Lucy Kelly (20 page)

How could I have missed that? Miranda thought with a laugh.  I am going to have to stick close to Becky; this should be fun.  I love surprises!  Look, I’m all cheered up! 

It had also been nice to see Catherine warming up to her three
Ankida
.  Initially, she had been against the idea.  Then it was discovered that she had contracted a fatal virus while in the Peace Corps and had been keeping it to herself.  When she confessed her problem to her
Ankida
, they were positive that if they could get her up to the ship, she could be cured. 

They hadn’t brought a full Medical Station down to Earth.  In Miranda’s opinion, Catherine would soon be choosing to go to HeVan.  Something in the way she questioned them incessantly about medical techniques on their planet showed her interest.  Now that it appeared as if her health weren’t going to be a stumbling block, she was really warming up to her guys.

Currently, of the unmatched women, she and Johanna were the only ones opting to stay on Earth.  Even the two new women, Natalie and Jennifer, had decided to emigrate.  They had proudly introduced her to Natalie’s distant Nephilim cousins, Jaron, Zed, Hakor, and Makor.  Their cousins were going to help them get settled on HeVan and then help them find their
Join
s.  Jennifer was looking forward to meeting her own distant relations.

Miranda continued to mentally go through the faces she had encountered last night, letting them drift through her mind.  She upped her powers and then brought in the pictures of the ladies scheduled to be there this evening. 

She didn’t see any that matched with Markus.  Too bad - there was a man who really needed a family, if anyone did, she thought.

Glancing over at the clock on the nightstand, she realized she had dithered around long enough.  Big day, lots to do.

As she showered and dressed, Miranda couldn’t help but think of her parents.  They’d had such a happy marriage.  They had been so in tune with each other, that they finished each other’s sentences.  She wanted that, too.

All these years, she had been matching other people, and all the while, she’d been alone.  She had a hard time dating because she had always known they weren’t the one for her.

Maybe I’ll go with Addie to HeVan too,
she thought. 
There is nothing holding me here any longer.

***

Johanna had been working in her office for some time when Catherine walked into the room.  She was carrying a cup of coffee and a couple of Danish on a plate.

“Jo…Jo…Johanna,” she said.

Johanna didn’t respond.  When Catherine tapped her on the shoulder with the plate, she nearly came out of her seat.  Spinning around, she reached up and removed the earplugs she had been wearing.

“Don’t scare me like that, Cat,” she said.

“Sorry.  But I said your name several times and you didn’t answer.”

“No, my bad,” she said.

She narrowed her eyes, “Actually, it’s really your fault.  If you and your
Ankida
weren’t so loud, I wouldn’t need earplugs.  I never realized you were a screamer,” Johanna said with a smirk. “I need to use the ear plugs to be able to concentrate.”

“You’re just jealous,” Catherine said.

“Of course, I am.  I’ve been working on this project almost from the beginning.  I’ve known Miranda the longest, and I’m one of the only ones not getting any,” Johanna pouted.

“There are a lot of guys to choose from.  Why don’t you do some fooling around?” asked Catherine.

“I don’t know,” said Johanna, before taking a bite of her Danish. 

She rocked from side to side in her chair.  “I guess it’s because I know  there’s a good possibility I could have an honest-to-goodness soul-mate out there.  It keeps me from going after sex just for the sake of getting off.  You know what I mean?” asked Johanna.

“Yeah, I do.  And I must say, there is a real difference between just sex and making love with guys who only want to make you happy in any way they can.”

She had the satisfied smile of a woman who’d had a night full of orgasms.  Catherine picked up her coffee mug, took a sip, and then got a thoughtful look on her face.

“I don’t know, though, it’s also a burden.  They place such hopes in you and you have to live up to that faith.  It’s a tall order.”

“Not so tall, if you love them.  Do you, Cat?  Have you fallen in love with them?” asked Johanna.

“I have.  Crazy, I know, but I have.  I’m giving up the idea of starting my own practice, and I’m putting myself in their hands,” Catherine said.

“I’m still angry at you for not telling me you were sick.  You’re the only sister I have and I deserved to know,” said Johanna.

