There was a slight pause as he cleared his throat.
“Demon females have a decreased gestational period. Their partners were usually never informed they ever had a child. The child itself was then sent to Earth and raised like any other human child. That is until their parents told them the truth of their existence. You are the only one who has both parents playing a role in her life. The two that I met before have no idea who their mother or father was. All they know is that there is something special about their blood.”
“So, what are you?”
“I’m a Prophet,” he said quickly.
“A Prophet?” I repeated. I tried not to break into laughter though it was impossible to keep a smile from slipping when I considered how young he looked. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.” Now he was smiling too. “I haven’t been around since the beginning of time if that is what you mean.”
“What is it that you do?”
The questions wouldn’t stop coming. I was definitely interested in the stranger sitting beside me.
“I do a lot of things, really. I help those that need to be helped.”
He looked at me before he decided to continue.
“I have gifts. Yes, I can read your mind. Maybe even do a little magic. I also have an uncanny gift to calm a room. I cannot erupt into flames, nor can I control wind and the weather like a spirit that I met here recently. I cannot make a harvest grow at a faster rate, nor cause a famine with just a flick of my wrist.”
Had he just given me insight into what the others could do?
“You said spirit? That doesn’t sound like she’s living,” I pointed out as I backtracked some into the conversation. I had a feeling I knew who he was talking about but didn’t want to say anything until I had a little more confirmation.
“She isn’t alive, not in the mortal sense anyway. When the time comes, she will get her second chance. For now, God keeps her busy with other tasks. Mostly saving your ass.” He laughed.
“Krista.”
I remembered how she had told me about her second chance in my dream. This was all the confirmation I needed.
“That would be the one.” He looked at me curiously. “She’s very drawn to you. She finds your fire enticing. At least that is what she says.”
“Is she here now?” I asked him. I always felt that she was near, but I had not seen her since the day of the school invasion.
“She’s always with you. Ever since the day, you saw through her eyes.”
“Seriously?” I was waiting for him to start laughing, or for the scent of sulfur to hit the air.
“Why do you beings always think I’m joking?” he huffed. “I swear that when I tell you something, I’m telling you God’s honest truth.”
“I’m sorry. It gets hard to trust people,” I said quietly.
“I understand that. I was a normal boy until my mother told me that I was special.” He groaned. “I played football in high school and had a free ride to college. One day my mom tells me that I have to travel the world searching for these unique hybrids, says it’s my calling. So, I go, and I meet this guy who then tells me that I have to follow my visions. I go on a tour of the world, and for two years I look for these special beings. I have met just about every type of hybrid that you can possibly think of.” He glanced at me and smiled. “Oh yeah, all of them are real! Just wait till you meet them. And you will meet them.”
I laughed. “You’ll be telling me next that fairies exist.”
“Really? That’s the one you want to pull out of that conversation?” He looked at me; his mouth was agape. “Of course, fairies exist.”
“Like Tinkerbelle?” I giggled under my breath.
“No, not like Tinkerbelle.” He rolled his eyes. “If one were standing in front of you, you wouldn't even know it. Like you, they have a disguise that they have to maintain to remain invisible.”
“Oh.” I felt embarrassed, realizing that by being flippant all I had achieved was to piss him off.
“I know about Lilliana, or Miranda, as you know her. I know of her powers, and I know of her bloodline. I have a feeling I know why she wants Wesley, but I’m not a hundred percent sure yet. Your mother knows more than me right now.”
I blinked at him. “How do you know about Wesley?”
“I think that’s something you need to ask your mom. I am not exactly at liberty to divulge that information,” he replied nervously. I didn’t think he meant to let it out that he knew about Wesley.
“Why is it that everything leads me back to what my mother knows?” I asked dryly.
“I’m going to explain something to you, and you may choose not to believe me, for now...”
It was evident that he wanted to change the subject.
“What’s that?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Do you ever wonder why fire? I mean, like, really sit there and think about how the only element you can call is fire?”
I nodded.
“What are the differences between the flames, Dawn? Can you tell me that?”
I thought for a moment. “Well, Hellfire burns hot from my hands and my body. It feels heavy and enticing. Heaven’s flame feels cold, almost icy. It hurts more to use because I think I’m getting frostbite on my fingers.” It was the most definite answer I could give him.
“Okay, I hope you are ready for this. The fact is, you are a Warden, one of the chosen who can control both sides of the fire. There are those who can only control one side of the spectrum. These beings are called Carriers. From there it pretty much depends on your generation where you stand. A second
