Chapter Twelve 

“This is good.” Why is he surprised, I know he has me looked into so this should be expected.

"Well Salvatore, don't be surprised. I am the best."

"So, you pass the test. Now onto the good stuff. ” 

*Passes a file to her.*

“That right there is your purpose for being here.”

“Taso family?” 

"Yes, we have reason to believe we have a rat."

He didn’t say this in the last life. When I was brought on board, it was to look into a new partner they wanted to do business with.

"When we met, I was shot by an assassin. The person I was to meet was killed as well."

"What were you doing?"

"Trying to find out if my ship is tight. The informant is a plant we put in the Taso family. I have reason to believe they planted some on us and may have known of our plant since the very beginning. Here's something that was found at the scene."

*Slides Madalen onto the table.* 

"This was found near the body. It has some writing we can’t figure out."

“Thy with a fate thy is mine.” How did he get this?

“You can read that.”

*Panicking,and stepping back.* "This is not good."

"Why?"

"Because this should be over a thousand years old, but this looks new. Like, brand new." What did I get myself into this time around?

"Go on."

"I can't. We need some books for me to speak further."

"What books?"

"The ones at my apartment. It’s my mother’s collection."

"Then shall we go?"

Apartment

“Your place is different from the last one I was at.” 

“That's because it wasn't my place.”

“Then who’s was it?”

“None of your business. Just come over and look at this.” 

"So, what is this book?"

"My mom said it’s a history book. My teacher said it’s mythology."

"What do you think?"

"My mother’s version. She was a clever woman and never indulged in fiction."

"So, what does that pendant have to do with the book?"

"I’ll show you. It should be on this page here. Does that look familiar?"

"It’s the medallion."

"Yeah. This is something that’s worn by Fate’s followers. They also have a tattoo of the symbol, but it’s always hidden."

"So, what does this mean?"

"It means you have more than a rat. My mom told me a story once. It was of people who were chosen because they held no greed. The king offered them power, but they had to take an oath and leave their homes."

"An oath?"

"Yes, the oath was to do no harm and strive for peace, but it didn’t mean to roll over and die. You balance it out. Each person had a clan, and each clan had the ability for peace and one for destruction."

"So, what happened?"

"She said the people also became beings. They lived longer and had a place to call home that was peaceful. In the end, they wanted to give their brethren left on their world of origin the same chance. So, they found a land with people of good heart, but not without fault."

"So, the beings are former mortals?"

"Yes. The only difference between both is power. Because of that, some wanted the mortals to be able to fend for themselves."

This is so unreal.  

"To teach them how to fish so they never go hungry, but some wanted them to keep worshipping them. That’s where this medallion comes in. My mother said Fate and some others wanted the relationship to stay the same because of the power to keep things the way they were. They did something."

"Something?"

"They started a war between the beings and mortals. She said she only knows so much of the war, but it led to the once harmonious relationship splitting and never reconciling. The mortals no longer had the beings' help, and the beings lost people to worship them."

"So then, if they no longer were able to come here, how is this medallion that’s supposed to be old as hell end up here, brand new?"

"Because, as my mother put it, Fate just never knew when to stop."

"So, are you saying we’re dealing with something or someone that’s not human?"

"No, I’m not, because that would be crazy. You’re dealing with a culture with a long and mysterious history that most don’t know."

"How do you know?"

"Because I’m the best, and it seems they’re aiming at your kingdom."

"You mentioned clans."

"Yeah, give me a sec. Turn the page. Here. The clans all had unique powers. Here’s a breakdown."

"The clan named Voltaris had powers related to a spear that commands lightning.
Luxverra has Celestial Light Manipulation, capable of creating, bending, or destroying anything. They can also create.
Sombralis has Darkness Manipulation, where they can engulf others in a shroud of darkness that numbs the senses, slows time perception, and brings visions of memories or hidden fears.
Velmora has Weapon Manifestation, with swords and other weapons tied to willpower and spirit."

"What about this one?"

"That one is a lost clan called Nemeris. They had powers related to Memory or Mindwalking, which can pull thoughts into physical space, cause confusion, or even rewrite short-term memory. I’m not sure what it means, but mom said they were to never exist again by decree."

"So, overall a cult is aiming to take over my family?"

"It’s deeper than that. Those who don’t follow Fate are terminated. So it seems someone wants to kill your family and make it theirs."

"So what do we do?"

"To tell you the truth, I don’t know. This is a first. I’ll need to research and check something in my mother’s journals. She always researched this and always had notebooks with references. It may have something. But it’s a lot of books, if not close to a hundred."

"I’ll help."

"No thanks. I’d rather do it myself."

"But we may be short on time, and every bit counts."

"...Okay, but we’ll have to travel. Her books are kept somewhere she buried them."

"Buried?"

"She trusted no one. So bring some shovels."