Springing up off the rocks, my eyes search for the intruder that’s daring to interrupt my peace.
“Relax, dear child.” A soothing voice reaches me, but I still can’t detect who’s here. Hearing another stick snap behind me, I whirl around to see none other than Anwen standing there in her blue cloak. My body relaxes at the familiar Fate standing in front of me. She has not changed over the years; her ebony skin is still vibrating and has an ethereal glow. Her eyes are still a fascination to me—one purple with a white pentagram pupil, and the other black with a clock as its pupil.
For as long as I’ve been alive, there have always been three Fates. Their roles have always been a close secret and even though I’m a dear friend, I don’t even know theirtruepurpose. I do know that they were the ones that decided Purgatory would have schools where all Supernatural creatures were to attend. This had multiple reasons behind it: 1) this allowed the students to learn about the human world and allowed them to learn the magic that would help them adapt, and 2) it helped regulate the magic between the realms.
Anwen had once explained to me that if the magic became too powerful on one side of the realm, it started to pull and destroy the other side, so checks and balances needed to be made. The only place that wasn’t affected as much was Hell, and I had smiled at that proclamation.
Before I met the guys, I was at my lowest. Nothing brought me pleasure anymore, and I was wandering around a small wooded area on the other side of the mountains, needing to get away from Hell when I first met Anwen. She approached me, and we talked for most of the day. It was kind of nice to chat, and she was able to pull me out of my bad mood and get my mind off of me for a change. I dare say we became friends that day. After a short time of getting to know each other, she told me that I wouldn’t be alone for long, that I was destined to have mates. My first reaction was to scoff in her face.
Demons don’t do the mate thing. Yes, we’d say that we have them, but it’s just words. We don’t feel that pull, have those deep feelings, and aren’t able to have that eternal connection with someone. There had never been someone outside of Shifters that needed mates before, that I knew of. But after she stated that it was written in the stars for me to have not just one but multiple mates, I began to believe my new confidant. We often met up to just chat and gossip about my friends and her sisters. The females she considered her sisters were the other Fates; therefore, they all made up the powers that be.
Yes, I know how confusing this all is about Heaven, Hell, God, and now Fates, but I promise it’s not that confusing living here.
“How are you, Anwen?” Greeting her with a small smile, I sit back down on the rock and take in her appearance. At first glance, all looks alright with her, but now taking in her form, I notice the hunch of her shoulders, her usually bright eyes have dimmed, and her hair has lost its usual luster.
“Dear child, I am sorry that you were taken and I could not come to you. I’ve missed you, but all isnotwell,” she confesses, and tears gather in her eyes.
Oh no!
Rushing to her side and grabbing her arm gently, I guide her back to the rocks I was sitting on. Helping her down, I sit next to her and reach for her hand, lending her as much comfort as I can since I don’t know what’s going on.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” It’s very rare for a Fate to become sick. Last I heard, Anwen was looking for one of her sisters.Shit!That must be it. “Oh, I’m sorry. What happened to Liliwen? Did you ever find her?” I watch as her face falls even further if that’s even possible.
“Yes,” she sobs and leans into my side. Trying to offer her some comfort, I wrap my arms around her and bring her into an embrace. I hold her until her tears quietly run dry and her body stops shuddering. “I’m sorry, child. It’s been years, and the heartache is still fresh,” she confesses, wiping away her tears.
Taking in my confusion, she continues on. “Oh, I’m sorry. You don’t know. Liliwen was found dead the day you were captured by Adam,” she explains, and my heart drops at that confession. Little Liliwen was barely four foot tall, with long blonde hair and a slim frame. She reminded me of a child. The Fate of present transgressions was such a fair and soft-spoken lady. I will miss her. I didn’t see much of her, but the times that I did, she brightened my day.
“I am so sorry to hear this. What happened, if you don’t mind sharing?” Regret laces my voice as I wish there was something I could do to make things better. Because of Adam, I haven’t been here to help Anwen and Seren mourn their lost sister, Liliwen. Anger boils underneath the surface as I think of how he tricked me into being captured.How could I let down my defenses so easily?Anwen sighs, pulling my morose thoughts back to her.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t much to the story. She went missing, as you already know, and her body was found in one of the streams, drained of magic.” She sighs as her shoulders drop slightly, but she pulls herself up to her full height as my arm slips away from her.
“What does that mean? Her magic was drained from her?” I wonder out loud. She didn’t mention that her magic passed on to a new Fate, rather it was drained.Odd.
“Just what I said. Her magic was drained, but for what purpose, I have no clue. A new Fate will emerge soon, I feel it in my bones. But this is not why I sought you out.” Anwen turns towards me and takes my hands into her warm touch. “I have come to warn you.” Her words are barely above a whisper as her eyes take on a cloudy silver sheen over her already captivating pupils.
A breeze kicks up and rustles my hair, along with a few flower petals whipped up into the air. The sunlight that was once speckled around the glade has disappeared, leaving my skin pebbling as Anwen’s grip tightens around my hands. She opens her mouth, but it’s not her voice that speaks through her lips. It’s as if multiple voices filter through her mouth when speaking of the prophecy. Don’t ask me how I know that’s what is about to happen. I just have a gut feeling since I trust her with my life. That’s the only thing this could be.
“Four protectors bound in one soul,
Torn asunder through a hole.
Four souls split apart,
Tearing through a bleeding heart.
Climbing through the ranks of Hell,
The rebels you shall not repel.
Four young souls will embody thee.
To save us all, she will be the key.
Thy body will encompass true evil’s hate,
When gone for long without thy mates.
Win them back for true loves power,
