?“Now why does Alexandros think breaking the veil will help?”
?I grind my teeth together and clench and unclench my fists. Part of me doesn’t even want to answer her because of how much of a selfish bitch she is.
?“You can ask him that yourself. I’m not obligated to tell you.”
?Her eyes slit before she slouches in her chair and rolls her eyes. “Do you even know how the Willow of Lore was created?”
?I blink at her because that was sort of a random question after what I just said. Instead of strictly answering, I shake my head.
?Of course I don’t. Not the truth or the full truth of it. Just like no one else does who’s able to freely speak. Either everyone is dead or they’ve all made blood oaths and this school has done nothing but hide facts and history and truths.
?She gestures towards the books still splayed out on the table. “They say one being from each race and subrace came together after the last battle of the War of Gods and united to create this symbol of home and love and peace after tragedy.” She looks around at the library. “But that’s not how it went.”
?I raise my brows at her to continue. Getting irritated at her half-truths and trying to twist words and not just saying it point blank. It’s not that hard to simply state something.
?“Hessenti, the Goddess of Shapeshifters and Runes created a written fate to make the Godskiller forgotten. The Forgotten God of Blood Moons was named the Godskiller and that’s how he was forgotten. But before his name was taken he created a wishing star that helped the thirty-five beings – each a different race – that created the Willow of Lore. Except not just any god can create a wishing star. Very few beings, and very few magics can create them. But that day this pulse rippled through.A wave that came from a different universe and even passed this one. That ripple held magic that surpassed the primordials and left remnants of its magic. One of those remnants planted itself here and those thirty-five beings came together to create the willow while the Forgotten God of Blood Moons used another remnant to make that wishing star soar.”
?I rub my hands up and down my face trying to understand whatever the fuck is happening.
?“What are you trying to say? How does this correlate to the queen or making the Forgotten God of Blood Moons remembered?”
?“That Queen of Ashes and Shadows created that ripple of magic that ran through every universe ever created, leaving remnants of her magic when she made herself remembered by saying her name.” Her pink eyes just barely deepen a shade. “Her magic was the last turning point of the war, and she can make forgotten things remembered.”
?I sit very still as I ask, “That doesn’t answer how you know all of this?”
?Something behind her eyes flashes and she looks like she wants to say something, but instead she mentally silences herself and says instead, “Syngenia the Blood Witch had seen everything as a spirit roaming these grounds. She also was alive, and lived long enough, to know things. She’s met beings who have traveled to many worlds and universes all with many stories to tell.”
?No wonder she knows so much she shouldn’t. No wonder she thinks she’s above us all. She has thousands upon thousands of years’ worth of knowledge and advice and history.Truth. Sheknows truth because she has the memories of the first witch ever created. The first forgotten god made.
?We know – estimated – how long Syngenia the Blood Witch lived. After all, it is rare for any being to live longer than twenty millennia. But she was a Goddess before that. And there’s no way to know how long she lived as that form.
?After enough of the silence, I say, “So you’re going to find this queen to see if she can make the Forgotten God of Blood Moons remembered? You’re wanting to travel to this world?”
?Her face neutralizes as she nods. “Ms. Elaycia, she frequently travels between other worlds. After exams I was going to go to Earth to ask her if she knew how to get to that world. From what I’ve seen,” she gestures towards the tomes, “our Earth is closer to another human world that is close to Pontorum.”
?Another question bubbles up and I wonder if she’s thought of it or if she’s going through her plan head on.
?“What if this queen doesn’t wish to help you?”
?The bloodsucker looks away from me and to the side. “There’s a chance she doesn’t know and can’t help us. If she doesn’t, there are others in other universes who are also keepers of the forgotten. But if she does know and is unwilling to help. . . then I guess I’ll finally be able to test the limits of my magic.”
?A cold shutter works its way up my spine and I steel myself to keep from shivering. I don’t know how I could have ever missed it back in Varian’s classroom when I first saw her.
?So much confidence. . . and with good reason.
?I slide my tongue over the front of my teeth and nod at her. “What if your Ms. Elaycia doesn’t wish to help you either?”
?She glances at the vampyr. “Then I have runic magic that can help me in finding her world and creating a portal.”
?Ahh, clever, clever bloodsucker. Too bad it’s going to cost her one of the most genuine people I’ve met.
?“Alexandros is going to want to hear all this. And he’s going to want an explanation for why you nearly killed his rebellion.”
?Her upper lip twists in disgust. “And you all say I’m arrogant. That demigod has no fucking clue what he’s messing with.”
?I sneer at her and bare my fangs. “Watch your fucking mouth when you speak about him. Better yet, just keep your lips shut. You don’t know anything about us.”
?“And you,” she quietly growls, “know absolutelynothingin general. The Forgotten God of Blood Moons remains still on this plane of existence. Breaking the veil would do nothing in helping to figure out his name. It would only let the primordials have free reign of this world as they did before. You’re all in way over your heads.”
