A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Twenty-Five 

His shining eyes stared directly at me and I had to fight the urge to look behind to see if someone else was standing there. But no, I could feel the touch of his hand against my cheek, even the warmth emanating off his skin. This was real, he could see me.

“Aria…,” he said weakly.

“I’m here,” I replied.

I wasn’t sure how to react. I was still unnerved by the whole situation. All I could do was stare down at him confused and uncertain. Was this part of the vision or had something changed? “…Aria,” he called again. “Cai? Can you see me?”

I wrapped my fingers around the hand he was using to touch my cheek Maybe he was too weak to see me.

“.Aria.” 

I frowned at him. It was starting to feel more than just being unable to see me as he persisted i n trying to call out for me.

“Can’t you hear me? I’m right here.”

His eyes continued to bore into mine intensely before, finally, it was like he saw me. I watched as his expression changed to one of worry.

How could he be worried about me? He was the one who was dying.

“Aria… wake up.” “What....?” 

Wake… up? 

few tears had escaped my eyes. Had he actually not seen me as held laid dying then? Was it just a mesh of the two realities as they transitioned? It had already

to haunt m e… and then having to witness it for myself. I couldn’t do this anymore. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his torso, pulling him down towards me. He had to act quickly to use his arms to support himself so he didn‘t completely crush me during the sudden embrace. I didn’t care though. He couldn‘t have broken every bone in my body and it still wouldn’t have been enough. I cried into his chest, unable to process everything

knew that was his fate if nothing were to change, I didn‘t need to be reminded. This wasn’t like Myra where being able to see it happen in a vision had a real

for us both to sit up. My

“I’m sorry…,” I mumbled.

once or twice… or ten

the joking half–smile he gave

eyes were open the whole time.” I shook my head. “I’m fine now, really. I’m sorry for worrying you.” I did my

paled. If he took me to my mother then she would lock me up in the hospital for a few days in order to conduct extensive tests. And I could see I’d

Goddess mark,” I said slowly. “It

A flash of Cai‘s dying face came to mind and I shuddered. I couldn‘t tell him. If I told them then I would need to explain my rebirth

even if I did tell him about my past life, how could I even begin to explain what I’d seen? ‘O h, by the way, Cai, I saw your death.

finally. “I really am sorry. I hope that

and I could tell he wanted to ask me more questions. “Just… believe me when I tell you… I feel like this Goddess mark is

was living with visions of graphic murders and was now having to fight harder for my right to be left alone. Not to mention that, if I somehow didn’t get assassinated by someone before my coming of age, then it would need to be classed as a miracle. This mark prevented me from ever being able to run away or even to

but he finally agreed to leave it at that

even given me a new strict diet plan. I gave it to the cook at my house and told them to keep it quiet from my parents in exchange for a pay rise. Finally, a few days into my mandatory bed rest week, I was upstairs in my room when

an uneasy looking Lucy came walking in. I was confused about what she needed at first before I finally realised the date.

most of the things you’ve asked for, ” she