The prophecy - Selena Rico (ereader iphone TXT) 📗
- Author: Selena Rico
Book online «The prophecy - Selena Rico (ereader iphone TXT) 📗». Author Selena Rico
looked up at me and as seconds ticked by a look crossed over his face. “Wait, you think I did that?” He got up, eyes flashing a color I could only describe as venomous. I noted, with a twinge of guilt, that he seemed utterly appalled.
“Can you blame me? No one would put it past you.” I explained defensively. “Besides, I’m sure you did it. Natasha said the cuts used the same magic that you used…that time.”
“Fine, check me.” He turned around, pulling his shirt off and showing me his bare back, with no cuts of any kind. Something else caught my attention. The intricate patterns lining his back had me tracing my fingers along his flesh. He shivered. “Are you done now? As much fun as this is, I’m freezing.”
“Theses tattoos…they’re in the same spot as my cuts.” I said. He scoffed, leaning away from my hands. Something in my stomach turned.
“That’s impossible.” He said facing me. I shrugged off my shirt again, showing him the now thin scratches along my back. “I have to go.” He said. I turned around.
“Wait Cayden!” I cried as I came face to face with the night air. I felt a stab at my chest as unwanted memories came rushing back at me. I hated Cayden and the effect he had on me, but mostly I hated myself, for wishing he hadn’t left me.
As the soreness of my back became a dull ache, I walked over to the old swing behind the oak tree. You would sit on the tire and three ropes would connect on a branch above you. I sat down; the tears I had really wanted to shed came forward. It was an exhausted kind of crying that had me bowing my head and wrapping my hand around the ropes on either side of me.
After a while I could sense Cayden’s presence again, watching me from a top the tree. He made no move toward me and I was glad. I didn’t want him near me when I was so vulnerable. If I didn’t see his face I could pretend this never happened. I could pretend I wasn’t crying and whispering stupid nothings about being tired and so very in love with him. I could pretend I didn’t just want to give up. I could and I would. When the tears finally stopped I got up, turning toward the tree. “Don’t say it Cayden. Please.” I could feel his breath on the back of my neck, but I didn’t turn.
“Just give in Temperance. Come to me and this would all be over.” He whispered and for a second I contemplated doing just that, but reality soon settled back into my mind. He was the enemy and the only reason I felt the way I did was because of the stupid prophecy. I couldn’t trust my heart around him and I wouldn’t.
“I refuse. Your kind is nothing, but liars and if I wasn’t bound to the word of my people I’d make sure you all got yours.” I spat at him and ran. I ran to my room, to where reality was simpler and less clouded with lust. I ran back to my family and all my prejudiced. I ran back because it was all I knew so sue me. I was comfortable in my ways. Everyone was.
Chapter 2
I examined myself in the mirror one last time, making sure my uniform didn’t break any of the schools dress codes. My long sleeve white button up shirt was pressed and placed neatly underneath my navy blue school jumper. It was a simple dress with inch thick straps and the school emblem staring proudly out at the world above the left breast in gold and black thread. The skirt pooled right beneath the breast and the bottom had a single gold and black strip an inch from where it fell, right above the knees. My slips on black buckle shoes were shined and the white socks were pulled to the middle of the shins. The schools black knit cardigan sweater was also pressed and worn, the school emblem in blue and gold thread. The black western string tie peaked from underneath the jumper and sweater. My platinum blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and tied with a gold bow.
Yes, I was dressed perfectly, following each guide line, but checked again and again and again until I heard a hesitant knock on her door. “Temperance, can I come in?” Lana called, hesitation dripping from her voice.
“It’s open.” I said, sitting down on my bed. Lana cracked the door, squeezing in and then locking the door behind her. “What is it Lana?”
She sat down next to me, her eyes boaring into mine. “Yesterday, when we were sharing energy…” She stopped.
