Death in Her Eyes

by ERIN BEDFORD

  Azazel smirked. "You are under the impression that you have a choice in the matter? You, in the long run, do not matter. There are hundreds of children just like you who would love nothing more than to be part of the grand plan."

  I flicked my hair over my shoulder and snarled, "Then get one of them to play your games." I spun on my heel ready to make a rapid exit and continue with my plan of escape, but Azazel tempted me once more.

  "The seer is waiting for us. We shouldn't keep her waiting."

  I half turned back. "Seer? You mean, someone like me?"

  "Did you think you were the only one?" She arched a brow and swept her arm out to the side. "It's not much further."

  Already regretting following her rather than trying my luck at getting out of there, I took the few steps needed to catch up to her. "This better be worth it. I'm getting tired of your games."

  Azazel shook her head and laughed as she stopped before a wooden door with black metal lining the edges and handle. "You are so much like Batariel."

  My jaw clenched tight. "I'm nothing like him."

  Azazel gave me a knowing look before turning on her heel and disappearing into the shadows, leaving me at the doorway with no explanation.

  Like my dad? Pfft. No fucking way. I didn't abandon my family. I didn't put work above all else. I didn't...ugh. Why did I let her get me so worked up? I'd finally gotten myself to the place where I didn't give two shits about the man and now he just kept getting brought back up again.

  And for what?

  He wasn't going to change.

  Kidnapping me from mom's funeral for some kind of unconfirmed threat wasn't winning him any points from me. As far as I could tell he was still just looking out for himself. After all, he dumped me off here and took off again. He couldn't even be bothered to explain what the hell was going on himself.

  "Are you going to wait outside my door all day? The tea is getting cold."

  The door had cracked open while I was having my internal hissy fit. A grey-haired woman with stormy grey eyes peeked out of the door at me.

  "Oh, sorry." I shifted out of the way so she could open the door completely. I brushed passed her noticing how much she did not scream seer. She wore a fuzzy pink sweater over a pale blue house dress with little white flowers decorating it. Her cream-colored slippers had seen better days. She seemed more like someone's grandmother than some mystical being who would know what I was going through.

  "Please come, have a seat." She ushered me to a small table with a pretty white lace tablecloth. A tea pot with a yellow daisy painted on the side of it sat in the middle of the table. I slid into the chair before one of the teacups, noticing how there was only two cups. Had she known Azazel wouldn't be joining us?

  If she was a seer, then probably.

  "Tea?" She sat down across from me and lifted the pot up with a quirk of her brow.

  I didn't actually care for the stuff but didn't want to be rude. Get more flies with honey and all that. Or in this case, answers.

  "Yes, please." I picked the saucer and cup up, holding it steady while she poured the tea.

  "Sugar? Cream?"

  I waved her off, settling to sip the vile bitter leaf water in silence.

  The woman filled her own cup with tea and then piled in more sugar than was probably healthy for someone her age and only a dash of cream. "So...why don't you tell me about yourself?"

  I gaped at her. "Uh, don't you already know?"

  She laughed jovially and then sipped from her cup. Once she put her cup back down and swallowed, she leveled a look at me. "I could look into your past, your future, even your present but I find it quite rude, don't you?"

  I ducked my head down, staring at the dark liquid in my cup. "Yeah. I suppose so."

  "Well, then we are in agreement. Introductions are best to start don't you think?" She waited for me to answer as she brought her cup up to her mouth.

  "Elle."

  "Ah, yes. Batariel's daughter." When I flinched at my father's name she smiled. "We can get back to him in a moment. I am Sarah." My brows rose and she laughed. "Yes, I know. Quite the boring Biblical name. I'm sure you were expecting something far more exotic like Camilla or Lucia. Both of whom are quite lovely ladies, so you know. They work down in the kitchens."

  "Oh." I didn't know what to say to that. Sarah seemed to know what I was thinking before I even said it, but she wasn't a mind reader. Perhaps it was part of her abilities? It was odd. I was used to being the one who knew things about others that could be used against them. Now I was on the opposite end of the table and I found myself unsettled.

