“Okay.” I let out a deep sigh, bracing myself. “Tell me everything.”
“Your mother and father came to me asking for guidance.”
Images of my parents appear within the illuminated cloak. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my mother’s face that I instantly collapse to the ground. I was so young when she died that I’m not even sure if my memories of her are real or just a figment of my imagination. I watch as my father and her embrace one another in the place I once called home. I can’t hear their voices, but it feels like they’re right in front of me.
“They had been trying to get pregnant for years but had no luck,” the Oracle continues. “By the time they came to me they were desperate. They had taken the pregnancy elixir every month for three years. They prayed to The Mother every night. Your parents wanted a child more than anything in this world and they were willing to pay the price for it. You see, my services have a steep cost. The only reason I’m sharing all of this with you now is because your father made sure to pay the price for it in advance. It was your mother though, who was the first to make the sacrifice. In exchange for her magic, I would gift them the child they had always dreamt of.”
“You made her give up her power?” My tone is accusatory and the moment it leaves my mouth the room around us begins to shake. I quickly get to my feet, trying to steady myself. Ryder rushes to my side and wraps a protective arm around me.
“She knew the cost and agreed to it. She made a choice, and she was willing to live with it. I only take that which is willfully given.”
“So, what then? She got pregnant with me?”
“Not quite.” The room stops shaking and Ryder lets go of me. “You see, I had knowledge of a baby girl who had been found in the woods of Avelion. An old woman who had gone to visit the tree her husband had been buried under, heard the cries of a baby and followed the sound.” The visions of my parents fade, replaced by an elderly woman strolling through a lush green forest. “She was much too old to care for a baby, so I sent your parents to her. After that, they raised you as their own. I can say with certainty you were as much their daughter as anyone they might have conceived themselves.”
“I don’t understand. Did my real parents not want me? How could they just leave me all alone? What if no one had found me? Who are they?” The questions pour out just as quickly as they come rushing to my mind.
“There is much to your story, girl. You were not born from another. Just as the Elders, you were born from The Mother.”
“You’re lying!” Ryder bursts out.
The Oracle turns to him. “I do not lie, Prince. Her life comes as a gift from The Mother. Actually, it’s interesting that you should be the one to bring her here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ryder demands.
“Now, now. Even if I were willing to accept payment for such information, this part of the story is simply too fun to spoil.” The Oracle’s voice is suddenly low and haunting.
“What does he have to do with any of this?” I ask as more questions start to come flooding to the surface.
“I’ll leave you with only this.” The gleaming light beneath the cloak’s hood where a face should be is fixed on Ryder. “Immortality is one hell of a loophole for death.”
Chapter 14
“Wait!” I shout, reaching my arm out.
It’s too late though, I’m already being pulled away against my will. This time when I land, it’s a lot less graceful. Mud coats my hands as I look up at the illuminated portal.
“Are you okay?” Ryder asks, offering me his hand.
“No! What the hell was all that?” I demand, standing up on my own. “I want to go back.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, stopping me from stepping through the portal again. “Sorry, Princess. It doesn’t work like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Step through that thing now and who knows where you’ll end up. If it wasn’t obvious enough, your ticket to the Oracle Expresshas expired.”
“So, what? I’m just supposed to accept what it told me? I have more questions now than I did before!” I back away from him not wanting to be touched.
Ryder lets out a sigh and hangs his head. “I know this isn’t what you expected, but you did get some answers.”
“It’s not good enough. And what did it even mean at the end? ‘Immortality is one hell of a loophole for death.’ Why would it have said that it’s interesting you brought me? What did you have to do with this?”
His head snaps up at my accusation.
“I know just as much as you do.” He takes a step closer to me. “Don’t you think I have questions of my own? You’re the one born from The Mother. Maybe it isIwho should be questioningyou.”
The two of us stare at one another in a silent standoff. After a long moment, a howl in the distance pulls our attention.
