Chapter 38 #2
“It’s really rather astonishing, Vi,” he said.
“The crown amplifies my powers, at least the elemental ones. It strengthens them. Similar to how essence-forged swords do.” He went on in this vein for a few more moments, Violet listening to him with an indulgent smile on her face.
Finally, seeing something in her expression, he stopped.
“I never did ask.” A rueful expression appeared on his face. “Are you upset it didn’t pass to you?”
The shock couldn’t be faked as she laughed. “Oh hell no, Thom! You know I never wanted the damn thing. You were always more of a ruler than me. Besides, I have other things to do.”
“Are you still certain of your fate?”
She faked a bright smile. “I’ve always been certain of it.”
This time when the mist cleared, we were back in the cave.
Violet came down the stairs, surprised to find the man she’d called the Wraith waiting there. He was leaning against a rocky ledge, looking like he had all the time in the world. “You’re back.” There was a note of surprise in her voice.
“Of course.” He spoke in that measured manner, as if she was foolish to have questioned whether or not he’d return.
Clearly, she took it that way, too, for there was accusation in her voice. “You weren’t here last time.”
“I’m not always here.” Was he actually teasing her? Or just stating facts?
She strode right up to him, and he stood stiffly as she walked around him. “I thought maybe after our fight—”
He made a scoffing noise.
“Fine. Where were you?”
“Places to go. People to see. Other things to do. Across the sea.”
She humphed. “I really hate it when you rhyme. You start speaking nonsense when you do. And how are you getting across the sea? Isn’t it blocked by the Veil? Or is it failing there too?”
“To unravel the Veil is a delicate thing. A craft known by few and lost to time. But an ability that still exists.” His eyes shot to mine, and cold fingers ran down my spine.
I was in Violet’s memory—there was no possible way I was physically present when this scene took place—and yet I knew he could see me.
His eyes went golden again as his voice took on that lyrical quality, echoing as if it was coming from a great distance.
I knew with absolute certainty that these words were for me alone.
“Learn the craft and stop his gaze, the path is set with Starfire’s blaze.
The crown appears when all seems lost. Protect it now, whatever the cost.”
She stomped away from him. “Will you never just speak plainly?”
“Is this plain enough for you?” His voice had changed, lost that lyrical quality. His eyes were green and hard, and focused entirely on Violet as if the prior moment had never happened. “I returned for you. Only you. Violet Andrever.”
“You do know who I am,” she breathed. “I had wondered.”
“Of course I know who you are.” Irritation colored his voice. “I’m only here for you.”
The mist rolled in again but quickly cleared and we were still in the same cave. But I had no idea if this was the same meeting or another one.
“He goes after the lost art. It calls to him. He yearns for it. And has for years. People have fled before. He follows. He’ll never stop. Not until it’s in his grasp.” The Wraith was pacing, but every so often, he’d pause to stare directly at Violet, as if ensuring she was internalizing his words.
“He’s targeting people who know about Starfire,” she breathed.
There was that word again. What was Starfire? And why was I only hearing about it from Violet and this Wraith?
He nodded. “Listen well, Andrever,” he said as his eyes turned gold. He stared over her shoulder, his eyes once again eerily focused on me, and I felt the icy hand drift down my back.
“A final stand, a battle waged,
“Light and darkness face enraged.
“A world in the balance yet again,
“Ancient foes standby even then.
“Bound to earth, bound to fire,
“Bound to one whose soul burns brighter.
“Bonds of three shall combine,
“Bring forth what’s destined to be thine.
“When bearer’s head the crown does lay,
“Light of the kingdom will have the say.
“Seven stars combine to pierce the night,
“Fire flashes with love’s pure light.
“Fur and flesh once more combine,
“An army to stand the test of time.
“With sword of light, army by her side,
“Channeling powers the earth provide.
“The balance met, light and dark,
“A final chance to make a mark.
“Drawn from crown and land combined,
“Pull the Starfire the earth has mined.
“Do not go forth into the deep of night,
“Until Starfire’s light burns bright.”
Violet stared at him, hands on her hips. “What in the everlasting fuck is any of that supposed to mean?”
The mist rolled in, thick and heavy this time. So heavy it clouded my nose and clung to my clothes. It faded to reveal Violet and the Wraith once more in the cave.
“My sister-in-law is pregnant, almost full term. That means the time is nearing, yes?”
