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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNARGW6LOM
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNp00emN7j
I bolt upright in bed, panting hard, and restless. Klef grabs my arm and murmurs, “It was just a dream, sweetheart.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpGEHihX8i
I look down at his sleepy face and I smile. “Yeah, I know. Doesn’t make it any less terrifying.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj6nbMjiy7
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wVuwVITJQ
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyfTcWcuUl
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHFT4QGo8e
“Melisma to Rides, your boyfriend wants to speak with you,” Klef teases.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdLrIinrb7
I roll into his bare chest and sigh. “Shut up.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoGwiTtvno
Klef plays with the blanket. “It’s probably time to get up,” he says with disappointment.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa6v4blLzu
“Mm. 5 more minutes.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05ILxq3VSf
“Says who?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29DJGVCaq0
“Says the girl with recurring nightmares.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡygaFMfQ70q
Klef pulls a face. “Since when does that give you authority in our relationship?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1wkM4LQZD
I sit up, indignant. “I was murdered!”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52NJLtEoD5
“So was I!” Klef retorts.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡoclyS7OIfP
“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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SQEcCIYtI
Klef sidles up beside me and looks inside. All he says is, “Huh. I’ll have fish, then.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzLpiwSWUw
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jJnRBvGkL
“Yep. We’re doing a worldwide hunt today, tomorrow, and until my nightmares come true.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtDl8QYROr
“It’s a lot of ground.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr0kQiRJfM
I roll my eyes. “I noticed.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh5ZFXAbDV
Taking a bite of fish and moving to the dining room prompts Klef to come over and give me a hug. “Treble…”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8oAtwrrng
“Oh, hush. It’s just you and me in here.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWHThxc8gs
I sigh. “Still, the later everyone finds out the less time we have for them to pick on us.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwKZwqX7CA
Klef steps back and claps once. “Back to work, then?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zIqacWBEk
I nod. “Back to work, then.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxhzry6DHn
Klef shoves me. “I’m the joker of the relationship, missy.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CURCqhzxU
“Sure, Treble. Whatever you say.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AuS0E4XgI
We argue a little bit as we sit down and fool around with some of the rich’s latest scraps.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8gzHH7OlP
“It’s a flashlight,” Klef says out of nowhere.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrr5j3wBC4
I smile at the old argument. “It’s a torch.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLEZEFEICU
“Well, whatever it is…” Klef starts.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV3HuKpCzK
“...It’s not a glow stick,” I finish. “I thought we’d established that.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKcSQvWn6y
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCk5CYKgHn
“Who’s dating?” Geo asks as he walks into the room rubbing his eyes.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8ieQNZfpy
“Uh…” Klef looks over to me. “Just some couple from Rides’ hometown. I don’t think you know them.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRjcKaHGxO
“Oh, you two are getting together?” Geo smirks.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYqA43yPjg
“Not in the way you’re thinking, G,” I sigh.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuovJfjIuJ
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡguAAGkKo1h
“You’re smirking,” I shrug. “What else would you be thinking of?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡcggDQkGp90
“I don’t do the do, Geo. You know that. I told you, Nuts, and Bolts all at the same time.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmu4SdjbWO
“Do the do?” I tease.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdjvNZQyoR
“I still haven’t found a good euphemism, all right?!” Klef growls.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB85fZqVoz
“Sleep with anyone?” Geo offers.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Wr8OFsZB
“You could also be blunt,” I roll my eyes.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUPApCAfaY
“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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70zf6OewKD
Geo shrugs. “All right, all right. I’ll let it drop. Are you guys ready to head out yet?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GH17QQMjQ
“We’re always ready, G,” I point out.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAKdaaQLq0
“Still. Meeting more Crusaders, trying to come up with a plan to save the world, this isn’t just any trip, you know.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy1jN782DS
“No, duh!” Klef exclaims. “An oracle’s dreams don’t happen every day.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJznLHdBtw
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS7d5inV3O
“So...where are we going first?” I ask.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNmY6a5ecJ
“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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SsGfentPR
“Wait...Flo’s a Crusader?” I ask.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iJ7vPpTLt
“As of recently, yeah.” Geo grins and says, “Everyone else who’s going has left. Coming?”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIg4GmfMBs
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIlYoAcL42
I was angry at my friend,copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5kncPdCIY
I told my wrath, my wrath did end...copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qHlunIK9j
“All right…” I mutter. “Let’s do this.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF1xDp8Pbd
Klef squeezes my hand. “You’ll do fine.”copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPibcv1p7J
“I hope so,” I mutter back.copyright protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡod95yEthoD
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 protection178ＰＥＮＡＮＡABiB9V1iLc
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