Potential

[OOC: This is a closed thread for Slippedhalo, YoungLisa and myself, marauder13. Please do not post without an invitation from me. Please PM any comments, feedback, etc to any of the writers.]

Science has an answer for almost everything. What it can't answer, it is work in progress. That is what They want you to believe. Everything can be measured. Quantified. Categorized. That existence itself is orderly enough that predictions can be made. Controls put in place to guide events in clear directions. Dangers can be removed. Stability can be ensured.

But it's not true. The Human Spirit, the Soul, that Indefinable Something within each of us that can't be easily limited, measured, quantified and categorized. That which Science can't touch, so Science rejects it. Within every person there is Potential. Some barely have any, others seem to be blessed with an enormous amount. The greatest people, the mightiest achievers, those remembered through history have all been people that have tapped their Potential to achieve their goals, and to achieve a degree of greatness.

And then there are the rare few who have unlocked their Potential rather than merely tapping it, and using it to the fullest. This story is of three such individuals. One who is well on the Path and two who are about to take their first steps.


The sky was almost totally devoid of clouds, allowing the sun to give enough life giving warmth to the lands below. Part of those lands was a large hill that dominated the landscape. Halfway up that hill, on the side closest to the only road in sight, was a large, gray boulder that stood out against the dark reddish brown dirt that made up most of the hill, and the greens and browns of the flora that made it their home.

Atop the boulder, a man sat cross legged gazing down the hill. His long, brown hair, that was drawn into a ponytail, was dancing in the strong breeze that caressed the hillside. His lightly tanned features showed a face that had maturity without the ravages of age. It was a solid face, without being round, or square. His deep blue eyes seemed to stare out into infinity as he sat completely relaxed. He wore an uncoloured long sleeved cotton shirt, denim jeans derived from hemp, cotton socks and canvas shoes. Above his left wrist was a wide band of copper that snugly fit his arm, and hanging off a single length of leather about his neck was an ivory coloured pendent of some Polynesian design.

It was times such as this that Adrian disliked the Fates strongly. He knew he had to be at the place where he was, and within the next 10 minutes an event would occur that he need to be there for. So, he sat on the boulder, overlooking a country road in the middle of nowhere, patiently waiting for the event to occur. He had not seen any traffic in the road in the previous 15 minutes he had been there. He spent his time contemplating what he was going to witness.

Then he heard the sounds of a car. It was close to the time, so he thought the car would be involved in some manner. The tire screeching carried to where he sat, followed by the sound of a tire blowing. He stood up, and started making his way down to the road as he heard the sounds of metal crunching followed by a loud crash. By the time he had reached the road, the car was on fire. He jogged down the road towards the burning vehicle. He heard a woman's yells for help slowly changing into screams of pain as the fire reached her body.

He slowed as he got to the car, his face a mask of concentration. Firstly his clothes faded away as he slowly began to change. His torso expanded vertically as well as in width and depth, becoming more rounded and layered with extra muscles. His legs widened becoming huge as his feet lengthened and widened until they rivaled manhole covers in size. His arms became as big as his legs were before they changed. His hands increased in size, and his fingers grew longer and thicker. With slow, ponderous steps, he closed the final few feet until he was beside the flame engulfed car. He gripped the driver's door in one hand while his other hand braced the rest of the car. His hands started to steam and smoke as he pulled on the door. The metal groaned and shrieked in protest as his bunched muscles slowly won their battle against twisted car part. With a final loud grinding noise, the door was torn free and thrown away. Adrian reached through the flames with charred and blackened hands, snapping the seat belt that held the woman's body in place. He pushed her seat back, then pushed up the dash board to free her mangled legs. He reached in and scooped up her body, carrying her out onto the grass.

Every part of her body was broken, bloodied or burnt. He knew that she lived, if only just, as he saw the blistered and peeling skin on her neck thump with her heart beat, as well as watching the shallow rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. His hands and arms had tendrils of smoke rising from his charred skin and flesh. His chest bleed from cuts and cracks in his shin when the hot metal of the car seared and lacerated him. His right thigh oozed blood from a massive cut he collected then disposing of the door. But he took no notice of them as he focused on her injuries.

He let his body reshape itself so he appeared as he normally did. When his natural shape returned, so did his clothing, as if they had never been removed. His eyes looked down on the remains of the person before him, tears forming in his eyes as he assessed her condition.

“Dear sister, I fear your time has come, and I am loathe to do so, I will ease your passage into the beyond. I'm sorry I can't do more for you.”

He placed his hand over her eyes, and was about to call on his talent and stop her heart. But as he did, he felt it within her. The Potential. Completely unused and accessible. He pulled his hand away, lifting all of the skin from her face that his hand touched.

He changed his view of the world around him, seeing the flow of Life in everything. He looked at the woman in front of him, seeing the full extent of the damage to her body. He started to prioritize what needed dealing with first.

“Let Gaia take mercy on this, Her child who's body is broken and burned, and let Her love of all that lives flow and bring love and life back to this one.” Adrian closed his eyes, changing the flow of the Essence within the woman, slowly rebuilding her body. Her skin lost the black and charred pieces as they slowly turned pink, blisters shrank like puddles in the midday sun and her skin returned to a healthy shade and texture. Following soon after, hair grew over her body, thickening in the places where it should; her scalp, over her eyes, under her arms, above her sex. Next, he shifted his focus to her bones, reforming the shattered pieces into coherent bones. Her arteries and veins were repaired before he did her major organs. The heart was the last organ to be healed before muscles, tendons and other soft tissues were fixed until Adrian saw that she was back in a state of normal health.

He slumped forward, feeling drained by the effort of dragging a human body back from the brink of death. Sweat poured off his body as if he had been hosed. His skin was red with exertion and his breathing was laboured. It had taken him nearly 20 minutes to perform the restorative work, and the concentration used to control the massive amount of Essence needed to correct the flow of Life through her body left him feeling like he had run a marathon.

“Well, little sister, it would seem that the Fates had something else decreed for you after all.”

