“You’re the type who’d rather suffer in silence than admit someone’s hurt you.”
“Congratulations then,” I said flatly. “You’ve got me all figured out.”
Her lips curved. “I do.” She paused. “Which is why I also know the only reason you’d want to talk to me is because of your visions.” Her eyes remained steady on me as she asked, “You’ve seen me, haven’t you?”
“Yes.” I was pale and shaking in my seat, doing my best not to remember, doing my best not to surrender to the crushing weight of guilt.
Silence.
“And it’s not good.”
Her voice was so calm. How could she sound so calm when I realize now that she really had figured me out, that she knew what I had to say even without me speaking a word? How?
“I’m sorry.” I choked the words out.
“I doubt it’s your fault.”
I shook my head. “You don’t understand—-”
“No, Lady Zari. It’s not your fault.” Her voice turned gentle, and I remembered then that she wasn’t just the woman who I was jealous of. She was also a hunter, bound to protect the innocent, and a healer, committed to saving lives.
I remembered that she was a good person, and it was because of me a good person like her would die.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” My voice was thick with unshed tears. If Katarina weren’t going to seek comfort in tears, then I wouldn’t either.
“Lady Zari, I mean it. I’ve been around long enough to know the truth. If Death wishes to claim me, it will, and there’s no stopping it.”
“I n-never wished you were dead, Lady Katarina. I’d never—-”
“I know.” She paused. “Do you…do you know when it might happen?” She held her hand out as she asked, which showed just how much she knew about soul seers.
Shakily, I reached out to grasp her hand.
BURNING HOT, THE FLAMES dancing, rejoicing as it reached new heights and turned the world into orange.
Everywhere, it was orange.
In the distance, I saw the school.
I ran towards it even as the walls of the school crumbled, one after another. It was falling apart before my eyes, the roof crashing down, the floors giving out, and—-
I covered my ears as I heard it for the first time.
Screams.
Hundreds of human pets screaming—-
Burning—-
Dying—-
And at the center of it all was Katarina.
She too was screaming, burning, dying.
And it was all because of me.
I forced myself to move even as I sobbed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I tried to search for a clue, wiping the tears and ashes constantly from my eyes as I did. I had so little time left before I had to go back or burn with this world.
Praying for strength, I took a deep breath and jumped through one of the doorways. Fear engulfed me, my skin melting under the heat, but I ignored the pain and doggedly searched for a clue.
This was not real, I told myself. This was not real.
I stumbled towards the reception area, the pain crippling, and I started to gasp for breath.
I fell on the counter and began rummaging. A slip of paper caught my eye, an appointment note that had the date encircled—-
I TORE OUT OF MY VISIONS with a gasp, and I could only nod in thanks as I took the glass of water Katarina held out. The icy cold water relieved the irritating and burning sensation in my throat. Even now, I could feel the sting of smoke on my eyes, the way the heat cooked my skin, and the pain, oh God, the excruciating pain.
Katarina didn’t say a thing, only watching me patiently, carefully.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She froze. “A year then? A month?”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t think I could ever say it enough. “You don’t even have a week.”
“Oh.” Her eyes turned glassy with shock. “I s-see.” She leaned back against her seat. “But these visions…” It was my first time to hear her sound so hesitant. “They don’t always happen, yes?”
I nodded vehemently. “We can do something to stop it.”
“Yes. Definitely.” But she didn’t sound like she believed me.
I bent my head down, and it was all I could do not to let my shoulders droop even as the weight of my guilt became heavier and heavier.
Even now it was unclear.
How it would happen, why it had to be her, what it had to do with me…
But one thing was certain.
Whatever happened, her death would be my choice.
I would choose whether she lived or died.
“Lady Zari?”
My head jerked up. “Y-yes?”
“Were you always able to prevent your visions from happening?”
I almost didn’t answer, but in the end, I knew I had no right to withhold the truth. And so I whispered, “No.”
“Then I really may die.”
“Yes.”
“And I have barely a week left?”
I nodded.
“Then…if that’s so…could you please give me Alexandru back while I’m still alive?”
Chapter Five
ALEXANDRU
They set out early to hunt the next day, him and his pet, with Katarina to serve as their medic along with Erou and his team of enforcers. If anyone asked, the official answer was that Zari’s Master simply wanted her with him to ensure he was on hand if she ever fainted again.