The Queen, The Mirror, and The Creation (Fated Chronicles Book 5)

by Humphrey Quinn

  When she lifted her head, she was no longer where she'd been. The woods were gone, the scenery taking on a familiar pattern. Her arms lifted upward to balance herself—she was standing on a rose petal. Surrounded by vines, thorns, and bloomed roses. Her lips quirked—she'd been here before. Back when her Firemancy had first shown up, and she'd been in a fever that wouldn't quit.

  She jumped off the petal and onto a rounded vine, finding her way through the maze of thorns until—there she was. The woman sleeping on the feather. But to Meghan's great surprise, the woman's eyes drifted open and she sat up—more like, floated upward regally until she was standing close by. And yet her feet never quite touched the vine.

  "Hello, Meghan."

  She stared, unable to voice a response. The woman was—ethereal. And yet familiar.

  "It was finally time for me to wake up."

  Meghan remembered seeing her on the feather, sleeping. Hearing her voice more than once… including when she'd gone back in time with Sebastien to create the prophecy.

  "Wh-who are you?"

  The woman's dress billowed around her in an invisible breeze.

  "I am the First Seer."

  "Um, you mean, like the first one, ever?"

  "Yes. In a way, Meghan, you are my daughter. As are all Seer's who came before you, and after me."

  "What are you doing in my locket?"

  The woman gave her a serene smile. "It was done many long years ago before my death. All the pieces of my soul split up and stored for—future use. Meant to be a guide for all future Seers. Alas, only so much magic can be stored inside a locket. And you, my daughter, are the last."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I am the last," the First Seer rephrased. "All the pieces of my soul have been used up, except for this one. Therefore, this is my final appearance."

  "Wow. Um. So… I really need to make this count then, huh?" Meghan pulled at her lower lip nervously. The First Seer chuckled softly.

  "Actually, Meghan, I do. And it starts with a gift."

  "Okay."

  "And no, it will not show you exactly what steps to follow to save the world."

  "How come that doesn't surprise me?"

  "Because as you already know, even if I, or you, had such power, it would not matter. The future is always changing. Adjusting. In flux. What I show you even today is only a sketch. A possibility. Albeit a probable possibility. Depending on…"

  "Whether I succeed or fail," guessed Meghan.

  The First Seer gave her a light shrug and held out her hands as if asking for Meghan to take them into her own. She pushed out a shaky breath to prepare, slid her hands into the Seer's, and—nothing happened.

  Her eyes pinched inward.

  "It won't happen unless you let it," the First Seer explained.

  Meghan took her hands back and sighed. "Sometimes seeing the future isn't all it's cracked up to be. And like you said, sometimes it changes."

  "Don't think of this as seeing the possible future, but rather, important pieces of a puzzle in which there are few pieces left to fit."

  "I'm the worst at putting together puzzles."

  "Fear of what you'll see isn't always a bad thing, Meghan. It means you respect the visions. You value their content, no matter how infuriating, they might be."

  "I do value them. And respect what I see. I understand it's a privilege to see into people's lives. Especially when it's the things they would never want anyone to witness. And even more so when it's a future that needs to change. Or a past, that can't be. It's an overwhelming sort of power."

  "A power you use wisely. And that is all that can be asked of you." The Seer held out her hands again, upon seeing the reassurance and determination in Meghan's eyes. She lifted her hands and slid her fingers across the First Seer's palms and vanished into a vivid dream-like state.

  A vision. So very real. And poignant. Not vague and riddled with guesses.

  A young girl. Perhaps six or seven. Smiling. But her angelic eyes peered into the world as if they'd already seen an age.

  "Hello, Meghan. My name is Grace. I've been expecting you."

  "Hi, Grace. It's um, nice to meet you." Meghan wasn't sure what else to say. She hadn't expected the girl to speak to her. Grace's form receded into the distance, now an image staring back at Meghan from an oblong mirror. She sucked in when a row of mirrors materialized, each with a face staring out at her—Grace, but at a different stage in her life.

