Blind Sight: Aniela | Chapter 7

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blind characters, Blind Sight, fantasy, fiction, urban fantasy

Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Aniela Dawson

Eliabeth Hawthorne

Chapter SEVEN

Brisk Collapse

Snowballs flew back and forth from behind soggy cardboard forts as Aniela pulled her flower print duffle bag from the car. Children no longer confined to the classroom celebrated the end of the school year. As Aniela grabbed her skates, she felt the cold smack of a stray snowball against her back, followed by an apologetic “woops” from one of the kids. It would be so refreshing to be able to use magic outside again once the tourists were shipped back home for winter. Aniela had once asked why Edaion’s citizenry had to tolerate tourists at all.

“Don’t be stupid,” Tatiana mocked. “How do you think other countries will react to their citizens disappearing to a country closed off to everyone else?”

When Aniela asked, she was too young at the time to wonder how people left behind accepted their loved one’s decisions to abruptly leave. None of her history classes had mentioned countries storming in demanding their tax payers be returned or families fighting to convince their loved ones not to stay. Since Viola had come with her whole family, it did not apply, but now that she was getting to know Odette and Leo, the question surfaced.

Blind Sight: Aniela | Chapter 4

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Blind Sight, blindness, book, fantasy, fiction

Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Aniela Dawson

Eliabeth Hawthorne

Chapter FOUR

Party Blues

October leaves changed from green to bright golds and deep reds all across the country. They stacked themselves into piles during the night, only to be scattered by exuberant children in the morning. People pushed summer clothes to the backs of the closets to be replaced by warm coats, sweaters, and jeans.

Aniela struggled to pay attention in class. She found it hard to concentrate on her teacher’s lectures. Who cared what velocity she would have to throw a water balloon off a building to hit someone standing twelve feet away? If she were to be on top of a building plotting a watery demise to some unsuspecting victim below, by the time she made all the required calculations, the person would be safely in the building.

The final bell rang and Viola twisted around in her seat. “Do you think blind people go to the movies?”

“I have no idea,” Aniela admitted. “Why?”

Viola practically lived in the music library and made quick friends with Odette while the choir director tried to prepare her for the years ahead. Viola had invited Aniela and Odette over, but was still undecided about what activity to plan.

Blind Sight: Aniela | Chapter 3

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Aniela Dawson

Eliabeth Hawthorne

Chapter THREE

A Unique Tune

Aniela’s fingers plucked at the air while she practiced an imaginary harp. This was not how she wanted to spend her afternoon, but her private teacher had called her in for an extra lesson. While Aniela thought her impending graduation meant she did not have to practice as much, her teacher told her graduation was no excuse for laziness. Unlike many of her orchestra companions, she had no desire to continue after, at least not at the same level. Aniela sighed and dropped her hands; the music inside her head stopped just as abruptly. This was important to her mother, so she stuck with it.

One of the practice room doors opened behind her and she twisted to see if her teacher was ready for her. Instead, a blind girl stepped out of one of the adjoining rooms. Her white and orange stick slid across the floor as she walked. Aniela was fascinated; she had never seen a blind person before. The girl did not hide her eyes behind sunglasses; her loose straight brown hair was pulled back except for the bangs which fell into her eyes. Despite the shame Aniela felt for staring, she could not resist.

Another door opened and a young man barreled into the blind girl, sending both toppling to the floor.

Aniela rushed over. “Are you okay?”

Blind Sight: Aniela | Chapter 2

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Aniela Dawson

Eliabeth Hawthorne

Chapter TWO

A GREEN GLOW

Aniela lay awake in bed and stared up at the ceiling. The tiara sat on her vanity, but never before had she wanted it less. Ever since she could remember, her mother had favored her over her sister. In her naïve ignorance and sibling rivalry she had thought it a positive until maturity enlightened her to the irreparable rift that had occurred between her and the twins because of it. Theodore did not dislike her the way Tatiana did, but could never truly befriend her. Part of her wanted to be mad at her mother for bringing about the final act that would forever keep them apart, and yet she felt guilty for not seeing it coming.

The alarm went off at 5:15, as it did every day, indiscriminate of weekdays or weekends. Aniela went to the bathroom, washed the sleepy dirt out of her eyes, and removed any signs of the tears that had dried to her cheeks. She would be glad to leave this world to her brother, craving instead a different life, one that did not require her to always be up early, always be presentable, and sacrifice her own desires for obligations. She made her way to breakfast. Regardless of the chaos afternoons and evenings frequently held for her, she could always count on the morning routine.

