by Meg Anne
Helena moved out of his arms and sat beside Effie, her hand reaching out to hold the other woman’s in a show of solidarity.
Effie smiled at her gratefully before continuing. “Something changed then. It felt like the air contracted, becoming almost heavier. There was chanting, but I couldn’t tell if it was one voice or many. The words were coming too fast for me to be able to make any sense of them. That was when I noticed that something was trapped in the center of the web. It thrashed wildly, trying to escape, but only managed to get itself more helplessly tangled in the strands.”
Helena let out a gasp. “It was me.”
All eyes turned toward her. Helena put her hand up to her mouth and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Effie. Please continue.”
Effie blinked, seeming confused by the interruption, but she nodded after a moment and finished her recounting. “Once the victim was fully cocooned in the strands, a spider appeared. It was the palest blue, almost the color of snow, and it had odd markings along its head and body. It was excited by its catch and was eagerly making its way to the middle of the web to see what it had caught. That’s where it ended.”
Some of the color was starting to return to Effie’s face now that she had completed her tale, but while she was looking more normal, Helena was deathly white.
“What did you mean ‘It was me’?” Von asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
Helena looked up at him with worried aqua eyes. “When I tried to heal Effie, my power must have latched onto hers. I saw the last moments of the vision, but from a different vantage. I,” Helena faltered, taking a shaky breath. Effie squeezed her hand, her eyes shining with understanding. Helena’s words sounded forced as she continued, “I was in the center of the web. I tried to break free, but I couldn’t. Then I saw the spider, it was beautiful and deadly. I knew if it reached me, I was dead. I started struggling harder, and all of a sudden the world went completely dark. That’s when… that’s when I started screaming.”
Von felt icy fingers move along his spine. He did not pretend to understand he knew what the vision was supposed to represent, but it was clear that Helena and Rowena both played a part. And based on the two retellings of the vision, it certainly did not appear that things were about to go in their favor.
“What do you think it means?” Joquil asked, flames dancing in his eyes as he stared at the women from across the fire.
Helena and Effie shared a glance. Helena shrugged, and Effie opened her mouth to answer. “I think the web represents a trap, one that it takes many people to create.”
“The trap must be for me,” Helena said.
“Given that you were in the center of it, I’m inclined to agree,” Timmins murmured.
“Isn’t that too obvious?” Von protested, desperate to find a different explanation.
“What would you say that means?” Kragen asked, and not unkindly.
Von shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe Helena is at the center because she is the one who sets the trap.”
Ronan’s worried eyes found his. “Why then is she the one that was caught in it? And why would someone else be the spider?”
“The spider was Rowena,” Helena said, her voice stronger and more sure than it had been until now.
Von thought so too. The coloring the two women described sounded very much like the cold eyes that had found him in most of his nightmares.
The group fell silent, no one sure what to think.
“Do you think it was a warning?” Effie asked hopefully. “Something sent to me now so we could be on guard and avoid it?”
“Aren’t we on guard already?” Helena asked with a humorless laugh.
“If the vision is of the future, then the events have not yet passed and can therefore be changed,” Timmins said.
Helena looked up at him. “So you’re an expert on prophecy now?”
Timmins’s cheeks went pink, but he did not respond.
Helena groaned. “I’m sorry. I do not mean to be so surly, it’s just… if the vision is the future, then that means I’m destined to be caught in that web. Which feels like it means I’m destined to fail.”
“There is always more than one way to interpret a vision, Kiri.”
The spectral voice spoke in his mind and had his hand reaching for his weapon. The sound of surprised gasps and weapons being drawn met his ears as Von looked for the source of the voice that had spoken in his mind.
“I told you our new daughter would come to us.”
“Her power is strong and yet still untested.”
“She needs to learn how to properly harness her gift.”
“It will come with time.”
As the voices continued to speak, three robed figures entered the clearing. Von would like to say it was a relief to see them, but he’d be lying. On the bright side, they no longer had to spend the next few days wandering around aimlessly because their mission had just been accomplished. At least, in a manner of speaking.
They may not have found the Keepers, but the Keepers had just found them.
Chapter Twenty
Her Circle remained on guard as Helena pushed herself up to stand on shaky legs. “Good evening, Triumvirate. To what do we owe this unexpected visit?” she asked, erring on the side of formality.
“You were the one that sought us out, were you not?”
“Why then the surprise when you found us?”
As always, Helena could not tell which of the three figures were speaking to her. Thankfully, their hoods remained firmly in place, and she did not have to worry about staring into their sightless eyes. Or rather, the place where their eyes had once been.
“Well, to be frank. Technically we did not find you. Therein lies the element of surprise.”
There were a few snickers of amusement, but the others soon lapsed back to silence.
Helena sighed, realizing she would not get very far with sarcasm and these men. “We were seeking your aid, yes.”
