Destroying Fate

Chapter 13

My nerves are shot; this could be all of the time I have left. My eyes have been glued to the second hand of the clock since I got back from the Heicara, watching my time slowly ticking away. I feel like an hourglass slowly being drained of its sand.

A car engine interrupts my thoughts, and instead of just staring at the clock, I actually take time to read it, 4:26. That should be Gabi pulling in. I decide to get up so I can greet her at the door. I take a deep breath, and put on my most plausible smile.

Before I have the chance to reach the door, Damon pushes open the doors and sweeps me up into his arms as soon as he catches sight of me.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I should have been. I was out searching for someone to help us.” He says in a voice that makes me melt.

“It’s okay. You’re here now and that’s all that matters. Did you find someone?” I say.

Still in his arms, he walks us over to sit in a chair. He sets me in a lap and keeps himself buried in my hair. Not answering is the answer. He didn’t find anything. He has basically lost hope, and thinks we will die. Great.

Slowly, he pulls himself away enough so that he can look me in the eyes. He puts his hands on my cheeks. “I don’t know if today is the last day we will be alive, or on Earth, but I want you to know that I love you, and I will do whatever I can to save you. You are my only concern.”

I can tell by the tone of his voice that he is sincere. He would rather die than let anything happen to me. I didn’t want to cry, because I know that won’t help anything, but here I am with tears streaming down my face.

Damon wraps his arms around my head and once again pulls me into his chest telling me that we are strong enough to defeat whatever this is. That no matter what we will always have each other, and that’s all that matters. We both know that’s a lie though, but it’s nice to be told that.

The tears have stopped, but the evidence is still there. The front of Damon’s shirt it practically soaked with my tears, and my eyes are most certainly puffy and red. At least I won’t owe Gabi an explanation since she seems to know everything already. Once I have pulled myself together, I clear my throat and look up to Damon.

“Who were you talking to on the phone outside of my bedroom? And where did you disappear too?”

He scrunches his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t remember?” I ask.

“Uh… No. Did you hit your head when you fell? Do you want me to get you some ice?” He asks. I of course don’t want to have ice of all things on my head. “Or uh never mind.” He says and looks away from me.

Confused, I pull out my phone and text Cae to see if he’s outside yet.

I get a reply instantly.

Yea, is everything okay?

I don’t reply to his text, but I inform Damon that I need some fresh air, and to be by myself for a couple minutes. He nods, and I excuse myself.

I keep my steps steady, although I feel like running, and make my way to where Cae is leaning against the building and Khia is sitting.

“This might sound weird and stuff but I think something is wrong with Damon. I don’t know what though. Maybe I’m crazy, I don’t really know.” I sigh and I fall to the ground next to Khia. “Am I crazy?”

Cae joins us on the ground, looking uncomfortable, and runs his hand through his hair. “What happened now?”

“Well it was actually earlier, before I passed out or whatever…” I continue to explain the odd one-sided conversation and the sound of his voice.

By the time I’m done explaining Cae is sitting with his elbows propped on his knees, and is rubbing his temples. He rests his head in his hands and sneaks a look at Khia, who nods her head in conformation to whatever they’re both thinking.

Khia stands up, and walks towards the buildings entrance and sits down. She closes her eyes and focuses on something.

“Care to explain?” I prod.

“Give me a minute.” He says, and focuses on Khia.

After a few minutes, Khia walks back to us with a sad look on her face.

“He is.” She says to Cae.

“He is what?” I ask.

“Should I tell her, or you?” Cae says.

“I think I should” She says, and takes a deep breath.

She sits next to me and cradles my hands in her own. “Damon is sort of like me.”

“What?” I say a little too coldly, instantly regretting my tone when I look over to Khia’s wet eyes. I pause before continuing, and try to calm myself. “Like, part Luwah?”

“Yes, well not exactly.” She starts. “Damon is still there, but there is also a Luwah inside of him. Whenever the Luwah takes over, Damon is almost on pause, he doesn’t know anything that happens.” She hesitates before continuing. “I think you should go back in there, and be as nice to him as possible. His fate is doomed. There is no way to get the Luwah out without triggering more to come, which would doom you.

***

I instantly jump out of Damon’s arms and sprint over to my parents as soon as they step in through the doors.

“Mom, Dad, I love you both so much.” I say, and fling my arms around the both of them.

“The aftermath isn’t certain. Don’t act as if this is goodbye. I will see you again honey.” Dad whispers in my ear.

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, so I move my eyes to the ceiling and stare at the dim lights in an attempt to divert my attention until my eyes no longer feel watery.

My mom looks to me with a muddled look on her face. I cannot cry for her. She hasn’t the slightest clue as to what is going on. It isn’t her disorder getting in the way this time. She feels more here than she has in a long time. I don’t know what got her out of her funk, but I hope that after I’m gone, someone helps her to stay in her clearer thoughts. Maybe she won’t notice my being gone…

Standing a far distance away is Desi, or Zarra, unsure of where she stands. Sure she isn’t my real sister, and I still can’t comprehend exactly what she is, or why it’s necessary for her to be here, but she is still my sister. Blood related or not. Human or not. I take a step back, and a deep breath in. I put on my best smile, truly trying to make it genuine, and hug her. I give her a quick squeeze and a small smile, and back away. I bite down on my teeth, and try averting my attention back to my parents while I have them.

The rest of my family eventually makes their way here just in time for me to greet them all, a little small chat, and get my mind off of the current issues. I’m going to miss them, no matter how strange they all are.

Shortly before my impending doom, I got another odd icy sensation. When I turned to look at Damon, his eyes were locked on mine, but they just weren’t his. They looked like his, but they weren’t. Maybe I imagined it, but it gave me enough belief that he wouldn’t survive tonight. I wish his family was allowed to come for a final goodbye.

“Persephone Amara Galanos, we’re ready for you.” Athena says while motioning me forward. I kiss Damon on the cheek, wave to my family, not embarrassed in the slightest, and walk into the Naming room without looking back.

Saying I'm terrified would be the understatement of the year.