Dark Vision (Ballad of the Seer, Book Two)

Chapter 21 - Only Just the Beginning

Lily felt so much better now that Duncan knew everything. It was a huge weight off her shoulders. Although, he had been very upset, pacing around the living room half the night. Then after he had cooled down, he sat beside her and hugged her tightly. "No more secrets," he had said. And she agreed.

When she came down to breakfast the next morning Duncan was sitting at the table with her parents and Parker. She stopped in the doorway, surprised to find him there.

Duncan was discussing superheroes with Parker, trying to decide which one was the best. Her parents were doing their own thing, but she noticed them peeking over at the boys and smiling.

When she finally moved to take a seat, Duncan looked up at her and smiled. "Hey," he said.

She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could Parker tugged on his sleeve, pulling his attention away again.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. She couldn't believe that she had to compete for her boyfriend's attention with her little brother. And he was winning.

She tapped her fingernails on the table, waiting for Anderson to bring her out a plate. It was a few minutes before she remembered that it was Sunday. It was his day off. She also realized that that was why Gran was absent. She always spent this day visiting with her friends around town.

Lily got up and went into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal. She popped one of the pieces into her mouth before pouring milk over the grain pieces and marshmallows.

Arms slipped around her waist from behind. She closed her eyes, her mouth curving up into a smile as the electricity crackled between them. He pushed her hair to one side, letting his fingers trail along her skin. He moved the strap of her shirt to the side and kissed her shoulder, moving his lips up the side of her neck.

His breath was warm as his lips brushed her ear. "You won't get rid of me that easily, princess."

Her eyes flew open. That was not Duncan's voice. She elbowed him in the stomach, causing him to release his hold of her. She spun around, knocking her cereal off the counter with a loud crash as the bowl shattered on the tile floor, but there was no one there. She was all alone.

Her parents and Duncan appeared at the door a moment later. "What happened in here?" her mother asked, examining the mess on the floor.

"It was an accident." Lily said, as she knelt down and picked up a few of the larger pieces.

"Stop," her father said. He came over to stand at the edge of the milk puddle that was steadily growing. Her bare feet were surrounded by it. Henry took the pieces from her and laid them on the island. He grabbed a rag from a drawer. "Hop up on the counter, honey."

She did as he said, while he mopped up the liquid until the rag was soaked through. Jacquelyn appeared at his side and put a hand on his shoulder. She took the rag and tossed it into the sink. "Sweetie, would you mind?" her mother asked, looking at her. She pointed her finger at the puddle.

Lily smiled and nodded. She thought that this must be a first. Usually her mother was scolding her for doing magic. And here she was asking her to do it. Lily held her hand out over the mess. A ripple spread out across the surface of the milk and a few of the cereal pieces rolled to the side, but that was all that happened.

Lily furrowed her brow and shook out her hand. This time she put both hands out. There was less of a reaction than before.

"What's wrong?" Jacquelyn asked.

"It's not working." Lily said, confused. This had never happened to her. Not since before she learned to control her powers.

"Maybe you need to put more energy into it." Jacquelyn suggested.