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158- Panic and passing out
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2024-05-15 00:00:52I should have known better than to hope I would actually get some rest. I donโt think I even remember anymore what it's like to just have a regular dream. Instead Iโm stuck in these nightmarish visions of Kiara. The only thing that makes them even remotely bearable is my hope that they will provide some kind of useful information which I can use to find and rescue her. The moment I see the look of dread on Kiaraโs face, I know that tonight is going to be another bad night. There is nothing I can do to help her right now other than sit through it with her. Maybe if I focus hard enough she will feel it somehow, the same way I can feel her. I just wish I could tell her that she isnโt alone, that there are people looking for her. Tonight is one of the worst nights, because rather than screaming, crying or fighting, Kiara looks like she is begging. The way she drops to her knees and grabs out, it looks like she is tugging on someoneโs hand or clothes. Even worse is when she falls backwar
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Strings of Fateย ย ย 159- Lectures and letting go
Bellamy answers the door and leads what has to be the smallest Shifter woman I have ever seen, through to his office. I follow along and make myself comfortable in my usual recliner. Bellamy sits behind his desk and gestures for the tiny woman to take a seat across from him. She glances curiously at me and Bellamy notices her eyes drifting towards me.โShelly, this is my friend Ryann. Ryann, this is Shelly.โ He waits as I give an awkward little wave and Shelly gives a half smile.โRyann is here because it might be a little more comfortable for you if there is another woman present and my sister is currently unavailable.โ Bellamy explains my presence. Shellyโs eyebrows fly up and she considers me for a moment before turning back to Bellamy. โThank you Alpha Kane, thatโs veryโฆ considerate of you.โ She turns back to me and gives me a proper smile this time. Huh, seems like she actually does want me here. Fancy that. I thought she would be uncomfortable with a stranger here
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-16Strings of Fateย ย ย 160- Warning and wearing
The men shuffle their way out of Bellamyโs office. They look sufficiently subdued, Iโm pretty sure I got through to them, or at least reminded them of their manners. Shelly lingers after the guys leave. Once I hear the front door open and close, she speaks up. โThanks. Theyโre really not bad guys, I think they were more interested in competing with each other than they actually were interested in me.โ She admits. โYeah, I kinda agree. But Iโm sure youโll find someone eventually.โ I tell her, trying to force some optimism into my tone. Now that this issue has been dealt with Iโm moving back to stressing about my vision last night and the upcoming video call this afternoon. Still, I do my best to stay focussed on what sheโs saying. Iโm pretty sure she can tell that Iโm distracted though. She thanks Bellamy formally and then heads out. Bellamy immediately pulls out his phone. โItโs been going off pretty much since they got here. But Iโm fairly sure I know whyโฆโ He c
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-16Strings of Fateย ย ย 161- Subtlety and specially
The next hour passes peacefully. Megan and I go through tons of items of clothing and sort through what we like and donโt like. I try to limit the number of items I say yes to, trying not to overdo it but Megan has no such scruples. Bellamy hovers around, tidying the kitchen and occasionally chiming in with his opinion about specific items. Megan is just entering Bellamyโs credit card details which she apparently has memorised when Bellamy comes and hugs me from behind. He seems more thrilled with the purchases than I am, which is probably the reason I feel okay about it. โItโs almost time for the meeting. We should go make sure the link is working properly and everything.โ Bellamy says eagerly. I look up at him and I can see excitement on his face. I hadnโt realised he was so enthusiastic about this, but I suppose he is almost as invested as I am, heโs just not quite as traumatised and exhausted as me right now. Megan heads to the living room, letting me know that we can just
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-17Strings of Fateย ย ย 162- Starting and spanning