“And here we are.”
“You seem troubled, Kiri.”
“I am,” Helena admitted. “The events of the last few weeks are weighing on me heavily.”
“You speak of our daughter’s death.”
Helena nodded. “In part.” She couldn’t help wondering if they used the term daughter literally, although given that they had already used the label twice referring to two different individuals, she thought it unlikely.
“It was foretold.”
“No one can escape the hour of their passing.”
“It is as much a part of life as breathing.”
“Even so, it was a devastating loss.”
“To return to the Mother is a blessing, Kiri.”
“You of all people should know that.”
Helena bristled. “Death is never easy on those that are left behind.”
“Perhaps.”
It was disorienting trying to have a conversation with three separate entities that spoke as though they were one. The voices filled her mind with absolutely no indication of where they were coming from. Helena did her best to look at and speak to all of them, although perhaps focusing on the center figure would have been enough. He did seem to be their leader.
Effie rose to stand at her side. “Are you here for me?” she demanded. Her chin was tilted up, an act that portrayed defiant strength, although her small frame continued to tremble.
The three heads swiveled in perfect synchronicity to look at her. “One could argue daughter, that you are here for us.”
“Stop calling me that,” Effie said through gritted teeth. “The only parents I had are long dead.”
Helena placed a hand on Effie’s arm. The movement was a reminder of support, not a call to be silent. Effie censored herself anyway, taking a deep breath.
“Can you help us?” Helena asked, pulling their unnerving attention back to her.
“It is not our place to interfere, only to act as witnesses.”
“And guides,” Helena reminded them.
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The central figure shrugged. “When it suits us.”
“And staving off the potential genocide of the Chosen doesn’t suit you?” Helena’s eyes were narrowed in dangerous slits.
“You misunderstand, Kiri. We see many paths, all of which hang off a number of various choices to be made by many individuals.”
“To tip the balance could disrupt everything and cause the worst possible outcome.”
“We cannot interfere.”
Helena huffed. It was sound logic, but it didn’t make her feel any better at the moment.
“So how do you know when to step in?” Effie asked, her head tilted like a curious cat.
“When it is the only option.”
“And now?” Von asked. “Is it the only option now?”
There was a subtle shake of their heads. “No.”
“There are still choices that must be made.”
“But what of my visions?” Effie asked. “Do they not show us what will come to pass?”
“Our gifts are not always supposed to be shared, daughter.”
“The misinterpretation of a single one could be treacherous.”
“It takes years before one knows how to interpret them with any measure of accuracy.”
Helena watched Effie’s back straighten at their words, her spine going rigid and her shoulders lifting until they were up around her ears. She was clearly worried about damage she may have caused bringing them to Endoshan.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered mournfully.
That is enough of that, Helena thought, having no desire for the woman to beat herself up over something that was hardly her fault. “Well, the fact of the matter is that the vision was not just shared, it was also experienced by another. Namely, me. You might as well lend your insights before I make a categorically terrible decision based off what was Seen. You know what my failure means.”
Without being able to see their expressions, Helena could not truly know what reaction her words had caused, but there was an unmistakable aura of annoyance rolling off of the trio.
“Very well, Kiri.”
“It seems that you leave us with no choice.”
Helena could feel Von’s mirth, and she shot him a startled glance. “What is there to possibly be laughing at right now?” she asked through their bond.
“It seems you found the answer on how to force their hand.”
“I did?”
Von’s eyes glowed with his amusement. “Unintentional meddling.”
Helena scowled, rolling her eyes and dismissing him.
“Come here, daughter.”
Effie’s trembling increased, and she clasped her hands in front of her to try to disguise her nerves.
“You have nothing to fear from us.”
“To begin, we must See what you Saw.”
“I could just tell you,” she offered. “You know, from here.”
Ronan placed his hand on her shoulder. Effie looked up at him with scared blue eyes.
“Your retelling will be inaccurate.”
“No detail is too small.”
“The only way to truly Know is to experience.”
Helena could feel the ‘I told you so’ ready to spring from Timmins lips even from where she was standing.
“It’s alright, Effie. We’re all right here. We won’t let anything bad happen to you,” Helena promised.
Ronan reinforced her words with a nod of his own. Ever since Darrin’s death, Effie had found comfort in her Shield’s imposing presence. It was likely a side effect of what they’d experienced together on the battlefield when Darrin died before their eyes. Either way, Helena couldn’t fault her. She knew all too well how important it was to have a safe harbor when one felt like they were drowning. Ronan had been that for her as well while Von had been imprisoned.
Effie swallowed and walked over to the hooded figures. Helena knew it was one of the hardest things she’d had to do. Nothing about the trio was particularly reassuring.
“What do I need to do?” she asked.
“Just close your eyes.”
