The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) (9 page)

Marissa shuddered. “Oh! That’s awful!”

“Yes. I’ve heard tales of it happening. Anyway, at the time of your crowning, a kestrel flew into the room through the sky window. The falcon got disoriented for a moment and zipped around the room, seeking escape. Picture your tiny head being revealed, the midwife assisting, your father squeezing your mother’s hand, your mother bearing down and no doubt moaning with that beautiful voice of hers, and then a bird of prey flies in from overhead.” He sliced his hand through the air.

A slight smile curved on her lips.
“I can’t imagine. So why did they think the bird was a sign of something amazing?”

“To add to the chaos,
someone shouted for assistance to get the bird out and the travel guide ran into the room. He was an ornithologist. Apparently, his face went completely white when he saw the bird.”

“Why?”

“Because, mija, it was an extinct species. It was apparently a Réunion Kestrel. It has been extinct since the 1700s.”

“Come on! With all the chaos in the room, the guy could have made that up.”

“He insists it was that bird, mija. But here’s the truly remarkable part. The midwife was at the ready, waiting for you to come out. There’s shouting and chaos in the room. The bird flapped against the ceiling. It flew up and down along the wall. Then it did an amazing thing – it flew right over your mother’s legs and looked at her and then at you. The kestrel hovered in midflight, like it was scoping out its prey, ready to drop down and snatch you in its talons. Everyone stopped and looked up at the bird. It remained like this for, oh, maybe a minute, watching your mother and your tiny head emerging. Then it just flew out the window, as if it knew where to go all along.” He made his hand swoop and soar.

Marissa shook her head.
“That’s an outlandish tale. Why didn’t I ever hear this story? All I was ever told was that I was born on an island near Africa.”  

“I think your parents wanted to wait. They were going to present you with the story, as well as an amulet on your
16
th
birthday. They never made it that far.”

“No. They died when I was only
15.”

“Yes, they felt like they had to make haste when they flew down to Central America.
Word was circulating that an extremely powerful black magic sorcerer had heard of you, and he wanted your powers for himself. He had plans to abduct and ensorcel you. They had flown down to Guatemala to meet with a powerful brujo and curandero. They sought to find a way to protect you. Sadly, they never made it to their intended destination.”

“I
f that was true, why hasn’t he already done it? I could have been ensorcelled at any time.” She pursed her lips in sarcasm. “Ensorcelled,” she scoffed.

“There is an age at which a woman begins her ripening – she begins her bloom into fullness
and her child-self falls away. He knew he had to wait.”

“For?”

“The year in which you turned 26.”

“I’m
26 now. Just…” The words fell from her lips. The room started a lazy spin, as if she was twirling in slow motion on the Mad Hatters Teacups in Disneyland. Her third eye throbbed. The goddess apparition swirled in her head, along with the sinister one. This was too much. It was just too much to take in. She let her forehead drop on the desk once more, quelling her inner sight.

“
Mija. Mija. Talk to me. Can I get you anything?”

She rolled her head back and forth in the negative, feeling the smooth surface
grind against her skin and skull. A small, squeaky voice croaked out of her throat. “Just tell me what the lapis is used for.”

Diego cleared his throat.
“I know this one by heart. It’s a sacred stone used in ancient Egypt. I used this stone often in your mother’s jewelry. But I never possessed one as fine as this. It’s used to prevent psychic attack and awaken the third eye. It’s believed to hold the energy of a star-filled sky and bestow limitless wisdom on the wearer. It can keep and protect a relationship. I placed lapis lazuli in the necklace that your mother wore to Guatemala on her last journey there. We think the black sorcerer stole this, as well as the other jewelry, in order to gather power. What he has used them for is not known.”

“Who is this ‘we’?” she said weakly.

“I’ll tell you, but this conversation must never leave your lips. Do I have your word on this?”

Marissa nodded.

“The Numina.”

Marissa’s eyes widened.
That’s what Daniel said.

“
It is an eclectic network of individuals of different abilities worldwide of which I am a part. Many of our members are quite wealthy and powerful. We are part of the white arts, not the black. We practice in secret. The only reason I am telling you this is…is…is because of this.” He swept his arm across the table, indicating the gems. “It’s time you knew. I think you are to play a part.” He paused and tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. “Our members stir revolution behind the scenes. We restore order. We keep the world in balance against the forces of evil.” He made a derisive face and rubbed his eyes again. “Your mother was not a part of the group, but she was always welcome. Her skills were used from time to time.” He looked towards the bookcase and then brought his eyes to hers. “She was sought after, actually. We wanted her to be a part of our group. She could have brought tremendous power to our organization.”

“I see.” Marissa arms hung limply from her shoulders. She wondered if she’d ever be able to sit up again.

“Mija.”

“What?”

“Please sit up.”

“No.” She imagined herself to be five years old, in the midst of a tantrum.

“Please.”

“No.”

The clock continued to tick. Marissa continued to breathe. In breath. Out breath. In breath. Out breath.

“M
i pajarito,” Diego said. He placed his warm hand on her back. “My little bird, come back to me.”

S
he slowly sat up. She pictured her eyes as shriveled Puffer fish in ocean beds that had been drained of life and sustenance. She imagined them to be resting within the small, bony craters of her skull, dried orbs that could be whisked away with a sudden breeze. A tiny smile crossed her face – she liked her vivid imagination. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, letting her shoulders fall.

“I’m sorry this came as such a shock.”

“Me, too.”

“We need to find your mother’s jewels.”

“Uh huh.”

