Chapter 12 #2
As my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I started to understand that the world wasn’t really as dim as I’d first thought.
There was indeed light present, maybe not the harshness of the midday sunlight I’d grown used to over the past few weeks, but something like the warmth of glittering fireflies.
A golden glow was visible, the soft light refracting off the water’s surface and twinkling against the lush greenness of the leaves on the trees.
It was with a jolt, a scan of the surfaces reflected by that curious golden light, that I realized I was not alone.
I sucked in a sharp breath as I noticed the massive stone statues, much taller than me, situated in a circle around the cave.
The statues were so unassuming and natural that at first glance, they’d blended right into the walls.
Greenery grew over them; moss covered so much of the stone that they seemed half-alive with the nature around them.
The darkness curled around the edges of the soft curves of them, melting them into the very cave itself.
Black holes existed where the eyes would be. These dark eye sockets shone down on me curiously; I felt watched. I moved closer to the one nearest me, glanced up at the enormous figure in awe. They were real works of beauty.
The figures were not carved in great detail, but were formed from soft, curving lines that lent themselves toward a feminine, nurturing sort of effect.
The first figure was of a woman holding a basin in her hands.
From the basin, water drizzled in a free fall to the stream below.
The statues were well over three times my height.
I held out a hand, let the droplets of water trickle over my skin.
Then I moved on to the second statue, making my way around the cave and noting it was much larger than I’d first thought. The statues simply took up so much space it had felt smaller, more intimate, cloaked in darkness.
I studied the second figure. This one was of a woman holding her middle finger to her thumb in a small “o” shape.
As I stood still and watched, I heard as the gentle breeze inside the cave made a soft whistling sound as it filtered through her hands.
Air. I didn’t know how there was air movement in an enclosed space, but then again, I didn’t know how I’d fallen through a portal to get here either.
The third figure was in a crouched position, her hand reaching toward the earth, scooping out a rock with one hand in a beautiful twist of design—blending her directly into the stone floor of the cave. Earth.
That’s when I understood: these women, these queens, were my ancestors. They were the Fae Queens of years past. Or statues of them, at least. A place where their spirits and memories were somehow encapsulated. Was one of these women my mother? Was it her spirit here, invisible but present?
Each statue was unique. Each contained a not-so-subtle nod to the element she had been most connected to.
I couldn’t find one who looked like she represented all three elements, and I wondered if the former Triune Queen had existed even before The Glade had come to be.
It seemed Triune Queens were practically legendary creatures, if they had existed at all.
I moved to the center of the cave, held my hands out by my sides, and repeated the same spell that had gotten me into The Glade. As I completed the phrases, I felt a shift in the air. The whistling grew louder; the drip of water turned into a crash, the ground trembled beneath my feet.
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the eyes of the Fae Queen statues began to glow. That same warm, comforting golden glow that had echoed around the room so far, now lit up the statues from the inside out. If they’d been impressive before, they were even more impressive now.
“Welcome,” a voice said in an ethereal hum. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
I wasn’t sure if the voice was actually speaking aloud, or if I was feeling it in my very bones. It was feminine but hard to place, almost like it were a thousand voices combined into one.
For the first time in a long, long while, I felt truly content. Settled. At peace in my skin, like I was finally among my own kind. A little girl who had been raised by wolves, discovering for the first time that other humans existed.
“You’re my Fae ancestors, aren’t you?” I whispered. “The spirits of them, or something like that?”
“Something like that,” the disembodied voice replied.
Their eyes flashed again, the twinkling light making the statues appear alive. “Thank you for allowing me to enter.”
“You’ll belong among us, eventually,” they said. “In the meantime, we are here to guide you.”
“I understand that, but sometimes, that doesn’t feel true,” I confessed. “There are many people on the island who believe I shouldn’t take the throne.”
“There will always be those who disapprove of you,” the voice answered. “But your crown is your birthright.”
“Am I really a Triune Queen?” I asked. “Has there been one before me?”
A soft laugh echoed. “The last Triune Queen is all but a myth now, older than anyone alive. But yes, she was very real.”
“I don’t feel like I deserve the title. It’s a lot of pressure.”
“Nobody does, but it’s your duty. Power and prestige come with hurt and suffering. The crown you shall wear isn’t a piece of jewelry to please your constituents. It is an honor and a duty, and with it, you have the power to shift the balance of good and evil in this world.”
