Wishes On Stars

By Tamia Dawn Osburn

Nikau Kaur is in a band called The Empire in New Zealand. Lauren Ryder is a Captain in the United States Air Force who is stationed in New Zealand and she is a clairvoyant.
Nik had started having dreams about Lauren and a song that keeps appearing in his dreams. Even though he had never met her in real life he developed feeling for her wanted to make that song a dream come true and new it would be a hit for his band.
Lauren was also having dreams about Nik and couldn’t get him out of her mind and was puzzled by the dreams she was having.
Until a plane crash involving the band and Lauren and her crew came to their rescue only to find he was real.
Nik realized she was real and wanted to met her but she disappeared when he woke in the hospital. He became more determined to make the song a dream come true while he wanted to see her again until a beach vacation brought them together again when they fell in love with each other. But a vengeful band manager had other plans for them when he shot Lauren then killed himself but fate had other plans in store for them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Fire Press
• Release date: Oct 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005339388

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All rights reserved Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Copyright © 2021 by Tamia Dawn Osburn Published In the United States Of America and Smashwords copyright 2021

Dedicated to My family and friends and especially to Ursula Wolf and to all of the bad boys of heavy metal for the inspiration for this book.

Acknowledgement:

I will admit that if there are any mistakes they are mine and only mine and I will apologize in advance for any mistakes even though I did try my best in researching so any mistakes are mine and I do apologize for them.

Wishes On Stars

Written By:

Tamia Dawn Osburn

The Empire:

A Rock N Roll Romance

Prologue

No Matter how far you run. No matter how hard you try to hide. No matter where you are, it will find you. That is what Lauren’s grandmother had always told her. At first, Lauren had no idea what her grandmother had meant by that when she was first told and she was only a child at the time. Myra, her grandmother, had mentioned a few more times over the years before she was overcome with madness and perished from this plane of existence. 

Lydia, Lauren’s mother, didn’t respond to some of the questions Lauren had about her grandmother and some things that were happening to her when she became sixteen. Lydia just didn’t want to talk about it. Until she no longer had a choice when something happened to Lauren one day and needed to be picked up from school. She no longer had a choice. Mr. Morgan, her math teacher, was not too pleased either. There was an allegation of cheating against Lauren. Lauren hadn’t turned in any class work, yet she got all the test answers right. The reason Mr. Morgan waited until midterms to make his claim was a mystery.

After a pause, Lydia shook her head and said, Lauren. After exhaling deeply, Lydia tightly blew her breath out. I’m not sure where to begin and I know that you have many questions. She ran her hands along her face and growled softly. I don’t know what to do and I’m trying so hard not to get in the same boat as grandmother Myra. Lydia ran her fingers along her face. The truth is that no matter how hard we try, we can't hide from it. I didn't want it and I didn't want it for you.

Grandma Myra used to say something like that when I was growing up, Lauren recalled.

Lydia nodded in agreement. Yes, she did. What else did she tell to you?

Lauren shrugged. She was only sixteen at the time and had no idea what was going on with her. All she knew what that every time it came time for the math test, she somehow saw the answers and wrote them down as she saw them. She hated math. And now, she’s going to be known as a cheater. She had enrolled in a martial arts class to help with her anger and frustration at Mr. Morgan. And realized she was real good and began to enter tournaments and win championships.

Lauren, what's going on with you? Please be honest with me. I can tell when you are lying to me.

There was no doubt in Lauren's mind about that. Lauren's mother always knew when something was wrong with her before she even knew it herself. She inhaled deeply, then let out a long breath. I have no idea, momma. Math is something I am not good at, you know that. Despite not doing the work, I seem to know the answers to the tests.

Lydia nodded knowingly. You can see the answers in your mind?

Lauren’s head bowed. Is there anything else that you can see in your mind? Anything that you know will happen that you want to know about in advance? Do you see something happening elsewhere at the same time you are here?

While Lauren’s pulse rose and she breathed deeply, her heart began to beat a little faster. Yes.

Lydia suddenly sprang to her feet. This is something I fear. I hope that it will skip a generation. She placed her hands on her hips.

Lauren was baffled. What are you saying?

Quite harshly, Lydia began, Second sight it’s clairvoyance. Remote viewing. Whatever you call it, it is a claim that we can perceive objects, people, events, and locations through extrasensory perception. Such a person is said to be clairvoyant.

Even though she was still puzzled, Lauren nodded. In her young life, she had never heard of such a thing.

Her eyes widened as she turned to face her daughter. Don’t say a word to anyone about this ability. She stomped closer to where Lauren sat. Try not to use it. Grandma Myra did and the military dragged her into this group that used her. They used her badly that damaged her. Grandma tried to live a normal life afterward. She married grandpa and had a few kids. Me and Auntie Ruth but grandma wasn’t normal after what they had put her through. She made us promise not to use our gifts when we first started having visions because she didn’t want the military to use us the same way they did her. She saw things she wanted to forget but couldn’t that it drove her to madness. Lydia knelt in front of Lauren and looked up.

Please, promise me not to use it, Lydia muttered.

The only thing Lauren could do was nod. She wanted to ask more questions, but she was afraid to do so. Her mother's look was something she had never seen before, and it terrified her.

Her mother died after a car accident three years later, when she was nineteen. Lauren wasn’t sure what her future had in store for her. There were no scholarships for college because of the allegation of cheating on her tests. Her mother didn’t save either. She had no idea who her father was since he was never in the picture and Lydia never mentioned his name.

So she did the only thing left for her to do at the time. She enlisted in the military. Lauren broke her promise and joined the Air Force. 

