Cheating Heart, A Lost Souls Novel: A Lost Souls Novel (19 page)

Moving around the bench
in astral form, he sat down next to Vienna.  He watched her drop her phone and then scoop it up from the ground.  He was tempted to send her a message, give her a sign of his presence by manipulating his energy, making her phone ring.  Ideally he’d send her a text message, but didn’t want to take the chance of getting caught. 

Jack studied her profile, her beautiful olive skin, sparkling hazel eyes and dark curly hair tied back.  Long unruly strands were coming loose and framing her face.  Her cheeks were
rosy from the cold morning air.  Jack longed to brush his fingers along her cheek.  He wanted to feel the softness of her skin.  It killed him inside to know he couldn’t act on his feelings.  He could never tell her how deeply in love he was with her.

Vienna bent down and lifted up a large rounded stone from beneath the bench when Jack felt
Roberto’s presence.  The ghost was here with them.  Immediately, Jack tensed and pulled energy from his surroundings, strengthening himself.  As the ghost manifested, Jack built up a barrier, ready to jump in and surround Vienna with his protective wall if he needed to.  Then he’d blast that apparition with all his strength.  He didn’t care if the council stepped in for his interference.  This ghostly encounter was not written into her chart and he’d be damned if it tried to hurt her.  If he felt she needed his protection, he was going to strike no matter what.  And then he’d let the council sort it out.  No harm would be done to her life chart and he’d make sure to argue that point.  If she was harmed by a ghost, then her life chart and everyone else’s connected to hers, would be changed.

***

Feeling the intense sadness radiate all around her, Vienna began to feel uneasy.  Roberto’s energy was so negative, it made her stomach clench.  She was thankful she hadn’t eaten anything because the nausea was so extreme that she would’ve thrown it up.  She wondered if Jack was there with her.  She could really use his help right about now.  Her head was spinning and her stomach was knotting up. 

“Jack?” she asked, hoping he could hear her.  “What should I do?”  She had no clue how to help this ghost and just having
Roberto near her was making her physically sick.  His energy was so dark, morose.  She’d never experienced this sort of energy before.   

Jack kept himself in astral form and invisible to Vienna.  He rubbed his astral hands together forming a
ball of energy.  He held his hands out, palms up, and pictured in his mind the energy, a pure white protective light, surrounding Vienna.

Vienna sighed.  Her stomach settled down.  Even though she couldn’t see Jack, she knew he was with her.  She could feel a warm, loving tingle throughout her body.  “Thank you, Jack,” she said beneath her breath. 

Jack smiled.  He was glad he could help without being too involved.  He ran his astral fingers gently down her cheek.  Vienna sat up straighter, enjoying the warmth and love of his positive energy.  That’s when she had an idea.  She was no longer feeling leery of the ghost now that she knew Jack was with her.  Knowing that he’d protect her, gave her the confidence she needed. 

W
ith the stone in her hands, Vienna stood up.  She held it out to Roberto.  His dark eyes focused on the rock.  “It’s okay,” Vienna said.  “Touch it.”

The apparition didn’t move.  Its
dark eyes focused on the stone.  Vienna’s hands were beginning to feel weighted down and she worried that she’d soon drop it, scaring him away.  Did he understand what she wanted him to do? 

“Roberto,” she said, softly, hoping no one was behind her listening to her talk to herself
like a crazy person.  “Touch the rock. Please. I think it’ll help you.”

He still made no attempt to touch the stone.  In fact, he made no attempt to do anything.  She wasn’t
even sure if he could hear or see her.  Maybe he could only feel her energy.  She wasn’t sure. 

Taking in a deep breath, Vienna decided to do something she didn’t feel comfortable with.  She shifted the stone, putting it beneath her arm, and stuck out her hand, offering it to the ghost.  She held her arm out waiting for him to do something.  When she thought she couldn’t hold it still for much longer, his mist swirled and pulled and formed a dark hand as he grasped her hand.  A deep cold chill broke through Jack’s protective energy and surged up her arm and encompassed Vienna’s body and soul. 

Everything went black.  Then, right in front of her, a weird light streamed down from above.  It glittered with golden sparkles.  Vienna was drawn to it and reached out to touch it.  It was warm.

