Wicked Destiny (14 page)

“What?”
I snatched the door open and realized it was Viktor. 

“Don’t
what
me like that! You weren’t answering your phone. You weren’t in your loft or your house at the farm. So where the hell were you?”

“I’ve been here. Two days?”
I glanced at Shay, who looked puzzled herself. “You’ve been in my place looking for me?” I turned to look at Viktor, who just looked pissed.

“I
don’t think she really knows,” Shay said as she examined me. The room began to spin and she helped me to the couch.

“The last
thing I remember is talking to Declan. I saw you coming down the hall and I willed you not to see me.” When I looked up, I saw an even more pissed off Viktor.

“You did
what?
” He moved in front of me. “Just how did you do that?”

“I don’t know.
One minute I was in the clearing back at the farm, trashing the woods, and Simon was trying to help…” I didn’t get to finish before Viktor exploded.

“
Simon! You were with Simon?” The vein on the side of his neck was about to give.

“If you calm down
, I will explain.” I looked away, because for some reason he made me feel like I did something wrong. And I’d done nothing. So I eyed him right back and rounded my shoulders. “I don’t know what your deal is, but I did nothing wrong. I realized I could…teleport and I wanted to stretch the distance to see how far I could go. I ended up at the farm, in the clearing. I got carried away with trashing the woods and he appeared. He said I gave off a spotlight using my powers.” I held my hand up to him so he could stop whatever was coming out next. “I know, you already told me that. I wasn’t thinking, but when I got home, Declan was outside waiting. We had an argument and that’s when I saw you afterwards. I was tired of fighting and didn’t want to anymore, so that’s when I willed you to not see me. It was just to see if I could even do it, but I guess subconsciously I still held onto it.” I looked up at him. Viktor was still mad, but he would just have to get over it. 

I kept the dream to myself.
Viktor was mad enough as it was, but I really wondered if what he told me was the truth. I remembered what Simon said as well and wondered if he said those things just so I would doubt Viktor. Then again, who’s to say there wasn’t a hidden agenda for both of them?

“Well
, get dressed. You haven’t eaten in day and it’s showing. So, come on.” Shay stood up and took me by the arm, pulling me up. I complied.

“Where are we going?”
I asked.

“I don’t know.
We can figure it out later after you have showered.” She pushed me into the direction of the bathroom and I didn’t argue.

I stood there washing myself as I heard the two of them out
there talking and cleaning up. I became antsy because I hadn’t shown my studio to Shay and I didn’t want Viktor to. I jumped out of the shower, trying to hurry. I didn’t want to waste any more time, so I manifested my hair and makeup done. I adjusted my towel around my body and walked out into my bedroom.  Viktor caught sight of me first.

“What did you do?”
He watched as I was grabbing clothes out of my drawer and closet.

“I’m getting ready
, Viktor. What does it look like?”

“No
, you did something. You used your powers. Sloane, there are consequences and you aren’t thinking clearly.”

“All I did was use
a little to cut time in half.” Now he pissed me off, again. “You know what?” I snapped my fingers and the towel disappeared. Within seconds, I was fully clothed. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” Shay was in awe and shock, but she was holding up better than I thought. She grabbed her purse and I locked my arms in between the two of them as we headed out. “How about I drive?”

We went from standing in my living room to standing in
front TGIFridays across town. Shay looked nauseous and I knew it was coming. She ducked in between two cars so that she was shielded from the people inside the restaurant. I went to chase after her, but Viktor grabbed my arm.

“You
can’t keep doing this,” he stated through gritted teeth.

“You’re not my father.
In fact, if everything goes in your favor, won’t you be answering to me?” I shot back. 

“You
’re just showing off right now, but you’re going to send up a red flag.” His voice was getting louder.

“I thought
that’s what your kind wanted? Why don’t you go back to Hell and while you are there, ask your boss what you are supposed to do next with me? I dance to my own tune, not someone else’s.” I rounded on him to go check on Shay, who was on the phone with someone asking for them to pick her up.

“What are you doing? We just go here.”
Now I was confused.

“Sloane
, I don’t feel all that great, so I’m having Mindy come get me. She’s right down the road.” She was digging in her purse for some gum, or something in general, just so she wouldn’t have to look at me. 

