CLV ||| Money, Money, Money

"But the heavy weight of the Crown is something only you can carry."

"To become the greatest of thy kin, the strongest Queen, is what you are destined to. Thy fate will only be fulfilled if you take the hands of those you need to, and embrace the one whose heart is the same as yours. Whose thread of life is connected to yours in this life and all others. To forsake such thing is to forsake thy own life and the lives of all the ones that are counting with you."

"The mirror of the soul is needed for you to see what you are, and see what you need to do to become better. It's connected to thy magic in it's roots and it calls for thy power in the same way all deity artifacts do. The innate and latent magic dormant in you, if you are able to see yourself for who and what you truly are, will become the lighthouse of hope for those who need it you in the future. The one with the greatest potential to get stronger, thus, measuring thy future power is impossible." She spoke in a ancient voice very similar to Belladonna and Nacht's tone.

As her eyes turned baby pink again, she blinked ten times, leaning back in her chair, hands off the sphere.

"Uh, she sounds like an oracle," Kalisha whispered.

"I didn't understand almost anything," Noah gasped.

Gulping, I focused on Nancy, "I believe I did, at least, most of it," I told them. "Thank you very much, Nancy. Your words enlightened me even further," taking a deep breath, I got up. "It's paid, so, you can go and have your section with her. I'll stay outside looking the nearest tents around. Take your time. After this I'll but you whatever food you want."

["Aye, I love you!"]

How could you not? Enjoy. Maybe it'll be helpful for you too.

As I walked out of the tent, after Nancy bowed dramatically to me, can you imagine who I bumped into?

Yes. Oliver and his team!

"Why are you pale?" He asked as he cut the distance between us. "I didn't even feel you around here. Where are the others? Are you okay?"

I gulped, "I… I'm fine. Just met a satyr girl as tall as you, whose life is actually linked to mine. More to Sunna's than mine, but to mine in a way that I need the crown for her to finally meet her mate. Who is a phoenix that works in Sunna's palace. And… I think she's a oracle or something."

{"Are you sad?"} He caressed my cheeks and made me look up to meet his eyes. "You don't look well."

"It's just too much. Too much power. Too much responsibilities. It's weighting me down," I whispered and hugged his waist, needing his warmth. "Her words now, the witch's yesterday, Mia's the night before, Belladonna's that night, my grandparent's in the mirror message. It's too much. Too much to handle. Too much to understand. Too much to get my prideful arse to digest. Too much to think."

{"Why don't you just share it all with me? I'm here for you."} He hugged me back tightly and it felt like home, like my first actual home.

Tomorrow night.

"Where are the others, new girl?" Rio asked.

After another minute just hugging Oli, I pushed him softly and took a look at his group, then I pointed to Nancy's tent. "They are inside. Nancy told me what she could first, and I paid for her to do the same to them. And Jack too. So, don't go inside, her magic is very strong, and she's already loaded with them."

"Is she trustworthy?" Dimitry clenched his jaw, probably anxious as his mate, Yuliana, is inside there.

A nod, "She definitely is. Everything she told fits perfectly fine. I mean, I don't understand everything, but I got most of it. She is an oracle kind of person after all. And she's technically an underling of my Kingdom. Mine, I mean," and if I'm right, River's too.

{"If he's the one mated to Sunna."}

Yes. "So, just wait."

"Tsk," Rio clicked his tongue, "anything you feel like telling us? I mean, right now. Of what she told you."

I tilted my head, "I'm magically undergrown, and I'll only awaken all of my power after I get the crown and do some other things. She said everything lies inside of me, at same time as nothing does. Which kind of matches the whole being-of-nothingness shite they call my kind of. Called me a black hole of chaos and void that sucks the magic of everyone inside of me," I pointed at the cherry blossoms tattooed on my collarbones, "and that must be related to my channeling ability."

"I think she kind of called me a paranoid bitch who overthinks shite too," I mocked myself. "Also said that my power needs balance and that if I do not balance it out, I'll cause mayhem, destruction, and lots of deaths. Which also fits in the whole can-destroy-everything-or-save-everything shit they sum the black winged-serpents into. Yes, she also called me blind, said I need people with me, I also need the mirror of the soul, aka Belladonna, and all the Royal artifacts the deities made for the wielder of the crown."

Then I pointed to the top of my head, "Oh, and there's a spiritual version of the crown of chaos constantly floating right above my freaking head. Not a real thing but a spiritual mark that marks me as the promised wielder of it, blah, blah, blah, and shite we already know."

Oli glared at me, "Why do I think you're still hiding something?"

His words got a laugh out of me, "Because you know me? You are right, I am hiding some things she told me, because," I glared back at him, "those things are related to you."

"Uh, then shouldn't you tell him?" Nevena gasped.

"Yes, I should," I licked my lips. "And I will. Not today, though."

{"If it's about me, I need to know."}

And you will. Tomorrow.

"Wilhelmina!" He groaned annoyed.

"Tomorrow, Oliver-Sean!" I said firmly.

"Why are you making such suspense?" Igor scoffed.

"Because I am a petty and prideful bitch, and a drama queen," I said matter-of-factly with a blank face. "How are you even surprised? I mean, it's just a day from now. Hold your anxiety."

"Easier said than done," River scowled.

"Give us something, new girl. At least, one thing!" Rio insisted.

I stared at his face, "I know where the Crown is."

Except for Oliver, all of them gasped.

"Where?" Ivar asked with an eye-wide gaze.

Grinning, I pointed at myself, "Hell."

Sabrina frowned, "In you?"

"Or in hell, hell, with two Ls?" Dora asked scared.

"It's definitely not in me," I licked my fangs, enjoying how all of them turned pale. "Besides, I kind of knew that was the case. I do need both Sunna and Lilith, of course, and they are in the Pit, right where the crown is, on grandpa's head."

Rio's eyebrows went up, "By Lilith you mean Red Grand Duchess Melina Aussaresses's half-red and half-green daughter?"

Aye, see? They must be connected.

{"You are ridiculous."}

"Yes."

"So," River came closer, beaming with excitement, "we are going to meet a phoenix? Like for real? A immortal fire bird that cannot die and it's one of the strongest races to ever exist, and was thought to be solely a myth? A legend?"

I'm telling you. They are connected.

{"And I'm telling you, you are ridiculous."}

You were fascinated by serpents, and look who you are mated to.

{"And I intend on staying mated to you!"}

Gulping, I ignored him and turned to his baby brother, "Yes, and they are best friends. By the way, Sunna is like me. Giant holy fire bird with immortality is her true form, but she can stay as a changeling. So, she's a girl, Crown Princess of the Sky-City of Andromeda. She has that title since her realm is bound to serve mine, and thus I am her Queen, but she is still a Crown Princess who rules her own kind. Same goes for all the other realms that can only be reached with the Crown of Chaos."

"Phoenixes, nine-tailed foxes, pegasus, green witches, dwarves, the elementals. All go by the same title system of ruling their kind as Crowned Princess and Princes, and their consorts, but under my Crown. And none of them are extinct. Out of reach? Definitely for now. Extinct? Absolutely not. All waiting for me to open the passage for the realms again. All waiting for the day their monarch will ascend again. Blah, blah, blah, mountain of big responsibilities for me. Yay!" I mocked myself again.

"So, we are going to hell?" Ivar asked in a haunted whisper.

"Hell yeah, we are," I grinned. Let's sound confident, even though going to hell was definitely at the top of my list of things to avoid with every single drop of power, blood, and life force inside me.

{"Don't worry, I'll go to hell with you, Hel."}

I see what you did there, Oliver-Sean.