Foretold (Daughters of Saraqael Book Three) (9 page)

Meda’s compelling voice was the only sound, it seemed, in the entire Wymzesti homeland.

“Millennia ago, Estilorians and humans lived in relative harmony. We evolved together, developed the groundwork of civilization together. We became friends and lovers, fought beside each other for what we believed in. But though our two types of being were compatible in a basic physical sense, the inherent differences between us soon became clear.

“Where humans aged and grew frail, Estilorians did not. Perhaps as a way to compensate for this fragility, humans could reproduce biologically and Estilorians could not. Before this genetic difference was understood, Estilorians paired with humans as mates and spouses, only to watch those mates and spouses grow old and die, leaving the Estilorians childless and alone.”

Skye blinked back tears as she thought about what an awful experience that must have been. She saw Olivia and Amber leaning in closer to James and Gabriel, and knew they were thinking of it, too.

“And then our powers began to emerge…powers that humans were unable to grasp. At first, humans looked at those of us with powers as something beyond them. Estilorians were revered, immortalized in human literature, song, art and poetry as gods, goddesses and other spiritual beings. Shamefully, there were some Estilorians who exploited this. Thrived on it. They saw humans as their servants, as beneath them. And the class elders took notice. They considered what should be done, as the Wymzesti warned them that things could not continue on this course without repercussions.

“In time, the Wymzesti were proven correct. Humans grew to resent Estilorians. They turned from us and banded together to war against us. Humans inevitably died as we protected ourselves, and this was something that the elders could absolutely not accept.

“The elders of all nine classes met to decide what should be done. The Mercesti elder, Volarius, was the first to suggest the combining of all of their powers to create a new plane of existence. This new plane would forever remove Estilorians from humanity, except for the single purpose of harvesting human souls for the Embrace. After much discussion and planning, they decided to move forward with this plan. It was the only course available to them to stop the warring and protect humanity.

“And in the greatest display of power ever known, the nine elders united. Volarius, Jabari, Gabriel, Ini-herit, Zayna, Sebastian, Uriel, Malukali and Knorbis. These great Estilorians risked their lives so that humanity could be spared. And it is written…”

“‘
The time will come when all Estilorians will face the consequences of our decision to separate the planes. We can only have faith that we made the right choice.’”

The last statement was issued by Leoma. Skye thought it was rather eerie how powerful her voice sounded. Especially coming from such a petite female.

“It was centuries later,” Meda continued, “that
archigos
Knorbis had his vision. It came to him in pieces and over time. But time is something that Estilorians have never lacked.

“The first glimpse of that future showed him a joining. That joining would occur between an Estilorian and a human, something that had not occurred since the formation of the Estilorian plane. But it was the result of that joining that caused him the greatest shock, as it was utterly impossible. For this joining that he foresaw would create a new type of being.

“A half-human Estilorian.”

Skye’s eyes went wide. It was so weird knowing she was one of the new beings Meda described. She felt the stares of the surrounding Wymzesti and worked to keep her thoughts contained.

“The next glimpse of our future showed
archigos
Knorbis that the joining would result in not one, but three offspring. They would be female, and all would bring with them the abilities to shape our future. We had only to understand them, something we did not know would be a tremendous undertaking.

“These three half-human females would bring with them their own challenges to overcome. They would be raised as humans, experiencing lives fraught with human frailties and emotions, and would ultimately face the choice of whether to accept their Estilorian halves. And it is written…”

“‘
Before there will be greatness, there will be failure. It is how those failures are ultimately overcome that will shape the future of all kinds.’”

“The next glimpse showed
archigos
Knorbis that this new being would enter our plane as newborns, first out of the womb and then again once fully grown, but with complete ignorance of our ways. These beings would require guardianship and protection, as well as instruction and guidance. And it is written…”

“‘
There will be those among us who will be required to engage in instant relationships with this new class of being. These relationships will be both incredibly foreign and incredibly stimulating.’”

“The vision also revealed to
archigos
Knorbis that some of this guidance would have to occur before the new beings returned to our plane, during their human existence, though how this would be done was unclear. And it is written…”

“‘
It will be one of us who serves as the bridge…a guardian with patience and the capacity to learn and then teach that which we have been incapable of learning from the beginning of time.’”

Meda glanced briefly at Amber. “The firstborn of the three, according to the Great Foretelling, would possess great strength. She would need that strength to face the challenges presented to her throughout her lifetime. And she would need it most especially to overcome doubt. And it is written…”

“‘
The pieces will come together, a perfect fit…and she will come to understand that she was meant for more than she ever understood of her world.’”

Gabriel ran his hand over Amber’s hair and she exchanged a meaningful look with him.

“
Archigos
Knorbis then foretold that it would come to pass that one of us would connect very deeply with the firstborn during her lifetime. This Estilorian would guard and protect her, as well as help her learn. And in turn, he would master the greatest lesson of all. But he would face the risk of losing all that he had learned before he returned to our plane. It would be the greatest risk of his existence. And it is written…”

“‘
He will face decisions far more complex than those that brought him to this point. For what did he ever have to risk losing before?’”

“Through this Estilorian’s risk and sacrifice and the influence of the three new female beings, Estilorians would come to understand what they had lost over time. The deepest emotions, which we learned too late we only experienced as a result of connecting with humans, would at last return to us. And it is written…”

“‘
And so it will be strength, courage, wisdom and faith that bring them to us. But it will be love—that of which we know nearly nothing—that will prove most vital to our future.’”

