Part 44 (1/2)

”Yes...it was when you were born”

Chapter 45.

Let Sleeping Dogs Die.

That night my dreams were filled with strange images of an Oracle I had never met and a prophecy I didn't understand. For most of it I was in a Temple but not the one I had seen before. Somehow I knew this Temple was in Europe but I wasn't exact on where.

It was all made from the purest of white marble and in my mind it kept flas.h.i.+ng in between the old and new. One minute the great structure would be degrading flakes of old stone and weathered floors. And then it would flash back to its glory days of radiant light and gleaming pillars of great craftsmans.h.i.+p.

I seemed to be the focus in the room as all eyes were on me. There were faces here I didn't yet recognized but somewhere deep down I knew them. It was a bit like when someone you know tells you so much about a friend, so that when you meet this person, you feel like you know instantly it's them. Well, it was like that only with a temple full. They all lined the pillars and looked on with anxious faces. As though everyone there knew my fate, but me.

I continued my a.s.sessment of the people looking on with a clear mix of desperation and fear. It was only when I looked down at myself did I really understand these looks fully. I was bare footed and lines of blood trickled down them creating deep crimson footprints behind me. I wasn't in pain as I probably should have been, but can you feel pain in a dream? Sometimes I would think so but now?

It looked as if I had just walked in and interrupted a battle. Everyone seemed to be wearing combat gear, black and oh, so ready for action. It was like good vs evil and the only thing that separated them was me walking in the middle of the room causing them to part and take each side of the temple.

I was dressed in a white gown that floated around my skin like I was under water. It was so thin and wispy that I almost felt naked. Of course this stark white material that covered my skin was the perfect contrast to show the deep red pumping from my heart. I had been stabbed there, that much was clear as now there was a long, deep slice that led down past my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

It was a weird sensation looking down at yourself in this state. I kept thinking that surely I should be dying, not walking towards an altar at the other end of the room. I should have felt weak and fallen to the floor to let the last of my life drain from me but I felt strong. I felt like my blood was leaving me but being replaced by something else...something unearthly, something that felt as though sent by the G.o.ds.

It was only as I got closer did I notice myself standing to one side trying to push herself through the crowd of supernatural warriors. I was in my own dream looking on in horror. I was screaming something to myself in a blind panic. I was dressed in pajamas and my hair plaited to one side, messy, like I had just woken up from a nightmare. Then I kept flas.h.i.+ng in and out of each of my selves. One minute I was the nightmare Keira and then I was watching on as the other me walk towards a brightly lit altar where I knew death awaited me.

”Don't go there, RUN, RUN!” I was screaming out at myself but when my head simply turned to me, I only shook my head to indicate a ”NO”.

Then I was back to the b.l.o.o.d.y Keira shaking my head and mouthing the words, ”No, it will be alright.” I wanted to go over and comfort myself, I looked so frightened and so, so fragile. Draven was right... I was fragile. I looked so breakable like that but not now. I wasn't fragile like this, I felt strong. Invincible. G.o.dly.

I whispered a goodbye and started off as fast as I could into a lightening run. I could just hear one last scream from my other self as I ran into the altar and collided with the brightest flash of light, almost like a meteor had just impacted where I stood.

That's when I woke up and found I was dressed like the Keira in my dream, the frightened one. I had wet cheeks from tears I don't remember crying. I had a scratchy throat from screaming words I didn't shout out in the real world. But most of all I was heartbroken from watching myself die. What a horrible dream and most disappointing of all is that Draven wasn't there at my greatest time of need. He hadn't been there in my dream and he wasn't here now. I was in my own bed at home and it took me a moment to realize why. Draven had driven me home in the early hours of the morning and stayed with me until I fell asleep in my new room.

Now he was gone and my heart ached for him as the morning sun flooded my room that wasn't yet familiar to me. After a few seconds of getting my bearings, I whipped back the covers and looked at my chest. What was I expecting to find exactly I don't know but there wasn't a gaping hole like there had been in my dream. There was no sliced flesh and b.l.o.o.d.y feet. No flowing white gown and no strong buzz of energy raging through my veins.

I was still shaking my head when I heard a knock at my door. Libby didn't wait for me to say ”come in”, she never did. She was dressed for work but instead of her usual power suit, she had on a loose white s.h.i.+rt that allowed more room for her growing b.u.mp. She was glowing in her cheeks and the sight of her happy mood told me two things, One...she had enjoyed her night away from the she-Devil. And Two...she hadn't yet had the pleasure of her company this morning.

