Page 12 of Destined Dawn

“The memory belonged to my aunt. I was right all along. She left a message for me.”

Tristan shifts on his seat. “What did she say in this message?”

“She confirmed my mom was a seer. And she said my mom had a vision about me.”

The room is quiet and I can hear eight hearts beat in unison.

“Did she tell you what your mom saw?”

I nod my head and pull a face. “My mom saw that I was the girl from the Fourth Prophecy and that is why I had to be kept hidden. To keep me safe.” I glance up at them all, that anger threatening to boil away inside me again. “I mean what does that even mean? More fucking riddles!”

“TheFourthProphecy?” Azlan asks, peering towards his friend.

I frown. Let me guess. They all know about this prophecy and I’m the only one who doesn’t. Sur-fucking-prise.

“Do you know of any prophecy, Phoenix?”

The professor strokes his beard. “There are several prophecies. Only one I can think of relates to a woman.”

“Humph,” I snort. Why does that not surprise me?

“The prophecy is unclear, though – its interpretation open to debate. Scholars have argued as to its meaning for centuries.”

This time Winnie snorts. “It is not. It’s really obvious what it means.”

Stone rolls his eyes. “In that case, please feel free to enlighten us, Miss Wence? What have other learned scholars missed that is so blatantly obvious?”

“You’re all clever people,” she glances at Renzo, “well, most of you.” He shrugs. “I think you all know what the prophecy means.”

“I don’t even know about some fucking prophecy,” Spencer mumbles.

“Me neither,” I say.

“There were six prophecies collected during ancient times, preserved and guarded. Three, it is said, have already been fulfilled. Three remain. Of those, only one relates to a woman. It foretells the second coming of Queen Æðelflæd.”

“According to Miss Wence.”

I shake my head. “What do you mean?”

Stone sighs. “There is a belief among some that Queen Æðelflæd and her fated mates weren’t simply fairytale figures, that they were real magicals, that their story was true. And there are some who believe that she will return with her mates one day to reclaim her crown.”

“And you think that’s me?” I say, pointing to my chest.

“Yes,” Winnie says, nodding her head.

“We don’t even know that’s what the prophecy means,” Stone mutters.

“What exactly did your mom see?” Azlan asks me.

“My aunt didn’t say exactly.” I chew the inside of my cheek, thoughts spinning in my head. “She just said my mom saw that I would prove to be the girl in the Fourth Prophecy and that would put me in danger.”

“Of course it fucking would,” Tristan says, standing suddenly so that his chair tumbles to the floor. “My dad already considers you a threat just because there are rumors about you. If he learns you’re some girl from a prophecy, he’s going to be determined to eliminate you. He won’t stop until he’s hunted you down.”

“Because you are destined to change things for us all, Rhi,” Winnie says with such certainty it scares me.

“By becoming some queen?” I say, laughing. “I’m no leader. Winnie, you can’t be serious?”

“I am, Rhi. You’re different. Special. You know you are.”