Signs

destiny /ˈdɛstɪni/ noun

the hidden power believed to control future events; fate.

I walk through narrow streets, looking at the big windows of old shops. I take my time, in no rush. I enjoy this part of the human existence. It’s nice. Mundane in a good way. I look around and see the sunlight slip through buildings, I feel it on my skin and decide to pull out my sunglasses. I open my bag and spread my fingers, searching into its wide content. The bag is old and dark grey and it has seen better days, can’t say that I mind. There is something so familiar about it in a world that is so strange to me.

I came here when I was a little girl, always trained to be ready for anything.

To be ready that one day, I will bring end to the world as we know it.

I look up at the sky and admire the clouds and the way the sun plays with the light. I stare at the old stores and wonder about the simple beauty of things. All of this magic that I see before my eyes will one day change and demise. I lift my hand to my eyes and squint. There will be a time when this world will look completely different. There will be a new ruler to this planet, yet the world will keep on turning just the same. Even if it will be a much darker place.

I stand like a statue for awhile and then I just shrug my shoulders, suddenly snapping back to reality. None of this really mattered. Not the glow of the sun or the pretty things behind the big vintage windows. Not the air that I breathed or the smell teasing my senses. None of it meant a thing. I had a job that needed to be done, that I was taught how to do from my earliest years. I was good at what I did. There was no one better to deal with the Raven warrior.

I furrow my eyebrows again. Was she the one? That petite little girl, that blushed at me as if there was fire running through her skin? Hmm, well no that petite. I smile to myself, she was attractive, I will give her that. Yet her curves or her edgy attitude won’t save her life... If in fact, she was the Raven that she was looking for and that her superiors feared so much. As if she could by some chance bring death to her kind, to all the ones that possessed magic and blue fire in them.

And those of my blood that didn’t have such powers, managed to still obtain all sorts of special abilities. Some of my sisters could be oracles and others could shift their life energy so they could pass through objects like ghosts. It was an amusing power to have, yet didn’t do much for killing skills. Those often belong to my brothers because of the gene pool they possessed, at times thought many of our women overpowered the strongest of our male warriors. The abilities that came in our race where often a surprise and depended more on the spirit and less on the gender of our people.

My life energy was spectacular and outshone everyone else. That’s why the task at hand was bestowed on me. I was trained to kill the “black feathers” as our kind called the spirit warrior, that in her human form always ended up with the name “Raven”. Nobody knew why that was, yet it did. My mind wonders to the girl that I met two nights ago. There was just something about her.

Now my energy couldn’t, in fact, tell me if that was her. My radars not sensing anything out of the ordinary. Maybe she wasn’t woken up yet from her sleep. If her abilities would have worked I would sense it instantly. And I felt nothing, beyond her attraction for me. However, that wasn’t the energy that I was looking for right now. Even if....

I moan quietly. That girl was constantly on my mind. For one thing, she could be an enormous threat to me if she turned out to be the one. All of my plans and the plans of my people would fall and tumble. Our destiny would be sealed, mine especially. She would bring me doom. I couldn’t afford that mistake. I was prepared for her. Yet I could not be ever surprised by her presence. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. I should have got rid of her, the moment I met her.

My energy levels were high, her death would have been quick. She wouldn’t ever suffer. Just a blink of an eye. And yet I stopped. And for what reason again? That’s right because she smiled and that disarmed me completely. I felt the good in her, it was such a dominant part of her, even if she was a bit strange. With her choice of clothes... and her ridiculously shiny phone.

_______

I shake my head and pass the many small shops on either part of the street. Its a bit crowded and noisy but I don’t mind. I like getting lost in the crowds and sometimes imagining that I wasn’t the person that was going to set this place into dust... well, in a way.

My eyes wander to the nearest window as I pass it and then I just stop. It’s an old antique bookstore. The glass is a bit dusty and the door looks like it’s there only until the next windy day. The paint seems to be chipping off the red door and the place seems to be here since World War I... or when the oil lamps were still in use. I open the door and hear a little bell over my head. I look up, yes, very old fashioned indeed. I walk in end inhale the smell of old books and lavender... it smells divine. I look at the empty register and stacks of books everywhere, I turn around and look at the window, the sun slips in and falls on the chime-bells made out of small square pieces of color glass.

I stare at it as it plays with the glass and falls on the books. Red, yellow and green patches coloring the store. I can see millions of little dust motes flying around and looking like stars. I sigh. Pure heaven. I stare at the scenery and think to myself that I am going to miss this when the world starts turning for our people... or if Raven reaches me before I can reach her.

I slowly walk around, my steps quiet against the old wooden floors. Normally a floor like that would squeak but with me it never does. My surroundings reacting to me and my energy. I can play with the matter, at times muting it. Like an animal that walks through the forest and does not make a sound. Just with me, the whole earth was my forest. But usually I didn’t mind, I made plenty of noise when walking in my ridiculous heels and never once tripping. But during the day, I didn’t care much for that. Prefiring low boots to silly heels.

I always wore my leather jacket but chose clothes that were more lose, sometimes adding a big hat and always carrying my vast, long shoulder bag. Basically, humans would describe me as a leather hippy. I smile and reach the bookcases, my fingers slipping past the sides. I close my eyes and let them wander. I make myself feel the energy of the objects and stop when I feel molecules “dance” in the right way.

I open my eyes and pull it out. It’s small and almost falling apart. I hold it gently in my hands and look at the cover. I freeze. The cover is green and has gold letters. I stare at it and tap a finger against it like at any time it was going to bite me. I stare at the black line-shaped bird and read the title. The combined work of poems By Edgar Allan Poe.