He looked at her sadly. “It does. The darkness will come for her. It will be enough to rip through the Veil. When darkness blots out the sun—”
“Her time has just begun,” she finished, and stood straight, her shoulders back in defiance of the coming darkness. “Teach me what I need to do.”
“With the burnout, you can halt it. Not permanently, but enough.” The words were halting. As though they were being dragged from him. As though he wanted to be telling her anything but this.
She nodded her understanding. “At the end, will I be able to call upon Starfire?”
“You will,” he confirmed, then paused. Again, it seemed as though the words were dragged from his mouth. “You and your kin are bound to it. For better or worse. Until death.” He paused as if listening to something, and an emotion akin to pain crossed his face. “I must return to the isles.”
Violet nodded even as her face fell. “If the time is soon, you should go. It’s not safe on these shores. But… I’ll never see you again, will I?” She looked up at him, her vibrant eyes flashing in the dim, muted light.
His face etched with pain, he admitted, “Not in this life.”
She drifted closer to him. “I still don’t even know your name.”
“It is how it must be,” he said stiffly, face still contorted, as if he was at war with himself.
“I understand. But if this is the last time I’ll ever see you, and if I’m to die soon, then I have nothing to lose.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He only hesitated a moment before crushing her to him, and I averted my eyes, giving them privacy.
As the scene began to swirl away, I heard him murmur, “I will find you in the next, Violet. That is a promise.”
The mist barely even appeared before drifting away again.
Violet looked out over a balcony, her face solemn, an expression that was odd on her face. I’d seen her angry, frustrated, stubborn, joyful, but never sad. As if she’d given up.
A man came up next to her. I startled. I had never met this man before, but his features were as known to me as my own.
“Garrett,” she said, smoothing her worry lines away. “Thank you for meeting me.”
Griff’s father was so young. He dipped his head. “Of course, my lady.” His voice was even similar to Griff’s.
She sighed. “Aren’t we beyond the ‘my ladying’ yet?”
I saw Finn’s grin on him. “Clearly not… my lady.”
She swatted his arm, and his smile grew broader. “It’s time. You know what to do?”
He nodded. “I’ll see it done.”
There was a brief swirl, then the next scene settled.
All of the air abruptly left my lungs as I saw Violet with my parents, my mother rocking something—me. Nana stood in the background, tears in her eyes.
“If anything happens to me,” Violet was saying, and held up a hand to stop their protests, “make sure she gets my journal.”
“Why?” my mother asked softly.
Violet shrugged. “Just something that needs to happen.”
The mist surged in and flowed around me, before resolving into a dreamlike quality.
Violet approached a woman dressed in gold, my heart racing as I realized who she was.
“I’m so tired, Solais,” Violet whispered.
“I know, my child.” Solais’s voice was kind. “Just a little while longer. Hold out against him a little while longer. And then you will have your moment.”
“Will I see him again?” Violet asked in a small voice.
“He promised you, didn’t he?”
Violet rested her head on Solais’s shoulder. “Will she have you to guide her too?”
Solais stroked her hair. “She will have all of us.”
The next scene came quickly, the mist not even appearing.
Violet stood on a balcony, watching the sun disappear behind a cloud—no, not a cloud. Darker than a cloud. The darkness was settling in. It was time.
As I came back to myself, the thought ran through me. “It’s incomplete,” I blurted out.
“What is?” Griff squeezed my leg.
“The prophecy in the library. It’s incomplete, and not the original.”
He looked at me, eyebrow raised, as I thought about the other thing I’d learned.
“What do you know of Starfire?”
“Starfire?” he repeated. “Never heard of it. But you know I’m not the right one to ask.”
I was already climbing out of bed, pulling on my shoes.
“It’s that critical?”
“I think it may just be.”
I summoned Finn mentally as we strode through hallways that were mostly empty given the lateness of the hour. Finn protested heavily, his mental voice drowsy, but I convinced him to join me in the library.
“The library,” Griff grumbled, following me. “We could be in bed but instead we’re going to the library to meet my brother.”
“This is important.”
He grabbed me around the waist, pushing me against the wall. “So is having you in bed.”
He dipped his head and kissed me fiercely.
The stone was cold against my back but he was a roaring bonfire against me.
One hand held tightly to my hip as the other stroked lightly over my ribs before coursing up to palm at my breast. Anyone could stumble upon us, even as late as it was, but I forgot to care as I felt him, hard and ready pressing into my stomach, his mouth taking mine over and over again until I was breathless.