Fractured (by N.O Darling)

I wake in the morning, 5 minutes before my alarm is due to go off. Nerves flutter in my abdomen at the thought of what today will bring. I practice some of the

breathing techniques that June taught me before a panic attack can fully take me

in its grip.

"I've got this. Everything is going to get easier after today, I tell myself out loud. I spend longer than usual in the shower, enjoying the solitude and imagining what my life will look like after today. I wonder if Luke will join me for morning showers and If Theo will hold me every night whilst I sleep. Maybe Deacon will... Nope! I shut that train of thought down immediately. I put a little more effort into my appearance than I did yesterday. If I am going to be forced into finding out who my soulmates are today, then I least want to look good doing it. A knock at my door comes too quickly. I'm not ready.

, open up, it's me," Dot's voice calls through the door. Good. I open the door and she enters my room like a

whirlwind. Followed by Marcus and Cole pushing catering trolleys filled with pastries, fruit, juice and most importantly, Starbucks coffee!

"What is all this?" I laugh.

"I banished Theo and Luke from visiting you this morning. We are having breakfast in your room whilst we get ready. This is our only opportunity before you move in with a bunch of stinky men. So for the next hour, you are. all mine," she grins.

"This is great Dot, thank you," I say, so grateful to have her here with me. She kicks her men out of the room and I make a grab for the coffee.

“Luke insisted you have that," she nods to the cup in my hand.

"That man has found my weakness already. If he's not one of my bonds I'm going to have to bribe him with something to keep him providing me with these," I say before taking a swig of the sweet coffee.

"Oh, he is. Him, Theo and Deacon I'm sure about," she nods.

"You really think Mr Collins could be?" I ask.noveldrama

"For sure, if he's not I'll eat hay with a donkey," she shrugs

"I'm going to hold you to that," I laugh.

Dot plays some music I don't recognise through her phone and she gets to work styling my hair whilst we chat and pick at the food. She tells me about the day she had her bonds confirmed. She had already known for years that Joe would be one of hers and she had suspected Max, but Marcus and Cole had been a complete shock to her. They very quickly accepted the bond though and have been happy ever since. The hour passes far too quickly and before I know it Marcus pops his head in the door to announce the seer has arrived. A pit forms in my stomach and I begin the breathing exercises that June taught me whilst Dot grabs her belongings and wishes me luck before leaving me to face my fate.

A middle-aged woman with ash blonde hair and a kind face enters my room with grace, she looks to almost float when she walks and although she is taking steps I am not 100% convinced she's actually touching the floor.

"Hello Josie, my name is Sage. Please relax and listen to what I'm about to tell you. I understand you are new to this realm and do not understand what is about to happen. It's very important that you follow my instructions, okay?" the seer, says getting straight to business. I nod and thank her for coming so quickly. "At no point during my reading must you talk, if you do I will lose the connection and we may have to start again. I will look deep into your soul and follow the connections I see. Think of this like following a piece of string, when

I walk, you follow. I will lead you to each of your bonds. I will identify each bond by

a touch on their shoulder. They have had training for this and will know exactly what to do should they be identified. You only need to worry about following me. Right now I am seeing three distinct lies," she explains. My mind instantly goes to Theo, Luke and Deacon, 1 can certainly deal with that. "That doesn't mean you only have three, that just means we have three directions to follow, as we follow the connection it may split into multiple lines. There is a vehicle waiting for us should we need to follow a connection out of the academy. Do you understand?" she asks and I nod, unsure if I'm supposed to be silent already. "Then let's begin, take my hands," she instructs. I put my hands in hers and she grips them, her eyes flash with a blue glow before fading to white. It's scary as hell! Someone really should have warned me about this because it looks like something 'd see in a human horror movie. I feel myself starting to hyperventilate and I have to work hard to keep control of hot only my breathing but of my powers. I think of baking with my mum. We would bake my dad's favourite cookies for when he finished work. He'd come home and have the biggest smile on his face. After dinner, we would have cookies and milk whilst he read to me. Then mum would sing to me whilst I fell asleep.

Sage releases my hands and begins to walk, I hesitate. Do I really want to follow a creepy ghost lady who floats and has white eyes? I notice that Marcus, Cole and Damien avert their gaze as she passes therm, and then Damien motions to me silently to hurry up. I rush after Sage with my security at my side. At least I'm not alone with her. When we exit the building she stops suddenly and I almost walk into her. She seems undecided, searching with her creepy white eyes. Then she turns to the right, headed around the back of Ruby. In the distance I see a large group of students on the field, they're fighting, Marcus jogs ahead and seeks out who I assume is the tutor. There's a shout and all the students stop. “Unbonded, step forward for the seer," he commands.