Fated

Dante

I sit in my study silently contemplating how I had let my emotions get the best of me. I should not have raised my voice at her. It is not her fault that these things came to pass and she cannot be blamed for her mothers actions. I decide that I will go to her room to apologize, but as I reach the door I can feel the swirling storm of emotions pulsing from within. After a few moments the energy seems to fade and her thoughts seem to calm. Without thinking I open the door without even knocking. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of her lying still on the bed with the wind blowing through the glass doors that are wide open on the other side of the room, causing her hair to blow across her skin as though it is dancing to music my ears can not hear. I slowly make my way across the room and close the doors, locking them before heading to her bedside. She begins to stir in the bed as a frown pulls at her lips. The tears are still falling from her eyes even in her sleep which hurts me more than even I can understand. She mumbles something completely inaudible which has me wondering what she is dreaming about. I hesitate for a moment before placing my hand on her cheek and closing my eyes. I can feel as her emotions swirl…fear, anger, hurt, confusion…I am pulled in and I begin to focus on the sight before me. I know I should not be here, dreamwalking is frowned upon by all magical beings, but I cannot help myself. Standing before me is a sight I remember all too well. A young Eve being laid upon a table in the elder witches’ temple as they begin uttering words to strip nearly all her powers from her. I can feel her pain and confusion as she looks at her mother in horror. How could she possibly remember this? I had witnessed their spell that cleared her memory of anything associated with her powers? There is no way this woman could remember such a thing...is there? I continue to look on as I feel my own anger rising. As quickly as I had arrived I am pulled from the memory as I hear Eve gasp. My eyes open, instantly finding hers.

“Wha-what are you doing in here?” she shrieks more out of surprise than anger which catches me off guard.

“I had come to apologize for my behavior at dinner. I was quite abrasive in the end and you do not deserve to face my anger over something you played no part in.” my words are sincere and my regret laid bare.

“okay, but why are you here…sitting on my bed and touching me?” She pulls back slightly as she speaks the last few words.

“You appeared to be having a nightmare and I only wished to help calm you.” I speak a partial truth, but I choose to withhold the more intricate details of my actions.

Her eyes grow wide, “You…you were there weren’t you?!” she asks in a raspy voice as I can see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

“I was where?” I reply in the most confused tone I can manage.

“In my dream! You saw what they did to me didn’t you?!” she practically shouts at me.

I remember the promise I made to myself before she arrived…I had vowed to be transparent with her in all things and this is where it would start.

“Yes.” I lower my head. “But it is not the first time I have seen this. I watched the night it took place.” Her face contorts into one of horror.

“You let them do this to me?!” she wails and tears cascade freely from her eyes like falling rain.

“I could not stop them if I had wanted to. My kind must adhere to our word. My heart broke for you that night and I truly had wished I could just take you from them at that moment…but I couldn’t.” The pain in my voice must have been easy for her to read as I see her face soften as she reaches over to rest one of her small hands on mine.

“How long.” her voice is shaking with the tremors of her emotions as they wage a war within her.

“How long what?” I reply calmly as I feel how much my energy has been drained.

“How long have you been watching over me?” her words catch me by surprise and I hesitate a moment before deciding to answer truthfully.

“From your very first breath.” As I speak the words I feel the weight of her tiny frame as she collapses against me sobbing uncontrollably.