Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Avengers.
Authors note: Thank you to those of you who reviewed and welcome to the new followers and favourites. Sorry for being a little late. Merry Christmas and Happy new year.
Chapter 25
Dahlia was kept in her room, she could leave if she wanted but she wished to have better control of her magic before she did. She had left only twice and those occasions had led to Dahlia losing the control she had over the voices as she became overpowered with others around her and collapsed as she tried to internally control the power so she wouldn't harm anyone.
Frigga had gone back to Asgard a few hours after she arrived, promising to find out more about Dahlia's powers, if there was more to find out. Hela had her own people searching for clues about how Dahlia could be a goddess they had never seen before but even The Oracle was blinded by Dahlia and could not see her future or the part she played in others' lives. Loki barely left Dahlia alone, he promised to be by her side and help her control her magic and the voices and he was true to his word. He congratulated her on her victories, held her when she lost control, he never for a single moment let her feel like she was alone like he felt growing up.
A main part of controlling her magic was controlling her emotions. She spent hours meditating, feeling her magic flowing throughout her body and focusing on the voices and helping people.
A little over three weeks had passed and she had only seen her family, even Eva was dismissed from her service until further notice when Dahlia had better control. However not everyone was pleased about staying away and this was one such occasion. Dahlia was surrounded by a circle of candles, meditating while working her way through the voices. She was alone as her father left for a short time as Hela needed his assistance with something, he wouldn't tell her what but promised to be back soon.
She didn't know how long had passed until she heard a slight tapping on her repaired windows. She opened her eyes and looked to the balcony doors and saw a familiar face stood there. "Micah," she said as she stood and left the circle of candles. He gestured for her to unlock the balcony doors and she hesitated but soon did it. Dahlia didn't step out on the balcony though. "Stay back".
Micah leaned against the balcony so he was as far away from her as he could be.
"What are you doing here? How did you get here?" she questioned.
Micah pointed to another balcony below her own. "I used rope and climbed my way up," he said with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Dahlia asked again.
"I got bored," he replied with a shrug. "I was worried too. I haven't seen you in weeks and then I hear these rumours that you are struggling with your magic. I wanted to see you but your sister said you were fine and that I shouldn't worry. Dahlia, what's going on?"
Dahlia leaned against the doorframe before sliding down it to sit on the floor and Micah followed her and sat with his back to the balcony stonework. "You saw that Queen Frigga was here?" she questioned.
"Well the burn mark in the courtyard gave it away that an Asgardian was here," he tried to bring humour but it wasn't working.
"She came to warn us. You know we've been having problems with Angrboda and Voldemort and more people than I can count are a threat to my family. Well, it turns out Angrboda is now with Voldemort. Voldemort and I were connected by more than just destiny and she's done something to him that almost killed me, they're likely working together now and the only way to save me from what she was doing was this ceremony and for me to have the apple of Idunn. So now I age like the rest of my family but my power has also grown. Witches on Midgard use wands but they've become reliant on them more over the years but my magic is now too powerful for my wand. I tried, but it broke. Dad been helping me. With simpler spells I just have to think them and it happens. Stronger, more powerful spells need the enchantment for now".
Dahlia then held up her palm.
"Expectro patronum," she said quietly. Blue light left her palm and the Thestral leaped out of her palm and became its natural size almost immediately. The Thestral began to walk around the room until it walked to Dahlia and kneeled beside her. Dahlia smiled and after a few moments, the Thestral disappeared.
"That's amazing," Micah commented.
"It kept me safe before," Dahlia replied. "Dad believes my magic is now completely wandless and I'll eventually be able to do Midgardian spell work wordlessly. It'll just take practise and my teachers have already been told and they're quite good at wandless magic. They were the greatest wizards and witches of their age when they were alive. But that's not all, Frigga was here because it turns out I'm a goddess".
His eyes widened slightly. "Wow, goddess of what?" he soon asked.
"Destiny. Turns out there hasn't been one before so I don't have diaries or anything from previous people who held the title so we're all stuck being clueless about what I can do."
