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119- Focus and flow
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I sleep late and wake up alone. The growling of my stomach when I wake up tells me that I have slept in for at least a couple hours. I check the bedside table and sure enough, there’s a handwritten note from Bellamy.
Good morning,I didn’t mean to keep you up so late last night. I hope you’re sleeping peacefully, you need the rest. I’ll call and wake you if you aren’t up by eleven since you have plans for lunch. So if you’re reading this I guess it isn’t eleven yet…I’m heading out this morning with Alex to meet with some of the local Shifters that knew the Brooks family. It might not lead to anything and there are plenty of non-Shifters we should talk to as well, but at least if we start with the Shifters I can be sure that they are telling us the truth and it might give us a bit of a general background for the family.I plan to be back by late afternoon.Good luck talking to your Oracle friend and call me if you need or want anything.-BellamyIt’s
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Strings of Fate 120- Predictions and precognition
I run to the door and swing it open just in time for Shaun to nearly hit me in the face, his fist raised to knock. He stumbles backwards and lowers his arm. Amber is standing beside him looking amused. Her unnaturally red hair is a little windblown and the ends just brush her shoulders. She’s thin and with her bright blue eyes she looks a lot like a little porcelain doll. Eyes are another common misconception that people have about Oracles. Just because one or two of them were blind and became famous for getting by using their ‘other sight’ forever ago, now people seem to assume that they’re all blind. I remember Amber lecturing someone about it once when they insisted that she couldn’t be an Oracle because her eyes were functional. She then continued to tell me later that just because some fanatics think that they have to blind themselves to ‘unlock their potential’ that doesn’t mean she wants to destroy one of her senses. “Sorry Miss Gale!” He says, looking horrified. Amber f
Strings of Fate 121- Links and linearity
“Can you tell me more about what you see? Does it always happen? Does it ever change?” I ask, all in one go. Amber patiently answers all my questions. “I will see a scene as it happens, like a kind of spectator. I have no control over what viewpoint I have and I don’t get context. Like playing a random clip from a movie but you don’t know what movie it is or what part of the movie it’s up to. You might be able to work out what’s going on from context clues, you might even recognise the people or location. Sometimes I can get the exact times if they happen to stand by a clock or have a phone or watch I can see.” She pauses to think before answering the next question. “The things I see USUALLY happen. But not always, they can change. If someone changes their mind about something. I suspect the visions I see are usually the results of specific decisions. For example I saw you talking about having me over. Because you made that decision I saw it. If for some reason you changed
Strings of Fate 122- Confidence and connections
I manage a weak smile for Amber.“Thank you, you’re definitely the world’s best supervisor.” I joke, Amber beams.“What are friends for?” This time my smile is stronger. I’ve known Amber for a while now but I never particularly considered her a friend, we always got along okay but it didn’t occur to me that she would WANT to be my friend. I’ve changed a lot in the last few months. Being around Megan and Bellamy and hearing them express the reasons they appreciate having me around, spending time with the other guards and re-kindling my friendship with Harrison, it's helped me build my confidence a little. I never would have been brave enough to ask Amber for a favour like this, much less treat her like a friend. I was always nervous of others because I know they can leave me. Seeing my strings with them gave me the confidence to try and being around them has apparently given me the confidence to reach out to others more too. I really do want to be good friends with Amber. I'm
Strings of Fate 123- Interested and idiotic
