Actually, only two seconds in, I realize it’s a vision and not a premonition because Jaidos is the first person I see.
A living Jaidos, not his dead body.
Visions and premonitions are similar. They both reveal events to me, events that I have no bearing in. Most do not directly relate to me at all.
The major difference is the timeline. Visions feature past events, while premonitions are about the future, what has yet to come to pass.
Normally, I don’t have this many visions and premonitions, but I’m drawn into this vision, watching it intently, hoping to be able to recall every detail once the vision fades.
Jaidos is in his office, signing a paper before turning to a tablet. A knock sounds at the door. It opens immediately, and a man waltzes in. I figure it's a safe assumption that he isn't a human, but he can pass for one easily. His hair is short, revealing non-pointy ears, so he's not an elf. His height is average, so he's not a dwarf. Normal skin coloring—a slight brown hue—means he's not a troll, ogre, goblin, or any of dozen others. A witch? A shifter? He could even be one of the merfolk.
The man stands before Jaidos’ desk with his hands clasped behind his back, his feet hip-width apart, which all lends him a militant air.
“Gerome,” Jaidos says without glancing up. He swipes his finger to the side twice before flicking it upward on his tablet. As incredibly detailed and vivid as this vision is, I can’t concentrate enough on the tablet to make out the screen. It’s incredibly frustrating, but I can’t even see if there are images or words on it.
"Jaidos," the man says. His voice is shockingly higher pitched than I expected, given his bulk. The more I look at Gerome, the more I notice his build. He is one strong man, regardless of his unknown magical abilities.
Jaidos ignores him.
As much as I'm certain this vision is hugely important, I can't help growing a bit impatient. What is the meaning of this meeting? Why am I being shown this?
No one knows where visions and premonitions come from, or at least I don't think anyone knows. I have a theory, though, one I haven't shared with anyone in case I'm wrong. I don't want to be laughed at, but I suspect that those graced with the ability to have visions do so because of nature. Nature itself has magic, and fairies, dryads too for that matter, can tap into nature's magic. I think nature is what gives us visions. None of the visions or premonitions I've ever had have been for trivial matters. All have had significant importance, and this one will too… eventually.
Gerome seems to share my impatience because he clears his throat.
Jaidos flickers his gaze upward and then back to his tablet. Another swipe of his finger and the dragon shifter leans back in his seat. “You are ready.”
“It would be easier to be ready if we knew the name.”
"The name almost doesn't even matter at this point, does it?" Jaidos' grin looks malicious, or maybe that's just me assigning hateful opinions on the man in regard to his very being, his words, his actions, and even his appearance. Petty, maybe, but I do not regret what I did.
Or maybe I do regret killing, and I’m trying to bury that feeling.
No! I am not going to backtrack now. No regrets. I did what needed to be done.
But what if that’s all Jaidos thought he was doing? That it needed to be done? Maybe he and his followers believe that it is only a matter of time before the humans learn about us, and they thought to speed up the timeline?
No. Their actions would have caused a war, and so many lives—both human and those of paranormal beings and creatures—would have been lost. I did what was best for the world by killing Jaidos.
But that act wasn't the best for my twin or me.
I swallow hard. Normally, I focus better on visions, but I can feel myself falling apart, fracturing, splintering. My feelings, my thoughts… I'm at war within myself, and for now, I need to table all of that so I can focus on the vision. And then afterward, I must remain strong, so I can work out how to save Sophie. Later, much later, then I can fall apart.
With renewed focus, I try to study the man so I could locate Gerome outside of the vision, in real life. He has a few dark freckles near his left eye, and a tiny scar in the shape of an irregular circle near his right nostril. His eyes are a little closer set than normal, his nose long but narrow. His lips are thin with almost no outline, his chin a bit weak.
“No, I suppose the name doesn’t matter,” Gerome says.
Jaidos grunts, sounding more than a little displeased. “If I say it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
He's not snapping, but he's not the nicest either. Is it just me, or does he seem agitated?
“Once you leave, you will have to be careful. This must be done correctly,” Jaidos stipulates.
“Of course.”
“If you want to use fists, fine, but leave no trace behind. No fibers, no hairs, nothing.”
If I were present in the vision, I would furrow my brow. What are they going on about?
“Would you prefer I use a gun?” Gerome asks.
"If that is what you wish, you may." Jaidos nods slowly. "It would be a good touch, now that I think about it. Let them think one of their own did it."
Their own? It sounds like Gerome is going to be used to kill someone.
Or execute someone.
