Thirty-Three

Cole

I could feel the power of the lightning course through my body, but this time was different. It was a slow warming feeling and not painful or terrifying. If anything I felt a calm wash over me, and my mind was opened. I knew that Saorise was good and had no ill intention in using her abilities to help people. The same with Sara. Her ability was indeed defensive, but she never used it to hide anything or protect herself unless she needed to. They didn't need to tell me, I knew everything about them now.

Then there was Bobby. I could feel his hand in mine, but it felt far different than Sara's. His touch filled me with strength, and—love. He gave me hope and helped me to see not everything was bad. We were meant for each other, and it was going to happen even if we fought it. We were supposed to meet that day on the road, and he was meant to save me.

He was my light in the dark, and my protector. In my imagination I saw him glowing with the same blue light of the lightning. He didn't know it, but he had power too; he wouldn't know about it or need it for a while. It would be there when he called it to him.

As I sat with my eyes closed, my mind raced with images and information that seemed endless. Familiar faces and complete strangers all flashed through my mind, but now I knew everything about each of them. Even if I had never heard their thoughts, I knew them, and they knew they could trust me. The two were connected. I would be the guardian of their thoughts, and they would trust me to help them when they needed me. And I would help.

" Cole, the time has come for you to know all ," a voice said from the edge of my consciousness. It wasn't a voice I'd heard before and I wasn't sure if it was male or female, but I could feel power emanating from every word.

"Why me?" I asked, finally able to form a coherent thought of my own.

" It matters not why you were chosen, only that you were. Many events have put this in motion, and now the time has come for it to be so. Dark magic was used to try to force me to endow my gift to someone who was not worthy. It almost worked, but fate put you there, and the lightning chose you instead. "

"Anna?" I asked.

" The one you know as Anna is not who she pretends to be. There have been many times through the years we have stood back and watched as they tried to take power that was not meant for them, but each time, we were able to avert it. This time they tried to draw that power directly from me, and it almost worked, but your presence stopped it. Do not think they will not try to take this ability from you. It is what they hold most dear and won't give up without a fight ."

"What do I do?" I asked.

" There is only one way to put things as they should be ," the voice said, and spelled out everything I'd need to do. Somehow, I knew exactly how I'd do it, and I knew without a doubt it would work. As the voice spoke, I could see it all play out in my mind, and I knew no matter how difficult the task might be, I could do it. We could do it because Bobby was there too, and he was just as important as I was.

"Bobby?" I said, and squeezed his hand to remind me he was there.

"Cole, I'm here."

"Haniel has shown me what will happen. There's no avoiding it, we can only be ready."

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked as I opened my eyes. When he met eyes he gasped, and I knew he was shocked to see my eyes now glowed the electric blue of the lightning. I leaned my head on his shoulder drawn to his warmth and comfort.

"Soon, you'll understand. But for now, just know nothing that has happened was a coincidence, or chance. Everything was meant to be."

"Now you see," Saorise said with a critical look and soft smile.

"Yes, thank you for helping me."

"You'll need to be ready. The one who would take your power knows you have accepted it. As we speak, they prepare to try to take it from you. It won't be easy to stop them. They have lived many lifetimes and changed forms many times to gain the considerable power they possess.."

"I know, but Haniel has shown me the way."

"Your future has shifted and my vision of it is not as clear as it was. But I know you yourself can see your future, and you can also make it what you want it to be," Saorise said. "As Sara has said we're part of a group that shares our powers and use them to help when needed, we'd be honored to have you join us. We can all help each other."

"I'd like that. Even though I now have the knowledge, I'll still need guidance. This is too much power for one person to decide how to use it." I squeezed Bobby's hand, and he squeezed back. "Bobby would also need to be included." He had no clue what was ahead for him, or us. But he was strong and smart, and both would serve him well.

"I don't have anything to contribute," Bobby said.

"You have more than you realize. Soon you'll see. You're more than an equal to Cole. You two are strong alone, but together you're like a shield and sword. An unbreakable power that will bring the darkness to heel."

Sara looked at Bobby with a look of both awe and pride. "I don't know how I didn't see it before. Bobby, they're right, you do have power."

"He's your son, are you really that surprised?" Saorise said, making us all laugh.

"Well, you didn't say his ability was stubbornness," Sara said with a chuckle.

"You'll both need guidance, I hope you know you can come to us anytime you need advice," Saorise said. "You have been given a great gift, but you'll need to learn to control it as well as use it wisely. If we're done here. I'd really like to get to bed."

"Of course, thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to meet with us," I said, and after Sara and Bobby both said goodbye, Bobby ended the session.

"Do you feel better?" Sara asked us. I still hadn't let go of Bobby's hand and didn't intend to.

"Yes, it's all clear now," I said, and Bobby gave me an odd look. I knew he didn't understand, but he would.