Avrielle Whitlock had been driving along through the winding hillside roads. These types of roads always had her nervous, and with the recent rain adding a new slippery nature to them she was at her tensest while navigating. On her way to a meeting, her first assignment to assist as a student nurse. It was a home-care situation with an elderly woman and she was still debating whether geriatrics would be the field for her or not. She liked healing and in this field she'd see more patients die slowly without much she could do to help but ease their suffering, than actually be able to heal anything. She wondered if she'd be of much help when she was so depressed about the future which would lie ahead for each patient...Her mind wandering, Avrielle didn't catch the next wind in the road just right and had to swerve to avoid a fence...

...It had happened so quickly. The next thing she knew she was trapped in a fiery inferno of twisted metal and burning oil. Her legs were stuck beneath the dashboard. It was agony! She tried to move to pull them loose and then realized the rest of her was damaged even more than her legs. She could barely move without pain....then the fire spread to her legs, she could feel the burning and smell her own flesh being eaten by the flames as they worked their way up her body... Panic set in and she began hyperventilating. The wrong thing to do with so much smoke around. The thick blanket of unconsciousness was merciful after the amount of pain and fear she had endured. She welcomed the blackness...

...a voice....
“Well, little sister, it would seem that the Fates had something else decreed for you after all.”

...Avrielle awoke beside a very tired looking man. Her car was a wreck, her clothing was bloodied and singed all over, barely covering her pale skin, had it always been so pale? But, she...she seemed unharmed. Not a scratch on her. Not possible.
"What's going on?" she asked, "Where am I? Who are you? How...how is it I am not dead...not even wounded?"

The young woman came to quickly, taking in her surrounds, getting her bearings. She looked at the still burning remains of her car. Then came the moment of realization. She remembered the events leading up to where the car was now a burning wreck. She relived what she thought were going to be her final moments on earth, before she turned her attentions back to the man slumped near her.

"What's going on? Where am I? Who are you? How...how is it I am not dead...not even wounded?"

"You were just in what would have been a fatal car accident, little sister. You were quite lucky that the door was ripped off as it tumbled into the tree. As to why you're unharmed... Maybe The Good Lord was looking out for you." While he spoke, he reworked the flow of Essence around her again, restoring her clothing to the way it was before the crash. "That you managed to escape from the wreck before the car burst into flame... nothing short of a miracle."

Adrian sat himself up straighter, drawing his shoulders back. "As to who I am, I was someone who happened to be nearby at the time. I came to help you, but it seems you didn't need it." His smile said something totally different. He stood up, dusting off his jeans.

"You know, this is really is your lucky day. There is a state trooper who'll see the smoke and come to investigate. He'll be here in about 10 minutes. He'll see you to the next town.

"Would you like a hand standing up?"

Avrielle moved to stand, having to push her mass of red hair over her shoulder to put her hand on the ground..."Wait..." she said softly, taking a lock in her hand and measuring..."...my hair..." She'd just had it cut in her usual shoulder length, layered style yesterday and now...it was tumbling in soft, crimson waves down past her waist. If she straightened it out she thought she might even be able to sit on it...Her hair had never been so long in her life. "Can you explain to me why my clothes just reappeared, not even dirty...or why my hair is so long?" Her green eyes met those of the mystery man now and he helped her up slowly.

She never broke the stare. "What really happened." she demanded to know. Avrielle was many things but stupid wasn't one of them and her intuition was always something she'd been able to rely upon. Now, it screamed to her that something about this man was far from normal.

The woman started to right herself. Adrian noted that her hair was longer, and other features had changed slightly. She had manifested as her True Self when he healed her. That confirmed she had the Potential, and it was unlocked. That was why The Fates sent him there.

"Wait... my hair..." She sat there, mesmerized by it's appearance. She looked at it, felt it, measured it. As the novelty of her discovery wore off, she accepted his hand to help her stand.

"Can you explain to me why my clothes just reappeared, not even dirty...or why my hair is so long?"

"Did they?" He looked behind her, and snorted a laugh. "They're far from clean where you have been lying on the ground. As for your hair... maybe you like it that long."

"What really happened."

He looked her straight in the eye. The eyes were the doorway to the soul. How false were those words. They were the doorway to the Mind, which led to the silver path to the Soul. Straight to her Mind's Eye, he showed her what happened from the moment he arrived to the moment she woke. She saw him change the flow of the Essence to change himself, to heal her. She saw everything in detail. The process resonating in her soul, even though she could not understand any of what he actually did. Then, all she saw was swallowed up like something falling into quicksand.

"One day, little sister, you will see it again. That will be the day I will answer that question for you. I must go now. I am no longer needed here. Oh, it would appear that the trooper was a little closer than I thought." He nodded over towards the road where the State Trooper's vehicle pulled over. The woman looked up at the cruiser, giving him just enough time to vanish. He completely disappeared from all senses, as he slowly moved away from her.

Avrielle nodded dumbly and moved as if in a dream to go with the State Trooper who had begun to ask her questions she couldn't answer. Finally, he gave up asking questions, closed his notebook and offered her a ride to the station in the next town to sign the official report and perhaps call someone to pick her up and take her home. "Home?" she asked, only vaguely aware of the Trooper's running monologue which was meant to be an interview.

"Yeah, home. Where do you live?" he asked, starting to get annoyed. "You don't look like you have a concussion but perhaps I should take you to get checked out at the hospital." he said, wondering at her inability to form coherent sentences.

Avrielle shook her head, "No...I'm fine. I just want to go home." she said, trying harder to sound more normal.

He seemed to almost buy it, or just really want to be rid of her. He asked for her address and after three times asking and getting no reply while she seemed to be studying her arms and her hair and mumbling to herself, she finally replied, "37A Crescent Drive. The duplex at the end of the road just before Henley Park. " as clearly as if she was almost sensible.

He dropped her off telling her he'd call her to come in and sign the report tomorrow. "You need rest." he assumed, dropping her off and hovering just long enough to watch her produce a key from her pocket she seemed unaware was even there, before entering the apartment. He was pleased with this change of plans. This girl's odd behavior gave him the creeps.

Avrielle let herself into the small apartment she rented with her roommate Maria, who wasn't around most of the time as she ''studied'' a lot at her boyfriend's place and that usually suited Avrielle just fine since, nice as Maria was, she was a lazy slob whom Avrielle detested cleaning up after. Avrielle walked through the apartment in a daze.

