Page 65 of Of Flame and Fate

Tye doesn’t seem to hear him or understand. Shock riddles his features only to be displaced by an unrelenting fury. “How the fuck is she dying?” Tye asks, his eyes glistening with all the pain he feels on behalf of his dear friend. “She’s a Destiny. Destinies don’t die. They keep going until another is born to take her place.”

“Another did take her place,” Ines responds, her tone flat as she scrutinizes Johnny. “Just not in the way any of us could have predicted.”

Tye hones in on Johnny. “Bullshit. He’s not taking her place,” he says, his stone-cold tone, holding everyone in place. “That’s not how this is supposed to work.”

“How is it supposed to work?”

Emme’s words are barely noticeable, the breeze rustling the thick pine needles and the tension stabbing the air drowning out her meek voice.

“Tye, Destiny is our friend,” she says, her stare softening as she looks at Tye. She wipes a tear that falls. “None of us want anything to happen to her, and I’m not trying to upset you. I merely want to understand what’s happened so I can help, or somehow make this right.”

“There is no making this right, Emme,” Tye tells her. He regards the witches, the anger he’s feeling punching out every syllable. “Is there?”

Genevieve replies, the way she adjusts her hold over her long staff making her appear more regal. “It’s with great regret I share what I do,” she begins.

“I’ll bet it is,” Tye says.

She ignores the slight, looking to Ines who nods in a way a doctor would when he tells a new resident to pull the plug.

“The creation of Fate and Destiny are determined by powers and magic beyond ours,” Genevieve explains. “And while they share abilities such as their accuracy for predicting the future, that’s where their similarities end and where the magic bestowed upon them collides.”

“Resulting in all this,” I say, motioning to the devastation around us.

“Yes, Taran,” she agrees.

For the first time since I’ve known her she appears at loss. What I wouldn’t give for her to know what to do and make everything right.

She adjusts the hold over her staff again. I don’t believe it’s a nervous gesture. I think she’s preparing to act against Tye, unsure how he’ll respond to what she tells him. “Because of the chaos their mutual existence brings, the first born, be it Destiny or Fate is allowed to live. Whoever follows must be killed within the first year of life.”

Emme’s horror reflects in Shayna’s features. Koda stiffens, his need to comfort her warring with his obligation to guard Tye. “But it’s not his fault,” Shayna says, eyeing Johnny.

He sits on the ground, his arms curled around his legs, trying to stay warm and attempting to shield himself from what’s coming. “No,” he says. “It’s not my fault.” His expression is blank as he looks ahead. He’s been very quiet, not wanting to risk disturbing the lion in his presence. “I didn’t choose to come into this world, and I didn’t choose to be what I am.” He turns to look at me. “Just like the rest of you. Can’t you see, my only crime is being born?”

“No, not your only crime,” Tye says.

He’s referring back to the witch law, the one that states Johnny has to die.

“It may be a crime to have two of the same or whatever,” Shayna says, appearing to struggle with everything happening. “But why does death have to be the penalty? Johnny has gone this long without anything happening to him or Destiny.” She shakes her head, causing her long dark ponytail to swing along her back. “I mean, up until they met both were living and okay.”

“But the world wasn’t,” Genevieve reminds her. She looks at Johnny. “You’re what? Twenty-two?”

“Twenty,” Johnny mumbles, lowering his head.

“And what’s happened over these past two decades?” Genevieve questions. “We’ve had Tsunamis strike the earth, quakes that have leveled cities and buried humans alive, demon lords that found a way into our world, one supernatural war, another just beginning, and the start of an evil even the strongest among us will fall to.”

I don’t move, listening, remembering.

“Look at all we’ve faced since the coming of the Fate.” She points to my arm. “Look at all the inconceivable disruptions and betrayals. Our appointed Guardians of the Earth turned against each other, and cast a blow that could have finished us all.” Her lips form a firm line when I tense. “All this darkness, we’ve blamed on simply darkness itself. But now we know the real cause.”

“But why is all this happening to Destiny and Johnny now?” Shayna questions, motioning to Johnny with a tilt of her sword. “If this is all real and how it’s going to go down, why didn’t they react this way sooner?”

“Proximity,” Genevieve replies. She turns in Johnny’s direction. “I presume you’ve never been close enough to trigger such a clash?”

Emme interrupts before Johnny can answer. Like me and Shayna, she wants to spare him. “So if they’d never crossed paths, both would be fine and no one would have suffered?”

“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way, Emme,” Genevieve responds. “As much as their powers collide, their magic eventually calls to each other, forcing them to meet.”

“Oh, my God,” I say, rubbing my face. I glance up to see everyone watching me. “Destiny had never heard Johnny’s music. But she told us that something about it called to her. She had this strange look on her face when she said it. I should have guessed something was wrong.” I glance at Johnny. “I’m sorry. I should have kept them apart.”

---