Seeing Black (17 page)

“I have already explained things to my brother.
Don’t you worry, dear. He’s not too keen on verbal communication.
He rather keep to himself, but I’m sure you’ll get along just
fine.”

Jill and Josef’s eyes were locked in a stare. She
doubted they’d ever get along, but she couldn’t pull away. This was
not a man she wanted to have contact with again.

“Alrighty then,” Jill said again, giggling
nervously. “I guess I’ll go back and sit.”

Neither man said a word, so she returned to the mat
and sat.

“Today we’re going to practice PRV.” Rocco came
towards her and sat.

“PRV?”

“Yes. Right now, you have no control over your
premonitions. They happen to you. What we want to do is be able to
get you to cause them. Instead of them happening to you, you will
make them happen to your advantage. It’s called Psychic Remote
Viewing or PRV. You will focus on what you want to see, and, well,
you will see it.”

“Can you do this PRV thing?”

“Not anymore, but I used to.” He grabbed Jill’s hand
and helped her to the floor. “It takes a lot of concentration and
focus, but once you are able to channel the energy, it will become
second nature. You won’t even know you’re doing it.”

She nodded. “How about him?” Jill looked behind her
to Josef, who was still at the table on the far side of the room by
the computer.

“No, I’m afraid not. Neither of us can do it
anymore. Our sight is gone due to our age—”

“But he’s younger than you.” Rocco’s facial
expression changed for a brief moment. He cleared his throat, and
for the slightest second, she felt as if something was off. “You
never know with these things. It’s parapsychology. There’s no real
explanation other than it goes away over time. He just lost his
sight prematurely.”

“Hmm?” Jill replied. “Well, he still has that
get-into-my-head thing, so he hasn’t lost all his powers.”

“That he does, but it’s not as he used to. He was
better at it before. He had the ability to move objects by just
thinking about it.”

“Telekinesis?”

“Exactly,” Rocco replied. “But it’s all gone now.
The only thing left is—”

“His ability to mess with my head,” she
deadpanned.

“I already told you he will not do that again. I
apologize.” Rocco took a deep breath and sat cross-legged next to
her. Jill looked forward and positioned herself in the full lotus
pose and took a deep calming breath.

“You have excellent muscle memory. A few months ago,
you could barely stay seated in a chair for more than five minutes,
and now, you can sit like this for hours.” Jill just concentrated
on her breathing.

Rocco began again. “Okay, dear. I want you to look
out the window and focus on the water. Look into it, past it.
Continue with the deep breathing we’ve practiced. Today, we are
going to just work on something very inane and simple. I think
you’re ready. I want you to think about Remy. Visualize the way she
looks.” Rocco continued using a monotone voice, not too loud, not
too soft. No inflections. Just slow and steady. He sat beside Jill
in the same pose but spoke toward the window. “She’s wearing her
usual black knee-length skirt and crisp white shirt. Focus on the
details. Think of her white orthopedic shoes, the crinkles around
her eyes, her smile, and her Cajun accent. Can you see and hear
her?” He waited and then repeated. “Jill, can you see her?”

Jill didn’t speak for some time. She continued her
steady breathing and focus. Her eyes felt heavy, but not from
sleep. “I see her. She’s making something in the kitchen. Dinner, I
think. It’s today. I can tell by the date on the calendar above the
oven.” Jill whispered.

“And what is she cooking?”

Another moment passed.

“I see her seasoning a rack of lamb, and I can smell
the mango chutney.”

“That’s wonderful, Jill. You did great, better than
I thought you would. Smelling the food . . . Wow, that’s something
that took me years to master. Good girl. You can st—”

“Oh, no.” Jill sounded sad. “She cut her finger. Mr.
Sampson is mending her finger. She’ll be fine. It’s just a little
nip.”

“Okay, Jill, you need to come back to me now. Listen
to my voice and come back. We’re going for a swim. It’s going to be
a great day. Come on.”

“Her finger really throbs,” she says. She’s scared
of not having dinner ready on time.”

“Jill, listen to me.” Rocco’s tone was serious and
stern. She could hear him somewhere in her subconscious. His voice
was distant. She didn’t say anything for some time. Her eyes were
hyper focused on the horizon. A flock of seagulls flew by, and the
quick movement of the birds startled her out of her deep trance.
She gasped. Rocco placed one of his hands on her shoulder.

