Visions of Fate

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE: A LION'S HEART

I was relieved to be in school the next day. And although I didn't wake up in the past like I'd hoped, at least I was far away from Dad, so that was something to be grateful for.

Luckily he wasn't awake when I left for school, at least he didn't seem to be. I'd had the last of the cereal we had in the house for breakfast before walking to school, increasing my steady though stealthy pace so as not to wake Dad, or draw any attention to myself if he already was awake.

When I reached school and didn't find even one of my friends in the hallways, I dropped my bag on my seat in the classroom and rushed to the girls toilet, feeling lucky when I found an empty room.

I took out the bracelet I'd taken from Ava and clenched it in my palms. I didn't see into her future this time. I saw into her emotions.

My eyes rolled far back before I felt the darkness I saw. Then I felt different emotions, so many emotions that were too bitter for a person to feel at once. The emotions were strong, bitter and ferocious. Like a hungry fire, they ate up every good thing, and left it in ashes.

Pain, fear, jealousy, anger, hatred, sadness, anxiety. These were all so prominent, it actually dug a hug into my heart, I thought I was going to be left with PTSD after this.

I heard the bathroom door being pushed open, and I snapped back into reality within a flash. Ava was coming in with her phone in hand and a malicious smirk on her face.

As she walked towards me I saw it. The fear was written all over her face, and the veil of pride and confidence didn't do well to hide it. Her hatred and resent radiated off her eyes, and it seemed it had only intensified after she found out my secret.

Little did she know, I knew hers, too.

"I told you to watch your back, didn't I?" She was still dangling her phone in her hands, making me suspicious. "But of course you had to push my advice asides and fight for what was never was, like the coward that you are."

"I fought for what was mine, because it was always mine, Ava. And it –he will always be mine."

Apparently my bravery didn't sit well with Ava, and I watched her face twist into a scowl. "I tried to be nice to you," her voice suddenly turned dark and manic. "Stay away from Ethan, or else I'll reveal your secret to the entire town. We both know the people that will come for you after that. And they won't stop until they see you dead and carry your head to their leader. Because you have always been, and you will always be a common prey that will forever keep hiding from your hunters."

I stared at Ava deep into her grey eyes, and we both locked eye contact for a moment, before a laugh suddenly spilled out of me. Ava looked stunned by my actions, but how could I help it? The girl sounded too stupid and senseless for me to take her seriously.

"What proof do you have exactly? Is it the video you took of me having another one of my visions? The one that captures my glowing eyes and body in the middle of the bathroom?" Ava opened and closed her mouth like a dying fish, and I used her moment of weakness to step forward so our noses were almost making contact.

"You seem to forget, Ava, that I am a not a Visionari. I see everything I want to see, whether past, present or future. And you hiding behind that door while I was at it only proves to me that you are more stupid than I thought. I blame myself, really, for taking you seriously in the first place."

My skin burned with adrenaline as I spoke, and I knew I never had such boldness in me. How I found out about the video itself, was a question I'd live to ask myself.

But that wasn't me speaking, I should have known. I was somewhere locked within myself, and the person that stood before Ava at that moment…that was my Visionari.

"You might be talking now, you cunning snake," Ava said, although her voice had dropped to a whisper. "But when I show this video to every one, you'll be begging for help."

"You seem to forget one thing, Patels. I do not beg, when I can make even the strongest man to bow before me," my voice got unrecognizably deeper as I spoke with venom. "If my people weren't in this city, I would have easily cleared out every race, every living and breathing object, with just a snap of a finger. And you, Ava Patels, would not be spared."

Her face had grown white with terror, so I used that opportunity to slip out of the bathroom and into the hallway, where I met Ben and a slightly shorter brunette with dark green eyes.

Ben paused mid-sentence when he saw me, and embarrassment flooded his face. I looked down to find out that they were both holding hands.

Then everything clicked.

"Hey Emily," Ben dragged his words, glancing between Justin and I.

"Ben," I crossed my arms. "Who's this?" I nudged my head towards Justin that was looking at me in confusion.

Ben cleared his throat, opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again. I couldn't help the giggle that rolled out of my lips at his embarrassment. He almost looked like a toddler being intimated by a cop.

"Emily, this is Justin, my–" he mumbled the rest under his breath. "Justin, meet Emily, one of my best friends."

I shook my head, still laughing. "Justin your who?"

"Justin my boyfriend, okay?" he raised his voice suddenly, and my laugh intensified to the point where I had to clutch my stomach.

"Why did you have to shout like that? It was just a simple question." I asked still laughing.

He squinted his eyes at me, "I hate you. You don't think I know what you're trying to do?"

At this point my laugh had gotten so loud, I felt a few tears trail down my cheeks. "Do what? I just wanted to know who this fine gentleman is to you." I choked out. Ben only rolled his eyes and nudged his partner so they could get moving.

Before running after them, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a quick text to Ethan.

Phase one complete, baby.

Then I tucked my phone back into my pocket. "Ben wait. Let's just discuss this like mature teenagers." The laugh was still spilling out of me as I ran towards them.