Athena walked into the living room wearing baggy pants and a long-sleeve crop top, trying to cover the bruise on her hand or rather, the already healing wound. The accident had happened not more than eight hours ago, and her face had already healed like nothing had happened.
She wasn't surprised at all. Hell, she wouldn't even bat an eye if she woke up tomorrow morning and her skin was completely back to normal, leaving no trace of what had happened. That was just how she was. Ever since she was a child, her body healed faster than any normal human. It had always bothered her, but she had no one to talk to about it. So, she kept it to herself.
Oliver, who was in the kitchen making tea, spotted her and called her over. Athena walked to him, and he flashed her a warm smile.
When she got to the counter, Oliver reached out, held her waist, and helped her sit up on the counter. He was tall, about 6'5", while Athena barely reached 5'4". Ever since she was a little girl, he had lifted her like this to make her look at him or just to be at her level. Now, it was absent-minded, natural for him, and Athena didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable. It just felt normal.
He handed her the cup of tea. "Here," he said.
"Thank you," Athena whispered softly, barely audible.
He frowned slightly, asking, "Why did you let those girls bully you like that?"
Athena just stared at the cup of tea in her hands.
Seeing she wasn't answering, Oliver said gently, "You don't have to keep everything inside. If you're ready to talk, I'm always here."
Athena simply nodded. He patted her head. "Good girl," he said softly.
"Drink your tea before it gets cold," he added.
For a moment, silence settled. Then, out of the blue, Athena asked a question.
"Oliver… Do you know anything about people who can see the future or what happened in the past?"
Oliver looked at her curiously. "Why do you ask?"
Athena said nothing, just shrugged. "I'm just asking," she said quietly.
Oliver nodded in understanding. "Those people are called seers, or sometimes prophetesses," he began. "They are rare. A seer can sense events before they happen, they see the future. Some see only glimpses, moments, or feelings of what is coming, while others can see clear events, both good and bad. A seer can also sometimes see things that already happened, even if no one remembers them or if it wasn't recorded anywhere. Their gift is a connection to time itself, in a way, allowing them to witness events across past and future."
He continued, "Some seers are born with the gift, and it grows stronger as they get older. Others need training to focus their abilities. Their visions aren't always easy to understand, they can be symbolic, blurry, or confusing. And sometimes, seeing too much can be dangerous, because it can affect their mind or emotions. But a true seer learns to guide others, warn them of danger, or help them make choices based on what they can see. They are very special… and very powerful."
Athena listened quietly, her fingers tightening around the warm cup. She didn't say anything, but her mind was already spinning with the possibilities.
Athena sipped a little of her tea before lowering it again. Her voice came out quiet, almost hesitant.
"What if… the same scene keeps repeating itself? Like, on a daily basis?"
Oliver tilted his head, studying her. "Hmm. That can happen too," he said after a pause. "When a vision repeats itself over and over, it usually means it's very important. It's not just a random glimpse, it's something fixed, something trying to get your attention. The future is not always written in stone, but when a vision keeps coming back like that… it means it's tied to you, or to someone close to you. Either it's a warning you can't escape, or a truth you're meant to face no matter how much you try to ignore it."
His eyes narrowed slightly, curious. "Why are you asking about all this, Athena?"
She shook her head quickly. "It's nothing. I was just asking."
But even as she spoke, the memory of her father's body lying in a pool of blood flashed through her vision again. The image was so clear, so sharp, it made her chest tighten. She shut her eyes quickly, her breathing turning heavy.
Oliver noticed instantly. He hurried to her side. "Athena? What happened?"
She slowly opened her eyes, finding Oliver standing right in front of her now, worry written all over his face. She shook her head firmly. "It's nothing," she whispered.
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he raised a hand and brushed his fingers through her white hair gently, staring at her face like he was trying to understand her. His voice softened. "I don't understand why they bully you. Such an adorable Barbie doll like you."
Athena gave him a sharp look. "Stop calling me a doll."
Oliver chuckled, his lips twitching. "Aren't you though? Look at you. You look so cute right now." He reached out, brushing her hair away from her face, tucking the strands behind her ear. With that he froze.
His eyes went to her cheek. He reached out and touched it carefully, then even pinched her skin lightly but she didn't flinch.
"Did you use makeup?" he asked, his voice low, cautious.
"No," Athena said flatly.
His eyes widened even more. "Then… how? This morning, your face…" He stopped, still staring at her flawless skin. "It's impossible to heal that fast, Athena. Your injury was bad."
Athena's fingers tightened around her cup. She lowered her eyes. "Just let it go," she whispered.
Oliver's brows furrowed, his chest heavy with questions, but when he saw the way she avoided his gaze, he didn't push further. He sighed softly and rested his hand against the counter, keeping his thoughts to himself.
Just then, Jianna walked into the kitchen. She stopped for a moment, a little surprised at the sight of Oliver and Athena together. Athena, on the other hand, gave her a sharp look the second their eyes met. Jianna wasn't fazed, she'd been receiving that same look since Athena was little. A murdering gaze from a little child even now there was no difference in the way she looked at her. At this point, she cared less.
"I see the two of you are having fun," Jianna said casually, her voice smooth but laced with something that made the air heavier.
Oliver helped Athena down from the counter and straightened up. "Go to your room," he told her gently. "I need to speak with your mom."
Athena nodded softly, holding her cup close to her chest. She walked past her mother like Jianna wasn't even standing there. But Jianna rolled her eyes at the disrespect, her lips curling.
"I thought I raised you better," Jianna said sharply.
Athena froze mid-step. Her body stiffened. Slowly, she turned around and walked right back, stopping face-to-face with her mother. Their chests brushed slightly from how close they stood. Athena lifted her chin, her blue eyes burning with quiet rage.
"It looks like you're getting old," Athena said coldly, her voice steady but dripping venom, "and your brain decided to rot before the rest of you."
The insult was sharp, cutting deeper than a blade. Oliver's eyes widened in alarm. He could feel the tension crackling in the air like lightning. "Athena," he called quickly, his tone warning, but she didn't even flinch. She didn't look at him.
Jianna, however, smirked. She crossed her arms and tilted her head, her eyes narrowing with that mature, motherly authority. But her words came like whiplash, harsh, deliberate, and merciless.
"You think a sharp tongue makes you strong?" Jianna said coolly. "You're still just a child, Athena. 18 years old. A child too weak to protect herself, too silent to speak when it matters, and too foolish to realize the only reason you're still breathing is because of me. You want to stand in front of me like an equal? Then learn how to survive on your own first. Until then, don't mistake your little scars for strength,they're nothing but proof of your helplessness."
Her words hit hard, each one sharper than the last.
"Jianna," Oliver snapped suddenly, his voice rough. For the first time, he raised his voice at her, no respect in his tone.
The air grew heavier.