The Gift of Sight
Raihana
“Heaven!” I shout, my heart pounding in fear as I rush to her, but then stop, realising what’s happening.
She’s having a calling.
Another one already? There is not a single witch who has been given more than three prophecies in her lifetime, and none survive past that third. Terror fills me as I can do nothing but watch. She’s only sixteen, and she’s already having a second!
Her head snaps back as she stares at the ceiling, her aura surging around her in brilliant green. Wind whips around her, but it touches everything but her. Her hair swirls around her as if defying gravity itself.
Her voice is distorted as she begins speaking.
“Hear now, the shadowed truth of the Adonai.
He shall be adorned in blood, for his path is carved in slaughter. Brothers shall turn against one another, and allies may fall to doubt, for the Adonai’s crown is forged not in peace, but in conflict.”
Ahren appears in the doorway in a puff, his eyes glowing red.
“The blood of war will run like a river, and in its crimson current his strength shall be tested. Should he falter, should his heart give way to despair, his hands will loosen from the destiny laid upon him.”
The others rush inside as Heaven continues.
“And if he fails, the Four Rulers will fall with him, and the world shall drown in the silence of their ruin.
But if he endures, if his will stands unbroken amidst betrayal and the tearing of kin, then, even the blood that stains him shall become his power.
Mark these words, for the Adonai’s greatest foe is not the blade before him, but the weakness within.”
The surge of power vanishes, and I rush to her side as she drops to her knees, her floating hair falling forward as a soft whimper escapes her.
Delsanra and Allie are beside me in seconds as I pull my baby girl into my arms, stroking her hair.
“What was the start of the prophecy?” Dante asks quietly.
“Hear now, the shadowed truth of the Adonai.
He shall be adorned in blood, for his path is carved in slaughter.
Brothers shall turn against one another, and allies may fall to doubt, for the Adonai’s crown is forged not in peace, but in conflict.
The blood of war will run like a river, and in its crimson current his strength shall be tested.
Should he falter, should his heart give way to despair, his hands will loosen from the destiny laid upon him,” I say quietly.
“Well, I think the first thing we need to do is get Heaven to bed,” Mom says quietly as she comes over and checks her pulse. “She will be fine.”
“I agree,” Kiara says softly, placing a hand on Dante’s arm.
He frowns deeply but doesn’t say anything as he looks away.
Tatum moves closer, scooping Heaven up and carrying her upstairs. Alessandra follows, her face a passive mask, but she must be worried.
I stand up, only for my own brother to step closer and put his arm around me. “She’ll wake up soon.”
I nod, but the fear that she’s only 16 and has already had two powerful prophecies doesn’t go away.
“She’s going to be ok,” Uncle says quietly.
“I hope so; she’s had two prophecies regarding the Adonai already. Excuse me, I need to get her to bed.” I turn, and Uncle places a hand on my head fleetingly, offering a moment of comfort before I head upstairs. Delsanra follows me upstairs but doesn’t speak until we have turned down the hallway.
“She might be stronger than that.”
I stop and look over my shoulder at her. “And what if she’s not? What if her visions cost Heaven her life?” I whisper.
Delsanra looks down. She’s already crumbling at the loss of Sienna, we all are, but for the sake of our other children and one another, we’re trying to find our way and to remain strong.
“We’ll protect our baby girls, ok?” she says softly, coming over to me and hugging me tightly. “I promise.”
How?
I smile at her and thank her before I enter Heaven’s room with a heavy heart.
Allie is removing her sandals, her face grim, and my fractured heart, which is somehow glued together, becomes weaker.
You can see the love she has for her. She’s a person who despises germs, yet here she is removing Heaven’s shoes and tucking her feet under the duvet as Tatum removes her large earrings and adjusts the pillow under her head.
They look up, realising I’m watching, and I step into the room.
“Thank you for getting her comfortable.” I switch on her lamp and walk over to the curtains, pulling them shut.
“She’s going to wake up real soon,” Tatum says quietly, and Allie nods.
“Heaven is badass.”
Even the most badass person has weaknesses.
“Want a hot drink?” Tatum asks. I shake my head as I sit down on the bed beside Heaven. The room is silent before they excuse themselves and leave me alone in the room.
Chris, what do I do? She’s strong, and I know she thinks I’m suffocating her, stopping her, but… I’m scared. There are stories about witches who have overused their abilities and end up dying because of it. We still see it in battle, even to this day.
The prophecy replays in my mind. In a way, it applies to more than just Dante. The lives of the four rulers ultimately depend on Dante, and they are all tied to their mates… It’s like a domino effect.
