55. Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Viola - 100 Years Later
J uniper sits in front of me, her back straight, hands folded on her lap primly. Her dark hair falls down her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes are undeniably a trait she got from her ancestors.
I've known Juniper since she was born forty years ago. Fae have long lives, and while I consider myself solidly middle-aged, it's still funny to see Tulip and Morrow stand next to their grandchildren, looking like their peers. They had ten children, and they're up to twenty grandchildren now. Juniper is one of the oldest, an Autumn Seasonale like her father.
She was small when the pull started.
The Eternal Equinox told me I would know when I found my replacement, and I did. Juniper is set to be the next God of Krillium.
But she has not spent her life training for it.
No, I never told her, or her parents, or even Tulip and Morrow. Mace is the only one who knows. I wasn't going to do to her what had been done to me. I did not want her whole life to be preparing for something bigger than herself and for her to lose her childhood. I couldn't do that to anyone.
I don't regret my decision, but it does make this conversation harder.
"You think I'm what?" she says, blinking.
"You've been chosen to be the next Equinox, the next God of Krillium," I repeat, trying not to get choked up. I love this woman as if she were my own, and I know this is going to be hard for her to accept.
Mace and I never had children. I didn't want to be a mother, and he didn't care to be a father. Tulip and Morrow's kids kept us busy enough. We've had an incredible time bringing Krillium through to a new era. We've learned ways to harness the ambient magic in the world to create grids like we had in Ytopie that do not have to be powered by magic. We have water that flows through homes without the need for a Nereid.
That's not to say Krillium has been without its problems. We've had skirmishes and issues, and I've had to be the cruel God I promised I'd be more than I'd like. But for the most part, it's been quite peaceful.
"What makes you think that?"
"You know how Tulip and Morrow are my high priests?" I ask her. She nods, twisting his fingers in her lap. "I just knew, when I woke up all those years ago, that it was them. When you came into your magic, I knew."
"You never said anything."
"Of course not," I reply, leaning back in my chair. I don't have an office. I never saw the need for it. Juniper is in my home in Rainworth. The smooth wood table between us is scattered with papers I've been sorting, notes I've been taking, preparing for her to take on the mantle. "You know my story, Juniper."
"It's taught in schools. Master Taegan is quite passionate about our history," she mutters.
"I imagine he is," I say, laughing. Taegan literally wrote the book on Krillium history. It's hard to get him to stop and enjoy the moment sometimes, but he loves it. He's taught at the schools since we built them, and sometimes, he has me come in during the section to answer questions.
I hate doing it, if I'm being honest, but I do it for him.
"Then you know why I wouldn't saddle you with a responsibility like this so young. I wanted you to have a life before I spoke to you about it."
"I understand," she murmurs. She looks down at her bare legs, her short pink dress hitting the middle of her thighs. "Do I have a choice?"
"Of course you do. I can keep the mantle until you die and another Equinox comes along."
"That's a long time," she says, shocked.
"I'm immortal. I can handle it. I would prefer not to, but I would never force this on you." And I mean it. This is not for everyone, and I would never force her to do this. But if she wants it, I will gladly give it up.
"Will you train me?" she asks quietly.
"Of course I will. It's hard to without you having the magic, but I will mentor you until you're ready." I can't help the smile on my face. I knew Juniper would rise to the occasion. She has always had her head on straight, she's adored by everyone, and she's compassionate and kind. She will be a different God than me, but that's what Krillium needs.
The realm no longer needs its cruel God.
"I'll take the magic today," she says, surprising the shit out of me.
"You don't have to make a hasty decision," I tell her, reaching across the table until she places her hands in mine. "It's a big commitment."
"No, I will do it. Gamma and Pops always talk about how being your high priest has always just felt so right. And…" she inhales sharply. "I feel it. This is what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?"
"I don't believe in fate," I tell her softly. "But I believe in magic. The Eternal Equinox told me to trust my magic, and I have. And my magic says it's not mine anymore."
She nods her head tightly. "Then I will take it on. Will your high priests become my own?"
