Page 221 of Midnights
I grab my phone off the counter and collapse on the bed, tapping the screen and read Kane's last message for the thirteenth time.
Kane: We’ve got some news to share.
That was yesterday morning. I should’ve answered then, but I didn’t know what to say. Now, I’m just flat-out avoiding it. Whatever they found, it has to be big. I can feel it in the way he worded it, all formal and serious, like he’s bracing for impact. And let’s be real, I’m not exactly known for handling big news with grace.
Me: Want to meet at The Realm?
I hit send before I can talk myself out of it, tossing the phone aside. But my phone buzzes almost immediately.
Kane: I’ll pick you up at four.
A smile pulls at my lips despite myself. Typical Kane, always so damn sure of himself. And damn him for the butterflies he stirs up, no matter how much I try to ignore them.
Me: See you then.
I drop my phone and stretch out on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as unease coils in my gut. There’s a tension clawing in my chest that whispers that something’s coming. I can feel it.
I push myself up, deciding that a change of scenery might shake off the feeling creeping in. I slip into my jacket, tugging it tighter around me as I step out into the crisp morning air. The cold bites at my cheeks, and I welcome the sting. The town is quiet this early, and the streets are painted in shades of gold and shadow, with only a few people drifting by.
As I turn a corner, my eyes catch an older woman standing at the edge of the street. She’s bundled up in a long coat with her gloved hands clasped in front of her. When our eyes meet, she beams. I slow down as she lifts a hand and waves like she knows me.
I look over my shoulder, half-certain that she's waving at someone else that must be behind me, but the street's empty. It’s just us.
“Hello, beautiful,” she calls out. Her loud voice cuts through the morning air.
I hesitate, something about her makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, but I've been feeling that a lot lately here, so maybe it's nothing.
“Hi,” I smile, forcing a casualness I don’t feel. “I was just admiring your outfit, I love your coat.”
Her smile stretches wider, and it's bright enough to light up her entire face. “Oh, thank you, dear. It’s so nice to finally have someone so vibrant and full of life to talk to. You don’t see that kind of spark very often these days.”
A nervous chuckle slips out before I can stop it. “Well, I hope you have a great morning.”
The woman’s head tilts slightly, and her expression shifts into something sharper. “Sweetheart, have you accepted it yet?”
A chill slides down my spine. “Accepted what?”
Her eyes lock onto mine and there’s a challenge buried in her stare. “Your gift. It's been calling to you. Haven't you heard it?” She steps closer, but it feels like the air thickens between us. “It’s been waiting, you know. And you’ve been running for too long.”
My nerves go haywire and my pulse kicks up a notch. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
The woman lets out a soft, almost pitying laugh. “Oh, but I think you do. You can’t hide, not here.” Great. Cue the full body meltdown. “It's ancient, but it doesn’t belong to you.”
“Look, I don’t know who you are, but I think you have the wrong person.”
Her smile doesn’t falter, but her eyes grow colder. “No, I’ve got the right person. You’ve been marked.” She leans in, and her voice drops to a whisper. “You can feel it, can’t you? The pull. The way it wraps around you.”
My throat tightens, and I force myself to hold her gaze. “If you know something, then tell me what it is.”
She laughs again, and the sound sends another shiver rippling down my spine. “It’s not my place, darling. But you’ll find out soon enough. The question is, will you be ready?"
The words hang heavy in the air, and I can’t shake the feeling. I swallow, struggling to keep my voice calm. “And what if I’m not?”
She shrugs, and her smile turns sad. “You’ve always been different, haven’t you?”
A beat of silence stretches between us, and I hate how her words claw at something buried somewhere deep. But I have no idea who this woman is. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“Oh, but I do,” she whispers. “I’ve watched you for a long time, little bird. And they’ve finally found you. You must be careful.”
