Endless Night (Fate's Intent Book 3) (28 page)

They still seemed hesitant but they brought their horses forward, slowly stepping onto the water which seemed more difficult to actually do. The three disguised Senian horses were unsure about proceeding but obeyed their masters, following the other three who seemed to have no problem with it because they’ve done it before.

They rode with us to the island even more cautiously when a dark shadow began swimming around us.

“What’s that?” Zayden asked.

Adele looked down and didn’t seem bothered. “That’s Kiki. She’s Madam Carla’s shark. She guards the island from unwanted guests.”

“Unwanted guests?” Troy sounded worried and I laughed.

“Don’t worry. We’re wanted.”

Kiki disappeared somewhere in the deep water as we got closer to land and I felt them tense like they needed to know where she was at all times.

“Relax.” Adele said. “She’s just going home. There’s a labyrinth of caves under the island.”

“And you know this from personal experience, I take it.” Troy said.

“Maybe. Hurry.” She sped her horse up just a little more and we made it to shore.

We walked along the narrow path and approached the small old house. It was leaning slightly to the right and the hay covered roof had a few holes and bare spots. A humble little shack for just a single resident who happened to be the most powerful person in the world.

“And we’re going to be spending how long here?” Zayden asked.

Ruby laughed as we all started getting down off our horses. “Time will go by fast, remember?”

Zayden just sighed and we walked right up to the door. Adele opened it and led us in without announcing herself. The main room was filled with bottles of all shapes and sizes and filled with potions of every color. There was a fire going and a boiling pot sitting over it.

Home sweet home.

Madam Carla came out of a back room towards us with her gray frizzy hair and dressed in a long dark purple robe. “Why if it isn’t the three greatest beauties of our time coming to give me visit. I hope Kiki didn’t give you any trouble.”

“Madam Carla.” Adele smiled. “Not at all.”

Her white eyes stared straight ahead as she smiled and embraced each of us. “Adele. Ruby. Jaylyn. Welcome.” She paused there after hugging me last and her whole head turned. She pushed her way passed me with a gasp to get in front of the Great Seni Fighters. “Why, bless my soul. You brought them here. I didn’t think you would but I hoped.”

Adele smiled. “Zayden. Darius. Troy. This is Madam Carla. Madam Carla, these are our friends.”

“Oh, Adele. They’re more than that.” Madam Carla held her hand up to them and stopped it in front of Zayden. “This one has your scent all over him.” She took a breath of air through her nose and Ruby and I shared a smiling look, just waiting for her first sexual reference to come. “Ah, yes. He’s been very kind to you many times! Lucky girl!”

“Madam Carla!”

“Oh, come child. Don’t be disgraced. It’s not every day that a woman such as yourself wins the heart of a Prince.”

Zayden seemed in wonderment that she even knew and he quickly looked at me for some reason. I smiled while pointing to my head to remind him to keep an open mind.

“You have been deemed very lucky.” Madam Carla then moved her hand over to Troy, lowering it with an obvious sigh. “This one must be yours, Jaylyn. You’ve claimed him early and frequently might I add. It must be the great skill I sense of him that’s been useful for you and I don’t mean that precious sword he’s carrying.”

I looked at Troy and silently laughed, not wanting it to be too obvious. “Without question.”

“But Trever has not yet accepted it.”

Smile, gone. “Like he ever will. He still won’t tell me what his gift is. He says I have to guess.”

“The answers will soon all be clear in time and by then he will, you’ll see.” She brought her hand up to Darius next and her smile faded. “My darling Ruby, are you sick?”

Ruby looked around at the rest of us strangely. “No. Why would you ask that?”

“Well, I would assume this strong one to be yours but I’m detecting at distance between you.”

Oh, no. I hoped this wasn’t the way she’d find out.

“Wait, I see now. For once it’s not your fault. This is his doing. Your past is still lingering inside your heart. A memory of a great loss has consumed your soul for a many long years. To let it go could cause confusion as to who you are but to keep it could push away the one you love so deeply. Only by choosing the right path will lead you to your happiness.” She took Ruby’s hand, pulling her closer and joined their hands with fingers laced. “This is the right path for you, Darius. Make no mistake about that. Madam Carla knows. Keep the past in the past and don’t let the future escape through your hands. Your future in life brings many great joys if you so choose to accept it. Fate has shown me that the three great sons of Seni shall one day hold one of their own brought forth to you only by those worthy to bear such a precious gift and in giving, mold a new era of men.”

What? Like children? I was too stunned to say anything out loud.

“Would it be wrong to say I sort of already knew that?” Zayden asked with a smile as he glanced over at Adele.

He was clearly talking about the dream and Madam Carla gasped and turned her head to Adele. “You told him the dream?”

“You know about my dream?”

“Yes, for I have seen it too. I was hoping you’d be able to decipher what it means. Clever girl!”

“Then it’s real?” I asked. “They’re really going to have that child?”

“Of course. You all will. It’s a necessity for the world’s future.”

Troy and I immediately shared a look and I didn’t know what else to say. He seemed unsure too but the longer it set in, the longer I liked it. A child with him? That would be the cutest child ever!

“But I see that you are not ready for that kind of talk so come. Sit. We shall await the future in time.” We walked over and sat down around the table with her.

I didn’t want to say it but I would have liked to hear more. Maybe I could sometime if we ever get the chance to get her alone. If it really was the future, I wanted to hear it.

Chapter 41

Ruby

A child? Oh, no no no no. That wouldn’t be—I mean there just so much—I couldn’t even begin.

