chapter Eleven
“I have an appointment with my advisor now,” I told Raisa after we left class. I hated summer semester. I was taking only three classes, but because of the intense workload, they seemed like eight. “I’ll meet you at home after my shift?”
“Yup,” she answered, returning to the gossiping Martha and Susan.
Shaking my head, I hurried toward the science building. Despite the craziness going on with my life, exams were coming up and I needed to study. Besides, keeping my mind busy helped a little in stopping my pervasive worry that I was a lunatic.
I was about to knock on the door of my advisor’s office when it opened and Victor emerged, startling me. He looked amazing in faded jeans and a dark blue NYU sweatshirt—sending my heart into overdrive—even if the look was too casual to match the Victor of my visions.
With my hand over my chest, trying to slow down my sudden irregular breathing pattern, I whispered, “What are you doing here?”
Frowning, he closed the door behind him. “It’s none of your business.”
Ouch. Okay, so maybe that was going too far. I opened my mouth to yell at him, frustrated with his constant cold shoulder, when I realized his green eyes were staring at me not only in anger but also in pain. “You’re hurting again, aren’t you?”
“Excuse me,” he muttered between gritted teeth. He pushed past me and marched away.
“Wait.” I followed him, keeping up with his fast pace and hoping the few students walking by didn’t notice our quarrel. “I can help. I think.”
“Just leave me alone.” His voice was strained, and he put his hand over his chest. “I need to go.”
“No,” I shouted, stepping right in front of him and preventing him from bolting.
With labored breathing, he leaned against the wall beside us. “Get out of my way,” he groaned. “I need to go now.”
I reached for him and he shoved my arm back, but this time I wasn’t going to let him boss me around. “Stop it. Let me help you before you pass out.”
Before I could reach for him again, he sank down to the cold floor, panting and trembling, his skin paler than usual.
Kneeling in front of him, I picked up his hand. His eyes went wide as a warm jolt built up behind my fingers and spread from my skin to his. Seconds later, his breathing was back to normal. His pulse had evened out. Slowly, he stood, smoothed his jeans, and ran a hand through his messy golden hair.
“Wh-what did you do?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know what it is. I just know what it does.”
“What are you?” He folded his arms, hands tucked in his armpits. “Are you some kind of witch? A druid?”
I couldn’t help laughing. “Really? Do you believe in that stuff?”
“Well, not really. But I don’t have another explanation for what you just did.”
“Welcome to the club. I have no idea how it works or what exactly it is.”
“But you knew my pain would go away if you touched me.” It wasn’t a question.
“I thought it would. You were the one who told me it had happened before.”
“I did,” he muttered.
With wary eyes, he kept staring at me. I wouldn’t get anywhere with him like this. He seemed ready to jet. I wouldn’t be the one clinging to him and begging for him to listen to me. Besides, what could I tell him? That I knew all about him and that he wasn’t precisely as great as I wanted him to be? Crazy, huh?
I couldn’t believe I was about to walk away from him, but I knew I had to. I needed to test him, to play hard-to-get, to see what his reaction would be. Besides, I remembered my meeting.
“Well, I guess I need to be going.” I gestured toward the door of my advisor’s office a few feet behind us.
He frowned. “Yeah, right.”
I wanted to say goodbye, to tell him to look for me every time he felt unwell, to give him my cell phone number and much more. But I didn’t.
After taking a deep breath, I turned and left.
***
Bright sunlight blinded me for a moment. When my eyes adjusted, I found myself once again at the crystal path, facing the omnipotent crystal palace. It had changed though. Dark clouds surrounded the tallest towers, and its shine wasn’t clear anymore—now it was a dull purple.
I followed the path, wondering what I would see this time.
Unafraid, I entered the palace. I doubted whoever was inside could see me. This vision felt like one of the ghost type, similar to how it had felt the last time I’d been here, an eerie crawl in my skin and the sensation that I was swimming among clouds.
