Page 48 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

Because you were born on the blood moon, it only made your magic expand into something incredible to behold. Your father was terrified of you. Terrified of what you would become. It was clear, even as a baby, that you would be unstoppable if you wanted. He wanted to have you killed because your magic was too much for him to handle. I refused to allow that, so I made him a deal. I would put most of your magic in a cage inside of you, keeping just your fire magic free. I used a binding spell that would keep you safe from showing how much magic you had. I did not tell your father about the dark magic inside of you. The one that takes magic from others and allows you to have it too. But gods above, I was so proud of your abilities. I was never ashamed of what you could do.

But the binding spell will need to be redone as you get older, and your magic expands. If it doesn’t, it will kill you. The spell only allows me to undo it on the blood moon. My plan is to let your magic free this blood moon and not rebind it like your father is demanding.

When you were a small child, I started having visions about your future. At first, I thought they were just nightmares, but then Killian visited me in my dreams, and I knew he was trying to warn me. All the visions showed me dying and you growing up without knowing that your magic was stuck inside of you. If this happens, you will grow up sick. Your magic will start to take from you and your soul in order to fuel itself. That is, if I cannot free you first.

I have seen so many versions of your death in my dreams that I do not understand what my visions are trying to tell me. It is not always death, though. I have also seen you happy with a family of your own. It is almost as if both versions are true, but how can that be?

I wished to every holy being that I could give you more clarity of what your future holds, but it is as if you die several times, and I cannot understand why. Every decision you make will impact you in a significant way, but your prophecy will come true. You do not have a choice in that, but you will have a choice in who you fight for. I have only told one soul of your prophecy, and that is Brim. He will not speak of it until he must, but when the gods will it, he must tell it.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: never, under any circumstances, trust your father. I have never seen as much evil and cruelness in one fae as I see in him. He has a gift of making those around him think he cares and has good intentions, but he does not care for anyone but himself. If you are reading this letter, I know you are back in Cerithia. Find Brim; he will help you understand the prophecy and perhaps give you more insight. Do not tell your father of this letter, of Brim, or of Rosaline.

Also, you must know that my bloodstone is for you and you alone. With it, you will have unlimited energy for your powers. It is the most important thing I could leave you. You need the bloodstone. Find it, keep it, and do not, under any circumstances, let your father have it.

Killian was such a wonderful man that I wish he could have been your father, but I did what I needed to for the coven. I wouldn’t trade you for anything, Thea. You will always be my greatest love and accomplishment. But I think I will carry the guilt of who I made your father and binding your magic inside of you into the next life and each one after.

Even though I am no longer here, please remember that you are strong, powerful, and unbeatable. You do not need anyone else to save you; you have always been strong enough to do that yourself.

There is a man with golden eyes who will watch you in the future. I do not know who he is. I have never met him before, but he seems to be important to you. He holds answers for you, but I have also seen him kill you. I do not know what his significance is to you, and even though I saw him kill you, I cannot bring myself to hate him. I will seek him out for myself and see.

You have all my love,

Mother

My head swarmed with so many questions. My eyes scanned her perfect penmanship, wanting to take in as much detail about her as possible. I paused at her confusion about my many deaths. My mother had seen my curse and the ways I died. She also saw Cassius in these visions, but she did not fear or hate him.

“I have a portrait for you,” Rosaline said from behind me, startling me. She held up a small, framed painting, and I took it. It was of her, Bayla. My eyes could not look away from my mother. It was as if I were looking at an image of myself. The only difference was her red eyes, like Cassius said. I gasped when I saw the red and orange swirls on her skin; they were the same as mine. I took in the man next to her. He was taller than her, with kind brown eyes and dark hair. Killian. I glanced at Rosaline.

“They look happy.”

This made her smile.

“They were. I don’t know if I ever saw anyone so in love.” Her hand grabbed mine and squeezed it tightly. “You are so much like her, Thea; it’s like the gods gave me a piece of her back.”

“I wished things had been different.” I frowned at the image.

“Your mother came to understand the meaning of the visions before she died. She knew of the curse, and she had met Cassius.”

“She envisioned him because he killed me. His significance was that he cursed me.”

Rosaline shook her head.

“Your mother eventually found the answers she sought, but this letter was already written,” Rosaline said with a smile. “Bayla never shared what she found out about Cassius, but I do know that she did not hate him.”

“Then maybe she didn’t understand what he did.”

Rosaline gripped my hand.

“She knew, Thea. She knew everything before she died. Bayla knew she would not see you grow up, but she was at peace with it after meeting Cassius. She said you’d be in good hands with him. You must be so confused, but you need to trust your instincts. There is a reason you hate it here, and do not hate Cassius as much as you try to convince everyone.”

"Why would you say that? You don't know what I feel about Cassius."

"It's plain as day on your face that youthinkyou should hate him because he killed you, and maybe you feel shame that you don't. But I'm telling you that youneedto trust your instincts. If you don't hate Cassius, then figure out why." Rosaline gave me a sad smile.

"Do you think I am a fool to have feelings for him still even knowing that he killed me?" I whispered. I was fighting with the idea that I did not hate him like I should. I wanted to forgive him, and that made me feel pathetic.

“No. I think your mind doesn't remember, but maybe something in your heart does." She frowned at me. "Trust yourself, Thea."

I nodded as I stared at the portrait of my mother. My instincts wanted me to forgive Cassius.

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