"No, I don't think so. I believe when I pass it, the draw will pass to your priests, leaving mine to live their lives as normal fae. You'll have to find them, and you'll know when you do." I'm not concerned about how Cirrha, Morrow, and Tulip will react to losing their draw. We've all known this won't be forever, and they haven't been needed for their purpose in a long time. I'll need to let them know, though, so they don't think I died.
"When?" she asks, smiling. "When will we do it?"
"Come back tonight, yes?"
My high priests took the news of losing their draws well, and Tulip and Morrow are so thrilled for Juniper. She's told a select few people, but I had to push them all out of the house for the magic transfer. I don't want them to see the process or know what my plan is.
Mace and I sit side by side at the table, holding hands. Every time I look at this man, I see our history flash before my eyes. Everything we went through, every moment with him, led to this life we have together. From the moment we locked eyes, and I challenged him at the opening ceremonies of the realm's Last Race, we've been entwined.
"What is it, numen?" he says, rubbing his thumb over mine.
"I love you so very much," I say, kissing the back of his hand. "Thanks for wanting to bring back a God, even if it all went to shit after that."
"You're welcome?" he says with a laugh.
I lean forward and kiss him deeply, passionately, dropping his hand and pulling his face to mine. He wraps his arms around my waist, hoisting me onto his lap.
Someone clearing their throat has us pulling ourselves apart. "I can come back?" Juniper says, grinning.
"No, no, come, sit down," I say, gathering the scattered papers from the tabletop. "I have to ask again, are you sure?"
She nods, her blue eyes alight with excitement. "I am. I am honored, and I know I will make you proud."
"Of that, I have no doubt." I turn my body in my chair and face Mace. "And are you sure?"
He grabs my hands, bringing them to his mouth. "Never been more sure of anything."
Juniper's expression is clouded with confusion, but I tune her out and reach inside me for magic that hasn't been used in well over a hundred years. My magic mingles with Mace's, and I pull it from his body, as Amaryn did with Plume all those years ago, absorbing it into my Equinox powers. He flinches, his body rejecting my intrusion, but his smile is wild.
"Did you just…" Juniper gasps.
"I took his magic, yes."
"Why?" she looks at Mace. "Why would you have her do that?"
"She's not retaining any Equinox magic for herself," he says simply.
I gather Juniper's hands in mine, and I fall into the well of magic that lives within me. When The Eternal Equinox told me how to pass my power on, it made no sense to me at the time, but now that I am here, it comes naturally. I can see each thread of magic, every season, every lesser magic, woven with me. Slowly, I untangle that weave, feeding it string by string, piece by piece, to Juniper until there is nothing left within me, until I am, once again, human.
Her eyes light up, her jaw slack. I can see the moment she dives within herself to see the well of power. "Take these papers. Tomorrow, we will spend the day studying and training, but for now, reading these will get you started. I have put a letter in there. I am unsure if it is yours to open, just that the magic told me it was necessary. Whoever is meant to open it will know."
She nods and rises to her feet. The door to my home slams open, and a handsome Summer fae stands there, panting. He's tall, with bird-like limbs like Loris had and curly red hair. Freckles scatter across his face. I chuckle to myself as he says, "Why? Why do I feel the draw?"
The draw has been part of education since Taegan took over, so I am not surprised he recognized it after hearing about it from my four high priests. I raise my eyebrows at Juniper, who nods and takes the man by the elbow. "Come, I will explain."
When they leave, we are alone, and I look at my partner.
The love of my life.
The best thing that has ever happened to me.
Mace echoes my thoughts. "Loving you is the greatest thing I've ever done, Viola Mistflow."
We never traded last names. We never got married. We never had kids.
But we have loved each other, oh we have loved each other, for over a century. We have loved and laughed, and cried, and fought. A love like ours does not come without conflict, but even then, we have always been on each other's side.
"Once, I told you that I could love you in my own way," I say, taking his hands. "It was a way of protecting myself, of hedging my bets. "
"I know, my numen."
"I don't love you in my own way. I love you in every way, Mace. And I will love you until the day I journey to the hereafter and beyond."
He gathers me up in his arms, kicks open the door to our bedroom, and throws me on the bed. I bounce on the mattress, laughing as he lowers himself on top of me.
"Come now, my numen, no need to think about the hereafter. The end of our magic is just the beginning of the rest of our lives."