Chapter 7.
The rest of my court trip passed uneventfully and today I'm heading back to school. I emailed Max a few times and everything appears to be ok, news of what happened to Lara passed over and no one seems interested by it anymore. Although I'm still on suspension and its pretty much class, food, feeders and dorm, I've acquired a few things to help me pass the time in my room; Tarot cards. I bought a pack from a spiritual shop at court, which I didn't even know they had because it was tucked away on a corner, you wouldn't know it was there unless someone showed you. I just want to try and read them and see how I go. I mean, they can't be that hard, if I have these special abilities like Rhonda says I do, then I shouldn't have much trouble getting a feel for the cards.
Our car arrives back at school, in the black SUV. Since dad is returning to court after dropping me off and sorting out the rest of my suspension with Kirova, he borrowed mums car again. It was so nice to see her. We spent almost every day together, after she was off work that is. She explained everything that was going on at court, all the politics and even a few royal rumours. She heard that Queen Tatiana has practically disowned the Dragomir Family because of Lissa's getaway, I'm guessing Rose is on her hit list too.
As if on cue, I run into Rose on my way back to the dorm.
"Jesus," she says, what an opening. "Are you ok? Sorry, I didn't see you walk towards me."
"No it's ok, I wasn't watching where I was going." She eyes me warily, like she is watching a stray cat to see if it's going to claw her eyes out.
"Should be more careful, I'm Rose by the way, though I'm sure you've heard the things going around." I did.
"Yeah, not that it's my business. I'm Vienna." I give her a small smile, and to my surprise she returned it with her own.
"Nice name. Anyway I've gotta go, cya!" I didn't get a chance to say anything because she was already striding away. I stared at her. She is certainly a wonder that girl. She looks like a warrior, and if rumours true and she is training with Guardian Belikov, then she isn't far off it. I watch as she walks away in her black thermal shirt, grey jeans and combat boots. She has long almost black hair that swings to her mid back and her figure is probably every Moroi girls dream. I feel a slight tingle in my head and I no what's coming. Visions. I now know, that for a nanosecond I feel a slight tingle, I never took notice until I sifted through my memories of my visions and what happened before and after.
This vision is different, I'm not propelled back to ancient times with strangers. The girl in my visions this time is Rose, her form is unmistakable. As to what happens I have no idea. I can see a guy, with long hair and red eyes, then she's on a bridge, and then the scene moves and shifts and I'm between evenly placed cold metal bars, people are fighting when the scene changes again, the only thing that doesn't change is Rose, she is in every setting I see. My mind shifts again and I'm back in my own body, still watching her receding form. Weird. I have no idea what that all was.
I sigh and head towards Max's dorm. I haven't told him what happened at court, it's too much to explain in an email and I need his help with a theory I want to test. I'm walking towards Max's dorm and I realise what he was saying is true, no one really remembers what happened with Lara, no one stares, or whispers when I walk past. Perks of being a 'common' family. I knock on his door and he answers instantly with a big smile and draws me into a big bear hug.
"Wow, nice to see you too" I laugh and he sets me down
"You honestly have no idea how boring it's been, I've had no one to talk to"
"Yeah me neither." I step into his room and he shuts the door.
"So, anything interesting happen?" he asks and I replay the trip to court to him. At the end, he's staring at the floor, looking utterly astonished.
"So wait, this chick, told you, that you have special abilities?" I nod "Did she say what they were? And what about this research thing? And the people in your visions? Do you think you'll be able to read the tarot cards? Do you know what triggers your visions yet? And what about the book?"
"Ok well to answer all your questions, no, I'm still doing it, I have no idea who they are, I have no idea, no, and nope, no clue." I sigh.
"Wow." Yeah max, that's the word.
"I also have a favour to ask" that piqued up his interest, I hardly ever asked for favours. He lifted his head and nodded.
"Well, I want to try and bring on my visions, I want to try some things that I hope will bring them on, because I have no idea." I explain. He looks at me weirdly.
