Wicked Destiny (13 page)

At this point
, I glanced around at everyone who eyed me as if I was a mutant. I was having a moment and the supernatural clan just bore witness. If there were a time for over throwing, then it was now.

“
Are you ok?”
I grabbed Shay’s hand. I didn’t care that I was having this conversation in front of everyone.

“
Sloane, I accepted the fact that there were unexplained things long ago when you and I became friends. You were way different and I didn’t care. Who cares if you’re a witch? Or if they’re something different
, right?
I don’t care what you are, more less what they are. You’re all my friends.” She shrugged her shoulders and I felt a tear escape my eye. She hugged me and we remained that way while Jared told everyone to get back to work.

Viktor placed his hand on my back to comfort me
, but I shrugged it off as soon I felt it. When I looked up, I saw Declan climbing the stairs to the DJ booth. Viktor stood by the dance floor and everyone else made their way to their station as they got ready for the club to open up.

“As much as I would love
to see where this will go, I need you to break it up and get your station ready.” Jared was all manager now and I nodded my head at him.

“Promise me
,” I whispered in Shay’s ear, “we will always look out for each other. Promise me?”

“I promise
, Sloane.”

With that promise made
, I knew Shay would always be there and I would always be there for her. And nothing else mattered. Shay didn’t care and now neither did I. I was who I was and nothing would ever change that. It was time I owned up to that.

The night went on a
little bit easier. Shay was on fire and confidence filled the air. Mindy joined our side of the bar tonight and all three of us shined like stars. Overall, it was a great night. I didn’t even worry about what Viktor or Declan were hiding. Something about tonight was liberating. I decided that I would embrace everything that came to me and just roll with it.

At the end of the night
, I sat around waiting for Jared to finish counting down while I had a drink. I sat in front of Mindy’s station and watched as she cleaned her area. She poured two shots of Patron and sat one in front of me.

“Are you try
ing to get me all liquored up?” I asked, smiling.

“No
, you just look like you need something extra.” Mindy smiled back. “What do you want to drink to first? To being a successful nightclub owner or to being a witch?” We both laughed.

“How about the moment?”
We tapped our glasses on the bar and quickly drank back the liquid as it warmed the path to our stomach. Mindy took my glass with hers and stuck them in the dishwasher. 

“Sloane,” Jared
called.

I walked over to the part of the bar where he sat looking at
tape slips and cash registers. He looked like something was bothering him. 

“What’s up?”
I asked.

“How do you want to do this?”
Jared asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Since you are the boss …” I didn’t let him finish.

“Jared
, you are still in charge. I might own the place, but that’s it. Nothing has changed,” I explained.

“OK, then I
need a raise.” I laughed at him as he asked.

“We can
talk about that another time.” I moved to walk away, but I quickly turned on him, “Thank you, Jared, for everything. I mean it.”

“No problem. You can thank me with a raise.
By the way, the blonde looks better on you.” I shook my head playfully as I grabbed my stuff and began my walk home.

As I walked out
, Dale escorted Shay to her car. She looked up just as she threw her stuff into the car. She smiled at me and silently asked if I wanted a ride. I shook my head, assuring her that I was OK.

Chapter 13

On the way home
, I realized I hadn’t seen Declan or Viktor all night and it didn’t bother me one bit. Why was that, I wondered. Oh, well, I’d just enjoy the silence. Just as I was rounding the block, I got curious. I knew I could control the elements, but I wondered just how far I could push my power. 

I stood there and squared my shoulders as if to brace myself for something bad
. At first nothing happened, but I felt the static building in the air. It made my hairs stand on end. This was cool, and so I concentrated harder. The wind picked up like always, but I was in the mood for something more. I shut my eyes, filling myself with my power from within. I let it take over just to see what it would do. One by one, the street lights combusted and the traffic lights exploded. For the grand finale, all the shop windows within a block’s radius shattered. 

I opened my eyes to look
around and I couldn’t believe it. Had I really done all of this? I began to get nervous and thought it was a good time to get the hell out of there. In my mind, I was telling myself to get to my loft, but as I turned in the direction of my building, there I stood in front of the double doors. Only about a mile from where I was standing. I turned to see if that had just happened. Did I just teleport myself to my building by simply thinking about it?

So
, I decided to test the theory again. I thought about the club and as I turned its direction I stood outside the doors of the Xchange.  This was absolutely cool and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I thought about the barn and took one step, and there I was in front of the barn at the farm. This was absolutely amazing! It was like time travel. It started to drizzle a little, and like a little girl, I twirled uncaringly in the rain and refused to think about anything else. I worried for so long and for the first time in a while, I just didn’t care.