The conversation wraps up quickly after that and Shaun makes his way home. He says goodbye cheerfully as usual but he’s obviously very distracted. I wonder how long it will take him to ask me for Amber’s number. That’s something to look forward to at least. Bellamy had followed Shaun so he could lock the front door behind him so I grab my phone and start researching different ways to meditate and tips for clearing your mind, focussing. Stuff like that. A lot of it involves creepy ads for potions and spells. Particularly when I added the word ‘focus’ to the search. Illegal study aid spells came up a lot. I wish it were that easy. I’m going to have to learn this on my own without magical assistance. When Bellamy returns, I feel him drop down onto the couch beside me. I don’t look up from the article I’m reading until he clears his throat. I look up and realise that his face is right next to mine. He’s sitting close. Very, very close. Much closer than he was before. I meet his gaze and
Strings of Fate 124- Proposal and peril
Bellamy gets to his feet beside me and I figure he’s going to leave and give me space, maybe go get Megan to calm me down. But no, instead he kneels on the carpet in front of me. “Darling please don’t cry.” He reaches out slowly like he’s trying not to spook me and gently tucks my hair back behind my ears and out of my face. “I need you to look at me. It doesn’t make it okay but I want to explain so I can apologise properly.” He insists. Finally, slowly, I look up and meet his eyes. He looks panicked and guilty. Already I can’t help but soften towards him. “I wasn’t thinking. I came home and I was so excited to see you and you ran to meet me which probably makes my top ten most thrilling moments, all of which involve you by the way, but then I realised you were just relaxing and having a nice time with Shaun and I got jealous that he was able to spend the day with you, which is insane because I’m the one who insisted on it, I know. But it still happened. I wanted to g
Strings of Fate 125- Bashful and blameless
COCK TALESAmber has been added to the group.Ryann- Hi Amber. In case you don’t know, this group chat is dedicated to documenting the tales of my friend Harry flirting with this cute bartender chick who is apparently completely uninterested in him. This is particularly entertaining as he is an Incubus and doesn’t usually have to work so hard for a girl’s attention.Harry- Hi Ryann’s friend. I want it noted that I am in fact incredibly handsome and ridiculously charming. It’s this girl that’s the strange one. Amber- Noted. To avoid confusion, I am an Oracle and sometimes know extra things about the people around me. Don’t ask if I know things, if I tell you anything it’s because I’ve chosen to and no amount of whining will change my mind. ’t kill you. So I vote yes. And document what happens. Photos and videos are appreciated… unless it’
Strings of Fate 126- Meditation and murder
Over the next week the papers report two. more murders. Both of the victims were women in their twenties with dark hair. Unsurprisingly, with each murder Bellamy became more and more on edge. In fact everyone did. Megan and I stopped going on outings other than the occasional walk around the inside of the Shifter compound with our guards to accompany us. I was alright, honestly I don’t find it all that stressful staying inside for a while, but as a Shifter, Megan has definitely started getting antsy. She wants to go out and run, see people, whatever. Bellamy has also been antsy but aside from absolutely necessary trips, he’s been staying home with us. Actually, he barely lets me out of his sight and when Megan is in her room and not downstairs with us, he checks on her constantly. He has increased security around the compound and checks the locks on the houses doors and windows several times a day. The papers didn’t provide a cause of death, but in his paranoia, Bellamy had Aaron and
Strings of Fate 127- Calling and convincing
He is quiet for a moment, then he pushes his shoulders back and blurts out;“I-want-to-ask-her-out-will-you-give-me-her-number-please?” He says it all in one breath and then I’m pretty sure he doesn’t take another one. He’s just holding his breath, waiting. “Sure.” I agree easily. He drops the towel on the ground in shock. I think he expected me to say no.“Really? Don’t you need to check with her or something?” He asks doubtfully, like he thinks I might be messing with him. I can’t help but laugh.“She already agreed. She told me the day you met that when you got up the nerve to ask for her number, I should give it to you. She’s an Oracle, remember? I’m pretty sure she’s waiting for you to call.” I tell him. His answering grin is blindingly bright.“Really?” “Yes really. I’ll give it to you as soon as we finish the dishes.” Let me just say, I have never seen someone dry dishes as fast as Shaun is right now. We have the job done in no time and I read out Am