  "Find the Mage Mirrors, Meghan." Grace's silhouettes all warned in unison. "You have to find the mirrors. You can destroy the Stone and strip your father of his power—these are things you must do to succeed. But if you do not destroy his mirrors, it will all be for nothing."

  Meghan blew out a breath.

  This was a giant new piece of the puzzle. But so obviously, a piece she'd been missing. The way to ensure her father was removed from power, permanently.

  "How do I find them?"

  "Your father's bedroom. The mirror at the back wall."

  That was quite direct and specific and an impossible place to get to.

  "His b-bedroom," Meghan stammered. "That won't be easy." She was starting to lose hope again. Fast. "What do these Mage Mirrors do?"

  But Grace did not answer and the vision ended quite abruptly. Meghan was pulled back into the presence of the First Seer. She took a moment to catch her breath and emblazon the memories; not that it was hard to do.

  "We are balancing atop a sharp precipice surrounded by a deep abyss, the future you want dangling just out of reach."

  "So close, but so far away," Meghan joked darkly. "Who is Grace?"

  "Grace, is the last Oracle."

  "I don't understand what that is."

  "The last child to be born from my own sister's bloodline."

  "Your sister was a Seer as well?"

  "Yes. But a different sort. Imagine your own gift, magnified, intensified, surrounding you like a constant halo. A never-ending path of lines drawing out various futures, each one constantly changing."

  Meghan swallowed. "I cannot fathom such a thing."

  "You're not alone. And I have seen much."

  "Why haven't I ever heard of the Oracles before?"

  "A well-kept secret. A necessary secret. And you can imagine why."

  "Because of someone like my father." And it hit Meghan like a brick to the side of the head. "She's how my father knows everything. Grace is his secret weapon."

  The First Seer nodded. "It began with Grace's mother. But yes, Grace is the key to securing the future."

  "And what are Mage Mirrors? I've never heard of those either."

  "Creations of your fathers. They hold a powerful magic all their own. They allow him to converse with his past and future selves. As well as Grace. Because she's not alive yet in this time. Her mother is."

  "Wow. So, between the Mage Mirrors, and this Oracle bloodline, Grace and her mother—" Meghan shook her head in dismay. "How do I even stand a chance? How does he not already know everything I've done, or plan to do?"

  "Because the future is always in flux. And not even Grace, or any Oracle, knows all. However, I will tell you this. When you went on your journey back in time, you did change the future in a way your father does not yet expect, or realize. And Grace has seen what he has not. What she saw, though, was a possible new future of her own."

  "Why do I get the sense that my job just got even harder? Not only do I have to take out my father and the Stone, but now I need to destroy these Mage Mirrors. And what of Grace?"

  "It's not a race. It's not an impossible job, albeit, pretty dammed near," she admitted. "And your father already has Grace, just not in this time. But if you succeed, she will never fall under your father's will."

  Meghan wrinkled her brow. "Right, Grace's mother—he has her. Or will have her."

  "He keeps her around long enough to make sure Grace comes into the world."

  "Sounds like dear old dad," Meghan scoffed. Just another pile of disg
ust to add to the ever-growing mountain of loathing she had for her father.

  "Meghan, Grace's mother has only one future. Death…"

  "How? She's gifted with this sight too, right? So why can't she stop it?"

  "Because it is the only way to save her daughter. No matter which future wins."

  "So no matter if I succeed, or fail, Grace will be an orphan?"

  "Yes. You must find her. If you do not… the temptation for others to use her gift is too easily given into."

  "Nothing like adding more pressure."

  "Not my intent. I just want to give you all the knowledge I possess, while I can."

  Meghan nodded. The First Seer continued.