Is Jaidos a part of HEX Unite? I guess that makes sense, given that his academy is training future hunters, slayers, and executioners. I just never thought about it before. Hmm. I'm not even sure who is the leader of HEX U. They're a fairly uptight organization, and not many outsiders know much. At least I think that's the case. Maybe I haven't paid enough attention because it doesn't affect me much. I haven't thought much about my future as far as a job, but I don't know if I want to go that route. Not after…
“Eventually, they will find out, but for now… Slow and steady wins the race.” Jaidos smiles cunningly. “They have that fable about the tortoise and the hare. It’s more of a dragon and a hare, don’t you think?”
“Without a doubt.” Gerome’s grin matches Jaidos’.
“Only the dragon isn’t slower than the hare and doesn’t give the hare a chance.” The dragon shifter flashes his teeth. “In fact, the dragon just eats the hare. All is fair when it comes to war.”
I would’ve shuddered if I could.
“Peter Anderson is his name,” Jaidos says. “Here is his address.”
He slides a sheet of paper across the desk. Gerome examines it for only a second, too quickly for me to see the words, and then he proceeds to toss it into the air.
Jaidos tilts back his head and blows out a puff of fire that incinerates the paper.
Wow. That's impressive. I killed that guy? Who just casually breathed fire while in his human form? It makes me wonder how I was able to take him down.
Maybe… No. That’s ridiculous, right?
But what if he wanted to die?
No. Who would want that? But if he did, then his death is going to set off a chain of reactions that I don't want.
Could I have killed Jaidos for nothing?
My mind is a terrible place right now, a wasteland that is barren of everything except for paranoia and fear.
If Jaidos wanted to die, then whatever happens happens. What’s done is done, and it’s impossible for the past to be changed, only the future.
Which makes having this vision all the more frustrating. I can’t stop it. Once a vision grips me, I have no ability to stop it. Maybe one day, I will learn how to control them more and end them when I wish, but for now, all I can do is just wait for this vision to end.
“Do you want to give me the next name? I can hunt more than one of these down at a time, no problem.” Gerome smiles.
I am chilled to the bone. He’s talking about hunting people down just because he’s being told to, but the light in his eyes reveals he enjoys this. To him, it’s a sport.
“I know this will be easy enough, but we need to do this slowly. Ease into it. We don’t have all of the pieces in place yet, and if we move too quickly, our actions might be discovered by those who oppose us.”
“The cowards,” Gerome hisses. I swear he’s frothing at the mouth. I’m surprised he doesn’t spit. From the way he drags out his “s,” I can’t help but wonder if he’s a snake shifter. I’ll have to keep an eye out for his tongue. Snake shifters often forget and accidentally retain their forked tongues.
“We are no cowards, but we are no fools either. For our plans to come to fruition, we need patience and precision. You will not fail me in either matter, will you, Gerome?”
“Of course not.”
“Good. You come highly recommended. Do not let me or your superiors down.”
“I only let down those who let me down.”
Jaidos places his hands on the desk. Without any other movement, he seems to take up so much more space in the office that I would want to take a step back if I were Gerome. The man doesn’t, but his Adam’s apple does bob from his swallowing.
“That wouldn’t be a threat, now, would it, Gerome? Because as easily as I gave you this job, I can take it away, and you know what else I would have to do if I did that, don’t you?”
“You don’t need to take it away from me,” Gerome says gruffly.
“Hmm. Maybe I should reconsider.”
“I’ll go and make you proud.” Gerome nods, turns on his toes, and marches out the door.
To my surprise, the vision doesn’t end. Instead, I’m stuck watching Jaidos tap on his tablet a few times. Then a ringing sound prevails throughout the room. He’s calling someone and on speaker. Thank you.
“Well?” a female asks.
“He will do it. Are you sure he will not make an error?”
“If he does, you will handle the clean up.”
Jaidos bares his teeth. “I think not.”
“Oh?” She sounds more amused than furious.
“I am the head of this endeavor.”
“Yes, yes, but without me, you will not have the necessary tools. Be thankful that I am providing them to you without wanting anything in return.”
“Nothing in return? Is that so? Because I do believe you were the one to suggest Peter Anderson to me in the first place.”
“Well, one of those needed to be the first sacrifice, yes?”
Sacrifice? But Gerome talked about hunting! I’m so confused.
“True enough, and it doesn’t matter which one. They’re all the same, so very weak. Could you imagine being born without magic?”
They continue to talk, but I can’t hear them anymore because of the realization of a terrible, dreadful truth. Peter Anderson isn’t a paranormal being after all. He’s a human.