James sat at the head of the table, sipping his coffee and staring at the newspaper, but closer inspection of his unmoving gaze told her his normal routine ended there. She also now realized he had the paper strategically folded to hide the front page from view. If Alaya had noticed, she was not commenting, nor did she show any curiosity toward the matter. She sipped her tea casually across from him with her perfect make-up and without a hair out of place. She offered no indication that she had flown off the handle the night before. Aniela watched them both, amazed at their ability to compartmentalize. While Alaya’s behavior was not a surprise, she wondered how James could act as though nothing had happened, since he was Tatiana’s advocate in the family.

Her gaze flickered to Theodore. She was still half-afraid to look him in the eye, lest he return an icy glare, but his eyes were not even open. The serving cart rolled around to each of them. Aniela looked disapprovingly at her dry whole-wheat toast and grapefruit half as her plate floated to its place. She reached for the butter, but felt a sharp sting as Alaya slapped her hand.

“Aniela, what have I told you about empty calories?”

When Theodore reached over and buttered his pancakes, apparently unobservant of the impending punishment, he succeeded without retribution. Aniela gave her mother a look of exasperation.

Blind Sight: Aniela | Prologue

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Blind Sight, fantasy, fiction, writing

Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Aniela Dawson

Eliabeth Hawthorne

Prologue

A bundle of joy wrapped in a white feather boa streaked down the hall. Her long blonde hair flowed out behind her. Dressed in a vintage dress several sizes too large, Edaion’s youngest princess had just come out from playing dress up in her mother’s closet. Aniela wore oversized tortoise-shell aviator sunglasses and a necklace of pearls that dragged on the floor, threatening to trip her as she ran barefoot toward her sister’s room. The energetic four-year-old girl pushed open the bedroom door without knocking, still learning appropriate boundaries.

Seven-year-old Tatiana sat on her bed, her dark hair and dark eyes a stark contrast to Aniela’s baby blues. One of their mother’s favorite lamps levitated up and down; it moved slowly through the air. Tatiana never let it exceed six inches from the ground while she practiced her magic. All three of the Dawson children had inherited telekinesis from their mother. Tatiana specialized in large, heavy objects. Her twin, Theodore, who sat at Tatiana’s desk playing solitaire in the air, specialized in multiple small objects. Aniela had yet to develop a specialty.

“Hi Ana,” Theodore said. The door swung shut without any help from his sister.

“Hi Teo,” Aniela replied, sometimes still struggling with her t-h sounds.

Aniela tried to jump on her sister’s bed, but it was too high, causing her to miss and slide down until her feet once again touched the soft rug. She backed up and took a running leap. Aniela’s forehead smacked into Tatiana’s palm and she toppled backward onto to floor. Theodore frowned. His brow furrowed as he shook his head, but he did not comment as Aniela crawled up onto his lap instead. Much like his role in life, his looks fell somewhere between the two girls’. He had Tatiana’s intelligent brown eyes and Aniela’s light blonde hair. While he lacked Aniela’s innocence, he also lacked Tatiana’s smugness. He was the middle; one they could both enjoy.

Blind Sight: Leocardo | Book Two Excerpt

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes

Ermisenda Alvarez

BOOK TWO

TATIANA DAWSON

Tatiana climbed out of the pool refreshed from swimming laps. Her gaze fell on the hesitant Spaniard whom she had helped figure out his gift among other things. She had not seen him for months since Leocardo had broken his ankle. He greeted her, and she responded with a look of indifference. He persisted to engage in conversation, one of his more annoying traits.

“Hello, how are you? I haven’t seen you lately at your house.”

“I know.”

She did not have time for small talk, particularly about her absences at her own house. He didn’t know her well enough to realize that spending inordinate amounts of time at her house was more reason for concern. Ever since Leocardo and Aniela became an ‘item’, he frequented their house trying to create the best impression amongst the entire family. Sometimes he would bring along his blind yet fascinating sister.

“I’m worried,” Leocardo said as if waiting for Tatiana to question why. She stared blankly. “I hope Odette can control her gift once winter is gone…”

“There’s not much you can do about that.”

Leocardo did not look taken aback by her short and sour response, rather he seemed to have gotten used to it and now smiled as if humored by it. He shrugged and wished her well before she left him to exercise. Of all the people who swam there regularly, he was one of the least unpleasant, at least before he started dating Aniela. Now he seemed to be trying too hard to be good natured with her family and she quickly grew tired of him. She had a similar feeling for Nate, he was now Aniela-tainted.

