Chapter 67 - The Prophecy Unfolds

Violet.

Still deep in the world between sleep and wake I began to feel warm… almost too warm. I rubbed my arms as if that could take away the warmth of the room brought on by the bright light overhead. The image on the screen swirled and I squinted, trying to make it out. Laughter echoed around me, a familiar sound but strangely muffled. I saw myself in a hallway at Weber High, students weaving around me on their way to class while I stood stock still.

"Isn't he gorgeous?" a voice whispered next to me. I turned, searching for the speaker, but everything seemed blurry. My backpack felt heavy, the straps digging into my shoulders. "Who's he?" I fumbled with the words, my voice thick and sluggish.

"Come on, Vi," another voice said, tinged with exasperation. "It's David. You know, the one with the halo hair?"

Halo hair? I blinked, trying to focus. In the distance, a group of boys stood by the lockers. One of them, with dark hair that seemed to catch the light in an uncanny way, threw his head back and laughed. The sound sent a jolt through me, a jolt that felt strangely familiar, like a memory half-forgotten.

A warmth bloomed in my chest, a nervous flutter. My cheeks felt hot, and I could feel myself fidgeting with the strap of my backpack. I wanted to get closer, to hear what they were talking about, but something held me back. Fear, maybe? Or maybe just the sheer force of all those bodies packed into the hallway.

Suddenly, the cafeteria bell clanged, shattering the dream. The warmth on my skin intensified, turning to a searing heat…

I was in the cafeteria and there he was. David Madden. He was sitting at a table with his friends, animatedly discussing something. I clutched my lunch tray tightly and took a deep breath.

"Hey, Sam," I said quietly, nudging her with my elbow. "Is there any chance we could sit near David's table?"

Sam raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

We found a spot two tables away from him. As I sat down, the smell of pizza and fries filled the air. I tried to focus on eating but kept sneaking glances at David. His laughter was contagious and filled the room with energy.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked past our table without even glancing in my direction. My heart sank a little.

"Violet, you're going to have to talk to him if you want him to notice you," Sam said with a smirk. "Though I'm not sure why you would bother. He's really not worth your time."

I sighed and looked down at my uneaten food. "Yeah…" I said thinking she had the wrong of it and that it was the other way around. "Maybe… but I want to. There is just something about him."

Later that week, I saw him again in the school library. He was sitting at a table by the window, flipping through a thick textbook. The sunlight streamed in behind him making him seem ethereal.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to a nearby shelf and pretended to look for a book. My fingers traced over the spines of various novels as I stole glances at David.

"Can I help you find something?" asked Mrs. Sorenson, the librarian.

Startled, I jumped slightly and turned to her with wide eyes. "Oh, um... no thank you," I stammered.

David looked up briefly at the sound of our voices but then returned to his book without noticing me.

Feeling deflated, I picked out a random book and sat down at a table across from him. The scent of old pages filled my nose as I opened it and pretended to read while watching David from the corner of my eye.

As he got up to leave, he brushed past me again without so much as a glance in my direction. My heart felt heavy with disappointment.

That evening at home, I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above me. "Why won't he notice me?" I muttered to myself.

The next day during gym class, we were playing soccer outside on the field. The crisp autumn air smelled like freshly cut grass and leaves crunching underfoot. My heart raced when I saw David jogging onto the field with his team.

"Okay everyone," the football coach called out, "let's split into teams!"

I found myself on the opposing team from David's. As we started playing, I couldn't help but watch him move gracefully across the field with ease and confidence.

At one point during the game, David ran past me effortlessly before scoring a goal for his team. Our eyes met briefly as he ran back to his teammates cheering loudly; for just one second it seemed like he noticed me – but then he turned away again without acknowledging me further…

Then there was Javid, leaning against the frame of my bedroom with a casual confidence. His dark blue eyes centered on me. He smiled and walked over.

"Hey, Violet," he said smoothly, his voice low and warm. "Joyce has the TV on some DIY program. Mind if I sit with you? "

I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up. He slid into the seat next to me, his arm brushing mine lightly. The scent of him — cloves and pine, spicy and woodsy—filled the air around us.

"What's got you so focused?" he asked, glancing at my open notebook.

"Just homework," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

He leaned closer, peering at my notes. "Need any help?"

I didn't, but I didn't want him to leave either. "Yeah sure, what do you know about ancient Roman government?"

I watched him as he talked. Couldn't take my eyes off him really. Being so close to him was both comforting and electrifying. He was different than David. Not that I should compare apples and oranges. He was softer… more caring. He wanted to listen to me and he cared what I had to say. We spent the rest of the evening debating laws enacted thousands of years ago and exchanging whispers and quiet laughs…

The colors spun together and then flattened out.

I was sitting alone on the weathered porch in the backyard, sipping iced tea while I read a book. Sam had… left us, and I was trying to distract myself from thinking about her.

I heard the back door open and someone hesitated before walking over.

"Mind if I join you?" Javid asked softly.

I looked up from my book and smiled as the butterflies in my stomach danced. "Not at all."