I wasn’t afraid of being found, but I became scared and anxious once I saw the interior. The crystal thrones were still there but some were broken, the reflecting pool was almost empty, and the flowerbeds among the thrones held dead stems that added to the putrid stench filling the space.
I recognized Imha, with her too-long flowing black hair, sprawled over Levi’s throne, holding one of those poisonous sticks in one hand and her purple topped stave in the other. Behind her, huge viscid, winged creatures stood nearby, their heads bent low, apparently waiting for her.
Shortly, she stood up and, spinning the dart on her fingers, strode menacingly toward the nasty creatures.
“You dare come back without her?” Her voice was thin and cruel. A chill ran down my spine.
The creatures shrieked. I guessed they weren’t capable of speaking.
“It isn’t entirely their fault,” Omi said, entering the room. Like before, he looked filthy and crass with his scruffy brown hair and goatee. His red-orbed stave shone brightly on his hand. “She’s smart and doesn’t remain in the same place for too long.” He halted before Imha and bowed.
Who the hell were they talking about? Who was she?
“I don’t care!” Imha bellowed. The palace shook. “She’s been hiding for thirty years! How is that possible?” Omi opened his mouth to speak, but she charged him, the dart in her hand poised to strike. Her stark stare gave me goose bumps.
“I don’t want to hear any more excuses,” she hissed. “Find her and kill her. Aren’t you the god of war? Prove it! Bring on the worst war the world ever saw. Cause her to surrender. She won’t stand that. After all, she is the goddess of love and family. She can’t bear humans suffering.”
Imha let go of Omi and he retreated.
“Why is she so important to you?” he asked. “She’s gone, and I doubt she wants to come back. Besides, the last time I confronted her, she seemed weaker. She’s no threat.”
“She’s planning something.” She sat back down on Levi’s throne. “I can feel it.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.”
“What are you waiting for?” she snapped, spitting rage with her words. “Go! Go find her! Kill her. Bring me her scepter.”
Omi bowed and left as Imha laughed—a hysterical laughter that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
That was when the palace walls started melting and fading, along with everything else, taking away the surroundings and replacing them with my familiar room.
I was seated in my lilac armchair, quaking and dizzy, my biology book on my lap. I sucked in ragged breaths.
Holy hell, what was that? Gods wanting to kill more gods? My head was spinning and I couldn’t think clearly.
What had been the meaning of that vision? If it had any meaning at all. I snapped the biology book shut. I was getting tired of this. I had to do something, to look for help. It was difficult for me to accept, but if I were hallucinating, it would be better for me and everyone around me if I sought assistance.
I stood, picked up my cell phone, and called Cheryl. She cared about me. She’d help. The phone rang, but nobody answered. I left a message for her to call me as soon as she could, then I got out my laptop to shoot her an email.
I was surprised to find one already sent by her in my inbox.
Hi, Nad. I had to go to Chicago to meet with some associates. I’ll be back soon. BTW, if you ever change your mind about talking to someone about your tuning out episodes, I left a business card in your nightstand drawer. Take care, XOXO. Cher.
I blew out a breath, disappointed. Cheryl traveled all the time, going to Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and other major cities, but she always took my calls or answered my emails. I knew I shouldn’t take her email personally, but I felt even more alone now than I had before.
My cell phone rang, and the caller ID identified Raisa. I took the call and heard her excited voice come over the line. “You have to come here right now! Olivia and I are at Washington Square. Victor is here with his friends.”
Against my wishes, my heart throbbed and my stomach knotted.
“The square is being set up for the carnival on Saturday,” Raisa continued. “Some are helping and some are watching.” She giggled, and I already understood what her part in it was.
I glanced toward my unopened drawer, where the card of someone who could help me with my insanity awaited me. Well, the card wouldn’t go anywhere. Victor, however, wouldn’t stay at the square for too long.
“Be right there,” I told her, excitement bubbling inside me. I disconnected, went to my closet to change into more suitable clothing, then left my apartment to see the man of my dreams. Or my reality.