Avrielle sat on a chair at the kitchen table and just thought about what had happened, over and over she replayed the events of the morning in her head. It made no sense to her. Who was that man? And, what had he done to her? She felt more powerful and intuitive than ever. She noticed small things around her suddenly seemed much more noticable and important to the grand scheme of things...she felt like she knew the grand scheme...of something, Avrielle saw colors more richly, sound had more vibration, the air smelled richer somehow...Her senses were alive! Her skin was so pale, white as alabaster, and softer than a baby, her hair was long, and so vibrant red...it used to look like tomato juice...Now it shone! She got up and walked to the hall where a mirror hung on the wall. Looking into it she saw all of the freckles on her nose and cheeks had dissappeared, along with the faint crease between her eyes from too much sun and worry, her eyes...they were so green! Who was this beautiful creature she saw? Was is really her? Somehow, Avrielle felt that stranger at the scene of the accident was responsible for these changes,or at least knew something about them.

She didn't even bother locking the door behind her as she went out, no car. The phone had been ringing as she left, likely something about her hunk of burning metal and what would become of it now....Whatever, didn't matter...She had to find the stranger and ask what had happened to her.

Adrian woke up to the loud echoing rumble of purring. He rolled his head, opening an eye to be presented with snow white ball of fur contentedly waiting for his 'slave' to awaken.

"Good morning to you too, Tiger." He stretched, sat up and pulled his hair into a ponytail. He took the time to dress as Tiger casually strolled across the king sized bed, working kinks out his his back until he jumped up onto the footer of the bed.

"Shall we have our normal breakfast?" Tiger sat up straight, and somehow managed to raise the volume of his purr. "OK... the usual, as His Lordship desires." Adrian walked through to the kitchen, his white shadow following behind. As Adrian started gathering the utensils he needed, Tiger landed on 'his' stool, taking on the role of supervisor. Adrian continued, taking no notice of the cat's location. Within moments, the aromas of food cooking started to fill the kitchen.

"I hope that this will meet his Lordship's high standards," Adrian laughed as Tiger gave him a dirty look. Within 10 minutes, Adrian had a large plate piled high with steak, bacon, eggs, hash browns and a few other items that seemed to defy description. He sat at the table, and Tiger was sitting on the floor beside his chair, purring loudly again. Adrian removed the bone after he added sauce and salt to the steak. The bone was put onto a plate, and placed on the floor in front of Tiger.

"There, enjoy." The purring was interrupted by the sounds of the bone being chewed on. Adrian smiled as he worked his way through this breakfast.

"Well, Tiger, the new one will be arriving today. The Fates are still have the woman I saved from the car veiled from me. I would have thought she would have come to me by now. It's been three moons since I met her. Well, she will arrive when she is destined to." Tiger continued to attack the bone, ignoring his human servant. "You might have to get used to a few more legs around the place."

The rest of breakfast was spent in relative silence, as Tiger's purring softened the further he got through his breakfast. Adrian cleaned up after himself, and the two of them walked out into the back yard. Tiger ran ahead of Adrian, reaching the base of the massive oak, rubbing himself against the trunk. Adrian slowed, and slowly, almost reverently raised his hand to lay it on the trunk at eye level. He closed his eyes, smiling as he felt the blessing from the tree wash over him. He opened his eyes, smiling. "Thank you, old friend."

Adrian walked back through his home, picking up his backpack and walked out the front door and headed for the gate. The entire fence was in bloom, filling the air with a cleansing aroma that seemed to wash away all his worries. His front fence was a four foot high wall of vines. Each vine sported leaves, different coloured flowers, and wickedly long sharp thorns that pointed out in every possible direction. The other fences were similar, except they were seven feet high. When he reached the gate, he pushed it open with his bare hand, closing it behind him.

Adrian was humming to himself as he walked to work. It was another beautiful day, sunny and warm, with enough of a breeze to keep it from getting too hot. Not even the noise and stench of the morning traffic along the road beside him could take away the joy of the day.

His walk finally brought him to his destination. He stood outside the front door of the store he owned and ran – Pills, Powders & Potions. He chuckled to himself at the name he chose. The door unlocked, and the bell jangled as he entered the store. He paused after the door closed behind him, taking a deep breath of the unique mixture of fragrances from the various herbs, plants, oils, pastes and other natural substances he offered for sale. The combination formed an aroma that seem to touch something deep within him and lift his mood higher.

He set about his normal morning routine of turning on the lights, switching on the various machines around the store that had been turned off at the end of the last working day. He moved a few of the mobile displays back into their normal places for the working day, as well as bring out some selected items from the back of the store to go on display behind the counter. Happy that everything was right for the store to receive customers, he went and turned the sign signaling that the shop was indeed open.

Once his routine was complete, his excitement started to increase. He was looking forward to the meeting. He knew that the one he was expecting would arrive at his store. The Fates had decreed that one would come to the store, seeking more than just the normal wares the store offered. They would be seeking wisdom, guidance, mentoring. It was going to be a long day waiting for them to arrive.

Elisa could not believe it had come to this. Her parents had warned her about Ricky and that she would get hurt, but she never believed them. How was she to know he would change that much? When they were at school he was always good at football and the boy all the girls in her year fancied. True, he had a reputation but she was no easy lay. She flirted with him, danced with him at the school dances where she knew he was pressing himself against her. He had begged her to come to his home when his parents were out but she always made the excuse that she was only fifteen and didn’t want to do that.

During those last few years at school they continued to date but Elisa kept holding tight to her knickers. Ricky was not too perturbed because he had almost a harem of girls he could take to his bed, but like most people he wanted the very thing he could not have. When they were both eighteen they left school and while Elisa continued her education at local college studying biochemistry Ricky joined the training school at the “Canons”, one of the best football teams in the country, where two years later he made his debut.

On her twenty first birthday Elisa was taken by her parents to see a live show. Among the audience were some of the footballers from the “Canons”. She was sure she spotted Ricky in the front row and, sure enough, at the interval drinks she made eye contact with him and struck up a conversation. Dressed in her sparkling black dress that showed “just enough” of her cleavage and stopped just above the knee her blue eyes sparkled while her long blonde hair picked out her very dainty, beautiful face.

