The Prophecy

Chapter Five

The cold water hit me like an electric shock. I couldn’t believe what I was doing, I had stripped down to my sports bra and boy short underwear and actually followed Waylon into the pond. Why was I even there, this guy had accused me of slipping him a love potion like some psychotic teen witch I wanted to punch him in the throat, yet here I was taking an afternoon swim with the ass hat half naked. I ran my hands over my face and down the back of my head wiping the water from my eyes, as I surveyed the scene around me and Waylon was no where to be found. I felt the water rippling behind me and turned, but no one was there. But then some bubbles broke the surface of the water, oh god was he drowning?!?! I took a deep breath and dove down to inspect. As I went deeper some light came into view, was that a sphere? I pulled the water with my cupped hands and dragged myself down farther and attempted to focus my eyes only to finally realize… Waylon was using his elemental water magic, he was INSIDE a bubble of his own making. he wasn’t drowning he was fine in a pocket of air. I didn’t have much oxygen left but it was truly a magical thing to behold, I watched him sit there, violet eyes glowing and looking directly into mine. He gestured for me to come closer so I did, he reached his hand out and grabbed my wrist. My first instinct wast to pull away but he was too fast and before I knew it I was in his arms inside his circle of light. 

I coughed and took a few deep breaths, I was a decent swimmer but that was pushing it how long I had been holding my breath. “You i***t I thought you were drowning, and by coming to try and save you I could have died!!” He held onto me and laughed.

“You seem fine to me peaches.” 

“Peaches?”

“Ha ha, Yeah that’s what I think if now when I see you, sitting on the ground and your ass in a pile of peaches in the dark.” I wanted to throttle him, I opened my mouth to throw some kind of insult his way but stopped… His eyes, they really were amazing. I’d never seen anyone with violet eyes and against his raven hair and summer tanned skin he was like something out of a magazine. 

“You’re the devil.” He drew his head closer to mine.

“You’re one to talk girl. You do something to me. You know it? What is it thst you are you doing hmm?” He ran his nose along my jawline. I’d already realized, even if not fully understood why, I had a connection to all three of these men. Callen seemed to calm me and make me feel safe, Athen made my blood boil almost literally and my loins come to life, but Waylon… Waylon made me crazy, when he touched me I wanted to kiss him and smack him all in the same thought. I wanted to run away from him but had be near him… 

“I’m not… doing… anything. You brought me here remember?” I said in a low breathy tone, being this close I was having trouble keeping my heart beating at a normal rate and I was feeling dizzy. Waylon grabbed the back of my neck with his hand and pulled it back. 

“You ARE doing something witch, I can feel it. I’m drawn to you in a way I’ve never felt before and I can’t figure out if I like it or hate it.” Join the club. But apparently I only said that in my head because no words left my lips. I felt the heat from his breath on my chin and slowly it moved down to my neck, I was still clinging to him partially because if I let go I’d fall back into the water and also because I for some idiotic reason didn’t want to let go. “Tell me.. what’s this power you hold over us?” 

“Us?” I said, dazed.

“You think I don’t see how you effect us all? My brothers and me, I do. I planned on keeping my distance after the night you arrived but no matter how hard I try I feel like I NEED to be close to you and that’s something I don’t take kindly to, I don’t need anyone I do fine on my own. But you waltz into our lives and turn us all upside down.” 

“I don’t know what this is. I don’t know…” before I could finish his lips were on mine. I tangled my hands in his thick head of hair and pulled myself closer to him as if I needed his touch to survive. I forgot where we were or how we got there all that mattered was this, his touch, his mouth, his taste. Instinctually I parted my lips and he slipped his tongue in with ease. I felt a fire between my legs and wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anything before that moment. He rubbed his body against mine and my legs wrapped themselves around his waist, his hands moved down my lower back and he cupped my ass and lifted me up to press me against the bulge that had grown in his pants. Moving up and down against him I’d never felt this before, a wetness and a sensation grew with a fever the faster his motions became. I moaned into his mouth as a pleasure washed over me and enveloped my mind and body and soul, I opened my eyes to see him looking at me with a hunger that matched my own. My heart beating so fast and hard I tried to catch my breath and all of a sudden…my vision went black.