“You back with me, Jillian?” Rocco caressed her
shoulder. “You did great, Jill. Tell me what you just saw. Can you
remember?”

Ever so slowly, Jill turned her head towards Rocco.
“Remy is making rack of lamb tonight with a mango chutney glaze and
fingerling rosemary potatoes. For dessert, she’s making pecan pie.
She cut her finger, dicing one of the pecans, and Mr. Sampson
helped her.”

“Good. Now, I want you to stay away from the
kitchen. You are not to go by the kitchen or speak to any of the
staff. We’ll sit together at six in the main dining room for dinner
and see if what you saw actually occurs. I don’t want you
interfering with the future.”

“Interfering?

“Yes. Interfering. Suppose you mention in passing
you like lamb. She’ll make it. If she makes lamb because you asked
her to make it or she thinks you want her to make it, well, that
would be you
interfering
. I need to see if it happens
organically. Do not misunderstand me. You will, at the point that I
deem appropriate, learn how to manipulate the future and control
your visions, but not yet. Today, we are just testing to see if you
are capable of PRV.” Jill nodded.

“Josef will be drawing some blood from you today,
Jillian. Then you are free to go anywhere you wish so long as you
are at the dinner table by six.”

Jill’s heart fluttered. “I think I’ll go see
Alexander?”

“Of course, dear.” Jill let out a little squeal.
Rocco gave Josef a nod, indicating that he could proceed. Jill
walked towards him. As Josef took Jill’s arm, Jill noticed some
small bruising along the inside of her elbow.
Strange.
Josef
drew vile after vile of blood until she felt lightheaded. She
didn’t mention it because she was so giddy about seeing Alexander.
She didn’t care about anything else.
Why did she miss him so
much?
She had seen him yesterday at the mock trials. Granted
they hadn’t spoken to each other because she had still been angry,
but she had seen him, and she wanted to see him today.

While the doctor finished up, she contemplated
something Rocco had said when they were meditating earlier. He said
that her ability to sit still in the yoga poses had vastly improved
from months ago.

“Rocco?”

“He’s in his study.”

“I’m just a little confused.”

Josef rolled his eyes. He looked exasperated. “I
know.”

“You know I’m confused?” Jill asked, but Josef
didn’t answer. “How long have I been here?”

Josef didn’t say anything. Jill’s heart began to
pound. This was the reason she knew where everything in the mansion
was, the reason she had track marks in her arm, the reason she knew
the staff, and the reason she was so advanced at Psychic Remote
Viewing and her meditation positions. She paled at the realization
that she hadn’t just arrived!

“Do not faint.” Josef scolded.

“Josef. How long have I been here?” she asked
slowly, but he still didn’t answer. She slammed her weak fist
against the table. The computer shook, and Josef looked annoyed.
“Tell me now! So help me God, I’ll scream.”

He didn’t reply.

“Josef, tell me!”

In that moment, Rocco came into the room.

“How long have I been here!” She yelled at
Rocco.

“Since yesterday, dear.” Rocco replied, and she
heard Josef snicker.

“Liar! Tell me!” She jumped up, swaying a little
before regaining her balance.

“Calm down, Jillian,” Rocco said, as he took a few
steps towards her. “You’ve been here almost six months.”

“What? Six months!” Jill fought to catch her breath.
She placed both hands on the side of the chair in front of her. Her
heart started to beat faster and faster and sweat began to trickle
down her spine. Panic set in. Six months? How was that even
possible? How could she not remember one single thing?

“Oh my God! How is that even possible?”

“You wanted to get to know your father better.”
Josef smirked. Rocco gave him a stern look.

“I, uh, even if that is true, I still can’t . . .
What about school, Xander, Oliver? Do they know . . .? Am I . . .?
Oh my God.” She was about to hyperventilate.

Josef, methodically, clinically, began to speak. His
voice was completely devoid of emotion and held the hint of
annoyance. “Listen. You need to breathe in and out. We’ve explained
this to you. You chose this. You wanted to get to know your father
and learn from him. You agreed to allow us to do some tests.”

Jill pushed the chair, its legs scratching harshly
against the floor. “One blood test! One time. That’s all I agreed
to, not to be held here for half a fucking year! You can’t keep me
here! I’ll call the police!” She ran towards the door.

