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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C27AQVmke
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?copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡFITRQ0WBxC
I bolt upright in bed, panting hard, and restless. Klef grabs my arm and murmurs, “It was just a dream, sweetheart.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqi1u4YAtC
I look down at his sleepy face and I smile. “Yeah, I know. Doesn’t make it any less terrifying.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡWweYDPPyba
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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRSHIIIFkf
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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcGAeaEcK8
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.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHE3GhTvQ4
“Melisma to Rides, your boyfriend wants to speak with you,” Klef teases.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEWymFg4kB
I roll into his bare chest and sigh. “Shut up.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCO0c2aReV
Klef plays with the blanket. “It’s probably time to get up,” he says with disappointment.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3CD6jVZOM
“Mm. 5 more minutes.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ur13NGkR1
“Says who?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbDJbQLmH0
“Says the girl with recurring nightmares.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG3Ukadga2
Klef pulls a face. “Since when does that give you authority in our relationship?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fxuhAhYU9
I sit up, indignant. “I was murdered!”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPkDzwtkTa
“So was I!” Klef retorts.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaRp5czjsK
“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.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv0TZhtgfo
Klef sidles up beside me and looks inside. All he says is, “Huh. I’ll have fish, then.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfdKSNhm7b
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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtmpSrBsK4
“Yep. We’re doing a worldwide hunt today, tomorrow, and until my nightmares come true.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6zdZzvsQL
“It’s a lot of ground.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg040TSif0
I roll my eyes. “I noticed.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNtPclhOO1
Taking a bite of fish and moving to the dining room prompts Klef to come over and give me a hug. “Treble…”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡS18se71KAR
“Oh, hush. It’s just you and me in here.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr7vw8oorE
I sigh. “Still, the later everyone finds out the less time we have for them to pick on us.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVsRKFd2t1
Klef steps back and claps once. “Back to work, then?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l2cNhjP1T
I nod. “Back to work, then.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwkO1QXqeo
Klef shoves me. “I’m the joker of the relationship, missy.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Djxu4cI6G
“Sure, Treble. Whatever you say.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa2MnP3GF5
We argue a little bit as we sit down and fool around with some of the rich’s latest scraps.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmBUaDL740
“It’s a flashlight,” Klef says out of nowhere.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaDPI8TVQ0
I smile at the old argument. “It’s a torch.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAbDmytqe8
“Well, whatever it is…” Klef starts.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOu7JFLvNP
“...It’s not a glow stick,” I finish. “I thought we’d established that.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjZ98Hi2D8
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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eJdR5Mkw0
“Who’s dating?” Geo asks as he walks into the room rubbing his eyes.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1PY9zDU4q
“Uh…” Klef looks over to me. “Just some couple from Rides’ hometown. I don’t think you know them.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAKJKSr2V4
“Oh, you two are getting together?” Geo smirks.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYjUcaZYvv
“Not in the way you’re thinking, G,” I sigh.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYxOWGoAAs
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k3L4NEvPA
“You’re smirking,” I shrug. “What else would you be thinking of?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0yTUK4UIz
“I don’t do the do, Geo. You know that. I told you, Nuts, and Bolts all at the same time.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHyXwuEV5e
“Do the do?” I tease.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6zrSDex93
“I still haven’t found a good euphemism, all right?!” Klef growls.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J3FDYqHS9
“Sleep with anyone?” Geo offers.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiQPgnkUip
“You could also be blunt,” I roll my eyes.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GwJ7pnlWw
“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.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3gtJUr9Bk
Geo shrugs. “All right, all right. I’ll let it drop. Are you guys ready to head out yet?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSD9IUx2PQ
“We’re always ready, G,” I point out.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZwYIEo50k
“Still. Meeting more Crusaders, trying to come up with a plan to save the world, this isn’t just any trip, you know.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqoST7Mlho
“No, duh!” Klef exclaims. “An oracle’s dreams don’t happen every day.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAgjJZeh13
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.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t2EsKjQQj
“So...where are we going first?” I ask.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsJAkDH7YZ
“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.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEzMYjLcAN
“Wait...Flo’s a Crusader?” I ask.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIgimJ3FAT
“As of recently, yeah.” Geo grins and says, “Everyone else who’s going has left. Coming?”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMmImHl4Ok
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…copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jZD6XWRaw
I was angry at my friend,copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqeVIBFMgf
I told my wrath, my wrath did end...copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf11YnIkrx
“All right…” I mutter. “Let’s do this.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvRD8XB4PM
Klef squeezes my hand. “You’ll do fine.”copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡBucQpVr5HI
“I hope so,” I mutter back.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnYmpWK8hc
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.copyright protection348ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVIxzQubVk
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