"But you must have some idea. Your father finds getting into people's mind much easier and your sister can kill with her touch. The term Destiny has to give you some clue".
"It has a little," Dahlia said with a slight shrug. "Being a goddess, you hear these voices, voices of the people who need your help. The voices I'm hearing, they're asking about decisions being made and I have these flashes, visions, of what each decision will lead to. It seems to be my power to help influence their decisions and put them on the path I choose. Dad's been helping me but it's been slow and I've only helped about a hundred people these past few weeks. Dad and Hela say it takes practise".
"Well it sounds like you have control of your magic. Why haven't you left your room?" Micah asked, pleased but still curious.
"Because I don't have control. Those little earthquakes that have happened recently, that was me, I caused the castle to shake. Things being broken, that was me. There's more to my power than I told you. I keep having outbursts and I can hurt people; I know I can. My power doesn't just seem to influence people's decisions, it seems I can hurt people when I want to and I don't have control over that. I hurt a professor at Hogwarts because she was hurting the students, I made her torture herself and it still hasn't stopped to this day. Dad thinks my powers can have a positive or negative impact on someone's life, even those I can't hear like my teacher and that I can put someone on a path even if it leads to pain and death. He thinks before I was using my power on pure emotion and that teacher made me angry and I hated her so it explains why my power was acting on that emotion before I even had the apple, because I didn't just hate her, I was trying to protect others".
"Protect, exactly." Micah said and moved close so he was just sitting on the other side of the doorframe; he could even reach out for her if he wanted. "You would never harm anyone unless it was to protect others, you're not that type of person. I know that and we haven't known each other for long but if it's any consolation, I'd trust you with my life, my destiny, the path my life takes. I trust you".
"Really?" she questioned with a small smile.
"Truly," he said then reached out and held her hand.
She smiled and he returned that smile when she turned her hand so she could hold his. "Thank you".
"So, tell me, what kind of people have you been helping?"
"Well, lots of different kinds of people. Dad said that the people I hear would have a different life to me, different morals, different opinions about what makes them happy, so I have to take that into consideration. He says it is my choice to help them or not, so he is going to teach me to ignore the voices if I choose. I've heard voices from across the realms, asking for help on choices of kids, getting married, moving house, selling land, jobs, getting divorced, investing, travelling and peace treaties. It is weird helping people decide what path to take when I don't even know what to do with my own life".
"You don't have to decide now. Now that you've had the apple, you have thousands of years to experience life, to explore the universe and decide what you want to do. Maybe if you decide to help people, helping them might help you decide what you want to do".
"Maybe. I do want to help people, don't get me wrong, but it's hard sometimes. The first voice I heard, the first clear voice, was a teenager on Midgard. Her parents want her to be a doctor, a healer, and if she does that it will make them happy and she'll have money, but she won't be happy. She wants to be an artist, but her parents will never accept that".
"That's why your father told you to look into people's circumstances, happiness against family and wealth. I'm sure everyone knows you would choose family".
"But I don't think deep down this girl is happy at all with her family. She has a few weeks left before she has to choose where to go and what to be and every day, I wake up and hear her voice louder than all the others. She's so conflicted".
"Then help her. What would help you to help her?"
Dahlia thought for a moment, imagining the girl. "If I could meet her," she replied. "Perhaps if I could meet her and understand why she loves art so much, perhaps then I can help guide her".
She then felt a light sensation, warm as if coming from her chest and she looked down to see a small light coming from her chest and she tried to quickly take her hand from Micah's fearing what would happen to him as light had never come from her chest before. It seemed it was too late though, before she moved her hand it was as if everything around them blurred and it felt as if they fell through the floor and landed hard and rolled.
They landed on hard concrete and her senses were soon greeted with the smell of car fumes, rubbish and a hint of pretzels and pizza. The floor beneath her was concrete and when she looked up, she saw a car heading straight for them, the screeches of its tyres as it tried to stop filled her ears. Micah stood quickly and hit the bonnet of the car, the car flipping into the air.
