knows his way around, as he heads straight for the vestry.
Father Luke lurches up from his seat behind his desk and rushes over to us.
“Did anyone see you?”
“No, Father,” Raphael replies. Father Luke relaxes and smiles when he looks down at our entwined hands.
“Very good.” He motions for us to sit on the old, worn-out couch. As we take a seat, Raphael squeezes my hand and holds it tight.
“Why are we here?” I begin.
I’m not stupid. I know this has to do with the prophecy, but we don’t turn eighteen for another fifteen months. And it’s not like we hold any power within our families. I’m a girl, and will never hold any sway over the men’s decisions in my family. From conversations I’ve overheard, Raphael will be initiated into the family business on his eighteenth birthday.
“We’ve both heard the prophecy from everyone all our lives, apart from the one person who foresaw it. I thought we could hear it together.”
“What is it you believe exactly?” I question.
Smiling, he takes his seat behind his desk.
“I believe you were both born into this world to bring forth great things, hence the reason you were born at the same time on the same night to rival families. While it hasn’t shown itself before now, I see that it’s beginning to.” He nods to our clasped hands.
“You’re at the start of your path, and I’m all too excited to see where it leads.”
“What do you expect us to achieve? Our fathers have been at each other’s throats their entire lives. How can we possibly bring them together?” Removing his hat, he then looks to me. “I believe in the prophecy. I wasn’t expecting to feel such things for you, Jamila, believing we would achieve peace by different means. But after meeting you at the peace ball, everything has changed. The path I’m on is so much clearer now, and I have a plan.”
Father Luke clears his throat and stands. “I’ll let you two to talk. Be sure to leave separately when you’re done.”
He slips out of the room and closes the door behind him.
“I still don’t understand how the two of us can bring some kind of peace to our families.”
I must be missing something, because I just don’t understand.
“I’ve been visiting with Father Luke since I was fourteen, and we’ve discussed the prophecy many times. I refuse to accept I was born to continue on with the violent, unnecessary deaths in Vita. Father Luke was always cryptic with his answers to my questions, and I now see why.”
“Well, do you think you can you fill me in?”
He cups my cheek with his free hand, and I find myself pushing into his touch.
“My Mila,” he breathes. “Our souls have been connected since before we took our first breath. Do you feel a pull toward me as I do to you?”
I nod, though my mind is swirling with questions.
“The last three days of not seeing you after only meeting you twice, albeit briefly, have been the worst three days of my life. I’ve been out of my mind, wondering what you were doing, if you were happy or sad. All we needed was one sighting of each other for the prophecy to begin.”
“You’re talking in circles, Raphael. Tell me what it is you see so clearly?” I plead.
“Father Luke was right. Our destiny to bring peace to Vita can be achieved. It’ll be our love for one another that brings peace. A love so strong, it will unite two families.”
He speaks with such conviction, I almost sink into the belief of the prophecy as well.
“If my father learns that we’re seeing each other, it will only escalate the violence between our families, and he’ll do everything in his power to keep us apart. I’d never see you again.”
And that thought hurts more than it should.
“I don’t think you see your path as clearly as you think you do. We begin by marrying in secret on our eighteenth birthday, with Father Luke conducting the ceremony. And with the ink dry on the marriage certificate, neither of our families will dare argue with God.”
My eyes widen, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth. I can’t work out if the swarm of flutters in my stomach is a good or a bad thing.
“You can’t be serious? This would get Father Luke killed! My father will want his blood.”
“The Father knows our path won’t be easy. He’s also aware there may be sacrifices.”
Pulling my hand from