Page 27 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)
Daemon was quite surprised at Samuel’s knowledge.
He also figured it would have to be something to that effect.
Since the moment he first encountered Lorelei, he sensed she had a highly undeveloped intuitive nature.
But he wasn’t sure how aware she was of her abilities until they met with Magnus back in London.
And with intuitive or psychic powers, the true strength comes with the awareness of the gifts and allowing the information to flow freely through you.
So if you’re oblivious to it, one would see it as nothing more than mere coincidence or luck.
The term “deja vu” has become popular to explain away this very experience.
“I’m not really sure if I’ve had anything like that happen with objects, but I have always been able to feel when something bad was about to happen.
My best friend Xavier back in London who I went to college with, always said it was a spooky skill.
I often didn’t think much about it. I may not have known what it was until it happened, but I would get these uneasy feelings that would well up inside me just before they would occur.
When it started to look like my hunches were right, I couldn’t help but believe my feelings were correct.
Anytime I told others about it, they told me it was just luck or coincidence. ”
Daemon nodded, taking in what she was saying before answering.
“All humans actually have access to this ability. It’s ingrained within all of you.
It’s just most people choose to stay ignorant to it or don’t believe it is real for one reason or another.
Obviously some humans, like oracles or Seers, have more skill than others.
But if you are able to recognize it happening, you can work on strengthening that ability like you would any other skill you wished to learn.
It’s sort of the equivalent of a spiritual muscle.
The more you work it out by acknowledging when you feel it, the more it will start to become more of a conscious action rather than a subconscious one. ”
“Why were humans given this ability?” Samuel’s quiet voice hardly broke through the wind that began to pick up.
“Well, it’s a little hard to explain but the essence of it all is that each human has a Higher Self; it’s the truest form of your soul and is directly connected to the Divine.
You know that little voice you often hear?
Telling you right from wrong or telling you to feel anxious about a stranger you met on the tube, to find out on the news 3 nights later that stranger robbed a store near you?
The very store you were going to and last second decided to go to another?
Or how when you’re beating yourself up in your head over a mistake, but there's a smaller, quieter voice telling you it will all be okay? That’s what it is; in its simplest explanation.
Most humans never connect to this Higher Self and therefore don’t have access to its knowledge.
It’s supposed to be the part of you unencumbered by the human ego; the one that isn’t tainted by the atrocities of the world or the hardships you face on a daily basis.
Are you familiar with the story of ArchAngel Metatron?
Magnus mentioned him to us when we saw him, too.
Well, he was actually a human on Earth who ascended and was made an angel when he accessed his Higher Self and made a profound connection with God.
After that, it became a staple trait that the angels wanted to give humans.
A chance at ascension. So, Metatron worked to make it something all humans, if they wished to seek it out, had access to.
But like I said, most humans prefer to remain ignorant to it which is why they never try to harness their intuitive powers or remain blind to them all together. ”
Daemon turned to look at Lorelei. He knew she was worried whether her own intuitive abilities would be enough to access what they needed to learn.
Worry was written on her face, so he lifted out a hand from his pocket and silently interlocked his fingers with her own.
When she squeezed his hand, his heart gave a lurch.
She was so strong in the face of all this uncertainty.
He couldn’t help but admire her. Then the tour guide’s voice rang over the group to announce they were there, the massive structure directly before them.
Stonehenge. Daemon knew ahead of time that they roped off a circle around the structure a good distance from it.
They hadn’t allowed tourists to venture much closer for years now, afraid the stones would get damaged.
They began to walk around the perimeter of the rope leisurely, attempting to make some distance between the rest of the large group that were excitedly taking pictures of themselves, trying to get the best angles of the stones behind them.
As they walked, Daemon kept the illusion around them.
“Are you sensing anything, Lorelei?” Samuel’s voice cut through the silence.
Lorelei stopped several feet behind him and was looking at the stones. Making his way to her side once more, he saw her blue eyes were a pale-ish grey now, almost resembling a stormy sky that hadn’t unleashed its deluge yet.
“As a matter of fact, I do feel something. It’s like a tugging in my mind but..it’s muted. I don’t think I’ll be able to understand what it is with all these people around. There’s too much energy interfering. But, this is definitely where we need to be.”
Daemon chuckles, “Well, looks like Magnus came in handy after all.”
They continued the tour, believing it would be too suspicious to leave in the middle of it, and chatted about what their next move would be.
“You seriously think you can train me to fend off other demons and angels?” Samuel’s voice trembled with fear and Daemon smirked.
“Absolutely. I was once the finest trained warrior in Heaven; other than the ArchAngels themselves. Even you and your scrawny self can learn at least some basic defense with me as your teacher. Also, you’re a demon.
All demons have a singular specialty ability they unlock at some point around your age I believe.
These abilities can range from hyper stealth or transfiguration, like shapeshifting.
It’s about whether or not we can break you down enough to unleash that earlier than wait for it to come out on its own.
This will be tough, but not impossible.”
Daemon watched as Samuel’s expression changed from fear to what appeared to be excitement. Maybe the kid would end up surprising him. Lorelei’s voice chimed in.
“Where are we going to train? I mean, with what you’re saying, this can definitely not be done near any people.”
“I already have that covered. I found a large field, not too far from here, completely empty and far from any peeping eyes. I was already there early this morning putting enchantments up to make sure it stays that way. As well as spells to ensure any damage done to the land will disappear once we leave the area. Like the kid said, we should be safe from Hell’s minions until tomorrow.
But I'm banking on being long gone from this area before that happens.”
Samuel shuffled his feet and grabbed the sleeve of his sweater nervously.
“Is one afternoon really long enough to teach us? What happens if Lorelei can’t figure out what is hidden here?”
There it was.
The fear that was settled down deep within each one of them, brought to the surface.
Even Daemon couldn't stop the concerned expression from spreading across his entire face. He let out a deep sigh and went to grab the cigarettes in his jacket pocket, pulled one out and lit it, placing his fingertips precisely lower, so no unwanted attention came their way when his fingertips literally caught fire. More of a reflex than a necessity, a comfort really. Taking a drag, he immediately sees Lorelei’s reaction.
She was quiet, but he felt her insides were churning with fear.
Fear of whether she was capable enough to do this.
Fear of what might be brought to knowledge.
Fear of letting down the entire human race.
Because that's what they were up against. That was the true monument they faced. It was as daunting as it was absurd.
He wanted to comfort her; pull her into his arms and reassure her that everything was going to be okay.
But he couldn’t. The odds were stacked against them and he didn’t know if everything turning out alright would be the case.
Lying to her for a moment of comfort seemed worse than saying nothing at all.
He only hoped she knew that he wished he had the words to say to make her feel better.
Other than her breakdown in the car before the fight, this was the first time he’d seen her faith falter.
And it broke him. He decided to finally break the silence that hung dreadfully in the air between them.
“We will deal with it when that comes. But for now, we have to stay focused on what we can do. We can’t afford to be weak or let doubt collapse us.”
They all nodded, but nothing more was said.
It was less a pep talk, and more brunt truth.
Doubt their success, and they’ve already lost. When the tour was finished, they made their way through the crowds, back to the car, and left for the field in which they would begin what may very well be the thing that keeps them alive long enough to reach their journey’s end.
If it worked at all.