“He is just fine,” said the nurse.
“Congratulations. It’s a beautiful baby boy,” the doctor said.
My heart skipped a beat. “A boy?” There must’ve been a mistake.
“Well done, Jeni. Well done.” Ariadna appeared at my side, looking as real and alive as ever with flowing blonde locks and those hypnotic brown eyes I remembered from my vision. I was still in the bed, but now the room was empty. Of people and equipment.
It’s the white room. I’d seen it in my visions.
“Where did everyone go? And what’s happening?” I pointed to the baby. “That’s supposed to be you.”
Ariadna shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry but no.”
“I don’t…” My words faded off. Was I tripping? Had Ansin done something to me?
Ariadna flashed a venomous smile. “You’ve given us what we need to start over, what was meant to be from the beginning: a baby boy with King’s blood and yours, Hagne.”
“Hagne?” I frowned.
“You thought I would be the first Seer brought back, but it was you, Hagne. Your penance for killing my mother, me, and my baby brother that night of the Seer massacre.”
My head started to pound. “I’m not Hagne. I’m Jeni. And I would never hurt a child.” There had to be some mistake.
“I assure you, you would. And for your crime of killing a Seer, the highest crime a Seer can commit, you will live out the remainder of your life paying penance. You will love a king who will never love you back. You will raise his child, who will serve as a constant reminder of what you’ve done wrong. And you will belong to another man who will make you suffer in ways you cannot imagine because you are incapable of loving him back.”
My eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t do anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not Hagne. And I saw you being born in my vision. What’s happening?”
“Don’t worry, Hagne, I’ll be along soon. Just not today. In the meantime, take care of our lord. He is meant to do great things for us.”
What the fuck? What’s happening?
“Jeni?” King’s voice rang in my ears. I was back in the ER.
I looked up at King’s shocked face and then down at the baby in my arms with a wash of thick black hair and blue eyes. He was the spitting image of King. “He-he was what they were after all along.” I shook my head. “But… I’m not Hagne. Ariadna said I’m Hagne. What’s happening, King?”
He looked down at the boy in my arms. “They fooled you. They fooled me. And they got what they wanted.”
“But I’m not her, King. I would never…kill…I would never…” The pieces began sliding into place—why I loved him without reason. Our connection. The pain I suffered for my heart.
I might not remember being Hagne or what she’d done, but I felt the pain they wanted me to suffer. I understood Ariadna’s disdain for me.
“I’m sorry, King. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s happening, but—”
“No one sees anything.” Ansin swooped behind King and sliced his throat. Blood poured from the open wound, and King dropped to the floor.
I opened my mouth to yell, but no sound came out. The nurse and doctor stood still, staring at the wall like zombies.
All I could hear was the gentle purr of the baby boy in my arms and the sound of King gurgling his final breaths.
“Why? Why, Ansin?” I whispered, unable to comprehend what just happened. My arms and hands trembled with anger. I felt my heart shattering deep inside my chest.
“I saw it in his eyes. I felt his rage in the air. Whoever this Hagne is or was, whoever you are, he was about to end your life, Jeni.”
“You can’t know that. His soul is anchored to mine and—”
“And he didn’t give a shit. He was about to send you on your way. I’ve seen the faces of men when their rage overtakes them. It was him or you.” Ansin shrugged. “I chose.”
He snapped his fingers at the nurse and doctor, who woke. “See that Jeni and her baby boy are taken care of. Dispose of that body in an incinerator. Immediately.” Ansin flashed a remorseful look my way. “I’m sorry it worked out like this. I’ll see you in a few months to plan our next steps.”