EVANGELINE.
âTake careâ¦â I say softly, clutching the phone tightly in my hand.
You too. Make sure you get some rest and donât spend all night looking over the books.â Zedkielâs voice comes.
I feel my stomach twist knowing I am about to disobey him and not only that, but I am going to go back to that chamber.
âI wonât⦠I love you. Take care of yourself.â I mumble.
âI will. Love you too.â He says quietly before hanging up.
My heart is still racing from his words.
Oh, how I miss himâ¦
âStill canât get over the fact that thatâs our Zed.â
Kash smirks from where he is sitting on the ground, going through several thick written files regarding the scriptures.
Lucia is in the corner making notes on every minor detail sheâs finding and then Isa is doing a second over on what Lucia has been through already in case thereâs something they miss. I have a feeling Kash had placed them like that since he didnât trust Lucia, which upset me a little, but I donât let it get to me.
Isa has her hair pulled up in a messy bun as sheâs bent over the papers.
âYeah, I know! Zed has never been like this.â She gives me a wink and smirk, but Iâm still not sure what to make of her. Is there a past there?
I donât reply, simply giving her a smile before I glance at the time. If I am to make it⦠I need to take the ritual bath soon.
âFrom what you said and the kingâs explanation, I donât think there is anything more⦠but this means that Raziel cursed one of his two children..
Evelyn, to be precise.â Kash says, looking up.
I nod. Itâs as we figured. âSo, heâs the reason..â
Lucia murmurs.
âWait.â Isa says, suddenly standing up. âThe scriptures say, The Eternal God cursed the twins to a life of doom. What if there are two curses here and the reason itâs never been broken is that everyone overlooked one..
The room falls silent as we stare at her, and I look back at the open print of the scripture.
Her words weigh heavily in the air, but the numbing truth is, she has a very good point.
âI think youâre right..â I say, rereading it. âIt says Selene upset Osiris and Set.. what if they hold answers that we need?â
âSo, we need to go to them?â Kash says rubbing his shoulder. His jaw is clenched, and I frown. Is it just me, or has he been massaging his shoulder quite a lot? Is he hurt?
âI think so. I think if Zedkiel tries to reach cut to them, he may even be able to reach them. After all, he is a hybrid. Why are they attacking? Surely thereâs a reason behind it, perhaps one that can be averted. Furthermore, I do think that they may have parts of the answers that we donât and all it might take is communication.â I say firmly.
Kash nods. âI hate to admit it, but that makes sense.â
âSo we have these facts; First there are two curses, Razielâs and the Eternal Gods upon you and Evelyn.
Do not run from the Gemini bane. Iâm assuming Evelyn is the bane.. so you need to embrace her.
One is a curse, the other a blessing.. â Isa trails off and the next part of the Oracleâs words ring in my mind.
Only one may survive.
Our eyes meet and I see a glimmer of concern in her eyes.
âWhen you learn who you truly are, and pay for the goddessâs crimes and the cycle shall end.. which means.â
âThis circle of rebirth.â I say quietly. âWhen you rise from the earth.. what if it means from the Chamber. it is technically beneath the surface of the earth..â
The room falls silent, and I suddenly feel like I know where my future lies. What I need to do..
âDo any of you have any idea of what the meaning of the starsâ aligning could be?â I ask.
âNo. but there is a special phenomenon that is reported to occur soon. So rare it is assumed the last time it happened was over a thousand years ago.â Lucia says, her face pale as we all turn to her.
âAnd what might that be?â Kash asks, c0cking a brow at her.
She tilts her head, and I know she can see he doesnât trust her.
âThe planets will align, and the Gemini constellation will touch the full moonâ¦â She says quietly. âI enjoy astronomy⦠it was announced on the human news a few days ago.â
Why does it feel like that could be the answerâ¦
âK.â Kashâs annoying response comes as his sister casts him a scathing glare.
âThat makes sense. Youâre smart Lucia. You always have been!â Isa says, clearly proud of her.
âWhen is that happening?â I ask, feeling my anxiety building. Even Evelyn is restless, and I know she has answers that she refuses to give meâ¦
âTwo full moons from now.â Lucia replies.
That means we roughly have around six weeks.
âThen we have no time to lose. I will go to the Chamber tonight. I will fulfil the cleansing ritual and everything I need to before I do. Letâs do this the right way⦠We need answers and I am not wasting any more time.â I say firmly. Surprisingly, no one argues. Even Kash nods, frowning deeply as he ponders over everything that weâve discussed.
âThen you need to go at the time that a royal usually would.. We have two hours, that gives us plenty of time to spare.â Kash says.
âCan you please have the clothing and bath prepared? Iâm going to try to talk to Evelyn before then.â I say quietly, looking at the girls, who both nod.
âYeah, of course. Iâll have everything organised.â
Lucia says at the same time. âShall we tell Prince Chasyn?â
She adds at the same time that Kash speaks. âShall we tell the king?â
Both exchange looks, and Kash frowns. âWe donât need to include him, unless he already knows everything thatâs going on?â
Lucia looks down, shaking her head, and this time I have had enough.
âKash. Donât⦠just as Zedkiel trusts you⦠I trust her.â I say firmly. âAn insult to her⦠is an insult to me.â
âShall we tell the king or not?â He replies, and I exhale.
I hesitate and then shake my head. âNo, not until Iâve entered the chamber.â
He nods. âAnd Zed?â
âLetâs not worry him. I know what Iâm doing.â I say firmly.
He nods. âFine.â
âIâll keep an eye on things.â Isa says to me, and I smile, feeling genuinely grateful to her as she glares at her brother.
âThank you.â
With that finalised, I walk to the far corner of the office and take a seat on the floor. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.
âEvelyn, I know youâre angry⦠but I want to help you, I want to help us, to end these curses forever.â
I say with determination.
Liesâ¦'â
Iâm not lying.â
You heard the Oracleâs words.. Only one may survive.. if we destroy the curse, itâs at the cost of my life! I will be the sacrifice.â She hisses. I can feel that darkness in my head, the urge to destroy everything, but I feel stronger too. Somehow, Iâm able to subdue her darkness.
Her words⦠I canât deny that those words have been playing in my mindâ¦
âTell me our story Evelyn, I know you have suffered ⦠tell me the truth and I promise⦠I promise I wonât let you die.â
And I truly mean it.