The Prophecy

Chapter Twelve

I screamed as Waylons fist connected with the jaw of his youngest brother. Callen fell to the floor and his brother yelled down to him, “What did you DO!!” He lunged for him a second time and crashed to the floor because right at the moment Callen rolled to his left out of his reach, scrambled to his feet and ran out the back door. 

As he did this he bellowed over his shoulder. “I didn’t do anything! This is none of your business! This is between me and Echo!” 

“Boys STOOOOP!!!” I tried to stop Waylon from chasing after him but his massive muscular frame overpowered my pitiful attempt and he ran out the door. I got to the porch as fast as I could, but not in time to stop Callen from attacking. I couldn’t believe my eyes, with a burst of power he sent rocks flying at his brother and I knew Waylon wouldn’t have time to react… before I could blink I threw up my hands and sent a gust of wind at the rocks and knocked them back into the dirt so hard dust rose up and clouded our vision sending us into a fit of coughs. 

“What the hell is going on here!!!!” Ms Loretta had come out to witness the last of our scuffle and the dust cleared, looking back I saw her swirling her hands above her head sending the mess away so we could breathe. 

“Thank you.” I managed to choke.

“I don’t need your goddamn thanks girl you start by tellin’ me what in the hell is going on here! Are you boys FIGHTING???? Are you using your powers against each other? Because if that’s what you’re telling me I will string the both of you up by your trousers and make ya’ll wish you were never born!!!” As she finished her sentence she slammed the broom in her hand down onto the porch and sent an unintentional wave of power around us that made us all stammer backwards a few steps.

“Ohhhh man, ya’ll done it!” Athen sauntered out to join the party with a bowl of something in his hands and took a bite before continuing. “Someone pissed off the boss and I’m here for it! Who did it? What did ya’ll do?” He slowly looked around examining each of our faces and realizing it wasn’t the joke he expected. Athen lowered his bowl, “Echo? Whats going on?” 

Tears welled up in my eyes, I glanced at Waylon who was still glaring at Callen who coincidentally wouldn’t make eye contact with me. That’s it I’d had enough. I burst into tears and in my usual fashion… I ran. 

“ECHO!” I heard several voices call after me,  but I didn’t care. Right now in this moment I needed to get away. I couldn’t think but I could feel more than I ever had in my life. I felt the goddess in the soil beneath my feet as they beat the ground faster and faster. I felt the wind on my face as I pumped my arms harder and pushed myself to the limit. I felt fire in my belly, and it was burning hotter than ever before. Finally I heard what I was looking for, the pond with the little creek running into it. It came into view and I didn’t slow I came to the edge and slammed my feet down and jumped. The minute my body collided with the icy surface I let it all go. My back arched and I was suddenly surrounded by light. As if I blinked I was some where else, I was still on the farm but I was bone dry and on land not in the safety of the ponds chilly waters. I looked around and heard voices so I followed them, they got louder so my feet moved faster until I came to a clearing and the sight I came upon took my breath away and I gasped out loud in horror and confusion. There I was… I was standing by the trees watching myself hover above the pond only… was that me? I’m here, how can I be in two places at once? The voices continued but they weren’t voices they were whispers and they were coming from all around me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the body identical to mine before me, there was light coming from all around her her hair flowed out around her as if she was still in the water not levitating. “What. In. The. Hell.” I said. 

“If you really thought about it you’d know.”

“Bianca?!? Seriously? Wait, how? Where? Am I?”

“Are you capable of forming complete sentences? I thought so but now I’m not so sure.” The black cat, my familiar Bianca began to groom her paw as if what ever was going on wasn’t any other than another Tuesday while I sat here about to lose my mind. 

“What’s going on?” I said.

“I told you, you already know you just need to calm down for a moment and really think. Remember I told you I was here to help you through things not do things for you.”

Smart ass cat… “ok fine, think… I’m waiting myself… I’m outs- Astral-projection?!?!” I looked at Bianca hoping she would confirm somehow but she Was still just licking her damn foot. “How did I do this? But really how do I make it stop. I want back, I want back in uh… there.” I pointed at myself across the water. 

“Only you know how.” And with that she got up and began walking away.

