“Hey, ma,” I tell her, and she smiles, walking over to me and embracing me gently like she thinks she will break me. She gently rubs my belly and looks up at Thaddeus, and I can’t decipher the look on her face. Amara hesitates, watching me closely like she is here but not seeing what is in front of her. Her eyes glaze over, and a dark expression takes over her face, her lips pursed together.
“Amara?” Thaddeus asks.
She shakes her head, snapping out of her trance. “Sorry,” she quickly says, walking over and hugging me. She rubs my belly, a smile on her lips. “She is strong,” Amara says. All of us look at her.
“It’s a girl?” Ryland asks, stepping around me and into the room.
Amara nods, a huge grin on her face. “Can you feel it, brother? Feel her magic?”
“She is pure,” Thaddeus answers, his voice choking up slightly.
His mother pats his back softly and he abruptly walks away. I can feel he is emotional through the bond, not sad but not happy either; it takes me a second to recognize it. It feels like loneliness. I stare after him, worried until Orion places his hand on my shoulder.
“I will check on him,” he says, walking off after him. Hopefully, he does check on him, not argue with him.
“We brought you some things, some herbs to add to your tea. Orion said you’re exhausted all the time; these will give you a boost. Oh, and this one will stop any pain you have; just don’t take too much; they make you horny,” Amara says.
Her mother smacks her up the back of the head, making Amara growl at her. “Amara was up most of the night, harvesting the garden for you,” Imogen chuckles.
Ryland holds out his hand to put them away. He takes the bag from Amara, but as she puts the herbs in his hand, she tenses, jumps back, and her eyes glaze over. Her eyes dart to me, then back to Ryland, and I can clearly see the fear displayed in her eyes.
“Amara, what’s wrong?” Imogen asks.
Ryland watches Amara when she suddenly grabs hold of both his wrists, her eyes turn white, and she gasps again. Her eyes keep moving like she is watching something. It is the eeriest sight to witness. “You can’t let them do it,” Amara gasps. Her eyes look frantically between us.
“What?” Ryland asks, looking at me.
“Promise you won’t let them do it.” Amara demands, her voice is almost frantic.
“What are you talking about, Amara?” Ryland asks.
“Thaddeus, he will end the world if she dies. It will doom us all,” she gasps and her eyes roll into the back of her head. Blood starts running from her nose as Amara suddenly passes out.
Ryland grabs her in time just as she is about to hit the floor. Imogen looks lost, staring into space, while my heart is pounding so hard that I am struggling to breathe. I can feel a panic attack coming on, the room pulsates around me, and my vision begins to blur. What does she mean?
What did she see?
Evelyn
Ryland moves Amara to the couch, placing her down gently just as Thaddeus walks back in with Orion. Imogen, Ryland, and I look at Thaddeus and my heart skips a beat as I remember Amara’s words.
Thaddeus notices his sister on the couch and rushes over. “What happened?” he asks, looking at his mother.
Imogen stares at her son with fearful eyes, her eyes darting to me, but Ryland is the one that answers. “Nothing happened; she just passed out,” he says.
I can tell Thaddeus knows he is lying. “What did she see?” he demands, looking at me, but I have gone completely mute; I can’t even form a word. How can one person destroy the world?
Amara groans and her hand goes to her head like she has a bad headache. Her eyes are back to normal as they flicker to everyone staring at her. “What, brother? I just passed out. I am alright,” she says.
“What did you see?” he asks again, but this time to her.
“Nothing you need to know. Things change; they will change,” she says as her eyes dart to Ryland, who looks away, and then, at me.
Imogen looks lost for words. Exactly what do you say when the entire world rests on your son’s shoulders and your daughter’s visions?
“Well, we should be off. Make sure you use the herbs; they will help. The wards are set; everything is fine; just fine,” Imogen says, her eyes not leaving Amara.
I can tell she is desperate to get out of here. I have no idea why they won’t tell Thaddeus, but figure it can change the events of what Amara saw, what Amara warned Ryland about.
Thaddeus is about to protest when suddenly I blink, and they are gone; Amara must have misted out of here.
Thaddeus stares at the space where his mother and sister were before his eyes go to Ryland. “Tell me.”
“You know I can’t do that; Amara said things will change. I tell you, you will alter the future again, and maybe not in a good way.”
Thaddeus breathes loudly, clearly not happy about being left out of the loop. Orion takes the herbs from Ryland and walks off into the kitchen. I look to the stairs, the shower is calling my name.
Thaddeus, noticing me looking at them, steps forward, his arms out. I reach mine up, and he picks me up awkwardly as I wrap my legs around his waist. My belly is making all my weight lean onto his arms, but he doesn’t seem to mind as he carries me up the stairs effortlessly.
Then, he carries me into the bedroom and places me on my feet. I don’t say a word as I walk to the bathroom and turn on the shower.