“What do we do?” I asked uneasily.
“Keep her grounded.” He bit at the inside of his cheek, pulling the skin taut until I could see the small cavern he made. “The Rut… her tatarabuela said to fight it, but I don’t think she should. I think the Rut will unite us, forge us together.”
“You’re only saying that because you don’t trust—”
“And do you?” he blurted out.
“No.” The answer was easily given, but nothing about this was easy. I thought about what had just happened, then something crossed my mind that prompted me to ask, “How did you know Trude was going to attack?”
Unease passed over his face, tightening his lips with his misery. “I don’t know. I think it’s just another ‘gift.’ I sensed it back in the AFata’s office when that witch was going to attack us, and I did today.” He shrugged. “What use was it though when it was too late?”
Empathy on his behalf filled me, but because I could see he wanted to wear a hair shirt over it, I didn’t linger over it, and went back to the original conversation—that was complicated and confusing enough to take anyone’s mind off things. Sweet Sol, a limerick had more reason and rhyme than what was going on here.
Breath billowing out of me, I asked, “Riel’s great-great-grandmother can’t lie to us, right? She’s dead. For whatever reason, Riel is having these visions, surely the intention behind them is pure.”
He winced. “True. But Gabriella definitely can’t be trusted.”
“Agreed.” I thought about it for a second, then murmured, “Maybe the Rut is what brings Riel back to us. Maybe that’s the link. It would make sense, Matt. We have to believe the visions are Gaia granted, free from human taint.”
This time, he didn’t just bite the inside of his cheek, he gnawed on it. “Yeah. I think you’re right.”
I blew out a breath. “Look, if we truly believe in kismet, then we have to believe that everything really is happening for a reason. Not like with how Riel said, where it means we do whatever the fuck we want, but because our path was set in stone long before we were born.”
He caught my eye. “Go on.”
I dipped my chin. “Gabriella was surprised over Riel catching the meteor, but maybe Gaia knew that all along. We’re her Virgo, and we thought we were her protectors, like you said, but maybe Riel was always supposed to catch that meteor, maybe we were always supposed to be there at her side, helping her. And now, as we act, we’re there for her, grounding her, stopping her from going nuts, keeping her tied to us through our bond because that’s the only way to stop her from going completely off the rails.”
For endless seconds, he didn’t say a word, then he nodded. “You’re right.”
My eyes flared wide at that. “Sol help us, I am?”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, his lips curved and he snickered. “You’re the one who came up with the theory. Why are you so surprised?”
I shook my head. “I was hoping I was wrong.”
“Maybe you are, because it is only a theory, but it ticks all the boxes, and it explains why Riel thought first instead of reacting when Seph was taken down.” His lips twisted into a snarl. “What better way to sabotage her than by taking one of her Virgo out of commission? By taking away the one means she has of staying grounded?”
I tensed. “You think you, Seph, and me are in danger?”
He stared at Seph and Riel who were still hugging. “I do.”
Twelve
Riel
The white noise was louder than ever.
It felt like I had a beehive taking root in my skull. The worst thing was, not even Seph was helping ease the noise. Earlier, being wrapped in Matt and Dan’s arms had helped, but something was different here.
Something was still wrong.
I pulled away to look at him, and saw his eyes were closed. His face was young again, and his body was no longer ill, but he was still plagued somehow. That had to be the reason why that incessant buzz hadn’t dissipated.
He sensed my attention and opened his eyes. They weren’t the usual bright blue. They were darker.
Smokier.
Like the crap that had spilled from him when he’d hacked up his guts.
“What is it, Riel?” he asked softly, sounding exactly like my Seph but somehow not.
My mouth tightened. “Nothing.” After clearing my throat, I murmured, “We need to get you onto the sofa. Somewhere more comfortable.”
He grimaced, a flash of pain creasing his brow. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”
I clambered off him, then leaned down and helped haul him into a sitting position. By that point, Dan and Matt were there to help him, and their presence aided with the white noise between my ears.
With that working theory, I released some of my magic’s hold on the old witch. Although my Virgo’s attention was elsewhere, their proximity to me eased that buzz, and I felt a little more in control than maybe I was supposed to be.
Trude’s eyes flared open the instant I relinquished the full hold I had on her. If the guys had asked me to explain that, I wouldn’t have been able to. I had no idea how I’d been able to freeze time, no idea how I could knock her out while imprisoning her, and also, how I could relinquish a part of the hold I had on her while maintaining everything else on lockdown.
I was well aware, from my own experiences, how far magic could travel. I knew she could get to us from here, and it wasn’t like she needed her fingers to do the pointing. Just releasing her to this extent was enough to put us all in danger, but, and call me crazy, I had a feeling of the two of us, I was the most dangerous.
“It takes some strength to control me,” Trude grated out, her voice itching with annoyance at a thought process we were sharing.
“If you don’t answer me, then you’ll be back right where you were,” I spat at her, feeling my Virgo tense up behind me.
I received a cold scoff for my pains. “As far as I’m aware, you have yet to ask me anything.”
Staring at her, just as cold as she, there was only one question to ask. “Why?”
