The Prophecy

Chapter Thirteen

The days melded into each other as we planned and prepared for Callens devotion ceremony he was even more the perfectionist over the following weeks during our lessons. Sadly I didn’t see much of Waylon, every time I tried to get a moment alone with him to talk about the fight with his brother and everything that had led up to it he was busy doing something and would excuse himself quickly before my protests could be heard. I also was never alone with Callen, he was just as sweet and friendly as always but seemed more shy and reserved when ever we were together and if our aunt or uncle ever left the room while we practiced our magic he would either go with them or have some kind of chore or errand to run that exact moment and was gone. I knew he didn’t want to discuss our last encounter and although I didn’t harbor any ill feelings for him I wanted to talk abut why I stopped him, and truth be told I wanted to talk to him about not hearing my protests and find out why he acted the way he did that day. He wasn’t himself… and I knew it but he never gave me the chance to try and talk it out with him and after a while I just gave up and ignored his odd behavior. 

I was doing so much better controlling my powers, my aunt and uncle were obviously concerned and surprised when I told them about my episode by the pond and they contacted Mikhail who told them he and the other elders would discuss it and do as much research as they could but more than likely they wouldn’t have any answers for us until we all convened for the impending ceremony at the end of the month and assured us that he would make time for us between all of the events and their other obligations the rituals and hosting covens from all over. I had to admit even though so much had happened since I’d moved here I’d never once been taken to any of the coming of age ceremonies and my excitement for the one we would attend was my only distraction so I spent most of my time training, daydreaming, helping Miss Loretta around the house and spending time with Bianca who I realized the more I got to know her was obnoxiously cryptic and not the best conversationalist but truth be told with my trio of suitors all acting insane she was all I had so I appreciated that fact that I was lucky enough to be blessed with a familiar so I didn’t complain. 

“I can’t believe there’s only three more days until the last of my babies will be standin’ on that stone alter like everyone in our family before him. At least I have you to look forward to sweet heart.” Aunt Marg said as she stroked my hair teary eyed at the thought of all her children being grown and no longer under her wing. 

“I can’t wait truth be told Auntie.” I said with a giggle.

“Oh I forgot you’ve never seen one of these! You must be bustin’ out of your britches girl! It’s such a good time I promise you NEVER forget your first gathering.” She said and gazed off in the distance no doubt remembering her own.

“I’ll bet.” I said and smiled at her hoping my own experience would be one I’d not soon forget either. 

“Well I need to go help Loretta with some preparations for our trip we are done for today love you go on I’ll see you later.” She squeezed my arm and left me alone in the Library. I put away the old texts we had been using for todays lessons and gathered my things and went to my room. Bianca was napping in her bed in the corner of my room so I put my stuff away and went back downstairs. On a whim I decided to go for a walk around the property. Ever since I became unbound I saw the world around me so differently, I could feel things hear things I never noticed before. It’s like my senses were on fire all of the time and at first it was hard to adjust because I was hyper sensitive to all the elements but not just that I felt as though I could feel peoples magic. Like a river flowing over the ricks and soil I sometimes felt like I could see their magic on their very skin, shining from the strands of their hair or sparkling in their eyes. After the initial shock wore off it all seemed pretty normal. 

As I walked through the trees I came to a small clearing and sitting on a rock there was Waylon. Alone, didn’t seem to be doing anything just… sitting. I slowly came towards him, “Are you trying to sneak up on me? Because I know you’re there might as well come out where I can see you.” He said with a sigh.

