Revelations #5
When they left Keaton was all over me again. We didn’t even bother with sleep. Over the next two weeks, I told Keaton to bring some of his stuff over considering my boyfriend practically lived with me now anyway.
Sassy was really happy about it. I didn’t like being away from Keaton and felt super clingy with him right now.
I had the day before my birthday off from work, but I was still going to the same area for a very important reason.
I had an eye doctor appointment that I’d finally gotten around to making.
I walked in and sat down in the waiting room. Several people were eyeing me with interest. Duh. You have to check in, Odette. Don’t just sit down. I quickly got up and signed in at the front desk. The woman asked, “Insurance?”
I admitted, “I don’t have any, but they said on the phone if I could pay out of pocket that was fine.” The woman nodded, “You’ll have to pay upfront.” I knew that. Before she could continue, she trailed off when her phone rang.
The woman glanced back then announced, “I’ll be right back.
” She left and came back a few minutes later.
“As it turns out, we are giving free eye exams today. Dr. Umphries will see you soon. Probably both of them.” Did I need two of them?
I guess I did tell them I was seeing weird things when I called. I nodded, “Thank you.”
I didn’t even have time to sit down before I was called back.
The technician had me look into a machine and look at a hot air balloon.
Then they took me to a room and had me read off a picture of random letters.
I covered up one eye at a time and read the lowest line.
The girl put a few things in a computer then left saying, “The doctors will be in shortly.”
Less than a minute later two men walked in. I said, “Wow, I’ve heard doctor’s offices take forever to see people, but you are quite efficient.” The first guy laughed, “Taking a long time is for boring people, and I assure you we are not boring.” I believed him.
The man introduced himself, “Hello, I’m Oscar.” I clarified, “Dr. Oscar Umphries?” That’s who I booked the appointment with. Dr. Oscar smiled, “Yes, Dr. Oscar Umphries. You may call me Oscar. This is my son, Silas. He’s also an optometrist.”
Silas smiled, “It’s nice to meet you, Not Katie.” I snorted, “You know Key.” It wasn’t a question. Both men grinned broadly. Oscar answered, “I’ve known Keaton since he was born.” I frowned, “You look like you’re maybe twenty-five.”
Oscar laughed, “I like you. I am much older than twenty-five.” Well, he definitely didn’t look old enough to have a son who was a doctor. Oscar asked, “So, what brings you in?” I sighed, “I keep seeing things.”
Silas smiled brightly, “How intriguing! What things?” I wouldn’t call it intriguing at all.
Concerning, sure but certainly not intriguing.
I shrugged, “I think people are faster than the speed of light, which isn’t possible.
The reason I called was because I keep seeing people’s eyes flicker black. ”
Oscar tried to cover his laugh with a cough, causing me to frown. He cleared his throat, “I see. Well, we will dilate your eyes and check everything out.” He was very easy to talk to. The optometrist quickly ran through his tests.
I asked him, “Why did you become an optometrist?” Oscar moved his chair over and had me lean forward onto something ordering, “Don’t blink.” The man sat back and moved around explaining, “I became an optometrist because I think eyes are the gateway to people.” That was true.
Oscar continued, “I find eyes fascinating, and I do not like to be bored. I used to live out on my own before I met my Jenna and she gave birth to our children. I observed people from afar, never really engaging with them. I always found people and their eyes interesting. Some people’s faces never give anything away, but the eyes are so expressive. ”
Oscar tilted my head back and dropped in eye drops that stung. I wiped my eyes with the Kleenex Silas gave me. Oscar told me, “It will take a few minutes for those to kick in.” The light in the room became unbearable.
I winced asking, “Can you turn that off?” Silas frowned, “Of course.” I could barely keep my eyes open. Oscar gently examined my eyes. I whispered, “Something’s wrong, right? I should be able to open my eyes.”
Oscar replied, “I don’t believe anything is wrong. You just seem to be extremely sensitive to dilation. Your vision and eyes are perfect.” The man started to speak in another language but before I could ask about it, my eyes fluttered closed.
I woke up feeling sick and dizzy. I looked around unsure how I got back to my apartment. My phone was buzzing. I answered in a shaky tone, “Hello.” Caspian instantly asked, “Odette, what’s wrong?” I groaned, “I got my stupid eyes checked out and now I’m dying.”
Caspian asked, “You did what? What’s wrong with your eyes?” I groaned, “Evidently nothing. That doesn’t explain why I keep seeing things that don’t happen. People’s eyes don’t flicker black.” Caspian asked, “What people?”