"MICAH, NO!" Dahlia shouted and stood quickly.
Her purple magic was emitting from her hands but her hands also glowed with their warm strange light. Instead of hurting someone or causing harm, she pushed her magic outward and the car that was flying over her head now froze in place and the cars that were about to hit them and crash into each other trying to stop, levitated.
"Dahlia," Micah said after a moment as Dahlia looked at the cars, she was levitating then looked at Micah to see him looking around. A large crowd had gathered to look at them, many of them had phones and cameras out and Dahlia saw a tourist stand nearby. 'I love New York' was written on shirts. Of course it was New York, why is it always New York?
Dahlia slowly began to put the cars down and the car above her was placed down and once they were safe, she quickly checked on the family of four inside the car to see that they weren't injured and apart from a cut to the head that the father in the driver's seat sustained, they were fine. She raised her glowing hand and the father flinched back in fear. "It's okay, I'm here to help," she said and healed the cut to his head.
He raised his hand and felt the cut gone. "Thank you," he mumbled.
Dahlia then couldn't handle the attention any longer and reached for Micah's hand and quickly began to move. "Come on," she said and the two ran.
They ran for about three blocks before she pulled him into an empty alleyway and walked far enough down it that no one would accidentally see them unless they were followed.
"What happened? What was that light?" Micah asked.
"I don't know," Dahlia said with a shake of her head as she looked down the alley to make sure they weren't followed. "Honestly, it felt a little like apparition but different and the light from my chest…I don't know…maybe it's because of my powers, maybe I can teleport to other worlds now. What I do know for certain is that we have to get back home. We're on Midgard, specifically New York".
"New York? Isn't this where your father-"
"Took over and had the Chitari attack, yep," she said as she interrupted. "It's also home to the Avengers and I know a SHIELD base is based here so no doubt SHIELD agents will be out searching for us. Then there's also the American Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, who aren't too far away and I don't know if they'll come looking. Let's see if I can get us back".
She held out her hands and Micah joined his hands with hers as they faced one another. Dahlia tried to focus, tried to force them back to Niflheim but apart from her hands glowing dimly and a slight warm feeling in her chest, she couldn't.
For almost five minutes, she tried to send them back to Niflheim but failed. "It's not working," Micah said and moved his hands from Dahlia's and the dim glow faded from her hands.
"Just let me keep trying," Dahlia said frustrated and tried to reach for his hands but he took a step back.
"No. Dahlia, you are recovering from your change, your powers have changed and are constantly changing and you don't have full control yet. If you keep on exerting yourself, who knows what will happen? You could harm yourself or worse, kill yourself."
Dahlia put her hands to her head and stepped back until she hit the dirty brick wall and leaned against it. He was right, as much as she hated to admit it, Micah was right and as much as he seemed to focus on her getting hurt or killed, she could also bring harm to him and those close by and she would hate herself if she brought him harm. She sighed and dropped her hands and spoke. "You're right. We do have to get out of here though before people start looking for us and we can't walk around like this".
Dahlia pushed herself off of the wall and a purple light shimmered over Dahlia and her outfit changed. Her hair still hung long in wavy curls and she still wore her locket but her dress had changed to a mid-thigh black skater skirt, a burgundy long sleeve sweater, black tights and black heel boots. She then used the same magic to change his clothes to white trainers, black jeans and a grey hoodie.
"How's that?" she asked.
He looked down and questioned. "Is this how people on your world dress?"
She nodded. "Yep. Just try to keep your head down so people don't stare at your eyes. Yellow eyes aren't the norm on Midgard and I'd give you sunglasses but early October weather doesn't match. Now the plan, we get away from here as no doubt agents will be trying to find us and I'll figure something out when we get to safety".
He put the hood up so it casted some shadow on his eyes. "And if you can't get us back?"
"Then I'll make contact with my sister and hopefully she doesn't freak out that we teleported here".
