Destroying Fate

Chapter 3

Pulling into my driveway makes me more anxious than before to understand Aunt Clem's mysterious comment.

Throwing the doors open, I rush up the stairs to Dads study. I'm eager to see what he knows about my future that he hasn't enlightened me about.

His ability to dig into people's business has always bothered me. I know full well that his ability is too superb to miss anything. The numbers of times I've got busted proves how strong his ability is. I'm somewhat hurt that he was hiding something from me. He loves to share his information with me.

"Dad?" I yell as I push open the Study door.

Mom hears me and scurries out of her room to me. She kisses my forehead and pulls me in for a hug.

"Hi Seph, how was the last day of school? I wasn't expecting you home so soon." She says pleasantly.

"It was great, Damon asked me out, I said yes! I do need to talk with Dad before graduation since we won't have any time to talk afterwards. Is he home?"

"Oh dear, I'm so excited to hear that. Damon has always been such a gentleman. Is that what you need to talk to your dad about? He was just called in to work. The Dawdney's horse fell when she was running. Your dad couldn't resist helping."

Rolling my eyes at his passion for his job I ask, "No that's not what I need to talk with him about, but I'll mention it. Isn't the Dawdney's house on the edge of the village right next to the mountains?"

"Yes, that's it. You better hurry if you're planning on doing your hair and makeup."

I tell her I won't be long and sprint down the stairs, push open the door, and continue sprinting to my car.

I haven't been out to the edge of the village in such a long time. It brings memories of visiting my grandparents to the surface. Before grandpa died, he lived out here. Grandma hated living in such a big empty house and moved a block away from me. I miss Grandpa and the hot chocolate with big marshmallows he always insisted to get me when I visited.

Pushing aside the memories, I pull into their driveway.

Admiring their huge up to date mansion, I wait for the mahogany door to swing open.

Seeing the smaller than I remember frame of Mrs. Dawdney, I’m surprised she is actually capable of pulling open the large door. Her being in her sleek rich clothes makes me feel out of place and underdressed. “Persephone darling, it’s been years. You have grown up to be such a beautiful young woman. My, my do you look like your mother. Oh goodness, I feel so rude. Would you like to come in?” Mrs. Dawdney says in her lavender voice.

“Thank you Ma’am, but I actually came to speak with my dad about something. My mom said he would be here. By the way, I’m sorry about your horse. I hope she’s okay.” I say.

“Yes, yes. Your father is in the barn out back. I’m sure you remember where it is. It was nice to see you darling. You’ll need to visit sometime, goodbye love.”

I smile the best I can manage and reply with a quick thanks and goodbye.

Jogging to the back, I pull out my phone to check the time. 3:06pm. I have to be back at the school by 4:15 for graduation, and Mom is insisting I do something with my already wavy hair. I hate doing my hair. Hurrying up my pace, I spot Dad leaning over the injured horse.

“Hey Dad,” I yell.

His face contorts into confusion.

“Honey, what are you doing here? I’m planning to be at your graduation on time. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, you know that right?” He says.

“Yea Dad, I know you wouldn’t miss it. You love horses; you couldn’t let an injured horse be taken care of by anyone but you. Don’t worry about it. I needed to ask you a question about something Aunt Clem said.”

At the mention of Aunt Clems, his face scrunches up with fear. Fear?

His voice is very unsteady and unsure, but he manages to say, “What did she say to you?”

“Well, first of all, Damon Mavros asked me out today. I said yes. He took me out for lunch at the Pantheon Café where Aunt Clem works. She said that she saw me and Damon ending up with each other? We both had no clue what she was talking about. She said you didn’t believe it would ever happen, but she knew it would. What is it?”

A flash of horror passes his face. Taking a deep breath, he motions for me to sit down with him.

“You’ve heard the stories about how humans were originally created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces, right? Zeus didn’t want to be over powered, so he split us in half, condemning us to spend our lives in search of our other half.” He says.

“Yes, I’ve heard the stories. What about them?” I say.

He sighs. He puts his hands in his head and rubs his temples.

“What do the stories have to do with me and Damon?” I say more forcefully.

“Your aunt believes that you and Damon are partners, or etairons. Zeus split the pairs apart because he didn’t want to be overpowered. He felt sure that the etairons wouldn’t find each other because their abilities together are too much, and often can’t be handled correctly. No one knows about these etairons because they all disappear. Only few have slipped through their grasp, and they are constantly running." His pain-filled eyes lift to meet mine.

"Damon had his Naming already, didn’t he? Since, yours is a week from now, the connection will surface as soon as the Naming is over. Your naming will amplify the strength of your spirit overwhelmingly, since we are from the royals. The power is too strong. The average human can’t contain it, sometimes killing both of the etairons. Those who have made it, are much stronger than the average, but can't use their powers, or they will be found." Giving me time to process, he searches my face to see if he will get a glimpse as to how I will react.

"Aunt Clem doesn’t know that death is almost certain for etairons. If the myths are correct, either you will die, or be kidnapped after your Naming. If you and Damon really are etairons, as she is almost never wrong, your fate is almost certain.”

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here with my mouth hanging open. How to react to such news? I thought figuring out Aunt Clems mysterious sentence would be for the better.

“Wh-why did you keep th-this from m-me.” Is all I can manage.

I look up to meet his agonized eyes and sadness radiating from him.

“When your Aunt Clem first had the vision, she thought it was amazing that you would find your etairon. I was the first one she told, and I made her promise me she wouldn’t tell anyone. I have been researching ways to break the connection ever since she told me about it. This wasn’t but a few days after you were born.” He says.

“You haven’t found a way to break it, have you? You would have told me about this before you tried anything, wouldn’t you of?” I say.

“Yes I would have consulted you if I found the answers I have been searching for. I suppose I am in denial about the situation.”

“Who would kidnap me?”

“Hades would send someone for you.”

“Why?”

“To steal your power, and would kill you."

I can’t force any words to escape my lips. I feel tears forming, and I can’t hold them back. Dad pulls me into his arms and holds me there until my tears subside. Still unable to say anything, I stumble away and head for my car.

He seemed so certain. I am going to die on my 18th birthday.