Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,78
still.
Seconds later, in unison, they said, “We agree.”
Ceris jumped up and laughed in relief. After thanking the Fates, she left.
Then, the Fates turned to each other.
“Ceris has no idea.”
“No, she doesn’t. She thinks the girl is ordinary.”
“Will we tell her?”
“No. Why spoil the fun?”
Before I could make sense of it, the scene changed.
My head spun, and I wasn’t sure if what I saw were visions, things that happened in the past, if it was my mind playing tricks on me, or if I was truly living these moments.
I closed my eyes, trying to gain equilibrium against the swirling thoughts that inhabited my brain. When I opened my eyes, I nearly screamed.
I was facing myself.
The other me hurried to an airport luggage claim area. I looked around, realizing I was in the JFK terminal. This had to be the day I first arrived in New York. The day my visions started.
I watched as the other Nadine twirled a strand of her long hair while impatiently waiting for her bags to appear on the track.
Inside myself, I felt a pull. Frowning, I followed it and looked back. Ceris was hiding in the crowd. What was she doing here? My curiosity made me stop watching the other Nadine. I followed the goddess, who retreated to a less populated area. When she was sure she was alone, her features changed. Her elegant white gown gave away to a neat suit, her pale skin acquired a slight tan, her long, white-blond hair shrunk to her chin and grew yellow. Her clear blue eyes became clearer, almost silver.
My knees gave away and the air flew out of me, as if a long-nailed claw had punctured my lungs.
Cheryl. Ceris had become Cheryl.
Who was now walking to the luggage claim area, her eyes on the other Nadine.
The walls of the airport terminal melted away; a black cloud took me back to the Fates’ cottage just as Ceris came in.
She took off her cloak from around her. “He is here.”
“Who, child?” a Fate asked, rocking and knitting.
“You know who. Mitrus. He has been following the girl.”
“Fascinating,” the Fate by the fireplace said.
“He found out the girl can heal his pain,” Ceris yelled, then added in a hushed whisper, “I still don’t understand how she can do that.”
“Interesting,” the reading Fate muttered without taking her eyes from her book.
“Actually,” Ceris said, then halted and stared at the fireplace, “what is interesting is that he knows something is going on. What’s more, he can sense auras, I know it. Thank the Everlast mine is always concealed, otherwise he would have sensed me and known I’m not human.”
“He’s not entirely human either,” the Fate stirring the kettle by the fireplace said.
“His body is,” Ceris whispered. “Which means he could be killed.”
“Ceris,” the one knitting called out. “We already discussed that. Don’t kill him. Levi may be the balance, but the circle needs every one of the gods to function by the Everlast law.”
“I know.” The goddess tapped her long finger over her chin. “But I have to do something. He can’t stay here and mess with my plans. He can’t be near the girl.” Her eyes seemed focused on the fire. “I wonder how he can tap into his powers. He isn’t strong enough, but he has some tricks. Seeing auras is one of them. Repelling the winged demons is another.”
“What do you think happened?” the one by the fireplace asked.
Ceris tapped her chin. “I don’t know. I can only think of one thing. He is the god of death and the dead. Perhaps he saw someone die.” Then she gasped. “Or he killed someone! That’s it! That would explain it. Accidentally, he performed the act that bound his properties and now he can feel and do things he can’t explain. Oh, it makes sense now.”
“Tell us what is in your mind,” the reading Fate asked.
Ceris smile turned wicked. “I’ll create a diversion. He can sense auras? So be it. He will sense the strongest aura around. That will also give a false lead to the others.”
“Be careful, child,” the one by the fireplace said. “There are things that happen because they should.”
“No,” Ceris yelled. “Mitrus is too close to Levi. He killed Levi once; he could do it again.”
“Trust the Everlast energy, child,” the knitting fate said.
“I do trust it, but that doesn’t mean it cannot use some help every now and then.”
The scene changed. I found myself inside Morgan’s office in Jacksonville. He was standing up and looking rather hypnotized.