The two then walked out of the alley and Dahlia very quickly remembered that New York was said to be one of the busiest cities in the world and she needed no one to tell her otherwise since she and Micah were almost parted immediately by the crowds. It may have been early October, the time when people were at work and school but it was a Saturday morning so busy wasn't a word Dahlia would use to describe the streets. Since they were almost parted, Dahlia reached for Micah's hand and he held it tightly, not wanting to lose the princess he now deemed was under his protection.
They walked the opposite direction away from the crash and Dahlia had no idea where she was going but she just kept walking. That was until she bumped into someone and the persons belongings went everywhere.
"I'm sorry," Dahlia said kneeling to help collect the books while Micah kept a close eye on all those around them in case of an attack.
"It's okay, I can be a clutz and I was in a rush," the person said and Dahlia almost froze at the voice, hearing that voice for weeks on end and she looked up to see the girl who had been plaguing her thoughts.
Dahlia knew that the girl before her had just turned 18. She was a mix between American and Chinese, she had a slight tanned complexion with brown eyes and her brown hair was up in a pony tail. She wore very simple blue jeans and a yellow elbow length sleeve jumper and white trainers.
"Sorry, I didn't realise how busy New York would be," Dahlia said hoping her English accent would show she was a tourist.
"Is that an English accent?" the girl pointed out and Dahlia nodded as she handed some books to her and Dahlia noticed they were mostly sketch books and a book or two on art.
"I'm Dahlia," Dahlia said as she stood and the girl followed.
"Lucy," the girl replied. "Is there anywhere specific you're looking for?"
"Erm, not really, just looking. Know anywhere good?"
"Well I suppose you probably came to see the Avengers tower, it's what most tourists come here to see, hoping to get a look at one of them," Lucy said with a roll of her eyes.
"I take it you disapprove," Dahlia commented with a smile.
"It's not that I disapprove, I just think there is more to New York than the Avengers. Most people come for that and I suppose being tourists you want to see the statue of liberty, empire state building or Broadway".
"What would you suggest?"
Lucy hummed then answered. "Well I suppose all them are good, they all make up our culture, tell our story. I spend most of my time in Central Park though, I know it's a tourist sight too but its full of culture and the people of New York and it's visited tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of times a day. You'll meet a wide range of people there, just make sure you don't go alone after dark".
"I'll consider it, thank you".
"Good…I should be going, I am meeting some friends but it was nice to meet you," Lucy said and put her bag over her shoulder and carried her books.
"You too," Dahlia said then let Lucy pass her and she walked away.
"She's the girl, isn't she?" Micah asked even though he didn't need an answer. They both watched as Lucy walked away and disappeared around the corner.
"Tell me, Micah, how much of a coincidence do you think it is that I talk about meeting the girl and suddenly we teleport to the exact city she lives in and just happen to bump into her?"
"No coincidence at all. It seems your power took you exactly where you need to be, I wouldn't even doubt it had something to do with us walking down this street, it was you guiding us and you are the Goddess of Destiny, you lead people to where they need to be. If we follow her, maybe you can speak to her again, find out where her desire for arts comes from and return this," Micah said and pulled out a book from behind his back.
"Micah!" she gasped. "That's stealing," she then took the sketch covered notebook from him.
"Not when I guessed who the young lady was from your reaction and I knew you would like to talk to her again. Those helped me identify her, I do not know what they are for but they say medicine and art," Micah said and pointed to the two brochures sticking out of the notebook.
Dahlia opened it to find it wasn't a sketch notebook but a journal so she quickly closed it as she wouldn't want someone reading her deepest secrets and thoughts. She did, however, take out the two brochures and saw they were for two very different colleges. One was a brochure for Harvard University while the other was for Rhode Island School of Design. She had heard of Harvard; it was a good school and could only assume that Rhode Island was as well.
"These are brochures for university. It's a higher level of education here on Midgard and you are right, this Harvard one is for medical school, for her to go down the path of becoming a healer while the other is for art...You're right, I have to find her, talk to her, at least give her this back," Dahlia said and the two began to quickly follow her and managed to find her walking towards Central Park.
They made their way to Central Park but before they entered or even caught up with Lucy, Micah pulled her to the side of the entrance. "Dahlia, think about this," he said.
