Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
No, Sarasin replied, again speaking directly into my mind, and I could feel the sheer magnitude of his power. What had he done to be put in the Prison of Thorns? And if he was as powerful as I sensed, why on earth did he stay?
I chewed my lip. “Okay, well, to be honest with you, I don’t think I want this gift you’re offering. I’m not entirely sure it’s a good thing to see the past or the future.”
You aren’t curious to know if the prophecy is true? he asked, and I froze. How could he possibly know about that?
“What are you talking about?”
Surely you know of the prophecy of your birth.
“But … but how do you know about it?”
I know many things. For instance, I know you have committed no crimes heinous enough to be sent to a place like this, which begs the question, why are you here?
Panic filled me. Could he sense my innocence? Was that even possible? If he had the ability to show people their past and future, then maybe he had other powers, too.
“I’m sure you’re aware it’s not always the guilty who are convicted,” I replied.
I am aware of that.
“Well, then, there’s your answer.”
He didn’t respond, instead studying me with his unfathomable green eyes. I shifted in place, uncomfortable under his heavy scrutiny.
There’s a danger hovering over you, he said. Someone means you great harm.
I grew cold at his words. Was he talking about Red Armand or someone else? “Who means me harm?”
They’ve shrouded their identity. I can’t see them clearly. All I see is a tree.
Okay, now I really was spooked. “Is … is it a red maple? The one in the courtyard?”
His eyes flashed in recognition. It hungers for your life force.
My throat ran dry. “The tree wants to kill me?”
No, not the tree, but someone who controls it.
“Who is it? Are you sure you can’t see them?”
As I said, their identity is hidden. He didn’t share more, and panic set in. What was going on? Someone wanted to hang me from the tree in the courtyard, just like they’d done to countless others? It couldn’t have been Vasilios. He was the one who warned me away from it. But other inmates certainly meant me harm. First, there was Mack, not to mention Cassandra, and surely, Serg wasn’t pleased with how I’d rejected his offer of protection.
Now you must choose, Sarasin said, interrupting my panicked thoughts.
“Choose?” I questioned.
You must choose what you would like me to show you.
Ah. Got it. He wished to know if I wanted to see the past or the future. After the freaky warning he gave me, I wasn’t much in the mood for having my fortune told, but I knew I had to decide and get this whole thing over and done with.
Okay, so, what did I want to see?
Right then, I didn’t have much use for the past, but my future was another matter. Ever since I learned about the prophecy of my birth, I’d been conflicted, mainly because it didn’t sound like the kind of future I’d choose for myself. But maybe the prophecy wasn’t all that it seemed. Maybe seeing my future with my own eyes would show me exactly what it meant, and I could finally put the whole thing to rest. Plus, it would be good to know if the danger presented by whoever meant me harm was something I should be concerned about. If I really were going to die in prison, then I’d wager my future would be fairly short.
I brought my attention back to Sarasin and cleared my throat. “My future,” I said. “I’d like to see my future.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I was plunged into darkness. I felt myself travelling far beyond the time and place I currently occupied until I was in a world that didn’t yet exist. The darkness slowly faded, and an image emerged.
I was in what appeared to be a small townhouse with Vasilios, of all people. Everything seemed strange. Nothing looked quite how I was used to. The cupboards were different, the handles an unusual triangular shape, made of an orange-hued wood I’d never seen before. I wore odd clothes, too. Thick wool trousers and a jumper made of a warm, cosy material that I didn’t recognise. I also wore a dark grey hooded robe over the top of my clothes that was fastened at the waist by a leather belt. On my feet were heavy boots laced up to mid-calf.
Vasilios was similarly attired as he peered through a slit in the curtains. “I think we’ll be safe here, at least for a few hours. You should get some rest.”
“What about the others? What if they’re caught?”
He glanced at me. “They won’t be caught. Sven knows this place like the back of his hand.”