Page 1 of Capricorn Blessed

Chapter 1

I Hate Mondays

The cool water laps at my toes as the sand shifts. My feet sink down, and my worries seem to fade away. The beach has always been my happy place. Well, any water, really. Untreated water is better, but a pool or a nice long bath will do in a pinch. I guess that comes from being born with the gifts of Capricorn.

Growing up, I would joke with friends that there must be mermaids in my family line, but no matter how far back I looked, I could only find fae. And not water fae. I come from a line of Earth fae on my mother’s side and fire fae on my father’s.

I turn and walk along the shore. Seagulls’ calls echo around me. I can’t see anyone else, but I don’t feel lonely. The sun beats down on me, warming me without making me too hot.

Movement up ahead catches my attention, and I pick up my pace to get close enough to see what is happening. I find a swing set a few feet from the water’s edge, one of the empty swings swaying in the breeze. Sitting down, I slowly start to move back and forth, staring out at the endless water before me.

I lose track of time as my body and mind fall into the rhythm of the world around me. A giggle makes me jump and look beside me. A girl who looks to be four or five is sitting on the swing next to me.

“Higher, Daddy!” she calls, kicking her legs like she can run on the air.

“Okay, okay.” Her dad laughs. “Just make sure you keep holding on.” He shoves her swing, and she laughs and wraps her arms around the chains, clapping her hands.

“Sia, hold on,” her father warns.

The little girl screams as she tumbles from the swing to the ground below with a thud, her arm twisted at an angle beside her. Her dad crouches down and scoops the girl up, cradling her to his chest.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He rocks the girl back and forth. “Let Daddy see it.”

The girl shakes her head and tucks her arm in closer to her chest.

I pop out of my swing and move closer to the pair.

“Can I see your arm?” I ask. “I’m a doctor.”

Neither of them acknowledges me. The dad continues to try to calm the child who screams every time she’s bumped or jostled. I reach forward to try to get their attention, but my hand passes through the dad’s shoulder.

I jerk back and stare at my hand. It looks solid to me. I reach toward the man again and again. My hand passes through him without him noticing.

I step back, lifting my hand. Reaching toward the swing set, my hand bounces off the bar with a ring. I lower my hand toward the girl, trying to check her arm. When my hand touches it, pain shoots through my arm, making me clutch it to my chest.

“I’m so sorry, Sia,” the man tells her with tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

The little girl blinks back tears as she looks up at the man. “It’s okay Daddy. It can be our secret.”

“I don’t think it can this time, Bug,” the man says, kissing her on the top of the head. “We are going to need to see a doctor, and then they may find out what you are.”

“What am I, Daddy?” she asks. “A fairy? I didn’t think we had to hide anymore.”

“Not a fairy, baby,” he answers. “You are something more. You were born to heal this world, but Mommy and I wanted to protect you from it until you were older.”

I blink, and they fade away as if they were never there. I lick my lips and taste the salt of the tears I didn’t realize were tracking down my face. The man and girl looked so real, but I can’t help the feeling that I should know them from somewhere. Almost like a dream from long ago that slips away when you try to remember it after you wake up.

I turn back toward the water, looking for comfort from its soothing presence, but instead of the sunset that was there a few minutes before, gray clouds have filled the sky. A breeze rushes past me, tugging some of my raven black hair into my face. I have it in a ponytail, but it’s gotten long enough that I can’t keep it all contained and out of my way.

A lightning bolt streaks down, striking the water. I instinctively take a step away as the thunder shakes the surrounding air. Rain starts to pelt down, soaking through my leather jacket and shorts. I shiver and turn back to the swing set to find it isn’t where I thought it was. I spin all around, trying to see if I just got turned around, but it’s gone. Everything is gone. I turn and start running up the sand, my legs burning as I search for anywhere that I can hide until the storm passes.

The lightning picks up, striking closer and closer. I push my legs harder, my calves aching as the sand seems to be slowing me down. A bolt shoots by, hitting the ground to my right. I duck and cover my head. I can’t see anywhere to escape. My breaths saw in and out of my lungs. All I can think about is to keep moving. If I stop, the storm will end me.

I skid to a stop as a bolt comes toward me, splitting into multiple bolts and landing around me in a circle. I drop to the ground, covering my head and squeezing my eyes shut.

“Sierra,” a voice sounds all around me. “Remember your destiny.”

At the dawn of an era

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