“It’s been too long,” I say, pacing up and down the rocky ground outside the pool. Logan, Locke and East all came out of the water with new marks ages ago, but Mr Daniels is nowhere to be seen. I glance over at Locke who is still shaking the water out of his hair.

“He might have just fallen in later than we did,” East says, standing close to me and watching me pace. I know he is worried too.

“It doesn’t make sense,” I shake my head, and continue stomping back and forth. I’m a few steps away from jumping in the water and asking it where the hell he is.

“Or he failed his test because of his past. He has more demons than most,” East points out quietly.

“He will pass,” I snap at East as I stop to glare at him. When he holds his hands up in surrender, I realise how harsh that sounded. I know it’s not East’s fault. East watches me, waiting for me to calm down before he comes over to me. I sigh, rubbing my face, “I’m sorry I snapped. I know what you’re saying. I just can’t allow myself to think like that or I’m going to lose it.”

“I shouldn’t have even said it. The test messed me with me, and I’m just feeling a little off,” East admits, and I wrap my arms around his waist, watching the water.

“The test messed with me too. It messed with us all,” I say, glancing quickly at Enzo and the twins. They’re resting their backs against a wall and watching the water with dazed expressions. They all look lost in their own thoughts. What ever happened to them in the water, it has shaken them much like it has me.

“What did you see?” he asks me.

“Ry,” I say quietly, leaving out the part about myself. “His soul, spirit, or whatever you believe it is.”

“His soul. I knew he would stick around to say goodbye,” East says gently.

“It broke my heart, both what he said and seeing him leave once again,” I admit, not fully over it.

“Ry is at peace,” East tells me gently and I nod, resting my head against his chest and continue to watch the still water. I don’t know how long I stare until I see a bubble pop against the surface, and then another, just seconds before Mr Daniels bursts out the water. Mr Daniels eyes lock with mine as I break away from East and watch him receive his marks. I see two marks appear on his cheeks, looking like hands, and a mark on his forehead which is shaped like angel wings. What the hell are those?

“Finally,” Enzo comments, stepping up to my other side as Mr Daniels finally gets all his marks and starts swimming over to us. Enzo and East grab his arms, pulling him onto the ground as he coughs up water and lies on his back as I kneel next to him. I spot marks on his hands, and the one behind his ear like we all have.

“You okay?” I ask when he stops coughing water and sits up. He immediately pulls me to his chest and kisses the top of my head.

“Yes, but we need to get home right now. They are going to kill your dads, Enzo’s sister, and anyone that doesn’t side with your father. I saw it,” Mr Daniels tells me, his worried tone tells me all I need to know.

“What about my mother?” I ask as I stand up, and Enzo offers a hand to help Mr Daniels up.

“I didn’t see her,” he says.

“He will keep her alive. She isn’t dead yet,” I say firmly. If the vision I was shown is true, then she will be the one that kills him. I’m almost happy it’s her. It’s the perfect revenge for Ryan, well, only if I don’t die next.

“We need to leave,” Locke says, and we all don’t say a word as we agree. My twelfth mark starts warming up on my neck, just like the tube heated up to tell me to use it before. I have new gifts, and I’m stronger now…so maybe I can control a portal?

“I have an idea,” I say, stepping away from them all.

“What?” Logan asks.

“Just stay back, in case this goes wrong,” I warn them, but I hear them all take a step forward to stand right behind me. Typical, stubborn ass men. I mentally pray this works. Closing my eyes, I picture Kelly as I hold both my hands out in front of me and call my twelfth mark. Nothing happens for a while, and I frown, opening my eyes again as I lower my arms.

“I thought I could open a portal to Kelly, but nothing happened,” I turn and explain to my guys.

“Alaric said the twelfth mark was connected to emotions. Even though he used great emotional pain to activate it, love could work just as well now that you’re stronger. Try thinking about how much you love Kelly,” Mr Daniels suggests, and I nod, facing forward once again and lifting my arms. I picture when I first met Kelly, a day that seems like almost yesterday, even though we were only eight. Kelly and her parents had just moved into the empty house on our street, and I was dragged by my mum to say hello. Kelly ran out the door once we knocked, holding a giant cookie in her hand, and I could hear her mum shouting at her to come back. She asked me if I wanted to share the cookie, but we had to hide. Since then I loved that girl like a sister. I open my eyes as my twelfth mark burns the back of my neck, and a blue shining portal has opened in front of me. The inside is mainly blue glowing swirls, and what looks like a plain stone room is on the other side.

“It worked,” I say, breathlessly, tilting my head to the others as they step closer.

“Let’s see where it goes then,” Locke grins, before walking straight into the portal. Logan goes in next, with a wink in my direction. East follows, and then Enzo, and I look over at Mr Daniels who watches the water. Mr Daniels kneels down, placing his hand on the ground.

“Thank you for the treasured moments with my sister, and for my new gifts. We will destroy the evil that is coming to your world. I promise you that,” he says firmly, making me wonder what happened when he was under the water. He eventually straightens up and nods once at me before walking into the portal. I walk through last, feeling the cold wash of the portal surround my body. It makes me feel like I can’t breathe until I get through the other side, and I walk into the small room behind my silent guys. They move out the way, so I can see Kelly, fast asleep on a small bed. There isn’t much in the room, just the bed, a small dresser and a rug on the floor.

“Can you all wait outside? I need to talk to Kelly alone about something,” I whisper. Enzo kisses my forehead before walking to the door, and the others all follow him out, shutting the door behind them.