“What’s that?”
“Those visions aren’t necessarily mutually inclusive. In order for one to be true, the rest don’t have to be.”
I was aware of how the spring’s magic normally worked. It showed visions of the future, but the future was malleable, ever changing, not set in stone. Like the river. To stand with one foot in the water was to feel time and history rush past while the rest of you stood still.
Some of its visions came true while others didn’t, but that had been before two dozen people went to their deaths in Shearwater. Kessian’s magic seemed slightly different. The spring usually showed one vision. Kessian’s had shown me three.
“You’re saying that I could save my sister without the both of us dying in her place?” I said.
“Essentially.”
“Would you risk that?”
“No, probably not. But I feel obliged to give you all the information. These visions have a way of coming true the harder you try to avoid them.”
“I bet you wish you’d said as much before dunking me in here.”
He chuckled, but while he didn’t necessarily seem flippant about the possibility of his own demise, he didn’t seem surprised, either.
“Has it shown you something like that before?”
“Ah, let’s just say it isn’t the first time I’ve had to stare my own mortality in the face.”
“And it doesn’t worry you?”
“You seem pretty determined to leave, so what do I have to worry about?”
That was true. I’d been present in the vision where the wraith drowned us. If I left Shearwater, it couldn’t happen. Not like that, at least.
Whatever the reason for Kessian’s attitude toward death, he didn’t volunteer more, and I would be a fool to stick around to sate my curiosity.
Now I had to break the news to Fae …
Kessian left me to change. I didn’t see him on my way out of the treatment room, and told myself it was for the best when I already had a litany of goodbyes ahead. I didn’t need one more.
At reception, Fae linked elbows with me, handed a fastidiously written note of tasks and reminders over to the teenager with red-rimmed eyes taking over the shift, and at once dragged me toward the doors.
“We’re running late for the reading of the will. Mum’s not going to be happy, but hopefully she’ll be pleased you’re staying longer.”
“About that—”
“Oh, my car keys. Where did I put them?”
“We can take Lunaris.”
“Found them!” They held up a comically large keyring with so many charms it was a wonder how it could be difficult to find. “Sorry, I’m a mess. I still haven’t sat down and processed Grandad. With wedding planning and work and helping Mum with the funeral, who has the time?”
My gut pinched with guilt. All things I hadn’t been around to lend a hand with, and wouldn’t be.
I got in the car. Fae continued to ramble while starting the ignition and pulling out of the spa. “I did tell Grandad we ought to hire more permanent staff, since business hasn’t been too bad, but he never got around to it.”
“Yeah.”
“Now the spa’s probably passed to Marlowe, he might be more proactive.”
“Fae, about that—”
“And with you back, we wouldn’t even need to train you.”