"You said follow her," she replied.
"Yes, that was before I realised how many people would be here. It seems instead of working our way out of the city and away from the large population, we have only surrounded ourselves with more people that could cause harm to you".
"Well it is called Central Park for a reason, it's in the centre of the city," she answered back. "Stop thinking about protecting me for one minute and think about you too. I can protect myself; you don't need to worry…I thought you understood why I needed to do this".
"I do," he said almost angrily. "But I also understand that if I do not keep you safe, I may as well walk into Mareritt where your family have been killing and torturing Death Eaters because…"
He stopped, realising what he had said.
She froze at what he said. "They're what?" she questioned in a timid voice and he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Micah, tell me the truth, is that why Hela needed my father?"
"It is not my place."
"It is now you've said it. Micah, what's been going on since I've been isolated in my room?" he still chose to remain silent. "Micah," she said sternly.
He soon took a deep breath and knew he had to tell her. "Your family have become…persistent isn't the word for it, but they sent out more ships to find your enemies, Hela has called upon anyone she can call an ally to ask for their assistance in monitoring where they could possibly be and they have hunted down the Death Eaters. Anyone they can prove to be a Death Eater, anyone that has a link to being one has been hunted and killed and is being tortured for information. Hundreds have arrived in Niflheim but I know they have not captured them all and I know Voldemort's inner circle is missing, your sister was most angry when she couldn't find them and all the guards and servants had to be removed from that part of the castle, fearing how your sister was going to react. Your father is not pleased either but he seems to be holding in his anger in order to focus on you. Dahlia, I have to get you back safely".
"And we will. I just need answers," Dahlia said and went to walk past him and into the park but he stopped her by putting a hand on her arm as she went to walk past. "Micah…"
"Dahlia," he said his yellow eyes locking with her green. "You must know that I don't care what your family would do to me if any harm came to you because I know I would do everything possible, even give my life if I had to, to keep you from harm".
Dahlia believed him, she always did when it came to her protection as she looked into his eyes and knew she would find truth, care and protectiveness but she just never understood his motives behind it. She wasn't his princess, she didn't belong to his world but maybe it was because of her family, knowing what would happen if they were to lose her again. Whatever his motives, she knew she was safe.
She slid her arm from his grip but didn't move fully as she took hold of his hand as it slid into hers. "I trust you," she said then smiled. "Now let's go, we've lost sight of her and now we have to find her and gods forbid we have to search the whole park." She pulled him along and he smiled as they moved quickly.
With the help of a little magic, they were able to find Lucy rather quickly. She was sat by the lake on a cluster of rather large rocks with a large sketchpad on her lap and she seemed to be with friends as she was talking and smiling and laughing with a group of people who seemed to be the same age around her. Some of them were dancing, some of them playing instruments and there were a couple of others who were also drawing with Lucy.
They approached and Lucy noticed them first. "I see you came like I suggested".
"Found this," Dahlia said and held up the journal. "Didn't know where to return it to so I assumed you would be here and yes; I took your advice and came to see. This park really is beautiful".
Lucy gestured for them to join her up on the rocks. "Guys, this is Dahlia, she's from England, and – sorry I didn't get your name before".
"Micah," Dahlia answered as Micah sat with his head down as he observed their surroundings without bringing attention to his eyes. "Sorry, he's a little shy".
"It's fine," Lucy said as she took her journal back. "I'll introduce you to everyone. This is Nick, Tyler, Noah, Belle and Kayla," Lucy said as she pointed to the dancers. "Zack, Jordan and Thomas," she pointed to the two guitarists and a guy with a single drum. "and this is Luke and Jenny," she introduced the two artists who were sat close by.
They all exchanged hi's and waved before going back to what they were doing.
"Wow, you're really talented," Dahlia said after everyone was distracted and she saw that Lucy was sketching. Dahlia didn't have much experience with art but when she saw something good, she knew it. Lucy had been sketching the view of New York in the distance and the line work and the shading was incredible.
"You think?" Lucy questioned with a slight blush.
