[Evander]
There are several reasons why I’d rather not visit the Oracle.
The first is that the Oracle lives very far away, in another dimension, on the other side of time. I wish I were kidding, but it is a very far distance, one that can take days, even when traveling by shadow. Not only does it take a lot of time, the journey also takes an extraordinary amount of energy. After using my energy to keep the road to the Oracle open long enough to make it to our final destination, I will likely need to rest before I can make the trip back home again, especially since Rosalynd and I are not formally joined.
Second, the Oracle is not a particularly pleasant entity to encounter. There is nothing ab
[Rosalynd] Of all the fairy tale worlds I could have fallen into, I never thought it would be Wonderland. Neverland, maybe, but not Wonderland. Honestly, I always thought it’d be Narnia, or I’d get some kind of letter delivered by a half-giant proclaiming I am really a witch and that my mother wasn’t really my mother but some mistake as she was the only one to keep me safe from a big scary evil wizard. Actually, that last one hits a bit too close to home. I am tempted to start whistling and kicking my heels as we walk, as if we were off to see a particular wizard, as this feels so much like a trip to Oz that if I weren’t making my way while holding the hand of THE Mad
[Evander] I tug on the bandages covering my eyes and blink up into the sunlight for the first time in days. It seems cruel that just for this vision The Oracle sees fit to restore my vision. There is no guarantee this is permanent, so I take this moment to really look around. “Evander,” Rosalynd says my name and looks up at me with amazement. She reaches up to touch my scarred face, her hand resting on my cheek, her eyes glowing with wonder. “Is this real?” “For now,” I explain “At least for these visions. The Oracle can take this away at any point and it is very likely that I won’t have my sight once we leave here.” I don’t want to get he
[Rosalynd] The Oracle has given Evander back his sight! He tells me that it isn’t forever, that it can take back what it has gifted, but in this moment I am happy to see his beautiful eyes watching the expressions on my face, seeing me. I squeeze Evander’s hand. But his hand is no longer there. Looking around, the scene changes and I am surrounded by a shadowy forest. Sitting in a hollow are two young women, one of whom is surrounded by crystals. “On this day,” my Mother’s voice greeted me. “You asked me for a boon. I heard you small fae child, for I listen to the whims of
[Rosalynd] “Where are we,” I ask Evander as he holds onto me. “I’m not exactly sure, “ he admits. The scene before us is a pleasant one. We are in a house of sorts, although it feels like something much bigger, somewhere between a traditional home and a conference hall. The room where we are standing is large and full of light and warmth with a homey, lived-in feeling. The hardwood floors gleam with fresh polish and colorful rugs add a touch of softness to the otherwise hard lines of the space. Looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows, I notice the yard is lightly forested, more urban than the dense redwoods on Axel's property.
[Axel] “Silver bells….silver bells…It’s Christmas time in the city….” I wake up singing out of tune. It is way too soon to be thinking about Christmas. We haven’t even had Halloween yet. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I attempt to sit up but settle for just propping myself up a bit against a stack of pillows. My head is pounding and my ears are ringing, the light in my room almost unbearable. “Never again,” I say to no one in particular. My wolf, Conner, chuckles. “I told you to stop at two,” he laughs at my pain. Since I’m in control of my body at the mom
[Gideon] Axel’s grandmother must have been a very interesting wolf if what I’m seeing in this trunk is any indication. Axel’s family line looks a lot more diverse than one might suspect from Axel himself. Maybe that is why he was drawn so strongly to Rosie, and how she could be his second-chance mate. I have a feeling that even if he had still been mated with his ex-wife, Rosalynd’s claim would have been stronger. Axel certainly has a very interesting family tree. But how do I tell Axel how interesting his lineage is without warping his whole sense of reality? I mean, I guess I could let Evander be the one to tell him…although something tells me that the news might come better from someone who is not Fae.
[Axel] "Not possible," I shake my head vigorously. This crazy witch has no idea what he is talking about. I knew my Grandmother. She was a wolf. She had a wolf form. She birthed several powerful wolves, including my father. There is no way she was a faerie. "She was a witch and a wolf. Everyone knows that." "Oh really," I want to wipe the smug look off of Gideon's face. Even when he is trying to look helpful he comes across as a bit of an arrogant ass. "I don't deny she had some witch powers, but I don't think she was actually a witch. These items are too old. Like almost immortally old. A witch hybrid wouldn't have lived long enough to have anything this ancient." Taking a look again at the two pi
[Axel] “Okay, hold up,” I stare at Gideon, my face frozen in shock. “You can’t just drop something like that on a person. How on Earth can my grandmother be alive? She was old when I was a kid. AT least 65-70 years old. She died 20 years ago. That would make her around what, 95? 100? No way. She was a tough old wolf but no.” “Your father is nearing 70 and would you expect him to die soon?” Gideon presses. “He’s still one of the most powerful Alphas in the pack. Strong enough that you trusted him to guard your pack children and elderly. Does he look anywhere as old or frail as the other elders?” I never really thought about how special my f