  "Your father's house holds many mysteries." And why did Meghan get the feeling she was going to be sneaking in and seeking them out. "I will also give this advice." The First Seer peered directly into Meghan's eyes. "Your father has never given any stock in humanity."

  Again, Meghan took on a confused frown. "What do you mean?"

  "He uses other's humanity against them, but he has never embraced it for himself. He believes he instilled this same way of life in his son. In Colby. Even with all the tools at his disposal, he was unable to see what would become of his son if that humanity took hold. In a way, your father is digging his own grave, so to speak. By not giving credit to—well—love. And loyalty. It has already backfired on him, he just doesn't fully realize it, yet."

  "Because my brother fell in love with Jae. My father didn't expect that?"

  "He expected Colby and Jae, but not in the manner it happened. My point, his messing around with the future doesn't always work in his favor."

  "Just because he has all those magical tools at his disposal, doesn't mean he'll just get everything right, because as soon as he messes with something, other things change." Meghan was seeing her point. "Constant flux. And he cannot possibly control every little thing."

  "Exactly. Go forward with the knowledge that even if he does expect a certain direction from you, his lack of humanity still blinds him. He believes, in the end, that everyone has a price. That everyone will come to the realization that what they really want is power."

  Meghan sucked in and straightened herself. "Well, I know the future I want. The future I want for everyone. The one in which everyone is free to live the life of their own choosing. Not my father's plan for them."

  "Then you know what you must do."

  The reality of that truth slid home and locked into place. Meghan had known what she had to do. But the reality was not as easy as the imagining of it. Not even after her conversation with Jasper earlier.

  A soft meow echoed. Nona—from the outside world.

  "My time is almost up," the First Seer said.

  "I really won't see you again?"

  "No. The last of my soul will be used up. But I can't think of a better way for that to happen. I'm so proud of all my daughters."

  "Thank you. For all your help these last few years." It hardly seemed like an appropriate amount of time to thank her properly.

  "It's what I was stored in your locket to do." Her ghostly hand caressed Meghan's cheek. "Now go out there and save the world. It takes but one more act of bravery."

  Meghan's breath pushed out. "The biggest one!"

  "I have faith. And I give it all to you now."

  In a blink of time, the world had returned to normal. Meghan's mind racing, her mouth opening to speak—Sebastien's voice echoed into her brain, not the Seer's. Meghan's gaze lingered on the locket, that was now just that, and nothing more. She lifted her head to meet Sebastien's intense stare.

  "You okay?" He had his hands on her shoulders like he was afraid she might fall. She finally caught the fear in his eyes and heard his words. Ivan was just behind him. Nona still down by her ankles, meowing away.

  "I'm good. I um—" how the heck did she explain what just happened. Simplest version always worked best. "Vision. I had a vision."

  "Of what?" asked Ivan. He glanced around. "There's no fire here."

  "Not that kind of vision."

  Sebastien released his grip, seeing she was with them in the present once again. "What kind then?"

  "I know how my father controls the future. How he knows everything. How he's always ten steps ahead."

  Stunned into silence, was an understatement. While they worked through their shock, and what she'd revealed, Meghan explained the First Seer and all she'd learned from her.

  "What it all comes down to, is that I'm ready to do it. I'm ready to face my father. I think I was more scared of it than I realized. Afraid I'd have no chance, even after all I—we—have accomplished. But the First Seer is right. My father has blind spots. And if I use those, I can succeed. Unfortunately, I can't destroy the Stone until I find it. And other than walking right up to his front door, which is not exactly hiding myself…" she shrugged.

  "You're not doing that," Ivan and Sebastien rebutted at once. Nona didn't bother, she was already hearing the thought in Meghan's mind that she was thinking that might be exactly what she had to do. But for now, she'd play along.

  "I know. Bad idea." She blew it off. "But sometimes, the best way to hide is right out in the open."

  "You're still not going to win that argument," grumbled Ivan. "Giving yourself over to your father in the hopes you might find the Stone is out of the question."

