Freya had never considered herself a stupid or reckless person. In fact, those descriptors better suited her sister, Olvia who had ambitions were great and had always spoken of ushering in a new age for the witches of the world. She had inherited their mother’s burning ambition, though lacked sense. Freya was the opposite. She had no great ambitions, but more sense and wisdom. That was before everything that had happened with Richard Halls and his accursed book.

She had lost control, acted foolishly, and got herself caught in a mess. She knew it was her fault, and due to her not being used to such visions. She didn't like to think about it, but she was sort of sheltered in a way. Her sisters had learned everything she could quickly, then left while Freya had been content to go slow.

Now, everything she thought she was had been flung out the window, crushed beneath the wheels of a truck, and dumped in a bin. In her hands, she held the last two of the fate potions she had, and despite the sheer insanity of it, she was thinking about drinking them both. She could not stand to just pace and think about things anymore with no way to do anything else. The book didn't seem interested in conversing or explaining things to her, and she could not muster up any more visions, nor simple readings, no anything. It was like she was blind.

Even the precogs at the station could do more, which was saying something since they had been of little use. They kept seeing the same things. A book, which was obviously Bob, the fire which she guessed was linked to her vision of the city aflame, but the key was a mystery to her. She considered that perhaps it didn't mean a physical key, but that didn't matter. She had nothing to link it to.

What was worse was the fact her grandmother and all her other relatives seemed to be ghosting her as her niece would say. None of them were picking up, not even close family friends. She was on her own.

Which was why she was considering downing both potions. She needed to see something. There was a constant feeling within her, like a raising wave just getting ready to fall, except she couldn't be sure if it was just her paranoia and nerves or if it was a faint echo of her ability.

It was a dangerous, stupid, and foolish act she was considering. And yet, she uncorked the bottles and didn’t stop as she brought them to her lips. She opened her mouth and poured them both down. She swallowed quickly and waited with bated breath.

Nothing happened for a long moment, and she grew worried that her block was so big that not even these rare and powerful potions would work. Then it hit, and she found herself falling back as the world around her changed.

In an instant, a hundred images flashed, a hundred scenes around her. Of people, places, and events. Fire, screams, the sound of gunfire, and steel on steel. The sound of moaning, crying and laughing. The sound of a book’s page fluttering, and a mighty roar, followed by the sound of unfurling wings. It happened in an instant and when the world came back, blurry, yet there, Freya found her ability no longer blocked.

In fact, it felt easier to use than ever, though she could sense she had a limited amount of power to work with. Not that it was a problem. She already knew what she wanted to know, and she focused on it. On Richard, the key, the fire, and the book. Except, nothing happened. There was no connection. She gasped as her power escaped her grip, and she was pulled into a vision, not of her own choosing.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She was in what looked like a desert, and in the distance was a city of flashing lights. The sky was dark red, and nearby were bones, humanoid bones, and others. She couldn't move, but she was able to smell. It smelled like brimstone, rotten meat, and oddly enough cinnamon. She focused on the city in the distance. It looked large and was lit up. As she focused on it, there came an odd ringing sound, and she followed it to see a coin flipping through the air. It fell almost in slow motion until it finally landed, yet not on heads or tails. It had landed on its side and tittered. One moment seeming like it would land on tails, and the next head.

For some reason, she felt that it was important that it landed on heads, though she didn't know why. The vision began to fade, but before it was gone, Freya heard an extremely faint voice. “The path is set for now, and only one choice remains. He must not seek the former slave, but she who bears the blood of the deserts kings and queens. Go, and see that it is so.”

Then she was back in her living room, looking up at the ceiling. All was quiet around her, but her mind was screaming, thoughts racing. The vision had hit her before out of nowhere, but never once had her control been usurped so casually. It had felt like she was a child and someone had snatched a piece of candy from her.

“What does it mean?” She pushed herself to her feet and faltered for a moment. She stumbled over to the couch and plopped down. Who had the voice belonged to, and what did the words mean? Who was the former slave, and who were the deserts kings and queens? She felt like shouting. She had wanted questions answered, not new ones pushed onto her, and yet, that feeling of rising dread had calmed. It was still there, but now it was like she knew that when it hit, she would be fine.

****

“Mother, what should I do?” Kai paced nervously across the room. Back and forth, his eyes troubled.

Zaria wished she could help him further, but she knew nothing she said would ease the scolding her ‘husband’ would give to her son. He had failed in his task, and Zaria had kept her joy at that to herself, though she had let her son know she was proud of the way he had acted, and his get-together with her tomorrow. She just hoped Azaran didn't push him to do anything stupid.

“Go see him now, and tell him your fault first, then your success.” He would grow angry, but the promise of an opportunity tomorrow would quell the fire, though if only he knew what she was planning.

Kai nodded to her, and his sister, Jade before leaving the room. The moment he was gone, Jade turned to her mother. “Please tell me, I can go.”

Zaria smiled. “You can, and will. Just show up, and be pleasant. You’ve spoken with Zara before so she might remember.”

“You think?” Jade asked, frowning. “All I remembered is that it was very awkward.”

“Awkard or not, I don’t think she’ll turn you away. You can make sure that things go smoothly, and that Kai doesn’t try anything stupid.”

“Like the tracker?”

Zaria consdiered that. “If you can get it off without Kai finding out, then do it, but if he does, then he will tell Azaran. You know that boy cannot lie to save his life.”

“I know.” Jade stood, and smiled. “Well, I should prepare something to wear.”

“Choose something modern and causal. No dresses and intricate garb.”

Jade rolled her eyes. “I’m not that clueless, mother. Unlike Ianthe, I keep up with the times.”