Giving her a polite kiss on the cheek Ricky asked how she was, introduced her to some of his fellow players and exchanged mobile telephone numbers. Elisa thought no more of it until a week later her telephone rang and it was Ricky asking her to dinner. Her parents were not happy about her going but Elisa told them she was a big girl now and that she was capable of looking after herself. This was the beginning of several other dates and each time Ricky brought Elisa back home on time. One night he asked her if she had had any boy friends since leaving school and when she answered that she had not she saw Ricky’s dark eyes narrow.

Three weeks later there was a party in the next town and Ricky and Elisa were invited. Knowing she would have to spend the night Elisa made it clear to Ricky that she wanted her own room and he agreed, telling her he would wait. She tried telling that to her parents but they insisted they did not want to her attend. But Elisa being Elisa made up her own mind and despite her parents warnings she went.

The party was in full swing and Elisa was very careful not to drink too much. She met the manager, the club captain and most of the players. For a young heterosexual girl it was an Aladdin’s Cave of fit talent. Suddenly she felt a terrible pain in her pussy that she reached down to touch. She felt it wet and sticky and putting her hand down she found it stained in blood. To her amazement she was in a large bed in a large bedroom whose walls were covered in pictures. As she pulled herself up to get a better look she noticed that they were pictures of her engaging in full sex with Ricky, on another picture it was her and the Captain and on another she was being teased by two players as she gave oral sex to another. Picture after picture showed her engaging in wild sexual activity. Events she had no memory of but was proved by the blood in her sex.

Sobbing she got out of bed and saw an open lap top showing her E Mail Account with messages sent to her parents, her sister, her grandparents and others. Each message had some of the pictures attached. Then her telephone buzzed to show she had a text message pending. It just said “No one says ‘no’ to me. Ricky”. She sobbed her heart out and then heard the phone ring. Thinking it was him she answered it ready to give a tirade of verbal abuse.

Instead there was a voice she had never heard before. “Your thoughts have been heard and you can repair this and fulfil your potential.” She switched the phone off but it rang again. Same voice, same message. She took the battery out but it rang again. She stamped on the phone smashing it into little pieces but it still rang and answered itself. Only this time she must have passed out. Because the next thing she knew she was dressed in her finery and about to enter a store she had never even heard of. Even weirder, she felt she was expected.

Adrian had dealt with a few of his regular customers in the morning, All of them were dabblers, people who enjoyed the allure of the mystical, but neither the discipline nor the Potential to do anything significant. Still they came in and bought supplies from him, and sought his advice, so he did not concern himself with them greatly.

He was out the back of the shop when the door bell rang, and it sounded different. The tinkle of the bells was deeper, more chime like. He stood slowly and walked out into the main part of the store. He didn't need to change his view to see the Essence of the world to know she had the Potential. The young woman was well dressed, as if about to attend a high class social function. Her long blonde hair held a more golden hue than most blondes, and her blue eyes sparkled though her expression was clearly confused. He walked up to her slowly, stopping over an arm's length from her.

"Good afternoon, little sister, welcome to my shop. My name is Adrian. Come in, and sit down." He indicated that she sit in a padded chair behind the counter. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you have finally arrived. I have been looking forward to meeting you for weeks, ever since I was forewarned of our meeting. I can feel your confusion, and pain, little sister. Those are what have brought you here, to seek me out." He looked directly into her eyes, and plunging into her Mind. He shielded her from what he saw in her memories, but when he was finished, he knew everything that happened that night. What he witnessed sickened him, and he could more clearly feel the young woman's pain.

"It is terrible that you suffered as you have, but there is nothing that can be done to change what has passed. But with a little help, guidance and mentoring, it can be turned into a foundation stone for something greater."

He held his hand out before her, the palm facing up toward the ceiling. He slowed his breathing, and took a blink that lasted a few seconds. Adrian drew on the Essence about him, and molded it into a shape that started to take form on top of his palm. The long, slender body ended in what looked like a bulbous head, the entirety of it was transparent. Before their eyes, it became more defined, and translucent as colour began to appear. The slender part was a rich green, while the top took a colour similar to her hair. It was clear then that a rose was forming in his hand, appearing as it were from thin air. Once the rose stem finally solidified, complete with three leaves and some rather sharp looking thorns, the bud seemed to explode outward in an impressive bloom, the petals matching her hair colour perfectly.

"For you, little sister, as a sign of faith," as he presented the flower to her. "It also serves as a demonstration of one slight ability you could gain under my tutelage."

Elisa was stunned, shocked to find she was expected. Yet she could no more prevent what was happening than she could command the earth to stop rotating round the sun. There was no doubt she had been through some traumatic, life changing events and she was unsure if it was not all just a particularly vivid dream. There was no doubt in her mind that she had been drugged at the party, her only uncertainty was whether this was now part of an hallucination brought on by whatever she had taken.

She stared at Adrian as he produced the flower. It was true that she had witnessed something similar produced by a stage magician and this was no doubt produced in the same way. Yet it did not explain how she was sitting there watching it, or more important, how she got there. Receiving the flower she examined it and was certain it was genuine. Yet all her scientific background told her that living things were not just created out of nothing. She should feel frightened, yet she was calm. She should be angry about what had happened to her, yet she was free of any search for revenge. Was this proof that all this was just drug induced? Or was it all a bad dream and would she soon awake in her own bed before even going to the party?

“Thank you for the flower … and the welcome. But how could you know I was coming?” Then her mood swung and her mind was racing again. Was Adrian linked with Ricky? Was this all part of the same thing? Would she be attacked again? She began to panic as these doubts filled her mind. “Please … I want to go home. I have no idea how I got here, but I need to go, I … I can’t stay.”

Yet even as the words left her mouth she felt another swing as a calmness welled up deep inside that defied reason replacing the panic. Somehow she trusted Adrian and she knew he would not harm her. Her resistance finally broke as all the trauma of the past few days came to the surface and she felt warm tears streaming down her face.

He watched her take the flower, examining it closely. She took it calmly, more so that he expected. Either she was more ready than he expected, or she was deeper in shock than most.

“Thank you for the flower … and the welcome. But how could you know I was coming?”