“Shay
, I’m—” Mindy pulled into the parking lot and Shay turned to walk off, but she suddenly turned back around.

“This isn’t you and this isn’t what I meant by owning your talents
.” She turned to walk away and all I could do was watch.

I turned around to see if Viktor was there
, but he was gone too. Oh, well, I was here and I wasn’t going to let the day go to waste. I walked in and headed straight to the bar area. I asked for a corner booth and a berry mojito. As I sat there sipping on my drink, I was thinking about everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks. I finished the first round and ordered another. I was feeling on edge and scared. I never liked being in a situation where I didn’t know what to do. It was always so easy to talk to Shay about it, but she was ill with me at the moment. 

I ordered
an appetizer of cheese sticks. Just as they came out, I caught a glimpse of the people walking in. Declan was all decked out with a woman. My stomach began to twist because she was beautiful. She was tall and thin with just the right amount of curves, and her skin looked just like a Greek goddess’. Why was I so shocked? Declan was beyond handsome and now I knew why. This was surely the person he was to end up with—someone who looked like a super model and not a witch that worked in a nightclub.

Suddenly
, I wasn’t so hungry and I waved down my waiter to get my check. Funny thing was, I didn’t have to worry about a designated driver because all I had to do was think where I was going and there I’d be. I took one last look at Declan as I signed the check. He wore low-rise jeans with a white buttoned up shirt that he wore open at the top. I noticed his hand resting in his pocket and the trinket that hung loosely from his wrist. It was the eternity bracelet I gave him. I couldn’t get up fast enough from the booth and I must have created a ruckus, because they caught sight of me. I couldn’t even smile to be polite. I looked back at Declan and walked out the side door, right into my loft.

Chapter 14

I sat there on my so
fa pissed with Shay and Viktor. I thought I’d done pretty good so far with not letting magic control my life. I just wanted to have a little fun. I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Now I was irritated and needed a distraction. I thought I neglected my studio long enough. Feeling spunky, I walked through my door still wearing my clothes from earlier and I crossed the next threshold. I changed into my overalls and pinned up my hair, taking out my iPhone from the leg pocket.

I star
ted the music and turned it up. I let the music determine everything. Looking at the blank canvas, I picked up a pencil and grabbed the sketch pad instead. I sat at my bay window that had a great view of the river walk and a down below park where kids could play. After a couple strokes, I looked up to see if I was missing anything. Nothing had changed. The water flowed down stream, runners ran along the river walk and mothers chased their kids through the park. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I became a mother. Would everything of me pass to it? I was sure it would, and now that I thought about it, I wouldn’t want this life for a child.

Having kids was far from my life
, but I already felt robbed—robbed of the option to choose.  It seemed like I never had a choice anymore. Everything hung in the way of my choice and I had never been so confused in my life. The music still blared in my ears and no matter how loud I had Halestorm playing, it wasn’t loud enough to drown out my thoughts. I finally gave up and laid my head against the window, silently watching the world around me as I drifted off.

I’m walking in the clearing and for the first time in a long time
, I sense peace. I’m not dressed in my usual nightgown, either. I’m wearing a white sundress. Just over the hill I see someone…a guy holding what appeared to be a blonde-haired toddler. The sun is so bright behind them that I can hardly look at them without grimacing. I begin to walk towards them without even thinking. Looking down, I can see it’s time to plow the field, but I love the feel of the tall weeds hitting my hands as run through them. 

It
’s a warm day and I bask in the sunlight. I look back at the tall man holding the toddler.  They are waving goodbye with a daisy in their hands and my heart begins to break. I am no longer taking my time. As they turn their backs to me, the child looks over the man’s shoulder and begins to cry. I‘m trying my best to get there, but it’s as if I’m running in quick sand. No matter how hard I try to use my power to get to them, it only makes things worse. 

I
’m panicking and tears are running down my face. I need to know who they are and for some reason I have to see the eyes of the child. As I’m steadily pumping my legs to get going, I hear something coming out of the woods. It’s the darkness and it’s making its way towards the unknown man and child. I can hear their screams as I work desperately to get to them. “No!”I scream out. I break free and make my way up the hill that they disappeared behind. And no one is there. Just a lonely daisy that lies crumpled. The darkness is gone and I’m there alone. 

