Fated

by Courtney Cole

  Staying awake all night to work the night-shift night after night must be a nightmare.

  As I absently stared at her, a black cloudlike fog appeared in my doorway and I startled. It quickly materialized into Annen. The priest’s jagged, blackened teeth were stretched into a creepy grin as he calmly watched the nurse attend to me. I glanced frantically past him at the nurse in the hall to find that she hadn’t moved. It didn’t look like she had noticed anything.

  Couldn’t anyone else see him?

  He was the same as I remembered. His head was shaved, his eyes were black as night and his face was creased in wrinkles. Inky tattoos to the ancient god Anubis scrolled over his hands and up his frail arms, disappearing into the flowing dark robes. My heart pounded as the nurse finished messing with my IV tube and I prayed that she didn’t notice my rapid pulse-rate. She straightened, smiled and walked out. Right through the bald priest. I gasped. She turned back around.

  "Are you in pain?" she asked with concern, walking back to my bed.

  I shook my head, keeping an eye on Annen in my periphery. He hovered motionlessly in the doorway, filling the entire doorjamb up with his presence. He blocked the light from the hallway. Couldn’t she see that?

  "There’s no need to be brave, hon. The doctor ordered you pain meds, so you might as well take them." She punched some buttons on the IV machine and a few shrill beeps later, I felt a medicinal calm spreading through me.

  "If you need anything else, buzz me," she instructed as she left. She didn’t even flinch as she walked right through the priest’s transparent body.

  Annen floated toward me, stopping at the foot of the bed.

  "Why are you here?" I hissed quietly. My mom stirred, but didn’t waken. I was uncomfortable having Annen here, in the same room with her. I still didn’t know what his real motives were or what exactly he was capable of.

  He shook his head silently, his black cloak swirling around him even though he was standing still. He smiled one more creepy grin and then slowly pointed at my hand with one long, gnarled finger.

  White hot pain instantly seared into my palm and I gasped, gripping my hand. After a long moment, the pain died and I released my hand, allowing my fingers to fall open. Words had been burned into my palm, as though someone had written them there with a flame-tipped pen.

  Harmonia’s Necklace

  "Harmonia’s necklace?" I whispered. "What is that?"

  Annen just shook his head again. His silent routine was getting really old. He had never bothered to hold back his opinions before.

  "What is wrong with you?" I demanded. "Cat got your tongue?"

  He stared at me with his glittering black eyes for a moment before he opened his mouth wide.

  Very wide. Where his tongue should have been, there was nothing now but a tiny stump.

  It had been cut out. I wanted to scream, but couldn’t. A heavy, heavy weight formed in the pit of my stomach. I had a very bad feeling that his injury had been at the hands of the Moirae.

  "Who did that to you?" I asked shakily. It had to have been someone very powerful.

  Annen had very, very strong magic of his own. He would have been able to protect himself against almost anyone. Except the Moirae. Or their sisters.

  He shook his head again, as though my question was inconsequential and pointed once more toward my other hand. The white hot pain seared into me once again. I grimaced, but I was prepared for it this time.

  "You know," I hissed. "A pen and paper would work just as well!"

  I opened my hand.

  Be careful.

  "Of what?" I asked, looking back up at him.

  But he was gone. I so hated their ability to do that. What was I supposed to be careful of?

  I opened my hands once again, just to re-read the messages, but like their author, they had disappeared. Not even a scar remained in their place.

  I slumped back into my pillows. What did all of this mean? One of the most powerful priests that I knew had been mutilated by someone and was now trying to warn me. My own Aegis hadn’t appeared to me yet and with everything going on, I felt vulnerable and helpless without my bloodstone. Not to mention that Jade was apparently more vital than ever to the Fates in this life. I had a terrifying feeling that my life this time around was really going to suck.

  Chapter Three

  "I still don’t know what could possibly have been wrong with you," my mom fretted as she handed me a soda. The afternoon light poured into our kitchen, slanting across the sunshine colored walls. This room really was cheerful. It was probably my favorite room in the house for just that reason.

  "Mom, you heard the doctor. I must have just had really horrible indigestion. Maybe I should stop having pizza for breakfast," I joked.

  I knew it wasn’t the two-day old cold pizza that had caused my intestinal agony, but what else could I say? That something supernatural had twisted my guts around until it felt like they were going to explode? Yeah. I could see how that would go over.

  She shook her head. "I don’t know. It just worries me."

  I smiled at her. "And I appreciate it. But you can stop now because I’m fine."

  She looked doubtfully over her shoulder at me as she loaded the dishwasher.

  But I was thankfully saved by the doorbell. Our old dog, Hamlet, barely raised his head up from where he slept in front of the patio doors. I rolled my eyes his way.

