Page 38 of Rising

She grabbed for my attention again, snapping her fingers in my line of sight, “Ya know … I know what will get you feeling like yourself again.”

“And what is that?” I smiled at her.

“Coffee!Goodcoffee. Let’s take a trip outside.” She grinned at me sinisterly, eyebrows wiggling.

My jaw dropped before I slapped her arm and cackled. “I didn’t know Jax had told you about that.”

“Please, if it wasn’t top secret, there wasn’t a thing I couldn’t pry from that man’s mouth.” This time we both laughed, knowing Jax was theworstperson to trust with a secret that didn’t exist to keep you safe.

Seth walked in as I scooped the last bit of food in my mouth, a still limping Moe following close behind. Her wound was severe, deep to where she came within a few centimeters of magic and herbs, no longer being sufficient, where surgery would be required. Her muscles would likely still be pretty sore for a few days.

“Those two have been spendinga lotof time together lately.” She tsked, a schoolgirl giggle leaving her lips as she shifted in her seat. Seth met Reina’s eyes and gave her a warm smile I hadn’t seen the siblings exchange before, ever. His blue eyes turned to ice as they met my own, turning to offer Tomoe a goodbye before taking his tray and sitting down with Ramona.

Tomoe’s gaze locked on mine as she made a beeline for our table. “I need to talk to you,” she said.

“What’s wrong? Is everything okay? I came to look for you—”

“I saw it,” she interrupted. “I saw it right before it happened. It’s been years since it happened this close to … not without me channeling it.”

My friend was rattled, guilt now displaying over her face. “Saw what, Moe? Slow down, start from the beginning,” I asked. Grabbing her hand, I offered a bit of support as Reina did the same, using her magic to offer a sense of peace to our sister.

She explained it all, the brief vision of The Pansies inside the wall, the placement of the sun. How it had lasted merely half a second before she was pulled back into reality. She hadn’t run to tell me because it was the first time in four years that one had come to fruition this quickly. That she had noted the sky and assumed we had another day, that she had time to practice and relieve stress before she would come find me to explain. That she wanted me to have a few more minutes of peace before chaos. Trying to reassure her, I told her it wouldn’t have made a difference, that she would have likely made it to me as it unfolded, anyway. The outcome would have remained the same.

Inevitable.

Her posture lightened as she took in my words. She recalled the vision she had when I’d found them. I’d been terrified that would be the end as I rounded the corner, sprinting for them and Harley coming to meet my steps. My braid spun, trying to recall the beautiful blonde woman she described, not having recognized her description and the rest of the trauma that followed. Moe fell slack. She’d actively spent time learning to avoid seeing our deaths and lately her visions had been consumed with our eventual trauma.

Fed up with our supposed fate, I vowed to change the outcome, ensuring this wouldn’tbe another inevitable future in our life. There was a lot to take in, but nothing that could be solved sitting there at the table. One thing was for sure, our troubles were far from being over. No, they had merely just begun.

* * *

Unfortunately for Reina,she wasn’t included in my plans to go outside the walls today. I threw open the door to Alexiares’ cell, and he jumped to his feet from the bed. I took in his appearance. He’d clearly bathed from this morning, his dark hair slicked back away from his face though he wore the same clothes from earlier.

He glared at me. “What now?”

“We’re leaving,” I said as I turned my back to him and urged him to follow. I let out a whistle and Harley came from God knows where and pranced at my side, growling low at Alexiares as he walked on my heels.

“To where?” he snarled, boots heavy against the ground, his anger shedding into his every move.

“You know where, don’t ask me another stupid question. Or I’ll ensure you’ll lose the ability to speak at all,” I leveled, not really in the mood to be in his piss poor presence again today.

He muttered a few choice words under his breath, my fists clenching a few times to avoid hitting him in response.

We passed through North Gate, still not wanting to expose him to the other three gate locations. If we hadn’t been there ourselves, we wouldn’t even be able to tell something had happened there as recently as yesterday. The only sign was the solemn faces of the soldiers tending to their duties.

He took the lead naturally, being the only person knowing where we were headed I let him, Harley staying nearby. We walked along the coastline for a few miles and I took in the sea green water and misty blue sky above. I would have loved to have lived here in The Before. Heard so many great things about Monterey but had never had the chance to visit. Always tied up in some school or work commitment. Saving my travel funds for international experiences, never thinking I’d actually get the chance to settle down here after all.

A little over half an hour later we approached an old house. It was small and had probably been quite beautiful in its heyday. Now its gray-blue paint was chipping along the sidings and the windows in the front had both been burst out. The once immaculate landscaping was now overgrown and the stench of death clogged my nostrils. I withdrew my gun and his eyes narrowed.

“It’s not a trap,” he scoffed, as if he were insulted by the idea.

I signaled for him to continue leading the way, as if I would walk into a housein frontof some weirdo and get sandwiched into a less than favorable situation. Harley whined as we ascended the destroyed brick steps, clearly not happy about the situation I was dragging her into.

He leaned his head against the door as if he were listening for something and I scowled at him.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, moving my gun up and pointing it at him.

“Relax, Black Widow,” he murmured, ushering me to lower my weapon.

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