“I had to deal with my own emotions and feelings before I could unload on someone else.  I was going to tell you first, but that Zephyr, he has a way about him,” Catherine mused.

“I’m so happy they’re going to be able to cure you.  It’s our miracle, Cat,” said Johanna, tears gathering in her eyes.

“None of that - you promised.  Everything’s going to be fine,” Catherine said, as she put down her coffee so she could hug her sister.

After a few minutes, Johanna took a tissue from the holder on her desk and blew her nose.  As she did, she noticed the clock on the wall.

“Look at the time! I’ve got to get going.  There’s still a lot to do at the Convention Center.  Where are your
Ankida
, anyway?” asked Johanna.

“They went over to the hotel to check on Addie.  Rune called; he is concerned about her morning sickness.  They left me a note.  I only woke up about a half hour ago,” Catherine said.

Johanna just raised an eyebrow. “I wonder why you slept so late.” 

After a second or two, they both burst out laughing.

***

Sarah woke up in her hotel room around ten.  She’d stayed up late the night before, talking on the phone with Jack.  She confessed to surfing the web a few times in public venues and on her new I-Phone.  Overall, she wasn’t missing her computer.  It wasn’t the computer, really.  It was having all the women asking for help and knowing she was only one person and that she couldn’t help them all.

Tammy would be coming by soon.  They were going to spend the day in the spa downstairs getting buffed and polished.  She considered getting that spray-on make-up.  It was supposed to look the most natural and give an even skin tone with a healthy glow.

Sarah turned back the covers and got out of bed.  She had put in an order for breakfast the night before and it would be arriving soon.  She didn’t want to be caught in her sleep shirt, so she ran into the bathroom to take a quick shower.  Twenty minutes later, she was dressed in black Capri pants and a pink short-sleeved T-shirt.  She had flip-flops on her feet. 

Since they were going to be in the hotel all day, she didn’t feel it was necessary to dress for Chicago’s October weather.  The clothes she was wearing would be easier to work with the salon treatments she had chosen.  She went to the door to pick up the newspaper and saw the room-service waiter coming down the hall. 

Perfect timing
, she thought, holding the door open for him.

She’d just finished eating her breakfast and was reading the paper, when there was a knock on the door.  Walking over, she checked the peephole and seeing Tammy, opened right up. 

Like Sarah, Tammy was wearing loose, comfortable clothing.  She had on a coat in deference to the windy weather.

“Hey there, come on in.  Go ahead and put your dress in the closet,” Sarah said.  “Let me just put this tray outside.” 

Coming back in, she added, “Hang up your coat, too.  You won’t need it until tonight, when we leave for the Convention Center.”

Tammy took her suggestion and hung the garment bag she carried into the closet, along with her coat. 

“I actually brought three dresses and three pairs of shoes.  I couldn’t decide,” she said.

“Then we’re in the same boat.  I have the dress I brought from home plus I bought two more dresses after I got here,” said Sarah.  “We can try everything on and help each other decide.”

“That would be great.  Is it okay if I pick up the stuff I don’t wear tomorrow?” asked Tammy.

“Of course, it’s not a problem.  You can leave it in the limo.  I’m having it drop you off at home because it will be late.  You said you were taking transit to get here today, right?”  At Tammy’s nod she said, “Now, we better get going.  Our first spa service is in fifteen minutes,” said Sarah.

The two of them left the room and headed downstairs.

Chapter Fifteen

Valerie Hudson arrived at the Convention Center early on Saturday.  She had pre-signed her books last week for volunteers to sell or give away as prizes, but she wanted to start off the day at her booth and then she had another signing in the afternoon. 

If any women approached her about the event that evening, she had a few questions she could ask to see whether or not they were Nephilim.  She herself had not been matched by Miranda to anyone on the crew of the ship that had come to Earth.  Miranda had not had time to review all the images before she needed to fly to Florida. 

Valerie hoped that her
Ankida
would be amongst those on the ship because, for the most part, they were from the geographical area closest to where Addie would be settling.  She wanted to be near people she knew until she felt safe and settled.

