Testing Out An Old Relic (Open)

[Prudence Campbell]

She fell silent for a while. Everything seemed to fall into place. She suddenly remembered her grandmother’s word. You must not remove this under any circumstances. Unless... you are ready to face the not only your own fears but also nightmares of the world. She cringed, nightmares of the world. “No, I think you are on to something.” She whispered, her voice so soft that the wind might have carried it away.

His mother’s condition was the ultimate undesirable. Judging from the way he talked about it, it seemed serious... like it was a matter of life and death. “Or else…?” She gulped, she hoped it was not life threatening. The memory of seeing the grim made all the color she had disappear.

“I was not weak. I just…” She bit her lip, trying to think straight. “I think I saw… nothing. Just darkness… Like I had gone blind.” She explained. She really hoped he would get it. “I’m so sorry I worried you, but I really don’t know what happened.” And, I’m hoping it wouldn’t happen again.

“You said your mother came from a family of seers, are you a seer too?” She asked, curious.

[alariclarsstouner]

"My mother's expertise in being a seer really is predicting who...would be the next one to die," he said softly, as though he was only talking to himself. He could still remember the time before he left for Hogwarts, his mother was in bed with a terrible illness. "I went to say goodbye to her before I left and she whispered to me to 'come back alive'. I instantly knew what she meant..." he trailed off, unable to complete his sentence.

He then turned to face her. "When my mother was just gaining her abilities as a seer, she was also like you are right now. I guess you are now beginning to realize your true potential," he said quite hastily. He didn't want to scare her, but he knew that it was the inevitable truth. He also knew that he met her for a reason and whatever it is, he was ready to hold on to it.

When she inquired about him having seer abilities, he was skeptical. He knew that he didn't inherit his mother's ability, he was also having weird flashbacks on his own. "No, I'm not a seer, but I guess some of it rubbed off on me," he finally said, grinning at her.

[Prudence Campbell]

“She… you… no wait…” She was at a lost for words, her face drained of color. Not really knowing what to say to a person whose death was predicted by his own mother who happened to be a seer. Her intuition reminded her Professor Ambrosia’s words about the grim. She tried her best to quote her but she was sure she omitted some of the professor’s words. “Perhaps your mother’s prediction was not for tomorrow… maybe it is destined to happen after ninety years or so.” She hoped to convince him and herself at the same time.

True potential? Predicting other people’s death? No thank you. She wanted to stomp her foot right then and there and say that it will never happen and swear. But she knew he was right. Her grandmother was wonderful with tea leaves and her mother was extremely intuitive… One could not possibly be a part of a family of seers without inheriting anything.

“My grandmother used to know almost everything. She even predicted her own death. The night before she died, she wrote my mother and I a letter. The letters were left under a tea cup with the grim in it.” She looked at nothing in particular, remembering vividly the moment she saw the grim and the feeling it caused her. “She told me she loved me and to always wear my bracelet... and that I was destined to be someone good.” She told him.

“Do you think I’m doomed without this bracelet?” She asked him after a minute or so of silence. “I never saw my mother or my grandmother wear anything like this before.” She softly said to herself.

[alariclarsstouner]

"No I'm sure she's right," he said slowly, his voice very certain. He knew that his mother never made a wrong prediction regarding people's deaths. "In fact, the moment I've heard it, I made myself ready physically and mentally, so as when I meet my death, at least I'm ready for it," he added.

He knew that he scared her with his words yet he also knew that she has to face it eventually. "It's not that you have the ability to predict death, it's just that you are now realizing your abilities as a seer in general," he said. "Your grandmother is a very kind person, and very intuitive at that to have predicted all this," he then added as he placed his hands in his pocket, thinking hard. It's fate, and I just can't reverse it just like that, he thought.

He then turned back to where she was standing, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not that you're doomed without your bracelet, but I guess it would be an important part of your life. Don't lose it ever again, promise me that."

[Prudence Campbell]

What he said made her shiver. She felt an ugly churning in her stomach and her heart skipped a bit. She did not know what to say to comfort him before, she did not know how to react about him feeling like he was soon going to die. “Please don’t say that.” She said softly, looking away. Having just met him, it was odd to cry… but her tears thought otherwise.

“No, I do not have the ability to predict death, Lars. If I did, I would have done everything in the world to prevent it from taking Melinda away.” Her voice was hard, remembering her favorite cousin’s ugly fate.

Important part of my life? Sure. Without it I’m blind! “I used to think I was just like my mother, very intuitive. So intuitive that I never got away with a lie or half truth…” She trailed off. “I don’t know Lars, I feel like I’m opening a curse wrapped in some lovely wrapper.”

"And, that is one thing that I don't know if I can promise." She said truthfully.

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars shook his head, released his grip on her shoulder, and sighed. He knew that it was hard for him to accept his fate, but he also knew that he can fight it. And here is someone who he just met moments before, yet cared for him like he was a long-time friend.

He then took out a hankie and offered it to her. "You know, it's been a while since someone cared for me like that,"he said. "I guess I have to thank you for letting me realize that I can reverse my fate, if I can,"he then added as he pressed the hankie to her hand.

