A Controller's Destiny (Unit Matched #3) (8 page)

I see Graham’s name at the top of the page. He’s been a hard worker all his life. Even though, I didn’t need the book to tell me that because I already knew.

It doesn’t say who his new Matched will be, but it seems they do a lot of traveling with the rest of the group. That’s good. At least, she’ll care about Unit and uniting the clans, too.

His three boys are smart and they’re going to be accomplished. I shouldn’t have doubted that. Graham is so smart and will be a wonderful father.

I blink the tears away that tell me that I’ll never be a mother, but my future is bigger than that. The life I imagined is nothing like it’s going to be. I take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay though.

I can still feel Graham’s anger and I need to talk to him. I need him to remain focused on what will happen because of my death.

I go upstairs and knock softly on his bedroom door.

“Come in.”

I open the door, but don’t make a move to cross the threshold.

“Are you okay?” I ask even though he isn’t.

He’s still dressed in his workout sweatpants and white T-shirt. He’s arms are crossed and I can see his ripped muscles about to rip through the cotton material. He’s staring out the window that looks into the backyard.

“Do I look okay?” he makes no move to look at me.

“Did you want to read your future?” I hold up the book. “Even
Harry Potter
knew his.” I try to tease but it didn’t come off that way.

Graham turns to me. “No, I don’t want to read my future.”

I nod. “Everyone left, but they’ll be back tomorrow for brunch. We’ll go over the rest of the prophecy then.”

We stare at each other, but he makes no more towards me.

“Well, I’m going to watch TV. If you want to eat, let me know and I’ll make something.” I give him a small smile and head back downstairs.

I know he needs to be alone right now.

Actually, I know him better than he does at the moment.

Chapter 9

Battle Plans

“I think you made enough food.” Graham says as he sets the table. I had gone a little overboard, but I couldn’t sleep a wink, and had been up since early this morning cooking up breakfast burritos.

“Well, I know Xaviera is eating everything in sight, and I know you can put away a few carbs.” I try to lighten the mood.

“Shorty, stop. Stop trying to make me happy when the truth is about to knock down our door in about three months.” He holds the back of the chair tightly. The pain is rolling off him in waves.

“Graham. I’m not trying to make light of this situation, I swear. I’m trying to prevent everyone from going into a deep depression when we’re about to jump into a battle.”

He hangs his head. I know that this is a lot for him to take on, but I hope he knows that I’m happy for him, even if it still stings my heart.

During my restless night, I realized that I needed to be forthcoming with everyone. I needed to let them know how I feel. I wanted them all to remember this time with me. I wanted him to know everything.

I walk up to him. “You know, it’s nice that you have a special name for me.”

“You didn’t like it the first time.” He gives me a small smirk. “I saw it in your eyes.”

“Well, I wasn’t thrilled with it.” I roll my eyes at him. “But, it’s nice that I have something special from you.”

Graham leans down, placing his forearms on the back of the chair. The hurt is gone replaced by sadness.

“I’m not upset.” I touch his arm. “I know I’m not an ideal Matched, but you’re going to have a great life. I want you to know that even though I lied, and didn’t tell you what my future held in the beginning of our Matched, please know that I care about you. I’m happy that you’re going to find the right Matched.”

He shakes his head and right before he opens his mouth, our front door opens. I pat his arm again and turn to greet everyone.

“There’s plenty of food and drink.” I announce as the girls hug me tightly.

“I’m starving.” Xaviera makes her way to the table. Thaddeus chuckles and pulls out her chair.

It’s not until we finish our meal that Thaddeus brings up the subject of the battle. I grab the book.

“All right, so let’s break this down.” Thaddeus says.

“The first part is:
The sacrifice will be from the one that holds the powers. The one that lost her father to evil. The one that will save them all.
” I read from the book.

“I think this is self-explanatory,” Amaya says and we all agree.

“Then next:
The fight will be the biggest battle of the six. The evil will fight harder, but one will stand strong against the father. The battle will be fierce between the two but the sacrificial one will prevail at the end, giving her soul in exchange for the Princess and future leader to live on.
” I feel the shiver as I finish reading aloud.

“Again, self-explanatory. This will obviously be our biggest battle. We know Gia’s fighting her dad. We know she’ll-” Amaya stops instead of saying the word.

