Prologue #2
We made it to my rickety front door, and I held the screen door open for them to come in.
Luckily, Marlena still hadn't come home. I assumed she’d gone out with Lily, the seamstress; they had always been good friends.
Since tomorrow was coronation day, the Imperial District would be full of festivities tonight.
All the fae and creatures who had travelled near and far to celebrate something beautiful would be completely unaware of what actually awaited them.
Nothing would be the same.
“Now . . . what is going on?” Orion asked firmly, his blue eyes intently on me.
“This time of our world, the creatures and benders of Osparia living in harmony with each other, is over. Tomorrow, Valos is going to kill his father and his brother and take the crown for himself. And what comes after that . . .” I paused, tears lining my eyes at the amount of destruction and death that awaited all of us in the future.
“No . . . We can stop it. We can go to the emperor tonight and tell him.”
“The only outcome from that is us dying. I've already seen it. Valos has prepared for this. He is going to go through with it. The only thing we can do is protect Emelyn.”
“What did you see happen to my daughter? Why does she need protection?”
“Emelyn . . . is the Peacebringer,” I whispered more so to him, but I saw Ivy’s eyes widen in shock. “She will be the key to ending the war that's coming—”
“No.” His voice was firm. “No, my little girl will not be fighting any wars.”
“That’s not for you to decide. The gods have already made their decision.”
“No!” His voice bounced off the worn, wooden walls of my home.
“Orion,” Ivy whispered, and he glanced over to them. Ivy was running her fingers through their daughter’s hair, keeping her content. His eyes softened after being filled with anger. He was scared, as he should be. Valos was going to destroy everyone’s peace.
“What did you see?” Orion asked.
“I don't know when they will come for her, but in my vision, she looked to be a teen when Ember’s ships came to Esora. But maybe we could change it, pause it, or at least try. I can cast a spell of protection over her. No other soothsayer will be able to see what or where she is. But know that by doing this, it could alter what happens in the future. If Valos were to use a soothsayer or a witch to try and find her, it would distort what they would see.”
“I thought there was only one of you in the world at a time? How does a soothsayer know how to cast spells? What aren't you telling me?” he questioned.
“My mother was a witch, and my father was a water bending fae from Esora, just like you. I am the soothsayer, but I know my way around a few spells. And yes, under normal circumstances, there would be only one, but I’m a twin and my sister possesses similar abilities.
I don't have time to give you a history lesson, child.
All you need to know is that I've been around a long time and I know what I'm doing.”
“Okay.” He released a long, heavy breath. “What do we need to do? I'll do anything to keep her safe.” Orion sounded determined. I placed a gentle hand over his on the table.
“Don't worry, child. I have all the ingredients to cast protection over her.
After that, I suggest you leave Ember. Go home, keep your secrets, and keep her safe.
One day, she'll learn the truth of what she is, whether you tell her or not, and she will bring an end to what hasn't even begun.” I spoke softly and glanced over to Emelyn, who sat on her mother’s lap, clutching a small, dirty stuffed animal that I could tell had been well loved.
The poor girl couldn't have been over six or seven years old. Her life as a fae had barely begun.
She glanced up at me with glassy emerald eyes, and I gave her a kind smile. I watched the faint glimpse of a smile pass over her features before she looked back to her mother, who was telling her everything was going to be okay.
I got to my feet and moved toward the living wall of all my plants.
A conservatory of anything I might need for spells or for people in need of my healing abilities.
I gathered all the ingredients I needed quickly, mashing them together until they were nothing but watery goo before casting the spell of protection over the concoction I had made.
Orion, Ivy, and Emelyn sat at my small table.
Emelyn kept glancing to her father with worry-filled eyes.
“It's okay,” he reassured his small family as I finished the last of my potion.
“Ready?” I asked all three of them, and they looked up to me.
“Will it hurt her?” Orion asked, gripping his daughter's small hand.
“No, not at all. She might feel a tingling sensation, but that's it,” I assured, and he gave me a nod of his head before letting me continue.
“Can I have your hand?” I asked Emelyn, and she hesitated, looking to both of her parents for the okay before finally reaching out her hand.
