The Prophecy

Chapter Ten

“We all think that we should sit down and talk about this.” Callen was the first to speak.

“I don’t know if I can handle this today.” I groaned. 

“Humor us?” Athen said and gave me a sexy devilish smile and I sighed in frustration and opened the door wide for them to enter. 

“Might as well,” I said, “It’s not like I’m going to be able to sleep any time soon so might as well torture myself right? You know, tire myself out.”

“Quit being so dramatic Peaches,” Waylon said with a smirk.

“OK fine,” I said, three against one there was no way I was going to win this argument anyways, so we should just get it over with, I went and sat on my bed cross legged, “I guess take a seat guys.” So they did.

Athen was the first to speak, “First off, we wanted to tell you Mikhail explained everything to us, and as crazy as all this seems I mean you have to admit it at least makes a little sense there’s finally a reason for all this craziness right?”

“I guess I didn’t really think of that, I was a little preoccupied with the fact that I’m supposed to be this super powerful witch and uh, yeah the fact that apparently if and when I actually decide which of you I want to be with I could like, change the course of magic and all that… no big deal…” I said. The guys shifted in their seats uncomfortably and traded looks.

“We know, and we talked about that.” Said Callen. “We talked and we all decided we are going to try and make all this a little less difficult for you.” 

“Oh yeah? How are you going to do that exactly?” I said.

“We aren’t going to try and pressure you to make a decision.” Said Waylon. “Considering this is kind if a bigger deal than any of us realized we all agreed to not be d***s, no jealous outbursts, no fighting, no making you feel bad.” 

“Basically we are all in agreement to allow you to date us at the same time.” Callen said.

“But we need some ground rules.” Said Athen.

“Like what?” I said, “I didn’t realize there was a rule book for dating a trio of brothers.” I knew I was acting like a brat but honestly in the last 6 weeks my life had literally been turned upside down and the B.S. just seemed to keep on coming.

“Well for starters no talking about us with each other, that’ll maybe help keep any jealousy in check.” Said Waylon, “For example if you hang out with me one night, and hang out with Athen the next day Athen doesn’t need to hear anything about what you and I said or did, just keep us all separate.”

“That actually makes a lot of sense.” I said. “We aren’t going to like, make a dating schedule right?” I laughed trying to lighten the mood.

“SEE I told you she wouldn’t like that idea Callen!!!” Athen laughed at his little brother and Callen blushed. 

“It was just a freaking suggestion, shut up man.” Callen said and threw a pillow at his brother. 

“Nerd!” Athen continued to laugh and tease Callen, until I interrupted them.

“Come on guys believe it or not this is serious, not to mention awkward as all hell.” I said as I smacked Athen in the head with the same pillow Callen had tossed at him a minute ago. “Ok what else?”

“Well, I mean this should be a given but not sabotaging one another. The decision needs to be yours considering what’s on the line here so we can’t try and sway you or your feelings. No talking trash about each other or trying to put ideas in your head.” Athen explained, “We all have real feelings for you, but this is bigger than just one of us and it effects so many. I know I joke but I am taking this seriously, we all are.”

I shook my head in agreement, “That makes me feel a little better knowing that you guys are on the same page, doesn’t make this any less strange but if I’m going to do this I need to not be worried about weather or not you guys are going to start brawling or hurting someones feelings because as much as I don’t want to hurt any of you there is no way all four of us will make it out of this unscathed.” We all spent a while laughing and talking about everything that had happened the last few weeks and how insane it felt. Was I ever going to get over how natural it felt to be with these boys? How was I ever going to decide to be with one of them… what if I made the wrong choice? After a while we said goodnight and I settled in bed for the night. As I laid my head on my pillow and reflected on the events of the last few days I heard my door creak… I shot up and saw Callen standing in the entry way shyly looking at me from behind the door. “Can I come in?” He said. 

“Sure, what’s up?” I said and scooted over to let him sit beside me. 

“I just wanted to talk to you alone, you know, without my brothers there making fun of me and making me second guess everything I say. When I’m with you I feel different, I feel so much more confident like I can do anything. I just want to protect you and make you happy.” He finished and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. 

“I feel the same way about you. You know, I know you guys don’t want to hear about each other but I will tell you I feel differently when I’m with each of you. You for example, make me feel safe. You feel… like home to me, like when it’s just us I feel like nothing can hurt me. And I have to say, after the year I’ve had that feels… really nice.” 