I suddenly hear
a child’s cry in the far distance and I jump to my feet. I can’t determine which direction it came from, but then the cold, prickling feeling comes back as if someone is watching me. “What do you want?” I scream. Of course no one answered.

I’m turning
to dwell in my own misery when I hear it. “You.”

I tr
y to run, but I’m surrounded by the darkness and it finally catches up with me. There is nothing I can do.

When I awoke, it was dark outside and the music from 30 Seconds to Mars played in my ear buds. “Beautiful Lie” was the song and it was so fitting after the dream. To think that a child would ever be possible for me was crazy. Even to be happy in love with someone and living a normal life. Looking down, I saw I had sketched what looked like me waving to the unknown man and child in the clearing. How odd, but inspiring.

I grabbed a canvas and went to work
on it. I sketched the picture, and then mixed the right colors together. It wasn’t long before my dream became a picture-perfect moment. I didn’t sleep through the night at all. I didn’t answer my calls and if there was a knock on the door, I didn’t notice. I was determined to get this done. I couldn’t let it disappear like it did in my dream.  

It was probably about four in the morning
when someone stood in my doorway. Undoubtedly, that someone was Declan with a bag full of food. This was a serious invasion of privacy. I’d lost it the last time someone just walked in here and the only reason I wasn’t using my newly found witchery on him was because of the grumble in my stomach from the lack of food. Looking at the painting, something made me feel very protective over it. I didn’t want anyone to see it, more less touch it.

“What do you want?”
I asked, as I walked over to the sink to wash out my brushes.

“Everyone was worried about you.”

“Oh, so they sent you to check on me?”

“No.”
He walked in and set the bag on the table. “I can leave if you want me to.”

“I honestly
don’t care what you do, Declan. Why don’t you go back to your girlfriend? I’m sure she’s waiting on you.”

“Why do you say things like that?”

“Because I know she is. Because I did it for
three years
, and if she knew better, she’d run.”

He was on edge now.

“Do you think you were the only one that lost out? There were nights I refused to sleep for fear of dreaming of you.” He ran his hands through his hair. He was clearly aggravated because I touched a nerve, but I didn’t care. Nothing would make up for all the sleepless nights and days I went without eating. “I know I hurt you and I would gladly cut my right arm off if that would make you happy or make things right.”

“Well
, it’s all in the past. Why you even came back here is irrelevant; I don’t need you. I have people who are here and who stuck with me.”

“You can’t be serious! Shay is human and will be killed if she gets involved and Viktor is just waiting for the right time to convert you so
that the prophecy can play out. You know that’s not you and if Dru was here today, she would say the same.” 

Oh
, he did it now. The nerve that had been teetering on the verge of unleashing just burst.  With everything I had, I sent out a force that slammed Declan against the wall with enough power to cause pieces of plaster to fall to the ground. He was paralyzed against my hold on him and I walked straight up to him. I’m sure my eyes reflected every emotion I was feeling then, but the look on his face said he knew I wouldn’t hurt him. I stood face-to-face with him and bent towards his ear.

“You have no right
to speak about her like that.” I tightened a force around his neck as if a rope was there. He didn’t fight it and took it as I gave it. “She was the very first person to love me and care for me. She was the only one who stuck around.” He gasped a little for air. “If you ever mention her to me again, I will choke the life out of you for however long it takes your angel ass to give out. This is my final warning, Declan. Leave before I really hurt you.” I released him and he fell to the ground on all fours, trying to catch his breath. I turned my back to him. “Go feed your girlfriend,” I said, and a sent the food flying at him.

“I’m sorry for what I did to you, but you have to understand
I moved on and you should too. You won’t ever see me again. I’m with Gabby and she’s the same as me. So, you see, I don’t have to hide who I am with her.”

I could
n’t help but laugh. “So everything was just an act? Wow, you really need an award for this.” Instantly—poof—he was gone.

I went back to painting and made myself forg
et about being hungry and hurt. I pushed everything so far away. At some point I must have given in and passed out. Still covered in paint, how I made it to the bed was beyond me.