Bellamy and I are the first to join the call. I stare at the black screen anxiously, constantly checking and rechecking that the camera is on properly and the microphone has sound. Bellamy gently places a hand over my knee to stop me from bouncing my leg anxiously. I have so many questions, I donโt even know what to ask first. About Kiaraโs magic? About theirs? My own? What if they donโt know anything, or what if they DO? I find myself leaning into Bellamyโs shoulder. I feel kind of nauseous. Maybe I should have sat on his lap after all, at least then he could support me if I pass out. Iโm actually holding my breath when the first person joins the call. Itโs an older man, maybe in his sixties. He has a huge moustache and not a lot of hair. Honestly he kind of looks like a cartoon character. The thought makes me crack a smile and I start breathing again.โWell hello there young lady. You too lad. Iโm Collin Demy, you can call me Collinโ His voice is gruff, but he seems nice.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-17Strings of Fateย ย ย 163- Diaries and death
โWhat can you tell us about Atropos?โ I prompt. Well, she is usually considered to be the oldest of the fates. Iโm not sure how anyone would know that kind of thing, but thatโs what the stories I was told said. It doesnโt really matter anyway. So, as I said, Atropos is the fate who controls the manner in which someone dies and cuts the string that represents their lifespan. Basically if our fates represent the beginning and middle of life, Atropos represents the ending. I donโt really know exactly what abilities your Kiara has but it probably involves knowing how people will die. Maybe when? You would really need to ask her for the specifics.โ Collin suggests. I tense up. I was so interested in hearing about this magic that for a minute, I forgot the reason I started looking into it in the first place. I must have stayed quiet too long because Bellamy responds for me. โKiara is missing. She was kidnapped several days ago. We have reason to believe that she is still alive.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-18Strings of Fateย ย ย 164- Children and chosen
โA woman with unusual whitish eyes who knows about a personโs future relationships. That does sound familiar now, doesnโt it?โ Bellamy says pointedly.โYeah, but Iโm no goddess.โ I remind him. He shrugs.โIโd believe it.โ He says sweetly and I roll my eyes. โThanks, but no.โ I say with a laugh. โYou two are adorable.โ Addie comments. She is resting her chin in her hands and watching us dreamily. Okay, now I feel a little weird. โThereโs more to the journal entry if youโre all ready to hear it.โ Collin says mildly. โSorry, didnโt mean to interrupt.โ I apologise. He waves a hand accepting my apology then holds the book up, clearly eager to read us more. I apologised to the goddess and begged for her forgiveness. She assured me that as long as I fulfilled my duties and made things right that there would be no lasting consequences. I could not help but tell her that it was unfair. That I could see a personโs life but not know who I was meant to love unti
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-18Strings of Fateย ย ย 165- Research and reason
Once Collin hangs up I sit there for a while in a stunned silence until Bellamy decides itโs enough. He spins my chair to face him and moves in close to me. โWhat are you thinking? Talk to me.โ He demands. โIโm not even sure. Itโs a lot all at once. I donโt think Iโm ready to process the information about me just yet. Can we focus on Kiara?โ I ask mildly. Bellamy looks me over closely for a minute, examining my face, probably looking for any sign that Iโm not coping. When he decides that Iโm alright, he gives a single nod.โOkay. Well in that case. What have we learned about Kiara and how can we use it?โ Bellamy directs the conversation. Iโm grateful for the prompting because my mind is still reeling and I need the help to focus.โWell, we know at least part of what her magic does. We know that it is connected to mine, sort of, and we learned that IF my magic is due to this Ananke person, goddess, thing, then my visions of her are likely because she is misusing her
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-19Strings of Fateย ย ย 166- Success and shock
After sending off the email to Shelly giving her my number to share around, I decided I needed a break because between the email, the phone call and my nightmare visions, Iโm exhausted and completely overwhelmed. Bellamy sends me up to bed. He does offer to come lie down with me but I can tell he has stuff he needs to get done, Iโve seen his inbox and he has like ten unread messages on his phone. I convince him to stay and do something productive. I doubt he will stay away for long, he hasnโt really let me out of his sight in days. I probably have an hour tops before he comes looking for me. I lie in the bed, but it feels oversized. Probably because Iโm by myself, usually Bellamy is crowding me, or Iโm clinging to him. I suppose Iโve gotten used to it. I close my eyes and try to sleep. I toss and turn for about half an hour before I give up and decide to try meditating again instead. Iโm very high strung right now though so I donโt expect Iโll have much success. I start with my brea