He sat down beside me, watching me read. It was a comforting silence with the only sound being a distant rumble of a car or a soft bark of a neighborhood dog.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

I held up the book so he could see the cover. "It's a romance novel," I said. "Pretty gripping."

He laughed, and I loved the sound of it.

"Joyce and I went shopping, I got you something." He handed me a small paper bag.

Curious, I opened it to find my favorite type of cookies, chocolate chip, inside. "How did you know?" I asked, surprised and touched.

"I pay attention," he said simply with a shrug.

We shared the cookies and just talked about anything and everything. I knew what he was doing. It was the reason I was out here reading. To take my mind off of Sam, but Javid was doing a much better job of it than I ever could…

Like frames on an old film reel, the memory flickered and jumped to a different moment in time…

David and I sat in his car, waiting for Javid. The air was tense and thick, making it hard to breathe. David's hands were tightly gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

"Why does he always take so long?" David grumbled, glaring at the rearview mirror.

I looked out the window and shrugged. "Maybe he's just talking to Samuel about something important."

David scoffed. "Important? Right. Like what? How to kiss you better than me?"

I stayed quiet, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. After all, I was their mate and we all knew eventually that I would have to kiss both of them. There was nothing wrong with that.

David turned to look at me, his gaze sharp and piercing. "So... does he kiss you better than me?"

Heat crept up my cheeks, but I refused to give in to David's insecurities. "That's not fair and you know it. Just drop it, please."

He let out a bitter laugh. "Sure, sure. No worries, fam. I know that you two have sooo much in common." His tone, suddenly turned dramatic, causing me to fight back a giggle I would've let out if I hadn't recognized that the conversation was only going downhill.

David continued on, his forearms tensed with anger, veins popping out left and right. I was half afraid he would shift in the car and turn to me, snarling and snapping. "Just admit it. You like him better than me because he's me but softer, gentler. Girls always fall for that bookish crap."

My heart pounded in my chest. "He's your brother, David. Can't we all just get along?"

David's jaw tightened. "It's easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to watch his brother make moves on his mate."

I reached out and touched his arm softly. "David, please. You and Javid are my mates. I accept that. Why can't you?"

He pulled away from my touch, staring straight ahead. "You were mine first. You kissed me first. Sometimes I gotta wonder …"

My heart rate sped up, causing my voice to squeak as I spoke. "What do you wonder?"

"I sometimes gotta wonder if you lowkey enjoy being the one causing problems between me and my bro."

His words stung like a slap to the face. 'Bad news Violet strikes again.'

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. "How can you say that?"

He didn't answer, just kept staring at the dashboard like it held all the answers.

Just then, Javid came back and opened the car door, sliding into the back seat with a big smile on his face. "Hey guys! Sorry for the wait."

No one answered as David started the engine without a word.

Javid looked between us, confused. "Did I miss something?"

I forced a smile and shook my head. "No, it's fine."

But it wasn't fine. David's words echoed in my mind long after we drove away from that parking lot.

As we rode in silence, I knew I had forgiven him for what he said, but forgetting would take much longer than that drive home…

The room went dark, pitch black and voice that was everywhere and nowhere at once boomed:

“Whanne selfsame scent entwines,

Twin flames, a power yet unseen,

One heart, one magic, fate's decree keen.

'Neath moonlit skies, two flames ignite,

Twin Coniunctae born, with power to take flight.

Together, kings of magic's hold,

But destiny's thread, with malice unfolds.

A jealous hand, in shadows deep,

Seeks to divide, their slumber doth reap.

One steadfast heart, the other shall stray,

A witch of violet, must choose the way.

A sacrifice made, a love set free,

To bind the one, for victory's decree.

United, light banishes night,

Divided, darkness swallows light.

The room grew brighter and a shimmer caught my attention. It was my father, Thaddeus Grimualt, the man from my vision with Sam. His gaze held so much love for me, it almost overwhelmed me.

"Violet," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "You have become such a strong and capable woman. Your mother and I are both proud of you."

A glimmer of hope sparked within me at the mention of my mother. My heart ached to see her again.

"She's with you?" I asked eagerly. But then my father's expression turned sorrowful and my heart sank.

"Yes, we are together now," he replied sadly. "I know you have been through so much in your life, but that has made you into someone who can wield their power wisely. You must not let yourself be consumed by the thirst for more."

His words struck a chord deep within me, reminding me of the dangers of being too powerful. But then his tone shifted, and he spoke of the prophecy and what it actually meant.

"David and Javid will become the most powerful warlocks in history if they work together," he continued gravely. "But there is a dark force trying to tear them apart. You must choose one as your first, the other you must let go. No matter what, they must unite and fight together. Choose wrongly and our magical community will suffer."

The vision that came with his words was something my eyes could never unsee. All those I cared about, and Jasmine too, were writhing in agony and blood… so much blood. The entire town of Weber Falls was under attack. So many had fallen or were near death…

I woke up, screaming. Javid was there holding me, bringing me down from that awful scene. My mind spun with all the information, conflicting thoughts vying for control.

And as I breathed in his comforting scent, I knew what I had to do.