Chapter 48: Chaos I

  A familiar view, a balcony, falling white petals. He knew this place. It was vivid in his memories. But this time it was different somehow, flourishing as if he was living it.

  "You should hide," he heard himself say. He'd experienced this before. He felt a weight being lifted from her shoulder, and with an odd sound, almost like a chirp, thoughts began invading his mind.

  No matter what, he should be safe here. She looked down at her green, delicate hand as a cindered feather slowly floated down onto her palm. Remaining unmoved, her vines slithered onto her skin, delicately removing it.

  When it was no longer visible, she walked up to the railing. The scenery was picturesque, a city drowning in plants. Almost unrecognizable from its previous self. To think this was how it would end.

  Something was coming, and she knew exactly who it was. There could only be one person with such a dominating aura. The world spreading to let her pass. Ever since she'd read that record, 'The Chosen One's Record'... Even it wasn't complete. She'd stolen it from The Prophet's memories. Her gaze back then was unforgettable. She knew, but she hadn't done a thing. Now that she'd finally read it, she understood.

  Back then, it had taken her years to make sense of all the chaos and when she finally started to understand, Nicholas… She met him. He felt her heart tighten. She grew scared, did she really want to read it, to know how it would end… how they would end? But when Nic died, everything changed, it didn't matter anymore. She had nothing to lose, so she delved as if trying to find meaning, trying to find a reason. A reason for his death. In the beginning, she thought she was being played, she thought that she was succumbing to the role that The Prophet had prepared for her, but it didn't matter, she had to know why he died, what for?

  She saw a future she would never have, a love she had never lost, a God she'd never met… Something was wrong however, something was missing, rather someone. Vich wasn't there, Nic's closest friend was missing. He shuttered. At the time, her emotions were conflicted. She didn't know what to think. Why wasn't he there? Was he the cause?

  Even now she was confused, but there was no time, she would ask him later. Now she needed to greet her guest. She looked down, her gaze piercing the leaves, landing on a glowing golden figure.

  "What brings you here, Prophet?" Serena was now in front of her, in the shade, below her radiance, her green eyes glowing through the darkness. "Thorn!" She showed her graceful smile. "You seem well…" Serena interrupted her, her frown deepening. "Don't patronize me, get to the point," she glared, "what do you want?" The Prophet's gaze instantly grew cold, betraying her holy appearance.

  "So you've gone through it…" she suddenly laughed. She was shaking. "Everything I had worked for is being destroyed." She was mad, completely mad. "I was going to ask you nicely, but…" Danger! She had somehow moved a few inches away from her nose, an unnatural grin plastered on her face. "I guess that won't work anymore, will it?" Hastily, Serena retreated, creating as much distance as she could between them. How was she so fast? No, she hadn't moved, the world had moved around her. But…

  "You're weaker than before, Destiny." She watched as The Prophet looked down at her hands, black tendrils dancing amongst her golden glow. "Did he tell you my name?" She didn't stop staring. "You know, I was supposed to follow the Chosen One on her journey, guiding humanity toward prosperity." She put her hand up, and the thorns Serena sent her way were blocked by a falling tree. "Now, she's gone and that means someone's after us, after humans." She looked up, her gaze piercing through the vines on their way to assault her. "I can't let that happen." The raging vines suddenly stopped in their tracks, spreading to reveal her walking figure. "I need to make sure I get her back, no matter what the cost." She waved her hand, the trees between them slowly spreading apart.

  "There's nothing you can do, so just give it to me." Extending her hand, she warmly smiled. Her nonchalant attitude was irritating. Her surroundings were full of chaos, all the vegetation reacted differently, some vanished, and some turned to dust. Nothing could get close to her no matter how much she sent her way… and she was smiling? She thought she could corner her, but that seemed to be impossible. She felt unbeatable, unreachable. That meant only one thing for her. While trying to find a cure for Kolya, she'd spread herself thin looking everywhere, trying to communicate with every plant, and this was the result.

  Her five senses spread through the entire forest and at the same time, all kinds of vegetation rushed to engulf Destiny. She could feel the entire forest, her domain connected through their roots like a nervous system.

  "Oh? So you've reached the doors to Ascension?" Did she hear a voice… through her domain? She'd never experienced something like this. It was not language, and it wasn't a vibration either. Something greater, reaching her to her core, to her soul. "I will entertain you. I am curious to know…" The bundle of plants that surrounded The Prophet simply burst like a bubble, sending a shockwave that razed the surrounding trees. "Just how far my Thorn has come." She was blinding, her figure translucent still shining in a golden light, golden tattoos now dancing on its surface.

  As she walked forward, she moved her hands and the attacks Serena sent were reflected back to her. She gritted her teeth. Fuck! She was holding back? This state put an enormous strain on her mind, she didn't know how long she could keep it up, but… She didn't get to finish her thoughts as one of her vines pierced her own chest. It really was unpleasant to have her own strength being used against her. She was grinning, blood trickling down from the corners of her smile.

  "It was fun." She said sarcastically, a somewhat disappointed look on her face. She stood over Serena's kneeling figure, elegantly lifting her chin up with her finger. "But now show me what I need to know." With her other hand, she placed her thumb on her forehead, as she had done with Slava before. This time, however, nothing happened.

  "You're far too arrogant." She sent her thoughts through her domain. "Have you forgotten who made this forest?" Serena's body was overtaken by vines that moved to wrap themselves around Destiny's body. "This is my domain!" With her words, the vines began to glow. She'd personally crafted this forest to power an entire city. She was curious as to what would happen if she channeled all of that power into a single entity. She knew Destiny would try to read through her fate, so she waited for their domains to connect. When the opportunity presented itself, she used all of her strength to restrain her.

  "You…" she didn't get to finish her words as the glowing vines finished engulfing her entire body. With a bright flash of light, came a sense of loss. The trees were dying. It was inevitable. She focussed on the main tree. It had to stay protected no matter what.

  She had no more eyes to see, the trees around ground zero had been completely annihilated. Her body was slowly materializing at the foot of the giant tree. Falling to her knees, she gasped for breath. No matter how much time passed, she still couldn't get rid of those stupid reflexes.

  "Ah, how refreshing." Serena froze, looking up, slowly blinking. "You really did surprise me." She still couldn't see clearly, but the golden glow was still there.

  She was looking up, her arms spread out. She'd looked up mockingly, and when she'd met our gaze, our lips curved up.