“Can you see my future?” I ask my mother, hoping for some guidance.
She tilts her head and looks at me regretfully. “You know I can’t see either yours or Eziah’s.”
“Do you know who my mate is?” Eziah asks, suddenly deciding to join the conversation.
“Patience boy, she will come eventually,” Mom looks at him like she’s about to smack the back of my brother’s neck. It’s pretty funny.
“So you do know who she is?” he persists.
“I know a lot of things, but that doesn’t mean I can tell you. Seline and I choose the bonds, but you both choose your destiny. Choice is a marvelous thing; it can change so much, it can alter the future, and fix the past,” my mother says cryptically. Guess neither of us is going to get any solid answers to our fate and future tonight.
“Damn it, you never tell us anything,” Eziah whines, making me smile. He is acting far younger than his age and sulks like a toddler chucking a tantrum.
“On the contrary, I tell you too much. I am not meant to meddle, and if you keep pouting like that, I may just go meddle with your mate. I could mate you to a german shepherd if you take that whiny tone with me again.”
“What? She gets a cool-ass Lycan and I get an actual dog? How is that fair?” I laugh at him, and my mother chuckles when he storms out of the room.
“I never said I did meddle, yet,” my mother whispers and laughs. “That boy, good thing he’s good-looking like his dad because he ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed, that’s for sure. Goddess, bless his mate,” she whispers and I smile looking up at her when her eyes darken a little.
“You’re the Goddess, mom, bless her,” I grin. “But, yeah, I feel sorry for his mate when he finds her. It will be like having a kid instead,” I giggle.
“Your brother’s future is bright. Though first, he needs to get past the dark parts. Seline did tell me that much.” Mom looks away from me.
I don’t enjoy moments like these. I want to see more happiness, create the happiness within her, but the burden on her shoulders is too much for my mother.
“Well, that doesn’t sound very bright,” I tell her.
She nods but says nothing more on the matter as she quickly braids my hair again before kissing me goodnight and leaving my room. Climbing into bed, I set my alarm on my phone. Rose is coming over tomorrow, and I am excited to see her.
Mom said Uncle Andrei is having trouble with her, so mom offered to have her for a sleepover. Though I’m not too keen on her and I sneaking off to the city to some party she is invited to. Parties aren’t my thing, but she said if I don’t go, she will go by herself.
Rose also said if I turn her in, she won’t forgive me, that I should learn to live a little, so I decided to take one out of the Rose handbook and try to have fun. Besides, no one will know me there, maybe it will be fun. After everything that has been going on, I think I could use it.
Setting my phone down, I hesitate, but pick it back up. I open my messages and send Kyan a text.
Me: I am sorry your father died for me. I’m sorry that I am the reason you are alone.
I don’t expect a reply, so I am a little shocked when my phone buzzes in my hand as I sit it down. My hands shake as I open the text, wondering if maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.
Kyan: I’m sorry he died too, but he did the right thing to save you. I don’t blame you, not anymore. Now try to sleep, and I will see you on Saturday. Goodnight Ella.
My heart skips a beat as I stare at the phone. I wasn’t expecting that kind of message from him. Kora presses forward and reads the text message, and I feel she has the same strange feeling stirring in her stomach. For once, it is warm and not the usual coldness I get when I’m near him.
Pulling the blankets up, I tuck myself in, for once not feeling so hopeless. Only when I drift off do I dream of that voice again, the one that used to comfort me when I was younger. The one that used to tell me it would get better.
“Don’t let him go. Fight for him, Bella, and he will fight for you too. You just need to show him you’re strong enough to survive him. Your fate isn’t over yet,” the voice tells me.
One that is familiar, and I can’t figure out where else I have heard it besides my own head, the whispers behind my ear. The same, nagging voice that kept me from ending my life before Kora came to me.
It is that man’s voice that kept me sane when no one would listen – a figment of my imagination. I always thought I had conjured up an imaginary friend. Yet this time, hearing him, something tells me it is more than that.
I just need to figure out who it belongs to. With these thoughts swimming in my mind, I let sleep overcome me.
Marabella
The following morning, Rose bounds into the house like her ass is on fire. Her body barges into me the moment my mother opens the door, and she engulfs me in a hug. Rose is like a burst of rainbow sunshine, bright and bubbly, with a dash of crazy. She has a glow about her that makes you want to be in her presence, just to let her warmth rub off on you a little.
She is one of those people you look at and wonder what she is up to now. The wild child, yet she is also a tomboy and a nerd. She has many personalities and I know that is why everyone loves her. Jonah walks in behind her, carrying a mountain load of bags, covered in a vanilla milkshake, and not looking very impressed at all. And I have to suppress a laugh that is threatening to escape.
“What’s happened to you?” I ask, unable to hide my amusement any further.
“One guess,” he says, glaring at his little sister, and my eyes follow Jonah’s direction of sight, now looking at Rose, who has an innocent smile plastered on her face. But we all know better.
“Come on, bro, it was an accident,” Rose says, batting her eyelashes at him, trying to convey her innocence. This is actually a skill in which she succeeds most of the time.
“You threw it at me,” he scoffs with big eyes while shaking his head in disbelief. I chuckle, watching them bicker, and Rose gives him puppy dog eyes, while Jonah rolls his.
“But I’m your favorite sister; it was an accident, scouts honor,” she attempts at a last try. Got to give it to the girl. Her acting is impressive.
“You’re my only sister, and you’re not a girl scout,” he says, shooting her a knowing look, before shaking his head again.
“You tipped it on me first, and called me a brat for spilling it on the seat,” she adds defensively, acting like she has done nothing wrong. I snicker because we all know Rose… is she ever guilty in her own eyes?
“I was braking. Would you rather I hit the car in front of us?” Jonah scolds, and she shrugs, twirling a strand of hair around her finger – typical Rose. These two have such a close bond, but they sure are entertaining to watch when they argue.