“What about it?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I saw Temper! I saw what happened!” She cried. I fought off the panic that threatened to consume me. I frowned, choosing my words very carefully.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“When you were drinking from me, well our minds merged, like usual, but instead of hearing the singing or you leaving your house that morning, I saw him… trick you into the prophecy,” her voice took on an accusing tone, “and it was nothing like what you told the elders.”
I sighed, debating on what to tell her. “That’s because what I told the elders was a lie.”
“You lied?” She squeaked, her voice catching in her throat. I nodded. “Why?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but the loud ringing bell replaced my voice. “We’re going to be late.” I said instead, picking up my bag and pulling her out of the dorms. We remained quiet as we walked to our first class. Her question, I wasn’t sure how to answer. Why had I lied? At that moment it seemed easier to say than the truth, but that wasn’t my only reasoning. I was only thirteen after all.
We reached our first class room just as the late bell rung. “How great for you two to join us, girls, but I have a class to teach now.” Our philosophy teacher, Mr. Horton said and forced us toward the last two available seats in the front row. As Mr. Horton turned his back on us I turned to Lana.
“Do you think the elders would allow us to live as we do if I had told the truth?” I murmured. Mr. Horton clapped, forcing our attention back to him.
“Welcome young ones, to philosophy 101 and for all our future juveniles, this is also the detention room.” He said, writing nearly every word he wrote on the black board. “Because today is our first day and by law I’m ordered to teach you I’ve decided to start out with something fun, the easiest of all the branches of Philosophy ethics. Today we’ll be using applied ethics to debate certain controversial topics. Now, which one of you tortured young ones know what ethics are?”
A girl, I believed to be named Madison spoke up. “Isn’t it the difference between right and wrong.” She asked.
“In a sense, but that’s just scratching the surface of this interesting subject. Ethics is a moral philosophy which is concerned primarily with the question of the best way to live, and secondarily, concerning the question of whether this question can be answered. The main branches of ethics are Meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Meta-ethics concerns the nature of ethical thought, an example would be the origins of the words good and bad, and the origins of other similar words of various ethical systems, whether there are absolutely true, and how such truths could be known. Normative ethics are more concerned with the questions of how one should act, and what the right course of action is. This is where most ethical theories are generated. Now we get to the fun part. Applied ethics go beyond theory and step into real world problems like questions of whether or not abortion should be legal and whether it is morally right. After all, Ethics are closely associated with the idea of morality.” He looked out at the confused faces of his students. “Anyway, today we’ll be combining all three. I’d like you all to divide into two groups. This will be, basically, good and bad. Then I’d like each side to divide into three groups and pair with a group from an opposite side. When you’ve done that come to me and you’ll be given your topic. Instructions will further from there.” He urged us on as we followed his instructions.
My group had five people, Lana, Camilla, Elizah, Elijah and I. The other half was another group of male twins, Marshall and Matthew. Then there was Jinx and Mikhail. Lastly, smack in the middle, was Cayden. Ignoring my new found annoyance, we were given our topic. “Gothic romance: Virginal maiden? What a crap topic.” Camilla blurted, earning us a death glare from the teacher.
“I don’t know, I think it’s pretty good.” Elijah said, eyeing his sister. I frowned. What was going on there? A familiar voice snapped me out of my wandering.
“At first, but after a while doesn’t she just seem kind of boring?” Lana interjected. I nodded. I never really liked those characters.
“Not if they can keep your attention.” Cayden defended eyes boaring into the side of my face.
“So I say we do pros of the virgin and you guys do the cons.” I said, filling out the worksheet we had gotten. “Cons should be presented first and then the pros.”
“Why?” Lana asked.
“So we don’t end up breaking apart some V status couples.” I replied handing the worksheet around to make sure we all had our input down. “The last thing I need on my conscience is a wounded virgin.” Camilla chuckled.
“You say that like you’re not one.” Camilla teased. “Like every girl in this group isn’t. But you’re right, as perceptive as usual.” I bit my lip, turning away from my oblivious cousin.
