Destined to Kill: A Destined Novel (Destined Novels Book 1) Read Free Page A

asked, afraid to even move. Not that I have much strength to move, anyway. Suddenly I feel incredibly tired and even weaker than before. My head is throbbing, my stomach is growling and it aches, so much. The thought of food, however, is not appetizing to me.
    "Did you see her eyes, Henry? What is happening to her?" Mum's voice is soft, but clear to my ears. Do they not think I can hear them right outside my door? They do not have to talk about me as if I were not there.
    "I saw." Papa answers. "I cannot explain what is happening. It is not possible. If she had been bitten, she would not be as she is now. We have seen it, Eleanor. We have seen what the bite of a Cursed One does. The bitten either die or turn. If they turn, you know they kill anyone or anything they see at once. She never once made a move to hurt us," he says, distractedly.
    "But, if she has not been bitten, why would her eyes look as they do? She is sick and pale. My God, Henry, she is our daughter. What are we to do?"
    "I do not know!" Papa answers angrily. "Nothing is making sense. We will do what we can to find out what is happening."
    "We cannot kill her if she has been bitten. I will not allow you to."
    My breath catches in my throat. I cannot believe they are talking about me the way they are. Kill me? This cannot be real!
    "I have no intention of killing our daughter, Eleanor. She means as much to me as she does you! If something has happened, we will find a way to fix it."
    "How do you hope to do that, Henry?"
    "We are Scientists, Eleanor. More than that. We will try everything we possibly can."
    "Magic?" Mum asks, incredulously.
    "Everything we possibly can," papa repeats.
    When they fall silent, I cannot take it anymore. I know I promised papa I would not move, but did he really expect me to just sit there after what I heard?
    "Mum? Papa?"
    I will give them credit for not screaming, as uptight as they were.
    "Anala, I told you..."
    "Not to move, yes, I know," I finish for him. "I want answers." I see them exchange a look, and I roll my eyes. "Do not pretend that I could not hear you out here. What is wrong with my eyes?"
    "How...Anala, how did you hear us?" Mum asks, her face filled with concern and even a touch of wonderment.
    "Please, mum. The walls are not made of stone. I can hear you out here through the door of my room."
    "Anala, honey. We were not in here. We were outside."
    "No. I heard you as clear as day. You stood here and talked about my eyes. You even discussed killing me! I think I deserve to know what is going on!"
    Another look is exchanged, and mum picks up the mirror next to the washbasin and comes to me.
    "We would never hurt you, honey," she says, and hands me the mirror.
    Lifting the mirror, I try to brace myself for what I might see. I have no idea what to expect, but if it scares my parents, it is likely to terrify me. Finally, I look at myself in the eyes and cannot comprehend what looked back at me. Normally a cool blue, my eyes are now so light they seem almost white or translucent. There is a faint ring around my irises not unlike those I saw on the Cursed One. Only mine are not quite as red as his.
    The mirror slips through my hands. "What is happening to me?"
    Papa is quickly beside me, holding me in his arms. "We're not sure, my girl. But, we will find out."
    "With magic?" I ask, unable to look at either of them.
    "If that is what is required, yes."
    "Do you even know magic, papa?"
    He laughs a little. It is a welcome sound with everything that is going on.
    "I have dabbled," he answers, vaguely. "Now, you must eat and get your strength up. I need you to be with me in the lab so we can..."
    "Determine what I am exactly." I say what he would not. "I am hungry, but I feel sick when I think of eating the stew."
    Papa is quiet for a moment, then an almost painful look crossed his face. "Your mother will help you get cleaned up. I will return with something that may...help you."
     

     
    Mum washes me gently, tentatively,