“Interesting. Everything has its opposite including people. Maybe you found Boaz’s.”
“Charlie,” I began, nervous to reveal the real motive behind my visit. “I was wondering if you could use your gift, maybe find out something about him?”
He shook his head. “Don’t you think I’ve tried? We want to know about him as much as you do. We’ve had many psychics try to read him, but somehow he has blocked us.”
“So if you can’t see anything about him, what about me? Could you try to see my future? See what would happen if I try to meet him?”
Charlie looked doubtful. “A person should not know their future. I only use my gift if absolutely necessary.”
“Isn’t this necessary? You want to find out something about him, and I know I’m going to meet him eventually. I don’t want to know all of my future, just a year or so ahead and just my future with Lucien, if there is to be one.”
Charlie’s lips twisted, and he looked away.
“Please, Charlie. We’ll both get what we want.”
He narrowed his eyes and sighed. “Very well. Give me your hands.”
I placed my palms in Charlie’s. He held them and looked into my eyes before he closed his own tightly. The deep wrinkles in his forehead gathered together in concentration, and soon his eyes began to move back and forth behind his eyelids.
Several minutes passed. His expression changed many times from anger to sadness and even an occasional smile broke on his face. Finally, he dropped my hands and opened his eyes, which were glistening with tears. I waited patiently for him to speak. He leaned back in his chair.
After a moment, he spoke. “Four years ago I married the most amazing woman I had ever met.”
“Moira,” I said.
He nodded. “She was my match in every way, and I was never happier than when I was with her. But together we experienced more pain and sorrow than any couple should have to endure. A lot of lives were ruined because of our union. I used to wonder if it was worth it.” He looked up at me. “But I never wonder now. It was worth it, and I would do it all over again if given the chance.”
“Then you think I should see him?” I said, hopeful.
“That’s not what I’m saying at all. The pain and misery I just witnessed was ten times greater than anything I had to endure. If you meet Lucien, he will try to kill you, and he will break your heart. The path this choice will put you on will nearly destroy you and those close to you. Lives will be lost.”
My heart sank, and I lowered my gaze.
“But,” Charlie said, taking my hands again, “the love between you two is remarkable. It’s pure, kind, and unselfish. I’ve never seen anything like it. You will experience happiness with him that will make you extremely powerful. Together you will do a lot of good and save a lot of lives.”
“So what do I do?”
“Only you can decide that.”
I sighed. “I was hoping this would be easy.”
Charlie smiled. “It’s not meant to be easy. True happiness and pure, unselfish love is only meant for those who are willing to sacrifice all that they have for it. You will taste bitterness before you taste joy.”
Chapter 37
Charlie had been gone for ten days. I’d been looking forward to his return ever since he told me he would teach me how to fight. It was exciting to think I could use something other than magic to defend myself, and I was glad when Dr. Skinner had agreed.
“It’s important you know how to fight,” he told me a few days ago. “Magic should only be used as a last resort.”
I looked forward to my meetings with Dr. Skinner. During our last few, I’d begun to use my abilities again, starting with small things like moving objects. He taught me how to use my experiences at the Academy to call upon my abilities. It was hard to choose just one as I had so many.
The process of using this new kind of magic worked just like he said it would. Instead of beginning in my toes, however, the power was first felt in my chest; a warming sensation that spread to the rest of my body. The room became brighter, images sharper, smells sweeter—the exact opposite of dark magic. What I was experiencing, Dr. Skinner had explained, was the magic of beauty.
It was during this time I decided to tell him about Lucien and what Charlie had told me about my future. He was concerned, but not so much for me. His concern was for Lucien.
“I don’t care who or what you are,” he said. “One should not live like that. Based on the feelings you have when you’re around him, I’d say you were meant for each other.”
My heart leapt unexpectedly.
“But that doesn’t mean you should be together,” he added quickly. “Lucien can only be saved if he chooses to be. Just because you feel a connection doesn’t mean he will too. You must proceed with caution. That means no more visiting him in whatever dream-like trance you’re putting yourself in.”