Sharing Delilah Book 4
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Alex Fox
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FATED
I found absolutely nothing in the library, not that I had expected to. Sure, there was extensive material on a lot of magical things that I had never found in the coven’s main library, but on my clairvoyance, there wasn’t much.
Although, I did find mention of a magical marble, called simply “The Eye,” that was supposed to enhance my gift.
The problem was, it wouldn’t really do me any good considering I was dying and its last documented location was in the library of Alexandria, which, as everyone knew, no longer existed.
That didn’t stop me from looking into what sort of spell could have been constructed to make a place like this. If I could at least figure out exactly how it was made, I might get a bit more insight on Ian and Rose.
I was pretty sure that this place was literally made of paint and magic, though I wasn’t sure if the faded rooms were simply old or if it was connected to the memories of one of them. Paint faded, but so did memories.
My main question was: had they both created this place?
Unfortunately, no one had ever made something like this before as it was quite literally a death sentence. Even if someone found their fated one, it would only delay the inevitable. That was the simple fact.
An entire world like this would draw off of someone’s life force. The only way to tell which one was to prick their finger and see if the blood dissipated. Or, well... any other type of bleeding.
“Guess that would certainly make periods much easier if it’s Rose,” I muttered, flipping the page of the book I was perusing.
If it was both of them, though, then that meant their relationship was intertwined with magic, which made matters complicated if one of them was my fated one because that meant their lives were linked to one another...
Which meant that if I figured out who it was and the other went off the deep end...
This was so unfair...
One of them had to be my fated one. So in order to save my own life, I had to break up a marriage. That was a little much to ask of a seventeen-year-old in my opinion. Fate was seriously cruel.
A knock sounded at the door, making me jump. Ian was probably here. I had been lost in the books long enough that I hadn’t noticed when the sky began to dim. Floating lights of pure magic lit the area like lanterns in the air.
I opened the door only to come face to face with Rose. She was wearing coveralls that were way too big for her and covered in colorful paint splatters. Sweat beaded her brow.
“Ian said you might be hungry.”
I gave her a small smile, “I’m famished,” I replied, following her out and shutting the door behind me.
“Did you find what you were looking for in there?” She asked, leading me out through the maze of doors and hallways.
“Not really,” I admitted.
“Really? There should be a huge collection on curses and vampires.” The way she walked was dainty and graceful, like how I would imagine a fairy might walk; with grace and innocence.
“I looked in the books on curses but I didn’t find the spell that was put on me, plus, I already know how to fix it. I’m just missing—”
“An ingredient?” she asked, cutting me off, perking up and stopping in place to turn and look at me. “I can make you anything you need.” She pulled out a paintbrush from her coveralls.
“Ah... no, not exactly,” I said, trying not to laugh. Something about the way she had gotten excited made me a tad shy.
The shine in her eyes had made her light up, but when my words registered, it was as if she faded into the background once more.
“O-oh…”
“It’s OK,” I said, holding up my hands. “I’m sure I’ll find what I need…in time. Especially thanks to all you guys’ help,” I finished lamely.
I couldn’t just tell her I was here to break up her marriage. Ian and Rose had been nothing but kind to me.
She gave me a small smile. “I will do everything in my power to help you.”
I chewed on my lip as I considered her words. “Well, maybe… You’re pretty powerful. If I could find my fated—”
“No,” she replied flatly, turning around and walking away. I followed, furrowing my brows.
“Why not?”
“Because fated ones are a joke! Forcing you to love someone when you’re already in love. I’m perfectly happy with Ian and this world. You don’t need a fated one to be happy.”
Are you, though?
Something made me question this and I thought about it as we walked in silence. An unknown force pulled me forward, urging me to place my hand on her shoulder.
A part of me knew I shouldn’t, but I was too curious to know what was driving this need. Hesitantly, I reached out as we walked, touching her shoulder softly, making her stiffen.
Images rushed into my mind’s eye unlike any I had ever seen before.
Rose and Ian together in this place when it was just flowers. She and Ian in a swing. Her painting new items, painting in a fridge for the first time, making Ian clap in delight.
Ian and her fighting. Her leaving and suddenly in the middle of a war. Coming back. Another fight. Her friends dead, her coven in ruins.
Returning to Ian, who held his arms open for her, waiting. Always waiting. Despite her leaving several times and the fights getting worse and worse. Red paint splashed over cave walls.
He waited for her, and she always returned, just as he had said.
Then, suddenly, I was her, in his arms, the very last time she had returned. Her face was buried in his chest as he stroked her hair. “I'll never go again,” I said—Rose said.
Inside though, those words felt like a death sentence as she buried something inside her that I recognized immediately. It was the same feeling I felt toward many of my peers.
Resentment.
She continued to return to him, not only because she loved him, but also because she felt guilt, sadness, regret.
Why?
“Raven!” Rose called, her voice echoing in my mind as my mouth formed the name…my name.
“Raven! Wake up!” Panic.
My hand was no longer on her shoulder as I panted, sweat pouring down me as my limbs trembled, finally returning.
What was that?
“You’re back, where did you go? Are you OK?” She was kneeling over me, her hands touching my cheeks and face.
I was curled up on the floor, my hands around my legs as I blinked, trying to figure out my surroundings. My eyes must have been dilated because the room’s light was harsh, making me wince.
“W-what happened?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
“I don’t know. You touched my shoulder and when I turned around, you had a blank look on your face. I tried to shake you out of it, but you curled up in a ball and just shut down,” Rose said fearfully.
I shook my head, frowning. I didn't even remember doing that; it was as if my body had been on autopilot. “Did I say anything?” I asked, blinking up at her.
“No. Are you OK?” she asked again, her tone just as worried as before. Gently, concern written all over her face, she tucked a stray hair behind my ear.
“I’m fine, just… That’s never happened to me before.” I had had clear visions about my death, but that? It was like I had been inside her, invading her privacy, seeing a memory that wasn’t mine to see.
I avoided her eyes by rubbing mine; I didn’t like her gaze to be so intent on mine.
“Are you certain? You didn’t accidentally cast something?”
“No, not at all. I just…saw something.”
“You’re clairvoyant, I forgot!” Her eyes went wide before she gasped suddenly. “Did you see something about me?” she asked, smiling excitedly.
"N-no," I said, my cheeks pink with shame.
She frowned before her mouth opened into a little o and she covered it, giggling.
“I’m sorry, that’s so rude of me, asking you about your visions. I’ve never actually met one, but any witch worth her salt knows that a clairvoyant will only tell you what you need to hear. Otherwise, it can screw things up.”
I nodded half-heartedly at her words.
She continued, smiling, “I suppose that means my life is in your hands since I have to trust you won’t let anything happen to me. Right?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
I could tell she was trying to cheer me up, and it made me chuckle a bit before my stomach growled loudly. Rose looked down, her eyes going wide before she grinned.
“Guess we need to feed the birdy. You know, I bet I could convince Ian to let us keep you.” She laughed again, making me shake my head, smiling as well, before she gave me a hand up.