I open it and of course, it shows me that poem. Oh, come on! I sigh and rub a hand against my face. I look up at the ceiling. Very funny universe. Do I amuse you, do I make you laugh? I look down and read the crippling lines.

“though I said art sure no craven vastly grim and ancient raven wandering

from the nightly shore, tell me why thy lordly name is on the nigts plutonium shore...”

I stare blankly at the old yellowed paper pages and whisper in the empty bookstore.

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore...

I stare at the book in silence and close it swiftly, sending dust motes flying in the air. I hated these kinds of signs. I could always see them which was useful at times. But the problem was that I usually avoided them since they appeared when I wanted them the least.

Can I help you with something, miss?

A voice with a light French accent brings me back to life, and I look up at the tall, older man staring at me from his small, round glasses. His hair is long and grey and he looks like he just got out of bed. He’s dressed in an old fashion way. I smile. He looks like an English professor on vacation. I walk up to him and smell a faint scent of honey. I look at the wooden counter and notice a beat up mug that states “Three sheets to the wind”. I lift my eyebrows higher and feel his energy. Mmm, so much knowledge and mad as a hatter. I was already fond of him.

So can I interest you in any book, or are just here for the sights...

He lowers his glasses and twitches his eyebrows. Well, normally this kind of response could have ended badly for someone else, but this guy didn’t seem like he had a single bad bone in his body. There was something extremely kind and at the same time professional about him... even if he was shamelessly flirting like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Unfortunately not, I went in for the read... and the atmosphere.

Oh, well we have plenty of that. The dust is free by the way, help yourself, beautiful.

Yes, that I will. I need this book.

I say, holding on to it, as if I just couldn’t let myself to let go of it, at the same time I felt like I wanted to throw it across the room and burn down the whole place with just a snap of a finger.

You don’t look convinced.

Well, I am still buying it. How much?

Free for you.

I furrow my eyebrows not liking that answer.

I have plenty of money.

Of that I am sure, but the thing is already falling apart, and nobody wants things like that anymore.

I want it.

Yes, that’s is exactly why are getting it free...

I stare at him for a moment and then just sigh.

Fine, anything you want in return?

Your name would do.

Lilly... can I go now? - I lift an eyebrow, apparently a habit with this amusing man.

A Lilly. Yes, that seems about right...

“The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,

The humble sheep a threat’ning horn: While the Lily white shall in love delight, Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright”.

Sounds nothing like me. Are those your words?

No, just some guy named William Blake.

I look at him and see the poem in my head. I actually knew this poem but had a rebel nature and enjoyed disagreeing. I nod at him and leave the store and as I open the door, I faintly hear.

Don’t be a stranger, little tiger Lilly.

I step outside and give one more stare at the bookstore. And notice the old sign. It’s in French and reads “Lavande et Miel”. I narrow my eyes. Lavender and honey, hmm...

I walk slowly off, letting myself get lost in the old, paved streets. I really needed coffee.

Where is a damn cafe, when you need one?

_______

It takes me about 10 minutes to get out of the endless corridors of small buildings and people buying stuff they don’t really need. I walk out and finally notice a sign that says “Wake and Shake” in colorful letters. I roll my eyes. Humans, silly creatures. I open a pretty door with flower patterns at the side and enter the not too big yet very cozy cafe.

I look around. Hmm, once again very colorful. Not my style. I inhale and decide to ignore the cheerful side of this place. The delicious smells taking over me. I sit down at the bar and hear my stomach growl. Well, some things like hunger were common for all races. I pick up the menu and the first thing I notice is the cake section. My mouth starts to water up. I slip my finger down the card and then stop abruptly. I look at the words in a delicate font. “Lavender and honey”. I remember the old sign over the bookstore.

The French words digging a hole in my head. “Lavande et Miel”.

I look around and I notice her in just a few seconds. She is using a cloth to dry a big, white plate. I put my head to the side. Of course, she is here. Of course, she works here... and she seems to be frustrated by something. I follow her gaze and notice two women sitting in a booth.

They seem very fascinating by each other. One of the women is a young girl with black hair to her shoulders and the other is older by about ten years and is dressed very professionally. There are some papers on the table. What they’re doing resembles an interview. Yet as I look at them, I sense some tension... but not the bad kind.

I close my eyes and try to focus on their words. Their voices are just a low buzz at first but eventually they become clearer. I smile satisfied when I pick the right “station”.

…so how are you with children?

I’m very gentle and caring, but I don’t mind a little spanking myself.

And is that listed as one of your special talents?

If you do it right, then yes.

Tell me now, do you think obedience is an important thing when taking care of children?

At times yes, however, I have different tactics when dealing with, hard situations.

Is that so…?

I smirk amused and then gaze back at Raven and it’s clear that she can hear them, as her face gets redder with every passing second. Hmm, fascinating. I lean on my chair to have a better view. She stands side to me and I gaze at her black hair, twisted in a long braid and I stare at her long, slender neck. And that’s the moment she turns around and sees me. Her face turns from frustrated to surprised, and then to complete shock. Her fingers loosen up and the plate falls to the ground, shattering into what seems like a thousand of little pieces. The room goes quiet, all of the conversations stopping to a halt, as if cut with a knife.

I can almost taste the sharp edge of metal as all of the focus falls on the girl. I stare at her, yet all of her focus is on me. There is another long moment of silence and then I lift my hand and wave at her. The whole situation very comical to me. I have to constantly remind myself that she might be a threat to me. That I could perish because of those crystal blue eyes. I give a tiny smile and she returns it. Then takes a deep breath, apparently holding it for some time. I turn away and look at the menu again.

Hmm, I was starving, global domination could wait.

to be continued...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BefliMlEzZ8&feature=youtu.be