“I don’t buy that.” Graham shakes his head. “It doesn’t say ‘death’ or ‘dead’ or ‘die’. It says in exchange for her soul.”

“I agree with Graham on this.” Oliver adds. “It never says you’ll actually die.”

“I don’t think that I can live without a soul. I highly doubt that Mother Nature is going to be so blasé about one of our souls,” I explain.

“I still don’t think it’ll happen that way,” Graham grumbles.

“Let’s move on. It says: T
he betrayal of the Unit banished will leave the six on their own, but Mother Nature will be on their side.
” I look up.

“So, it’s just the six of us. I wonder why? I would think that Unit citizens would fight for Unit.” Oliver looks at all of us.

“I wondered the same thing last night,” Thaddeus adds.

“Do the King and Queen know this part of the prophecy?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I’ve only read the first part of this.” I tell them.

“But, Zane knows. Obviously, he’s being kept in the loop.” Graham hisses Zane’s name.

“I want to keep them out of this until I talk to Zane again.” I inform them.

“What?” the whole table yells at me.

“What are you talking about?” Graham is beyond mad at this moment.

“He gave his number and told me to call him. I want to talk to him. At least, I can figure out what’s going on a little more.” I try to keep my voice low.

“Over my dead body,” Graham grits his teeth at me.

“That’s not in the book.” I tap on the golden cover, and Amaya snorts in laughter.

“I think you’re spending too much time with Amaya,” Oliver chips in.

“Shut up,” Amaya whines at him.

“You’re not going without me.” Graham says ignoring everyone else in the room. “I don’t give a damn what that book says.”

“Fine, I will agree to that.” I sigh and decide to move on and hopeful keep them all calm. “Next, it says:
The fight will commence at the edge of Unit woods where therein Mother Nature’s weapon is. The sacrificial-one shall fight for her soul against the father to save the future leader of Unit.
” I shake my head. “This is where I’m confused. What is
Mother Nature’s weapon
?”

“You don’t know?” Amaya and Graham ask at the same time. The rest of us shake our heads.

“Maybe it’s a Protector thing?” Amaya looks at Graham and he shrugs.

“Well, what is it?” I push them to tell me.

“It’s legend, really,” Graham starts. “The story goes that when Mother Nature created the direct descendants that she also made a sword that she forged herself. Like the ring that the King wears, the sword gives powers to the one that holds it. When the soul is pierced then you lose all your powers.”

“Mother Nature made a weapon that will take someone’s soul?” Xaviera looks sick at her words.

“Oh my,” Graham’s face lights up. “That’s it.”

“What?” I ask.

“I figured it out,” he smiles. “You’re not going to die. If Zane stabs you with the sword, your soul will leave you, but your human self can live. You just need him to stab you somewhere that can heal.”

“My timeline end.” I remind him.

“No, your soul’s timeline ends. Not yours.”

“You’re Matched with someone else.” I continue to make him see.

“What’s her name?”

“What?”

“You know the names of all our future children, of all our future accomplishment, so what’s the name of my new Matched?” His dark eyes call me out.

“I… I…” I flip through the book and find the spot where it shows his re-matched. There’s no name. “There’s nothing there.”

“Exactly.” He seems proud of himself. “See. I told you.”

“That’s not right, Graham.” I shake my head. “You’re trying to read more into it than there is.”

“When is my next Matched? When does it happen?” He continues to push.

I look at the date and the tears burn a little bit. “November.”

Graham slams his hand down on the table, making us girls jump. “There’s no way in hell that I would be Matched six months after you die. Never.” His voice roars.

“Graham,” Oliver goes over to him and touches his shoulder, calming him.

“How about we all relax for a minute?” Xaviera has her hand over her heart and I can feel it pounding all the way over here. “There’s still another part.”

I nod and go back a few pages. “It says:
She will inhale all the evil to take the magic away from the clan of the south, to ensure the richness of purity and balance is restored to all of Mother Nature’s children.
”

“Again, you don’t die,” Graham reiterates.

“So, I’m going to go fight my biological father. Get stabbed, hope I don’t die. Have my soul ripped from my body and then inhale all the evil that’s around us. How about after the fight, we watch Xaviera give birth, and then go out for gelato?” I can feel the rage bubbling up. I’m mad that he isn’t listening to me. Why can’t he see what’s going to happen?

