Soulmates
By Joe Martelle
"Oh No! No-NO-NO!" Tawny cried from the kitchen.
Celine came rushing in, seeing a number of books, papers, Masks and cards
scattered over the kitchen table—and Tawny looking distraught.
"What is it Tawny, what's wrong?" Celine asked, as Tawny looked up from the table.
"I was looking into Toby's future & saw his soul-mate..." Tawny grew silent with trepidation.
"Oh, Well that's a good thing, isn't it? Wait a minute, his
soul-mate's... not a guy, is it?" Celine, as did Tawny, had
looked forward to the prospect of grandkids. Tawny shook her head...
"Then what is it, hon?" Celine asks, placing her hands on Tawny's
shoulders.
".... It's Pepper." Tawny said flatly.
"PEPPER?!" Celine gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
"No.... Can't be... It's got to be some kind of mistake, right? Tawny.... Please, it can't be Pepper..."
"I've done the reading three times now, and every time it comes up Pepper."
Celine shook her head; this wasn't looking good...
"C-can you show me how to do this? I'd like to see for myself..."
Five minutes later...
"Turn over the last three cards." Tawny instructed.
The first was the symbol for Life-Mate...
The second showed the glyph for invigoration... "PEP"
The last card revealed a contented cat, purring.
The results were clear; his life-mate was "Pep-Pur"
"I can't believe it..." Celine whispered, "What can it mean, Tawny?"
"It means Pepper is destined to be Toby's soulmate—there must be
something deep down inside that girl that the oracle sees... And I'm
going to find out exactly what that is!"
Tawny declared while laying her hands on an ancient, well-worn
leather bound book; Celine noticed it was written in some archaic runic
script she'd never seen before.
"What is that, hon?" Celine asked, seeing the far away look in Tawny's eyes.
"This..." Tawny said, holding the book lovingly, "is a very special
book, passed down through my family for use by the eldest daughters...
It is the Heart-Of-Harmony. A guide to domestic bliss... It contains
ancient formulas that can be used to ensure a life of happiness, no
matter what the adversity... For Toby's sake, I've got to find the key
to Peppers heart, or our son will be miserable his whole life..." Tawny
declared as she reached for a mask Celine had never seen before. it had
what looked like a sunrise made of gold, and a house around a cut red
stone in the shape of a heart.
####
As Tawny went deeper into trance, she called up an image of her son,
Toby. He shone a bright electric blue in her sight, and she smiled. Her
thoughts turned to Lacey's daughter Pepper. She appeared a pulsing
blood red and black oily mass—Tawny cringed inwardly. She then began
seeing tendrils from Pepper wrapping themselves around Toby, his light
dimming noticeably, and off in the distance Lacey's disembodied
laughter.
"...No." breathed Tawny, blasting the sucking vortex that was Pepper
with a bolt of mothers love. The image of Pepper recoiled and for just
a moment Tawny caught a glimmer of honey gold before the red and black
mass pulsed towards Toby once again. Could that have been Pepper's true
essence? Tawny mused. At once, she began surrounding Toby with a sphere
of protection that Peppers tendrils were oozing around trying to find a
way to her prize.
"Pepper!" Tawny declared drawing the girl's attention. "He is not your
plaything! You must show me you're heart before you shall be permitted
to get any closer to my son!"
The apparition disengaged from Toby and slunk towards Tawny.
"What I see is not who you truly are... Show yourself, Pepper." The
form looked back at Toby, who was reaching for her. And then her gaze
returned to Tawny once more.
"A mother's love can be a powerful thing." Tawny held out her arms in
the timeless gesture, enfolding Pepper in her love. Pepper's form
wavered and like wax before a bonfire the Red and oily black mass
dissolved, to reveal an image of Pepper softly glowing in a mix of
summer yellows and honey golds. Tawny smiled, holding the girl at arms
length.
"Hello, my dear." Pepper blinked her luminous blue eyes "...Mrs.
