Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,31
had to. I needed to test him, to play hard-to-get, to see what his reaction would be. Besides, I remembered my meeting.
“Well, I guess I need to be going.” I gestured toward the door of my advisor’s office a few feet behind us.
He frowned. “Yeah, right.”
I wanted to say goodbye, to tell him to look for me every time he felt unwell, to give him my cell phone number and much more. But I didn’t.
After taking a deep breath, I turned and left.
***
Bright sunlight blinded me for a moment. When my eyes adjusted, I found myself once again at the crystal path, facing the omnipotent crystal palace. It had changed though. Dark clouds surrounded the tallest towers, and its shine wasn’t clear anymore—now it was a dull purple.
I followed the path, wondering what I would see this time.
Unafraid, I entered the palace. I doubted whoever was inside could see me. This vision felt like one of the ghost type, similar to how it had felt the last time I’d been here, an eerie crawl in my skin and the sensation that I was swimming among clouds.
I wasn’t afraid of being found, but I became scared and anxious once I saw the interior. The crystal thrones were still there but some were broken, the reflecting pool was almost empty, and the flowerbeds among the thrones held dead stems that added to the putrid stench filling the space.
I recognized Imha, with her too-long flowing black hair, sprawled over Levi’s throne, holding one of those poisonous sticks in one hand and her purple topped stave in the other. Behind her, huge viscid, winged creatures stood nearby, their heads bent low, apparently waiting for her.
Shortly, she stood up and, spinning the dart on her fingers, strode menacingly toward the nasty creatures.
“You dare come back without her?” Her voice was thin and cruel. A chill ran down my spine.
The creatures shrieked. I guessed they weren’t capable of speaking.
“It isn’t entirely their fault,” Omi said, entering the room. Like before, he looked filthy and crass with his scruffy brown hair and goatee. His red-orbed stave shone brightly on his hand. “She’s smart and doesn’t remain in the same place for too long.” He halted before Imha and bowed.
Who the hell were they talking about? Who was she?
“I don’t care!” Imha bellowed. The palace shook. “She’s been hiding for thirty years! How is that possible?” Omi opened his mouth to speak, but she charged him, the dart in her hand poised to strike. Her stark stare gave me goose bumps.
“I don’t want to hear any more excuses,” she hissed. “Find her and kill her. Aren’t you the god of war? Prove it! Bring on the worst war the world ever saw. Cause her to surrender. She won’t stand that. After all, she is the goddess of love and family. She can’t bear humans suffering.”
Imha let go of Omi and he retreated.
“Why is she so important to you?” he asked. “She’s gone, and I doubt she wants to come back. Besides, the last time I confronted her, she seemed weaker. She’s no threat.”
“She’s planning something.” She sat back down on Levi’s throne. “I can feel it.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.”
“What are you waiting for?” she snapped, spitting rage with her words. “Go! Go find her! Kill her. Bring me her scepter.”
Omi bowed and left as Imha laughed—a hysterical laughter that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
That was when the palace walls started melting and fading, along with everything else, taking away the surroundings and replacing them with my familiar room.
I was seated in my lilac armchair, quaking and dizzy, my biology book on my lap. I sucked in ragged breaths.
Holy hell, what was that? Gods wanting to kill more gods? My head was spinning and I couldn’t think clearly.
What had been the meaning of that vision? If it had any meaning at all. I snapped the biology book shut. I was getting tired of this. I had to do something, to look for help. It was difficult for me to accept, but if I were hallucinating, it would be better for me and everyone around me if I sought assistance.
I stood, picked up my cell phone, and called Cheryl. She cared about me. She’d help. The phone rang, but nobody answered. I left a message for her to call me as soon as she could, then I got out my laptop to shoot her an email.