"I wouldn't say it otherwise…" Dahlia replied. "I can see why you want to go to art school." Lucy looked at her immediately and lost her smile. "I didn't read it," Dahlia said quickly. "The brochures fell out of your notebook and I saw Harvard and Rhode Island but I put them right back in, I swear…so, two very different schools".
"Yeah, it's complicated".
"You can tell me," Dahlia pressured just a little.
"It's a family thing, it doesn't matter," Lucy said trying to move conversation along.
"Oh, it's okay. I just thought you would like an outsider's perspective if you're stuck on choosing," Dahlia said but could sense that Lucy debated on telling her so Dahlia pushed on that a little, feeling a little more confident in her powers and helping people make choices.
It seemed to work as about a minute later, Lucy put her sketchpad to the side and turned to look at her. "My parents are doctors, my older brother is becoming a doctor, both sets of my grandparents are doctors, my aunts and uncles are doctors and my cousins are, guess what, becoming doctors. My parents want me to go to Harvard and study to become a doctor just like they did but…"
"You don't want to".
Lucy shrugged. "I don't know what I want. I know saving people's lives is a good thing, it's honourable and like my parents always say, it's good money and a family tradition. I have nothing against the job, it's just-"
"You love art".
"Yes," Lucy said and nodded. "But I also know I can't make a living off of art, I know it's competitive and I don't have a foothold in the industry or anyone to help and I'd end up working as some starving artist working in a café somewhere or packing groceries or-"
"That sounds like what your parents have been telling you," Dahlia said as she interrupted. "Tell me why you love art".
"It's complicated, it's…" Lucy said then thought through her answer. She then went into her bag and brought out a book on the history of art and began to show Dahlia different pieces of historic artwork. "I understand the struggle of being an artist, I do. I mean how can you not when some of the greats went through their own struggles. Monet, his work 'Impression, Sunrise', is appreciated all over the world but when he first painted it, he was greeted with nothing but abuse and criticism and they called his work ugly and unfinished and his family suffered through poverty and it wasn't until the 1880's that his work started to sell. Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists in the world but people thought him mad in life, he spent time in an asylum, cut off his own ear and only ever sold one painting in his life and now his paintings are some of the most expensive in the world. All types of artists from writers, to poets, to composers have suffered in life and took decades to be acknowledged, some even after death, but the world would be different without them."
"You're very passionate about this," Dahlia said taking her passion in.
"I guess. When I was a little girl, I used to draw and paint the flowers in this very park. I used to think about how pretty they looked when the light hit them in a certain way or when they first bloomed and even when the colours on the leaves changed through the seasons. My parents, however, could tell me if those same plants were used in medicine in the past and the properties they had that helped medicine grow. The way I see it, everyone is different. Everyone is born and most people that are raised in the same family are alike. They have the same beliefs, the same outlook on the world and take the same path but you always get people that are different".
"Lucy is the black sheep of the family, we are all outcasts of our families, its why we come here," Lucy's artist friend Jenny said as she handed them a bag of sweets to take some and Dahlia declined.
"It's hard to understand if you didn't fit in with your family," Lucy said.
"I understand, trust me," Dahlia said as she thought about her life.
She was born to two loving parents but raised by a family that hated her and she understood how she could have turned out, she could have hated her magic and become resentful and hateful at those who left her with the Dursleys and especially with her family for never finding her. She was the black sheep of the Dursleys, the black sheep at Hogwarts and in some ways, she was still the black sheep of her family because of her differences but they embraced her, loved her for them when the universe would kill her for it.
"Footage of the crash that happened downtown," Zack the guitarist said and everyone, except Dahlia and Micah, quickly moved around him to watch it on his phone.
"$20 it was a mutant," one of them said.
"Nah, it was inhuman," another said.
"Maybe alien," another said.
"What's mutant? Inhuman?" Micah asked quietly.