Papineau, W-what happened? I..." Pepper paused, feeling Toby's hand on
her shoulder. A look of ecstasy replaced confusion as she and Toby
embraced, radiating a green brighter than any spring—all while a
disembodied howl of rage faded into the distance.
####
Tawny blinked, and slowly removed the mask, a soft smile dusting her
face. Celine sat across the table from her, a steaming mug of tea in
her hands.
"…Well?" she asked, handing the mug to Tawny, who accepted it gratefully.
"The Oracle was correct, they are soulmates…" Tawny held up a hand to
forestall Celine's protest—the look of horror on her face spoke volumes.
"...In the end, this is a good thing. For I looked into Peppers
heart—she is being poisoned by Lacey's attitudes and what passes for
'Love'" She bracketed the last word in finger quotes.
"Stripping that away, I was able to see her true self...they are a good
match!" Celine looked incredulous as Tawny shook her head. "All I need
to do is find a way to let her true self shine through."
####
Later that evening...
Tawny called Toby into the kitchen. Her son was growing into a fine young man, though she could see he was troubled.
"Have a seat Toby... we, need to discuss a few things."
Toby dropped into the chair at the table. "Would you like some coffee,
Toby?" Celine asked as she passed through getting a cup for herself.
"Uh, yes please, Aunt Celine...thanks. Mom, is this about school? Because I never planned to..."
Tawny smiled and held up a hand. "I'm sure what we need to discuss will
touch on the incident at school...but this is about something rather
personal... it's about...Pepper."
"Geez...Pepper." Toby sighed looking into his cup looking glum.
"I'm sorry Toby, I just need to know how you honestly feel about her."
Shaking his head, he sighed. "S'okay, mom...Pepper is...I don't know,
she *does* something to me. It's like I like the idea of having her
around, but she's such a Nickel-Plated-Cast-Iron-Bitch, I can't stand
being around her." Toby paused taking a sip of coffee and meeting his
mother's gaze for the first time. Tawny's breath caught at the anguish
that played over her son's face.
"I mean, we went out for a brief time, and it started out...fun. But
her attitude really soured it. Call me crazy mom, but... I *know*
that's not really her, ya know?" Toby paused and Tawny nodded,
indicating he should continue.
"I dunno, there were times when we'd be together and she'd show a real
loving sweet side... Then it'd be like something took over and she'd be
a real vindictive bitch, and laugh about making me miserable, so I
broke it off..."
Tawny nodded sadly, reaching out and placing a hand over his giving it
a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "And the incident at school?"
she asked, seeing Toby's ears drop.
"Pepper dragged me into the Girls bathroom and started making out with
me something fierce..." Toby sighed heavily. "She can be a real
Prick-tease at times; she then walked off leaving me hanging saying
that she'd finish me off later at her place..." Toby's hands balling
into fists and thumping the table in frustration.
"I mean, I know I should have known better, that she'd do something
like this and there was no excuse for what I did, but she'd gotten me
so wound up I couldn't very well walk to class with a huge woodie, so I
figured I'd take care of it... and that's when the girls walked in..."
Toby buried his head in his hands, mortified.
Tawny sighed, "And despite all of this, you still love her, don't you?" Toby nodded.
"I don't want to—but like I said…she does something to me…sorry."
"It's okay son, I'm sure things will work themselves out in the end,
and thank you for being honest with me on this. I know it wasn't easy
for you..." Toby nodded.
"But honey, know that you can always come to us anytime to discuss anything, we don't judge you, we love you." Tawny finished.
"Thanks mom, I know... it's just... I really *am* sorry about what
happened at school..." Tawny nodded. "I know, and it will be
alright." Toby got up mutely and left the kitchen. A few minutes
later Celine sat where Toby's place was at the table.
"Well?" Celine asked. Tawny had a bemused smile on her face.
"He's in love..."
To be continued…