The Uncertain Future

[Sunset Oracle]

It was finally the day. The day that James had been dreading for the past few days. Everything had spiraled downhill at such a pace that it had left him in a daze as if standing on the edge of a road during a car wreck. He could see it all coming…but couldn’t do anything about it. Everything was happening at such a slow pace, that every single detail could be observed, plucked out, inspected, and put back…but was moving so fast that there was nothing James could do to stop it.

How had all of this started? Why? For what reason? These were the questions that had kept James awake for days on end as his Grandfather continued to tear down the foundation about him.

The thing was, he knew exactly how it started, but not why. It started with that damned vision on the 4th of July. He didn’t know what it was of…just that it was terrible…and because of that, his Grandfather had taken “corrective” action. It was infuriating that his grandfather didn’t trust him with being able to handle whatever it was he had seen. It was terrible, frightening, and chilled him to the bone, but it wasn’t anything that was going to kill him…or cause him danger. Right?

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”Why are you doing this to me?” James cried, slamming his fist into the wall in frustration. His body shook and his voice threatened to crack as his Grandfather stood there stoically, watching him rant and rave.

“You need special instruction James. You are not getting that at Westbrook.”

“But you were the one who sent me there! I LIKE it here! You can’t just take me away!” James’ hands clenched into fists as he glared down at his grandfather, who simply sat in his chair, demurely sipping a cup of coffee out of his Milwaukee Brewer’s thermos. “I can’t just leave everyone! I can’t…I can’t leave…”

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It was really a nightmare come to life. Yeah, he wasn’t the most popular of kids, but he made a lot of good friends while he was here. Roach, for one, was probably his best guy-friend of all time. James knew what people said about him, but he had been able to see beyond that. Roach was a guy who had helped James…in his own way, sure, but it was clear that Roach really did care about people, and was more than trustworthy. James felt that he could tell Roach pretty much anything.

But then, why hadn’t he told him yet that he was leaving?


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”Magus L’Fluer will be taking you on as his apprentice James. It’s an honor a lot of young wizards would kill for.” Ryan Walker explained calmly. “You’ll be at his Chateau in Nice for a few years while studying.”

“But I don’t WANT to go! Why don’t you understand!? I want to stay HERE! I don’t need to apprentice! My Sight is good enough as it is!” James protested vehemently, body and shoulders shaking.

“James!” Ryan snapped, looking up at the taller James with hooded eyes, steeled in the knowledge and experience of time-weathered age. “You are going. That is final. Pack your belongings, you will leave on Sunday.”

The sinking feeling that had been swallowing James into a pit of agony had just redoubled in strength. “But…what about…my friends?”

“Say goodbye to them.” Ryan grunted out, watching as his only grandson ran away from him, tears running down his cheeks.


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Then there were the others. Peyton. She was such a nice girl. James could see why she had always been so popular. She genuinely cared about people…after all, she set up that cheerleading stunt with her just to help give her confidence. And even got his support for it. James was glad she was one of her friends.

And then Jessie. James never did suspect that the girl he originally had a crush on when he first came to the school would not only become a good friend, but introduce him to one of the most important people in his life. Honest, and nice, and always willing to help out. It was no wonder at all as to why she became Homecoming Queen

There was also Wyatt…who had a checkered relationship with James as of late after his rather meltdown-ish reaction around Mia. Still, despite everything, Wyatt was a good guy, and James couldn’t fault him for feeling the way he did. People can’t control their emotions. He just wished Wyatt could control how he reacted to his emotions better. Still, he was a good guy deep down; just in an unfortunate circumstance.


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Ryan felt terrible. He knew James would hate him for this, but there was no other choice. James had had contact with the Oculus, and because of that, he needed to be protected. He wasn’t going to let him go the same route as Peter and Meredith. He won’t make that same mistake twice. It was for James’ benefit, even if he couldn’t see it yet.

Still, it didn’t make him feel any better for having to do it. Heart heavy, Ryan wished things could have turned out differently for James….and wished dealing with it would be easier than it was. Hell, Ryan had an easier time dealing with that Unseelie insurge twenty years ago.

Things were easier when he wore the Black Cowl.


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By far though, the most important person to James had been….her. Mia Cobol. When James closed his eyes, he saw her face. Smiling, framed by her silvery-hair. The first time they kissed. How her face brightened when he saw her each morning before classes. It made his heart flip, stop, and do all sorts of unnatural things which made James think that he had died ten times over. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that it all had to end. They were going to take on the world together! That fate didn’t have a hold on them! They had gotten past the fear, an almost-breakup, and more than their share of struggles. He had even patrolled with her, as scary as it was…and it was a memory he will forever cherish.

But why do all things come to an end? Why must fate deal them this terrible hand and tear the two of them apart? Was this karma? A harsher penalty than their almost-breakup to punish them for trying to defy that fate? Why was the universe unfair?

The worst part was, James felt terrible. He had to say goodbye to Mia, knowing how much pain she’d be in. Knowing how much she’d cry at night because of it. Knowing exactly how she’d suffer as if he was there watching it from behind a foggy glass the entire time. There were times that James hated his power, and this was clearly one of them.

The only thing that kept him going forward at this point was his knowledge that one day, Mia would get over him. She would love again, and while it wouldn’t be him, she would be happy.

And for him? That was enough of a future for him to be satisfied.