"Mutant is someone who gets powers, not the magical kind like in the wizarding world but other kind like reading minds, super strength, speed, that kind of power," Dahlia answered. "Mutants are born with their powers but inhumans get them when they go through a ceremony called terrigenesis. Inhumans have the ability from birth but its only after that ceremony that they get them. Inhumans are a rogue fraction of the Kree experiments they did thousands of years ago to create super soldiers".
"I believe that failed," Micah commented.
"Not here," she replied. "Here was the only planet that they succeeded but Inhuman's lived in the shadows for years until recently."
"But that's-" they heard Lucy say and they looked to the group to see them staring up at them on the rock.
It was clear they had seen the footage and the footage was clear enough to show their faces as they all just stared in slight wonder but also fear. Dahlia and Micah slid off of the rock and took a step towards them but those sat on the ground stood and they all took a step away from them.
"We're not going to hurt you," Dahlia said calmly with a comforting smile.
"Then why are you here?" Jenny asked.
"For her," Dahlia said looking to Lucy.
All the boys seemed to move in front of her and made a protective stance. "Not a chance," Luke said. "You want her, you'll have to go through us".
"No one wishes her harm," Micah said as he lowered his hood and they stared at his eyes.
"Of course not," Dahlia said. "I know it sounded bad about being here for you, Lucy, but it's true and not in the way you are all probably thinking".
"What are you?" the dancer Kayla asked.
"Well you were right on the whole alien thing, kind of. Okay this is harder than I thought," Dahlia said and raised a hand to her head. "This was no doubt totally easier for the others a thousand years ago. Okay," she dropped her hand. "Truth time. Lucy, we are not here to hurt you, I am here to help you".
"With what?" Lucy asked.
"Your decision. Medicine or art".
"I only just told you about that, we've only just met".
"Yes, we have but I have known you for weeks now. Wait, that's creepy. Erm…Lucy, you're safe with me and I'm not going to take you anywhere, I just wanted to help you make your decision. If you honestly believed you were in danger, you would have ran by now," Dahlia said hoping she would listen.
Lucy hesitated and did almost run but patted on the shoulders of her guy friends so they would move and she took a step closer. She crossed her arms as if forming some shield then said. "What do you mean help me?"
"I was telling the truth when I said I was from England; it is where I was born and raised until recently but only my mother is from this world. My father is a god and recently I have come into my powers," Dahlia said and as Lucy stared at her in disbelief, Dahlia raised one of her hand and allowed a few specks of her magic so show that she wasn't lying before she made them disappear. "I have recently come into my powers and I mean in a matter of weeks, so very recently, and your prayer was the first I heard".
"Prayer? I didn't pray to you," Lucy said confused.
"Yes and no. You didn't actively pray to me because no one knew I existed yet, but you did. All the thoughts you've been having about how you need help in deciding your future, they were loud enough and you meant them enough that I heard them. I am the Goddess of Destiny; I can hear when people need help in deciding on their future and I can see flashes of the future".
"You saw my future," Lucy said surprised and dropped her folded arms. "What did you see? What did I choose?"
"You haven't chosen, that's why I'm here. I can hear possibly millions of people across worlds asking me for help and I have been helping them, most of them in the back of my mind because my magic reacts if it's something I choose but your voice was the first I heard. I was confused, I didn't understand why art was so important to you. Yes, I can see the future but I see both paths, one where you're a doctor and one an artist and with someone like you, someone who truly needs help in deciding, I have to make the decision".
"So, my future is in your hands?"
"In a way. You still get to keep your free will; I cannot take away someone's free will but I can influence you to do what I believe is best for you. I didn't come to New York on purpose, I came by accident but I think it was my powers trying to help me understand you, which decision to help you make and I think I do now."
Dahlia looked towards the rock and had the two brochures levitate towards her and she burnt the Harvard one before holding the art one.
"You are a good person, I see that and I want you to be happy so here," Dahlia said then held out the Rhode Island one.
Lucy took it and questioned. "Why? Why help me? You could have ignored me, why come here?"
