The Vision Read Online Free PDF Page B

asked, his arms crossed as he looked at me with irritation.
    “So I can cut my hand and make the promise,” I tapped my foot impatiently, waiting for him to hand over the knife I was almost certain he had.
    He shook his head, frustrated. Then he reached into the pocket of his jeans and retrieved a silver pocket knife. “I still don’t think this is a good idea.” He reluctantly handed me the knife.
    I flipped open the blade and winced at the sharp tip as it flashed in the florescent lighting of the garage. I tried to keep a steady hand as I held the knife up to the palm of my hand. “So, I just cut?”
    Alex sighed and took the knife from me. “Give me your hand,” he said and I did. He traced the scar on my palm with his finger, and then let my hand go. “Give me you other hand.”
    Confused, I gave him my other hand. “What? Can I not do the promise in the same place?”
    He shook his head, his eyes locked on the palm of my hand. “No, you can. But that scar was from our promise.” It felt like a thousand butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach.
    “Man, you two are going to kill each other quick, aren’t you?” Nicholas remarked with a smirk.
    Alex shot him a glare and then held the knife to my palm.
    “Okay, I’m going cut your hand and his. Then you’ll press your palms to his and repeat what I say, alright?” I swallowed hard and nodded. “Alright.”
    “And be very careful that you repeat exactly what I say.”
    “Don’t you need to untie him first?” I pointed over at Nicholas.
    “I’m not going to let him go until the promise is made,” Alex told me firmly. “You’ll just have to reach up to his hand.” Well, it’s a good thing I’m tall because it was going to be a really high reach to get Nicholas’ hand—they were practically touching the ceiling.
    Alex pressed the tip of the knife gently against the palm of my hand and then, very carefully, he made a small cut.
    Blood seeped out and my skin felt like it was on fire. Alex quickly went over to Nicholas, reached up to where his hands were bound, and with less carefulness, sliced the palm of Nicholas’ hand. Blood oozed out of his skin and dripped down his arm.
    Alex flipped the blade shut and tossed it on the cement floor. “Gemma put your hand up to his.”
    I took a deep breath and, ignoring the flowery smell that always flowed off Nicholas, stood on my tiptoes, and pressed my bleeding palm against Nicholas’. His closeness made me uncomfortable, along with the deviousness playing at his lips.
    “We should have done this a long time ago.” His breath was hot on my cheeks.
    Glaring, I leaned my face away from him.
    “Repeat exactly what I say,” Alex said, holding my gaze.
    “ EGO votum permissum.”
    I spoke slowly so I wouldn’t mess anything up. “EGO…
    votum…permissum.”
    Alex swallowed hard. “ Vos subsisto hic quod Andron . ”
    “Vos…subsisto…hic quod…Andron.” My voice shook.
    “Mos capto aufero vestri vestigium.”
    “Mos capto…aufero…vestri…vestigium.”
    Alex and I both let out a breath of relief, and then Alex pointed a finger sharply at Nicholas. “You better repeat exactly what I say. No changing or adding anything, understand?”
    Nicholas nodded, but there was a mischievous look in his eye that made me uneasy. “I understand.” Alex told him what to say, speaking his words vigilantly.
    Nicholas repeated what Alex said, and as far as I could tell he said each word correctly. But I had no idea what was being said, since I don’t speak Latin, so I was putting a lot of trust in Alex. Strangely, I think I might have reached the point where I could do this.
    After the Blood Promise was made, Alex cut the rope and freed Nicholas. Nicholas rubbed his bleeding wrist and wiped the blood from his lip with the bottom of his green t-shirt.
    “Okay, tell us everything you know,” Alex said, swiping the pocket knife off the floor.
    “Can we at least sit down?” Nicholas asked with