R
oberto was no longer holding Vienna’s hand.  He stepped out of the darkness from the other side of the light.  He too was attracted to the strange beam.  He carefully extended his arm and put his fingers in the warmth.  Vienna smiled at him.  He took hold of her hand and stared deep into her eyes. 

“You’re forgiven, Roberto.  It’s you who must forgive yourself,
” she said, delivering the message she felt compelled to convey.  “It’s time for you to go home now.  Your brother loves you.  He understands and has been waiting.” 

The warmth of the light, spread up Vienna’s arm and into her body.  Her hand was still holding onto Roberto
’s.  His skin was no longer cold, but warm and alive.  His eyes lit up and smiled into hers as his sadness melted away.  At that very moment, Vienna knew he was feeling the love of the white light.  His pain was lifting.  He was ready to go home.

R
oberto’s body began to shimmer.  The white light streaming down from above began to widen and brighten.  Vienna looked up.  She so desperately wanted to see what Roberto was seeing.  He was smiling joyously into the light.  But she couldn’t see anything.  It was too brilliant.  But in her mind she could picture his brother, Alexander, standing there waiting for him. 

Vienna
let go of Roberto’s hand to shield her eyes.  She blinked hard against the radiant light and within a flash was standing in the marina.  The sun made its way through the morning haze. A bright light streamed down from the heavens above, lighting up a section of the ocean.  Glimmering golden sparkles glowed on the surface of the turquoise water.  Vienna smiled at the magnificent beauty.  Her heart swelled with unconditional love. She felt at peace.  Roberto’s negative energy had been lifted like a weight from her shoulders.  He’d forgiven himself for a tragic mistake that cost his brother his life and was ready to crossover.  She knew he was being received with lots of affection.  He’d fulfilled his own life chart and learned powerful lessons.  He was no longer a lost soul wandering between the realms.  Vienna couldn’t help but wonder if sometimes being lost was a part of a learning lesson even if it wasn’t written into a chart.  She guessed regardless, the soul would learn from the experience whether it was planned or not.   

Walking
over to the water’s edge with the stone in hand, Vienna whispered, “Your pain won’t weigh you down any longer, Roberto.”  She tossed the stone into the ocean, symbolically releasing his shackles.  In her mind’s eye, she could picture Roberto and his brother Alexander in a tight embrace.

Vienna
stood there, staring out at the beautiful ocean.  She could hear the first stir of people chatting and going for a morning stroll over by the shops that would soon be opening.  A sudden familiar tingle raced through Vienna’s body as Jack wrapped his astral arms around her waist.  He stood behind her, holding her tight.  Vienna soaked up the warmth of Jack’s love, even though she couldn’t see him.  She’d never really know for sure if he was truly there sharing this beautiful moment with her, but she’d like to believe that he was.

Friday
, February 21st
Chapter 12

It’d been an interesting week.  Vienna had
had several challenges to face since her arrival in Sacramento.  She didn’t realize just how much a weekend get-a-way to the beach, could change her life.  She now had a boyfriend.  James made it clear to her that they were more than just casually dating.

Smiling
at the memory, Vienna remembered her last night with him.  Even though they’d both been dead tired, they’d spent a full day and night together.  Just thinking about that night made her cheeks redden.  It amazed her at how just thinking about James made her flush.  He was just so irresistible.  And the way he held her in his arms the entire night sent a warm sensation through her entire body. 

Vienna switched on her blinker as she entered downtown Sacramento.  She hated sitting in late afternoon work traffic, but knew there was something she needed to do.  Normally she would’ve headed straight for home after a long tedious day at the office,
especially after the emotional week she’d had.  She’d turned Kyle down at work.  She did it gently by telling him she didn’t feel comfortable dating someone she worked with.  She didn’t tell him about James because she didn’t want to be adding salt to the already open wound.  He said that he understood, but she wasn’t so sure.  The rest of the week he kept his distance from her.  The other emotional triumph had been Brandon.  What helped her get through that mess was knowing she had a gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend, a handsome US Marine, who loved her no matter how weird her life was.  Brandon had left her another rose on her doorstep.  This time he had a poem attached and his phone number.  Vienna had forced herself to call him because she felt she needed the closure.  He had apologized profusely for hurting her in the past.  He said that seeing her at the club on Valentine’s Day made him realize just how much he loved and missed her.  He had asked her to please give him another chance.  Vienna thanked him for the apology and had told him she was seeing someone. 