"You needed my help and in a few weeks' time I could have ignored you once I gain control of my powers completely but I know I would never forgive myself if I had the power to help and I didn't, and you helped me realise something…I was the black sheep in my family for a long time, still am in some aspects but the family that raised me hated me for my differences while the family I have now accept and love me for them. Seeing you made me realise that we shouldn't allow anyone to influence us or tell us what makes us happy. You love art, you're happy with art and I know you will face challenges but you will be doing something you love and your family will never understand that but you've made family along the way," Dahlia said with a smile and glanced to Lucy's friends. "You've reminded me that sometimes friends can become just as good as family, more than family as they choose to stand by you and accept you. Thank you for reminding me of that".
Lucy took a hesitant step forward. "They're never going to accept it, are they?" she asked.
"I only see glimpses but no, your parents will never accept art," Dahlia answered and Lucy didn't seem as fazed with the answer as Dahlia believed she might have been. Dahlia then smiled more. "The doctor route has just disappeared and your voice is now gone, it seems you've made your decision".
Lucy gave a small smile as she nodded. "I think I have. Thank you for helping. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Dahlia glanced to Micah to see him slightly more aware of his surroundings and Dahlia knew why as she did a quick glance around before looking back to Lucy. "There is something, something from all of you in fact, two things. One, don't put anything online about what I have said. I don't mind if the whole goddess thing gets out but don't start posting about me growing up in England and my mother being from this world and my father being a god or about me being the black sheep".
"We won't, will we guy's?" Lucy said.
The others shook their heads, if somewhat nervously. "If you're really a black sheep, then you're one of us," dancer Belle said.
"The second?" Lucy questioned.
"Right now, there are agents in this park and the second Micah and I leave, they are going to question you," Dahlia said and this made them all look around. "Try to be discreet. Three men by the coffee cart, two men reading newspapers behind me to the right benches and the most obvious one, a guy helping a little boy with a toy boat even though he is in a suit and the boy looks nothing like him. There's likely more which is why Micah is a little on edge".
"Twenty-two identifiable ones," Micah said.
"See. When we leave, they're going to ask you questions about me and what we talked about. They already know me and I know their boss and he and my family aren't on the greatest of terms which is why they haven't just approached. If they don't cause you too much trouble, don't tell them anything".
"You got it," Lucy said.
"CIA, right?" Noah questioned.
"Come on, man. It's a secret branch of the government that deals with aliens and stuff," Tyler said.
They all rolled their eyes at him. Clearly, he was into conspiracies but when they saw Dahlia smirk and even Micah's lip go up slightly, they all exclaimed. "Seriously?"
Dahlia shrugged. "You didn't hear it from me," she said then turned to Micah. "Ready to go?"
"You think you can handle it this time?" he questioned.
"I'm sure," she reached out for his hands and held them as they faced each other. "Besides, I want to make a quick stop first".
"Dahlia," he warned.
"Don't 'Dahlia' me, it's your fault for telling me what my family is up to. Just a quick stop for me to get some questions answered then we'll be back in the palace, promise." Dahlia then looked to the others and spoke. "Stick by one another. You might be the black sheep of your families but as long as you've got each other, you're never without family."
They all nodded and smiled and some gave a slight wave even though they were confused and didn't know what was about to happen.
Dahlia focused and believed she now got the hang of it as within a moment, her hands glowed and she felt the warm feeling in her chest and she disappeared.
The teens watched as they became almost a ball of small light before the light disappeared and passers-by saw it too and began to question what they just saw while some went back to what they were doing, finding it just another strange thing that happened in New York. Just as Dahlia said, three of the agents approached in less than a minute and showed ID's. "Agent Wilson with the CIA, we need to talk to you kids about who you just been speaking to," one of the agents said.
They all tried to hold it in but they laughed at the CIA cover as that's what Noah originally said but now knew that it was fake.
"Get lost man," Zack said and waved them to leave while they returned to what they were doing. The agents didn't leave but they didn't care as they went back to what they were doing as they knew none of them would speak. Lucy sat back up on the rock and looked down at the brochure before she grabbed her sketchbook and began to sketch the goddess that just helped decide her fate.
Authors note: Please review. Happy New Year!