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"It might be," Rumir agreed. “But why would Fate be interested in it now? It’s done. And why summon only you?”
Lucian didn't comment, but he looked just as curious. I had a bad feeling about this.
We entered a grand foyer that had a staircase leading to a second floor with hallways to the left and right. Tapestries and furniture in deep browns and a stunning maroon red adorned the castle’s interior.
Supernaturals from various species hurried about, dressed in white pants and shirts with maroon, brown, or gold detailing. There were robots among them, the intelligent kind that spoke to each other and souls as if they were living things.
I was still contemplating getting one of these robots after seeing one do all the cooking when I’d visited Elinor. There were so many things in this realm that were meant to make life easier. After all, this was the afterlife. It was meant to be carefree and without worry. Unfortunately, this virus was making things difficult.
The castle was far noisier than I’d expected it to be. As if reading my mind, Taner explained, “Fate prefers to complete her duties from home instead of in the tower. Please pardon the noise."
“What tower?” I inquired. No one had ever mentioned a tower to me.
Lucian leaned over to me. “The towers are where the gods and goddesses conduct their daily duties, keeping balance between the realms. They often have to work together, just like our goddess and Fate, so being in the same place makes that easier.” We ascended the stairs behind Taner. “But it’s a choice.”
“You were in the main tower when you spoke with the Imperium," Rumir added.
Taner led us to another floor, then stopped in front of thirteen-foot double doors with symbols carved into the deep brown wooden surface. Instead of leading us in, he turned to face us.
“Lucian, you and Rumir will both have to remain by the door while Natalie moves to the center of the room. Okay?” He turned around and pushed the doors open. “Fate wishes to speak only to Natalie unless she says otherwise.”
That awful feeling I had earlier, the one that warned me this wouldn’t be an enjoyable visit, flared up.
Walking inside, I saw a grand circular room much like the one the Imperium had been in, although a bit smaller.
The dark tones that were consistent throughout the castle were the same here, with maroon walls and columns. Like the door, the walls were decorated with various symbols and writing, but there were no other doors in the room and no furniture.
It was just an empty room with a high ceiling made of glass.
The doors slammed shut behind us and blended in with the rest of the wall. We were essentially locked in.
Lucian and Rumir stayed back as instructed, but both nodded at me in reassurance, urging me to go forward.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward with as much bravery as I could muster. There was some sort of crest on the floor beneath my feet. It was made up of a large circle with two smaller ones decreasing in size inside it. Within each circle, there was writing that kept rearranging itself.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and I squinted my eyes at the strange words, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Then abruptly, they stopped moving.
I bent to get a better look when a new scent appeared in the room.
When I looked up, a little girl stood across the room. I hadn’t heard a sound—no doors opening, no footsteps—but here she stood.
This couldn’t be Fate. She was a child.
The girl looked to be ten years old at the most and had curly black hair that fell to her shoulders. She had brown skin with light freckles across her nose, and she wore a headband across her forehead. The band was gold to match her dress, with three circular diamonds at its center. And as she stepped forward, her dress dragged behind her.
Her eyes were slanted inwards, and her irises were the same maroon color that dominated the walls throughout the castle.
“Welcome, son and warrior of the Werewolf Goddess,” she said. “And you as well, Natalie Blackwood.”
I blinked, and the girl vanished. In her place stood a woman in her thirties. She was as tall as all the other gods, but in her face, I could see the same features she’d had as a little girl.
“I’m Fate,” she said, drawing closer to me.
Placing my fist over my heart, I bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Goddess."
When I stood up straight, the young woman was gone, and an elderly woman with gray streaks in her hair stood in her place.
"My form can be confusing to those who aren't accustomed to it," Fate explained. "But each form is me, even the child. I alternate between the three stages in life every living thing experiences.”
