“My aunt? Wait— you were the ones who wrote in my journal. It wasyourhandwriting I couldn’t recognize,” I said.
“Yes. We’re the ancestral guardians of your prophecy. Your Aunt Maddie tasked us with helping her decipher her visions of the future before we died, and now that we’re ancestors, we’re here on the other side to help you with your journey,” Miranda replied. “We’ve been informed you’ve made the decision to go back.”
“I did.” I fiddled with my cup. “Do you think I’m making the right choice?”
“It doesn’t matter what we think. What matters is the choice you make for yourself,” Lindsey said. “If you really do want to go back, we’re here to guide you on your path.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It was hard for us to get in contact with you when you were living on earth,” Miranda said. “We tried so hard to send you hints and give you clues to help you defeat the Warden, but what we can do even as ancestors is limited.”
“Can you explain the rest of my prophecy, and tell me what the future holds now that I’m here with you in person?” I asked.
“We could if you remained here in the Ancestral Lands and chose to leave your prophecy behind you, but since you’re returning, we can’t do that. Telling you now could influence the outcome of the prophecy, and put the world, as well as the Blessed Haven, in danger,” Lindsey said, shaking her head.
“Why can’t you just give me the answers now? I don’t understand,” I said.
“We are magically bound to say nothing,” Miranda said. “Prophecies are only fulfilled when the chosen one partakes in the journey and fulfills their destiny through their own choices and power. If we give you everything you need to learn on your own, the prophecy’s magic will wane. Then the Blessed Havenwillbe destroyed.”
I pondered what I had read in my journal, and remembered one of the lines from my prophecy.She dances the line both dead and alive.
“My aunt saw me resurrecting to fulfill my prophecy, didn’t she?” I asked.
“She did,” Lindsey admitted. “What you and Charlie share is powerful magic.”
“Well damn, she could’ve told me!” I said.
“You wouldn’t have taken the steps necessary to be here if you knew, so it would’ve never happened, and the prophecy’s magic would break, as we said,” Miranda insisted. “Giving you the answers changes the entire path of the future. There’s no telling what course it could take, if we told you what’s coming. Then the Warden will certainly win.”
Well, no matter how curious I was, I wasn’t letting him beat me that easily. “So if you can’t give me the answers now, but can guide me on my journey, how are you planning on doing that?”
“We’ll send you clues as you come along each point of your path, since your soul still has lessons to learn,” Lindsey added. “Trust me; you’ll know it’s from us.”
“How can I get in contact with you? You aren’t my ancestors, so I can’t communicate with you directly, and I don’t think having a friend summon you would work more than once, if at all.”
“Your mother has a very special compass in her possession,” Miranda said. “Once you get back, ask her to give it to you. We’ll be able to channel our energy and speak with you through it.”
“We won’t always be able to communicate with words, but the compass will show you what you need to do and where you need to go,” Lindsey said. “When you use it, it won’t always make sense. But be aware that the compass is always right. Follow it as best you can. That’s all we can tell you.”
I nodded. “Okay. Then I think I’m ready.”
“You’re very brave for going back,” Miranda added. “I don’t think I ever could. Not after being here. I’ve even put off reincarnating. I don’t want anything to do with earth for a long time.”
“I’m not going back because I want to.” I was going back because the world needed me.
And Charlie. He needed me. If he was calling me back, then my soul had to go. We were two parts of one being. I couldn’t let us exist apart. It just wasn’t right.
We stood from the table. When I opened the door to the cottage, Uncle Ezra, Aunt Stevie, and Grandpa Liwanu were waiting for me.
I guess they’d heard the news. They didn’t look mad about it, though. If anything, my grandfather appeared proud as he puffed out his chest. “That’s my girl. I knew you wouldn’t give up the fight so easily.”
“I’m going to miss all of you,” I said, giving each of them tight hugs. It sucked that I had to leave already after meeting all of them.
“Ah, you’ll be back in a minute,” Uncle Ezra said with a wave in his hand. “Spirit-realm speaking. No telling how long you’ll be downthere.”
Aunt Stevie stroked back my hair. Her tone was thick with emotion as she said, “Say hi to Josee once you see her, okay? Give her all our love.”
“I will,” I promised her. “First chance I get.”