"I didn't mean to intrude, but can you please tell me more about that death you were talking about," he then asked as he took out his pocket watch. He then shuddered. The watch just stopped moving. "I guess I have to fix this watch of mine, it does not tell the time properly anymore," he added as he sat down and took out his watch repair kit and started tinkering with it.

"Have you ever thought of being a seer as a curse?" he asked suddenly. The way she spoke about it seemed like she was detesting it and that she would do anything just to make it disappear, or that is what he thought.

[Prudence Campbell]

“It’s okay.” She said, returning the handkerchief and wiped off her tears with the back of her hands. “How can you think that? Off course, people care about you everyday. You may not realize it but they do.” She pointed out, looking at him straight in the eyes. “I’ll do everything I can to help you. You just saved me and I owe you that much.” She paused. “What would be the use of being a seer if I can not help. For all we know, this is exactly the reason why we met.” She said, her intuition verified the truth in her words.

She sniffed and then nodded. “Melinda was my favorite cousin. Well, she was my only cousin. I don’t know what really happened back then but now I think I know exactly what happened.” She said more to herself than to him. “She was eight, I was seven… we were playing hide and seek in their house. She told me she was going to hide outside. She even reminded me not to peep for a while.” She trailed off, almost laughing at the memory. “But of course, I did not listen. I did not only peep, I ran out of the house, hoping to catch her… and I never did. She just stood in the middle of the street, Lars. Her eyes glassy and her cheeks were so pale. Then in a few moments, just like that, she dropped dead.”

“Yes, it is as much of a curse as it is a gift.” She told him, the indifference in her voice scared her. “I think it killed my cousin.”

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars could see her eagerness to help him in his dire situation. He flashed her a brilliant smile, something he had not done for months. And at that exact moment, he just didn't know how to thank her properly enough. "Words cannot express how thankful I am for our meeting," he said. "I knew all along that our meeting was not definitely by chance only, it's a meeting that will change both of our lives around," he added.

He then placed his fingers on his chin, apparently in deep thought. "A man, about to be killed and a seer about to rescue him from all that,"he whispered. "Honestly, I am very honored to be helped by another seer aside from my mother."

He did notice the indifference in her voice when she answered his question. "What made you think that ability killed your cousin?" he inquired. "Surely you've tried to find out the cause of her death?" He knew that the death was not merely an accident, it was the work of a highly powerful being or wizard, he was sure of it.

[Prudence Campbell]

She returned the smile just as brilliantly. “That’s the spirit, Lars. With me and your whole family of seers to back you up, I don’t think anything bad would ever dare befall you.” She grinned, revealing her perfect set of pearly whites. She could not help but agree, their meeting, indeed, was life changing for both of them.

“I’ve tried, believe me. But all my mother and grandma told me was that she had a very bad case of asthma attack. Which, in our family, was not really a rare event.” She told him, trying to calm herself down. “Now, I think I know exactly what happened. She blanked like I did awhile ago or probably had a horrible vision… a vision so bad that it could cause her to have a heart attack and eventually die...”

Everything happens for a reason. She knew she died for a reason, she could not believe she lost it just a while ago. Then it came to her… the ultimate reason of her death. “She died to save me…” She said softly, her heartbeat sped up and she knew she was right. “Lars, she died to save me.” Her epiphany was sudden, she did not know what to feel.

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars smiled back at her. He just couldn't help it. Now he realized who would be the mystery recipient of his new watch. However, he couldn't help but get intrigued by the mysterious death of her cousin...and he merely listened as she gave him an account about the circumstances surrounding her death.

He was surprised when she suddenly said that her cousin died to save her...but she did not further elaborated on it. He tried to put some light into it...but he could not. "Save you...from where?" he asked, not fully understanding. What really happened to her? he asked himself.

He then went near her and placed his hand on her hair, gently mussing it. "Whatever it is that killed her, it was a noble act...to save you," he said. "And I know that her sacrifice did not go to waste. I'm sure that is what she would have liked for you think," he then added. He knew that she was beginning to feel guilt for her cousin's death and it was his job to get it out of her system.

"If you feel the need to cry, do so. Tears are natural healing waters of our soul," he said.

[Prudence Campbell]

“She saved me from dying the way she did.” She stated, her voice so soft. All those years she thought she died because of asthma… she could not believe she never thought of all this. “She changed my fate and I did not even realize it until now…” She eyed him, finding the words that would explain to him exactly what she just realized.

“Melinda died on her eighth birthday. She must have received her ability to see the future that same fateful day… just like I did when I turned eight... The only difference was that Melinda did not have the bracelet to protect her from the darkness.” She trailed off, she did not know how she was explaining all of this while learning all about it herself in the process. “I did not die then because of Melinda. She was the reason why my grandmother gave me the bracelet the day after my eighth birthday.”

Suddenly, she was struck by a lightning of emotions. Shock. Horror. Disbelief. Denial. Emptiness. Guilt. All of it seemed too much to bear. And, Lars took that moment to assure her that crying would do her good. She sat down and buried her face in her hands.

