Eyes of Ember (Imdalind Series #2)(79)

Looking at him right then, I could understand why he always fought, why he relished battle. It wasn’t a thirst for blood as Edmund would have me believe. It was pure desire to help, to be good, to protect. It was light.

“In a time far ahead, near the end of the world…” Flashes of war after war, all raged by man, filled the pillar of Black Water. I ached at seeing all the destruction humans had waged in such a raw way.

“…in a time when everything is changing and everything is new…”

The water showed us visions of my time and I watched Ilyan’s eyes bug out of his head at the sights of high-rise buildings, cars, and the everyday modern life he was being shown.

“…there will come a child.”

The same sight from my own vision flashed on the water – that of my Mother being handed an infant, me. My heart beat rapidly as I began to put it all together.

“A child, an infant, a child that we see. We see her when she’s born. We see her when she’s grown. We see her now, and we see her then.”

Visions of my childhood flashed through the water in quick succession, I recognized moments of triumph sprinkled through the many images of loss, pain, and anger that made up my childhood. Ilyan clutched his heart, his sadness at my life evident on his face. I had to look away as the images continued, each heartbreaking memory hurting more. But then, they began to change. I was smiling more. I was laughing. And I knew why. Each of these sights were when I was with Ryland. Even though he was never shown, I knew without a doubt he was there. My spirits soared thinking about him as he used to be, before the pain of his insistence that I break the Z?lství crushed my joy. I shook off the feeling, focusing on the smile that filled the water before it too began to fade.

“She is of The Chosen. Marked by the sign of the creature of fire, she has smoke in her eyes.”

More visions, they flashed by quickly showing us snippets of when I received my mark, my eyes before and after, of how I tried to hide the mark over the years. I reached up and covered my neck, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

“A Chosen Child just for you.” Their voices ricocheted through my head as the pillar showed a sight of Ilyan and me. His arms were entwined around me, his body soft against mine, his lips pressed firmly against my own.

“No,” I gasped silently. My stomach turning at the sight I was seeing. I had known from the beginning what was going to happen, but I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to accept what Cail and Ryland had said as truth.

The vision continued and I looked toward Ilyan, his hand extended longingly toward the passionate kiss we shared. I could see all the longing in his eyes. He had waited so long. This wasn’t supposed to happen, it wouldn’t happen. And yet, I was pained for him.

“For in this child is power, power beyond belief.”

The sight of our kiss faded to an image of me, strong magic flowing as I fought several Trpaslíks at the same time. I was shocked to see that I was winning.

“She is the most powerful. She will be The Siln?, the one who protects us all.”

The sights continued, one after another, of me fighting, my power prevailing. More often than not, Ilyan was by my side, his magic battling right beside me. The visions continued before ending with Ilyan defeating an unseen assailant, his arm wrapped around me securely. I recognized that one because it had already happened. It was from the night we fled the LaRues’ mansion, the night we failed to rescue Ryland.

“Her life is nothing but misery, for everything she touches is ash and in her heart is only pain.”

More images of my childhood. My heartbreak as my Father left. My pain as I was bullied through every year of school. My misery at finding my Mother dead, only to be thrown out of a window. I gasped as I saw my fall, the impact never shown, and the pain on my face heartbreaking.

“Only you can help her and fill her heart with love.”

They spoke as more sights filed through the water. I looked, expecting to see some startling way that Ilyan would make me love him, but all of these had happened. I felt my heart loosening toward him now as it had then. They showed Ilyan caring for me as I pined, holding me as I was minutes from death, tenderly making shoes for me, and holding me every night as I had cried. Seeing it from this angle, seeing his actions as I slept and screamed, changed my perspective. I saw the tears I never knew he shed over me, and the love he kept hidden.

“Only you can save her and keep her for her true purpose.”

A sight formed again of Ilyan gently laying me on the bed in the attic, his finger running along my jaw as I fell asleep. Showing him then lean down to kiss me. A forbidden kiss, a kiss I never felt. I gasped as I saw the action. I was angry, angry that he had kissed me, and yet... and yet...

“For you were born and you were bred only to protect her.”

More images of Ilyan and I floated past, his arms always around me, his body protecting me from those who would hurt me. Some I had lived through and some I had yet to experience.

“It is your future, Ilyan. Now is your time to see her. Then your place will be near her. It is your purpose to protect her. But beware, even as your heart longs for her, she will love another.”

My heart clenched as the sight replayed my first kiss with Ryland, our magic exploding as Ryland sealed himself to me, completing the Z?lství. This time it was not my turn for heartbreak. This time Ilyan reached longingly out, his voice calling out in disbelief. I could hear his heart break and it broke something inside of me too. I shook my head, basking in the memory of the kiss and not the trauma I was now facing.