LJ leans forward, “What do you mean, Jillisandra? I am who I am , but you are talking in riddles.”
“Yes, you are. You are who you are meant to be this time around, but make no mistake, you were once Nemesis, as well as Eve, and now you are LJ.”
“But what does that mean?” LJ asks in frustration. Her agitation seeps into my very soul.
Jillisandra or Clotho sighs, “In the beginning, Chaos bore several children. Among them was our mother, Nyx, who in turn bore her children and shaped them into what they were born to be. You were born to be Retribution. You were Nemesis. You were unyielding in your judgment of others. You were your mother’s daughter, cold and heartless. Just as I was. Now? You have been born to take on the role of Retribution with … I dare say a kinder heart. You are a combination of all that you were before and all that you have been raised to be in this lifetime.”
The Moirai! Finally, I remember and swear under my breath, “You’re one of the original Fates!” I exclaim.
She smiles serenely, “Yes, young god. You are correct, but you should know that if something happens to LJ, then you will receive a very quick demotion. Your current status is linked to your mate, so protect her well.”
“I don’t care about my status. I care about my mate. Where are your sisters?” I demand.
“It would appear that we were deemed too dangerous together so in our sleep we were separated. I woke, reborn here in The Underworld. I suspect that my sisters are in either The Otherworld or in The Overworld or maybe even in The Mortal Realm.” She sighs in frustration, “I can not see their fate. It eludes me for reasons I do not understand.”
LJ comes to life, “You mean that you are one of the original Fates? By the gods, that means that you can see what no one else can see. Jillisandra, we need to find the backpack that I was sent here with. Can you tell us where to find it?”
She smiles slowly, “Of all the things you could ask of me, you want to know about the Trojan Horse that was sent with you by our mother?” Her laughter is youthful and yet I can sense Lillie’s agitation growing. Clearly, Jillisandra has retained her previous persona, Clotho, all wrapped up in a little package of a teenage girl.
“Jillisandra, this is no laughing matter,” LJ chides, “we need to know where to find that bag and we need to know if Morríganna’s weapon, Vengeance is hidden within it. And for future reference, Nyx is no mother to me. The only mother I have ever known is the mother that bore me and my brother in this lifetime.”
Jillisandra studies her for a moment, cocking her head to the side, her all-white eyes are coldly assessing, “Nyx is indeed Nemesis’ mother. Nemesis is part of who you are now. Those are the cold hard facts, sister. Once our mother fully awakens she will try to sway you to her cause. This I have seen.”
“I will not -”
The seer puts her hand up shushing LJ, “I grow weary of this conversation and must rest. I’ve said all that needs to be said. The answer to the question you seek is simply this, the demons of discarded things have of course taken your bag, but you already knew that and are now wasting my time. I will grant you this last bit of information. You must travel to their treasure-trove. They have amassed quite the collection of discarded items since the beginning of time here in The Underworld. Their island is located in the center of the lava fields. The more important the item, the harder it will be to find. Know this,” her voice takes on an otherworldly quality and resonates around the chamber, “the daughter will seek the mother, but the mother must not be raised, lest Chaos be unleashed upon all the realms.” Her eerie pronouncement echos around us. Then the Fate blinks and when her eyes open once more, her brilliant violet pupils are staring back at us for the first time, and she pronounces. “Now leave me. I have nothing more to add.”
“But -” LJ sputters.
The Fate narrows her eyes on LJ, “You squandered your one question. I have been more than generous with my time. Heed my words carefully, sister. Now go!” She demands.
Her dismissal is clear and the lot of us stands to file out of her domain, treading quietly back the way we came, leaving the young reborn Moirai to her endless weaving. What an exhausting existence. LJ is quiet and disturbed. She walks ahead of me and I let her go, knowing she needs a few minutes to digest all that has been said in the seer’s chambers.
37
Are Revelations Ever Good?
(Lillie Joanna)
The witch back in those chambers was at best unnerving, at worst? Well, her parting words have been difficult to deal with. I need to talk to Mama and Da. I may have ascended while here in The Underworld and have taken up the mantle that I have always been meant to bear, but I still need their advice, and I still need their love, because right now I’m feeling a lot lost.
Poppy lands gently on my shoulder