"I knew you were coming because I divined it. Roughly once a week, I divine any great events to come, ones that I have an interest in. Over a moon ago, your arrival was shown to me by the Fates. I didn't know exactly who you would be, other than you were a student coming to learn. The moment you entered the store, I knew you were the one I was waiting for."

He saw her brow crease, he breathing started to rise and she looked anxious and nervous.

“Please … I want to go home. I have no idea how I got here, but I need to go, I … I can’t stay.”

He was about to respond when he felt it. She drew in the Essence from around them, and worked a spell! Immediately, her panic was gone, he heart rate dropped and the tension was gone too. He changed his view to see how the Essence had changed, and he saw the fading signs of Mind magics. He called on the Essence himself, and probed her gently. She resisted him!

"Wyld Talent!" He said softly. It was then that she started to cry. He wasted no time, kneeling down in front of the distraught woman, and drawing her into a hug, holding her as she let her tears wash away the pain and fright that stained her mind and soul.

"Little sister, it is a good thing you have come to me. You need help to control what you are doing. You are using your Potential to control and protect yourself. But it is too instinctual... not controlled. That is dangerous." 'To everyone within a few miles of you...' "Wait here, I will get you some water and tissues."

He went into the back room and filled a glass with water. He fetched the tissues as he came out. He handed the glass to the young woman, and placed the tissues on the counter beside her.

"I am sorry, but I don't know your name yet. I know that this may be a strange question, but has anything significant happened to you recently?"

Avrielle had no idea what she was looking for and had no clue how to find the man she was seeking, yet she still followed her instincts and it led her to another town and a small shop,Pills, Powders & Potions was the name on the sign. Avrielle sensed something inside, something calling to her. She was exhausted from her journey and just walking in the door helped her feel a little more renewed. She took a deep breath and stumbled forward on wobbling legs toward where a blond woman stood. The minute she looked at her she was bowled over by the impression that she knew this woman....

....Literally, knocked off her feet as image after image flooded her mind, the blond as a younger sister snagging a fishing catch into a homemade net, the blond as a fellow nun, the blond delivering a baby she'd never live to raise, the blond as a daughter in her arms, the blond as her own mother as she lovingly brushed Avrielle's hair, the blond running alongside her in a field,the blond as a Venetian courtesan and Avrielle an admiring lover, the blond as a man who fought alongside her in a war, the blond being burnt at the stake alongside her for witchcraft...Avrielle lay panting on the floor as she tried to make sense of all she'd seen from one look in this girl's eyes. "I know you." she breathed softly meaning not just now but always, she's always known this woman at the core of her soul. They had always held a connection to one another even though in this life they had never met. She reasoned this must mean they'd lived lives before this one. The concept was intriguing and confusing to Avrielle who suddenly felt very hot and very thirsty before blacking out completely.

Elisa held the glass of water in her hand and immediately she was back at the party as bodies jostled and music was drowning out conversation. Ricky was handing her a glass of clear liquid. She had asked for a glass of water for her headache and he had got one for her. She raised it to her lips and the room span.

Instantly she was back with Adrian and struggled to keep hold of the glass. “I’m sorry!” She said placing the glass on the table “I don’t know what happened. What did you ask? Has anything significant happened to me recently?” She stared directly into his eyes “You know it has.”

Reaching for the tissues she felt herself gaining some inner strength “I don’t know who you are, what you are or how I got here. Yet … I feel safe with you.” Realising what she had just said she dried her eyes blew her nose and continued “And that makes me worry. I felt safe with him and look what happened!”

Before she could continue they were interrupted by the arrival of a woman she had never seen before. The woman took a long piercing look directly into Elisa’s eyes. Elisa felt her look straight into her soul, searching her, entwining with her. “I know you." Said the woman before collapsing at her feet.

Elisa jumped to her feet and then knelt down to tend to the woman. Looking at Adrian she said “What is this place? Who are you? Who is she?” Elisa cradled the woman’s head in her arms and started to massage her scalp and gently stroked the ravishing locks of red her hair.

Then she just stopped, gently released her head so she could rest back on the floor. Staring down at the helpless woman she said in a whisper “O my God!” She stood up and looked at Adrian while she pointed at the young prostrate form and again whispered “O my God!” Then kneeling down she shouted “O MY GOD! IT’S YOU!”

Elisa felt a stirring in her inmost being as a montage of images, sounds, smells and tastes swept through her being. She felt her consciousness come and go in waves before she settled down and sat in the chair. “It’s ok” she said to Adrian, “everything is ok now my soul mate is here!” With those words she sat back in the chair and drifted into unconsciousness.

He kept an eye on the woman seated in front of him. She was dangerous in a manner that sweaty nitroglycerin was. One slight jolt, and there would be a massive amount of devastation. He was focused on intervening at a moments notice in case the woman unknowingly tried to do something too drastic.

“I’m sorry! I don’t know what happened. What did you ask? Has anything significant happened to me recently?” She stared directly into his eyes “You know it has.”

"I need to hear it from your mouth, in your words. What you remember and how you experienced it. It is vitally important."

“I don’t know who you are, what you are or how I got here. Yet … I feel safe with you.” She dried her eyes blew her nose and continued “And that makes me worry. I felt safe with him and look what happened!”

"You feel safe with me, because you are safe with me. And your instincts are working better now, and you are trusting them more as well.

"As to him, and what he did... he and I are two totally different people."

Adrian's focus was so directed to the Blonde woman that he didn't register the arrival of the Redhead that he saved over three moons earlier. He was so unaware that it wasn't until she spoke that he became aware of her.

"I know you."

But those words were not aimed at him, they were aimed at the Blonde woman! Adrian was even more startled by the Blonde's reaction. She ran to the redhead, and cradled her head in her lap.

“What is this place? Who are you? Who is she?”

But before he could say anything, She let the redhead lie down on the floor, and stood up in complete shock.

“O my God! O MY GOD! IT’S YOU!”

He felt the disruption in the flow of Essence around her, but it was internal to her, and it passed quickly. She staggered, as if light headed or dizzy, making her way back to the chair.

“It’s ok, everything is OK now my soul mate is here!” And with those words she passed out, slumping in the chair.