He smiled so big, it was catching because I felt myself smiling back. “I know you have to make the choice, but I know we are meant to be together Echo. And I’ll wait forever if I have to.” He cupped my face and kissed my lips softly, I felt all my stress going away in that moment. He pulled away and still holding me in his hands looked me in the eyes and said, “Goodnight my sweet.” And he left. As I sat there in the dark I thought to myself, that kiss felt strange. I couldn’t put my finger on it, and drifted off to sleep. 

I woke to my alarm and the morning sun on my face. I got up and took a quick shower, threw my dirty blind hair into a pony tail and grabbed some jean shorts and a flannel from my closet got dressed and headed downstairs. I had a quick piece of toast and made my way to  the library, today I was to be unbound and I was nervous. I sat in a leather armchair in the middle of the room and waited for Mikhail to ready what ever it was that he needed to use to complete the process of releasing my powers. My skin tingled as I sat in anticipation, was this going to work? Did I really want it to work? Was I going to be able to control my powers once I knew the full extent of what I could do? I shook my head and came back to reality realizing everyone was talking and I was just spacing off.

“She must be perfectly still and be able to concentrate or it won’t work.” Said Mikhail.

“We want to be with her.” Said Athen.

“Honey you need to listen, if you all really care you’ll do everything possible to keep her safe and make sure this goes off without a hitch.” Aunt Marg said in reply.

“You’re right.” Said Callen.

“We’ll go.” Said Waylon.

“I’ll be fine ya’ll, go they’ll come and get you once it’s done.” I smiled at the boys and turned my attention to the elder standing in front me with a massive old leather book in his hands. “Lets do this.” I said.

The lamps were off, curtains drawn, the only light coming from a single candle on the table where Mikhails spell book was sitting open for him to reference if needed. Aurthur took the boys outside but aunt Marg stayed to hold my hand and be my anchor. 

“You will close your eyes, and meditate. Try to find your self in state of calm and ignore all else. I will enter your subconscious and lead you to the enchantment and we will break it together. I must warn you it may be painful, I’ve never done this myself been unbound but I’ve heard it can be physically painful and with yours being in place over 13 years it’s most likely become very comfortable.” 

I took a deep breath and did as I was told. Concentrating on the blackness behind my eyes and pulling myself into a meditative state to allow Mikhail to do what needed to be done. Suddenly my eyes flew open and I was in a boxy grey room, there was a door on each side. Beside me Mikhail stood and said “You must choose, once you choose there’s no going back you must move forward to end this. Do you think you can do this? You must be absolutely sure.” Taking a second to consider I shook my head yes, I wanted this to be done, I wanted to move forward with my life as it was meant to be. I closed my eyes again and felt a warmth, opening them I saw a light emanating from one of the doors. Without hesitation I walked up to it and opened it. A flash of light forced me to cover my eyes with arm, as they adjusted to the brightness I saw I was now in a space that was completely white and dead center was a pedestal. I walked over to it, being pulled forward by some unseen force. As I approached I saw there was a small, black bottle sitting on it, I picked it up and almost dropped it because at that moment I heard a familiar voice say, “Drink it.” And there was my mother.

“MOM?” I squeaked. 

“Drink it echo.” She repeated. She was standing there just as she did the last time I saw her alive, nothing had changed at all. 

“What is it?” I said.

‘It’s poison.” She replied.

“WHAT THE f**k?” I screamed and dropped the bottle back where it came from, “Mom why would you want me to drink poison?” I stepped back clutching my chest. And then it hit me, this wasn’t my mother. My mother was dead. I straightened myself back up and walked back up and without hesitation I grabbed the bottle opened it and drank the contents. At first I was fine, then the pain came and it got so bad I started to scream. “AHHHHHHHHH!!!! Help me Mikhail!” He stood back, behind the doorway I had chosen to enter.

“You can’t turn back now, you have to finish this.” He said calmly.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!” The pain was almost too much to bare, I felt my skin burn, I felt as if someone was twisting a knife into my side deeper, and deeper. 

“FINISH THIS ECHO!” He yelled to me. 

I pulled what little bits of subconscious I could for the severity of the pain had me recoiling into myself, a means of self preservation. I pulled myself to my knees I felt like I could die at any moment, and I used my last bit of energy to call upon the Goddess, out loud, “LUCEM!!!!!!!” I screamed louder than I ever had before, and I felt the light ripping its way out of me I could see the fiery white hot rays shooting in all directions. My body lifted from the floor arms outstretched on either side for a brief second I thought I heard my mother, she said “You’re free baby girl.” and everything went black.