Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
I swallowed.
“Then, I see visions of Paolo. He is an orphan again. Alone and vulnerable, his life is full of pain.” She closed her eyes. “Paolo stiffens himself, shuts his heart off from love. In his adulthood, he chooses a life of leadership and gains insurmountable power. History shudders at the atrocities he commits. Civilizations end because of him. Nations drown in rivers of blood.”
“What?” I shook my head. “I don't ever want that for him or this world.”
Kaz frowned. “And the other location?”
I shake my head. “Really, Kaz? Can we just take a minute to—”
“I want my mouse safe. At no moment will I waver on that.” Kaz pointed to her. “What is the next location? And how does that play out for my mouse and son?”
“The next location is a beach.” Baba's face returned to that sad smile. “Emily sits with Fela and talks. Although many Russian guns are aimed at his head, no one shoots.”
Kaz narrowed his eyes at her. “And are there bombs?”
“No bombs, lion. No deaths of your people.”
“I do not care about my people.” Kaz gritted his teeth. “I care about my mouse and unborn son.”
She let out a long breath. “They will be safe too, but. . .”
A chill ran down my spine. “But?”
“Darkness comes.”
“What darkness?” I fisted my hands in my lap.
“That is when the visions get foggy, Emily.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I need to understand what you mean. You saw something.”
“I should not say anymore.”
I eyed her suspiciously. “Then, you did see something?”
“What I have said should calm you a little.” She reached her hand out to touch me.
I didn't take her hand. “I don't want any darkness coming.”
“But at least you and your son will be safe as well as everyone else.”
Worry laced Kaz's voice. “What do you mean the darkness comes?”
Baba shook her head. “Already, I am saying too much.”
Kaz hit the table. “Say more!”
David eyed him. “Kazimir, this is a very tricky situation for my grandmother. If she is choosing to hold back, then she wants to maintain a particular timeline for us all.”
Baba nodded. “I do not see any other way around this. The darkness surely is a better option than everyone dying and Paolo becoming some psychotic blood-driven dictator.”
Kaz rose almost knocking the chair over. “Enough about Paolo. What about Emily?”
Baba stared at her hands. “All the visions for Emily fade into darkness at a certain point. . .yet she is alive.”
I gulped fear. “What about Fela? Does he die?”
Baba nodded. “Italy ends, but. . .other things begin.”
Those words shoved me on edge.
She exhaled and put her view on Kaz. “And I must make this one thing clear. Boris must remain alive.”
A dark grumble left Kaz.
Baba continued, “He is Emily's Ace, and will be helpful with protecting her and Maxwell.”
I scowled his way. “What? You weren't going to touch Boris? Right?”
Kaz crossed his arms over his chest. “I was not going to kill him. Not intentionally.”
Jesus Christ.
I put my view back on Baba.
She gazed at Kaz like a disapproving child. “I saw otherwise in my visions—”
“Oh. You saw that vision, but cannot see what truly matters?”
Baba pointed at him. “Boris remains alive and untouched, or the darkness thickens to an unerasable black that none of us can hide from.”
I clenched my hands. “What darkness? Where is it coming from? And how can we stop it?”
Baba pursed her lips.
Kaz stepped closer to the table. “Why do I feel like you are holding things from us, Baba?”
I nodded. “I agree with Kaz. You say that you can't see people's futures when you love them. Next, you give us insight into Paolo's future. Don't you love him too?”
Baba's gaze remained fixed on her hands. “After Fela's demise, there will be nothing for me to see for a while.”
Kaz sneered. “Why not? Enough with these bullshit reasons. What are you not saying?”
David came close to the table and stood by his grandmother's side as if trying to shield her from Kazimir.
Still not looking our way, Baba shook her head. “I cannot say too much—”
“Bullshit!” Kaz hit the table again. “We came to you for a reading and all we are getting is half-lies, riddles, and excuses.”
Baba moved her view to me. “Your future is clouded, Emily.”
“How?”
“If I say too much, you may change things and everything turns horrible.”
“Baba, I asked for the truth and the truth is that you're keeping things from me.” I pushed back from the table and got up. “I don't like this feeling. With all the things we have been through, can you do better than this for me?”
In an instant, she stood. “I am doing what is best for you. Please, trust me, Emily.”
“How is hiding things good for me?”
“So far, you have had a very emotional journey and. . .you are only stepping onto the truth path. You are a shattered mirror. It is time to mend those cracks.”