“Anyway,” Lana chimed in, “We should separate and then regroup a few minutes before presentation.” We all agreed. The rest of first period was filled with fun and jokes about blonde haired blue eyed princesses living deep in the forest and conversing with tiny woodland creatures.
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Imprint
“Can you blame me? No one would put it past you.” I explained defensively. “Besides, I’m sure you did it. Natasha said the cuts used the same magic that you used…that time.”
“Fine, check me.” He turned around, pulling his shirt off and showing me his bare back, with no cuts of any kind. Something else caught my attention. The intricate patterns lining his back had me tracing my fingers along his flesh. He shivered. “Are you done now? As much fun as this is, I’m freezing.”
“Theses tattoos…they’re in the same spot as my cuts.” I said. He scoffed, leaning away from my hands. Something in my stomach turned.
“That’s impossible.” He said facing me. I shrugged off my shirt again, showing him the now thin scratches along my back. “I have to go.” He said. I turned around.
“Wait Cayden!” I cried as I came face to face with the night air. I felt a stab at my chest as unwanted memories came rushing back at me. I hated Cayden and the effect he had on me, but mostly I hated myself, for wishing he hadn’t left me.
As the soreness of my back became a dull ache, I walked over to the old swing behind the oak tree. You would sit on the tire and three ropes would connect on a branch above you. I sat down; the tears I had really wanted to shed came forward. It was an exhausted kind of crying that had me bowing my head and wrapping my hand around the ropes on either side of me.
After a while I could sense Cayden’s presence again, watching me from a top the tree. He made no move toward me and I was glad. I didn’t want him near me when I was so vulnerable. If I didn’t see his face I could pretend this never happened. I could pretend I wasn’t crying and whispering stupid nothings about being tired and so very in love with him. I could pretend I didn’t just want to give up. I could and I would. When the tears finally stopped I got up, turning toward the tree. “Don’t say it Cayden. Please.” I could feel his breath on the back of my neck, but I didn’t turn.
“Just give in Temperance. Come to me and this would all be over.” He whispered and for a second I contemplated doing just that, but reality soon settled back into my mind. He was the enemy and the only reason I felt the way I did was because of the stupid prophecy. I couldn’t trust my heart around him and I wouldn’t.
“I refuse. Your kind is nothing, but liars and if I wasn’t bound to the word of my people I’d make sure you all got yours.” I spat at him and ran. I ran to my room, to where reality was simpler and less clouded with lust. I ran back to my family and all my prejudiced. I ran back because it was all I knew so sue me. I was comfortable in my ways. Everyone was.
Chapter 2
I examined myself in the mirror one last time, making sure my uniform didn’t break any of the schools dress codes. My long sleeve white button up shirt was pressed and placed neatly underneath my navy blue school jumper. It was a simple dress with inch thick straps and the school emblem staring proudly out at the world above the left breast in gold and black thread. The skirt pooled right beneath the breast and the bottom had a single gold and black strip an inch from where it fell, right above the knees. My slips on black buckle shoes were shined and the white socks were pulled to the middle of the shins. The schools black knit cardigan sweater was also pressed and worn, the school emblem in blue and gold thread. The black western string tie peaked from underneath the jumper and sweater. My platinum blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and tied with a gold bow.
Yes, I was dressed perfectly, following each guide line, but checked again and again and again until I heard a hesitant knock on her door. “Temperance, can I come in?” Lana called, hesitation dripping from her voice.
“It’s open.” I said, sitting down on my bed. Lana cracked the door, squeezing in and then locking the door behind her. “What is it Lana?”
She sat down next to me, her eyes boaring into mine. “Yesterday, when we were sharing energy…” She stopped.
“What about it?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I saw Temper! I saw what happened!” She cried. I fought off the panic that threatened to consume me. I frowned, choosing my words very carefully.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“When you were drinking from me, well our minds merged, like usual, but instead of hearing the singing or you leaving your house that morning, I saw him… trick you into the prophecy,” her voice took on an accusing tone, “and it was nothing like what you told the elders.”
