Page 26 of Fate of the Fallen
Her gaze left me and I was nearly holding my breath waiting for her to go on.
“The others rarely do or say things that will change the course of events because they serve a much higher purpose than meddling in our affairs, but there is one who seems to deviate,” she shared. “Under his guidance, the others have been known to humor me on occasion. In fact, had it not been for this, bringing Evangeline back would have been impossible. It was their blessing that hid me when circumstances required that I use magic that has long-since been forbidden,” she explained, placing her hand on the large, gold pendant that hung around her neck.
“This blessing, thesefavorsthe Oracles grant you, what’s the cost?” I asked. Nothing was ever free.
Hilda shook her head. “No cost. For reasons unknown to me, I simply have favor with the one.”
When she finished speaking, I was quiet for a bit. Very rarely did good things just happen; there was always a catch.
“The Oracles, you mentioned they’ve shed their humanity. Does that mean they once had physical forms?” I asked.
A faint smile lifted the corners of Hilda’s mouth. “There are many theories about where the Oracles come from. And while their identities are a mystery, we do know that they seem to circulate, operating on five-thousand-year cycles before being replaced by another high being. With that being said, I cannot say for sure who the ascended soul is that’s been so gracious to me, tous,but whoever he may be, he does seem to hold some measure of regard for our lives,” she shared. “Because of that, when I requested a blessing to assist Elise with the spell that restored Evangeline’s soul, he granted it without question. It was unheard of for such a monumental request to be met, but the proof of his kindness toward us is currently walking around on two legs,” she added, referring to Evangeline.
There was a distant look of gratitude in her gaze. I was trying to grasp the breadth of what she seemed to be suggesting without suggesting it, but I had to ask.
“Are you implying that this ascended soul, the Oracle who’s been assisting you is … Noah? Evangeline’s father?”
Glancing around, Hilda frowned when shushing me. Not that I was loud enough for anyone to hear. “You’re putting words in my mouth. I simply said that he,whoeverhe is, seems to have our best interests at heart.”
I didn’t disagree, but she had definitely said more than that. “So, let’s say your theory is correct and the Oracles reallyareascended souls, former physical beings. Then it’d be possible, right? There’s a chance it’s him?” I asked quieter this time.
“Anything is possible,” she said vaguely. “But it won’t do you or anyone else any good to sit around thinking on such things. Elise has found love again in Dallas and I would never burden her with this idea, especially seeing as how it’s only that—an idea. So, don’t utter a word of this,” she insisted, adding, “Toanyone!”
I understood how speculating could do more harm than good, but the only reason I wouldn’t at least mention it to Evangeline was because there was no proof.
“I won’t say anything,” I assured her. She accepted that, but glared at me long and hard before moving on.
“This last time we communed, they spoke of the child,” Hilda revealed. “Their words were indirect and shrouded in vague parables, but I had a pretty good idea of what they meant. Only, my theory wasn’t confirmed until Nicholas’ episode outside the gate. The Oracles spoke of a new light returning, and according to them, this light would be powerful, valuable, and … highly sought after.”
My senses became heightened, keener when she uttered those words—highly sought after.As in, there would be many who would fight to protect it, and many who’d fight to destroy it. Both fists tightened at my sides.
A fresh wave of rage nearly knocked me to the ground as I considered what that meant, that this child’s life could one day soon be at the top of some supernatural hitlist.
“All this because he or she is a descendant of the two originals?”
Hilda was silent for a moment and I could tell she was trying to decide how much to say and how much to hold back. Only, this wasn’t the time for filtering.
“Tell me what you know,” I demanded, adding, “And even what youthinkyou know.”
She peered up, her dark, defiant eyes still trying to decide if she’d let me in completely.
“None of what I believe is fact,” she said, prefacing the statement to come. “It’s all instinct and opinion, but I believe this child will be … special. If it weren’t so, the Liberator would not have been activated. In the pastorpresent.”
My head lowered, considering all she said. However, when I peered up, she wore a look that suggested she hadn’t revealed everything.
“What else is there?” I asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She continued to hesitate for a moment, but then revealed yet another theory. One I was now certain she only held in to protect me. My heart.
“Liam, I … I believe the stone Evangeline wore the night she died was more effective than we realize. It’s the way the Oracles phrased their revelation that first caused me to wonder.” She paused a moment, but then explained herself. “They said a ‘new light was returning.’ At first, I didn’t think anything of it, but then it haunted me. All night,” she added. “How on Earth could something new return? Unless … the soul of the child that died with Evangeline when the Liberator claimed her, entered the stone as well and … is the same soul that dwells inside her today.”
My head spun and I let that sink in, the idea of there being less of a loss than I originally imagined, the idea of being given a complete second chance.
“As I said before, I have no real proof to support this, but … if you were to ask if I believed this with my whole heart,” she said, “I wouldn’t hesitate to state that I did.”
And now, so did I.
“This all leads me to believe that the child was meant to be quite powerful. So powerful, the spell Maisy cast on Elise centuries ago on Sebastian’s behalf evolved to ensure that his or her life be brought to a swift end,” she concluded.