“We’ve been searching for years. Maybe…maybe you brought these stones into me for a reason. Maybe you can help us find the stones and restore them to good use.”

Now I get to help Mr. Perona. I’m everyone’s favorite asset.
She nodded bleakly. “Me and my non-existent powers…what can I possibly do to help?”

“You can embrace
your powers, for starters. Had your parents lived, your training would have begun at age 16. You are of a rare breed, like these gems.”

“Rare how?”

“Many Numina simply train for their profession. They study, they practice, they master. You not only come from generations of auguratricis and lux sanatores – sorcerers and light healers – you have natural gifts as well.”

“How do you know this?”

“Your mother consulted me. Apparently, as a child, you could sense things and see things. And you were like a tiny firefly of electricity. You’d touch things and small sparks of electricity would crackle and pop. The trauma of losing your mother may have made you shut down. I heard nothing since then from your aunt and uncle, but we were not close. And either they did not know about your mother or you or chose to ignore your gifts. They were quite protective – your aunt and uncle – it’s as if they squirreled you away, out of sight.”

Marissa stared blankly into space.
How could she not remember such a thing?

“You must employ your power, mija.” He sounded insistent.

“I don’t know how to do that. Until a couple days ago, I didn’t even know it existed.”

“No inkling?”

“Only the crystal ball mind fu…mind read that my ex-boyfriend made me do.”

“And what’
s that?”

“He synchronize
d breathing with me, my third eye opened up, and he asked me what I saw. Or he asked me questions that he wanted the answer to, like, will he be a powerful teacher.”

“What d
id you tell him?”

“I t
old him to go fuck himself.” She reddened and turned away. “I’m sorry.”

Diego laughed. “He doesn’t sound like the best boyfriend.”

“He wasn’t.”

“Tell me about this new one.”

Marissa brightened. “We’ve only gone on one date. We’re supposed to go out again tonight. He’s gorgeous, kind, intelligent, respectful. I told him that I thought he would have a million girlfriends and not one like me. He told me that he hasn’t really dated since he lost his fiancée and that he’s been waiting for me. It just sounds too good to be true.” She paused. “I’ll take a breath now.” A shy smile crept along her face.

“He sounds like a better man than this other f
ellow. How did he lose his fiancée?”

Marissa’s face darkened. “
He thinks she was murdered by a sorcerer. That’s when he told me that he thinks I’m a sorceress of the light – a Light Rebel. I told him he’s nuts.”

Diego laughed. “You always spoke you
r mind, mija.”

“Then he grabbed my hand. I felt like I was being electrified. He said that was my doing, not his. It went away when I focused on the forest outside my house.”

Diego’s face sobered. “This is serious, mija. Your powers may be greater than we all imagined. Did he say who the brujo was who caused his fiancée’s demise?”

“No. Only that he’s really powerful. He caused her to fall off a cliff or something. He wanted her for himself. He wanted her to fall in love with him.”

Diego nodded, picked up the lid to the box, and placed it carefully on top.

“Was she a
Numen?”

“No.”

“She may have resisted then. She may have been strong enough to at least do that. That could have been her only option – killing herself, I mean.” He patted the box thoughtfully. “He may be the same one who caused your mother and father’s plane to crash. He is a greedy, greedy man.”

The dust-devil
chill made its way up Marissa’s back again. “Maybe I did meet Daniel for a reason.”

“Daniel Navid?” Diego appeared excited.

“Do you know him? Is he part of your group?”

“
Not well. He’s known as the Night Numen. He’s a real rebel. He prefers to go his own way. The organization sometimes takes issue with him. He’s very strong-willed.” He looked at her with excitement painted on his face. “Now your story makes sense. I thought it sounded familiar – Daniel is the man who lost his fiancée to sorcery. He’s strong in the arts – very powerful. He’s said to be a powerful man. You could do well by him.”

“Right,” Marissa said glumly. “I can help him exact revenge. I can help you find the jewels. I can help Jason be an asset to the community. What if I want all of you to just love and accept me as me?”

“Well, you will have to find out who this ‘me’ is and love her yourself for starters. But, if what I’ve been told is right, Daniel Navid would not want you merely for his own purposes. The man has been stalked by women for years. He’s chosen not to give his heart away to them. I’ve heard that he mourned for years and now seeks to find a real relationship, not one based on looks and income. That’s what most of the women see in him. Is that what you see in him, mija?”

“No! I mean, he
is
handsome and clearly wealthy, but those things don’t matter to me. I just want to find someone I’m compatible with who likes me for me and doesn’t see me just as an asset to his life.”

“That makes perfect sense. How
did Daniel make you feel?”

“Oh, we laughed, we talked, we had a lot of fun at dinner the other night. Then he told me of his
dead fiancée and dropped the ‘wellspring of light’ statement. And then he told me that he’s a Night Numen. It’s what I call the Numen bomb.”

Diego laughed. “The
Numen bomb. I like that.” He patted the box again. “And then you received these. He’s hoping these stones will awaken something in you. Now it makes sense. When will you see him again?”

“Tonight. We have a whole mess of stuff to talk about now.”

“I believe you do. Well, don’t let me keep you any longer.” He stood up. “How can I assist you on your journey? I am at your service.” He bowed.

Marissa laughed. “That’s a switch.”

“This is an important journey you are on, mi pajarito. You must learn and learn well. This brujo is not to be trifled with.”

Marissa bit her lip and picked up the box with the gemstones. “Does this sorcerer have a name?”

“He is called El Demonio de la Muerte. That’s not his real name – we don’t know what that is.”