With my arms stretched out
, I tipped my head back with my mouth open and tried to catch raindrops in my mouth. It was kid-like, but again, I didn’t care. I accepted what I was, and what was the harm in having a little fun? Thunder sounded off in the far distance. I thought about the pasture on the other side of the far and I within a split second, I was there. I stared into the woods where the darkness always chased me in my dream. With a flick of my wrist, I heard trees snapping and their roots being pulled out of the ground.

I threw my hands in the air
and immediately I felt the static. I wanted the darkness to know I wasn’t afraid anymore; whatever lurked for me out there would know I wasn’t afraid. When I flung my hands down, bolts of lightning rained down on the pile of trees, setting them a blaze. I stood there and watched as they burned everything to ash and left no place for the darkness to hide. And I felt better. Perhaps this would conclude the nightmares. At the wave of my hand, the lightning went away and the flames died out as well.

I knew I was alone,
but I suddenly heard someone clearing their throat. I turned around and found Simon standing there in a black sleet suit, a white dress shirt and sunglasses.

“Bravo,”
he said, clapping his hands. “That was very, um, how do you say it? Untrained of you. It was still impressive, though, don’t get me wrong.”

“W
hat are you doing here?” I could feel power surging, but I wasn’t sure if it was mine or his.

“
I just followed the spotlight.” Simon smiled at me as if this was all amusing.

“Spotlight?”
I asked.

“Yes
, or beacon. You may call it that instead. Just think, if I hadn’t shown up, something much worse would’ve.” 

“I’m confused,” I murmured.

“Anytime you tap into the power from within you, you give off a signal. I’m sure someone has told you this already.”

Shit
, he was right. “What do you want, Simon?” He was pacing, but stopped as I said his name.

“Ah
, so you know who I am?” I swallowed as he continued. “Don’t be afraid, Sloane. I know you, too.” He smiled back, but something about his smile scared me. “I’ve actually been looking for someone like you with your talents.”

“No
, thank you. I’m sure you are here because of the prophecy.” This really got his attention.

“There are many prophecies.
Which one are you referring to?” He tilted his head, looking confused.

“The prophecy about a child who will be born and lead an unholy army against the heavens.  She w
ill not only carry the blood of witchcraft but of light and dark. She will lead and be the Dark’s companion. So, are you the Dark?” I was being sarcastic.

“Oh
, you have no idea how dark I am.” He flashed a devilish smile at me. “Sloane, have fun with your power. Try not to conceal it too much, because when you’ll really need it, it won’t come.”

“I was told
not to,” I said.

“I’m sure you were, but ask yourself why
. Maybe they hope you will become out of control.”  His eyebrows rose above his glasses. “Why don’t you show me something other than a little storm?”

“I don’t know how.” I was scared now.
Scared to actually do something and scared not to.

“Here
, let me see your hand.” Simon held his hand out and I reluctantly placed mine in his as he covered mine with his own. “Now close your eyes.” I did as I was told and everything swiftly went blank. Everything froze in time. “You have all abilities known. You can do whatever you want or dream of. If you think it, you can do it. Now, without my help, unfreeze time.” I stood there and felt the pull. Suddenly, I felt the wind blow and heard the sound of insects singing in the background.

I did it.
“How did I do that?”

“It’s all in your mind.
There are no fancy spells or chants that need to be said. No incense or mineral crushing of any kind. Just your mind.”  He tapped on his temple.

“So what
ever I want I can make happen?” I was trying desperately to comprehend.

“That is correct,” he agreed,
nodded at me.

“What do
you get out of this…training?” I asked, because I knew he wasn’t here for me.

“If I ever need you for
something, you’ll be there.” It wasn’t a plea or a request. He demanded, and then he was gone.

I stood there as
sessing what all just happened. There were obviously no limitations to what I could do. Maybe it would be a good idea to start getting used to using my gifts. After all, they were mine. I wouldn’t lose control. I flashed back to my building, and as I stood in front of the double doors digging my keys out of my purse, Declan appeared.

“Where were you?”
His tone was like a pissed off father, which I didn’t like.

“None
of your damn business, Declan. Go find your girlfriend. I’m sure she has been missing you, or has she grown accustomed to your disappearing acts?” I turned to walk into the building.

“S
top!” he yelled at me, and I turned to look at him. He looked as if he aged in the past week or so. “Why are you acting this way? I don’t know this person you’ve become.”

“That’s because the person you knew all those years ago died the day you walked out.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this, Sloane. You can step away from it all.” 