  "I really like your...room." I glanced around the cozy area, searching for something to say to break the tension. After a long look at her collection of porcelain clowns I wished I'd kept my mouth shut.

  And people called me weird.

  Sarah simply took it all in stride, laughing as she watched me struggle to keep my expression pleasant. "You needed pretend with me, Elle. Our gift is not the easiest one to live with."

  I drank deeply of my tea grimacing against the bitter taste but preferring it to talking about my gift.

  "It's my understanding that you didn't come here of your own volition."

  I snorted. "You could say that."

  "Hmm." Sarah stared at me for a long moment, then her eyes dipped to my hand, the one with the scar. "Your mother and father tried extremely hard to keep you hidden. It's a pity she had to die. She was a lovely woman."

  I almost dropped my teacup. "You knew my mother."

  Sarah smiled behind her teacup. "Oh yes, she was one of my favorite students. For a time. A rare thing indeed for an angel to bed a Nephilim let alone marry one. Your mother was indeed special."

  Dad had implied that mom was one of them - a Nephilim - but I hadn't believed him. Never in all my life did my mom ever use a power at least not to my knowledge. To hear someone else that wasn't him confirm my mom wasn't who I thought she was gave me a sense of relief and anger.

  They'd lied to me. My whole life I thought I was the only one with my abilities. My powers. Not only was there a whole school full of kids just like me but my own mother. My mom was one too.

  I'd expected that kind of betrayal from my dad but from her?

  My eyes burned against my will and I pushed at the emotions billowing up not wanting to cry in front of this complete stranger.

  "Don't be too hard on your mother, dear." Sarah sat her cup down and shifted it on the saucer. "She gave up using her powers to keep you safe. She believed that she could keep you hidden as long as too much attention wasn't drawn to you."

  "But it didn't help." I practically bit out. "She didn't use her powers and they still found me and killed her for it."

  "Yes, that is unfortunate." Sarah nodded in agreement. "I wished I could tell you that you'd never lose another person you loved. That this was the extent of your suffering but," she sighed heavily and picked up the tea pot once more, "we are at war I'm afraid and we have been for over a millennium. It will take something of great power to shift the balance one way or the other to stop it."

  "What's that got to do with me?" I didn't even pretend to drink my tea anymore, pushing it away from me with a frown.

  "Nothing...yet, but didn't you come here to talk about something else?" Sarah arched a white brow. "You aren't happy with Azazel's choice in classes for you?"

  I crossed my arms over my chest and slouched back in my chair. "I'm not like them. I can't read minds. Or move things across the room. I don't have that kind of power. I just see things."

  "What kind of things?"

  "Not the kind of things anyone would want to see," I muttered, reluctant to talk about it.

  "I see."

  "Azazel," I started, and then paused. "She called you a seer. So, you're like me?”

  Sarah smiled kindly. “Alike, but not the same. I need assistance to see the future, but you…" she stirred the milk and sugar into her tea. "You are so much more.”

&n
bsp; I scoffed, tired of being referred to a bug in one sentence and then indispensable in the other. “I’m nothing special.”

  “But you are," she insisted, lifting her cup to her lips to blow on it. "You have a gift. You can see all that happens before it even happens. Can change what others cannot. That's far greater a gift than any of the other mind reading or fire bending idiots can do in this school.”

  “But I can’t!" I shook my head, straightening up in my chair. "Don’t you understand? I only see death. And no one can change that." I lowered my head moving it from side to side sadly. "Believe I’ve tried.”

  A hand settled over my head and for once I wasn't assaulted with a violent death. Sarah laid peaceful in her bed. A cup of tea on the nightstand and her beloved figurines all around her. She smiled up to the heavens, a tear sliding down her cheek as her final breath released between her lips.

  “Death is inevitable." Sarah's voice soothed me as much as the peacefulness of her death. "Sometimes you are not meant to change it, but to be the one to endure it.”

