Page 72 of I Will Always Find You
“No, that cannot be! To so easily forget me?”
“There is more, my young witch, as that alone is not enough to achieve perfect balance and satisfy a spurned destiny. You must also never reveal Aeneas’ past to him; doing so will drive himto madness. The memories of his previous lives, along with the intense emotions and physical sensations associated with those experiences, will overwhelm his mind.
“His reason will refuse to comprehend that these memories are part of his former incarnations, ultimately breaking his sanity. And death will immediately follow, ending that cycle of Aeneas’ reincarnated life. And you will be left alone in the mortal world until your death by natural orothermeans.
“Aeneas’ waking mind will never accept his past incarnations. You must understand, witch-boy, this is immutable. Yes, he will always be Aeneas in heart and soul, but he will be a new man in every lifetime.
“In all his new lives, he may or may not have a connection to nature and the power of The Craft, but your Romani heritage runs deep, witch-boy, and your familial blood is potent, strengthening your bond with Gaia—or Terra, as you know the Great Mother. And through your witchcraft and your blood, you are always connected to me. Your magic will follow you through the Karmic Cycle, guiding your journey and protecting you. Use it wisely.
“I will work the magic to return you and Aeneas to this realm of flesh and blood in bodies resembling those you now possess. I shall even make it so your beloved always bears red locks.
“In exchange for this gift, to keep the balance, you will always return from death to the mortal realm here, in the country of your original birth.Youmust seek Aeneas out; he will never look for you, wherever he is, for his place of reincarnation is left to chance. Still, your connection to each other will be there when or if you encounter him. I promise this, for your souls will always recognize one another—sooner or later.
“Regardless of this affinity, you must still win his love over and over again. Although I am sure it feels like it, the two of you, being together, are not a fated match, but rather bonded by luck,chance, and the power of choice, and this difference will create a challenge. I cannot guarantee that you will always find him. Gaia’s body is vast, and the responsibility lies with you, always. That isyourkarmic journey.
“Your love for Aeneas must be worth the possibility of an endless search through the ages just to be together for one mortal lifetime, and then be forced to begin the search all over again in the next life. To defy the Wheel of Destiny, witch-boy, and entrench you in the Karmic Cycle is to tamper with forces of immense power and consequence. The scales must inevitably balance, and the cost must also be substantial for something of such great significance.
“I am Hecate, ‘she who works her will,’ and I stand ready to fulfill your request, but you must be prepared to meet the terms I set forth. It is a price steeped in sacrifice, designed to appease those ancient forces you seek to scorn. Sometimes, what I offer feels less like a gift and more like a curse.”
The Romani witch lowered his weary head, tears streaming down his face and pooling in his calloused hands, still stained by Vesuvius’ dark earth. The weight of his distress upon his shoulders was gargantuan; yes, this was a steep price for him to pay. It would require a deep well of courage and unwavering fortitude to bear the burden of endless time, with all its relentless demands and uncertainties.
He would also have to battle the chaotic, often unforgiving nature of chance, perpetually swirling around him and Aeneas like a tempest, threatening to upend their reunion at every turn.
Yet, the Romani witch’s love for Aeneas blazed like an eternal flame, fierce and unyielding; no force of nature, neither time nor death, could ever extinguish its heat and radiance. He would willingly sacrifice anything, regardless of the cost, to ensure his beloved stayed by his side for all eternity. It mattered not whatlives they would lead, how long they would have together, or what threats might try to obstruct his search.
“Work your magic, great Hecate, for I will endure. My love for Aeneas, his love for me, will break the Wheel. Place me in the Karmic Cycle, and know I carry no hesitation nor fear of the unknown.”
The thrice-faced goddess of witchcraft smiled down at the Romani witch in all her aspects. “There is no going back once the spell begins, witch-boy. Are you certain of this path before you? Do you truly have no fear of what may transpire in an uncharted destiny? Even a drop of uncertainty in an ocean of possibilities may steer you forever off course, barring you from any reunion each lifetime. And successive failure may ultimately destroy you.”
Cassian, the Romani witch, locked his gaze with the goddess’ mesmerizing, glowing green eyes, which shimmered like emeralds in the moonlight. With unwavering conviction, he declared, “I—have—none. Because I know something in my heart and soul, without a doubt.”
“Yes?” Hecate urged, her voice a silken whisper filled with anticipation as she leaned closer, holding her breath in suspense. She hoped to hear true conviction in the young witch’s voice.
“I willalwaysfind him.”
CANADA 21st Century
TORONTO
TWILIGHTclung to Roncesvalles Avenue as Cassian and his husband, Aric, walked hand-in-hand down the street, having gotten off the subway at Dundas and Bloor. The street was quiet, the air tinged with a slight Autumn chill. As they neared the Revue Cinema, a poster forInterview With the Vampirein the theatre’s entrance window caught their attention.
“I love this movie!” Aric exclaimed, stopping to glance at the large promo poster. “We should totally go, Cass! It starts in twenty minutes!” His excitement was palpable, mainly because he had not been born when the movie came out and had only seen it on TV years later.
However, his husband did not share the same interest in gothic, darkly romantic tales, especially those involving vampires. Or, as Cassian still referred to them as: blood-drinkers. He had personal experience with them, and in his opinion, most were real bastards.
For their nightly stroll, Aric wore a dark navy belted bush jacket, paired with fitted dark jeans and a pair of Fluevog shoes, “The Danielson,” in blue hues. A houndstooth newsboy cap and a charcoal grey scarf hung loosely around his neck, topping off his ensemble and providing some warmth against the brisk late October air.
Beside him, Cassian had gone for a more rock-and-roll aesthetic: a worn-in vegan leather motorcycle jacket, an oversized vintage Siouxsie and the Banshees tee, distressed Levi’s jeans cuffed at the ankles, and black Doc Martens with Pride rainbow bootlaces. True to form, he made no concessions to the weather—no hat, no scarf, and his jacket hung open despite the chill.
Their contrasting fashions made them seem like they belonged to different eras—Cassian with his modern, rebellious vibe, and Aric channelling a retro, timeless elegance. Yet the combination felt natural, a perfect blend of individuality and connection.
Together, they were a harmonious union bound by love, yet each remained distinctly himself: one forthright and emotionally impulsive, the other gentle and contemplative. And still, they balanced and completed each other in ways onlytrue lovecould begin to explain.
The two men had been a couple for four years and married for three of those. This was the first time in their long history that these two souls could legally marry, though other cultures in the past had recognized their union. Not that Aric was aware of any of this; he was utterly ignorant of the fact that he was merely the most recent host for the reincarnated soul of a man from Pompeii—Aeneas—born two thousand years earlier.
Cassian had shared a deep, fulfilling life with the last host body for Aeneas’ essence, Marshall Collingsworth, from 1952 until the man’s passing in 1999 at the age of 80, due to a heart attack. Unfortunately, they had never been able to marry, as marriageequality in Canada did not pass until 2005. Cassian was across town when Marshall had his attack and did not make it back in time to save him with magic.
Marshall’s death had shattered Cassian, just as every eventual loss of Aeneas did.