Chapter One

After rolling over onto his back, Nikau Kaur blinked his eyes open. He had the dream again. It was the same song that kept appearing in his dream for the past several days. A song he didn’t recognize but in his dream…it means something. He would try to play that song on his guitar but couldn’t seem to get it right. His bandmates had no idea what to think either at first so Nik just kept it to himself afterward. While alone at home; he worked hard to try to get the song right. In the back of his mind, he knew this one song would make the band, The Empire. 

His dream included a woman who came along with a song. But that was another issue. First time he saw her in a dream, he was completely astonished. Despite never having seen her or even knowing her name, there was something about her that meant something to him. There was something about her reddish blonde hair and her hazel eyes that made an impression on him.

The song. There was something about the song that meant something to him in his dreams. It also meant something to her. It was like the song belonged to him.

After grunting loudly, Nik sat up alone in his bed. No matter how long she tried to search for this woman around Auckland, he couldn’t find her at all. He was beginning to wonder if she actually existed at all and she was just a figment of his imagination. 

She, however, seemed like an actual person to him. The influence she had on him made him write the song that kept appearing in his dreams. It was as if she was his muse. Nik had already begun writing a third song for an upcoming album he was working on.

Nik stood up and stretched. A few steps later, he pushed the curtain aside at the window. His plans for the morning included visiting Phia Beach as the sun began to rise over the city. Additionally, he needed to finalize some preparations before he left for a concert in Christchurch in a few days. While he was in Christchurch, his sister, Sienna, was going to stay in his apartment. On bare feet, he crossed the room away from the window. As Nik walked into the bathroom, he scratched his bare chest.

He exited the shower a few minutes later, relieved and showering, only to find his sister sitting on the couch looking through a magazine.

Sienna, Nik greeted her as he walked past her toward the kitchen. 

I brought a plate of pikelets, In response, she returned his greeting with a plate of pikelets. I made you a cuppa.

Nik entered the kitchen. Sounds good. TA

Watching her older brother move about the kitchen, Sienna leaned against the door frame. How long are you going to be gone?

A few days at the most.

Sienna nodded. Mom wants to talk with you before you leave.

As he pulled down a couple of plates, Nik paused. How is dad doing?

He’s doing well. He is taking some new medications, and they seem to be helping.

Nik let out a breath, not realizing how long he'd held it. A smile spread across his face as he said, that’s good. How are the studies going? 

It’s going as well as it can be, she said with a smile. Her preference for traveling abroad over attending the academy was known to him. After she had attended the academy for two years, Nik had agreed that he would pay for her to travel abroad for a year, then come back and finish her studies. In six months, it will be two years and she’s already planning where she wants to go.

Do you know where you want to go? Nik asked to change the subject.

England. I would love to see England.

Nik laughed heartily. 

Why is going to England so funny? I recall you being there last year. You posted a lot of photos online, I saw them all.

As soon as he stopped laughing, he turned serious. In fact, it was true. Additionally, the country had a dark side that she shouldn't have seen. That’s fine by me. Are there any plans Aria has a say in?

Sienna would not have to travel alone by taking Aria along with her.They had been best friends since they started school together.

I haven't spoken to her about it yet. We’re going to talk about it here while you’re gone.

Nik handed her a plate of pastries while nodding. Ok. You do promise that you’re not going to throw a major party while I’m gone? He had come home one night after a six-month tour in England last year to find his apartment full of people and they were having a party. Kicking the party-goers didn’t go as planned when they recognized him from The Empire. Let’s just say, it got to the point that Nik had to call security to get the people out of his apartment. 

You can count on me, Nik. Taking a bite out of the pastry, she remembered what happened last time.

Are you going for a walk on the beach? She asked him. It was a part of his ritual before a tour.

Before he took a sip of the black brew she made for him, Nik said, Phia Beach.

In the living room, Sienna turned to the shiny red guitar leaning against the wall. What are song are you working on?

Yep. I have two songs written already and need to put some music to the lyrics. Nik smiled at his sister. He wanted to tell her everything about the dreams and the woman in them. But he decided to keep quiet. He didn’t think she would understand. He didn’t understand it either. Hell, he didn’t even know if she was real or not. 

Let me read them, she pleaded.

Nik knew she was a sucker when it came to her. She smiled as he pulled out the lyrics and read them to her.

~ * ~

Lauren turned to the Lieutenant standing before her. They stood there staring at each other before the smile on their faces turned to laughter.  As she pointed a finger at Emily, Lauren said, No.

The two women turned and walked away from the building on the base they stood in front of. Lauren knew it would be the last time a man would mug a woman in Hagley Park. With her best roundhouse kick, she kicked the man in the head then tossed him on his ass. When he landed on his back, he had a priceless look on his face. The man rose and jogged off. As he left, Lauren had no idea what he was saying. She had been in New Zealand for less than a month and she still had some trouble with the slang.

Emily laughed as she said, He won't forgive you for that,

Lauren tried to stop laughing as she said, I don't give a damn if he does or not. Her dream from the night before popped into her head and she stopped laughing. Her dream involved a man who caused her to sigh. As they Leviced to their slow seductive song, she remembered the feel of his arms holding her tightly. As her lips touched his, she shivered in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was hotter than Hell. She would be sent to New Zealand, of all the places in the world. 

It’s good to leave the base, Lauren said.

Emily nodded in agreement. It is. 

Lauren had arrived on base three weeks earlier and had become friends with the young Lieutenant immediately. She waved a hand in front of her face. We should be getting back soon. We have that drill in the morning.

Rolling her eyes, Emily frowned. I know that. My responsibility was to schedule it. Besides, it’s for the enlisted group. Since you’re the captain and I am only an LT we can be late and not get into trouble, right?

Lauren smiled. As true as that may be, we do have to lead by example. To be clear, I do outrank you. Lauren tapped Emily’s shoulder with her own.

Emily moaned.