"You're not going to make me, like, hurt you or anything? I mean I've seen movies where…"
"Jesus, no max, you watch to many movies, some of my visions come on just after I meet people, people I don't usually talk to or anything, but some just come on randomly, like I could be looking at a computer or eating food."
"So what do you have in mind? You could try meditation, I mean being really relaxed might trigger a part in your mind, or you can walk around and see people you don't usually and see what happens." Well doesn't he have all this sorted out?
A few hours later, after I've been to the feeders, Max and I head back to my room to get started on this meditation thing. Max says he can has a meditation CD – I don't even want to know how he got that – and then we are at my room. He sets up the CD player on my computer desk as he sits in the computer chair and I lay on my bed.
"Ok, so you just have to relax, let your mind wander and try not to think of anything and if…"
"I get it Max, thanks." He gives an exasperated sigh and he turns on the CD player and what sounds like waves crashing on the sand fills my room and my ears. I let out a deep breath, and pull another one in, and repeat the process. I tell myself that I want the visions to come, that I need them, to understand my past, and my future.
I need them to understand myself. I lay there for what feels like hours but when I open my eyes to look at Max's watch, it's only been two minutes.
"I don't think this is working," I say as I sit up in my bed.
"Well maybe that's because you didn't give it much time."
"No, I can just tell it wasn't going to happen. Like I could just feel them saying no. I always have a slight sensation before I have visions and I didn't feel it." I look down at my hands. I need this to work. I want to know what they mean. "Do you want to try again?"
"Ve, if it doesn't work the first time and you feel like it won't, it isn't going to happen the second or the third. I guess we could try walking and seeing people if you want?" Max looks so sincere, like he really does want me to understand. And I see part of his old self, the self he was when we were together.
"Not today, I've had a really long day, maybe I just need to sleep." Max nods and I walk him out the door, thanking him for all his help. He gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then he is gone. I walk back into my room and shut the door and throw myself back at the bed. Why can't this work? I glance around my room and see my school stuff thrown on my desk, I suppose I should get everything sorted for tomorrow.
I wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. I sit up, gasping for air, and look around my room however, everything seems to be in place. I see a smallest of light spilling through the side of my curtains from the bright daylight outside. I bring my hands to my eyes and rub my head. I must have had a nightmare. I get up to get a drink of water and something rustles on my bed. I look down and see piles and piles of paper, all lined with black scribbles. I stare incredulously. What the hell is this? I get the rest of the way out of the bed and I pick up one of the pieces of paper. Lines and lines of words written in a different language. But it's the same words, printed over and over. The handwriting is messy so some of it is hard to make out, but some of the words are clear.
"Occulta et ipse vivet vinctum" written over and over between what would be about 30 pages. I don't understand the language or what it says. I gather the pieces up, throw them in the garbage except a few which I shove into my bag. I have to show Max.
I can't sleep the rest of the night so I attempt to finish some of the schoolwork I've missed. I can't stop thinking about the words. They repeat continually in my head. Not a moment too soon I check my watch and see that the cafeteria would be open for breakfast. I run down and line up with a few other people. Hushed conversations are going on around me but I hardly take notice. With faint awareness I head back to my room after I've got my breakfast to get my things for class and I see Max waiting at my door. He smiles as he sees me and then his smile falls when he takes in my expression.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" I nod and he follows me into my room and I fish out the papers and thrust them into his chest. He takes them wearily and reads the words.
"Do you know what it means?" he glances at me and I shake my head. "Me neither. Did you do this?"
"I don't know. I mean I must have. I was the only one in here last night." I remember how I woke abruptly and wonder if this was why.
"It's in Latin but I have no idea how to read Latin and it's not like we can show the teachers this stuff." I nod solemnly.
"I know! I have no idea what to do."
"Well Ve, it looks like we have some Latin to do." He gives me a mischievous smile which I can't help but return.