  I lifted my head and peered into her gentle eyes. “I can't even see my own future, how am I supposed to save anyone else’s?”

  “We aren’t meant to see our own future, not even you.” Sarah patted me on the hand and offered me a tissue.

  It was then that I realized the tears I'd been fighting had fallen. When had that happened?

  I took the tissue with a thank you. "I still don't see why I was put in that class. I'm not like them. I probably screwed Dharma for life."

  "I wouldn't worry so much about that." Sarah explained. "She's far more resilient than you'd think. Even if she tends to bite off more than she can chew." She winked, causing me to laugh as I blew my nose.

  "There's one more thing before you go." Sarah sat her cup to the side and reached for my hand. I would usually pull away even though I'd seen her death already but there was something about her that made me want to trust her.

  “The mark on your hand," Sarah tapped on it with her thumb, "While it was given by your father, it will fade and with it the cap on your powers.”

  I frowned deeply at that. "The cap on my powers."

  She held my hand tightly not answering my question as her eyes stared off into nothing. When her gaze finally cleared, she shook her head disappointingly. “I fear even I cannot see the extent of your abilities. Be careful.”

  Chapter 11

  While leaving Sarah's my stomach rumbled. It was no wonder I was hungry. It was well past lunch time and I hadn't eaten breakfast.

  "Better hurry to the kitchens before they close for dinner prep." Sarah quickly explained how to get to the kitchens from her room before handing me a small stack of books.

  "What's this?" I eyed the pile suspiciously.

  Smiling in amusement, Sarah wrapped her sweater tighter around her shoulders. "While you're more than just a seer like myself, you'd do well to read up on our abilities. It might just come in handy later." With no further explanation, she waved me off and shut the door.

  I let out a disgruntled sigh, holding the books under one arm.

  Great. More homework.

  Not that I wasn't grateful for her insight. I'd always been on the outside looking in, so it wasn't too surprising to be in the same place I'd always been. Still it would have been nice to fit somewhere.

  Oh well.

  My stomach yelled at me again, reminding me once more to feed it.

  Turning from Sarah's door, I tried to remember the directions she'd given me. I wasn't sure what time it was or if classes were close to being over. I hoped I didn't run into anyone from the last class. Or anyone in general really. Who knew how fast gossip like that spread here? If it was anything like my old school everyone in the whole building already knew what I did.

  On edge the entire walk back, I kept looking over my shoulder for someone to pop out and scream freak before demanding I leave. Not that it wouldn't be a favor to me. I'd be doubling down on a way out of here soon before they bring the pitchforks to drive me out.

  To my relief, only a few people were wandering the halls and they didn't give me more than a second glance before hurrying on their way. Maybe the news hadn't gotten to everyone yet then?

  I counted myself lucky for once and made it to the kitchens. Pushing the door open, the banging of pots and pans followed by a growl of annoyance filled my ears.

  "How many times must I tell you? Simmer, not boil!" A man in a white chef's coat with a red bandana around his head yelled at a poor worker. "It's not that hard." He shook his head and turned from the shaking guy. "I swear they let anyone into culinary school these days."

  Wiping his hands on a nearby towel the man stopped when he spotted me. His eyes narrowed as he placed his hands on his hips. "The kitchen is reserved for staff only. You should eat when the other students do or you're tough out of luck."

  What kind of fucked up rule was that? I almost argued back with him, but his eyes landed on the books in my hands and his entire expression changed.

  "Oh." The word a bell like sound that filled his whole face with glee. "You're one of Sarah's. Why didn't you say so? I'm Vinny."

  Cause the grumpy bastard didn't give me the chance. And what was all this Sarah's bull crap? While I didn't belong to anyone, I was my own woman after all, I wasn't about to correct him and get booted from the kitchen. Food was a higher priority than my pride.

  "Yeah, that's right." I held the books up so he could see the covers. "We got a little carried away and I missed lunch. Would it be alright? I mean, Sarah told me..."