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars could see that she was being overwhelmed by waves of emotions bottled up inside her. He knew that slowly, painfully as she recounted the events leading to her cousin's death, the memories were becoming fresh for her. He knew that it would do her good yet he could not bear to see her in pain. He tried looking away, but he knew he could not. Maybe his heart was becoming soft for her sake.

When he turned back at her, he saw that she was already crying, her face buried in her hands. He could remember the day his mother told him what she saw, he didn't have any time to grieve over his supposed destiny; being taught by his father not to show any emotion, he tried to shrug off the feeling of helplessness and moved on. But being confronted with such vulnerability, he was left with no choice.

At that point, although it was not usually his nature to do so, he tentatively placed his hand on her back and patted her. He wanted to hug her, but he could not, after all, they just met moments before so why overwhelm her more? He wanted her to vent her feelings out, he knew that the pain was too overwhelming for her.

And as though by instinct, he took out the watch he made and let his fingers play with the chain while he waited for her to let her pent up emotion get released.

"It's okay to cry. Just let it all out," was all he said.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence took deep and calming breaths. Her cousin did not die to make her cry. She died to give her a life to live. Focus. She told herself for the nth time that day. She felt Lars comforting her and she thought that he was being really sweet. It took her about six minutes to finally recover. She conjured a handkerchief wandlessly and gently wiped the last of her tears. “Thank you.” She told him sincerely, getting up.

She walked over to his telescope and looked up at the sky. Her intuition seemed to tell her that she needed to look up. She saw her favorite constellation rest above her head. Moving from the left to the right as always… Then she had another epiphany. “Lars,” She turned around to face him, a small smile on her lips. “Melinda just proved that fates could be changed. This means yours can be too.” Her smile grew. “She changed mine and I’ll change yours.”

“What exactly did your mother say about your… um… you know?” She said awkwardly. If she was going to help stop his predicted death, she would need all the help she could get. Her grandmother was right all along, she was destined to be someone good. She just learned about her ability and she was already trying to use it to help Lars.

[alariclarsstouner]

It took nearly six minutes before she managed to be calm again. And all while, he was comforting her. He knew that it was the only way he could help her at that moment. When she finally stopped crying, he merely watched her, silence taking full control.

He just kept watching her as she made her way to his telescope and started looking through it. He then stood up and went near her, but he did not make any move to go even near. He was surprised when he heard her talk about her changing his fate. He couldn't help but smile. "I couldn't thank you enough...for sticking with me, even though we just met. Honestly, I don't know what will I do without you," he said.

As she asked him what was his mother's exact prophecy, he folded his arms, thinking hard. He was trying to remember the details. "I could recall her softly calling out to me, and she was crying. I went and knelt on her side, and asked her what was the matter. She slowly sat up in bed and holding my hands, her voice suddenly changed and she went like this,

'I could see that you will die an untimely death...a death so brutal that even people who do not know you well will vividly remember it...yet as brutal as your death will be, it would mean everything to someone...very important to you and your effort would not go to waste,'

...then she whispered to me to come back alive, and then she fainted," he finally said. "Honestly, when I heard all that, I didn't know what to say, yet I knew deep in my heart that my mother merely did her job as a seer, that is why I was forced to accept it." He placed a hand on his forehead, and then smacked his forehead hard. He knew that accepting his fate would mean resigning to the fact that we would really have to die...although he was glad that his predicted death would mean a lot to someone else...

[Prudence Campbell]

If she really was a seer, she ought to do something with it; and, she chose to devote her newly discovered ability to help people. Well not everybody, she was well-aware that could not possibly save everyone. But that did not discourage her from trying. Lars meeting her today had both a positive and a negative side. Positive: He had another seer on his side. Negative: The new seer beside him might mess up big time and cause his impending demise herself. This is not the time for negativity, Prue. She scolded herself.

“You don’t have to thank me. Just remember: to whoever much is given, of him will much be required.” She smiled at him. “I’m merely doing my job as a seer. I would not have gotten this new ability if I was not destined to do good things with it.” She gave him a half smile and winked. “And, if I were you, I won’t thank me yet. I don’t even know how to help you.”

She chewed her lower lip as she tried to look very calm, brave and steady. Prophesies, in general, are creepy… prophesies uttered by seers who specialize in predicting death, however, are certainly horrifying. The words used in his mother’s prophesy were clear as crystals. Her words seemed to pierce her heart as it delivered a message. She felt like she was pleading with her… like she wanted her to help.

“Her prophesy speaks of you dying a hero.” She started thinking aloud, him being a hero to be motivated her to help him even more. This of information made her see him in a new light. “The way she spoke of it seemed like you are going to be brutally murdered.” She said as she continued to process the information. “Do you know people who might have pissed a murderer off? Well, try to narrow it down to the people who matter to you, please.” People you might want to die for.

She did not overlook the ending of the prophesy. “Does she always faint after a prophesying?” She asked, feeling really bad for the talented seer.