Page 98 of Gift from the Source
“Soon can mean many things for immortals. Soon as in a few months, a hundred years?”
“Days, weeks maybe,” she says, never looking back at me but constantly at the stars.
Which, for the moment, is a good thing as I’m having an internal crisis. Scattered pieces all over my mind continue to snap in place and I’m just waiting for them to settle so I can see the picture.
There’s one thing I know with one hundred percent certainty and that’s I will not be going to the Valorian Veil in a few days or weeks to joina war. Our war is now confined to Elementra and that’s where it will stay if I have any say in it.
But that leaves me with a very unfortunate prediction that I have to give her.
“Your time isn’t now. My time is. The vision you saw was altered by an action I took to stop the Summum-Master from getting to your realm. I would’ve followed him there to stop him from returning with the power of a God. Your war is still to come, I’ve seen it, but it’s not right now.”
She finally stops her pacing to look at me, but the second is fleeting. I can’t help but flinch back as she takes a desperate inhale.
Then her eyes turn black and her body goes still.
I know a vision when I see one, even though she looks completely different than I believe I do. That’s exactly what’s happening.
I wait patiently, sort of, and stare into her other-realmly eyes. The entirety of them is the color of darkness, yet a ring of light surrounds the outline. It looks like two stars in the night sky.
Elementra, I can’t believe I’ve altered the path of a whole other realm. What the hell?
“It was what was meant to be, Willow. The forces had decided any other path would’ve been too much of a risk,”V says, scaring the shit out of me.
“I didn’t even know we could still communicate right now. Why haven’t you butted in at any other point in time?”
“My guidance was not needed. You and her still have much to work out, but you should have no doubt in the decision you made. Much would’ve altered had you not,”he says confidently.
“Like you not joining us here?”
“Precisely. Had you not been able to retrieve your blood and the Summum-Master had gone to the Valorian Veil, I would have gone directly there as well to defend it. Our paths would’ve eventually crossed, but there’s no telling now if I would’ve connected with you or Draken.”
“How is it you know everything?”I ask after I glance back to see the goddess still in her vision.
Gah, how rude of me. I haven’t even asked her name.
“She would not tell you even if you did, so I’d not bother bringing it up. Many know of her, some even pray to her, but there are very few beings who know who she is. It will stay that way as long as the creators can help it.
“As for knowing everything, I do not. I’m given one singular path when I connect with you, and I must do everything necessary to keep you on that path. Every little change causes me to adjust and deviate quickly, but unlike your visions, I do not get another option to take. I must get you back on track.”
“That’s what you meant by you thought we had more time and didn’t think Cas would figure out your words so fast,”I whisper with wide eyes.
I’m not sure which is worse. Me getting multiple paths and having to decide myself which is the best. Or him only getting the one and having to do everything precisely to make sure it all goes right.
“Yes. There were a few steps that would’ve happened before this time now and you would’ve been better prepared for this meeting, but you’re doing remarkably well with the time and knowledge given to you.”
“Thanks, V. Will those steps—”
My words are cut off and I whip my head back to the gasp that just fell out of the goddess’s mouth. Her vision lasted much longer than mine of the future normally would, but it was shorter than what I experience when I visit the past. So I don’t have any idea what she could’ve seen.
And damn, I hope she was able to breathe that whole time. That gasp sounded painful.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I don’t appreciate the timing, but what can I do about it?” She huffs as she takes a seat once again.
“If it makes you feel any better, my sight does the same. I only get visions when it feels like giving them out. It’s annoying, to put it mildly,” I say, trying to ease the worry swirling in her now almost cosmic eyes.
“At least we aren’t alone in our annoyance then.”
