Page 19 of Bloodstained Chrome

For a second, I thought about lying to them, but I know they’ll see right through it, they’re connected to me like no one else. “Bad as in a very, very painful reaction. I don’t know what happened. I’ve never had a vision like that before. It felt like I was being ripped from my body. I wasn’t prepared. I passed out in the clubhouse.”

Both men step forward, concern lacing their expressions. “Passed out. Why the hell wouldn’t you tell us about this? Has it happened again? What was the vision of?”

The questions were being peppered at me by both of them faster than I could absorb them.

“Easy. It’s over. I’m fine. That’s what I’ve been telling everyone, but it seems no one is listening.”

“It sounds like Primal has a reason to worry. Hell, I’m worried,” Aziz spits out. "Wait, is that why he was walking you here the other night? Why didn’t you tell me about this then?”

“You don’t need to worry, just as he doesn’t need to. No one needs to worry. And I didn’t want to discuss it with anyone, nor do I want to discuss it now, but I need to.” I grab one of the chairs and sit down before I go over what I can remember of the vision I saw.

When I’m finished, I realize neither of them can make heads or tails of it. It’s still a mystery. I didn’t expect they would have any more luck than I have with the vision, but there is a little hope tucked away in the back of my mind.

“And you’ve had the same vision more than once since then?” Orpheus asks.

“Yes, always the same thing. The same array of images ends with me frozen in the woods, the large lion rushing in from behind me.” I gulp hard before I ask the final question, the one I’ve been afraid to say out loud. “What do you think it means? Could I be losing my abilities?”

Aziz shakes his head, but I don’t miss the look he shoots Orpheus’s way. “No, I don’t think you are losing your abilities. In fact, I think they may be evolving. Based on what I know of your gifts, they have always been more passive in strength, and it seems they are getting stronger. I just don’t understand how that could be.”

“Stronger?” I hadn’t even thought it possible. I don’t know if I want to be stronger if it means I have to go through that level of pain every time. "How could they be growing stronger?"

“Well, it’s clear right now that we don’t have enough information to figure out what the vision is trying to tell you, but have you had any chance to think about the players in it?” Aziz asks.

“Yeah, I told you, I wasn’t able to see the person with the gold eyes. I don’t even know if it was a man or a woman. I can’t tell whether they’re the enemy or someone we need to help. I’ve got nothing.” I clench my fists in my lap. I wish there were more details I could make out. Even if I could clearly read an expression, maybe I could figure out what was going on.

Was the person with gold eyes someone I needed to save from the chains and the broken chair? I don’t know.

“You may not know who that person is, but surely you know who the other is.” Orpheus tilts his head as if he were waiting for me to catch on.

“Other person? What other person?” I go through the memory of the vision, but I don’t recall seeing or telling my brothers about any other person in it.

“The lion.” Aziz finally gives me a hint.

“What about the lion? I assume it’s a backward image of power or a predator.”

“Or it’s an actual lion.” Aziz chuckles.

I look between Orpheus and Aziz. Both of them are staring at me with goofy smirks, as if I’m the last to figure out some grand joke.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Think about it, Sibley. You come in here ranting and raving about how much Primal, the lion shifter, is getting under your skin. As far as I can tell, the man hasn’t changed from his usual ornery self, but all of a sudden he’s making you so angry that you have to come here to vent about him. Now, you’re having visions of a grand lion. Maybe there’s something more going on with Primal that you’re not admitting to yourself.”

“Something more like what?” I throw my hands up in frustration. I really wish one of them would just spell it out for me, because I still don’t get it.

“You tell us. You’re the only one who seems to be affected. Well, you and him. The pair of you. Together, you’re affected.” Aziz winks slowly. "Think of the prophecy that was foretold."

No.

Absolutely not.

They can’t possibly be insinuating what I think they are. It’s ridiculous. There’s no way they are.

And Primal of all people!

It’s laughable.

“Did one of those blades knock you upside the head or something? You’re both talking nonsense now.” I shake my head and push myself out of the chair, heading to the large window that looks down over the club below.