“REALLY? You’re just going to leave me here? Stuck?” 

“You’re only as stuck as you want to be, you did this and you can undo it when you’re ready.” And she was gone.

“YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS! How am I supposed to undo something I didn’t even MEAN to do!!” I threw my hands to my head and grabbed fist fulls of my hair out of frustration. I needed to calm down and concentrate. I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes, I tried to feel what was around me. I felt the elemental magic at work and I could hear my heartbeat but not MY heart beat, the beating of my heart from my real body. I furrowed my brow eyes still closed and tried to connect with it, then I was falling and I hit the water. I flailed a little in the water till I got my balance and swam to the surface coughing as I pulled myself to the shore. Soaked and exhausted eyes puffy and swollen I just wanted to get to my bed. I got to my feet and begin the walk back to the house. As I it came into view I saw Walter pacing the porch with his arms folded around himself, he turned to make another pass across and caught sight of my soggy frame shuffling up the path. 

“ECHO! Everyone has been looking all over for you! Where have you been???”he leapt down the stairs and grabbed my shoulders before he threw me into a vice grip hug, I could literally feel the anxiety pouring from his body with his touch. 

“I’m sorry uncle I didn’t mean…” I was cut off by the others coming at a run from the orchard meeting us on the lawn.

“Goddamn it girl you need to stop this, you were gone for hours.” My Aunt replaced my uncle as the one smothering me with her hug. Her sons stood back, Callen looking anxiously from one side, Athen running his fingers through his straw colored hair and over his face is obvious frustration and relief, and Waylon… he looked as though a storm was brewing in his eyes. 

“Well now that you’re safe…” Waylon said, and turned on his heels and left before any of us could get a word out in response or protest. 

“He’ll be fine.” His mother reassured me as I stared after him with a pained look on my face. Knowing I was fine everyone went there separate ways and I ended up in my uncles study sifting through his research papers and books trying to find something in our history about a witch having the power to leave their body at will coming up with absolutely nothing. Slamming a large dusty leather bound book onto the table in frustration I was startled.

“Something on your mind my girl?” Athen came around me to sit in an arm chair across the table and set his feet on one of the many scrolls I’d unearthed in my unsuccessful journey for some answers. 

“I’m… never mind. You’d think I was a freak.” I said looking down at the book I’d already read forwards and backwards with no luck.

He chuckled, “Too late sweet pea, I already know you’re a freak and that don’t bother me one bit.” 

I smiled at him and took a deep breath before I began to explain what had happened during and after Callen and Waylons altercation. He studied me but stayed silent until I finished, it took him a moment but he finally leaned forward in his chair and said, “Well the best thing to do is consult the elders, their resources are far more vast than anything even my nerdy father and brother have around here. Mikhail would want to know about this anyways answers or no.” He got up and walked around the table, placing his hand on my shoulder and leaning in to say right into my ear, “You were meant to be extraordinary Echo, don’t fight it. Once you accept it and let go there won’t be anything you can’t do.” As he finished the lights around us flickered and the lamp next to us popped its fuse blowing and I jumped but Athen never even flinched I looked up at him and his gave never wavered from mine. “You don’t scare me.” He said passionately, “This doesn’t scare me, I’m strong enough to handle all of this and more we are meant to be you and I.” I was speechless, and couldn’t take my eyes off his lips even after they were done forming some of the most intense words I’d ever heard in my life. I didn’t even know I needed to hear them, I was melting into his eyes. He bent down again and gently grazed my lips with his. A soft moan escaped me and his arms held my shoulders, which was good because I felt as though I could melt into a puddle onto the floor at his very touch. Once again I felt his lips on mine only this time It was deeper and had more purpose. When we parted I was trying to catch my breath but noticed something strange, again like once before there were tiny lights floating around us, already beginning to fade but undeniable like lighting bugs they winked and dissipated into nothing but a memory for us both. 

“I knew I wasn’t seeing things…” I whispered almost to myself.

“Don’t worry I saw them last time too.” Athen whispered back. He turned and walked to the door but paused and called back, “Just remember, I’m in this win or lose. No matter who you choose I’m in this till the end.” And he was gone.