddigan.”
Mama stiffens in her chair. “This someone, they feedin on people?”
I swallow thickly. “Yeah. But where Maddigan fed off the joy of people, sucking them dry and leaving them bereft, this one feeds off souls.” Mama frowns at me in confusion. “He’s there in the shadows while the filth violate the pure souls. The girls Dima saved? He was there when Glenn’s buddies violated them. He feeds off the pleasure of the men who do this, and the fear of the children.”
“Mmm, I see it now. De spirits callin’ you, no? To cut down every soul what play dey part.”
“Yeah.”
Mama nods once, then leans forward, placing her hand on my knee. She stares intently at me, her dark eyes clouding over as a sharp pain pierces behind my eyes, making me flinch.
“Ow! Shit!”
“Language!” Mama barks, her eyes back to black as the night.
“Sorry Mama,” I mumble, glaring at her and whatever magic hoodoo she did to me.
““Listen to me, Kristiana. Dis yo’ path to walk. De spirits call you, an’ dey know you strong enough to finish what mus’be done. But dere be forces out dere workin’ against you. Not ever’one you meet be ordinary. Some specials, dey hide what dey are, powers bigger dan you can dream. So be careful, cher. Trust yo’ gut, an’ trust de Ghost.”
My eyes flick to hers, “Dima? No, he can’t be involved. He’s good. Pure.” I swallow thinking how pure he was last night before I sullied him. I shake myself off to stop my thoughts going places I don’t need them to go. Especially not in front of Mama. “He does good, Mama. I can’t risk him getting hurt. Or worse.”
Mama opens her mouth to argue, before snapping it closed. She purses her lips, as if trying to keep them all in. I roll my eyes at her and wait her out.
“OK,” she shrugs her bony shoulders.
“Wait, why do I feel like you’re tricking me?”
“Ain’t no tricksters in dis house. Only me, an’ de girl I call mine.”
I roll my eyes before standing and moving toward the woman who took me in. Leaning down I wrap her small body in my arms, letting her warmth seep through me. Calming me as it always has.
“Go on, finish dat tea now. I got someone else comin’ to my door.”
I grin, doing exactly as she said before moving to the kitchen and rinsing my glass. Walking back through the house I stop at the picture on the wall. The one of me with Mama Celene, and two other kids Mama saved just like me. Gabe, whose gift is the ability to talk to the dead, and Maddigan. Whose curse was to revel in the joy of others, feeding on it until there was nothing left of them. He was one of my first kills. And the hardest. Reaching out, I run a finger along the glass, Maddigan’s face hidden partly in the shadows. The rest of the people in this picture somehow were lucky enough to survive my curse. Maybe Dima could be another?
“Kristiana!”
“Yeah, yeah, keep your granny panties on, I’m coming,” I holler down the hall to Mama, trying not to laugh as she curses me for talking about her drawers.
She follows me through the reception room, the hall, all the way to the open door, the fall breeze gently whispering through the house. She places the tray and two glasses on her little outdoor table, then turns to me. Arms open wide.
I squeeze her tight, soaking up all her love and good vibes until she pats my back, letting me know her visitor will soon arrive.
“OK, I’m going!” I giggle, throwing my hands up in the air.
I trot down the front steps, heading for my little green car. I feel better. A little lighter and a little more hopeful. May as well try killing another on the list before the day is over.
Dima
OK. I snapped and used my vision. I highly doubt the powers that be will blind me for it, seeing as they’re the ones that sent me Kristie in the first place. Although that still doesn’t help the clenching of my ass cheeks as I sit in my car, impatiently, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel.
Blowing out a breath I lean my head back, eyes closed. I know she’s safe. I watched her walk into Mama Celene’s house after hugging her without the walls and barriers she always has up. No, that’s not true. Last night I got to see her, the real her without her walls. I got to feel her beneath me, the fear she usually tries to push away with bravado nonexistent.