  "Don’t bother getting up, Hammie. I’m sure it’s no one dangerous."

  I chuckled, but deep down, it was troublesome. Our old dog was getting older; his yellow muzzle had almost turned completely white. He rarely bothered to bark when the doorbell rang anymore, something that was entirely out of his character. I started to get up.

  "Stay put, honey. I’ll get it," mom instructed, turning to walk out. But I got up anyway.

  "Seriously, mom, I’m not an invalid. I’m fine. It’s Gavin, anyway."

  I rushed to the front door- I just couldn’t get there fast enough- and threw it open. Sure enough, my soul mate stood waiting for me on my porch. The sunlight bathed him in back-lit glory and I sucked in my breath, something I seemed to do a lot around him. As cliché as it sounded, he was always taking my breath away.

  Today he was wearing a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and khaki shorts.

  The bright white offset his dark skin, making him all the more handsome. Beautiful, actually.

  And while it might be weird to call a guy beautiful, that was most certainly what he was.

  "Hey," he greeted me, pulling me to him. He kissed me softly on the forehead and held me a moment. "Are you feeling better?"

  I nodded, breathing him in. He was freshly showered and smelled like soap.

  "Mmm-hmm."

  "Are you lying?" he asked, as his chin rested on the top of my head.

  "No. I really do feel fine. I think it must have been indigestion." How embarrassing to let my boyfriend think that I was laid-out by indigestion, but I didn’t see what choice I had in the matter.

  "Good. Then I have a great idea. Let’s get you settled in on a lounger by your pool and we’ll just hang out all day. You can rest."

  "I don’t need to rest!" I protested as he pulled me into the house. "I’m fine. Really."

  "So sorry. Jenn and Jess are already coming over and they’re bringing sandwiches. How else were you going to spend your Saturday, anyway? Hot plans with your other boyfriend?"

  He raised one dark eyebrow at me and I giggled.

  "My other boyfriend realizes that I’m fine and that I don’t need to be babied," I announced.

  "Hmm. Your other boyfriend should watch out, then. I’m a jealous type," Gavin murmured, pulling me in close for another kiss on the forehead. "I’m glad you’re okay. You scared me last night."

  "I’m fine," I repeated. "Really."

  "Yeah, that’s what she keeps telling me, too." My mom breezed through the foyer. "I guess maybe she means it, but we should keep an eye on her anyway. Gavin
, I’ve got some errands to run, so I’m counting on you for that."

  "Definitely," Gavin agreed, as we followed my mom through the kitchen. "I’ll take good care of her for you."

  Mom nodded and grabbed her keys. "Macy, I seriously do want you to take it easy today.

  If you start feeling bad again, call me on my cell immediately."

  "Yes, Dr. Lockhart," I teased. "Apparently, I’m going to spend the afternoon by the pool doing nothing, so you don’t have anything to worry about."

  She nodded in satisfaction. "I’m glad Gavin can keep you in line. Someone needs to."

  "Whatever," I grumbled. "Between all of you, I’ve got enough babysitters to last a lifetime."

  As soon as we stepped outdoors, though, my agitation faded. The sun was out, the sky was blue, the clouds were fluffy and white. It was a perfect California day. The blue water of our pool glistened as the breeze blew slight ripples across the top. How could I stay grumpy?

  The birds were even singing.

  "Okay," I sighed as I settled into a pool lounge. "Maybe I can handle this today."

  "That’s what I thought," Gavin replied as he set down my cell phone and soda on the little table next to me. Stretching, he opened the umbrella over us and I sighed again. I had to admit.

  It was perfect.

  Gavin reached over and held my hand and we laid there silently in the sun, just enjoying the warmth and each other’s presence.

  And then my cell phone rang, interrupting the silence.

  "It’s Jenn," I guessed as I reached for my phone. "Wanting to know if I want pickles on mine."

  But it wasn’t. I glanced at the screen and didn’t recognize the number.

  "Hello?"

  "Hi ... Macy? This is Jade Greene. We met last night and you gave me your number. I just wanted to call and make sure you were alright. For some reason, I didn’t sleep very well last night. I tossed and turned, wondering if you were okay."

  Of course she did. Keepers and their Daedals had inexplicable bonds. She didn’t know that she was my Daedal, but she was already feeling the invisible tie that kept us close. The thought that she was feeling it too should be comforting, but for some reason, I really just felt a strong sense of unease. Something was different this time. And I wasn’t sure that I liked it.

  "Hi Jade. I’m glad you called. I’m feeling so much better. In fact, my boyfriend and I are just hanging out by the pool, soaking up some vitamin D. We have some friends coming over and they’re bringing lunch. You’re more than welcome to come over too, if you’d like, and get to know them. It should be fun."