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“Well, I think that it might actually be nice having an extra person around the house. Extra security and company. Besides, you spend most of your time here anyway. Might as well save you the commute. That is, as long as no one else has any objection?” I say pointedly looking at Megan. Sure, Bellamy could object but I already know that he won’t. Megan briefly makes eye contact with me, gives a slight nod, then finds something to stare at on the ceiling. She is clearly trying to look like she doesn’t care but she is blushing bright red. True to form, Darrien is watching her closely trying to work out how she really feels about my suggestion. Realising that she isn’t going to provide any input, he decides to push it a little. “Megan? I would like to hear your opinion. I am still courting you and I don’t want to screw anything up by making a decision like this without your input.” Darrien says clearly. His voice is mostly calm with just the slightest hint of anxiety as he monitors her r
Strings of Fate 202- Calories and clothing
I wake up late in the morning, it might even be early afternoon. I wriggle around a little which prompts Bellamy to do the same, he is apparently already awake. He raises a finger to his lips to shush me before I speak and I can see why. Kiara is still sleeping, lying in the bed between us. She is still loosely holding onto my arm, even in sleep. I slowly disentangle myself from her light grip and slide out of bed. Bellamy follows, clearly doing his best not to jostle her and wake her up. She definitely needs the sleep. She was restless for a good part of the night and almost definitely was having nightmares, but she seems like she’s sleeping soundly now. My own sleep was blissfully quiet. No visions or anything thank goodness. I’m looking forward to having several weeks of steady sleep and so help me if anything tragic or dramatic happens for the next few weeks then whoever is responsible should probably be terrified of me. We step into the hallway to talk without disturbing Kiara.
Strings of Fate 201- Touch and trust
I cross my arms in irritation. “Kiara would never! How would she even do that? She’s just a kid!” I object. Dr Dae rolls her eyes at me.“Oh calm yourself girl. I’m not saying she chose to murder anyone. I assume that she was forced to comply somehow. You’ll have to ask the girl when she’s ready to talk. As for the how, the child is a Reaper.” She says it as if it’s obvious but it really isn’t. I know that Reapers exist, but they’re the kind of Magic that most people have heard of but no one has ever met. I suppose Kiara’s dad must have been a Reaper too and why the MRO was so secretive about her markings. Most people are kind of scared of Reapers, they’re kind of the boogeymen of our society. Mostly because they can kill on a whim. All it takes is one touch and they can free your soul from your body. Obviously with no soul you die, and I guess your soul moves on to wherever souls go when you pass on. I suppose that a Reaper would make sense for the representative of Atropos. Her add
Strings of Fate 200- Healing and hunger
Since Kiara probably isn’t up to braving the stairs and she really doesn’t want to be carried around everywhere, we decide to ask Dr Dae to come up to the bedroom. It’s actually kind of weird having so many people in here. Bellamy is a fairly private person, he doesn’t generally invite people to hang out in his… our room. Dr Dae shuffles in clutching her usual bag. I’m surprised that Bellamy isn’t carrying it for her because it looks kind of heavy, but I suspect that she wouldn’t hand it over anyway. I immediately greet her.“Thank you so much for your help. Your contact has become a great friend and she’s a huge part of the reason we were able to find Kiara here.” I nudge Kiara gently with my elbow and give her a little smile. She looks very small and delicate in the oversized, mismatched clothes with her hair dripping down her shoulders. She’s so pale that the bruises on her skin stand out and look even worse than they actually are. Dr Dae gives me a half nod of acknowledgement then
Strings of Fate 199- Clean and covered
