The Prophecy ( The Replacement Trials #1)

Chapter 9

Nimue's POV

Aura and Menidise had been gone awhile. I'm worried that they somehow managed to get lost, kidnapped or one of them killed the other and I was soon going to be called out to help hide the body of whoever was unsuccessful in the fight. Of course, just as I said that, Menidise opens the door and locks eyes with me. She had a look of determination on her face and my nerves skyrocketed. If she killed Aura, then I was going to have to tell the Headmaster that the student he raised as though she was his daughter had been killed by someone. Of course, we just had to accept her willingly into the group we had accumulated along our little expedition. However, before my thoughts could spiral any further out of control, Aura pops her head in, and I sigh in relief. I wasn't going to be yelled at by the one man I want approval from. Sinking back into my chair, I assume they were returning from their perimeter sweep, that is until Aura vigorously waves me over. Shifting Catarina's sleeping form to rest against the side of the couch I was up against, I head over to the girls.

Following them out the door, it's shut softly, and Aura's eyes are shining slightly with what appears to be unshed tears.

"There's something you should be aware of when it comes to Catarina. You probably don't want to hear it from me, so I'll let Menidise tell you." Aura motions to the banshee and I tense. She had a no-nonsense stance, highly contrasting with her usually bubby demeanor, and I knew whatever she was about to tell me probably wasn't good.

"I'm almost one hundred percent sure that at some point in the near future, Catarina will be involved in a death. I don't know who's or how, all I know is that she'll be there, and it will be a devasting ordeal." Shocked, I slide down the wall and rest my arms on my propped-up knees. I'm sure my face is void of colour and I know for a fact that I'm shaking. My hands vibrate against my knees and I sit on them in an attempt to stop it. All that accomplishes in doing is making my entire body shake. I couldn't seem to process the information that the friendly witch I had come to know was going to be involved in someone's death. And if she wasn't involved than it was going to be her funeral. I wouldn't accept it. Shaking my head, I wipe furiously at the few tears that had escaped the confines of my eyes and stand up. I stood on legs that were stronger than I had expected.

"Your sense has to be wrong this time. She's so sweet and wouldn't intentionally harm anyone, let alone kill them. Have you seen the girl fight? There's no way she's involved in a person's death." Laughing nervously, I watch their expressions as they evolve from serious to concern and I worry that I've lost my mind. Catarina was one of my best friends, which was strange since I hadn't met her all that long ago, and there was no way I could be that terrible at judging character. Besides, Aura didn't seem opposed to her joining us either. She's saved my life twice so how could she possibly have anything to do with anyone dying. If anything, she'd be responsible for bringing them back.

A scream emits from behind the door to our room and our little group rushes back in to see Collin lying on the floor, surrounded by a puddle of his blood.

"Oh, my Phenia." Nimue whispers, hands covering her mouth.

"It wasn't me. It couldn't be me. It wasn't me. It wasn't me; it wasn't me." Catarina grumbles, lifting her head to see what was wrong and her eyes widened when she saw the dead guy in front of us. Menidise mumbles something under her breath that sounds vaguely like 'I told you' and I realized that she meant Catarina had had a hand in this.

"I must have left a small puddle of water on the floor after my shower. He's human and the floor was slippery so he must have slid and hit his head to hard. Maybe his brain got crushed! He died because of me. This is all my fault, kill me please. I can't handle having more blood on my hands." What scared me the most about her rambling was that she believed it was true, there wasn't any black or red hovering around her which meant that she was telling the truth. Catarina had blood on her hands, which I'm assuming is her parents, and wasn't prepared to have more. She starts hyperventilating, rocking back and forth, and I know that this was completely unintentional. The poor witch was on the verge of tears at the thought of someone having died through correspondence of her actions. Racing over and grabbing her shoulders I force her to look at me.