Helena was grateful that the Triumvirate was still choosing to speak in a manner that allowed them all to listen. She was intimately aware of the fact that they could be selective about who they allowed to hear their psychic voices.
Helena could feel the tension emanating from her Circle, without needing to access their strengthened connection through her Jaka. She could feel it, because it was an extension of her own.
The figure in the middle lifted his arm, his tattooed hand with its shifting blue markings revealed as the long sleeves of his robe fell back. He placed his hand on the center of Effie’s forehead, very similar to what Helena had done when she’d intended to heal her.
Effie inhaled audibly, and then her head fell back. Her arms dangled uselessly at her sides and her knees buckled, but she did not fall. For all that he was only touching her head, the Keeper seemed to have a firm grasp on her.
There were several tense heartbeats as the Triumvirate did whatever it was they needed to do. Helena knew it was over when Effie sucked in a deep breath, sounding like it was the first she’d had since they’d started. The Keeper released her, and she stumbled forward. He caught her by the shoulders before she could knock him over, setting her unceremoniously back on her feet.
“Was that it?” Effie rasped, eager to move back to the others.
The Triumvirate nodded, and she did nothing to disguise her hurried retreat to the safety of her friends.
“So what does it mean?” Helena asked, bracing herself for the blow.
“Why ask when you already know, Kiri?”
Of all the things for them to say, that was not what she was expecting. True, she had a feeling she knew, but she was desperately hoping she’d been wrong.
“But I don’t know. Not for sure. Miranda always warned me visions were never straightforward.” Helena was starting to feel like that was her new mantra, she was holding on to the belief that the words were true.
“They rarely are, but that does not mean that you do not already have everything you need to guide you to the correct answer.”
“I need you!” she shouted, her annoyance at their intentional opaqueness and the strain of everything else coming to a head.
“Look within yourself for the answer, Kiri.”
“We can offer no further help here.”
“Mother’s tits!” Helena shouted, throwing her hands into the air. Someone had better start giving her a straight answer soon or she was going to start flinging fireballs and to the hell with them all.
“Helena might have what she needs, but I don’t,” Effie said, her voice no less strong for its softness.
The Triumvirate were silent as they contemplated her words.
“We cannot risk revealing our secrets to you while you remain with them.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Helena raged.
“It is as we already said.”
“We cannot interfere.”
“Our daughter’s ties to you are too strong.”
“She would not be able to resist sharing what she learned.”
“And in doing so, she could do more harm than good.”
“I can keep a fucking secret!” Effie blurted out, surprising them all with her vehemence. “It was my thrice-damned vision, I deserve to know what it means.”
“And you will.”
“Should you come with us.”
That stopped them all short.
“Come with you?” Effie repeated dumbstruck. She looked around at the others, her face draining of color.
“It’s the only way for you to learn, daughter.”
“You know we speak the truth.”
Helena swallowed back her protests, knowing that this was a choice Effie needed to make for herself. As much as she desired answers, she would not get in the way of her friend’s destiny.
“But I…” Effie started. “What about the war?”
Helena took Effie’s hand, pulling her attention. “There are many ways to fight. Not all of them involve a battlefield.”
“If I’m gone, I cannot help you. I won’t be able to avenge them,” she whispered, her voice wavering with unshed tears.
“Who’s to say that’s not exactly where you’re supposed to be? The Mother has plans for us all, Effie. Maybe that is where you have to go to finish the fight.”
Effie wanted to protest, but she could not deny the ring of truth in Helena’s words. “Is that what you would choose, Helena?”
Helena shook her head, not wanting to sway her in either direction.
“Please,” Effie begged.
“Isn’t that the choice I already made? It wasn’t long ago someone came to fetch me.”
The reference to Darrin seemed to bring a sense of peace. All trace of sadness and doubt vanished, and Effie nodded resolutely. “You’re right. If this is the path set before me, I should follow it. I do not want to risk your lives with my ignorance. We’ve already had a taste of what that is like.”
“Effie,” Helena said, shaking her head.
“No, it’s alright.” She turned toward the Triumvirate. “I will go with you. But I would like to spend the night with my friends to say goodbye, if that’s alright. Can you come for me in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“We could see her off,” Helena offered. “If you tell us where to bring her.”
“The Catacombs are not for your eyes, Kiri.”
“They are the sacred place of the Keepers.”
“Only those with the gift have ever stepped foot within.”
Helena wanted to throw her title in their faces and demand that they let her go, but she knew it was futile. Her fight was elsewhere.
“Can we not visit?” Ronan asked.
“This goodbye will not be forever.”
“Our daughter will let you know when she is ready to see you again.”
“Your messages will always find their way to her.”
Feeling somewhat better at the news, Helena loosed a shaky breath.
“Until tomorrow then,” Effie said, surprising the rest of them with her dismissal.