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"No," Caleb said in a breathless tone "She’s so that makes us look kind"

Nick sed hard with that realization There was so "What are you, then?"

Caleb raked her with a sony"

Kody glared at him "And what are you?"

"In a word? Daone" Before he could move, they both threw their hands out and froze hi a fly trapped on flypaper was getting really old If they kept this up, he’d start charging the alive with nonsense

Kody shook her head "This is not hoanted hinito Thanks for outingto ruin your day"

She cast a roin "Yeah and I’hts, lover boy For eternity"

Caleb snorted "What else is new? Not like I have free time, anyway"

"I don’t understand where your head is," she said in a disgusted tone "How can you be so cold after everything?"

"I’et a break fro this ridiculous dance e both kno this play ends Prophecy is prophecy Nothing ever changes it Nothing"

She disagreed "And huest force ever created There are those born to succeed and those who are determined to succeed The former fall into it, and the latter pursue it at all costs They won’t be denied Nothing daunts them"

Caleb rolled his eyes "Do you really believe what you’re spouting?"

"Yes"

"Look le doubt"

She screwed her face up "Of course I have Without doubt there can be no faith"

Shaking his head, Caleb stepped around her "And I grow sick of your pithy little sayings Really Change your tune, hon"

Kody didn’t try to stop Caleb fro on, Kody? Who are you? What are you doing here?"

She appeared heartsick "Think of uardian"

"For what?"

"I can’t tell you that It’s forbidden"

Like everything else see old to have no real answers "Are you here to kill me?"

She shook her head "I’ress to others"

"What?"

"It’s true, Nick Like Caleb, I’m here to watch over you, but for a whole other reason We have to s don’t wither and die"

"Why?"

"Because when you stop caring about anyone or anything, Nick, you will become a pawn and a slave to some of the darkest powers ever created When that happens, you will destroy the world"

CHAPTER 15

It wasn’t every day you found out that you were destined to destroy the world And as those words slaish and lost as the people barelyin slow ?" he asked Kody, trying to get a handle on this moment

"It’s true, Nick It’s why so ht now If they can capture you while you’re weak, they can harness your powers and use theain"

"I won’t let them do that"

She inclined her head to him "That’s e’re here to ensure Caleb and I are your protectors He for your body and I for your mind"

Huh? Other than the fact he was insane, there wasn’t anything wrong with his mind Why would it need its own protector "That doesn’t make sense"

"Of course it does Think about it for a second Your goodness and your free will are all that keep you fro apathetic You have to hold on to that part of yourself always"

"And if I don’t?"

"You know the answer"

He would kill everyone, and all the people around him would cease to exist He shook his head "I don’t think I like this I don’t want this power Take it away froht now, you don’t have the power either You’re just an embryo"

Maybe there was time Maybe …

"Then I won’t learn it" If he never embraced his powers, they couldn’t be used by anyone, not even hiave him no reprieve "You have to If you refuse, your hand will be forced one way or another, and everyone you love will pay the price You have to becoh to protect yourself and those around you It’s the only hope any of you have It’s the only hope any of us have Don’t you understand, Nick?"

"No I don’t understand" He felt like the entire world was caving in on hi to send him to jail A coach out to kill him A boss as an immortal vampire slayer His two best friends were certifiable, and a pseudo girlfriend who’d just told him he was the ultih to cope with this

He was just a kid

Unable to breathe, he et all this I want to spend ames and--"

"Nick, you’ve never been irresponsible, and you know it"

It was true But …

He could learn He illing to

Stop it Since the moment he’d been born, he’d had to take care of his mother Watch out for her

And …

The spell on his class went back to norry rush None of theht in thetothe re more than his bad ain