Destiny

The island

I searched for the warmest clothes I had, bought with my mom in Boston last week, since the temperature had dropped surprisingly. I felt my emotions on edge at the thought of seeing Matthew in a different setting, but at the same time, I had a knot of anxiety. I wasn't excited about traveling by boat to the island where the Webers lived. I hated the sea and boats.

"Bianca, we'll be late for the ferry terminal if you don't hurry!" my mom called out from the living room.

I put my phone in my jacket pocket and went downstairs. My mom, standing by the door, was holding a tray of aluminum that smelled like vanilla cake and fruit. She had clearly bought it; she couldn't even boil water without burning the kitchen.

"Are you ready?" she asked, adjusting her hands around the tray.

"All set. Come on, I'll help you with that."

I took the tray and held it carefully.

"You know, Mom, it would have been helpful if you'd told me they lived on an island."

"I knew you would have refused. Sweetheart, I know you're afraid of boats, but nothing will happen."

"Tell that to the passengers on the Titanic," I replied.

My mom rolled her eyes.

"We're not going to the Atlantic Ocean. Just close your eyes during the trip. We're running late."

My nerves intensified as we drove. It wasn't just the boat ride; it was Matthew's house. I was about to enter his territory and meet his parents. Finally, I was going to solve the mystery that Ariana had planted in me.

When we arrived at the terminal, the smell of salty sea air made me nauseous. It was a bad idea. At the dock, there was only a man looking out at the sea, with black hair and a stylish beige coat. My mom touched his shoulder without hesitation.

"Azael?" she asked.

The man turned towards us with a smile. He was very handsome, like a magazine model. He had a few days' worth of stubble that complemented his masculine jawline. His emerald green eyes had the same intense look as Matthew's. In fact, he resembled Matthew, so I wondered if he was his father. If so, then Ariana had been wrong, and I could rest easy.

"Elizabeth," Azael smiled at her. He spoke in a very polite and elegant manner. "I thought you had changed your mind about coming."

My mom laughed at his joke.

"How could I? Bianca and I love adventure."

She nudged me in the arm.

"Especially if it doesn't involve boats," I murmured.

He looked at me with understanding. Like Matthew, his eyes had a hawk-like quality, but there was also warmth in them.

"Bianca, let me introduce you to Azael. He's Forest's younger brother," my mom said.

Then I understood the resemblance to Matthew; he was his uncle. Azael smiled warmly at me.

"Nice to meet you, Bianca."

"Yes..." I returned the smile. "The pleasure is mine."

"Alright, we can set sail now."

Azael led us to the dock, where a large white yacht floated, standing out among the boats around it.

My mom loved traveling by boat with Dad when they were in college, but they stopped doing it when I was born. It always made me nauseous, and I feared this time wouldn't be any different despite being 17. I felt a knot in my stomach and beads of sweat from worry.