Chapter 53 #3
“Answers to many things I don’t understand—things that have been waiting more than 287 years to be revealed. I won’t say what I’m looking for, because this is my journey, but my questions might be yours too, Kyller. We could help each other.”
His voice returned to its usual excitement. Serguei was shrouded in so many mysteries that it was hard to decipher anything about him. I found myself thinking that if he weren’t Zion’s father, I’d consider him completely untrustworthy.
“If the sonar might have the answers, why don’t we look for him?” I nibbled on my piece of cake.
“Because finding him isn’t that simple. He disappears for most of the year and only shows up on test day or when he needs to recharge the machines with his gift.
I’ve rarely managed to talk to him, and whenever I tried, only his normal personality answered.
The mystical one spoke to me many years ago, while we were fleeing from the Drutes.
And I, foolish like all young people at that age, didn’t take it seriously. ”
“What did he say?” I asked.
“Many things.”
“What kind of things?” His answer only sharpened my curiosity.
“The kind that drives you crazy for all the damned years you spend thinking you could have done things differently, but didn’t.”
“You’re not going to tell me? Tell me at least one.” I rested my chin on my hand, waiting for his answer.
“He prophesied that I would have an important decision to make, and that darkness would fall upon the world if love wasn’t put first. Then he implied that my lineage descends from the Goddess of the Night, and that with each generation, the power would grow stronger.
Beyond that, he said my blood would be responsible for the earth’s destruction—and also for its unity, if love prevailed. ”
Serguei's mental voice trembled on that last sentence, growing muffled, as if he were in pain. We stayed silent for a moment. I didn't know exactly what was causing him so much anguish, but my heart ached watching him suffer.
“Goddess of the Night? Wait, he told me I should fight—if not for myself, then for the son of the night.” I felt Serguei growing restless on the other end. “When he mentions the Goddess of the Night, could he mean Anabel, the Goddess of Death?”
“I always thought so. And when Zion's powers started to manifest...” He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“When the shadows came, I knew the sonar wasn't bluffing.
It was a prophecy, and I only understood once everything had already happened.
Anabel is known for her affinity with death, shadows, the four elements, and souls.
Zion's gift could only have come from her.”
If the prophecy had been fulfilled, it meant Serguei hadn't chosen love—that the decision had been made when he killed Ravena. I was shocked by what I was hearing.
“Are you telling me we're descendants of the Goddess of Death and that our lineage is cursed?” Zion asked, frowning.
“I'm not saying anything. That's what the sonar implied. I'm just repeating what I heard.”
“And why did you only think to tell me this now, Serguei?” I felt Zion growing nervous, and I squeezed his hand to calm him.
“Because another worried mind wouldn't have helped with this. Let's be honest—I'm better than you at solving mysteries.” Zion huffed, and Serguei continued: “I decided to work through it alone, but now I see that maybe Kyller and I can join forces to figure all this out.”
“And what do you know about this rupture?” Zion asked.
The psychic sighed, as if that question might drive him mad.
“That's what I'm trying to find out. I know something happened the night I...” He paused, anguished. “Anyway, I'm searching for answers. I don't know what this rupture was.”
I was certain there was much more he wasn't telling me.
The whole story about Ravena had always been a mystery—no one ever really understood what had happened.
We only knew she was a traitor who had joined King Drutes to orchestrate an attack on Interion, an attack that had always been doomed to fail.
But I wouldn't ask. I would wait for Serguei to tell me of his own accord.
“One thing doesn't make sense. If I'm supposed to fight for the son of the night, that could only mean you or Zion, but you're both a thousand times stronger than me. It makes no sense,” I concluded, staring at Zion. The general, like his father, was a legend throughout Jupiter.
“I don't know, Kyller, but if he told you to prepare and fight, then listen. I want you to learn everything the dreams teach you, train even harder with Zion, and strengthen your mental shields.”
I shivered and felt Zion's worry beside me.
“Do you think Kyller might be in danger?”
“I don't know if she's in danger, but I told Lagherta her daughter would be safe with me. So whatever this coming of night is, it'll have to go through me to reach you.”
A knot formed in my throat, so tight I could barely breathe. I forced myself to take a sip from Zion's juice glass to shake off the feeling.
“The sonar also said I have two powers, but that doesn't make sense either—I only have healing. He also said you have two.” I pointed at Zion.
“And I do.”
My mouth fell open in shock.
“What do you mean? You never told me about this.” My voice came out so shrill it was almost a scream.
“There are many things you don't know about me, Kyller,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But I didn't tell you about this because I try not to use the second one.”
I heard Serguei huff in my mind.
“And what exactly is the second one?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
“The first is the shadows, and the second is something derived from Serguei and Ravena's psychic powers.”
My eyes widened.
“Are you telling me you can read minds too?” I had to be misunderstanding. Serguei seemed to huff again.
“No, I can't read minds. I can only sense what people feel and maybe manipulate those feelings, but I don't know the full extent of it. Like I said, I don't use it. I find it invasive and confusing—people are a mess of sensations.”