I sighed, debating on what to tell her. “That’s because what I told the elders was a lie.”
“You lied?” She squeaked, her voice catching in her throat. I nodded. “Why?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but the loud ringing bell replaced my voice. “We’re going to be late.” I said instead, picking up my bag and pulling her out of the dorms. We remained quiet as we walked to our first class. Her question, I wasn’t sure how to answer. Why had I lied? At that moment it seemed easier to say than the truth, but that wasn’t my only reasoning. I was only thirteen after all.
We reached our first class room just as the late bell rung. “How great for you two to join us, girls, but I have a class to teach now.” Our philosophy teacher, Mr. Horton said and forced us toward the last two available seats in the front row. As Mr. Horton turned his back on us I turned to Lana.
“Do you think the elders would allow us to live as we do if I had told the truth?” I murmured. Mr. Horton clapped, forcing our attention back to him.
“Welcome young ones, to philosophy 101 and for all our future juveniles, this is also the detention room.” He said, writing nearly every word he wrote on the black board. “Because today is our first day and by law I’m ordered to teach you I’ve decided to start out with something fun, the easiest of all the branches of Philosophy ethics. Today we’ll be using applied ethics to debate certain controversial topics. Now, which one of you tortured young ones know what ethics are?”
A girl, I believed to be named Madison spoke up. “Isn’t it the difference between right and wrong.” She asked.
“In a sense, but that’s just scratching the surface of this interesting subject. Ethics is a moral philosophy which is concerned primarily with the question of the best way to live, and secondarily, concerning the question of whether this question can be answered. The main branches of ethics are Meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. Meta-ethics concerns the nature of ethical thought, an example would be the origins of the words good and bad, and the origins of other similar words of various ethical systems, whether there are absolutely true, and how such truths could be known. Normative ethics are more concerned with the questions of how one should act, and what the right course of action is. This is where most ethical theories are generated. Now we get to the fun part. Applied ethics go beyond theory and step into real world problems like questions of whether or not abortion should be legal and whether it is morally right. After all, Ethics are closely associated with the idea of morality.” He looked out at the confused faces of his students. “Anyway, today we’ll be combining all three. I’d like you all to divide into two groups. This will be, basically, good and bad. Then I’d like each side to divide into three groups and pair with a group from an opposite side. When you’ve done that come to me and you’ll be given your topic. Instructions will further from there.” He urged us on as we followed his instructions.
My group had five people, Lana, Camilla, Elizah, Elijah and I. The other half was another group of male twins, Marshall and Matthew. Then there was Jinx and Mikhail. Lastly, smack in the middle, was Cayden. Ignoring my new found annoyance, we were given our topic. “Gothic romance: Virginal maiden? What a crap topic.” Camilla blurted, earning us a death glare from the teacher.
“I don’t know, I think it’s pretty good.” Elijah said, eyeing his sister. I frowned. What was going on there? A familiar voice snapped me out of my wandering.
“At first, but after a while doesn’t she just seem kind of boring?” Lana interjected. I nodded. I never really liked those characters.
“Not if they can keep your attention.” Cayden defended eyes boaring into the side of my face.
“So I say we do pros of the virgin and you guys do the cons.” I said, filling out the worksheet we had gotten. “Cons should be presented first and then the pros.”
“Why?” Lana asked.
“So we don’t end up breaking apart some V status couples.” I replied handing the worksheet around to make sure we all had our input down. “The last thing I need on my conscience is a wounded virgin.” Camilla chuckled.
“You say that like you’re not one.” Camilla teased. “Like every girl in this group isn’t. But you’re right, as perceptive as usual.” I bit my lip, turning away from my oblivious cousin.
“Anyway,” Lana chimed in, “We should separate and then regroup a few minutes before presentation.” We all agreed. The rest of first period was filled with fun and jokes about blonde haired blue eyed princesses living deep in the forest and conversing with tiny woodland creatures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imprint
Publication Date: 08-18-2011
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