"No."

Just like that. A flat no. And I felt good about it.

"I hate tomatoes," I repeated, not sure if I'd been unclear the first time.

"Just try a bite," the seer insisted.

She still hadn't told me her name.

"And I won't, so don't waste time asking," she said, her sickly sweet voice stressing each syllable.

It always put me off when others read my mind. I tried to be non-invasive when I did it, but other paranormal peeps were never as considerate.

I speared the tomato and pasta concoction in my bowl, chewing on what she said.

"You know everything about me, but I can't know your name?"

Jose snickered, and I glared at him for about the bajillionth time in the short span we'd known each other. My mean look didn't faze him, and he continued eating with a half-smile. The dinner layout included freshly sauted vegetables, pasta, salad, pork, and wine. Lots of wine.

As I tried to figure out what the seer wanted of me, I generous inhaled sips of wine.

"You're powerful," she said, "but so am I. In order to prove yourself, you must read my future."

This time, I snickered. "Don't you think I've already tried that?"

Like most supernatural beings, she was immune to my psychic abilities. In lieu of her future, all I'd spied was a black abyss.

Holding my gaze, she spoke inside my mind: You can do more than you think.

Her eyes were large, endless pools. I lost myself in them, and had to shake off their effects. I'd gotten lost in the eyes of powerful beings before.

See? Her grin widened. Hardly anyone is able to resist me, but you are. Your other powers extend far beyond what you've attempted.

I bit my lip, staring again at Jose. I can't even read that idiot's future.

Try harder. She nodded slightly. 

Despite my reservations, I let everything in the room fall away. Then, Jose's smile shattered my concentration.

"Can you stop smiling like that?" I spat out.

Mid-chew, he said, "Sure."

Once again, I narrowed in on Jose's relaxed face. I tried to grab hold of a strand of his future, but came up empty. I pushed and prodded. Sweat built up on my forehead. A headache pounded at my temples.

My breath came out in short bursts.

I can't.

I hung my head.

Then you'll never find Rafe.

The seer's warning echoed in my mind, bringing my head up sharply. I was sick of being the puppet to seers, demons, and gods. Rafe made everything worth it, and he deserved better than what had happened.

I again focused on Jose, wandering the void of what should've been his future. All around, the darkness pervaded. Off the in the howling distance, a tendril of light winked at me. I fought against the wind to make my way to the light. As I neared, I saw it wasn't light at all, but the end of a strand. I grabbed hold, and watched as images filtered through.

Jose and my mother, laughing.

Jose standing over me, not smiling at all, but menacingly wielding a knife.

I faltered briefly, and the strand snapped. The images dissipated, and I found myself back in the void. I'd forgotten how I'd got there, or how to leave. The shadows pressed in on me, screaming my name. In the darkness, a voice called,

Come back now, Imogen.

I blinked, and found myself sitting at the dinner table, safe from the formless things that had sought to claim me in the void.

The seer watched me, waiting for me to speak.

"Did I pass?"

~*~