necklace with her fingertips. “You have much ahead of you, young goddess.”
“I feel completely lost right now,” I admitted shyly, somehow wanting to bare my soul to this woman.
“Of course you do,” she said softly as she took my hand. “But that is when our instincts are at their sharpest. The path of a goddess is never easy, which is why you were Chosen, Anastasia. You are at your best when your back is against the wall, when you have no other options, and when you feel you are at your weakest. Your parents were no different.”
“So you knew my father? Do you know where he is now?” My voice leapt an octave as anxiety about my father’s whereabouts surfaced.
“Your father was a loyal and distinguished man with a true heart of gold. I can recall the night he was killed in detail. Your mother took it quite hard.”
“But, I saw my mother in the Underworld…” I started to explain. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “She told me he was still alive.”
She furrowed her brow in deep thought. “I suppose it could be possible, if…”
“If what?” I asked eagerly. Unfortunately, she simply smiled and took my hand; squeezing it supportively.
“We will have ample time to step back in time and discuss your history,” she urged, and then led me out the back entrance of the spiti. “But at the present moment, it is time to take a step towards your future.”
We were instantly drenched in sunshine as we strolled out into the open air. After descending another set of stone steps that put forth their best effort to trip me, we found ourselves in an extravagant courtyard; abundant with lush flowering bushes and trees. Nemertes escorted me to the center of the courtyard and abruptly oscillated to face me; a resolute calmness shadowing her pale green eyes.
“How much have you learned about your Epiphany Ceremony?” she questioned me.
“My ‘Epiphany Ceremony’?” I repeated; utterly clueless.
“Every Tyde who has been Chosen must take part in an Epiphany Ceremony on their eighteenth birthday. During that time their essence is fulfilled to its absolute entirety, and that is when they truly become immortal. You have been Chosen specifically to be the Leader of the Tydes, however you were not Chosen to be a Nereid because your mother could only choose you for one specific calling. All that means is that your future sisters must each Choose you separately in order for you to be welcomed into our sisterhood. Are you aware of what happens when a descendent is Chosen?”
“The god or goddess who Chooses them, must give them part of their own essence, right?”
“That is correct. So you see, in the few months you have been reacquainted with our world, you have exceeded our expectations and have easily proved your strength and loyalty to the Tyde Order. We wanted to invite you here today to allow some of your sisters to Choose you.”
“Wow…” I responded wide-eyed. “Do they all have to…Choose me?”
She nodded in confirmation. “Not all believe you are ready; however, I have a feeling they will be convinced one way or another before your Epiphany Ceremony on your birthday, which is January 1 st .” She winked at me and then said, “Now, place your hand on top of mine, palm up.”
I did as she instructed. A peacefulness fell over her face and she closed her eyes. A slight tingling sensation stirred in the middle of my palm; gradually spreading throughout my entire hand. I watched with utter fascination as
“I feel completely lost right now,” I admitted shyly, somehow wanting to bare my soul to this woman.
“Of course you do,” she said softly as she took my hand. “But that is when our instincts are at their sharpest. The path of a goddess is never easy, which is why you were Chosen, Anastasia. You are at your best when your back is against the wall, when you have no other options, and when you feel you are at your weakest. Your parents were no different.”
“So you knew my father? Do you know where he is now?” My voice leapt an octave as anxiety about my father’s whereabouts surfaced.
“Your father was a loyal and distinguished man with a true heart of gold. I can recall the night he was killed in detail. Your mother took it quite hard.”
“But, I saw my mother in the Underworld…” I started to explain. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “She told me he was still alive.”
She furrowed her brow in deep thought. “I suppose it could be possible, if…”
“If what?” I asked eagerly. Unfortunately, she simply smiled and took my hand; squeezing it supportively.
“We will have ample time to step back in time and discuss your history,” she urged, and then led me out the back entrance of the spiti. “But at the present moment, it is time to take a step towards your future.”
We were instantly drenched in sunshine as we strolled out into the open air. After descending another set of stone steps that put forth their best effort to trip me, we found ourselves in an extravagant courtyard; abundant with lush flowering bushes and trees. Nemertes escorted me to the center of the courtyard and abruptly oscillated to face me; a resolute calmness shadowing her pale green eyes.
“How much have you learned about your Epiphany Ceremony?” she questioned me.
“My ‘Epiphany Ceremony’?” I repeated; utterly clueless.
“Every Tyde who has been Chosen must take part in an Epiphany Ceremony on their eighteenth birthday. During that time their essence is fulfilled to its absolute entirety, and that is when they truly become immortal. You have been Chosen specifically to be the Leader of the Tydes, however you were not Chosen to be a Nereid because your mother could only choose you for one specific calling. All that means is that your future sisters must each Choose you separately in order for you to be welcomed into our sisterhood. Are you aware of what happens when a descendent is Chosen?”
“The god or goddess who Chooses them, must give them part of their own essence, right?”
“That is correct. So you see, in the few months you have been reacquainted with our world, you have exceeded our expectations and have easily proved your strength and loyalty to the Tyde Order. We wanted to invite you here today to allow some of your sisters to Choose you.”
“Wow…” I responded wide-eyed. “Do they all have to…Choose me?”
She nodded in confirmation. “Not all believe you are ready; however, I have a feeling they will be convinced one way or another before your Epiphany Ceremony on your birthday, which is January 1 st .” She winked at me and then said, “Now, place your hand on top of mine, palm up.”
I did as she instructed. A peacefulness fell over her face and she closed her eyes. A slight tingling sensation stirred in the middle of my palm; gradually spreading throughout my entire hand. I watched with utter fascination as
Similar Books
