“No thanks,” I tell him. “I’d rather go back with Alex.”
Nicholas scowls at me and stomps off in the direction of the throne that sits a couple hundred feet away. Alex and I trail after him down a path of broken teal porcelain and past a translucent sheet of glass. Every once in a while, the sheet of glass flickers and an image of a woman flashes across it. She is doing different things each time; writing in a journal, crying in a street, dancing in a field.
“It’s how they keep an eye on the future,” Alex whispers in my ear. “The screen continuously shows them what’s going on.”
I nod as the image of the woman fades into a lake that ripples in the sunlight, and that’s how it stays until we reach the throne’s podium. Standing beside the throne, is a short, plump man with elf shoes and curly brown hair. Nicholas approaches him, says something in his ear and the little man nods before hurrying off through the grass.
Alex places his hand on the small of my back and says in a low tone, “And you need to be careful around Nicholas. He’s part faerie and he can’t be trusted.”
“Faerie,” I mouth with wide eyes. He looks normal, which makes me question how many people are just people? And how many are something else disguised as humans? Have I crossed paths with some of them and had just been too oblivious to notice?
We wait in silence until an elderly man materializes from behind the throne. He’s tall and lanky with pallid skin and shoulder-length grey hair. The silver shade of his robe matches his eyes and on the top of his hand is a circle wrapped around a “S.” I assume it’s the Foreseer’s mark, although, I haven’t spotted one on Nicholas.
Nicholas backs away from the throne and stands near the rim of the podium as the old man takes a seat in the throne. His thin fingers curl around the velvet armrests as he situates in the seat. “Welcome to the City of Crystal. I am Dyvinius, leader of the Foreseers.” He speaks in slow, monotone syllables. “I understand that you were able to use the Foreseers’ power to view a vision yesterday?”
I glance at Alex. What am I supposed to say? “I guess…”
“That’s wonderful.” Dyvinius drums his fingers. “I’m not sure if you know much about what a Foreseer does, or who we are, so I’ll explain because it really is the most magnificent thing,” he says and repositions the bottom of his robe so it’s covering his feet. “A Foreseer uses the energy of the Divination Crystal to see what’s going to happen. It helps us prepare the world for the future. Once a vision is read, it becomes permanent. There is no changing it.”
He should probably explain that to the Keepers, since they think differently. The bigger picture suddenly opens up before me like I’m finally looking past the light and witnessing a small part of my future. Through all the chaos, emotions and secrets unwinding, I’ve never taken the time to see what it all means when I connect everything. In the end, I’m the key to saving the world. I will always be the star first and Gemma second.
“When a person goes into their first vision, they usually don’t know what they’re doing,” Dyvinius continues. “Typically, a Foreseer’s ability is discovered before they see their first vision. Occasionally, someone does end up slipping through the radar undetected. Most of the time, we find them, but sometimes, we don’t.” His silver eyes target on me. “We have a tracking system that lets us know when there’s been an interference with the Divination Crystal. Now, it’s not necessarily bad, but the vision does need to be read correctly. Otherwise, it can alter the human world.” His face lights up and the wrinkles around his eyes multiply. He claps his hands and straightens up his shoulders. “And so, I’ve brought you down here to go into the vision again and read it correctly. That way, you can be trained as a Foreseer.”
My mouth droops to a frown. “Do I have to?”
Alex snags the back of my shirt and draws me back as he steps forward. “She can’t stay here right now. There are certain things that require her to stay with the Keepers at the moment.”
Dyvinius’s eyes glaze with ice. “And you are?”
“Alex Avery,” Alex responds, positioning himself in front of me so I have to peek over his shoulder just to see what is going on.
“Is there any relation to Stephan Avery?” Dyvinius questions.
Alex reaches behind him and slips his fingers through mine. “He’s my father.”
“Oh, I see.” Dyvinius frowns, displeased. “Tell me, Alex, what are the circumstances that are keeping Gemma with the Keepers?”
“I can’t answer that,” Alex says. “Like the Foreseers, the Keepers have certain things they have to keep to themselves.”
“Yes, but there are also laws we’re all supposed to follow and the law states that if a person is able to use the crystal ball to see a vision, then they have to be trained in the City of Crystal by the Foreseers.” His mouth sags and on his expressionless face, it looks alarming. “If Gemma doesn’t stay here, then she could alter the future by accident. Or get trapped inside a vision if she tries to enter one again. Untrained Foreseers are very dangerous.”
My heart races inside my chest. He’s going to make me stay.
“I understand that. I really do,” Alex reassures him, stroking the back of my hand. “But there has to be something we can work out.”
Dyvinius considers this, running his thin fingers along the jewel patterns on the armrest. “Hmmm… like, maybe a bargain?” A dark look arises on his face and his grin is very Cheshire Cat. “Perhaps we can work something out. If you make a promise that she will never use a crystal ball again until she is properly trained, then I don’t see why I can’t let her go back with the Keepers for a while.” He pauses. “Of course, after it’s all done, she’ll have to come back to get trained. Otherwise, I’ll have to have her make the promise, but I have a feeling you’d rather do that.”
Sensing something is wrong, I yank on Alex’s arm. “Alex, what will happen if you make the promise?”
He moves his hand away from mine. “I guess a promise can be arranged by me,” Alex says through clenched teeth.