Adrian closed his eyes for a moment, and let the momentary panic dissipate. He walked up to the door and flipped the sign, tracing a pattern on the back with his fingers while muttering a few words in some guttural language. He felt the artifact activate, and turned his attention to the two unconscious women in his store. Safe in the knowledge that no one would even notice the store there, much less look in, Adrian went out the back again.

He headed to a special door that was on the wall that separated the back room from the main part of the store. There was no handle, no hinges, no sign at all that it would even open. He laid his hand on it, and gently pushed the door. It opened to a set of stairs that descended into pitch black darkness. He went down the stairs as the door closed behind him. When he eventually reached the bottom, he paused.

"Ignitae Flambeau." Around the room, candles burst into life, illuminating the room. It was full of shelving contain all manner of items, jars, glass bottles, clay pots, books, scrolls and many other objects. Adrian looked around before going over to a collection of thick tomes, pulling one out. He took it over to a desk, opening the book to the first page. He closed his eyes, then reached out and turned to a page within the book. When he opened his eyes, he smiled.

... some souls are so entwined that there are those of us that believe they are not two separate souls with a bond, but the souls were once one, and have though some act of God, or other ministry, have been split, and grown into two near complete souls.

Regardless of the true source of the connection, when the Potential in one is unlocked, and the other remains dormant, the active one can trace the location, health and thoughts of the other, if they are properly trained in the arts. But it is one the rare times when both have the Potential unlocked that this becomes both a boon and a curse.

Not only are the above related abilities manifest in both vessels, when in proximity, the two can pool resources, drawing on greater reserves of Essence, as well as greater scope for control of the flows of Essence when a spell is worked. Thus, the two together can cover the lack of knowledge of the other, enabling them to act as if truly one entity.

But there is also a great risk. Once the souls meet, and acknowledge each other, if one of the vessels dies, more often than not the death will cause the other vessel to pass away as well, as if their heart failed.

Adrian closed the tome, placing it back on the shelf. He turned his eyes back to where the women lay, unconscious in the main part of the shop.

"Twin Souls... will the wonders never cease?" He rolled his shoulders and walked back up the stairs. As soon as his feet left the floor, the candles went out and he made his way to the back room. He wandered out to the main room and jumped up onto the counter, crossed his legs as he sat, waiting for them to wake up. There was much to be done, but they needed to be awake, so they could decide if they would walk the Path with him.

If they were prepared to walk the path with him.

Avrielle awoke to the scents and sounds of this strange shop she'd entered earlier, hand-in-hand with the blond woman she'd 'remembered' before her journey had become too much for her body to bear and she'd passed out. She sat up slowly and looked over the other woman lying unconscious beside her, who's eyes were also beginning to just now flutter open.

As Avrielle dragged her gaze away from her twin-soul she looked up into the knowing eyes of the man who had been witness to her accident and her change weeks earlier. "You...I've been looking for you forever." she said softly, feeling instantly calmer now that it seemed things were fitting into place.

“It’s …you … it’s …” As Elisa was mouthing those words in a slow husky whisper she opened her eyes. “I … think I must have fainted.” She said as she tried to get out of the chair. Looking at Avrielle she said “I’m sorry if I seem strange, so much has …” She couldn’t finish her sentence because she became aware of the beauty in this woman. Her seductively enchanting red hair, her piercing green eyes that were but windows into her beautiful soul. Elisa wanted to hug her, caress her, to say how safe she felt in her presence.

She looked back at Adrian “I’m a science student, I’m studying biochemistry. All life, all consciousness is but a reaction to atoms; protons and neutrons. When our biochemistry breaks down we die.” She looked back at Avrielle “So … why do I feel that I know you, that I we are meant to come together again?”

She noticed that the water was still on the table so she picked up the glass, put it to her lips and sipped a little before returning it to its station. “I’m not here by chance am I?” She asked Adrian “You two have connived to bring me here and I should be making every effort to get back to my folks, face the music and begin to rebuild my life. Yet I can’t.”

Taking another sip of water she sat back in the chair saying out loud to both of them “This illogical, it’s the drugs still playing havoc with my senses. But at this moment I know that everything that has ever happened to me in my life is but preparation for this moment.” Looking at Adrian she said “I know I’ve met Avrielle before but where do I know you from?”

She stopped, her mouth dropped open as she said to the woman “Please tell me your name isn’t Avrielle!”

Adrian watched as the two women started to awaken. He knew the next few minutes would be the difficult ones for them. They would be making a decision that would change their lives. And in the case of the Blonde, it was vitally important that she make the correct decision.

But it was Avrielle that woke first. She looked from the Blonde over to him, confusion slipping away from her, being replaced by calm.

"You...I've been looking for you forever."

He laughed, breaking the tension within him as he did. He looked down to where Avrielle was starting to sit up, smiling at her. She had not changed at all since he brought her back from near death. He skin was the same shade of pale, her hair was as long and richly red too. Yes, her soul had finally allowed her body to show itself Truly.

"It may have felt that way, Avrielle, but it hasn't been forever. Not even close. Forever is a very, very long time. But you have found me, and on a fortuitous day too, it would seem."

Adrian saw the blonde had stirred, and had spoken to Avrielle before turning her attention to him

“I’m a science student, I’m studying biochemistry. All life, all consciousness is but a reaction to atoms; protons and neutrons. When our biochemistry breaks down we die.”

"Your words are true, in part. I study Life. But there is more than what your science teaches, understands or will even acknowledge. You think that rose I made for you is some hallucination, or slight of hand trick. Because everyone knows that you can't create something from nothing. Right? But have you thought of how I could have found a rose with a colour that matches your hair colour so perfectly?" He slide down off the counter, and walked over to Avrielle. He took her right hand, turning it palm up. He stood back, and in the same manner, created a rose on Avrielle's hand. A rose that matched her hair colour exactly as well.

"Another demonstration of faith, to a future student. There is more to life than simple biomechanical interactions at a molecular level. In time, you will learn, understand and eventually be able to manipulate that which Science says does not exist to do things that Science dreams of."

She looked back at Avrielle “So … why do I feel that I know you, that I we are meant to come together again?”