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-05-19
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Strings of Fateย ย ย 205- Sweethearts and safeguarding
My automatic reaction is to panic and to mentally scream NO ABSOLUTELY NOT! She is just a child. She is way too young to already find the person she is fated to be with, not to mention she has been through too much. What if he is immature or goes through a jerk phase as he grows up? Or worse, what if he is a lot older than her? Four or five years might not mean much when sheโs an adult, but at her age that is a LOT. And who could it be? Is he going to be good enough? What if I donโt approve of him, what if heโs a bad influence. Iโve seen people with red threads who hated each other and were terrible for each other when they were young and as they matured became more right for one another. Is it too soon for them to meet? Sheโs just gone through an incredibly traumatic circumstance and she does NOT need some guy messing with her head right now. I take a deep breath and try to relax. I donโt know who it is, we might not even be meeting him right now. The thread just tells me that heโs s
Strings of Fateย ย ย 204- Adapt and adjust
The next few days pass almost too quickly. Bellamy and I have our meeting with Sara and her father. He was a little curious as to why I was there, but he didnโt say anything. He wasnโt pleased, but he did agree to back off of Sara a little bit and seemed to appreciate the added security that we are arranging for the university students. On the drive home, Bellamy is grumbling about it. โHe was barely polite to you.โ He complains. I roll my eyes.โHe was polite enough, how polite should he be to a stranger in his house telling him how to parent his child?โ I point out Bellamy shakes his head.โYouโre his Alpha, my mate, he should know better.โ He continued to scowl.โItโs not like he knows that. We havenโt actually told everyone.โ I remind him gently. Now itโs his turn to roll his eyes.โOf course he knows. Itโs the worst kept secret around, remember? Heโs just the traditional type. Isnโt sure how he feels about having a non-Shifter as an Alpha. Heโll get over it.โ He says firmly. I f
Strings of Fateย ย ย 203- Beads and bonding
โWell, I think that it might actually be nice having an extra person around the house. Extra security and company. Besides, you spend most of your time here anyway. Might as well save you the commute. That is, as long as no one else has any objection?โ I say pointedly looking at Megan. Sure, Bellamy could object but I already know that he wonโt. Megan briefly makes eye contact with me, gives a slight nod, then finds something to stare at on the ceiling. She is clearly trying to look like she doesnโt care but she is blushing bright red. True to form, Darrien is watching her closely trying to work out how she really feels about my suggestion. Realising that she isnโt going to provide any input, he decides to push it a little. โMegan? I would like to hear your opinion. I am still courting you and I donโt want to screw anything up by making a decision like this without your input.โ Darrien says clearly. His voice is mostly calm with just the slightest hint of anxiety as he monitors her r
Strings of Fateย ย ย 202- Calories and clothing
I wake up late in the morning, it might even be early afternoon. I wriggle around a little which prompts Bellamy to do the same, he is apparently already awake. He raises a finger to his lips to shush me before I speak and I can see why. Kiara is still sleeping, lying in the bed between us. She is still loosely holding onto my arm, even in sleep. I slowly disentangle myself from her light grip and slide out of bed. Bellamy follows, clearly doing his best not to jostle her and wake her up. She definitely needs the sleep. She was restless for a good part of the night and almost definitely was having nightmares, but she seems like sheโs sleeping soundly now. My own sleep was blissfully quiet. No visions or anything thank goodness. Iโm looking forward to having several weeks of steady sleep and so help me if anything tragic or dramatic happens for the next few weeks then whoever is responsible should probably be terrified of me. We step into the hallway to talk without disturbing Kiara.
