"Mami, the flame is gone!" Tala exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement and disbelief. She had witnessed the ancient stone, a relic of the past, finally lose its ominous glow.
They sat in the living room, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. The spectacle had captivated them, a moment of awe and wonder. Tala, who had awakened feeling unusually sensitive to the world around her, had sensed the shift in the energy of the room.
Her gaze fell upon her grandmother's chest, where the cold stone rested lifelessly. While she panicked not understanding,
A wave of relief washed over the Oracle. This was a moment the old generation before her had longed for, a sign that the ancient curse might finally be lifted.
With gentle reverence, Tala placed her hand on the stone, feeling its cool surface. A sense of peace settled over her from within, a part of her she had o power over, a calm that mirrored her grandmother's serene expression eventhough outside was panicking.
"Are you not mad, Mami?" Tala asked, her voice laced with confusion. She had expected a more dramatic reaction.
Alesha smiled, her eyes filled with a knowing light. "We are finally free, my child. Why should I be mad?"
Tala's eyes narrowed. "Free? How come?"
"The curse." The Oracle mumbled
"You mean... the curse is broken?"
Alesha nodded, her voice filled with a sense of purpose as she spoke right away.
"Yes, the curse is broken. God is at peace. This green color of the stone meant so much â destruction, darkness, the mark of rejection. I want you to understand..."
She paused, her expression thoughtful. "Porys is an important place in the spiritual world. It was chosen by God for a grand purpose. But so much harm has been done by people whose hearts were filled with darkness. It was time for the child of the prophecy to manifest."
"Who? The new king, Lincoln?" Tala asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
Alesha shook her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"No, Lincoln is not the chosen one. He is merely a result of the grand scheme, a pawn in a larger game. There is more to save, more to change."
Tala's eyes widened. "Then who? Is it his mother, Queen Katiandra?"
Alesha smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Not really, my dear child. The divine plan is far greater than we can comprehend."
Tala felt a surge of wonder fill her, unconprehension at her grandmother's words. "Oh! Then if it is not really her, what does that mean?" she asked with hesitation, her voice filled with the need to know.
"She is, a part of that plan, yes. But there is the chosen one."
The Oracle tilted her head to the left, a serene smile playing on her lips as she listened to the laughter carried on the wind. A vision blooming in her mind â a glimpse into Lorelei's life.
~~~~~
At the mansion, miles and countries away, she saw Lorelei taking a pot of yogurt from the refrigerator. With a gentle smile, the young woman walked to the large kitchen table where Katiandra was already seated, engaged in conversation with Alicia.
Bertha and Kayley were preparing a large chicken for dinner, Martha was stirring the pot of pasta, while Benoit worked on a batch of cupcakes.
The kitchen, spacious and filled with warmth, was a hub of activity. Lorelei's eyes settled on her soulmate, and without hesitation, she walked over and kissed Katiandra on the lips putting permanent smile on the poised woman luscious lips.
They sat together, their bodies close, a silent declaration of their love. It was a sight so natural, so endearing, that it drew the attention of everyone in the room, they all smiled softly, some humming, the sight was really endearing.
Love radiated from them, a palpable force that enveloped everyone present. Soothing all souls.The atmosphere on the room shifted, becoming filled with peace and a profound desire to live.
~~~~
Tala's eyes widened in disbelief at how her grandmother's irises seemed to move, as if she were transported to another reality. "Mami,You can hear and see them? You can feel their emotions?"
Alesha smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Yes, Tala. It is a gift, a curse, and a blessing all at once. I can feel their emotions as if they were my own."
Tala shuddered, a mix of awe and unease washing over her. "It sounds... intense," she whispered.
Alesha nodded. "It is. But it is also a gift. It allows me to understand others on a deeper level, to feel their pain and their joy."
Tala looked away, lost in thought. "I wish I could feel that way too," she mumbled, her voice tinged with envy. "But you still haven't answered the other part of my question."
Alesha reached out and placed a comforting hand on Tala's shoulder. "You will, Tala. In time, the same power are part of who you are. You will know both answers. Though, as I said before, it's not one of her children."
Tala nodded, her gaze returning to her grandmother. "So, are you saying the flame has transferred to the chosen one, who is part of Queen Katiandra's circle?"
Alesha smiled. "Yes, Tala. That person is now the bearer of the flame."
Tala's eyes widened in shock. "Oh, you won't tell me who it is? But I thought it was a generational gift! Why did you keep training me?" Disappointment tinged her voice.
Alesha chuckled softly. "First of all, Tala," she began, "who it is will be revealed to you in due time. Those who know about it will carry it in theirs graves. Secondly, you are not just a guardian, my dear. You are a bridge between worlds. Your unique abilities, your connection to the spiritual realm, make you the perfect person to guide the chosen one, and someday, their child."
Tala's mind raced, trying to process this new information. "But what about the prophecy? Isn't it about Queen Katiandra and her child?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
Alesha nodded. "You are quite the curious one, aren't you, love?" she teased gently. "Yes, the prophecy revolves around them, but you are a crucial part of it. You will be the one to ensure that everything unfolds as it should â that they all fulfill their destiny."
Tala felt a surge of emotions â a sense of loss at first, quickly replaced by excitement and a heavy weight of responsibility. It was almost too much to comprehend, but seeing her grandmother's tired gaze, she decided to hold back further questions.
Though a nagging suspicion lingered â Queen Katiandra's sudden departure felt like more than just running for her daughters she haven't seen for a long time. If her child was part of the prophecy, but not the ones she had with King Arthur, then the chosen one was somehow involved with her. And that meant their child would be Queen Katiandra's too.
The realization hit Tala with the force of a thunderbolt. Her eyes widening met her grandmother's, a mixture of shock and dawning understanding reflected within them.
