Page 47 of The Heirs

Shaking the awe away, I refocused on my duty, opening a portal to Willow Grove, as Knox and Madden ushered everyone through.

“We’ll go through with them, make sure no one freaks out and runs off after Eli’s power wears off.” Maeve said, linking her fingers with Kalani’s before they both stepped through the portal, leaving the five of us alone.

“Where to next?” I asked Madden and he closed his eyes, before detailing the next community.

I opened the portal, my power coming to me easier than breathing now, before whisking the five of us away, knowing that we had a long night ahead of us.

Chapter Fifty

Madden

For the next few hours, we transported from one community to the next, rousing Divines from their sleep, assuring them that they were safe but they needed to go. Most people argued, not wanting to leave their homes, but Eli used his power to calm their worries, ensuring they all made it. I wasn’t sure when the Etho had managed that particular skill, but it sure as fuck was coming in handy.

In fact, it seemed all our powers were working in ways we hadn’t been able to before. My tracking instinct had always been strong, but I had never managed to track a place or person without prior information. Halley opened each portal as if she had been doing it for decades instead of hours. We had all felt the power when the prophecy spoke to us, but I couldn’t help but wonder what this meant. At this point, there were no Divines stronger than the five of us in this realm or the next.

Arriving in the Michigan community, we were met with the same pushback as the others. I didn’t blame any of them. If I had been woken by five strangers, I would have fought tooth and nail before following their words. As the group gathered, Eli controlling their movements, I watched as Halley walked up to a large family. I recognized Kalani’s family from when I had brought her to Willow Grove and Halley must have realized who they were as well.

Halley spoke to the family quietly, before ushering them back into the group. Opening the portal, the community stepped through, sealing their fate. I only hoped that when we were able to get everyone to Willow Grove, they would be willing to listen to the next steps we needed to take.

? ? ?

We landed in the Southern community next and I took a deep breath, smelling home. I hadn’t been here in too long and as the others woke the sleeping Divines, I rushed to my home, wanting to see my family. Opening the door, Mom sat in the living room, reading a book. I wasn’t surprised in the slightest, knowing that late at night was her only time of peace away from my two unruly little brothers. My entrance alerted her and she looked up quickly, her face breaking into a smile.

“My sweet boy.” She called, making her way over to me, and wrapping me in her arms.

I returned her hug wholeheartedly, inhaling her scent, reminders of my childhood. Pulling back, I quickly explained the situation before going to wake my brothers. Both of them yelled with happiness when they saw me and I brought them close, thankful for the future they would now have. They wouldn’t have to grow up in fear any longer.

Walking out of our home, the four of us gathered with the rest of community, all of them silent and content, Eli already working his powers over them. Halley stood before them all, her skin glowing with light as she held the portal open, Divines stepping through.

Mom caught my gaze, glancing back at Halley. “She’s the Enchantress then?”

I looked back at Halley, wondering what Mom saw. I knew what I did. A beautiful woman that glowed from the inside brighter than she was currently from the out. A courageous woman that had put her life on the line too many times for the Divines. And I knew that she wasn’t the Enchantress to me.

“She is. But she’s also the woman I love.”

Chapter Fifty-One

Eli

The Maine community was our last stop, and the easiest. I didn’t feel the waver in my power, but I knew I had used more energy than ever before. With my words and the use of my powers, each and every Divine had walked through the portal, taking the next step to the future.

Knox and I walked through the houses, waking our parents first, and with their help, we gathered our entire community without one word of denial. They were all willing to step through the portal, Hank’s words enough for them without me altering their emotions.

After everyone walked through the portal, the remaining five of us followed, arriving in Central Territory with the thousands of Divines that were left. Standing in the room, filled to the brim with people, I realized that this was it. The moment that we had been waiting for. The moment that all Divines had thought would never be fulfilled. We were about to go home.

Scanning the room, I felt the emotions spilling over, everyone’s fear rampant. Without a thought, I pushed a calming sense over the entirety of the room, making sure that it didn’t change their thoughts, but only calmed their minds so that they could listen.

The crowd quieted, no one speaking, until a door slammed open, Zachariah’s frantic face coming into view. Before I could erase his stress, Knox walked towards him with intention. He began speaking to the older man, rage in his eyes. I don’t know what he said, but Zachariah cowered, quickly nodding his head before heading to the back of the room, avoiding eye contact with any of the other Divines.

Knox came back over to our group, standing on a table, so he could see the room, before he began speaking.

“I know you are all confused why you are here. Maybe even scared. But this is not a bad thing, in fact, it may be the best thing. We have found the Domicillum Prophecy. And it is time for us to go home.”

The room erupted in denial, their thoughts on the matter breaking through my power, no one believing his words. We had anticipated some resistance, but I didn’t realize how lost this dream had become. Knox waited for me to quiet the crowd before continuing.

“You may not believe me, but the truth is in front of your eyes. The last Enchantress is among us and will be the one to open the portal.”

Knox turned towards Halley then, everyone’s eyes following his. Instead of shying away from the eyes of thousands, Halley straightened her back, stepping onto the table and holding her chin high. Everyone stared at her, awe in their eyes, and I knew it was reflected in mine as well. Because Halley Jameson was otherworldly, the most amazing Divine our generation would see.

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