Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,36

after the deal is complete,” Ceris snarled. “She will be all yours then.”

“Yes, but until then, she is yours,” the one at the fireplace said, also standing. “Until then, her life is the most precious possession you have.”

The one knitting joined the other two in front of Ceris. “Take good care of her.” She smiled and it was almost evil.

That was when the three pairs of gray eyes met mine. My stomach revolved and I gasped. They were looking at me, directly at me, during a vision where I was supposed to be a ghost.

I came back from the vision still seated at the lab’s stool, acid dripping over the table. The acid fizzed and popped, melting the wood and making a huge hole.

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath and jumped down, frantically trying to clean up my most recent mess.

But I couldn’t. My hands shook so badly, I only made a bigger disaster. First, a cold visit from Victor, then a vision I couldn’t understand and that scared the hell out of me. It was too much.

I needed help. Immediately. I needed Cheryl. After all the months of avoiding telling her about the visions, it was time to come clean. She was a psychologist, and even if I did need a psychiatrist, she could at least explain to me what was going on. She could give me reassurance, her friend would help me, and I would be okay.

My breath ragged, I pulled out my phone and called Cheryl. No answer. I left a quick voice message, hoping she would hear it soon and call me back.

Sighing, I glanced at the mess over the lab table. I didn’t have any strength left to clean—or try to clean—anymore. I grabbed my stuff and left, pausing only at the monitor’s office to pay him to clean the mess for me.

I ran home with plans to drug myself to sleep so I wouldn’t have to think about the damned gods and goddesses that kept haunting my visions.

***

After I’d changed my outfit four times, Raisa dragged me out of my closet.

“You look beautiful. Now let’s go,” she said, opening the door for me. Already in the hall, Olivia stuck her head in to add her urging. Before leaving our apartment, I stopped by the mirror.

I wore skin-tight jeans, a loose pink crochet sweater with a white, cropped sports top underneath, and pink sandals. I had pulled my hair back in a ponytail, leaving a few messy strands adorning my face and had applied makeup—just enough to accentuate my eyes and my high cheekbones. Perfect for the fundraiser carnival organized by the university.

“He’ll fall in love with you tonight,” Olivia said.

I rolled my eyes, but felt a smile creeping over my face. Maybe Victor wouldn’t fall in love with me, but I was hoping to be attractive enough to get his attention. Maybe get him to like me a little.

We were still down the street from the carnival, but I already could see the colorful lanterns—red, yellow, green, blue, pink—that had been raised atop decorated but temporary poles. Their soft glow illuminated the whole park, casting lively shadows on the grayish stone floor. Each concession stand matched the color of the lantern placed directly in front of it. I gasped, amazed with the beauty. The real New York had never looked this good.

I scanned my surroundings, taking everything in. Students and their relatives and friends strolled around with wide smiles on their faces, talking animatedly, holding large cotton candies or tasty-looking caramel apples. Long lines formed in each of the many game stands—though I believed the lines at the skill games seemed longer than the ones at the games of chance. A round stage had been set up in the center of the park, and a local band was playing cheerful songs.

I took a deep breath, relishing the smell of sweets and tangy beverages that formed a thick, invisible cloud of scent over the place. On days like this, it was almost easy to pretend the world was safe, joyful, and fair, and the people who lived in it were decent, happy, and well cared for. My heart squeezed a little, secretly wishing it could be true.

“He doesn’t sing as well as we do,” Olivia said, gesturing toward the skinny lead singer on stage.

“Let’s go grab a hot dog.” Raisa pulled my hand, jumping up and down. “I’m starving.”

“I vote we go for a hamburger or a pizza,” Olivia objected. “There are fewer people in