Page 17 of Professor and the Seer
The title had Frieda grimacing. “Hardly.”
“You see the future,” the old fellow insisted, his English heavily accented but understandable.
“Where did you hear that?” Enyo snapped.
The man didn’t reply to her but to Frieda. “I don’t know the name of the person who sold me the information.”
“What did they say?” Enyo questioned.
The old guy shrugged. “Not much. Just that they knew of a seer who could see the future, and when I paid their price, they sent me the address and room number of a hotel.”
“And you thought you could just kidnap her?” Dina jumped in, looking ready to kill.
Frieda waved a hand. “Don’t bother wasting your anger on him. Ignacio Carillo doesn’t have long to live.” She canted her head as her voice took on a monotone and whispery quality. “You’ve been bad for a very long time. It started as a child when you drowned your younger brother. You stole from an early age. Built your empire on the blood and sweat of others.”
“I’ve repented,” Carillo insisted. “I’m a changed man.”
“Repented?” Frieda scoffed. “Barely, and only because the doctors have told you you’re going to die. Lung cancer.” Frieda’s gaze focused on him as she coldly stated, “You fear death. You want to know what’s to come.”
“Am I going to Hell?” Carillo blubbered. “I’ve prayed. I’ve donated. I regret what I’ve done.”
“No, you don’t. If you were to be cured tomorrow, you would go back to being evil because that’s what you are. And when you die, you’re going to Hell, where you will burn in perpetuity for your sins. You will be tortured. You will never know peace. As it should be.” As Frieda spoke, her voice grew in strength and a strange wind gusted, lifting the ends of her hair.
“I’m sorry,” Carillo wailed.
“You will be,” Frieda intoned as the air around them went still.
The old man in the bed stiffened, and he cried out, “No.” Then nothing. Carillo’s eyes turned foggy. His body trembled. The occasional whimper left him.
Frieda suddenly slumped, and John barely managed to grab her before she hit the floor.
“What’s wrong with her?” Dina cried, dropping to her knees.
Seeing the magic swirling around the old man, John stated, “I do believe she exerted herself too much meting out his punishment.”
“What kind of punishment?” Dina frowned.
Given the way Carillo whimpered, John had an idea. “If I were to guess, she showed him the future he feared most. Him going to Hell for eternal torture.”
“Damn.” Dina sounded impressed.
Whereas Enyo stated, “Good. Fucker deserves it.”
“It wiped her out, though.” John swept Frieda into his arms as he stood. “She needs time to recover.”
“Let’s get her back to the hotel,” Enyo ordered.
He shook his head. “Not a good idea since we know it’s compromised. I worry we’ve been betrayed and others will come seeking.”
“Then where?” Enyo’s expression pinched with worry. “Does she need a doctor? She’s never fainted from using her powers before.”
“Because this ability is new,” John explained. “Whatever the portal unleashed expanded her power. She mentioned being overwhelmed by the number of visions bombarding her, and now it seems she might be able to see the past, not to mention project visions into others.”
“How come she didn’t say anything?” Dina complained.
“I don’t think she knew about the two latter, and as to the former, she probably didn’t want to burden you.”
“She told you, though,” Enyo pointed out.