  I gave her my address and as we hung up, I heard Gavin already on the phone with Jenn, asking her to bring more food. When he hung up, he looked at me.

  "Who is this Jade girl?" he asked curiously.

  Oh, just someone I’ve known for two thousand years—you’ve protected her with your life over and over. Which is what I wanted to say. When Jade was Cleopatra, Gavin was Hasani, the leader of Marc Antony’s armies. He laid his life on the line for her ... and in fact, that was how he had ultimately died. But obviously, he no longer remembered that little detail and I wasn’t at liberty to refresh his memory.

  "I met her last night in the bathroom," I answered. "She seems really cool and I think you’ll like her."

  "I like everyone," he pointed out, grabbing my hand again.

  "True," I agreed. "But she’s new and I thought she looked like she could use some friends."

  "You’re a softie," he replied. "So out of character for a goddess. But I love that about you."

  "A goddess. I like that," I murmured, closing my eyes.

  I loved the feeling of a good sun bath—the way the sun wrapped my body in warmth. I also enjoyed the way Gavin’s hand stroked mine, even when we were practically asleep. We were so in tune with each other that I knew where his body was even when my eyes were closed. Just one perk of being a soul mate, I guess.

  A dark cloud stepped in front of my sunshine, though and I scowled as I opened my eyes.

  Jess hovered over me with her hands on her hips.

  "So, you know, Mace, if you wanted some R&R, you could have just said so. You didn’t need to bail out on Homecoming in an ambulance to do it. Talk about dramatic exits!"

  She grinned and tossed a rolled up sandwich on my lap.

  "Do you need anything else? Another soda, a fresh pair of sunglasses, a pedicure? I don’t want you to start feeling neglected."

  I rolled my eyes at her sarcastic banter. Gavin sat up as he unwrapped his sandwich and turned to me.

  "Do you feel neglected, Macy? Because say the word and I’ll totally bring my A-game."

  "Hmm. Like maybe handcuffing me to my bed or ...?"

  He raised an eyebrow suggestively at me and I punched him lightly on the shoulder.

  "Because that’s the only way you could keep an even closer eye on me. Get your mind of the gutter, mister!" I laughed as I turned my attention back to Jess.

  "Seriously, you really don’t need to babysit me, you guys. I’m fine."

  "Save it, Macy," Jenn instructed as she settled on the teak lounger to my left. "We’re here to annoy you all day. Don’t ruin it for me."

  "Don’t kill your mellow?" I asked with a smile.

  "Exactly. I’m glad you understand," she nodded, taking an enormous bite of her sandwich.

  "The sun is out, I’m going to lay by the pool AND I get to eat carbs today. It’s a banner day."

  I rolled my eyes again. Both she and Jess were rail thin. Tiny little wisps of girls. There was no need to restrict their diet of anything, much less bread and pasta, my two favorite things in the world. But she was adamantly sticking to it. And so far, she was still the same exact size as her sister.

  "Whatever," I replied, shaking my head. I glanced around the pool area. The rest of the lounges surrounding the pool were empty, as was the hot tub.

  "Where’s Jenn?"

  "She’s in the house arranging your Sick Day tray."

  "My what?" I looked at her suspiciously.

  "A tray of stuff that any sickly invalid needs," she smirked.

  "You’re a brat. Just so you know."

  "So I’m told," she nodded.

  At just that moment, Jenn opened the patio doors, stepping carefully down the steps with a huge tray. I could see magazines, a book, my iPod, a bag of cookies, a stack of sliced cheese and a loaf of Hawaiian bread (my all-time favorite) and several bottles of nail polish.

  "Aww—you’re too good to me," I said as she set the tray down on Gavin’s lap.

  "I know," she answered back confidently.

  "You’re a brat too, though," I added.

  "Oh, I know that, too," she replied cheerfully. She stripped off her shirt and revealed a new bright red bikini.

  "Wow! Look at you, little Miss Hottie! Love the swimsuit!"

  "I know, right? And I haven’t even given up carbs."

  "Bite me," Jenn called from her position across the pool. "Seriously, don’t mess with me.

  Perpetual lack of bread makes me bitchy."

  "Don’t we know," Jess muttered under her breath as she arranged her towel under her.

  "What was that?" Jenn called.

  "Nothing, dear sister. I said nothing at all."

  Jess finally got herself all arranged and stared at me.

  "So, what’s up with this new chick?"

  "I don’t know. She seemed lonely, so I thought I’d invite her to join us. That doesn’t bother you, does it?"

  "Of course not. I know I’m your favorite."