The pair of twelve-year-old girls were sitting on the edge of a stone dock. The mountain rising up in the distance behind Pompeii. The girls were both pale, and slight, they wore identical dresses, both appeared the be the child of a wealthy Roman citizen, but that is where the similarities ended. The girl on the left had long curly red hair and bright green eyes, the other had long black hair and dark brown eyes. They sat, overlooked and ignored in the hustle of the busy port. Shipments of wine and grains were being moved behind them by slaves. The red haired one turned to the dark haired one after staring up at the mountain for several minutes.

“That mountain is going to explode one day and we’re going to see it happen. And there is nothing we can do about it.”

The dark-haired girl looked towards the red haired girl. The red-haired girl looked towards the aqua ducts and pointed.

“People are going to try and shelter there, and they are going to suffocate.”

The dark-haired girl wrapped her arm around the red-haired girls’ shoulders.

“Alright, fine, you win sis, seeing the future is worse than seeing ghosts.”

The red-haired sister shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t think either is bad, I just think it is a shame we are stuck seeing things we don’t want too.”

“Maybe the gift will change that?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Or make it worse. I see such things, Mariana. Things that make no sense.”

“Like what?”

“Like you are sitting in a room made of metal full of glowing lights making war.”

“Sounds silly.”

“I’m floating above a giant sphere half dark, half light with a bright red ball of fire in the distance.”

“I’m sure they were just dreams.”

The red-haired sister shook her head, her eyes staring out at the Mediterranean waters.

“My dreams are so much worse. I see blood. The world drowning in it and my hands are the source. Or…my father.”

Mariana hugged her sister close.

“Enid, you’re safe here. No one will hurt you. Father will make sure of it. Have you told him about this?”

Enid shook her head.

“You should. Maybe he will have some insight.”

Enid nodded. Mariana hugged her tightly.

*****

Enid sat across from a twenty something brown-haired man with a thick but neatly trimmed beard. He was handsome, but he seemed like he could fit into any crowd. They were in the gardens of the families Pompeii estate. It was after nightfall. They were on benches at the center of the small hedge maze. He leaned forward stroking his beard.

“I can see how these would be disturbing visions Enid. I can make them stop, but then I would be robbing you of one of your senses.”

“Please Sextus.”

“I told you, you should call me father, or dad, as I am that for you now.”

Enid blushed.

“I am sorry father.”

“We are all getting used to this. You’ve had a rough life. What that man did to you, those were not the actions of a father. I will never hurt you, and I will never let you down. Now are you sure?”

“Yes father, I don’t want to see these things anymore.”

“Look into my eyes Enid.”

The twelve year old girl’s emerald green eyes met the man’s kind brown eyes and he leaned close and whispered to her.