Josh's Destiny

Chapter 30

Destiny tossed and turned in her bed. Sam had gotten her home and though they knew they shouldn't the others had taken Josh's car. They had decided against the police for now.

Sam watched over Destiny as best he could. He knew she was frustrated, but more than that, she was terrified. He tried to help her, but he knew it would take more powerful energy than his.

The morning of the 20th dawned grey and dismal. Sam had fallen asleep but he came instantly awake, which was unusual for him as he slept like a rock. Destiny had sat up and she was shaking.

"Destiny? What is it?" Sam asked, very afraid of the answer.

"He's alive. Someone is allowing me to touch his mind. Sam, I can feel him, in the dark, in some awful place! And whoever has him, is torturing him!! I feel so much pain and Josh is screaming!"

Destiny put her face in her hands. She tried to get herself under some sort of control. She knew they had only today to find him, at midnight it would become the Solstice, and while Marcus would not sacrifice until the eve of the 21st, he was not above half killing Josh. Marcus liked to inflict pain. Destiny thought of contacting her friends in the Realms. They could help her...but no, they couldn't. They were fair sworn not to interfere with another being's Solstice rights. And fair sworn was taken very seriously even if another had to die. No, it was up to her. Her and Sam and Jake and Danny.

Destiny looked up at Sam and said quietly, "I have no choice but to wait."

Sam looked at his hands. "Why?" he asked.

"Marcus will contact me. He needs me. And he knows I'll come."

"Then we'll all go..." Sam began.

Destiny cut him off and said, "No. I have to do this alone, Sam." She looked at the clock. It's hands told her it was just after eight. What was she to do all day?  She sent Sam away and took a shower. When she was dressed, she met the three guys in the kitchen. Coffee was on but no one had any appetite so no one was cooking. Lunch came and went. Still, no one was hungry. They listlessly picked at some snack food, but even the chocolate seemed dried out and tasteless.

Around five, Destiny got the communication from Marcus she had been expecting. The guys crowded around as Destiny took delivery of an envelope from a courier service employee. She held the envelope in her hands a

Danny couldn't stand it any longer, "Open it, Destiny!"

"I have to be alone guys, please understand. You can't help me now."

A protest rose to Jake's lips, but quickly died. Destiny was standing ram-rod straight and her strong will came to the forefront of her personality. She was going to do this herself, she had too. Destiny walked to her bedroom and shut the door. She took a deep breath and opened the envelope with her fingernail. She slit the top and then turned the envelope upside down. A small white card fell into her hand and she read:   Blood Beach, 8 o'clock P.M. 21st.

Blood Beach? Where was that? Destiny quickly put the card and envelope down and went to an old Army warchest. She opened it and removed a shallow bowl and a gallon of sea water. She poured water into the bowl and prepared to scrye for Blood Beach.

As she reached for the card, both card and envelope simply disappeared. "Not going to make this easy on me, are you, Marcus?" Destiny said out loud. She could have sworn she heard a chuckle.

Destiny used her will and centered herself, and then she looked deeply into the bowl. She completely lost herself in her task and it was only broken by Sam's knock.

"What?" she called, very irritated by the interruption.

Sam poked his head around the door. "Uh, you've been in here for five hours. Are you all right?"