Cassie looks at him and decides to trust her instinct. “My Grandmother was born in Germany but came to America as a married woman. She never shared with her husband, her ability to read minds. She had five children, but only her daughter received the gift. My mother as well. They taught me to hide it and never show it.” Cassie stands and begins pacing.
“They were murdered and I, well, I used it for the first time. Monsieur Constant, I wanted to get away, and I wanted their deaths to count for something. Things are changing quickly now. It seems the more I use it, the more my gifts change. Can you tell me what is happening?” she pleads desperately.
“I can help you understand the history and talents you possess, but first I shall order some tea.” He taps his cane, and the young girl comes running.
Cassie sits and smiles thinking isn’t life strange? Here I am, at three in the morning, having tea with a magician in the most beautiful hotel in the world. He turns back to her with a smile and responds, “Indeed. But this is hardly the most beautiful hotel in the world. France will always hold that honor.”
She laughs and apologizes. “Did I do it again?”
He waits until the tea is served and turns back to her. “Not your fault my dear. If what you're telling me is true, it makes perfect sense. I was born with these gifts, Cassandra, and it has taken me every bit of my sixty-three years to master them. I do not have all the answers, but I can help you. Did your family show any other gifts besides telepathy?” At the look of confusion on her face, he clarifies.
“Telepathy means to communicate silently with the mind. Not only can you take a person’s ideas,” he finishes speaking and says to her mind, ‘but you can project thoughts to and from receptive people.’
Cassie is shocked and a little frightened.
“Not that I know of. They always blocked. My grandmother believed it was spirits talking to her. My mother did not believe that, but she did agree it would be best to hide our ability.” Cassie sits down hard by the fireplace and whispers, “Am I evil? Is the devil working through me?”
Monsieur Constant gets up and moves slowly to the chair next to her. “My dear a person is judged by the actions they take. You are only evil if you believe you are evil.”
“I have done things, terrible things and I fear that it’s not over. My gifts are showing me images of things to come. Where before I could only see the thoughts or intentions of others, now I see, smell and can almost touch the images before me. What is happening to me?” She begs for understanding.
He holds her hand, “You are having visions. Telepathy is almost always paired with precognition. Cassandra that means you possess the power to glimpse the future. Not the absolute future, but one of the futures that may be. Nothing is set in stone, actions and choices alter the path of each individual. Our meeting was not by accident.”
“But how do I stop it? I want… I need to rest! I’m so tired.” She drops her head into her hands, and he reaches out to touch her. He feels the pain and misery weighing her down, and he wishes he could help. In her mind, he finds death. So much death, and in the background a baby cries for its mother and loved ones who beg for him to help her.
“Cassandra,” he replies in a hoarse voice. “A magus seeks above all else, peace. It is peace that your family cries out for. They do not wish for you to live in misery. You must find a way to forgive yourself and move forward. God's will is unstoppable. If all things happen according to his will, then you would not have been able to save them.”
She glances up at him and whispers, “That Monsieur Constant is how a guilty mind justifies its actions. I hold no such hope for my soul because in order to be forgiven you must first be sorry, and I am not sorry for what I have done.”
He is startled at such honesty and such ferocity in one so young. “That may be true, but you can grow to accept your choices and move past them. Those who survive atrocities like yours must learn to live with the consequences. Lying to yourself would only be the death of your soul.” He takes her hands tightly in his and closes his eyes.
“Your family is waiting for you, Cassandra. Your Father, Mother, Grandmother, and husband, Jim. Your baby girl too. They are watching over you and praying for your safety.”
When she tries to jerk away in shock, he opens his brown eyes and stares hard at her. “You carry with you all the hopes and dreams that they held in their hearts. Your survival was not because of an action you took, it was the will of our almighty creator. Accept that and seek peace, not revenge! Any other action will only bring more death.”
Her soft weeping brings him back from his vision, and he releases her hands.
“I will try. I will try.” She replies after her tears slow.
“Excellent. Now then, I shall teach you how to control your visions and block properly, unless you do not wish to block. Your gifts are going to expand rapidly because you have uncapped the potential. It will eventually reach its full capacity, until then you need to rest and study. Rest when you can and observe the simple rules I’ve lined out for you. Do you think
