Life Lines

44: Hold Your Breath

Chapter Forty-Four

"And you're Natalie Abernathy." His smile turned a little condescending. "We've been waiting for you for a long time. Didn't your mother teach you it's impolite to keep people waiting?"

What was he getting at with that comment? As if my question triggered it, the room did the shimmering thing again and he chuckled, rubbing a hand across his chin.

"You are very persistent. I believe by now you should've discerned exactly what's happening."

"I'm seeing the future."

He nodded. "And living it. Its part of the package I'm afraid. Until you learn to control it, certain questions you ask concerning future events will be answered with the full 3D effect. I've been told the gift of the future is harder to handle than the gift of the past. Someone of weak stock wouldn't be able to handle such a burden."

I didn't like where this conversation was going. "What do you want?" And then the room started to shake again.

"You should really stop doing that. Learn to phrase things that don't involve the future. Try 'why are you here?' or 'is the reason for your visit important?' those always seemed to work well for the others."

"I'm not going to change the way I talk just because..."

"Then you'll get lost in the future and that's not what anyone wants. You'll learn to adapt. Although I have a feeling you'll be stubborn about it. Your mother was the same way."

"You knew my mother?"

He smiled. "See? You're learning already. Yes. I remember your mother quite well. I was saddened to hear of her passing. There aren't many neutral parties in the Elite world."

"Neutral? I thought she..."

At that moment, Kells popped out of the same set of shadows Janus had. Neither god seemed to be happy about the other's presence. In fact, Kells looked downright pissed that Janus was here talking to me.

"Ah. I was wondering how long it would take my friend's son to get here. I assume your timing has a meaning behind it."

"Just don't say anything you shouldn't. Actually," he moved around Janus and headed in my direction, "don't say anything at all."

"I was just trying to help. She's flashing through future tendrils faster than the last Time Particulars. You should really keep an eye on that and maybe have a chat with your προφήτης. He's going to cost you her and in my opinion it's always better to have the future on your side instead of the past." He turned back to me, that soft smile going back on his face. "If you want a test run, just ask Union to bring you home."

After that he disappeared back into the shadows where he came from. I stood still not because I was wondering what the hell had happened. No I was standing still because I was afraid I'd be sucked into the future again.

"Epiphany, are you...?"

"Don't!" I held up a hand in his direction. "Don't finish that question. That always starts it."

"Natalie!" Allie yelled while starting to bang on the door. "Are you..."

"Don't!" Cecil yelled at her. "Just...back off. Let me handle this."

"Let you handle this? Are you insane? You're not even in her life anymore!"

"Just..." There was a brief pause before his voice moved closer to the door. "Tally, open the door. I know what's going on, let me help you."