The Real You

12. Royal Prophecy

What seemed like an innocuous gathering turned into a scene from the 'Hauntings of Connecticut'. It felt like I was a part of a horror film. She initially started making some gurgling sounds that made the hair on my hands stand-up. I took a few steps back and wished I could simply disappear. But the Queen noticed my movement. Her eyes turned to me and I froze in place. She smiled reassuringly and blinked as if it to say it's all okay.

I smiled hesitantly and gulped before turning my gaze back to the woman in the rocking chair. Her skin was turning a shade of red and if the circumstances were different, I would have found her nose turning red to be funny.

She began speaking and her voice sounded like a bad attempt at Radio tuning, too coarse and disturbing. 

It was all in the past
But it will be part of the future
The meeting between the first and the last
The wounds can't be healed by a suture

The uncertain took to the act of fear and cowardice
The pure reached the doorstep of Avarice
The refused and rejected will rise from the ashes
The truth will reveal itself in magic splashes

The blood is here and so is the power
Loyalties will undergo the test
His triad strength will be the cover
But you have to stop the war for the best

And her eyes shut close and her body trembled more. No one came forward to help her. The way she spoke, the eerieness of her voice was still lingering in the air. She held the hands of the chair and lifted her head to face the sky. Her throat...it was a deep shade of blue and it was fading gradually. She held the chair so tight, her knuckles were white. Slowly, the redness drained out of her face, and her breathing became stable. Her grip on the hands loosened and she sighed loudly. She relaxed and opened her eyes.

"I hope that was helpful," She said weakly and I almost laughed at that. She sounded as if she didn't know what she said and was looking for validation from the people around her.

"She won't remember what she said" I jumped at her voice and my hand sprang to my heart - a mini heart attack.

"Rochelle" I whispered

"Skylar" She smiled and winked at me.

I can bet on my life that she was not next to me a moment ago. I was standing alone.

"I just came now" She confirmed as if...

"Hey! You can read my thoughts?" I accused her and she laughed softly.

"Only when you think of them very strongly. I can't hear everything"

I was looking at her with accusing eyes when I noticed the redness on her neck.

I cleared my throat, "Your neck"

"Huh?"

There is a love bite on your neck. You better cover it. I thought strongly and realization dawned on her face. She pulled her hair forward and covered the area. Her dear fiance then walked up to the stage and came to stand on the other side of me.

"Hello" Carter greeted softly and grinned widely looking at his future wife.

She smiled and slightly moved her hair to flash her neck to him. The triumph and self-satisfaction were too much for me to handle. I frowned and turned my attention back to what was happening before me. And then I spotted Rochelle's father.

Julian Williams was already looking at the duo and he didn't seem to approve of the pretty exchange. In fact, it seemed like he can launch at Carter with a trident anytime. Sensing his anger, I think he even noticed the hickey. His eyes narrowed to slits and he pointedly glared at Carter who was unaware of the lava waiting to erupt. Evelyn noticed her husband and nudged him with her elbow. He turned to her and she said something to him. Disapprovingly, he turned back to the woman in the chair.