Everyone is stunned by my outburst.

“I’m not a big fan of gelatos, but Graham does make a valid point.” Amaya breaks the quiet. “This doesn’t say die anywhere.”

“I can’t be a soulless being. I can’t remain in Unit without powers. Maybe…” I don’t know if I can say it. “I leave.” Would that even be possible? “It doesn’t say where the evil goes, either. I could store all the evil and then
have
to leave Unit. Although, I’d rather die than be a storage unit for evil.”

We go quiet again, trying to figure out if I am or am not going to die.

“Wait.” Xaviera smiles. “Doesn’t that say that Mother Nature’s weapon in in the wood?”

I flip back a page and read it again. “
The fight will commence at the edge of Unit woods where therein Mother Nature’s weapon is
.”

“Protectors have searched for sword all over the world. It’s impossible. No one even knows where to look or what it looks like,” Graham tells us.

“But it says the weapon is at the edge of the wood. Why don’t we look for it?” Xaviera suggests. “Plus, we can see where the battle will be.”

“Xaviera, I don’t think you should go tramping in the Unit woods. It’s still very snowy and icy. You could fall,” Thaddeus tells her.

“Why doesn’t Amaya stay with her and the rest of us go?” I suggest. “I would like to know where I’m going to fight.”

Everyone glances at each other.

“Okay.” Xaviera nods at us. “Everyone get ready and we will go today. Right now. Amaya let’s go back to my house. I’ll have supper ready for everyone when you get back.” She kisses Thaddeus and heads for the front door.

~~~

“All right, this is the edge.” Graham stands near the wall in the Unit woods.

“Where would you have a fight, G?” Thaddeus asks.

Graham points over the small hill. “On the other side of that is a small clearing. I would lead everyone to there. I would have it there.”

“That means the weapon needs to be close.” Oliver looks around. “But where?”

“Somewhere that would have remained hidden for all this time,” I say. “There,” I point over to a large rock that sits by an old pine tree.

“You think it’s under a rock?” Graham looks at me as if I’m a crazy person.

“Sometimes it’s in plain sight.” I punch his arm. I’m still mad at him for thinking I’m not going to die when I know that I am.

“Ouch.” He rubs the spot I hit him. “Don’t hurt me, Shorty.”

I roll my eyes and head over to the rock. I easily command my powers to move the rock. Of course, there’s nothing there but dirt and snow.

“Here’s another question, how do we all get here? Do we just show up on the day and start fighting?” Oliver looks around.

“Maybe. I need to talk to Zane.”

“Not without me.” Graham growls at me again.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I’ve got it Mr. Bossy Pants.”

Oliver and Thaddeus chuckle.

“Yes, Amaya is really rubbing off on you,” Oliver winks.

I shrug. He might be right.

We look at the clearing in front of us. In a few short months, my life will end here. I shouldn’t be surprised that it’ll be on Unit land. At least, I’ll be home.

“Let’s head back. I’m sure Xaviera is getting worried.” Thaddeus and Oliver head down the trail.

“Thaddeus.” He turns to me. “Tell Xaviera that I went home. I don’t feel… well.”

He gives me a nod and Oliver follows him.

Graham looks at me. “You feel fine.” He takes my hand.

“I know. I need some alone time.” I let go of him and slowly stroll down the hill on the opposite side of the trail.

I listen to the snow crunch under my snow boots. This is the last times I will hear, feel, or even smell the snow. This will be one of the last times that I feel the cold.

This is my last winter.

I stop and look around the bare trees, the white snow, and feel the coldness on my cheeks. I close my eyes and inhale the scent of iciness.

Graham wraps his large arms around my shoulder. He buries his head into my neck. He has never touched me this way.

Never.

I place my gloved hands on his strong forearms and bask in the warmth from him.

“Please, don’t cry.” His whisper tickles my ear. “You’re not going to die; I promise you.”

I didn’t even notice that I had been crying. I thought that I had my emotions under control. I want to stand here in his arms and forget that my life is about to end. Graham can think what he wants to. Mother Nature isn’t going to let me wonder around Unit with no soul.

“You’re going to be so happy.”

“Not without you. Not without my Shorty.”

As much as I don’t want to, I step out his arms and turn to him. “You will be.”