“That’s a loaded question. So many whys to query what I did with my life.” Her lips pursed. “Let’s start off easily. Why did I stay in this half-life for half a millennium?” When I nodded, her eyes burned with an inner fire. “That one is simple. I was waiting for you.”
My throat closed at that.
“Not the answer you wanted to hear?” Her lips curved. “Since the first of Sol’s gifts hit the Earth, the Fae have overtaken us. Run roughshod over our powers. Gaia and Sol seek equilibrium in all things. It was my duty to remain until someone was born who could see that through.”
“Equilibrium?” I rasped.
She blinked. “A world where the Fae aren’t lording it over the witches. A world where the witches take their rightful place. The Conclave have abused their position for too long by allowing the Assembly to get away with it. It is time we regained what was rightfully ours.”
“And how can I do that?” I quizzed shakily.
“You’re a child of three worlds. Born witch and Fae, raised human. But where the ‘angels’ are concerned, you’re one of the few who could gain access to the Assembly,” she sneered. “You think they allow witches anywhere near the hallowed halls of their government? Of course not. You have wings, and while they may think you lesser, they think more of you than they do the likes of the witches and humans.”
“Why did you do that to Seph?” Dan snarled, his hands curved into fists as he faced the old witch. “What did injuring him have to do with any of this?”
“Because she wasn’t going to help me, and I needed to be liberated,” she said simply.
I turned to look at my mate. “What have you done to him?”
Seph’s eyes drifted open, the move was languid, soft. He was awake but not alert. “What do you mean? I’m fine.”
Everything inside me recognized that for the lie that it was—Good Gaia, even the white no
ise agreed, because it soared into a climax before settling into a deep buzz as I grumbled, “You’re the opposite.”
“She’s right.” She caught my eye. “Consider him collateral.”
“In what? You want me to do what you want?”
“What I want is what Gaia wants. How do you think I survived this long? My magic is strong, always was, but enough to survive five centuries?” She sniffed. “The gods intervened. They knew you’d need help, and help I shall.”
It was unwise to show her any weakness, so I scrubbed my hand over my face and hid my features from her for a blink of the eye.
“How can you help me?”
“You need guidance to craft the greatest weapon this planet has ever known.”
Eyes flaring wide at that, I asked, “What? Why?”
“The Fae respond only to might, so that is what we will give them.”
“Explain,” I demanded.
“Rude, isn’t she?” the witch said to my mates, but from their silence, I figured they weren’t going to apologize for my lack of manners.
“If you prefer to return to the rictus I just imprisoned you in, then that can be arranged,” I warned.
Her top lip curled in a sneer. “Think you could trap me in that once more?”
“Oh, I know it.” And I did. I wasn’t sure how I did, granted, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel the power inside me.
A breath gusted from her. “That’s the problem when you put the power of two gods into one being.” She rolled her eyes. “Arrogance.”
“Hardly. You attacked my Virgo. You admit to using him as collateral to leverage me into doing as you bid. Which part of that should make me trust you?”
Her lips flattened. “That was most unfortunate, but needs must.” She cut a look at my grandmother. “I see you treat all in the same manner. Friend or foe.”
“Hardly friend,” Matt pointed out. “She plotted against us.”
“For your own good,” she countered. “Even if you don’t know what your own good is.”
“I refuse to harm anyone,” I argued, inserting that into the conversation, raising my voice until that was the only thing that could be heard.
“Liberation comes at a price,” Trude murmured softly, but I saw the sliver of unease in her eyes.
“It’s not a price I’m willing to pay. I won’t hurt anyone. I won’t have anyone die for a cause that isn’t of their own choice—”
“That’s where you’re wrong. This world that we live in is the way it is because of every single person who allows the status quo to continue.” Her nostrils flared. “This rebellion has been centuries in the making and you will comply.”
“Regardless of what you say,” I spat. “I will do as I will. My loyalties lay with no one except for my Virgo. They’re the only ones in my life who haven’t turned their backs on me. Everyone else has either abandoned me or just decided I’m unworthy. Everyone except them… unfortunately for you, you targeted the wrong person as collateral.”
Trude released a sigh. “If you approach the Fae with anything other than all the power on your side, they won’t listen to you.”
I appreciated her cutting through the bullshit, but I didn’t like what she had to say. “I have collateral of my own.”
“I’m sure you do. It won’t be enough.”
“A battalion of warriors?”
She frowned. “You have a battalion of warriors imprisoned?”
Smugly, I told her, “I do.”
A snort escaped her. “Impressive, to be sure, but hardly enough to corral them. They send them into battle like chess pieces for their own gain, girl. To the Assembly, they’re expendable.”
Inside, I stiffened, because she wasn’t wrong.
“Why did Gabriella want Seph to touch Lars’ magic?”
Trude’s gaze drifted over to Matt. “I had many visions in my youth and that involves one of them. I foresaw the meteors that would bring changes…” Her jaw tightened. “Of course, they were for witch and human gain, not the Fae, but when did that ever stop them from abusing their position?”