Adrian smiled. "Because something beyond simple biochemistry exists that links you. Your souls are linked. Bonded. Traveling together, learning, sharing and loving."

The Blonde woman took up the glass, taking another sip to help calm her nerves.

“I’m not here by chance am I? You two have connived to bring me here and I should be making every effort to get back to my folks, face the music and begin to rebuild my life. Yet I can’t.”

"No, you are not here by chance. You needed to come here, to learn something important about yourself so you can make a choice. Neither Avrielle or I have done anything to you to bring you here, or deny you any freedom of choice. You may stand up, and walk out that door at anytime, and neither of us will stop you. One part of you mind is trying to tell the rest of you that you must leave. But you know that there is more than has to happen before you can leave."

“This illogical, it’s the drugs still playing havoc with my senses. But at this moment I know that everything that has ever happened to me in my life is but preparation for this moment. I know I’ve met Avrielle before but where do I know you from?”

"Your body is free of the drugs that were put into your body. No, everything that has happened in your life has been the normal events of living. But there have been key events that have occurred to prepare you for now, or for what is to come.

"We may have met before, but the bonds are weaker between us that between you two. In time, I may be able to answer that question, but I can't do that right now.

"But there are two things you need to do. Firstly, introduce yourself to us. Secondly, tell me what happened to you recently. What major event happened to you that changed your life."

Elisa thought for a moment, took another sip of water and then held the rose Adrian had given her in her hands. She smelt it, felt it and then placed it on the table. “A thing of such beauty needs to be preserved, can I have a little vase of water for it and the other rose please?” She stared hard at Avrielle and then looked at the rose. “You really are a stunningly beautiful woman, and that Rose … it matches your hair … perfectly. And the green leaves, they reflect the beauty of your eyes.”

Putting her hands to her face Elisa continued “God alone knows what I must look like … you must think I’m so slovenly. I’m sorry.” She hesitated for a moment, took some more water, placed the glass back on the table and sat back in the chair as her eyes filled with tears.

Adrian’s words came back to her "… there are two things you need to do. Firstly, introduce yourself to us. Secondly, tell me what happened to you recently. What major event happened to you that changed your life." She looked at Avrielle, back to Adrian and then lowered her eyes.

“My name is Elisa Shaw, I’m twenty one years old and I have lived a rather sheltered life up ‘til now.” She drank some more water and then stared hard at the glass. When she had put it back on the table it was only a third full. Now it was full again, ice cold and tasted just like the spring water she had drunk in Switzerland as a young girl aged twelve. She looked at Adrian, smiled and shook her head in amazement.

“When I was fifteen I thought I had hit the jackpot when the school hunk, Ricky, asked me out for a date. I can remember my best friend, Simone telling me how lucky I was, but she also warned me not to be free with my favours. Ricky had a reputation as something of a stud, but as soon as he had taken a girl to his bed he seemed to lose interest. I was determined that I was not going to be one of his conquests.

“After we left school we lost contact with each other, I went to University to study biochemistry while Ricky won a scholarship to one of the top football teams in the country. As you know he is now an established star who can command a very handsome salary, and his exploits on the field with his team and in bed with world famous models are now legendary.

“For my twenty first birthday my parents took me to see the stage version of Mama Mia. During the interval I ran into Ricky and we exchanged telephone numbers. I went on several dates with him, but I remembered Simone’s advice and I held on tight to my knickers. I have never …” She hesitated, trying not to cry. She looked at Avrielle, saw the loving support in her green eyes, took another sip of water and continued.

“ … I had never been with a man in … that …” As her voice trailed off she locked eyes with Avrielle, took a deep breath and blurted out rather hurriedly “I had never had sex with a man …” She thought hard “… or a woman come to that.”

Glad to have got that statement out of the way Elisa sat back in the chair and carried on “ … until that night, may have even been last night, … I think it was last night … when I was invited to a party by Ricky. My parents didn’t want me to go, and my father warned me about Ricky’s reputation. But, being so headstrong I ignored that advice and went. Ricky was charm itself and introduced me to his team mates, showing me off as a sort of trophy.

“I can remember having a headache and asking Ricky for some fizzy water. I remember him giving it to me and then the very next thing I knew was that I was, God knows where, waking up in this huge circular water bed. My … my pussy was bleeding and I felt ill. On the wall were pictures of me having sex with Ricky and several members of the team.

“There was a lap top on the table open at my E Mail account and messages had been sent to my family containing copies of the photographs on the wall. There was a text message on my mobile phone saying ‘No one says No to me – Ricky.’ Then the mobile started ringing and an unknown voice said “Your thoughts have been heard and you can repair this and fulfil your potential.” I switched it off and it rang again, I took the battery out and it still rang, I even smashed it but still I kept hearing that voice.”

She stopped , looked up at Adrian and said “There was more … let me think … I know, it said ‘A car will collect you in thirty minutes.’ That’s all I can remember until I came here.

Breathing a sigh of relief she took some more water, sat back and just said “So that’s how I got here.”

Avrielle listened, horrified as she heard the tale this spiritual sister was telling about how she'd come to this place and this new fork in the road of her life. She felt compelled to reach out and hug the girl who was trembling in her arms as she spoke. Avrielle embraced her tightly, willing her own inner calm to be felt by the other. To her surprise it did seem to help. "Elisa..." she repeated, letting her mouth get the feel of a name she suspected she's say many more times in her life from now on. "Elisa...please don't be sad. I wish I could take your pain away."

When all eyes were upon her Avrielle shrugged, "I have no story. Nothing like that. I was on my way to my first student nursing job and got into a car accident which should have killed me." she looked to the man, "You rescued me and saved my life, mending my broken body. You denied it but I am certain of it. And, the moment you healed me I became...different...me, as I am now. I am beautiful, strong, aware...and I think it has something to do with you so I came looking for you to find out more."

Elisa looked at the roses in the same manner that just about every woman does.

“A thing of such beauty needs to be preserved, can I have a little vase of water for it and the other rose please?”

Adrian laughed. "There is no need. They will thrive as long as your hearts beat and your lungs draw breath. They need no water nor other care that normal roses need. You may put them in water if you like, but it is not required."

“God alone knows what I must look like … you must think I’m so slovenly. I’m sorry.”