Vienna sighed, as the cars in front of her inched their way forward.  F
or some crazy reason, she’d decided to drive straight into the city on an inkling that kept nagging her.  Heck, she didn’t even know exactly what the inkling was.  She just knew she had to do it.  She couldn’t help but wonder if Jack was the one bugging her.  And since, he just seemed to have disappeared again; she hadn’t been able to ask him. 

“What the hell
,” she said, aloud.  “Jack, are you the one making me wait in this God-awful traffic?  I don’t even know why I’m here.”   

The work traffic was bad enough driving from Data Drive in Rancho Cordova to her apartment in Fair Oaks, but to drive
all the way into downtown Sacramento was an entirely different story.  She’d have to be insane to drive in all of this traffic for no apparent reason.  Why was she torturing herself?  Couldn’t she have chosen another time to drive out here?  Heck, she could’ve gone home, had dinner and then driven out here after the traffic had diminished.  Why was is it so important to drive out there right now?

Just then Vienna’s phone began to buzz in her purse.  The theme song to
Doctor Who
played as it rang.  She thought of Kim and how much she’d teased her for being a Science Fiction geek.  Vienna pressed the rectangular button on the Blue Tooth speaker clipped onto her visor.

“Hey!”  Kim’s voice
flooded the speaker.  “Where are you?  I’m starving.”

“Oh
geez!” Vienna cringed.  She’d completely forgotten that it was her turn to bring something home.  They’d been taking turns providing dinner.  That is, if one of them didn’t have a hot date planned.  But now, since both of them had long distance relationships, they’d both be home tonight.  And tonight was Vienna’s turn to either buy or make dinner.  “I’m sorry.  I totally forgot.  I’m kinda downtown.”

“Downtown?  As in downtown Fair Oaks?”

“Um, no.”  Vienna cleared her throat.  “As in downtown Sacramento.”

“What? 
Why are you down there?”

Vienna let out a nervous chuckle, “I honestly don’t know.”

“Oh,” Kim said, and then there was silence for a moment.  Vienna could picture her gnawing on her bottom lip, thinking this over.  “Well, I guess Jack has a good reason for bringing you there.”

“Jack?” Vienna asked, feeling a bit upset at the mention of his name.  She knew it shouldn’t bother as much as it did, but
his latest Houdini act really ticked her off.  And still having mixed up feelings for him really ticked her off, too.  Her enjoyment of her new relationship with James had masked those crazy feelings until just now.  Kim bringing Jack up stirred up those hidden feelings. 

“Yes, Jack,” Kim repeated.

“He’s not leading me anywhere,” Vienna spat with so much venom that she surprised herself at the uncontrollable outburst.  She herself was just thinking that Jack was leading her downtown.  Why was she so upset about Kim mentioning it?  “He wasn’t even around to help me when I needed him most!”  She then thought about Roberto and how frightened she’d been when he’d trapped her in his strange in-between world of hopelessness and despair.  Even as she said the words to Kim, she secretly knew Jack had to have been with her, although she hadn’t seen him. 

“Keep telling yourself that,” Kim said.  “He’s with you even now
whether you like it or not.  And Jack, if you’re listening, please guide Vienna to a good Mexican food restaurant on the way home.  I’m craving tacos.”

Vienna couldn’t help, but laugh.  Kim was such a nut.  “
Yeah, all right. I’ve got the picture.  Tacos it is.  I’ll try to be home within the hour.”

“Oh, I’m getting a call from Steve,” Kim squealed.  “Don’t forget the tacos
!”

Vienna laughed.  “Tell Steve hi!”  She reached up
and clicked the button on the Blue Tooth disconnecting the call.  A static sound crackled from the speaker.

“That’s odd,” Vienna muttered, pushing the button again.  The speaker continued to crackle.  She wondered if maybe it needed to be charged or something. 

Happy to see the parking garage, Vienna pulled inside, just as a voice crackled through the static.  Shocked, she almost hit the yellow and black striped bar blocking her from entering without first getting a ticket. 

“Hello?” she asked.  Maybe it was another call coming through and when she hung up with Kim it switched over.  “This is a bad connection.  I can’t hear you.”  She rolled down the window took a ticket from the automatic dispenser and then placed it on her dashboard as the yellow and black arm rose to let her into the garage. 

