Page 75 of Professor and the Seer
“Didn’t I?” I taunted. “Or did it not occur to you that maybe, just maybe, I wanted to be here?”
“Look at you, being dishonest” she chided. “We both know you didn’t want to come. Especially since it cost the life of your lover.”
The reminder she’d sent someone to callously kill John clenched my fists, but I kept my tone light. “I saw his death decades before it happened. Just like I see you not sitting on this throne for long.”
“Liar!” She stood, agitation tensing her body. I noticed that the opulence of her gown and crown didn’t extend to other accoutrements. She wore dull metal bands around her arms, two on her left, another on the right, and one around her neck.
“What’s wrong, Ari?” I intentionally shortened her name. “Afraid you’ll soon have to pay for your betrayal?”
“I paid my dues to the goddess of deceit to get what I deserved.”
“Deserved?” I scoffed. “You stole Typhon’s powers. Fucked over your own husband. If you ask me, the only thing you deserve is a long, grueling death for being such a cunt bitch.” It should be known, as a feminist, I usually abhorred such crude name-calling, but in this case, I wanted to agitate Ariadne. Had to keep her focused on me because, while I didn’t have a vision, I did have a feeling.
My sisters are nearby.
“Speaking of stealing…” She held up a bracelet, ugly and plain. “My last seer died, not that she was very good. She went mad very quickly and threw herself off the edge of the mountain. Fear not, though. I’ll make sure you’re never let loose to do the same.” She stood and came down the steps.
“You want my powers?” I wanted to laugh. “Go ahead. Take them. They’ve caused me nothing but misery.” I held out my hand. “Do it. See what it’s like to never have a moment of peace.”
My willingness paused her before she descended the last step.
“What’s wrong? Afraid you’ll see how many ways you’re going to lose? Ever lived through your own torture? Times a hundred?” My wicked grin widened. “Come on, Ari. Take it. Take my so-called gift. You’d be doing me a favor.”
She hesitated, and I almost laughed.
“You see something,” she finally stated.
“Actually, I don’t. Whatever you did to this place has made it so it has no future to show.”
“Because, for protection, I’ve shielded it against all magic but my own.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Neat trick. Very relaxing.”
“Not for long. Let’s find out what you see, prophetess.” With that, whatever shield she had in place dropped, and I hit the floor hard on my knees as I got smacked with dozens, hundreds, thousands of futures.
But only one made me smile and say, “Boy did you fuck with the wrong sisters.”
23
John
John never aspired to be a hero.
Until he met Frieda.
For her, he struck a bargain with Reaper, even as he didn’t trust the weird dude who’d yet to give them a real name. After all, their missions aligned. Save Frieda. Although Reaper didn’t have much to add to what they already knew.
“She’s being held prisoner. Bait to bring you both,” Reaper had stated, eyeing Enyo and Dina.
“And? If you’re going to convince us to stay behind, you’re wasting breath,” Enyo said firmly.
“On the contrary. You must go. You are the only ones who can put a stop to her.”
“Her who?” Dina had asked. “Like, does this enemy have a name?”
“Ariadne. But I hear she prefers the title of Empress.”
At that, Dina snickered. “Wow, someone’s got dreams of grandeur.”