Strings of Fateย ย ย 201- Touch and trust
I cross my arms in irritation. โKiara would never! How would she even do that? Sheโs just a kid!โ I object. Dr Dae rolls her eyes at me.โOh calm yourself girl. Iโm not saying she chose to murder anyone. I assume that she was forced to comply somehow. Youโll have to ask the girl when sheโs ready to talk. As for the how, the child is a Reaper.โ She says it as if itโs obvious but it really isnโt. I know that Reapers exist, but theyโre the kind of Magic that most people have heard of but no one has ever met. I suppose Kiaraโs dad must have been a Reaper too and why the MRO was so secretive about her markings. Most people are kind of scared of Reapers, theyโre kind of the boogeymen of our society. Mostly because they can kill on a whim. All it takes is one touch and they can free your soul from your body. Obviously with no soul you die, and I guess your soul moves on to wherever souls go when you pass on. I suppose that a Reaper would make sense for the representative of Atropos. Her add
Strings of Fateย ย ย 200- Healing and hunger
Since Kiara probably isnโt up to braving the stairs and she really doesnโt want to be carried around everywhere, we decide to ask Dr Dae to come up to the bedroom. Itโs actually kind of weird having so many people in here. Bellamy is a fairly private person, he doesnโt generally invite people to hang out in hisโฆ our room. Dr Dae shuffles in clutching her usual bag. Iโm surprised that Bellamy isnโt carrying it for her because it looks kind of heavy, but I suspect that she wouldnโt hand it over anyway. I immediately greet her.โThank you so much for your help. Your contact has become a great friend and sheโs a huge part of the reason we were able to find Kiara here.โ I nudge Kiara gently with my elbow and give her a little smile. She looks very small and delicate in the oversized, mismatched clothes with her hair dripping down her shoulders. Sheโs so pale that the bruises on her skin stand out and look even worse than they actually are. Dr Dae gives me a half nod of acknowledgement then
Strings of Fateย ย ย 199- Clean and covered
We all turn to face Alex in confusion. I glance up at Bellamy to see if he has any idea whatโs going on but he looks just as lost as the rest of us. I continue to stroke Kiaraโs hair trying to keep her calm. โExplain.โ Bellamy says firmly. Alex flushes red under the attention of everyone in the room. โUh, well. I assisted Miss Gale in updating her registration with the MRO, and uh, since her position is one ofโฆ well almost authority, over the fateโs representatives the updated registration reflects this. So she should be able to make decisions about Kiaraโs care like an Alpha would for their Shifters or like a Coven leader would for their Witches. Admittedly itโs a very small group of Magics, but according to the Magic Registration Office, she is in charge of it.โ He explains, his voice starts off weak but gets stronger as he becomes more confident in what heโs saying. The police seem a little stunned but I guess Alex isnโt technically wrong. If Kiara were a Shifter, her Alpha would
Strings of Fateย ย ย 198- Stolen and sure
When we pull up to the house, thereโs a police car waiting. There are two cops standing by it, one looks bored and irritated and the other has a fake โcustomer serviceโ type smile plastered on his face that I know well from experience. Yeah neither of these guys want to be here. Theyโre probably pissed that we made them come down here. Not to mention uncomfortable being in the Shifter compound. Non-Shifters arenโt invited here often, although I suppose that isnโt exactly true anymore with all our new friends stopping by regularly. Standing beside them looking awkward and uncomfortable is Alex. I bet theyโve been taking their impatience out on him. I narrow my eyes at them and prepare myself. One snotty comment and I am going to tear into them, itโs been a long night. Bellamy parks the car and I wait for him to get out. He speaks with the police briefly and Alex escorts them inside the house. Bellamy returns and opens the door next to Kiara. โHey, can I help you get inside? The police
Strings of Fateย ย ย 197- Leaving and leaning
As we step outside, Iโm confused to find that I actually have no idea where we are. I really was just running and following the tracking spell. I donโt know how far I ran. Itโs a good thing the others are here to bring back the cars because I would be wandering all night trying to find my way back. Iโm also fairly sure that I left my phone in the car when I jumped out in a hurry. Kiara clutches my hand tightly as the cars pull up on the street in front of us. โMegan, Darrien. You stay here and speak to the police when they arrive. Direct further questions to me. Shaun, you stay with them too.โ Bellamy directs as Shaun hops out the car. At Meganโs insistence he stays a good couple of metres away from us.โYes Alpha Kane.โ He responds cheerfully. Aaron and Rio also climb out of the vehicles. Rio stops to chat with one of the other Shifters whose name I still donโt know. Aaron immediately approaches me. Actually a better way to phrase it is that he storms over. He looks almost angry. Or