“No pressure,” I muttered.
“Fear is normal. Just don’t shy away from the power because you’re afraid. Embrace it.”
“I’m trying.”
“You won’t fail. You’re willing to die for your people, and that’s all that can be asked of a Fae Queen.” After a pause the voice added, “What more is there to give besides your life?”
My throat tightened. “I don’t know how to make people like me, or how to master my powers. I’m training with Seer Goddard, but progress feels exceptionally slow. It could take decades before I get a handle on my powers.”
“As a Fae Queen, your life has the potential to be very, very long. You have time. And remember, you aren’t alone. You have us. You are not learning your powers for the first time. You are adopting the powers of all the Fae Queens who have come before you.”
“I understand, but it’s not coming easy to me.”
“Child, you have us. You’ve proven you’re the next Triune Queen. You will soon have the chance to unlock access to the power of your ancestors. It will take significant time and hard work, but once you learn to channel our power alongside yours, you will be nearly unstoppable.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me through all this?”
“Yes. We’re your sisters, your family. Surely you feel the bond?”
“I do. I’ve never felt this connected to anyone, and I’ve only just arrived.”
“Your ring, and in turn your crown, has guided you to us throughout your whole human life. There were pieces of us in that enchantment.”
I thought of the ring my mother tried to discard, the one that became a slender circlet when I learned I was full-blooded Fae. The way it had always turned up, time and time again. I knew now it had a much deeper purpose than I’d ever imagined.
“We’ve always been with you,” she said. “We’re just speaking louder now.”
“The lullaby,” I said. “That was you all. A sign from you, even before I knew any of this existed.”
“In a way, yes.”
“I’m grateful for it, even if I didn’t understand it.” I paused. “But how can I possibly unlock the ability to channel the power of ancestors? You’re all so wonderful and strong, and I’m brand new to everything. How could I possibly handle the culmination of your powers?”
“You were built for it. But first you must pass three tests.”
“Let me guess—earth, water, air.”
“Very good. You’ll be called when the time is right.”
“Any advice on how to pass these tests?”
“Believe in yourself. Use what you have. We can’t assist during the challenges, but we will be with you watching, rooting for you.”
“What happens if and when I complete the challenges?”
“That’s the first step to opening a channel between you and us.
You will be able to use our powers like they’re your own, but full mastery won’t be immediate.
Completing the challenges is but the first step to enhancing the bond between us, and with practice and time, you’ll be able to access the full well of your ancestors’ magic at will. ”
“By channeling your powers—you mean, for example, when I could suddenly read the ancient Fae texts out of the blue under the full moon? I know that wasn’t my magic. That was coming from you.”
“Similar, yes.”
“Are the challenges dangerous?”
“What isn’t dangerous when the stakes are so high?” The voice paused. “I’m sorry, but it’s time to send you back, Alessia. A Fae Queen shouldn’t linger too long in the spirit world.”
“Could it kill me?”
“In time, no one wants to leave,” the voice admitted. “There is much comfort and warmth to look forward to here.”
I nodded. The Glade did feel like the most peaceful place on earth. At the same time, I longed for the warmth of the sunlit Isle, the touch of Silas’s hands against my skin, Lily’s exuberant hugs when she saw me.
“My time isn’t finished,” I said. “I understand.”
“It isn’t. You must return and face your trials. We’ll meet again once the channel is open.”
When I opened my eyes, I was seated in the dusty circle of stones where I’d meditated for days. Seer Goddard watched me, silent and intent.
“I’m back,” I told him. I raised my hands, studied them, and marveled, “I’m alive.”
Seer Goddard let out a long breath, relief softening his stern face. Perhaps he did care slightly about me. Or maybe he simply didn’t want a dead Fae Queen on his watch. I preferred to believe the former.
“Were you successful in your journey?”
“Yes,” I said. “I visited The Glade and met my sisters.” I paused. “They told me that three challenges await me. I’ll need to pass them before I can truly begin to access the powers of my Fae ancestors. So, I guess that means we should continue my training.”
Seer Goddard’s brows lifted. It took a lot to surprise this man.
But instead of answering, he simply nodded, then sat cross-legged before me. Joining me on the ground for the first time since we’d begun our training.
“Select a rock,” he said. “Let’s begin.”