I wish it would just go away. I couldn’t be thinking about that now. We had so many other things to worry about but I was glad when Madam Carla said we weren’t ready to hear it and chose to get away from it. “Tell me why you have come and what it is you seek.”

“But do you not know already?” Zayden asked. “Assuming that’s one of the many things you can do.”

She smiled. “Indeed I do but do you? Your travels brought you together and formed a bond that will remain through time as the stories of the great ones remain for longer. How do you wish to be remembered throughout history? As just another normal being with only the will to do great things or are you willing to go beyond the greatness of Kings and be idolized forever? Only I have the power to grant you that wish but you must choose wisely for what I can give you can never be taken back. You must be certain within your hearts that it’s what you want.”

I watched the Great Seni Fighters looked at each other and like the idea as being remembered forever. It easily made the choice clear. I know I always liked it.

“It’s what we want, Madam Carla.” Zayden said. “But would you really be able to give me that? I already have—”

“I know but I did not give that to you. That was a gift from your father. He came to me many long years ago when he was young. Your presence is quite similar. I will be willing to give you one myself if that’s still what you wish as I only give out one.”

Zayden looked over at Adele and she gave him a nod and he turned his head back with the clear answer. “It is.”

Of course he wouldn’t have refused. It was only going to make him better, not worse. I’m sure he knew that.

“Good, Zayden. I knew you would decide it so. Come with me and we shall begin the process at once. We shall not delay your reasons for coming any longer.” She got up and we all followed her to another room where she already had everything set up for our arrival. She definitely knew we were coming.

There were three reclined chairs sitting in a circle with a steaming pot filled with palm sized stones in the center. I remember seeing this exact set up before.

“Please remove your shirts and shoes and have a seat with your palms up and feet on the stool.”

They respectfully did what they were told.

“But I remember you only had us remove our shoes.” Adele said.

“Yes, the feet need to be exposed to circulate the energy.”

“So, why do they need to take their shirts off?”

Madam Carla smiled and I already knew why. Our minds were quite the same. “Why, for our viewing pleasure, of course!”

“Oh, yeah! Genius as always!”

“Should we leave?”

“You can stay but don’t speak. You don’t want it to disturb the process.” We remained quiet by the door while Madam Carla walked over to the chairs. “Now you must close your eyes and become totally relaxed. You must stay in this relaxed state and not bother your mind with what I’m doing but listen to what I say. I have already chosen what to give you based on your lives and what would become most useful. Let us begin.” She walked in the middle of them to the pot containing the stones and took a few in her hands. “Now, I’m going to be placing a hot stone on various places on your bodies to help you become more relaxed. I will touch you first before I place the stone so that you are prepared.”

Madam Carla turned to Zayden first and started placing the stones on him. One was placed on each of his wrists, another on the inside of each of his elbows, another on each shoulder and one on the center of the chest. She did the same to Muscles and Troy afterwards and let them get used to it for a moment and relax them. I remembered how it felt just by watching. It was relaxing. A bit hot at first, not enough to burn but that would eventually fade and this good feeling all over would replace it like a peaceful dream.

Madam Carla walked over to a table next and picked up the first bottle, bringing it to Zayden. “Now, Zayden, I’m going to start with you. I’ve seen your mind and the things you wish you could undo. Perhaps if you were just a little faster to react, they wouldn’t have happened at all. Your future will be full of less disappointments after today for I’m giving you the enchantment of Hastily Response. This will allow you to react to something like a falling glass or a hidden attacker and stop it with a great amount of acceleration and speed that’s invisible to the normal eye. No more despair will be weighed on your shoulders. Now, you’ll feel a slight pinch but try to remain relaxed as you are.”

Zayden nodded and Madam Carla placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He did very well to not move. I remember almost jumping out of my damn chair when it happened to me. I’d never forget that nor will he forget this.

Speed. An interesting choice. I couldn’t wait to see it.

Madam Carla left his body to do the work and walked back to the table to get another bottle. She walked over to Muscles with it and stood next to him. “Darius, your obvious strength over those both friend and foe have already proven your greatness but there is yet more greatness to be had in a strength such as this that I happily pass to you now. I’m giving you the enchantment of Infinite Might. You may think you are strong now but this will allow you be even more. You’ll be able to move any object no matter the size or weight. Even a mountain will not be able to stand in your way. Use it as a protection to those close to you and their lives may always be spared.”

He didn’t react to the feeling at all of the bottle being stuck to him and it might have been because of the strength he already had. Now he was going to have more? I’m sure he liked hearing it. I wonder if he would be stronger than me?

Madam Carla walked back to the table and picked up the last bottle, bringing it to Troy. “Troy, to one that is already so steady and perfect in form, there is not much else I can give but a sight beyond any other. You have already proven such a great perfection in the way of your sword but I have seen things you wish you could have but it is a distance that separated you. No more. I’m giving you the enchantment of Remote Gaze. This will allow you to see any obstacle before you even if it stands hundreds of miles away. The world cannot be hidden in your eyes as you will find this to be a great use to you even for the smallest tasks.”

He only flinched for a second probably because I hear he’s ever been wounded by anyone besides Muscles and that was basically only broken bones. Nothing metal has ever broke his skin except for his own sword that one time but that doesn’t really count. He was too tied up to stop it or I’m sure he would have.

“I’m leaving you alone now. You must remain still and relaxed while your body does the rest of the work. I will check back in on you in a couple of hours. If you must, falling asleep is a good form of total relaxation.” She waved her hand for us to leave and we waited for time to pass at the table.