”So, how did it go last night?” She plonked herself down on my bed and handed me the mug that she held in both hands. This time instead of Homer Simpson, it was a Liverpool Lfc mug with the words ”You'll never walk alone” below the team's crest of a Liver Bird.

”Thanks” I said taking the mug of tea and taking my first sip of the morning. I didn't smoke but I would imagine that this was my equivalent of having my first cigarette of the day.

”So?” She prompted ”What happened?”

”She met Jack, that's what happened.” I said deflated. Libby just raised her eyes at me like I had lost it...maybe I had and after days like yesterday I think I was certainly ent.i.tled to lose something!

”But that's a good thing...right? I mean, it gets her out of our hair and gets her focus off Dominic, so drinks all round....or not.” She added this last bit when she saw the misery on my face.

”Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she didn't spend the night chasing after Dra...Dominic but I don't want that at the expense of Jack's feelings. Besides, I don't think were as great of friends as I first thought. Not after hearing all about me from our delightful cousin.” I said bitterly and Libby covered her mouth in a dramatic shock.

”Why, what did she say?”

”I'm not completely sure but I can only guess. It's what she does Libby, she plays the victim and creates me as the bad guy. You should have seen his reactions to me after just one evening of her lies. Anyway I've decided I don't care, if he really was my friend he wouldn't have believed such bull from someone he'd only just met!”

”Didn't you warn them about her?”

”A little, well mainly RJ but I didn't want to go around slagging off my relations to my still new friends. I mean they still don't know about me....about my past and I don't know how long I can keep that part of my past a secret. Jack is the only one who knows.” Libby put her hand on my arm and nodded at my problem. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel so strange talking about this kind of stuff and Libby could tell.

”You don't have to tell anyone anything you don't want to. They will still be your friends and I hate to bring this up but aren't you worried about your biggest threat here?”

”I don't under...”

”Hilary....she knows everything too, remember. Not that I think you have anything to be ashamed of but I understand why you don't want people knowing, but are you not worried that the girl who hates you most in the world will take an opportunity like this and try and ruin everything for you?” Libby looked scared for me but I just shrugged my shoulders.

”She wouldn't go that far. Look I know she hates me for some reason I don't think I will ever figure out but I don't imagine she would ever go that far!” She raised an eyebrow to indicate she clearly did.

”Trust me on this,” I said as I tried to get up but as soon as my legs touched the floor boards I had to sit back down. My head started to spin thanks to a Corona induced hangover.

”Rough night?” My sister asked as she noted my head in my hands.

”Umm....something like that. I drank way too much last night and I'm not sure if I won't be an alcoholic by the time we get rid of Hilary!”

”Well, at least one of us can. Right, well I'm off to work now but will I see you after college?” She stood up whereas I couldn't at the minute and looked down at me waiting for an answer.

”Yeah, but not for long, I've got work tonight so at least that should mean Hilary won't be around here either.” I sounded tired every time I even said her name.

”Ok chuck, I will see ya later, try not to put up with too much s.h.i.+t from her and don't worry about Jack, he will see her for what she is soon enough...they always do.”

”Yeah, but I don't want him to get hurt.”

”Sounds to me like he deserves a good kick up the a.r.s.e to wake him up,” she said as she walked to the door.

”Libby!” I scolded but she just smiled and blamed the hormones before leaving me alone in the house with someone I wanted to staple things to. I got up and the first thing I did was go in search of pills to numb the pain from not only my hangover. While I was in the kitchen the other pain in my life walked in. She was dressed in a pink track suit that had stars on her bony backside. The hooded top was one of those that only covered half of her torso but she matched it with a skimpy pineapple top.

”Man, I just love exercising in the morning!” She said overly energetic.

”I prefer s.e.x!” I said under my breath.

”Excuse me?” She asked snootily.

”Oh nothing...Juice?” I asked holding it out to her, making her wrinkle her nose.

”I only drink organic freshly squeezed and no offence, but you don't look like the type to buy that.”

”None taken,” I said wondering if that was supposed to be an insult or not because I wasn't sure.

”So what are we doing today?” She asked me, casually leaning back on the fridge. I found myself staring at it just hoping the door would slam into her.

”Sorry....what do you mean by we because I have collage?” I shook my head but she just smiled reminding me of the Grinch at Christmas.

”Perfect!” She then clapped her hands together and left the kitchen leaving me both worried and confused by that comment. I ran out after her and found her half way up the stairs.