When I awoke again, the room was dark. My body tensed as my mind began to race, thinking of what all could be hiding in the darkness, but it didn't last long. I felt familiar arms wrap around my body, and I turned and hid in Sebastian's embrace.

"Everything is alright, My Love. You are perfectly safe."

I nodded, but clung to him tighter.

"What's troubling you?"

I fought my exhaustion as I moved my head to look at him. I found his eyes, which were glowing ever so slightly in the darkness, and stared. "I didn't want all of this. I didn't want to leave my family. I didn't want any powers. I…" I couldn't speak anymore, but I couldn't tell if it was because I was on the verge of tears or because I was drained of all energy.

Sebastian held me closer. "I know. Fate is cruel."

I nodded. "I just wanted to spend the rest of my life with you…" I whispered.

His eyes shone a bit brighter as he smiled at me. A moment later, his lips met mine, and he kissed me lovingly for a long moment until I had to pull away to breathe.

"I understand your life isn't playing out the way you had imagined," he began as I tried to catch my breath, "but look at it this way. Instead of simply spending the rest of your life together, we can have both of our eternities."

"Only… if…" I tried.

"Yes, My Love. Only if you choose that path. No one is going to force it on you. I won't let them."

I smiled, and he leaned down and kissed me again, this one harder than the last, as if he was trying to reaffirm his words. Yet, he was the one to pull away this time.

He nuzzled my head. "Yes, you will live the life you choose, and I will stay by your side for every moment of it." He then shifted his hold on me so we could both lay comfortably. "Now get some rest. You've had an exhausting day."

I nodded, then lay my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, and I fell asleep in his warm and safe embrace.

When I woke up again, I immediately noticed the lack of warmth around me, and my fear began to creep back into me like it had last night.

I sat up quickly and shook my head, trying to clear it of intrusive thoughts. No, I had to be stronger than this. I was fighting for me. I was fighting for my future. I wasn't going to let anyone take it from me.

I got out of bed and made my way downstairs. That had to be where everyone was. They wouldn't leave me in this house alone. Even if Sebastian was gone, someone would still be here.

As I made my way through the house, I was suddenly struck with a familiar aroma that immediately eased all of my worries. I turned the corner, and found myself in the kitchen.

Sebastian turned as I entered and smiled lovingly at me. "Good morning, Chrystal. You are just in time for breakfast."

I sat at the nearby table and noticed that the house had finally been thoroughly cleaned. "Did you clean this morning, too?"

Sebastian approached and placed a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast before me, along with a fork and napkin. "I stayed with you until well after dawn, then decided to come down and make you something to eat. With a little help from Evan, we got the place looking livable for you."

"I appreciate it, thank you," I said as he turned and began to pour me a glass of juice.

"There's no need for that." He placed the glass beside my plate. "I couldn't very well let you live in the conditions this place was in. What kind of butler would I be?"

I smiled, then ate in a comfortable silence as he cleaned the dishes.

As I finished my food and the table was cleared, Sebastian sat in a chair and faced me. He took my hand in his and watched me. I tilted my head slightly in confusion.

"Chrystal, I need you to tell me everything you can remember about the vision you had last night. I know you do not wish to speak of it, but Lisa and I need to know what is going to happen so we can better protect you."

I swallowed hard, and his hold on my hand tightened, like he was trying to calm and reassure me. I hesitated, not wanting to acknowledge the power I had, but soon gave in and nodded.

"I really didn't see much. I saw this little town, and there was a man hanging around one of the houses." I closed my eyes, trying to see the images better, but they were fading. "I don't know what he looks like, or when he's coming. All I know is that he isn't supposed to be here. The police were making sure everyone stayed in their homes, and-" I gasped suddenly. The vision was returning, clear as day, and I watched in horror as Sebastian and Lisa approached the strange man while James and Evan stayed behind to guard me.

"What is it?" Sebastian asked, pulling me back to the present. I looked down at our hands and realized my once free one was now clinging to him. My body was shaking, and I couldn't tell why. I hadn't seen anything scary, so why was I so afraid?

"I saw you and Lisa going to speak with him…" I cried softly. "I didn't see anything after that, but I have the worst feeling something terrible is going to happen…"

Sebastian leaned forward in his chair and held me to him as I sobbed. I hated this feeling of helplessness I had. I could see into the future, but I couldn't watch long enough to see the important details. All I could do was warn them and try to keep myself safe.

I cried for a long time. Long enough for my tears to stop and my eyes to burn, but I continued to sob even so. I couldn't calm myself. There was nothing I could do, and Sebastian just continued to hold me close.

I started at the sudden feeling of a comforting hand placed atop my head. It was smoothing my hair and trying to help calm me. It was only when I felt my mind cloud over that I was finally able to stop crying and breathe.

"That's better," I heard Lisa's soft voice say as the hand pet my head again. I relaxed knowing it belonged to her.

I sat up slightly, now completely relaxed, but Sebastian's hands on my arms tightened. "Evan…" he warned.

"If you want her to go back to having a panic attack, then I'll release her, but I doubt any of us want to let her go through that."

"For once, Evan's right," Lisa commented. "She isn't stable right now. His hold on her is for her own good."

Sebastian frowned and looked back to me, and I felt myself stare blankly back at him. Even with my mind void of all thoughts, my heart ached at his sadness.

Lisa spoke up again. "We need to keep her calm until the threat has passed. Judging off of past rulers, when their gift first appeared, they could only see into the near future, pretty much within the same 24 hours. Evan is going to stay here with you both while James and I tell the other officers about what is going to happen. We will both return to you once everything is in order."

I saw Sebastian nod, and heard the front door open and close as Lisa left to do her job.