As I woke everything was blurry, I felt like I was coming out of a tunnel. I heard a faint voice, it was coming closer, and closer, was that? 

“Athen give her some room!”

“WHAT DID YOU DO!” 

“We went for a swim you animal I didn’t DO anything she passed out!”

“If anything happens to her it’ll be your head on a spike!”

“I’d never let anything happen to her!”

“What’s going on?” I could hear the boys arguing my ears were ringing, but my sight was slowly returning. I tried to sit up unsuccessfully and felt hands pushing on my back helping me up. “What in the hell happened here?” I said as I looked around finally able to see straight. The beautiful pond that was surrounded by grass and fruit trees when we arrived crystal blue in color was now murky and there were maybe 200 fish lining the shores on every side, some still I assumed dead and some violently flailing, searching for the water they needed to survive. 

I know it sounds crazy but the first thing that entered my mind was *did we do this?* I was starting to put two and two together and see connections in these events. It made me feel crazy but when Callen and I embraced that plant grew like mad… When Athen and I were kissing the power to the whole house blew and even Ms. Loretta said that had never happened before outside of a storm… Now me and Waylon hooked up in the pond and every living thing that resided in those water were thrown on the shore. What. Was. Going. On. Here. This was all too much, I needed to go. I needed to be alone away from these men I needed to think. I tried to get up on my shaky legs and faltered slightly, Athen grabbed my arm to steady me and I ripped it away from him with all my remaining strength. “What the hell??!?” He exclaimed.

“Don’t touch me, don’t either of you dare touch me!” I could see hurt and confusion on their faces but I continued, “Have either of you noticed when one of you touches me things happen, Waylon you keep accusing me of doing something but I don’t know what’s going on and this is scaring the piss out of me. I don’t like feeling this way, I don’t feel in control when you 3 are near and I’m not doing this anymore!” I turned and stumbled back towards the trees my clothes in my hands, I heard Waylon call after me.

“Echo wait we will help you back to the house!” 

I turned over my shoulder and yelled, “NO! You two stay there! Just stay back there!” 

Not wanting to explain my disheveled appearance I ran into he house up the stairs straight to my room ignoring Ms. Loretta calling up after me, “Girl where have you been everyone already left.. WHY ARE YOU WET! You are tracking water and mud all over this house, ECHO! Get back here right now!” I flew through my door and slammed it shut, went to the bathroom threw my clothes on the ground and slowly sank to the floor exhausted. I looked over and reached into the tub and turned on the water, maybe a bath would help me relax and clear my head plus I smelled like dirt and fish. I was relieved to hear Marg, Arthur and Callen had already left, that’s one less brother to avoid while I tried to make sense of this madness. Once it was full I turned off the faucet and slipped into the tub. I wish my parents were here, momma would know what to say, she would hold me and tell me everything was gonna be fine. I don’t know how long I sat there with my eyes closed trying to block out all this crazy and confusion, I tried to clear my mind and manifest peace and serenity instead. Frustrated that it obviously wasn’t working I sat up and looked down at my pruny hands, I drained the tub toweled off and got dressed in some grey sweatpants and a hoody and socks. I sat at my vanity and detangled my hair, through my window I saw Waylon standing in the yard looking up at my room with his hands in his jean pockets. I watched him for a few minutes and he finally looked down at his feet shook his head and walked away. 

There was a knock at my door, I waited to see who it was but when no one said anything I knew it was Athen. I stayed quiet and until I heard his foot steps walk down the hall and fade. I got into my bed and decided to close my eyes a while maybe a nap would help. Next thing I knew a loud crash woke me with a start and I shot up to see what was going on. My room was the same as it was when I’d lain down, maybe it dreamed it? I threw my legs over and stood up, stretched my arms up to the sky and shook the sleep off me. I started to walk to the bathroom when I rustling made me stop and turn to look at my closet door… what… I cautiously made my way over and placed my hand on the doorknob. I swung it open and for a second there looked to be nothing inside, then all of a sudden there was a pair of bright orange eyes staring back at me from the shadows.