The air outside was crisp and the pavements polished with a thin sheet of ice. The roads were dangerous and masses of salt had been thrown onto them to stop accidents. Tatiana’s thick soled non-slip shoes came in handy as she walked, mindful of where she stepped and the devious black ice beneath her.

Blind Sight: Leocardo | Chapter Twenty-One

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes

Ermisenda Alvarez

Chapter TWENTY-ONE

BLIND FAITH

Leocardo’s body was in a state of shock, immovable. A split second later, his body flooded with adrenaline as he saw that Odette was not only awake, but that she had lunged at William and her hands were tight around his neck.

“Odette!” he shouted as he grabbed her arms, prying them apart.

Ana’s exclamations behind him pierced his ears as she pulled William toward her. Odette’s arms suddenly went flaccid and she nearly fell straight back onto the bed, but Leocardo eased her into the pillow. Her eyes swelled with tears.

“What…what…where?” Tears streamed down his sister’s eyes and Leocardo just held her hand and caressed it.

“It’s okay, you’re in the hospital. I’m here. Ana’s here. You’re just scared. You’re safe.”

Leocardo’s gaze was glued on Odette. Her hand gripped his wrist with amazing force as commotion broke out all around them. She tried to get up when she heard Theodore’s voice enter the fray and one of the monitors cycled violently from extreme highs and lows. Her face contorted in confusion and her mouth parted as if ready to scream in anxiety or fear. Ana rushed over trying to soothe Odette as well.

“Out,” a female nurse ordered. Leocardo did not know when she had entered, but she was ordering people out with severity in her voice. “Everyone who is not family, get out. You’re straining her. She’s recovering and needs her rest.”

Leocardo murmured soft words to his sister and Odette squeezed his hand, her head facing in his direction. He heard Ana leaving. He turned around and Ana squeezed his other hand.

“No, wait. Ana can stay, she’s like family,” he begged the nurse.

“Just family,” the nurse insisted and shooed them out. He saw that Theodore was also in the room and was moving toward Ana.

“But…”

The nurse gave Leocardo a dirty look before asking Odette some questions about what she could remember. She also checked the monitors.

“Yeah, no Leo, it’s fine.” Ana smiled at him after shaking her head. “You need some time alone with her. Call me when you leave?”

He nodded and watched her until Theodore guided her out of the room. He turned his attention back to Odette who still looked petrified, but better. Once Theodore, Ana, and William had left the room, it was quiet. The doctor entered, wrote down some notes, and flashed a light in Odette’s eyes before confirming she appeared perfectly healthy.

“She just needs rest now. Welcome back, Miss Reyes,” the doctor said before leaving. Leocardo was unsure if he liked this quiet as it reminded him of waiting beside his sister alone when she was unable to wake up. This time it was different; he could feel the pressure of her fragile fingers around his hand.

Blind Sight: Leocardo | Chapter Twenty

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes

Ermisenda Alvarez

Chapter TWENTY

TICK TOCK

People swarmed toward them while others yelled, “Stay back!” Leocardo kept blinking as his eyes attempted to adjust to the harsh light. His jeans were beginning to soak up the frosty grass despite, mere seconds ago, they were being charred by flames. A young man in a white uniform came toward him; Leocardo shook his head and groaned.

“Ana and the boy, she got hit on the head,” he insisted, pushing away their helpful hands. He wanted them to help Ana and William first, not him.

Leocardo’s gaze drifted to Ana; her peaceful yet ashen face scared him, it reminded him of Odette and he begged the universe to make sure that neither of them would sleep forever. Within seconds, Ana had her head and shoulders held in place by a neck-brace and she was hoisted onto a stretcher. The little boy received a similar treatment as no one knew what he had damaged, but they all received masks except Leocardo who continued to deny it.

“I’m fine,” he insisted. “I’m out now.”

“Leo,” the groan of pain was so soft he nearly missed it and noticed Ana’s eyes were opening the slightest before closing again.

“Ana,” he murmured and reached out for her, but the nurses pulled her away in the stretcher before he had a chance.

They helped him into the ambulance where they had taken Ana and he had to hold back tears. Pain shot up his leg from his ankle, but nothing hurt more than the thought of Ana’s possible death and Odette’s eternal sleep. The team in white asked him numerous questions and he tried to answer them as best as he could on the way to the hospital.

“She’s going to be fine, right?” he demanded.

