Thirty minutes before Alexander walked in with Sebastian, Redmond, and Stone
Elena's POV
Madam Agnes sat down on the armchair beside my hospital bed. I looked up at her and saw two of her. I closed my eyes, opened them, and looked again. Her face seemed distorted.
"No," I said quietly, loud enough for her to hear. I held my head in both hands.
"What's the problem, child?" she asked. I felt her hand rest on my shoulder.
"You look foggy."
"Oh child," she chuckled, "with old age on me and my husband dead, I've stopped caring about my appearance or looking like the diva I used to be."
I could feel her smiling even though I could not see her.
"No, Agnes," I swallowed. "I can't see you properly. That's what I meant."
"Oh," she said. Her voice changed, like something had just clicked. "I'll get you some water."
I heard her stand up. Objects shifted, then water poured into a cup. Her feet shuffled closer.
"Here."
Her old, frail hands took mine and placed the cup gently in my hands.
"Drink it slowly and gently," she said.
"Thank you." I drank slowly. When I felt it was enough, I stretched out my hand. She took the cup from me.
"Thank you. You are very kind."
I heard her steps move away, water poured into the sink, and the rush of water after. Her steps returned. The armchair sank beside me again.
Agnes chuckled.
"I used to do this for Elodie too. She always had foggy visions."
I stayed quiet. Could it be a coincidence that Grandma always had foggy visions too? I cleared my throat. Asking would not hurt.
"Could Grandma also see the future?"
The room went quiet.
Not the calm kind. The heavy kind that pressed against my ears. I opened my eyes slowly. My vision had cleared. I turned my neck to look at her.
"Could she?" I asked again.
Agnes' face changed. The warmth slipped away. She looked at me for a long moment before asking,
"Can you?"
My throat felt dry. I hesitated.
"Yes," I said finally. "Yes, I can."
Her hand trembled as she brought it to her mouth.
"Oh God," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"I don't see everything," I added quickly. "It only happens in my dreams. And sometimes there's pain in my neck. Like a warning." I swallowed. "There's also an old man. And a voice."
Agnes stiffened.
"Grey beard," she said quietly.
I frowned. "What?"
"Your grandma used to call him Greybeard."
A chill slid down my spine. I shifted carefully, making sure the drip stayed in place, and turned fully toward her.
"Agnes," I said slowly, "the doctor said I have a tumor in my pineal gland." I paused, my fingers brushing my neck. "I don't know for sure, but I think… I think it might be connected."
She did not answer right away.
"I don't know, child," she said at last. "Elodie wrote many things down. She kept a journal. We were in the same college. She got a scholarship to come to my country to study Business Administration. She saved me from a fire. That was how we became friends. She was my chief bridesmaid, and I was hers."
"Wow," I breathed. "That's fantastic."
Agnes smiled faintly.
"She could do more than she ever admitted," she said. "More than people would believe."
My eyes widened.
"Woah."
She nodded. "She always said the strongest thing she could ever do was to be a dream."
I waited for her to explain.
She didn't.
"I still have her journal," Agnes said instead. "It's safe, back in Pearle Country. I'll tell my son to waybill it here to Thide."
Relief washed over me, mixed with fear.
"Thank you, Agnes."
She smiled and nodded.
"And Agnes," I said softly, leaning closer, "no one else should know I can see the future."
She leaned in too.
"Noted, child."
Suddenly, the door flung open. Alexander walked in with Sebastian, Redmond, and Stone.
"What's going on?" I asked. The way they stepped in made my chest tighten. It felt like bad news had followed them inside.
Sebastian stepped forward.
"Miss Elena, we received intel that a black vehicle stopped in front of the hospital where you work and unveiled a banner with your name and a warning."
I leaned back and covered my face with my hand. My head throbbed. All of this, at once. Could I not have one moment of peace?
"That is why Stone will be assigned to protect you and your son," Sebastian continued.
On a normal day, I would have argued. Today, I just nodded.
My stomach rumbled. I held it gently.
Agnes stood up at once.
"I'll get you something light for your tummy," she said kindly and hobbled out of the room.
I watched her leave and understood, at last, why Grandma loved her. She was kind, but smart.
"This is Stone," Sebastian said.
Stone stepped forward. He was tall, dark-haired, with grey eyes and smooth skin. He did nothing to me. No man ever will.
"Stone Mackenzie, at your service, ma'am."
I turned my head and looked at Alexander.
"Can I speak to you alone for a few minutes?" I asked.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise. Then it vanished.
He walked toward me. The door closed behind him.
The room fell quiet.
"Sit down beside me," I said softly.
"I want to tell you a secret."