I grabbed her wrist, facing her palm up and slowly pouring my mixture into it.
She flinched from the sensation as it slowly seeped into her skin, into her blood stream.
I bent it through her carefully and could tell she felt it pass through her body.
“Are you okay, darling?” Ivy whispered in her daughter’s ear, and she just nodded her head as I finished pouring the last of it in her hand. Blood was mostly water, so it was easy to maneuver the potion through her veins, but I wanted to be sure.
I grabbed her hand gently and let my power take over, my eyes so easily shifting to white, and I tried to see her future for myself.
Nothing . . .
Instead, I saw the fates of people close to her, as if I were looking through her eyes and seeing the futures of the next closest people.
Her village, the Sky Elves, her best friend, her mate, but nothing regarding her.
It had worked. No other soothsayer would be able to see her—no witch would be able to find her .
I made sure of it by binding the spell to my life.
It was the best I could do. My eyes shifted back to their normal brown, and the tension that had been in the room moments before faded.
“It worked. I can't see her fate anymore,” I announced, and Orion let out a breath. “It'll keep her safe for now, but not forever. I suggest keeping up with training and telling—”
“No, I'm not telling her, or anyone, unless it comes out in some way. I will protect her with my life, and I will train her to be the best she can be. But my daughter will have normalcy. I'm not putting the weight of this world on her shoulders.”
“Have it your way, child. But one day, she will learn the truth. It's a shame she will learn it from anyone other than those she's closest to.” I went to walk away, but Orion grabbed one of my wrists.
“Swear it.”
“Swear what?” I asked, my brow pinched.
“Swear you won't tell her.” My eyes volleyed between him and his daughter. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“I swear it, but only because I know what she will truly become for this world in her own time—truly magnificent.”
“She already is.” Orion looked to his daughter with eyes so full of pride. “Thank you for your help,” he said with a nod of his head.
“Now, go, leave here, because come morning something ugly is coming,” I ordered, and Orion gathered up his family and moved quickly out of the door, leaving me in empty silence.
When Marlena woke me, she was already wearing her dress and makeup for the coronation.
She looked beautiful, but I couldn't focus on anything other than the dread coursing through my veins. I had to tell her what was going to happen today, but I knew it wouldn’t change what awaited us.
We wouldn’t get away, and I didn’t want to change fate. I just wanted to postpone it.
“Get up! We're going to be late.” She huffed as she tugged the covers off me.
I rolled out of bed and walked over to the bathing room so I could clean up, glancing up into the small, fractured mirror.
I looked as terrible as I felt. Pushing the insecurity aside, I bent water from the stream that ran behind our small home through the window and into the tub so I could quickly wash up.
After a cold bath that brought me back from the dead, I brushed out my long hair, braiding it effortlessly and leaving out a few pieces to frame my face. My sister was humming and making something in our small kitchen as I opened the closet and found the dress she had bought me hanging there.
It was the same as Marlena’s, except mine was blue rather than emerald, and both dresses were accented with gold.
I threw it on quickly. I could feel Marlena’s frustrations flowing from the other room.
Not literally, maybe it was just a twin thing, but I knew it was only a short matter of time before she came in here to chew my head off for making us late to one of the biggest celebrations of the year.
Little did she know, we wouldn't make it there. But there was no sense in trying to argue with her. I’d let it play out just like I always did and act accordingly as we went.
The dress was flowy and comfortable. I slipped a pair of comfortable shoes on—nobody would be able to see the tattered things under the length of the dress.
Not like it mattered. It wouldn’t be long now.
I took a deep breath. And then another. I knew once I walked into the other room, I'd have to tell Marlena what was going to happen today. She’d see it written all over my face regardless.
I swallowed down the lump forming in my throat and walked out into the living room, where I spotted her making us both something quick to eat. She had a smile on her face until she glanced up from the two bowls in her hands to look at me. Her facial features fell. The tension grew thick.
“Willow . . . what's wrong?” she asked, and I nodded my head toward the chair, silently asking her to sit. I took the seat next to her.