97 Witchy Visions

And again, Talia concentrated without concentrating; looking, without looking as if she was looking. She tried to empty her mind without having it so empty that she could not pick up on anything that might appear before her eyes.

Still not seeing anything more interesting than the reflection of a lantern, Talia gave a quick furtive glance at her mother and brother.

They were both staring into the water with interest. It was obvious, they could see something.

She followed their gaze and found herself looking at the lantern's reflection on the water. The lantern never changed into anything other than what it was.

Talia frowned and tried to clear her mind again.

Again she failed.

"Talia. Tell me what you are struggling with." Sibyl murmured in a soft encouraging voice.

"I—" Talia shook her head. "I'm trying very hard to empty my mind, but I can't seem to."

"What is causing you trouble?" Sibyl asked.

Talia heaved a sigh. "I keep seeing my husband in my mind's eye and that makes it hard to concentrate on my vision."

Sibyl laughed. "But Darling, THAT IS THE VISION."

Talia shook her head. "No. You don't understand. I keep seeing him—" she lowered her voice at her mother, "…naked."

Sibyl laughed out loud. "Child, he has always been naked in the vision."

"He is?" Her eyes widened. "But that's not all I see." She felt her face heating up.

"What else do you see?" Her mother asked with sharp curious eyes.

"I see myself as well, and we are—we are—"

"You are making love." Sibyl finished the sentence that she could not.

Talia nodded quickly and looked away with embarrassment.

"Keep talking. Tell me what you see." Sibyl encouraged.

"When I look into the water, that scene is all I see. I've been trying to clear my mind of it but it keeps interrupting my vision."

Sibyl began to laugh.

"So you don't just see the still image of the Golden Child, you actually see him moving around and doing things."

"Yes. I see myself also."

"Look back into the water. This time, don't try to subvert those images. Tell me exactly what you see."

Talia glanced at Sibyl, then at Tarot.

The vision was deeply personal, but perhaps she could gloss over the details and speak in a more…impersonal manner.

Talia turned back to gaze into the water.

Mother was stirring the water's surface with her wand once again.

And again, the vision began with a naked Cedric. He stood, tall and proud in front of the fire, his amber eyes glowed with passion, his manhood erect.

She saw herself coming towards him and they embraced.

"I see Cedric standing in front of a fireplace. He—he's naked. I see myself coming towards him. We're in each other's arms."

Talia caught her breath as she realized something strange. She was seeing herself, caught in his embrace, as if she was standing slightly above the entire scene.

Had she been inside her body looking through her eyes, she would have seen nothing but his muscular chest in front of her eyes.

"Go on."

"There is some kind of white shag rug in front of the fireplace. We're lying on the rug." Talia said with some embarrassment as she watched him gently lay her down on the large flokati sheepskin rug.

"We're—we're making love. Oh my God!" Talia gasped as she saw him kissing the bump on her belly. "I'm pregnant. Maybe six or seven months."

She shut her eyes but the image continued within her mind.

She could see him kissing her baby bump, and then going further down…

"That's amazing Sister," Tarot mumbled, "because all I can see is a still image of him standing in front of what I thought was a bright sun."

He laughed. "But now that you've identified it as a fireplace, I can see the fireplace pokers behind him."

Talia nodded. "I don't see an image. It's like a clip of a movie. I see myself and Cedric, but it's as if I'm hovering above, like a ghost looking down."

"That's a vision, not a memory, Child." Sibyl smiled.

She blinked as the vision ended.

"It's gone. The vision ended."

"Look again. What do you see?" Sibyl prodded.

Talia turned back to the birdbath. Once again, the image of Cedric standing there naked and waiting for her began to bombard her mind.

She blinked and shook her head.

"All I see is the same vision, starting back at where Cedric stands by the fireplace waiting for me."

"Good enough. You're looking at a true vision, and one that is going to happen very soon."

She reached out with a hand and touched Talia's stomach.

"I can sense a tiny life within you, Daughter. You're already pregnant which means this vision is about half a year away."

"I'm…I'm pregnant?"

"Yes."

Tarot squealed. "Wooot! I'm an uncle!!!"

He turned to Sibyl. "Mother, can you tell if it's a boy or girl?"

"It is still too soon to tell. You will just have to wait until she gives birth." Sibyl smiled, withholding the information that she had just gathered from the simple sensing spell.

With the merest touch, she could sense a male presence within Talia, but it was so faint, anything could happen between now and when Talia delivered.

A son was a huge deal to the kingdom and she did not want to set any expectations that her daughter had to fulfill.

Talia's mouth opened. "I need to tell Cedric about the pregnancy as well as the vision."

Sibyl nodded. "Do so, but be careful of who is around you when you relay the information to your husband."

"Why?"

"I want you to remain safe." Sibyl rubbed her eyes with a weary hand.

"Are you saying there could be dangers and threats within the palace?"

"I am saying you cannot trust anyone except for your immediate family." Sibyl cautioned. "Other than your husband, me, and Tarot, you must be very careful what you say and what you do."

Talia nodded. "Yes, Mother."

"You will find, Child, that nobody truly likes prophecies and nobody ever likes the prophetesses who relay the messages and visions."

"But you're High Seer. That's a very prestigious position."

"That is because prophecies are crucial and heeded by kings and emperors because they are messages from a spiritual realm."

Tarot pursed his lips. "Well, at least the ones in power are willing to support us."

"Don't ever let down your guard." Her eyes glittered with a deep-seated anger that spoke volumes.

"It only means those who are in power are willing to put up with us so they can take advantage of our impending knowledge."

"Once they have obtained what they wish from us…" her voice trailed away as she punctuated the thought with a shake of her head.

"Just…be careful." She ended her thoughts with a rueful sigh.