So I walked over and sat in front of him cross legged on the grass I picked a strand up and twirled it between my fingers avoiding eye contact with him for now, I was afraid I would spook him seeing as this was more face time I’d had with him in weeks. “What are you doin’ out here all alone?” I said, taking a peek at his face waiting for his answer. He sighed, rubbed his hands over his arms and looked passed me into the trees. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately.” He finally looked me right in the eye, “I’ve been thinking and I’ve realized you scare me woman.” My mouth fell open in shock but he didn’t even flinch and continued. “You waltz your tiny butt right into our lives, turn this pace upside down… I’m not… I’m not… I don’t DO THIS. I stick to myself, I do for myself, I help my mama I’m there for my brothers. I don’t talk about my feelings, I don’t go crazy at the thought of someone touching someone I’ve known a few months. I’ve NEVER met a girl besides my mother that I felt like I couldn’t live without and you know what? That scares me half to death, I know you don’t know who you are meant to be with. I know some random person saw a vision and basically decided how our lives were going to go and that scares me. No one tells me how I’m going to live I make my own choices I decide where I go what I do but ever since I met you I don’t feel like I control anything because it’s you. You decide, you could tell me to jump and I’d say how high darlin’ and I’d be happy to do it. Do you know how that feels?” I couldn’t speak I just stared, but I don’t really think he wanted me to say anything because he kept on going. “It feels absolutely terrifying. Callen got the smarts, Athen got the attitude, and me? I don’t know what I got but I’ll tell you one thing right now. If I’m the one, there isn’t anyone who will love you like I will, there isn’t anyone who will protect you like me, I’ll walk through fire with you, I’ll hurt, and love, and die right by your side. And I don’t know what’s going on up there.” He touched my forehead and brushed a strand of hair out of the way, “And god only knows if I want to know but what I’m saying here is you do. You think you don’t know but you know, you already know who it is, you’re just afraid to admit it.” And with that last word he got up and walked away, he left me there absolutely unable to move, speak or follow after him. 

I sat for a moment and I went over the words he spoke again in my head, relived our one sided conversation and really took it all in. Do I? Do I know? No… how could I and not realize it. But then I realized… it was fear. I did know who I wanted to be with, but what if my head and my heart were wrong what if I made a decision and it ended up costing all of magic a millennia of darkness? I couldn’t let fear control me, I had to jump. So I got to. My feet and I began to walk. Unwavering I made my way to the house and up the front steps through the foyer and into the kitchen. Ms Loretta, my aunt, my uncle and their three sons were all there busy helping one another ready dinner. I stopped and I said in a clear loud voice, “I have something to say.” No one seemed to her me, so I said it louder this time. “I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.” Everyone stopped dead in their tracks, Athen mid lifting a spoon to his mouth to taste, Callen hands full of dishes on his way to the dining room, my Aunt handfuls of potatoes and everyone looked at me. 

“Well out with it Miss we aint got all day.” Loretta said with a knowing smile.

I cleared my throat, “I’ve thought about it, and I’m scared. I know there are three choices here and I know no matter what people are going to get hurt, I know even if I choose right in terms of the future of magic I know two of you will be hurt so there is no RIGHT choice is there?’ I gestured to the boys as I continued. “Callen, you’re so sweet, loving, caring, you feel like home to me. I feel like if I chose you I’d never be afraid, I’d be happy. But there’s a darkness in you I can see and everyone has a little darkness I know that but I can’t seem to shake it. Athen you’re so sure, you’re fun and steadfast and you make me feel like with you I could be anything, DO anything and we would always be doing something new and exciting. But you are so sure sometimes I wonder if you ever pause to think about your choices and if you move so fast maybe you miss things and sometimes you don’t see the world and the people around you I wonder if I picked you if I’d do the same. And Waylon… you…” I paused and took a deep breath and brought my hands to my eyes and down to my cheeks and held my face a minute. “You are confusing, you are scared and you scare me. You make me want to smack you sometimes and kiss you and run from you and never leave your side. You are loyal and guarded and dependable and erratic all in one and you drive me absolutely insane. I think of all of you you’ve let your guard down the least of all and somehow you make me want you but how can I pick you when you’re so frustratingly stubborn?” 

No one had moved since I had begun speaking and they all still sat silent hanging on my every word even more so in the moments I wasn’t speaking. I took one lat deep breath, I could feel. My heart racing, my palms sweating, as I spoke again I faltered slightly but I knew I was ready for this. What ever happened I would be ready. I raised my hand and held out a finger and pointed.

“It’s you.”