Page 115 of Visions & Shadows

Standing in a pond in someone’s backyard, it takes a moment before I realize this is Jason’s property.

Holy shit.

To my left is an artificial waterfall with a large aviary located behind it.

I must’ve come through the waterfall when I had the vision of Jason.

I quickly look around again but don’t see Jason anywhere. After I drag my slimy butt out of the pond, I check the large aviary, but there’s nothing in it, not even one tiny little bird.

I walk out onto the other side of the yard and spot more cages. Their doors stand wide open, and four dog kennels lay empty to my right. All the animals are gone.

I jog around the side of the house, and finding an open sliding door, I slip inside.

My heart is pounding in my throat, and I can hear mumbling from somewhere inside the house.

I sneak through a living room, and when I near the kitchen, I notice Jason kneeling by the large cage where I last saw the two beautiful gray birds in my visions.

He’s leaning his forehead against the steel bars of the cage while his whole body convulses with sobs.

I can feel his heart breaking.

“Where are you?” he cries. “How can you all just be gone?”

As I reach out to comfort him, he startles and swings around.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Surprisingly I understand everything he says even though I’ve never spoken his language.

Understanding different languages must be one of my talents so I can communicate with all my chosen ones.

I drop my hand to my side, not having a clue how to handle the situation.

“I’m Raighne, and this is Alchera,” Raighne suddenly says in English from behind me, giving me a damn near heart attack. “We need to talk.”

I don’t glance at Raighne and keep my eyes locked on one-hell-of-a-shocked-looking Jason.

“You just walk into my house uninvited and demand you want to talk to me?” Jason snaps, his accent not too thick. He doesn’t take his red-rimmed eyes off us.

I can’t blame the man. I sure wouldn’t trust the situation if I were in his shoes.

“We mean you no harm,” I say. “We’re here to help.”

Jason inches away from us, giving both of us apprehensive looks.

“May she use the restroom?” Raighne shoves a bag at me.

Jason throws his arms in the air, shaking his head. “Why even ask? I mean, I only live here. Normally, people ask before they trespass on private property. But, hey, who am I to say anything? Help yourself.” He lets out an incredulous burst of laughter, then adds, “Down the hall, first door on the right.”

“Take the elixir,” Raighne mutters.

Shit. My eyes and clothes.

I hurry away, and entering the restroom, I quickly shut the door behind me.

When I catch sight of myself in the mirror, I cringe a little. It’s a damn miracle Jason isn’t screaming his head off.

I open the bag to discover regular human clothes.

I strip out of the wet leather and put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a hoodie. When I find sneakers in the bag, a smile curves my lips for the first time in days.

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