Lillie, Paynga, and Poppy arrive about that time and she’s eager to meet with the seer, but I see her eying Paynga curiously and I follow her gaze. The she-imp walks directly over to Fynwrick and reaches up to caress the scar on his face that runs from his left eye to his chin, it’s a wonder that he didn’t lose his eye in that mishap. She smiles and runs her fingers gently over his lips. The poor male is utterly captivated by the female in front of him. She whispers, “I’m ready, Fynwrick. I’m sorry it took me so long to put the past to rest.”
Fynwrick pulls her close and sighs, “Paynga.” The kiss that follows has most of us looking away to give the couple privacy, all except for LJ. The smile on her face is radiant and for a moment I can’t help but wonder if she is channeling Cliodna, the goddess of love.
LJ’s happiness bleeds through our bond, and I realize that we should not be able to connect like we have because of the binding bracelet. Our connection is sporadic and I wonder how much longer the bloodstone will be able to protect her at this rate. I let her happiness wash over me and wonder what it will feel like once the bracelet has been removed. Will I be able to handle her emotions? Will we have to temper our bond? I realize that I have no idea what to expect.
“Hey? What are you brooding on?” She reaches up to smooth my brow. Her enchanting smile is contagious.
“Just you, honey cheeks. Are you ready for this?” Sitting my worries aside, I pull her close enjoying the feel of her so close to me.
“Come on you two, time to see the prognosticator!” She draws the word out. Poppy’s enthusiasm is obnoxiously annoying and I growl my response.
“Come on, demon boy, let’s see what this prophet has to say.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close and whisper, “You ready?”
Her smile lights up her gorgeous face, “Let’s do this.”
Judging the distance from the ground to the entrance of the cave, it’s such a short distance that I have only to leap into the air and with two short downstrokes of my demon’s wings, we are in the entrance of the cave, following our imp friends and Poppy. My shift is seamless from demon back to myself. We are beginning to trust one another with LJ’s safekeeping. Smiling, I place her on her feet, “After you, princess.”
She grabs my hand, “We go together, demon boy. We’re partners. Remember?”
“Come on then, we have a seer to visit.” As we walk hand in hand down the dimly lit tunnel away from the cave entrance, the roar of the waterfall becomes distant. It doesn’t take us long to come upon a tidy dwelling that is warm and cozy. The glowballs are not only a source of a warm golden light that fills the space but a source of heat as well. The walls of the cave are decorated with all matter of quilts, rugs, and even drapes in a kaleidoscope of colors, creating the illusion of a much more comfortable living space than I would have thought possible inside this cave. The ceiling of this grotto dwelling is painted to reflect the vast universe, twinkling with majical stars, nebulas, and solar systems. A sight that most in this realm have never seen. To the right is a curtained alcove that contains a large comfortable looking sleeping pallet, the drapes have been pulled back as if framing a window. There are pillows everywhere softening the look of this cave-dwelling. The female we are seeking is sitting upon a cushion in the lotus position in front of a black tranquil pool of water. She’s young, her hair the color of shiny copper with a prominent platinum blonde streak. Her eyes are all white as she manipulates her delicate hands over the placid liquid in front of her. It’s as if she’s in a trance, viewing different scenes in her scrying glass that none of us can see. Pulling my gaze from the seer, I look down at LJ, no longer sure if I want to hear what this female has to say.
Pipperton whistles low under his breath, “That’s different.”
“What do you mean, Pip,” Poppy asks quietly, hovering just above his shoulder.
“I ain’t never seen her eyes all white like that before.” His voice is quiet, almost reverent.
The seer lifts her face to me and LJ, her opaque gaze is unnerving, “Come. Sit. I have been expecting you.” Her young face is devoid of all emotion. She is beautiful in a cold sort of way. Her hair tumbles down her back in copper and blonde curls. She is delicate as if she will break if anyone holds her too tightly, and her eyes are oddly disconcerting. Her hands continue to move as if she is seeking threads or strands of ribbon as her deft fingers work to weave whatever she is seeing with her third eye.
LJ squeezes my hand and pulls me toward the seer. We sit opposite her across the four foot round circular pool. Poppy has gone oddly quiet, and the imps take a back seat to all of us. My mate leans forward, “What is your name, may I ask?” Her cadence quiet and soothing.
The young seer just smiles serenely, “They call me Jillisandra, that is the name I was given upon my birth, but I have awakened now. I am no longer just Jillisandra, I am also Clotho, one of the Moirai born of our mother Nyx before the beginning of time.” She pauses, allowing us time for her words to sink in. Unblinking, her colorless eyes meet LJ’s and then she looks in my direction. I’m trying to remember where I’ve heard the name Clotho and Moirai when she laughs, “Everyone has forgotten