  She waved them off, like yeah, I know. I get it. Whatever. Let's move on.

  They didn't budge, however.

  "I'm not trying to pull anything over on you. But I do need to talk to Jasper. About the army and what the Seer told me." She took off like she wasn't intending on bringing them along.

  "Alone?" Sebastien badgered, at her heels. "Because it would be just like you to sneak away without us knowing."

  "Oh my God! Enough. I'm not going to sneak off to my father's, okay! I really need to talk to Jasper."

  Ivan smirked and tossed an eye waggle at Sebastien.

  Meghan stared them both down like she might spew flames at them if they didn't stop.

  "Look, I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to rush off and do something dumb. But I have a job to do. And like it or not, it's not something you can do for me. So, you're both going to have to accept that fact, and deal. Got it? Good. Now… I'm going to go talk to Jasper. If you seriously still don't believe me, then tag along. I don't care."

  Ivan unfolded his arms, the smirk reduced to an apologetic scowl. This being a big brother thing was testing his last nerve. He gestured for her to go and he and Sebastien did not follow. However, they were caught whispering between each other as she left them.

  This wasn't going to be easy. They'd be watching her like a hawk—no, like a bird, in the form of Sebastien Jendaya.

  CHAPTER 36

  Nona held her tongue as they located Jasper. He excused himself from present company when Meghan hinted she needed to speak to him. Alone. They meandered, out of earshot.

  They passed Daveena, Mireya, Joseph and the bear shifter, Micah, heading out on border patrol.

  "Hi," Meghan called out. It was strange to see Mireya without Jae, or her parents. When Meghan had lived with the Mochrie family, the girl had seemed so young, giggly, and constantly clinging to her mother's apron strings. And here she was looking like a young woman ready to fight. It was even stranger to be nice to Daveena Troast! And, to have her be nice in return.

  They exchanged a few pleasantries and went on their way.

  Jasper led Meghan toward a couple of chairs down by the river. They were carved out of tree trunks, but surprisingly inviting and comfortable.

  "What did you wish to discuss?" Jasper opened up the conversation.

  Meghan blew out some frustrated air and gave her head a curt shake. He wasn't going to like this idea any more than Sebastien and Ivan. But it was the best one she'd come up with so she sucked in some courage and began.

  "I have a plan. Sort of…" She shrugged in doubt of it. "There's a few possibilities, but either w
ay, it gets the job done." Or would get her close enough to get the job done. "As for the whole stabbing Colin with the Bone Dagger thing that Robert came up with… I don't know about that yet. But I want to show you all of what I've seen in my visions, including a vision I just had, or was given to me—the point—I want to make sure you've seen everything I have, so we're on the same page. I know I've shared a lot of my visions with you, but just in case I left out anything important," she babbled. "When I'm done, I think you'll agree with my plan."

  "I'm listening. Or watching, as the case may be."

  "It's not as insane as Robert's plan—well maybe it is. But I guess we're just at the point where crazy might be our best option."

  Jasper lifted an eyebrow. "I'm starting to think Robert's been a bad influence on you."

  Meghan released a nervous laugh, but at least Jasper was going to hear her out. She sucked in and let her nerves relax.

  "Before I send us on our little vision quest, how fast can your army be ready to deploy?"

  "Snap of a finger. They've been training and waiting."

  She nodded and tried to suck in some courage, the idea of what she was about to propose almost sounding too stupid to bother suggesting. Maybe the others had it right. The more she thought about it, the worse the idea sounded.

  "Who is this army, exactly? Where do they come from? How big a number are we talking about?"

  "The army is formed from another magical clan. One that's been living in hiding all this time. Not so unlike the Tunkapog in how they live, but they've never made themselves known to the magical world, other than to me, as I was once a member of that clan. But I had to leave them many years ago to live in solitude—mostly. Robert was with me sometimes. We spent more time apart than together in the years before his death."