“I refuse to run
, Declan. That’s not me.” I pushed the door open to walk through, and as I turned around to say something else to him, he was gone. Like usual, he would always be gone. Each time I had to walk away from Declan it got easier and easier. 

There was still a stab of guilt and co
nfusion in the pit of my heart. A thought popped into my head and I willed myself to make it go away, and it did. I was able to turn my feelings off just so I could get through the rest of the night and go to sleep. That didn’t last long when I heard Viktor coming out of his loft.
Here we go again.
But instead, just to see if my powers worked on him, I willed him not to see me. It seemed like I didn’t move or breathe, and when I opened my eyes, Viktor was out the door. He casually passed me by as if I wasn’t there. I smiled to myself and went straight to bed.

I
’m standing in my floor-length silk nightgown in the middle of the clearing. My back is to the broken down woods that I took care of earlier. That won’t stop whatever the darkness has in store for me, though. I can feel the power surge in the air; I know it was here, watching me.  And I can feel it coming. I turn around to find nothing there, and so I walk to the edge of the broken woods. “Hello,” I call out. Nothing responds. 

Turning away
, I feel the gentle caress of a hand running down my arms as if to warm me. I whip around to find Simon standing there. What is he doing in my dream? More less, what is he doing touching me? 

“What are you doing here? I thought we f
inished our discussion earlier? I know you aren’t here to collect on the debit already?” I take a step back. 

I have to say
, for someone to be in what looks like his mid-thirties, Simon isn’t half bad looking. Here he stands in a pair of dress pants, his dress shirt un-tucked, and he’s barefoot. He still has the sunglasses on. What is the deal with those?

“One day you are going to have to explain why you
wear those glasses all the time,” I say.

“I’m her
e because you brought me here. I was actually just drifting off when I felt myself being dragged back here. You didn’t even give me time to put my shoes back on.” He looks down at his feet.

“I don’t see how I did that.
I was bracing myself for the darkness that always seems to follow me here.”

“Well
, maybe you see me as darkness and it sucked me in.”

“I don’t know about darkness
, but you are kind of creepy.”

“Is that right?
Tell me, what about me is creepy?” He tucks his arms around his back.

“Well
, those glasses, for one, and you look like a Guido off the Jersey Shore. You could pass for a mafia boss.”

“Now that’s hilarious.
A Guido.” He laughs uncontrollably. “Me looking like a Guido makes me creepy?” 

“Well
, if you saw the show you would know why.” I can’t help laughing.

“Why am I here
, Sloane? Are you having trouble with something?” His question throws me off guard.

“No, no trouble,
I don’t think.” Then I think I should make use of our time again. “How well do you know Viktor?”

“Ah
, yes, young Viktor. Well, his reputation precedes him. Is there something specific you need to know?”

“I guess what I need to know is why he is really h
ere,” I question.

“That should be simple.
It’s because of you.”

“No
, I need more. I need to know if it’s because he wants me or if his boss wants me.”

“Sloane, what does it matter? Are you happy with him?” I nod my head. “
Then what’s the problem?”

“
The prophecy says I am destined to be with someone, or rather something else.”

“Yes
, the prophecy. One thing I will say is that boss of his is a nasty character himself. You are scared he will claim you?”

“Well
, yes. I am, I guess, but I don’t know if Viktor’s feelings for me are true or a lie,” I mumble.

“Well
, Miss Townsend, one thing you can count on from our kind is that we lie to tell the truth and to lie we tell the truth. It’s a game of manipulation, you see.”

“So
, you say it’s a gamble either way?”

“Exactly
, my dear.”

“How do I know you are telling me the truth now?”
I ask.

“You don’t know.
What do I have to gain in lying to you? You already owe me one, anyway.” He moved closer to me, but I didn’t move. “Time to wake up, Sloane.”

I could hear my cell phone going off on my night stand and someone be
ating on my door. I was tempted to tap into that reserve power and knock someone’s head the way they were knocking on my door. Instead, I got up and found Shay standing there. This was a real surprise considering she didn’t get up before me on any given day.

“I have been calling you for two days
now and you haven’t picked up. You are giving me a key to your loft. You had me scared shitless.”

Did she just say two days?

“Two days? Shay, it’s Sunday. What are you talking about?” I shut the door as she walked passed me.

“Sloane
, it’s Monday. What are you smoking?” She eyed me suspiciously.

“There’s no way.” I ran to my nightstand t
o look at my phone and, sure enough, on the face calendar it said Monday. I slept for two days? Someone else was banging on the door.