My arms are held tight behind me. Too tight. I can’t see how I’m going to get out of this one. All around me I see people jeering and splashing some type of water and calling for blood. Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I look around and feel all of the radiating malice directed at me. I’m pulled further back, closer toward the giant doomsday device, and search more frantically for the one face I have yet to see, the one face I need to be absent. Klef can’t be here. I’m strapped into the device and electricity courses through my body, before everything goes black. I can still hear the roar of the crowd, and feel the straps binding me, and taste the blood in my mouth as the sea spray assaults my nose. But I can’t see anything. I try to sense any magic and can’t get anything there either. I’m completely blind. They took my sight and my Sight through this device. I make a choking noise and someone slaps me across my face. “Make one more sound and you die.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc5O97UQ6w 維尼
My mouth shuts with an audible click. More electricity pours into my body and it’s all I can do not to scream. Will this be my second end?8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhW7CHEH8f 維尼
I bolt upright in bed, panting hard, and restless. Klef grabs my arm and murmurs, “It was just a dream, sweetheart.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoLHtzufqL 維尼
I look down at his sleepy face and I smile. “Yeah, I know. Doesn’t make it any less terrifying.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bfx8nj4ap 維尼
Klef pulls me down and wraps me into a hug. “Now, the best girlfriend in the whole world is going to explain to her boyfriend what happened.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbHIx1H4nH 維尼
I sigh. “Just more of the same. They’re getting stronger and more frequent, but the dreams are the same as they were 5 years ago.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rG5lKTsL3 維尼
It’s been 5 years since Klef and I came back to my mom’s house from killing Latro. With no one to stop us, technology has leapt forward faster than ever before. And with Klef and I doing jobs together all the time, eventually I gained a crush on him, just days before Klef asked if I was okay getting together with him. I agreed. My nightmares tonight are par for the course, nearly routine now. Klef is supportive, however, lucky for me.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzaytf5jn 維尼
“Melisma to Rides, your boyfriend wants to speak with you,” Klef teases.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOLNyvvpHK 維尼
I roll into his bare chest and sigh. “Shut up.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡbapFGdDmA8 維尼
Klef plays with the blanket. “It’s probably time to get up,” he says with disappointment.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwLxDsLOVe 維尼
“Mm. 5 more minutes.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uhHNoR2Dj 維尼
“Says who?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIsCqPvUa3 維尼
“Says the girl with recurring nightmares.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNlnT3G4Zq 維尼
Klef pulls a face. “Since when does that give you authority in our relationship?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKvg8fJ08d 維尼
I sit up, indignant. “I was murdered!”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b6G1OdLwt 維尼
“So was I!” Klef retorts.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZoc3NKOwH 維尼
“Shut up!” I whack him with a pillow and give him the tiniest of smiles before continuing down the steps, around the false wall, and into the kitchen, going over to what Klef affectionately calls the electric ice box. “It’s still working. I think we can call this reverse engineering a success,” I call to Klef.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIqEFRHQbj 維尼
Klef sidles up beside me and looks inside. All he says is, “Huh. I’ll have fish, then.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJT9FuZDbp 維尼
I roll my eyes but pull out a chilled, descaled fish for the both of us to share. I turn on the stove and light the gas to fry the fish up. When it’s done I split it in two and give the larger portion to Klef. 5 years and he still can’t seem to stop eating. “So,” he mumbles as fish sprays everywhere. “Today’s the day.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4FeXfKTrz 維尼
“Yep. We’re doing a worldwide hunt today, tomorrow, and until my nightmares come true.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7yfY6Xk6c 維尼
“It’s a lot of ground.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMrCcoFBdX 維尼
I roll my eyes. “I noticed.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY7kNfa1ui 維尼
Taking a bite of fish and moving to the dining room prompts Klef to come over and give me a hug. “Treble…”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn5FZdYTkR 維尼
“Oh, hush. It’s just you and me in here.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPVkElkouz 維尼
I sigh. “Still, the later everyone finds out the less time we have for them to pick on us.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WQBkpRvVY 維尼
Klef steps back and claps once. “Back to work, then?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ331rqkgpIk 維尼
I nod. “Back to work, then.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNOKS4ROhO 維尼