I groaned, “That’s your question?” I looked at the screen and cried, “I’m sorry. I can’t look at my phone right now. My eyes hurt so much and it’s so bright.” Caspian assured me, “It’s alright, little sister. You can just talk. What do you feel like right now?”
I answered, “Like I may throw up. I don’t even know how I got home. I just remember falling asleep in the eye doctor’s office. He was a very charismatic man who speaks some beautiful language I’ve never heard.”
Caspian snorted, “I see. Whose eyes flicker black?” I snorted, “No one apparently. Except it’s everyone around here. Who cares? My head couldn’t hurt worse than it does now. I’m so unobservant but I noticed that. I missed that my song boy got a tattoo though.”
Caspian laughed, “Did he? Where is this tattoo?” I answered, “On his neck. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before the other night. It has a music note, an O, S, and C. I guess it stands for Odette’s Song Call.” Caspian disagreed, “It doesn’t.”
I asked, “How would you know that?” Caspian laughed, “It’s obviously for Odette Sargasso. That is our last name. The C we can figure out.” I reiterated, “It’s call. I don’t have a last name or a middle name.” Caspian sounded angry, “You do have a last name.” Except I didn’t.
Caspian insisted, “You are a Sargasso, Odette. Should you meet more people like Luke, you tell them the Sargasso’s will come against them for you.
Most would walk away from you to avoid that.
” I laughed, “Because you’re the mob boss kingpin now?
No, it’s the Don.” Because they said clan, so they were going the Irish route.
Caspian snorted, “Let’s go back to boss.” I smiled, “AH HA! So you admit it.” Caspian laughed, “You seem better now.” I conceded, “I feel a little better, that was weird.” Caspian replied, “Hmm.” I told him, “I think my friends are planning my first birthday party.”
Caspian asked, “It’s your birthday?” I explained, “Tomorrow is. They were asking pointed questions and have been quite secretive and evasive lately. I’m positive it’s a party.
” Caspian told me, “I’ll have to get you seventeen presents to make up for the birthday’s I missed.
Happy early birthday, little sister. We would all sing to you if you can call us tomorrow. ”
I tried to play it cool like I didn’t care, “I’m sure I can. You don’t owe me anything. Lux always got me a present, but he was never there on my actual birthday. My birthday just doesn’t mean much to me.” Except them singing would mean the world to me, which was silly.
Caspian said, “Your birthday is certainly a day we will celebrate. We are all very happy to have you in our lives. I hope your song boy makes it very special for you.” I teased, “Or he will deal with you.” Caspian nodded, “Yes.”
I snorted, “So simply put, just yes.” Caspian emphatically stated, “Anyone who upsets you will deal with me. I cannot say they will care for that.” I gulped, “Are you going after Luke then?” Caspian answered, “I will. That dolt going to mess up or I will find you.” I was hoping for the second one.
Caspian added, “One of those things will happen. When they do, the Merrick’s will rue the day they thought they could cross me and get away with it.” I asked, “What about grandpa and mom? They crossed you too.”
Caspian said, “Mom has also crossed me for the last time. This is unforgivable. What she’s done to you is irredeemable. What she did to our brother was awful, but he had his father to step up for him.” I whispered, “I think back on all Lux was doing for me a lot now.”
Caspian replied, “As we all would have.” I explained, “Lux was spending all his money on me to take care of me. I’m certain I only knew mom was my mom because her pictures were in the apartment.
Lux paid someone to watch me if he wasn’t there.
I think I saw mom restock the fridge a few times and leave before Lux’s dad took her to court for custody. ”
Caspian’s jaw flexed, “Like I said, it’s not something that can be forgiven. Grandpa is currently all talk. If he acts on something, he’ll add to the list of family crossing me.” I told him, “I may not know all about your mob business, but I would never intentionally cross you.”
Caspian laughed, “That I know. You are very special. Serenity told me about what you did with the water. You truly are more powerful than anyone knows. Somehow, I’ll find you.
” I teased, “Or I’ll find you. You and Serenity said if I got to a body of water and wanted to get to you, I could.
” My brother smiled, “I believe that you could.”
I heard the key moving around in the lock on my door. I said, “My song boy is here.” Caspian dryly commented, “Do tell your song boy that your eyes are sensitive and that there’s nothing wrong with them. He should do better at convincing you of that.”