“Vienna.”  She heard her name coming through the static.  She recognized the voice.  “It’s me.”

“Jack?” she cried with surprise.  “Why are you calling me?  Where are you?”  Vienna followed the parking garage around to the second level and was thrilled to see a spot near the
elevators and stairs.

“Just know I’m always with you.
”

Vienna’s eyes filled with tears making it hard to angle her car into the spot.  She reversed and tried again.  Something was wrong with Jack, she just knew it.  “Jack can’t you tell me this in person.”

Vienna waited for an answer, listening intently to the static.  “Jack?”

“No.”

“No, what?  You can’t?  You can’t be here?  Why not?  Please, at least tell me you’re okay.”

Suddenly, Vienna could feel warmness on her cheek.  She closed her eyes and could almost picture him sitting next to her in the passenger seat, running his fingers gently across her cheek.  In that moment, she knew he was all right.  She also knew she wouldn’t be seeing him for a while.  But she was reassured that he w
as there with her, always.  He wanted her to know that he was always there when she needed him.  She wanted to ask him why he had to stay so candid.  The answer in her mind was that it’s complicated.  Then the speaker’s static grew louder. 

“I love you.” Jack’s voice
crackled and the Blue Tooth shut off.

“I love you, too,” she whispered.
 

Gathering her phone and her purse, Vienna got out her car.  She headed for the stairs, clutching her purse tightly under her arm.  Regardless of Jack’s message, she knew she’d be seeing him again sooner than he realized.  She smiled, thinking about it.  She was the psychic one, so she knew this for a fact.

Vienna headed in the direction of the club that she and Kim went to on Valentine’s Day.  She waited for the light and then crossed the street, stopping by the wall covered in flyers.  She spied the trashcan and remembered her encounter with the homeless man that had been sleeping there.  Walking over to the spot, she frowned.  She’d figured that he’d been the reason why she’d been compelled to park in the garage around the corner from the nightclub.  What other reason could she possibly have to be here?  Was it just so Jack could talk to her in the car?  Couldn’t he have done that on the way home?

Not knowing what else to do, Vienna headed back to the garage.  She had no other reason to be aimlessly wandering the streets.  In her mind that was just asking for trouble anyhow.  Staring at ground, Vienna high
tailed it back to her car.  She got in and started up the engine.  Her stomach growled reminding her that she needed to pick up some tacos on the way home.  She figured that driving through Taco Bell would have to suffice.  Besides, both she and Kim would be ravishing by the time she’d get home.  Heck, she’d be able to pick up hamburgers and Kim would be so hungry, she wouldn’t even remember tacos.

Vienna pulled up to the toll booth to pay for parking in the garage.  She rolled down the window and gasped
when a familiar face stared out at her. 

“That’ll be two dollars,” he said.

Vienna’s jaw dropped.  It was the homeless man.  He looked so different.  He was clean shaven and had a fresh haircut.  Vienna closed her mouth, realizing that she probably looked like an idiot gaping at him.  “Um, oh, uh, let me get my wallet.”  She reached for her purse, fumbling around for her wallet.

“I know you,” the man said.  “You’re that woman.  I never forget a face…”

Vienna pulled out a twenty left over from her weekend at the beach and handed it to him.  “Here,” she said.  “I don’t have the exact change.”

He smiled, this time accepting her twenty without a fuss.  He clicked a few buttons on the cash register and extracted her change from the machine.  “Your kindness changed my life,” he said.  “Actually, you should let me pay for your parking.
”  He put the change back into the register and handed her her twenty back. 

“Thank you,” Vienna said, smiling.  “I appreciate it.”

“You have a gift,” he said, winking at her.  “Don’t be afraid to use it.  You never know how much you may help someone.”  There was something familiar about the twinkle in his blue eyes.  He pushed a button that lifted the yellow and black arm allowing her to leave.

“Jack,” she said, turning out of the parking garage and pulling out into the street.  “Thank you.”  She now knew why
he led her downtown.  Learning to trust in her abilities was hard, but it helped to know that even if she didn’t always know it, her psychic gift was helping others.

Just then the
Doctor Who
theme song filled the car and her Blue Tooth announced a call coming in from James.  Thrilled to talk with him, Vienna’s heart fluttered with excitement as she pushed the button on the speaker.