We all turn to face Alex in confusion. I glance up at Bellamy to see if he has any idea what’s going on but he looks just as lost as the rest of us. I continue to stroke Kiara’s hair trying to keep her calm. “Explain.” Bellamy says firmly. Alex flushes red under the attention of everyone in the room. “Uh, well. I assisted Miss Gale in updating her registration with the MRO, and uh, since her position is one of… well almost authority, over the fate’s representatives the updated registration reflects this. So she should be able to make decisions about Kiara’s care like an Alpha would for their Shifters or like a Coven leader would for their Witches. Admittedly it’s a very small group of Magics, but according to the Magic Registration Office, she is in charge of it.” He explains, his voice starts off weak but gets stronger as he becomes more confident in what he’s saying. The police seem a little stunned but I guess Alex isn’t technically wrong. If Kiara were a Shifter, her Alpha would
Strings of Fate 198- Stolen and sure
When we pull up to the house, there’s a police car waiting. There are two cops standing by it, one looks bored and irritated and the other has a fake ‘customer service’ type smile plastered on his face that I know well from experience. Yeah neither of these guys want to be here. They’re probably pissed that we made them come down here. Not to mention uncomfortable being in the Shifter compound. Non-Shifters aren’t invited here often, although I suppose that isn’t exactly true anymore with all our new friends stopping by regularly. Standing beside them looking awkward and uncomfortable is Alex. I bet they’ve been taking their impatience out on him. I narrow my eyes at them and prepare myself. One snotty comment and I am going to tear into them, it’s been a long night. Bellamy parks the car and I wait for him to get out. He speaks with the police briefly and Alex escorts them inside the house. Bellamy returns and opens the door next to Kiara. “Hey, can I help you get inside? The police
Strings of Fate 197- Leaving and leaning
As we step outside, I’m confused to find that I actually have no idea where we are. I really was just running and following the tracking spell. I don’t know how far I ran. It’s a good thing the others are here to bring back the cars because I would be wandering all night trying to find my way back. I’m also fairly sure that I left my phone in the car when I jumped out in a hurry. Kiara clutches my hand tightly as the cars pull up on the street in front of us. “Megan, Darrien. You stay here and speak to the police when they arrive. Direct further questions to me. Shaun, you stay with them too.” Bellamy directs as Shaun hops out the car. At Megan’s insistence he stays a good couple of metres away from us.“Yes Alpha Kane.” He responds cheerfully. Aaron and Rio also climb out of the vehicles. Rio stops to chat with one of the other Shifters whose name I still don’t know. Aaron immediately approaches me. Actually a better way to phrase it is that he storms over. He looks almost angry. Or
Strings of Fate 196- Rescue and retreat
Darrien is the closest to her and he sees her at the same time I do. He takes a step towards her and she whimpers in fear. He freezes and backs away slowly, trying not to startle her. I gesture for everyone else to stay back and take a few steps closer. I stop a good metre away from the little table and then slowly lower myself to the floor. Kneeling down so that I can see her properly. Kiara is covered in soot and I can see little trails of tears smudging around on her face. She is still crying and whimpering. I am careful to keep my voice gentle and calm. “Kiara?” I call her name. She doesn’t answer or look up, but her whimpering quiets a little and I can see her tensing up like she’s listening carefully. “Kiara sweetheart. You’re safe now. You can come out. We can get some something to eat, you can have a nice bath and some clean clothes. How does that sound?” I try to sound soothing. Her crying stops and she looks up at me with wide, teary, red-rimmed eyes. She doesn’t
Strings of Fate 195- Smoke and smothering
Look, I’m no fighter and the Shifters move way faster than I can even properly process in this stressful situation. I watched the Shifter woman leap towards the redhead (I have got to learn these people’s names!) and the next thing I know, both women are screaming and the living room is lit up with blue flames that are steadily growing. I watch as Shaun and Darrien leap at the Shifter woman and help her tear off her burning shirt. Bellamy takes the chance to shift and a few moments later his large black cat form is launching towards the Witch in an attempt to knock her down. He pulls back at the last second as flames light up in front of him, spreading and essentially splitting the room in half with us on one side and the Witch on the other. She’s completely trapped, both by us and the fire which is steadily going out of control. There is smoke in the air making it hard to see what’s going on and the smoke in the air is making it difficult to breathe. My throat is so dry and my lung