She was thinking about lunch while preparing for her signing when a young girl approached her.  “Hello, may I help you?”  Valerie asked.

“Hi, my name is Cassie,” she said. 

She was twisting her hands together, she was obviously in some turmoil.  Something about her struck a chord; she seemed very familiar.

“Cassie, you look a little nervous.  I’m dying for a latte and a snack.  How about we walk over to the café and then we can talk without being interrupted,” said Valerie.

She saw Cassie’s eyes fill with hope.

“Sure, thanks for taking the time, Ms. Hudson.  I’m a big fan and I’d like to talk to you.”

Valerie signaled to Natalie, who was running the booth, that she was taking a break before the signing started.  Then she walked towards the café, Cassie hurrying alongside her.

“I saved my money for eight months to buy the ticket to come today.  I couldn’t afford the three-day pass, but that’s okay.  I got here right when the doors opened.  There’s a lot to see, so I’m going to stay until they close,” said Cassie, as they walked along.

Valerie looked over at her, watching her take in the exhibits of the booths they passed along the way.  She had the coltish figure of someone who wasn’t fully-grown.  Wavy, shoulder-length black hair, pushed away from her face with a headband, olive toned skin and pale gray eyes with a dark rim.  In fact, except for the hair - Valerie’s was black too, but straight as a board - the girl could have been her in her teenage years. 

She didn’t know how old the girl was, as she acted by turns young and then mature.  When they reached the café, she went to the counter.  Turning to Cassie, Valerie asked, “How about some hot chocolate and a pumpkin scone?  This will be my treat.”

“Really?  Thank you, I’d like that,” Cassie said. 

She had been looking at the prices and trying to figure out what she could afford.

After ordering, they found a table for two at the back of the large café and placed the upright card with their order number on it in the middle of the table.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” asked Valerie.

“I read your first book when I was eight.  I spend a lot of time in the library and my mom lets me borrow as many books as I want.  That first book was really hard for me to read but I really wanted to because of the symbol that was on the cover,” said Cassie. 

She then pulled down the neckline on her turtleneck shirt and showed Valerie the Nephilim birthmark on the left front of her neck.

Valerie leaned in to look.  She was surprised to see that Cassie’s birthmark was the same as her own: black, silvery gray and yellow gold.

“What’s really weird is the subject seemed really familiar to me.  I have been having dreams about people like in your books for as long as I can remember.  Only your books take place a long time ago - or they did - and my dreams are all about today or tomorrow,” Cassie said earnestly.

Valerie was in shock.  Luckily, the server arrived just then with their order, so she picked up her latte to cover her reaction.  She didn’t want to scare this young girl away.

“How old are you, Cassie?” she asked

“I’m sixteen,” she said.

“And you say that your dreams are more modern than my stories?”

“Well,” said Cassie, blushing, “they were, up until your last book.  You know the one where the Nephilim come back and try to rescue the
Nam-Nin,
Tamiel, and then make the lady from Earth the new Queen?”

At Valerie’s nod, she continued, “Well, before that book came out, I dreamt of a lady finding the ship, just like in your books.  Only sometimes, she died and sometimes she didn’t.  I was happy to see that you had her live.  It made a much nicer story.  The weird thing is, in my dreams, this time they have different names than in your book.  Usually the names are the same.”

Valerie was receiving one shock after another.  This young woman was a Seer, just like her, only she was a Future Seer.  All those possible futures - it had to be really tough - much harder than having her own gift.

“Are you still having these dreams, Cassie?” she asked.

“Yes, and that’s why I’m scared.  I can’t talk to my parents about this; they wouldn’t understand.  I had been dreaming about the Queen’s sister and how she was a police detective working to bring down a big Mafia crime family.  Then the other day, my dad said something about a trial starting this Monday, and how a female detective brought down this big Mafia crime family almost single-handedly.” 

Seeing the shock in Valerie’s eyes, she spoke more rapidly, wanting to get the whole story out.

“And now I’m dreaming about women from Earth going to HeVan - and the bad Regent - and people are dying - and there’s a war.  Other times, I dream about the new Queen overcoming the Regent and bringing peace and happiness.