I close my eyes, placing my hand over Heaven’s.
I’m scared I’ll lose her, too…
I feel her hand shift before closing around mine, and I look up to see her watching me. “I’m sorry I scared you. I’m fine; it’s just that these prophecies seem to take a toll.” She sits up and smiles. “Don’t worry, Mama, I’m ok.”
I nod quickly. What am I supposed to say to that? That I’m worried for her life?
“You really do have the gift of sight. I think it’s time I trained you myself.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re willing to train me?”
I look down. “Your powers aren’t waiting for you to grow up. No matter how much I don’t want to expose you to this so soon.”
“Yes, please! It really would make it easier for me; don’t you see, I’m ready,” she answers quickly. “And who better to teach me everything but you?”
“I’m just worried, the cost of power-”
“Knowledge is power, and if you teach me, I know I can be one of the greatest witches of our time. I can protect those I love; I can do what is needed.” She pauses, taking a slow breath and continuing more calmly. “I can handle this. This world isn’t going to wait for me to grow up.”
“You’re right. I’ll arrange something in my schedule, even if it means coming to the Academy a few times a week for our lessons.”
She nods vigorously, and for a moment, it’s not my little girl I’m seeing, but my baby girl all grown up, now a young woman that I so desperately have tried to think of as just a child.
I couldn’t protect Sienna… I have to protect Heaven.
“Then, we’ll have our first lesson soon.”
“I can’t wait.”
Heaven
It’s much later in the night, and Allie is sleeping on the other side of the bed. I can’t sleep, not with how much I have in my head.
That prophecy meant something more than just its words.
I massage my temples as I roll onto my side. Mama said she’ll train me, and she’s worried about the prophecies. I knew I had the gift of sight, and I assumed she knew, but for some reason, she seemed to only accept it now.
There are things I can see when I look at people – some people anyway. That’s how I found out about Hades’ favoured. He has the imprint of Hades in his shadows, the same way I see the one surrounding Skyla: a tall, slim woman with a cat’s face. Bastet.
But according to the grimoires, it’s an extremely rare kind of magic; not many witches are able to awaken the third eye.
I toss and turn in bed before I kick off the duvet from my side, swing my legs onto the floor and decide to run myself a bath.
I head to my ensuite and begin running my bath, watching the underwater LED lights change from a soft purple hue to pink to blue.
I drop in some soap petals and bath milk, and then remove my makeup and wait for the tub to fill. I wrap my hair up into a high bun.
Adding some herbal oils, I undress and sink into the warm water, resting my head back so I can think over the prophecy properly.
Did something change in the future to come that this was a warning that Dante needed to hear?
Tearing of kin…
I pick up my phone and look at the number saved under one simple emoji – a skull.
I can see that he’s online, meaning he’s saved my number… Well, that’s something at least.
HEAVEN: Can you explain to me why you are refusing to help me? I mean, what is it costing you?
??: You again? Seriously, you’re persistent. You’re like mould in a student flat; no matter what one does, you keep coming back.
I frown. Mould? He called me mould?!
HEAVEN: You’re the only one who looks like mould. I just need help; I don’t need you to talk to him for me.
HEAVEN: I just need you to set up a meeting for me.
??: Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard this tune before. You do realise you’re trying to pull a fast one on a god, right? That’s like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. Didn’t your cousin already try this and get turned into… oh, I don’t know… an example of what NOT to do?
Low blow, asshole.
HEAVEN: Yes, but there’s a difference.
??: Oh sure, of course there is. ‘This time it’s different’. That’s what every idiot says right before they faceplant into destiny. Still a no. N. O. spells no.
HEAVEN: It will be different. I know what I’m doing.
Oh, how he irks me!
??: Oh, I’m sure you do, but the answer is still NO.
I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm, my irritation rippling.
HEAVEN: Well, this was the last time I will ever ask you. I’ve told Alessandra, and she will be the one to talk to you next time.
??: WTF! Why would you even tell her? You swore an oath, and a witch can’t break her promise.
I smirk.
HEAVEN: No, we don’t. But Alessandra is of the di Bianco Galdur bloodline. She is my blood sister, and it does not count. By sharing something with her, I did not break any oath.
I look at the phone triumphantly, hoping that shuts him up, but no, he’s still typing.
??: I’d like to see how she gets me to do anything. I’m bored – later.
I scoff and put my phone down. He is insufferable.
I stare ahead, my brow furrowing. Tomorrow I’ll go to Holden’s pack, and then, then I’ll pay this idiot a visit.