“You mean the Fae were the only ones who weren’t supposed to touch the meteors?” I queried.
“Indeed.”
“But if they were for everyone else, how would humans and witches have survived the radiation?”
She sniffed. “You think Sol and Gaia would grant us a gift that would harm us? Harnessing the gift is one thing, but being outright damaged by the blessed vessel is another matter entirely.” She cocked a brow. “Aren’t you all fine? Do you suffer from ill health? Or just a surge in powers, unusual ones at that?”
I blinked. “I suppose. I don’t feel ill.”
“Nor should you. You are well. Strong. Growing stronger with time… That was foreseen. All of this was predicted, and we have been working toward it ever since.”
“Who’s we?” Daniel rasped.
“The first families, of course.”
Uneasily, I folded my arms across my chest. “How have you been doing that?”
“Waiting, mostly. Preparing our children for the day when the Redeemer would come.”
My brow puckered. “The Redeemer?”
“Your title.” Her lips twitched. “We knew many things, but we could not foresee your name.”
To these people, I was the Redeemer?
I shivered with relief when I felt Daniel approach me, his hand settling at the bottom of my back. I had to admit to feeling better at his touch, and I twisted slightly to move closer to him.
When I didn’t reply, when none of my Virgo said another word, Trude carried on, “Lars was prepared, as was his father and his father before him. The Redeemer, we all knew thanks to one of my visions, would come from the air branch. The fire, earth, and water families all knew to expect a visit from the Redeemer at some point, and they were to facilitate her wishes, offer their powers to her for her to do as she would with them.”
Matt grimaced. “That’s why he tensed as though he were about to die.”
She winced. “Indeed. The message, as is often the way, does get diluted with time. A little like a game of Telephone. The story changes over the years.”
“Figures,” Daniel muttered.
“What is Riel supposed to do with Lars’ magic?”
“That’s the most interesting thing of all,” Trude replied, her voice loaded with relish now. “She wasn’t to do anything. Her Virgo were. The Redeemer is Virgo-bound, after all. One would use Sol’s energies to take the metaphysical and make it physical. The next would find the remaining life within the physical, and the last would drain anything that was alive and remove it from the ore.”
My brow puckered. “What? Why would they do that?”
“What remained would be pure, harnessed, undiluted, simmering water magic.” Her eyes were alight with excitement. “Do the same with the air, fire, and earth offerings, and all of a sudden, you have the makings of the weapon we need to take down the Fae.”
“How? How would we do that?” I whispered, taken aback by the zealous nature of her tone.
“By hurting them where they’d hurt the most—resettling the balance among witchkind, easing their power surges.”
Dan gasped. “That’s impossible.”
“Is it? The first families are unique. Their magic is the strongest. They were the ones who connected with the first of Sol’s stones. Lars is a descendant of that first man. That power is harnessed through the generations, not growing weaker but stronger.
“We’re unlike other witchkind. Most will allow the magic to pass to either sex. But first families are different. Only one gender receives the gift, and that gender occurs only once per generation—that is the head of the family. Your grandmother is the head, and when she dies, your mother will be, and when she passes, you will be too. When you have a daughter, the mantel will pass on to her. As is the way with Lars…”
I frowned. “That makes no sense. You’re not a man.”
She
snorted. “You noticed that, did you? I married into the first family. My child became the head. I was powerful in my own right, but he was incredible.” Pride glinted in her eye. “Gaia granted me life to instruct you. I am the strongest Seer ever to grace this realm, and she has told me how it must be.”
“No,” I stated, refusing to listen. “There is free will in all things—”
“Not where you’re concerned, there isn’t,” she ground out, and this time, it wasn’t pride that glinted in her eyes, but rage. “Gaia and Sol have been working to right the wrongs they committed for centuries. Those plans will not grind to a halt thanks to a stupid witch who doesn’t know her place!”
“Nice to know what you really think of me,” I snarled, folding my arms across my chest.
“You never mentioned how you’d achieve this plan to dominate the Fae,” Daniel pointed out.
“I was interrupted, wasn’t I?” Trude snapped. “Our powers are pure, and the ore would be condensed.” She closed her eyes and, in a different tone, one that had the white noise in my head surging ever louder, recounted,
“In the Amazon, place the Water stone, to stir the beginnings of change.
“At Suswa, place the Earth stone, to help change grow.
“Upon the Himalayas, place the Air stone, to let change spread.
“Within Heklugjá, place the Fire stone, and from the ashes, change will be born.”
The shift in her voice wasn’t new to me. I knew what it meant, and I was getting sick and fucking tired of it.
A vision.
She was speaking words she’d learned in a vision.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sought patience and failed to find it. I hadn’t asked for any of this. Hadn’t asked to be a Redeemer.
I was a fashion designer, for fuck’s sake.
Not a harbinger.
And yet, deep inside myself, what she said resonated on a different level because that white noise?
It had gone silent.
The magic within me, the magic that was Sol-granted and Gaia-gifted, was in total agreement.
It wanted what Trude said to be realized.
Finally Faeling: An Eight Wings Academy Novel: Book Three Page 19