Adrian looked over at Avrielle, with a slight smile on his face. "You haven't looked in a mirror recently, have you. Your are far from slovenly." He was certain that Avrielle would agree.

They listened to Elisa recount the event that trigger the unlocking of her Potential, Adrian grew visibly angry by the time the tale was finished.

"There is one thing that you can be assured of Elisa. Neither Avrielle nor I will engage in sexual activities with you unless you fully consent. To do so would be a great crime."

Then Avrielle spoke of her event.

"I have no story. Nothing like that. I was on my way to my first student nursing job and got into a car accident which should have killed me. You rescued me and saved my life, mending my broken body. You denied it but I am certain of it. And, the moment you healed me I became...different...me, as I am now. I am beautiful, strong, aware...and I think it has something to do with you so I came looking for you to find out more."

"Yes, at the time I did deny it. You were not ready to accept the truth, even though you had suspicions. I healed you as you Potential was unlocked. You were not your true self like Elisa is. So, when I healed you, your Soul made sure that you took on your True Form."

Adrian dropped down from the counter and stood in front of the two women. He looked at each of them, getting the haunting feeling that he too was linked to them in some manner.

"I am Adrian Calloway, and I am what most people call a witch. They are dreadfully wrong, but for the sake of argument, it's a simple term to use. I, and a few people like me, are well versed in the use of Magic to effect Life. We manipulate the Essence about us to make the seemingly impossible possible. Elisa has been doing it frequently since her arrival. She calmed her self, refilled her glass with water that was not within the store.

"Anyway, you are both at the beginning of a new part of your lives. You need to be trained, mentored, educated in how to make better use of your Potential. It is vital for you, Elisa. You are using yours without conscious thought. That is very dangerous, not just for you but for everyone near by. We can tap enormous amounts of power, but if not done properly, the results could be disastrous.

"But, before we leave this shop today, you will either do so as my students, or you will return to you lives, and live them as best as you can... for the short amount of time you will have left. Either way, once the choice in made, it cannot be undone.

"As a student, you will live in my house, and you will learn how to use your Potential safely. When I deem that you have learned enough to be safe, then you will be free to strike out on your own. You will be feed, clothed, tutored, guided and shown the wonders of your gift. In return, you will stay with me, and learn from me, applying yourselves as best as you can to all that you do.

"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

"What do you mean, 'short amount of time'?"asked Avrielle, catching that bit of his speech with some concern. "What would happen to us if we don't remain here to study with you?" she asked warily.

Elisa found herself answering, but where the wisdom came from she had no idea. Rising from the chair she moved over to her companion, looked deep in her green eyes and said gently “We have no need to fear, Adrian has given us free will. If we decide to leave right now he will not stop us or punish us. The only punishment we will have is the knowledge, in later years, that we will have lost a golden opportunity to improve not only our lot, but the lives of very many people.”

Moving back towards Adrian she said “I have no idea where that came from, but I think it’s the truth.” She walked up to him and said “Don’t ask me why, but I trust you. And I think Avrielle does too.” She hesitated and then went to stand by Avrielle and asked “When do you want us to move in?”

Adrian watched as Elisa walked to Avrielle's side. She she did, Avrielle leveled the question he was waiting for one of them to ask.

"What do you mean, 'short amount of time'? What would happen to us if we don't remain here to study with you?"

Before Adrain could answer, Elisa spoke to Avrielle giving her an answer. Adrian smiled at her choice of words, as her Potential was used once more to clear her mind of irrational thoughts.

"By a short amount of time, normally I would say a year at most. But with Elisa, a few months. Your Potential has been unlocked, and it will start finding ways of being used. Without the proper control, you will do something wrong that will kill you. Simple as that."

Adrian watched Elisa moving around as if nervous, speaking her mind. Finally, she hesitated and then went to stand by Avrielle and asked “When do you want us to move in?”

"If you accept, it will be today. But before that, there is one thing I need to check..." He looked at Elisa, changing his perceptions to view the balance of Life. He saw that Elisa, healthy, that she was not under the effects of any drugs, or other chemical compounds. But she was fertile, and there were no signs of contraceptives in her system. She would be conceiving a child within the next few hours if nothing was done.

Barely concealing the wince, he bit the inside of he lower lip, flooding his mouth with blood. He rolled his lips, coating them with the blood as he stepped forward and placed a gentle kiss on Elisa's forehead. For a second, there was a perfect print of his lips on her skin before the blood red impression seeped into her skin.

He healed his bite wound without much thought or effort, and waited as his spell took effect...

Avrielle wondered what Adrian's kiss on Elisa's head was for but soon she realized. When she touched Eliza's hand she felt the stirrings of cells attempting to group together. Her's and an unknown entity. She could almost envision the tiny invaders by the thousands, banging on a door one lucky fellow would bust through with glee...And, just as that moment occurred it had been frozen. Adrian had discovered the moment of conception and was about to stop it from happening. Avrielle felt a sensation like the subtle rewinding of an old cassette tape. Adrian was doing something which would expel these invaders from Elisa's young, nubile body. Avrielle continued to hold Elisa's hand so she could sense this wonderous act reversing itself. She was truly amazed by Adrian's power!

Elisa was rather taken back by the kiss to her forehead as it sparked that strange sensation you get when you massage the space just above the nose. That fades, but this one intensified. Suddenly it started to creep down her body, into her shoulders, arms, hands and then back up to her breasts before settling in her abdomen.

Her period wasn’t due, but she felt that gripe stabbing feeling associated with pre menstrual tension, as though something was stirring, breaking away.

“Whereabouts is your toilet?” She asked. Receiving directions she gently kisses Avrielle on the cheek, withdrew her hand, and made her way in. She felt as though her abdomen was going to explode. Sitting on the seat she felt a warmness pour from her pussy as a little blood and other fluids escaped. Sitting there for a while she noticed that the other fluid was like semi cooked egg white, rather like the sperm samples she examined at University.

Eventually she came back into the room and sat down without being asked. “I’m sorry I had to leave, I’ve no idea what happened there.” She looked at Avrielle and back at Adrian. “Well, maybe you should show us to our room.” She smiled and turned towards Avrielle “I assume you’re staying too!”