Alesha simply nodded, a single, knowing gesture that sent a jolt through Tala's body. "Whoa!" was all she could think, the enormity of the news settling on her shoulders. Queen Katiandra, the woman with captivating beauty and a seemingly ageless body, was in a relationship. She had an affair under everyone noses without raising suspicions which she knew the source certainly helped protecting.
With newfound resolve, not caring to judge Tala met her grandmother's gaze directly. "I will do everything I can to be there for them," she declared, her voice filled with determination.
Alesha smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I know you will, Tala. You are a child of the light, a rare gem of hope in a world filled with darkness."
After a moment the Oracle nodded looking at her sweet child.
"You were correct," she began softly. "The gift is hereditary. I taught it to you, and I apologize for not explaining it clearly. I passed my gift on to you. That's what makes you so capable."
"This? It was never mine," she said, her voice filled with a sense of finality "I was merely a temporary channel, a vessel for the energy. The true recipient needed to reach physical and spiritual maturity before receiving the flame."
A smile graced her lips as she looked at Tala. "The time was right. The flame has been passed on."
"Never envy what others possess," Alesha continued softly. "You think she's talented? Remember, she's still using a human vessel, just like us."
"Go ask her people...Before they experience the unconditional joy they are about to have, remember they were in a waiting room. You, of all people, understand the pain of seeing someone you love suffering and being unable to help."
Drawing Tala's hand to her, she kissed the back of it, holding it firmly against her heart. She had always regarded Tala as her own, her blood and flesh, her daughter, even though she hadn't given birth to her. She was never a grandmother for her, she was her mother and always will be. She had given her the best of herself, a thoughtful preparation for life, filled with love to prepare her for its challenges.
"I have never known pain, not once in my life, not like the chosen one. Neither have you. That's one of the advantages of our gift. That's why I continued to train youâto surpass me, to be invincible."
Kneeling beside her grandmother, Tala could only nod. She had truly been nurtured with care. Listening intently, she awaited her grandmother's conclusion.
Tala shook her head slowly, a contemplative expression on her face. "But that person has to be so extraordinary..."
Alesha smiled knowingly. "Indeed, the chosen one is. But do not forget, you are too. You possess your own unique talents, your own special purpose. You are a child of light, just like them."
Tala's eyes welled up with tears. "I never considered myself in that way."
Alesha pulled Tala closer, enveloping her in a warm embrace. "You should, my dear. You are a powerful force for good in this world."
Tala nodded, her voice filled with emotion. "I'll do my best."
Alesha kissed the back of Tala's hand, her gesture filled with love and pride.
"I know you will. You have always been strong, resilient, and kind. You are more than capable of fulfilling your destiny."
Tala looked up at her grandmother, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Mother. For everything."
Alesha smiled, her eyes sparkling hearing how she had called her, it was not the first time she specifically used that terms, it always lift Alesha spirit.
"It is my pleasure, my child. You are the best part of my life.'" For her to not use past but present was significant enough for both of them. They will always be together. Love stays, never changing, whatever the realm here or not. At that Tala tenderly smiled nodding thankfully.
The Oracle, her gaze soft and knowing, smiled at Tala. Her tired eyes held a sense of peace, as if she were preparing her granddaughter for a new chapter.
"You must understand that, like in any true endeavor, a gift is earned through hard work. You will cherish this one and use it for the greater good. Gifts come in various forms. In this case, it's not merely because you are a good person, but because you have become the embodiment of goodness. This path is arduous, demanding sacrifices at every turn. It requires a life dedicated from the outset to the divine purpose. That is the true meaning of AÃADA, literally 'God Vessel.' The chosen one is not... God IS."
The older woman, with a labored breath, removed the amulet from her neck. Her granddaughter watched with concern as she sat, struggling. Closing her eyes momentarily, the Oracle held out her trembling hands. Tala took the amulet reverently and placed it around her own neck.
"It is yours now," the Oracle said solemnly. "You know the rule."
Tala examined the amulet, her eyes filled with a newfound respect. She nodded knowingly and looked up at her grandmother, the ancient rule flowing effortlessly from her lips.
"Never remove it. I know. Do you hope it will lighten again?"
"No! Never desire that, my dear. It is certain that it will not for a time far longer than the last one did, which was hundreds of centuries before me and your great-great-grandmother."
Tala's expression revealed her confusion. A knowing smile crept across the old woman's face.
"What is its purpose then?" Tala asked, taking her time to understand, aware of her grandmother's declining strength.
"It is the amulet that will protect you, not the other way around. It protected me. You will pass it on to someone else when the time is right. But your immediate task is to protect Porys from invaders, which you excel at. You are now Porys' Oracle."
Tala smiled sadly at her grandmother, who seemed to be fading rapidly. She gently helped her recline in the rocking chair, knowing by the serene expression in her grandmother's eyes that her time was nearly at an end.
"Believe in yourself, love. God will believe in you to be the torch. I will always be proud of you, Tala. You will never be alone. Remember, you may not be the one who carries the flame, but you are Porys' Oracle, which is equally important."
Smiling, the Oracle closed her eyes, her hands resting on her stomach as if taking a nap. Straightening, Tala shook her head, her resolve hardening against the urge to cry. knowing there was no point in tears, She understood that death was merely the release of the physical vessel, the body, from the spiritual essence that animated it.
Her grandmother, like the others, would always be there for her, just as she had promised, just like the others were. Just not physically.
Breathing deeply, she pondered her grandmother's last words, realizing she was simply saying that in the battle they fought, they were all part of the same source.
Though she might never know who received the flame, she understood her grandmother's point. Chosen or Oracle, it mattered little as long as the desired outcome â the reins of the LIGHT â was achieved.