“So it was foretold that we would instruct and guide the three unprecedented females upon their entering our plane. And in turn, they would instruct and guide us in ways we could never predict. And it is written…”

“‘
With their coming, we will welcome a new class of being. One that can guide and teach as much as it can learn.’”

Now Meda looked at Olivia, who flushed. “The Great Foretelling said that the second-born half-human female would possess the greatest capacity to learn. Above her sisters, her mind would rule with logic and sound judgment. Failure would never be accepted by her, for she would always find a solution to succeed. In this way, she would most easily learn what she must to overcome any problem. And it is written…”

“‘
She will come to us ignorant of the ways of her father’s kind, but with an unparalleled desire to learn all that she can of them.’”

“But it was also foretold that she would not be able to succeed on her own. She would need her sisters, as well as the protection and guidance of one of us. And in guiding her, this Estilorian would come to understand that he did not truly understand anything. And it is written…”

“‘
He will have to overcome our many centuries of distorted knowledge to understand human emotion, and he will find in her the best teacher to do so.’”

“
Archigos
Knorbis predicted that the more time these three new beings spent on our plane, the more the lives of Estilorians would be impacted. We would ultimately come to realize that our existence was incomplete as we knew it. It would upset many, and free many others. And it is written…”

“‘
Through her and her sisters, our minds and our hearts will ultimately be opened.’”

“It would also come to pass that the Estilorian charged with instructing the second-born female would face an almost insurmountable challenge. He would have to overcome his very nature to achieve happiness. And it is written…”

“‘
If he denies what he feels, he will fail the greatest test set before him.’”

“This Estilorian would combat his nature as well as incredible external forces in his quest to truly understand the being he was sworn to protect. And it is written…”

“‘
He will only learn the true depths of human emotion when he has experienced what it is to lose everything that matters.’”

Now Olivia and James exchanged a glance. Skye smiled when she read the love in both of their gazes.

Meda said, “The second-born’s impact on her Estilorian guardian would be noted by many, as would the impact of her sisters on theirs. Their relationships would generate interest and emotions that had not been experienced on our plane for many centuries. We would then come to understand their worth. And it is written…”

“‘
Not only will she and her sisters teach us, but they will unite us.’”

Skye thought of how many Estilorians had joined together in the search for Olivia the month before. It was quite impressive how accurate this Foretelling had proven. Then she realized Meda’s gaze had turned to her.

“The third-born of these new beings would be guided not by strength or knowledge, but by faith.”

“‘
She who has the most faith in everything and everyone around her will have to work hardest to have it in herself.’”

Skye felt her face flushing with color as all eyes turned to her.

“She would live her life believing in things that no others believed. And in so doing, she would forge the bond that would ignite their dormant powers. And it is written…”

“‘
Led by faith in each other, the combined powers resulting from the exchange of vows will be beyond any possible belief.’”

Skye rubbed the mark on her inner right wrist and thought back to the day it was made. It had been she who had started the exchange of vows that ultimately bonded her with the five others. Although she hadn’t realized what she was doing at the time, it had been powerful enough to turn part of her hair blue and her sisters’ hair green and gold, and forge the marks on their wrists. While she didn’t see how that could be seen as powers “beyond any possible belief,” especially when compared to something like the creation of the Estilorian plane, it was still in line with the prophecy.

Too weird.

Meda continued, “It was foretold that this unique joining of strength, knowledge and faith among the new beings would serve to help spread the most powerful emotions among all Estilorians. By witnessing the interaction of the three half-humans and coming to understand them, we would begin to experience the emotions they would bring with them. And in time, those emotions would change us forever. And it is written…”

“‘
Even those of us who do not know what it is to battle will soon find something worth fighting for. And it will be love, hope and joy.’”

Skye’s eyebrows shot up. She exchanged surprised glances with Amber and Olivia. At the Becoming ceremony right after they transitioned, she and her sisters had vowed to the elders that they would learn, but they would also teach…love, hope and joy. It had become something of a motto for them since then. The words had been completely unprompted by anyone. They had all simply said what was in their hearts at that moment. And it turned out to be yet another accurate portion of the Great Foretelling.

Then she realized exactly what Meda had said.
Something worth fighting for.

With a feeling of foreboding, she moved her eyes to Knorbis. He was, not surprisingly, looking right at her. It was then that she understood with perfect clarity why she and her sisters had been training so hard these past months. It wasn’t only to learn to protect themselves, as they had been led to believe.

Meda spoke over her thoughts. “It was foreseen that after millennia of living in a hollow shell, Estilorians would find meaning in their lives.
Archigos
Knorbis foresaw these new beings promoting the very deepest and most powerful emotions among all. Relationships would be strengthened. Friendships reestablished. And love exchanged where once it was utterly foreign. And it is written…”

“‘
At last, doubt will be overcome. And the new beings who had once been considered unworthy outsiders will lead us all to our fates.

“‘
We will stand in awe of those we doubted.’”

Skye stiffened at the “unworthy outsiders” comment and noticed her sisters doing the same. Still, those were the least important words that had just been uttered.
The new beings…will lead us all to our fates.

She swallowed hard. Only when Caleb covered her hand with his did she realize she had a fierce grip on his knee.

Meda said, “The last vision shown to us, completing the Great Foretelling, was of a threat to our newfound happiness. The threat would come from our own. It would lash out against the three new beings, seeking the end of them and all they represented. And it is written…”

“‘
In the end, as it always has, it will come to good versus evil.’”

“And so we have come full circle,” Meda said, looking from one sister to another. “It was the Wymzesti who foresaw your coming, and now you have come. You bring us your strength, your knowledge and your faith. You have worked very hard to learn all we have to teach you. And you have already begun to teach us love, hope and joy.”