The Fork in His Destiny
POV: Lucien
I had heard from Blackwood that Talon had run off and that Blake and Alexandra had ran off to Terre to chase after him. It was a relief to hear that he had been found alive and well. I was just about to write a letter to Alexandra expressing my relief and ask her if there was anything that I could do to help. I pulled out the paper when I heard a knock on the door, “Enter.” Malinus walked into the room with a puzzled look on his face and a piece of paper in his hand. As he handed it to me, he proclaimed, “You have been summoned to the Church.” I opened the note written in the elegant hand of Grand Pretre, “Lucien, we have much to discuss. Please meet with me at your earliest convenience. - G.P.” I placed the note on my desk and rose from my seat, “I shall honor the request since I have a question for her.” Malinus nodded, “I had them ready the carriage just in case you needed it.” This was the ever-diligent Malinus that I was used to. I walked hastily down the stairs and out to the carriage. Malinus followed as he had always done and we went on our way to the Church. He cleared his throat, “Out of curiosity, Your Majesty. May I ask what you would like to ask Her Eminence?” I looked out of the window, “I must first say to you Malinus that I have found myself in love with someone.” I looked at him to gauge his reaction which was none at all. It was curious to me why he didn’t react, “You don’t seem surprised.” He shrugged, “You just found out later what many already knew. I have seen the way you look at her.” I looked at him in curiosity, “And how is that?” He chuckled, “Like you’d turn the world in reverse if she asked you to. Like she could command you with a single look.” I sighed, “You aren’t wrong. I would do anything for her and yet she asks nothing of me, not even when Talon went missing.” Malinus smiled at me, “Knowing how she is now, I would say it was just proximity that caused her to ask His Highness for assistance. Knowing him, it was offered before asked. I don’t think you need to worry since she is still cursed. You still didn’t explain what you were going to ask Her Eminence.” I sighed, “When we were at the resort, I took her out to my spot. The curse seemed to lift temporarily out there. I need to know how that happened so I can help Alexandra out. Perhaps we can figure out a way to suppress the curse so she’s not affected by it.” Malinus shrugged, “Perhaps but I’d say it is best that we put more effort into finding a way to break it. Did she express her feelings to you before you left that place?” I looked out the window and leaned my forehead against the glass then closed my eyes, “Yes.”
The carriage stopped in front of the church and Malinus got up from his seat, “Good, it’s more motivation to break it.” He hopped down and held the door open. As I climbed down I looked over his shoulder and saw a man in a hooded robe staring at us. I felt it was odd but I didn’t want to address it right now since I had an appointment with Grand Prietre. I walked into the church and met with Jean, “Your Majesty, we were expecting you. Of course, Mr. Esperanza will have to stay with me in my tea room while you speak with Her Eminence.” Malinus nodded at me and walked off to the right towards the tea room while I walked to the left towards the staircase to her tower. I had finally reached the top and went to knock on her door but she opened it before I could. She smiled at me, “Your Majesty, I believe we have a few things to discuss. Come in.” She opened the door and walked off the side to let me through. She had tea waiting for me there so I sat where I usually do near the window. She strode to the opposite end and sat on her end. She then poured the tea and bade me to drink so she could see the leaf pattern. This was always the ritual we went through when we met. I took the first sip of the hot brown liquid and then looked at her, “I have a question.” She shook her head, “We need to get the normal business out of the way first then you can ask about your date.” She smiled at me and then took a sip of her tea. I did my best to quickly finish the cup but the heat made it near impossible. She giggled, “My you are eager today. Hand me the cup.” I did as she asked and she studied the cup. She looked up at me with a serious look on her face, “Two things. First the gentleman you saw outside just now, you will need to talk to him before you drive off. He’s important.” I thought about the man in the hood and wondered why he was so important that I had to stop my day and talk to him. She shook her head, “Just trust me, you’ll know why he’s important. Second thing, that God that cursed her…he’s closer to her than you think. He’s always watching her. He’s not pleased that his vision was suppressed recently. It’s possible he will find a way to retaliate soon.” I clenched my fists in my lap, “Retaliate against her?” She shook her head, “Against you, I think he believes you caused the suppression. Just be ready for anything.” I nodded, “Thank you for letting me know.”
She cleared the table and pulled out the chart and laid it out, “Now for the long term. You have finished the first fork in your destiny that we discussed. You chose to fall in love with Alexandra. This sets you on a path full of difficulty but if you are persistent in your endeavors, you will be on your happiest path.” Out of curiosity, I had to ask, “What was the other fork?” She smiled, “Are you sure you want to know?” I nodded determined to know what not falling in love with Alexandra meant, “You would have gone along with the Queen competition. Eventually, Jess would have been chosen as your Queen. Your life would be a little more simple but there would have been backlash from The Order having a lycan on the throne. Eventually, after having two children, she would have been assassinated. In turn, not having your biggest council there would have driven you to madness and His Highness would have been regent to your young son. The children would have been assassinated being half-lycan and His Highness would have driven this kingdom to war because his wife, Alexandra would have been kidnapped by the Seely Realm and made a servant in the King’s harem.” That destiny gave me chills thinking my whole family that I would have built with Jess would have been slaughtered. I asked, “And what of Alexandra’s curse in that destiny?” She looked down, “She was never cured. Blake forced her to marry him so he could protect her since no one else would. Derek, having lost Jess to you, would have lost interest in women altogether. You were devoted to Jess so you didn’t pay much attention to Alexandra. Her destiny would have been fine with her since her love would have been there in the King’s harem. It, of course, would have not been her true love but the one who cursed her. This God is able to move freely in the Seely Realm so it made it easier for him to influence her kidnapping. This kidnapping would have caused all sorts of chaos because of your brother’s obsession with her.”
I drew in a deep breath, thankful that that destiny was avoided, “I have one more question on the chart.” She smiled, “The Queen competition, right?” I nodded, anxious to know if she would win since my destiny was a happy one. She looked me in the eye, “That all depends on her. Her destiny is still in a fork.” I was confused, “But you said mine would eventually be a happy one.” She winked, “I said a happy one but I never said it was with her. That part depends on her willingness to win the competition. This curse is in the way of that so she needs to finish the ritual that Mordred is going to set up to pull out the God.” I sat up in my seat, “What do you mean?” She ran her finger across the chart and tapped a black star, “Mordred has come up with a plan to bring him to her at the ritual circle in Blackwood in two days. All Mighty has endowed her shadow dog with the powers of Apollo and Aphrodite to assist. She will need no interference from you or His Highness. Please express this information to him. It is critical that there only be her, Mordred, and Sebastian there or there will be a slight difficulty in breaking the curse.” With that declaration, she pulled the chart and folded it up. She smiled at me and leaned her head in her hand, “Now let’s talk about your date.”