“You must calm down.” Rocco caught her by the arm
and pulled her closer. He placed both hands on her shoulders.
“Relax. You’re safe.”

“No. You’re holding me captive? What? Are you
drugging me? Why can’t I remember anything?”

“No. No.” Rocco chuckled and lightly squeezed Jill’s
shoulder. “Calm down. You are free to leave at any point. Would you
like my driver to take you somewhere?” Relieved, Jill accepted his
offer; she was also much calmer than she had been a few minutes
ago. “Come on, I’ll walk you out. Before you leave, may I show you
the garden? You’ve been waiting for the flowers to bloom for
months. I made it in memory of your mother. I loved her so
much.”

Rocco placed Jill’s hand on his forearm and led her
downstairs by a different route from the one she had used when she
entered. They walked out the room, using a door in the back that
led to the outside by the Gulf. There was another grand staircase
lined with fichus trees in ornate cobalt blue pots, instead of
rails. The cold house transformed into a Mediterranean haven.

“Your home is so beautiful, Rocco, especially your
garden. Those orchards are lovely.” Jill said, releasing Rocco and
walking toward a tall flowery tree. She plucked a flower from one
of the trees and smelled. “Mmm. They should bottle this smell.”

“You always say that, dear.”

“I’ve been here before?” Fear began to envelop her
again. It was moving up from her toes to her thighs and making its
way to her chest. Her heart was about to go into overdrive
again.

Rocco placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “You
love this flower. It’s your favorite, and it was also your mother’s
favorite.”

“Tell me some more about her, Rocco.” The panic
began to dissipate.

“Well, I built Wonderland the year I met her.”

“Wonderland?”

“Just a little nickname Josef and I made up.”

“Why Wonderland?”

Rocco looked at Jill, strangely, almost nefariously.
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s because of all the gardens. Kind of reminds
me of the scene in Alice in Wonderland with the Queen of Hearts and
the maze.”

“But with a big blue ocean and horses roaming
wild.”

Rocco laughed. “Yes, except for that.”

Jill strolled to the tree in bloom and plucked yet
another fragrant flower, taking in its fragrance, and placed it in
her hair. She wandered quietly around to the back of Wonderland.
She then sat with her feet hanging over the seawall for some time,
breathing in the salty air. She leaned back on her elbows, taking
in the heat of the sun enveloping her. Her reverie was interrupted
by the sound of galloping. Jill turned to see one of the ranch
hands on a brown quarter horse, probably exercising it. She stood
and walked towards the stable.

“Getting a little dark out, Jillian. Shouldn’t you
go inside for dinner?” Colton, one of the ranch hands asked.

“Oh, yeah, you’re probably right, Colt. Where’s
Rocco,” she asked as she turned and looked left and right.

“Probably inside, working.”

“Inside? How long have I been here? What time is
it?”

“It’s 5:00 p.m., ma’am.”

“What? How could . . .? That can’t be right.” Jill
roughly grabbed Colton’s hand and twisted his wrist so that she
could see his watch.

“Holy shit!” She covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry,
excuse me.”

Colton smiled. “No worries, ma’am.” Colton was about
six foot tall and probably in his mid-thirties. He had dark brown
eyes, almost black, a deep tan from years of tending to the
stables, and a strong face. He wore a black Stetson, faded blue
jeans, black cowboy boots, and a plaid shirt. A typical Texas
cowboy. “Are you okay?” He asked, concern set in his fading
smile.

“Honestly? I don’t know. I’m a little confused. In
fact, have we met before? Why do I know your name?”

Colton laughed. “Of course we’ve met, Ms. Jillian. I
taught you how to ride Oreo.” He pointed to the most magnificent
horse she’d ever seen. Black with white spots, it looked as if
someone had thrown a bucket of white paint over him.

“Wow.” She gasped. “He’s beautiful. May I touch
him?”

Colton tipped his hat in a gesture suggesting she
follow him. “It’s your horse, ma’am.”

“It is?” She was in awe. Flies would soon make a
home in her mouth if she didn’t close her jaw shut.

“Ms. Jill, I think you should go inside and have
some dinner or something. You’re acting awfully strange today. I
haven’t seen you like this in weeks. Maybe I should call your
father and let him—”