  "Oh yes," the man waved me into the kitchen but like so many already didn't touch me. I guess I wasn't the only one with a reputation. "Please have a seat, I whip you up a cold plate." He paused and swung back around to me. "Or would you rather have something hot? I know the visions can be draining but I've never been told if the temperature of the food really mattered in the way of recharging?"

  I had no idea what he was talking about since I'd never felt anything but annoyed by my visions, I simply shrugged. "Cold is fine."

  Humming along to himself and walking straight through anyone who didn't get out of his way, Vinny went about making me a sandwich asking me every once in a while about my preferences. When finished he handed me a plate full to the brim of chips, vegetables, and the biggest sandwich I'd ever seen.

  "There you go darling. Don't hesitate to come back if you ever need an energy boost." He wiggled his fingers after me but the second the kitchen door closed behind me, he was yelling at someone else.

  Geez.

  Too tempted by the plate in my hands, I snagged a pickle and munched on it as I walked back to my room.

  God all mighty! I moaned my delight. If this was the way being one of Sarah's were treated then I'd be glad to put on a collar, ball gag, the whole works, just for one of these juicy pickles.

  Happily eating away at my plate, I didn't notice any of the students piling into the hallways until I was back where my room was located.

  "Elle, there you are!" Ayden and Coral appeared by my bedroom door. "Where have you been?"

  I held the plate up as if it must be obvious.

  Coral's pale pink brows bunched together. "How'd you get food between meals? We never get anything when we go."

  "Vinny is a right dick." Ayden agreed with Coral.

  I lifted my other hand hold the stack of books and they both oh'd.

  "Go figures. Vinny is uber superstitious. He never yells at the seers. Afraid it'll change something in his future." Ayden nodded with understanding.

  "Did you need something?" I bit into a chip savoring its salty goodness while I waited. I hoped they hadn't come here to ridicule me about what happened to Dharma. I really didn't want to deal with that right now.

  "Oh," Ayden smiled as if remembering something pleasant. "I just wanted to tell you to stay up past bedtime tonight."

  I arched a brow. "Okaaay. Why am I doing this?" It better not be some silly school prank like fil
ling someone's bedroom with maple syrup.

  Coral clapped her hands with glee. "Were going to-"

  "Shhh," Ayden smacked her on the arm with a frown. "You're going to get us in trouble." Once she was sure no one was listening into their conversation, she leaned in and whispered, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "I don't want to spoil the surprise. It's a once in a lifetime experience."

  "Oh, really?" I continued to chew on a celery stick as I waited for her to get to the good part. I wasn't quite sure our definitions of once in a lifetime were the same and needed a bit more to get my juices flowing the way theirs were. They'd been drinking some kind of Kool-Aid that's for sure.

  "For real!" Coral squealed getting shushed again by Ayden. "No. I mean it. We're only able to do this kind of stuff once every few years because our league rarely ever leaves campus."

  This perked my interest. Azazel left campus? Why?

  "So why does it matter if she's here or not. The other teachers are still here, though right?"

  Coral opens her mouth no doubt to squeal again but Adyen shot her a look. She pressed her lips tightly shut and bounced in place.

  "None of them are all watching like Azazel." Ayden began but then Coral jumped in.

  "And Sarah doesn't give a flying flip if we go past the barrier as long as we're careful." Coral grinned from ear to ear as Adyen glowered at her.

  I busied myself eating so they wouldn't see my reaction to Coral's words. Go past the barrier? I definitely had to go now.

  "Anyway, just be ready. I'll come get you at lights out." Ayden gave Coral one last warning look before they walked away.

  Munching on a carrot while I mulled over what they'd told me, I ducked into my room and shut the door. I sat the plate and books on my desk and flopped down in the chair. Throwing my boots up on the edge of my desk, I popped open one of the first books on the pile.

  I couldn't focus on the words though. My mind kept going back to Ayden and Coral.

  They hadn't asked about Dharma. They hadn't even seemed scared of me. Did the school cover it up? Or was it not as bad as I thought it was?