Klef shoves me. “I’m the joker of the relationship, missy.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzYEaVkb9G 維尼
“Sure, Treble. Whatever you say.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TLD2od2uU 維尼
We argue a little bit as we sit down and fool around with some of the rich’s latest scraps.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjkoTIwuI6 維尼
“It’s a flashlight,” Klef says out of nowhere.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡncNN3UA1I4 維尼
I smile at the old argument. “It’s a torch.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D7AW5YqN1 維尼
“Well, whatever it is…” Klef starts.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXRZHuQbwU 維尼
“...It’s not a glow stick,” I finish. “I thought we’d established that.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HryQ4Dpg7 維尼
Klef bops me on the head with a thin sheet a plastic rolled into a cylinder. “And that is how we’re dating even though we can’t stand each other.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ0bhOkUGd 維尼
“Who’s dating?” Geo asks as he walks into the room rubbing his eyes.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95dDmn4IpF 維尼
“Uh…” Klef looks over to me. “Just some couple from Rides’ hometown. I don’t think you know them.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbD77tqM8W 維尼
“Oh, you two are getting together?” Geo smirks.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ0BGrdzsV 維尼
“Not in the way you’re thinking, G,” I sigh.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4djRgxHfF 維尼
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7mKzYT3ZN 維尼
“You’re smirking,” I shrug. “What else would you be thinking of?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡMloJWEpqPj 維尼
“I don’t do the do, Geo. You know that. I told you, Nuts, and Bolts all at the same time.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPSNtAdolH 維尼
“Do the do?” I tease.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VL1nJJwCd 維尼
“I still haven’t found a good euphemism, all right?!” Klef growls.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVo2ou6VNI 維尼
“Sleep with anyone?” Geo offers.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHPiQ1oqnJ 維尼
“You could also be blunt,” I roll my eyes.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUZNdmothX 維尼
“I like my life to be simple, okay? If I go right out and tell everyone within earshot I don’t look at anyone and have the desire to have...that, with them, it’s very hard for that to happen!” Klef sighs.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwA7Zp0fuP 維尼
Geo shrugs. “All right, all right. I’ll let it drop. Are you guys ready to head out yet?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60XYSPPiwq 維尼
“We’re always ready, G,” I point out.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdNGxzaHCr 維尼
“Still. Meeting more Crusaders, trying to come up with a plan to save the world, this isn’t just any trip, you know.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4fzeOFbQ3 維尼
“No, duh!” Klef exclaims. “An oracle’s dreams don’t happen every day.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdRq0bokTq 維尼
I close my eyes and focus on my fish. It’s always awkward for me whenever someone calls me an oracle. I’ve never seen myself as someone noteworthy, and I’m having trouble getting used to the idea that I could be important to anyone outside my family and Klef. But an oracle has top-of-the-line Sight. And that kind of sense for magic is apparently beyond rare...and incredibly dangerous for anyone around me.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ljNSxQOqb 維尼
“So...where are we going first?” I ask.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOk7Q2nWiP 維尼
“We’re heading to the Werewolf-Reptile Territory. We have a recent branch forming out there. A top of the line werewolf doctor and her mate are creating a pack to settle down with.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tg3rWx1CA 維尼
“Wait...Flo’s a Crusader?” I ask.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡSelz4C539E 維尼
“As of recently, yeah.” Geo grins and says, “Everyone else who’s going has left. Coming?”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xMQrUc9Rn 維尼
Klef stands up and I trail behind the two of them, thinking about what I’m about to do. This is going to be hard…8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfi5e831c7 維尼
I was angry at my friend,8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlKKJJ39xf 維尼
I told my wrath, my wrath did end...8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbRFQZNHTJ 維尼
“All right…” I mutter. “Let’s do this.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3zo0B1I8U 維尼
Klef squeezes my hand. “You’ll do fine.”8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNrj3eoqpb 維尼
“I hope so,” I mutter back.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPQR7QnjON 維尼
Geo grabs my other hand, and I prepare my old snowflake amulet. Within seconds we’re flying towards the old mountains that used to be the Basilisk’s and Dragon’s Territory, where the Basilisk’s ambassador is. Half a day South is the Crusader’s base, and where I’m going to be a leader for a special task force to take on whoever’s planning to take over the world.8964 copyright protection608ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdjdDb1ISA 維尼
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