“It doesn’t look severe, but she needs testing,” the EMT replied as he kept checking her monitors. Leocardo just stared at her and ignored the painful throbbing of his ankle. When he wiped the sweat from his brow, he found his hands blackened and moist. The sweat stung the shallow cuts on his fingers. He could see some thick splinters anchored along Ana’s palm and fingers. He reached out and caressed Ana’s wrist, afraid he would damage her further.

When they arrived at the hospital, they were wheeled in different directions. He tried to hold his gaze as long as he could on her, but she disappeared around the corner. All his energy was focused on her safe recovery and that her brain had not been severely damaged as a result of the blow. If that happened he would never be able to forgive himself.

Blind Sight: Leocardo | Chapter Nineteen

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes

Ermisenda Alvarez

Chapter NINETEEN

SCORCHING FEAR

Adrenaline raced through his system. He knew what he had to do, but before he could discuss any of it with Ana, she was already running toward the children and teachers. It frustrated him that she was running off without even a few words. He felt lost and she was not helping give him direction. Instead of following her blindly, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He ventured toward a firefighter.

“Where’s the boy?” Leocardo was not going to mess around and hoped they would not either. The firefighter didn’t look at him as he was walking back toward the fire truck.

“Get out of the way! We are trying to save him.”

“Where is William? At least let me know where he is. Aniela Dawson arrived and she deserves to at least know where William is,” Leocardo said firmly. He didn’t want to have to use the power that Ana’s name wielded but it worked.

“He’s upstairs somewhere. We have a man handling the situation. Only in the last few minutes has the fire become uncontrollable. Just step back and let us deal with it,” he said firmly as Leocardo moved away. He did not want to start a fight, especially not with a man who was trying to help the child inside. He turned to find where Ana was. At least he had some kind of direction now.

Leocardo started to worry. Where was she? He could not see her. Marcus stood outside the car on the phone, talking rapidly. He jogged forward. He could see some of the adults with bandanas or make-shift masks over their mouths. They were moving back and forth, worried and confused. Where the hell was Ana? She would not have gone inside alone…would she?

His feet took him to the group of children where he had seen her last. One of the children pointed around the side of the building as she nudged her friend. “Did you see the princess?” Leocardo’s gaze snapped to where the child was pointing and he rushed around the building. Suddenly he saw a familiar looking female attacking the window with her elbow.

Blind Sight: Leocardo | Chapter Eighteen

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Blind Sight: Through The Eyes Of Leocardo Reyes

Ermisenda Alvarez

Chapter EIGHTEEN

WHISPERS OF KINGS

A loud and irritable buzzing sound awoke Leocardo as his phone rang in his pocket. It took him a moment to register what it was so he missed the call before he could answer it. He pulled it out and when he saw that it was Ana, he placed the phone down and rubbed his eyes with the base of his palms. With his head resting in his hands, he felt a wave of tiredness wash over him and he rested there half-conscious. He did not want to wake up to see his sister in a coma.

He tried to recall his dream. There had been some kind of tower and he knew Odette was at the top. He climbed the never ending spiral staircase. The air thinned as he went higher and he gasped for breath. He stumbled as he tried to climb further, but felt a powerful drowsiness that overtook him. It had been the same feeling as when he had first arrived in Nevaeh, but this time he knew it was Edaion that had sedated him. He struggled against the drowsiness; he hated it so much. He detested the feeling of being drugged. As he felt his eyelids weigh down over his eyes, he tried to teleport to the top, to where Odette waited for him to return. “Don’t forget me,” he begged, trying to hurry. His vision blurred.

Leocardo snapped himself awake and wiped his mouth. The dream had unnerved him, would Edaion separate him and Odette? He rose to his feet, looked over to his sleeping sister, and his heart faltered. He left the room. In his pockets he still had the premonitions he had taken from Ana. The buildings meant something. There was purpose to the damaged premonition. Ana preferred to look at the faces, the ghosts behind them, but he knew Odette was not a medium, she was a seer.

Leocardo went to Daisy’s home. He was not sure if she would accept him again. The last time he had been there he had left rather abruptly. He hoped she did not think he did not appreciate the information she had provided. His knuckles rapped on the door.

Daisy answered and pursed her lips when she saw who it was. “Hello, again.”

“Hi, I’m sorry about how I left last time but…what you told me…it really meant a lot to me,” he insisted. “I can’t tell you why it upset me either.”

“That’s alright, boy,” she patronized. She began to close the door.

“Wait,” he urged, reaching out to stop the door from closing. Her eyes widened, afraid. “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to know if you can interpret this drawing. I need help.”

“Yes, yes you do.”