Page 273 of Gift from the Source
“Over the years. Many, many years.”
The darkness from my shadows embroiders into the canvas on the leaf under her mom’s name as I run my finger over it gently.
Willow Vito (Fortia).
“I don’t understand. I’ve asked CC so many times for this answer. I’ve even asked him to ask Mom, but neither would tell me.”
“I don’t have that answer, Primary. Maybe they knew I started this one hundred and twenty years ago, so they didn’t want to ruin my fun.”
“You what? Oh my Elementra. You spent all those years making this for me?”
“I did. I found a lot of joy in doing this. You are remarkable and come from a small society of very remarkable women. Learn about them, sweet Willow.”
Her breath whooshes out of her as she falls headfirst into observing every single piece of the tree.
As she goes, I give her information I’ve learned.
“Turns out or so I believe, you don’t actually share blood with them. From what I’ve gathered and of course just my scholarly belief, Elementra doesn’t actually bleed blood like we do. She infused a piece of herself into each daughter and because they were created to have bodies such as ours, that essence spread through the blood. So you all aren’t technically related by blood but born from the same essence.”
“Makes sense,” she mumbles, mystified.
“Wisdom, Compassion, Fortitude, Courage, and Balance. The five large personalities that Elementra bestowed on each daughter. It’s my belief that some of those pieces latched onto each one a little more.” I point to the line that she has her hand resting on. “The Baldo line. The last to come but the first to go. From what I gathered, this was the line that died first. Throwing everyone off balance.”
Her calculating eyes swing to mine and I nod.
“The Kuvira line. Based on some records I recovered, there was a small battle that happened. Two recognizable people were there whose names overlapped. One was called the Kuvira Primary, the other the Levina Primary. The Kuvira Primary didn’t make it. I believe she sacrificed herself for the Levina Primary. Courage and compassion.
“I followed the trail of the Levina Primary and she was eventually found. She gave herself up when the people hunting her attacked the small village she and her Nexus lived in. The people of that village wrote about all she did for their community.
“This line obviously is the line I gathered the most information on. The Fortia Line. That’s your line, Primary. The fortitude the women in your line possessed kept you all here until the end. It’s not to be confused with courage. Courage is having the ability to face the dangers in front of you. Which you most certainly do all the time. But your grandmothers, your moms, even before them. You all have an incredible ability to endure and never give up.”
Her hand glides over the tapestry lovingly and she nods the entire time. I wait impatiently patient for her to say something.
The glistening in her eyes reflects amazement not sadness, but my heart thunders in my ribs that I’ve overstepped. Her bond is a mixture of emotions, but I believe the more negative ones stem from hearing and knowing the end they all met.
Finally, she releases a breathy laugh and her gift caresses my mind.
“Very, very good, nephew. I knew you got your brains from me.”
My body shudders and I close my eyes so I can savor his approval.“Thanks, Uncle. Now some help with that last line would be greatly appreciated so I can finish your daughter’s gift.”
“Pulling the daughter card, are we?”
“If it gets me what I want.”
His laugh echoes around my mind before it fades away and I groan in frustration. Willow’s gasp has me whipping my eyes down to her and anticipation building in my chest.
“Shut up,” she whispers.
“What? What did he say?”
She doesn’t answer. The darkness of her gift whisks me away and through the walls. She drops us out in Uncle Orien’s bedroom that’s more so Gaster’s space now.
“Well, what are you two”
“The Cato line was the fifth line of Elementra’s daughters.”
My whole body jerks. “What?”
