Page 56 of Tear of Destiny

“I saw her. She betrayed her people. And I know that she knew Charles. He wasn’t good for her,” he says, shaking his head. “No, he really wasn’t. Then again, maybe he was. Because he was the reason she came to us, became part of this world.”

“You’re talking about Frida?” I ask. “You knew her?”

“It was a long time ago, and now she’s gone.”

“I know she’s dead. But what does Frida have to do with any ofthis?”

“That’s the reason you’re here, right? You want to follow in her footsteps?” he says.

He thinks I want to join the Noctu? Where did he get that crazy idea? Because I keep coming here? Because he’s seen me trying to learn how to summon doors? I don’t understand.

“That’s not why you’re here?” he asks. “Then why?” He looks at me searchingly, as if he figures he can read the truth from my face. “You’re so similar to her, but you’re not the same person.” He clutches his head and screams, “You’re just here to drive me insane. You want to make my skull explode. I can’t allow that. Whatever you’re trying to do, it has to stop, do you hear me?! She wouldn’t have wanted that. She was always on the side of the Noctu. Always!” He shouts and runs toward me at a speed I wouldn’t have thought him capable of. Out of the corner of my eye I see a movement in the darkness. Some animal charging at us. Probably his key spirit.

I call Yoru and hope he’s nearby.

“No!” Kate screams, and I see Gray appear at her side. She runs at the stranger, throwing herself at him. They collide, fly toward me, and knock me to the ground. I see his white face above me. His hand grips my arm. And as I stare into his vacant bloodshot eyes, it happens: Kate and I are suddenly in a totally different place. And I know at once where we are.

Chapter 24

This is the park!”

Kate is standing beside me. I can see her clearly, but everything else looks strangely washed out, unreal.

“We’re back in your vision,” I say quietly when Frida appears in front of me.

“Just listen to me for once!” Frida shouts with clenched fists. Her face is as pale as it was last time. In fact, it appears to be the exact same situation.

“I’ve done that so many times. Too many times, I realize now. But now you’ve gone too far with this insanity,” Charles complains.

He’s angry; that’s plain to see. I glance at the woman by his side. Patricia, whom I assumed Frida killed. In a couple of minutes she’ll be lying on the ground. But now I know she lived – the evidence of that is lying in Two Trees.

I don’t understand why Kate and I are here. Where’s the guy who just attacked us? We need to get back, but I also know that it’s important to watch what happens here.

“It’s not insanity. Yes, I may have been mistaken a couple of times, but now I’m sure. I have proof.”

Frida opens the bag she’s wearing on her shoulder to take something out of it, but Charles waves his hand dismissively.

“You were sure every other time too. How did that go again? Patty’s cheating on you with one of her colleagues.” Charles continues listing all of her supposed evidence, which turned out to be false.

“I know it must sound crazy. But you’re in great danger, believe me. Yes, some of my assumptions proved incorrect. I didn’t want to have to say all this in front of her. But it’s true, she’s no Noctu. She’s something else entirely.” She glances at the woman, who looks totally stunned. Frida draws herself up as if gathering her courage and says, “She’s a goddess of destiny. Please believe me! She’s just spying on you and using you for her own evil purposes. Charles, if you consider what I’m saying, a lot of things will start to make sense.”

He raises his eyebrows, and for a while, he’s lost for words. “You’re completely out of your mind, Frida.”

I know what’s about to happen, and I wish I could intervene and stop it. But these are just images of what has already long since happened.

“Listen,” Charles’ girlfriend begins in a steady voice. “I don’t know why you can’t stand me and why you’re accusing me of all these… weird things. I’m not a… what did you call it?” She looks to Charles for help. “Some kind of goddess, and I’m sorry that you think you have to invent things like this to try and turn Charles against me.”

Even now, Patricia comes across as nice and sympathetic. She’s so convincing. And I believed her the first time I saw this vision. But now I know better. Frida’s telling the truth. Patricia’s a goddess of destiny.

She extends a hand to Frida and says she wants to bury the hatchet.

Frida stares at her for a moment and then leaps back from thewoman, yelling, “You can’t lull me into a false sense of security with that drivel. I know exactly what you are. You’re a monster, do you hear me?! A monster. And I know what you’re planning to do.”

Light begins to flash around Frida – a hex.

This is the point at which Kate’s attention wandered last time, or maybe her energy waned. Anyway, the picture faded away for a few moments. But this time, everything remains clear.

“Stay away from me!” Frida warns Patty, raising the hand that’s glowing with the hex. “Take one more step and I’ll kill you.”

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