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Authors: Maria Lima
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dark was full of the memory of the vision I'd had in the prep room.
These visions unsettled me. I couldn't let myself believe they were all true second sight. As much as I disliked Marty, I didn't want him dead. Not to mention the fact I was afraid that my talent would end up being true clairvoyance. No, not just afraid. I was scared—bone deep scared. The power exhibited during changing didn't necessarily have anything to do with our primary talent, but I was terrified of having to spend the rest of my prolonged life not being able to ever touch others, frightened of what I'd see, of the nightmares that could be generated by a single contact. The worst part was that I had no choice. Talent was inherited, like blue eyes or red hair. I could be fatalistic about it and hope my personal genetic symphony would be kind and the finale would be something I could live with, like shapeshifting or healing, but this particular overture wasn't at all comforting.
"We're almost to the gate."
His voice, still smooth, interrupted my train of thought.
My headlights flashed on a small square of wood hung from one of the horizontal posts that punctuated the fence lining the road. No lettering on the sign, just a stylized red circle cut by what looked like wisps of cloud.
"Nice logo,” I said. “Not exactly obvious, though. Guess they're not much into advertising."
"You haven't come out here before?” He sounded surprised.
"Not exactly,” I answered, not wanting to get into the whole happy clan hunting-ground scenario. “The place was abandoned for so long, we all trespassed on the Point at one time or another, but this part is a little out of my way. Out of most people's way, actually. I imagine that's why the owner bought it. No point in a private exclusive resort if you're in the middle of town."
"Touch?."
Unlike most Hill Country dude ranches, the Wild Moon didn't have the usual arrogant wrought iron sign straddling the gate, proclaiming its status as a possession of someone with more money than sense. If I hadn't been watching for the entrance, I might have missed it. A single lamp illuminated the simple opening, throwing a weak pool of light over the road. I turned the wheel, steering the car up to what looked to be a state-of-the-art electronic gate. A keypad was mounted on the left, about driver's eye level.
I looked over at Adam who smiled, then pulled out a small remote control unit from his pocket and pointed it forward. The gate slid open and I pulled through. Handy. Don't make your guests have to remember anything as mundane as a password. Instead, give them a remote control.
Steadily increasing pools of water on the surface of the caliche road reflected the feeble light. Rain drummed on the roof of the Rover and showed no signs of slowing. In fact, it had gotten heavier over the last few minutes. I could barely see the path in front of me. It was like driving in some sort of weird otherworld, my headlights barely piercing the near-absolute darkness.
"Not so much into lighting around here, are they?"
"Guests pay for privacy here,” Adam answered. “I give them what they want. At least most of the time."
"What do you mean ‘you'?” I asked. “I thought you were here on holiday."
"Not exactly,” Adam said. “Actually, I own the ranch."
A flash of something cut in front of us. I stomped on the brake and wrestled with the steering as we began to skid off the gravel. The rain-slick caliche didn't make it any easier to maneuver, but I managed to keep control as we slid to a stop bare inches from a cluster of live oaks. I could barely breathe. That had been way too close for comfort.
"Was it something I said?” Adam sounded amused.
I looked at my passenger, my hands still gripping the steering wheel. At first I couldn't speak, my brain warring with the hammering in my chest.
"Sorry,” I breathed. “Something ran out in front of us. I almost hit it."
I peered through the windshield, but I couldn't see very
These visions unsettled me. I couldn't let myself believe they were all true second sight. As much as I disliked Marty, I didn't want him dead. Not to mention the fact I was afraid that my talent would end up being true clairvoyance. No, not just afraid. I was scared—bone deep scared. The power exhibited during changing didn't necessarily have anything to do with our primary talent, but I was terrified of having to spend the rest of my prolonged life not being able to ever touch others, frightened of what I'd see, of the nightmares that could be generated by a single contact. The worst part was that I had no choice. Talent was inherited, like blue eyes or red hair. I could be fatalistic about it and hope my personal genetic symphony would be kind and the finale would be something I could live with, like shapeshifting or healing, but this particular overture wasn't at all comforting.
"We're almost to the gate."
His voice, still smooth, interrupted my train of thought.
My headlights flashed on a small square of wood hung from one of the horizontal posts that punctuated the fence lining the road. No lettering on the sign, just a stylized red circle cut by what looked like wisps of cloud.
"Nice logo,” I said. “Not exactly obvious, though. Guess they're not much into advertising."
"You haven't come out here before?” He sounded surprised.
"Not exactly,” I answered, not wanting to get into the whole happy clan hunting-ground scenario. “The place was abandoned for so long, we all trespassed on the Point at one time or another, but this part is a little out of my way. Out of most people's way, actually. I imagine that's why the owner bought it. No point in a private exclusive resort if you're in the middle of town."
"Touch?."
Unlike most Hill Country dude ranches, the Wild Moon didn't have the usual arrogant wrought iron sign straddling the gate, proclaiming its status as a possession of someone with more money than sense. If I hadn't been watching for the entrance, I might have missed it. A single lamp illuminated the simple opening, throwing a weak pool of light over the road. I turned the wheel, steering the car up to what looked to be a state-of-the-art electronic gate. A keypad was mounted on the left, about driver's eye level.
I looked over at Adam who smiled, then pulled out a small remote control unit from his pocket and pointed it forward. The gate slid open and I pulled through. Handy. Don't make your guests have to remember anything as mundane as a password. Instead, give them a remote control.
Steadily increasing pools of water on the surface of the caliche road reflected the feeble light. Rain drummed on the roof of the Rover and showed no signs of slowing. In fact, it had gotten heavier over the last few minutes. I could barely see the path in front of me. It was like driving in some sort of weird otherworld, my headlights barely piercing the near-absolute darkness.
"Not so much into lighting around here, are they?"
"Guests pay for privacy here,” Adam answered. “I give them what they want. At least most of the time."
"What do you mean ‘you'?” I asked. “I thought you were here on holiday."
"Not exactly,” Adam said. “Actually, I own the ranch."
A flash of something cut in front of us. I stomped on the brake and wrestled with the steering as we began to skid off the gravel. The rain-slick caliche didn't make it any easier to maneuver, but I managed to keep control as we slid to a stop bare inches from a cluster of live oaks. I could barely breathe. That had been way too close for comfort.
"Was it something I said?” Adam sounded amused.
I looked at my passenger, my hands still gripping the steering wheel. At first I couldn't speak, my brain warring with the hammering in my chest.
"Sorry,” I breathed. “Something ran out in front of us. I almost hit it."
I peered through the windshield, but I couldn't see very
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