Chapter 79: Forever Alone

Solomon POV

Her beautiful eyes zeroed in on a ring, looking at me with tears in her eyes. “The stone was traditionally a ruby, he changed it for you, to match your eyes”, I further explained. Her aura dropped and the temperature in the room stabilized. For a moment she just stood there, looking at me. Lady Sahar was sobbing quietly, Lord Alwyin’s strong arms around her. Xidna’s life was tragic, and truth be told, if I was to be honest, none of us helped her much. “What do you want from me”, she asked softly. “The truth. We need the truth”, I replied honestly. She was quiet. “Will you agree to my terms? If I help you, will you agree to it?” Simple question, yet the way she said it sounded ominous. “What are we agreeing to?”, Lord Asher asked her cautiously. She just looked at him, but did not reply.

Walking over to the nearest chair, she sat down and a sudden humming enveloped her. She shifted into her snake form but was not attacking anyone. I knew she was meditating and divining, looking through space and time and secret veils to get her answers. Humming became louder, and a red sparkly mist started falling on her. She gasped but allowed it to continue. I watched her in awe – she had incredible control. Her eyes were closed, and she looked as if she were sleeping, her body moving gently the only sign she was awake. When she opened her eyes again, they were blood red. “The Tribrid is bound to the Spieta line, by blood and oath. Those who you must hold close are even closer to you. The ancient Eagle must be reunited”, she said in the trance. “What of the King’s children”, I asked further. “The Three will hold the balance. The Three are blood, fire, and the Moon. The Dragon shall be reborn from the line of humans, under the Red Shadow”, she said, suddenly snapping back to her Eleven form.

While similar to the past prophecy, this one was more elaborate. I needed to ponder what it really meant, we now had something to go on. “Our enemy had revealed itself Xidna. How do we defeat her?”. “You cannot. Only the Three can”, she answered coolly. “You mean my sister, brother and I?” Lord Alwyin asked hopefully. After all, they were the Three. “No…” “Who are the Three??”, he insisted. “It will be revealed once the wolf and the dragon become one”, she said again cryptically. We exchanged glances, not sure what to make of this.

“I have fulfilled my part”, she said now. “As for my terms. Tribrid’s first born daughter will be given to me, to live in the mountains until she is 16. As will your grandson, Prince Darius!”, she now spoke, staring daggers at Lady Sahar. “NOOOOOOO”, came the scream of Lord Asher. “You are not taking my son away you wretched creature!! I am not going to allow you to do that”, he charged her, pulling out his sword. She flicked her eyes and all of a sudden a bunch of wines sprouted from the floor, trapping him in one spot. He was unable to move.

“THOSE ARE MY TERMS! VIOLATE THEM AND FACE MY WRATH, MY DEAR BROTHER!”, she yelled now.

Lady Sahar came over to her and fell on her knees, crying. “Xidna, please. .. I know we wronged you.. Please… do not do this… Take me instead.. Take me, not the children.. please… I beg of you… Do not..”, she was holding onto the hem of Xidna’s dress sobbing. “No! My decision is final. You will bring Darius to me 7 days after his birth, or I will obliterate the Eleven species first!”, she said coldly. “Touch my grandson and I will kill you myself!!”, Lord Alwyin now screamed, chanting magic and casting a spell… “Hahahahahhahahaahahhahahahahahahhahaahhaha….. You pathetic, pathetic, creature! You think you are a match for me????”. She rebuked him in an instant, forcing him on his knees. He was stuck and blood started seeping out of his eyes. “Perhaps I should kill you??? Hmmmm… Like you killed my father??? What do you think of that Mommy? Or should I torture you like you tortured my mate???” she snickered. She had every right to be vicious. Every right to be mad. We all knew that…

“Xidna, please..” I fell on my knees to plead with her. “If you ever loved Luka please ..” She screamed..“I LOVED HIM WITH EVERYTHING I HAD!!!! AND THEY…. THEY…. THEY TOOK HIM FROM ME!!!” her pain brought tears to my eyes. “Listen to me… please… They did not take him.. They… He was my son Xidna.. He… He... He..." I knew I promised never to reveal this, but I had no choice. I prayed Luka's spirit forgives me. "Xidna... He killed himself when he realized he could never be with you. He never wanted you to know, he thought you would blame yourself… “ I said, remembering the tragedy that was their love. “Xidna, he would not approve of this.. You are better than this…. Children should not be taken from their parents.” The moment the words left my mouth, I realized the irony of my words.

“Really?? Hmmm... Children should not be taken from their parents.. Hmmm.. What a novel idea..Did you tell them that??? Did you advocate for me, mighty Lord Solomon, when they tossed me into the mountains as if I was nothing??? I do not recall your support”, she spat, pointing at crying Lady Sahar and my brother. It was true. Lady Sahar had another mate, and an unexpected fated mate before my brother. A snake shifter, who somehow found her. Both him and my brother - they were her destined. My brother could not stand sharing his mate – he challenged him for her hand and killed him. Xidna, the offspring of that union, was deemed the Oracle from a very young age, given her serpent gifts and powers. And as such, destined to the life all Oracles lived. Life of great purpose, with great power. Forever alone…