Chapter 29
“Anne made a good point. I need to understand the reasons for the choice you made, Dante.”
“She was the reason for the journey I made to Glimmerbrook. The dreams of her… they gave me a reason to keep going, Celeste, after what happened with my parents.”
“I don’t know much of the story.”
“Maybe it’s better that way. What really matters is getting Anne away from Titus.”
“To you that’s what matters, but it’s not going to be as simple as you seem to think, due to the soulbond. Although I wouldn’t say I know Titus I am certain this was part of a plan, potentially from centuries ago.”
“Does that mean you aren’t willing to help me?”
“Of course not. Anne and I are friends, so I want to get her away from Titus as much as you, with the understanding it may not be possible. Not this lifetime. We don’t have the time.”
“Unless we transition the bond.”
“You know more than you let on.”
“Seeing is complicated, Celeste. I have to be more careful with Anne when it comes to this subject, but you’re an Ember, so my assumption is you have a better understanding than Anne does.”
“Transitioning the bond isn’t a simple process either, and it’s not one I think you’re ready for.”
“Ready for?”
“How about we start at the beginning?” Celeste ran her tongue over her bottom lip, studying Dante more closely. “You’re here for Anne. Dreams brought you here, which is the way you See, and you’re absolutely certain you don’t want to leave now. To get away from this entire mess.”
“Whatever Anne might say I know she needs my help.”
“She needs help. That doesn’t necessarily mean you.”
“No one else is here, are they?”
“Anne has more people who care about her than you realise. Until Reuben died she hoped for something more in her life, always knowing Titus would take it.”
“If they care why haven’t they done something?”
“Dante, sometimes it’s important to understand your limitations, and they know they can’t take on Titus. None have the strength. What they’ve chosen to do is be there for her after the ritual, taking the places on the Council when Titus offers them.”
“Like you?”
Celeste shook her head. “There won’t be an Ember on the Council in the future. Mother’s actions have made that much a certainty.”
“Something you wouldn’t have done.”
“We aren’t here to talk about me, or anyone else. My focus is you. I know you have some interesting bloodlines.”
“How do you know that?”
“You’re a Seer, which means you probably have a Lockwood in there somewhere. I feel the power coming off you, so you have strength from at least two other bloodlines, probably more.”
“Does it matter?”
“If there’s some Ember blood it could make things much simpler.”
“Fitzgerald, I think, is a name someone in the family took for their own reasons. Before they left Glimmerbrook they were Diaz, but I know there is a Lockwood in there.”
“Cordelia, who married Gabriel Diaz. He disappeared after her death with his son Mateo.”
“You probably know more than I do.”
“I know more about Gabriel, yes, and he had power. That’s the reason Cordelia accepted him as her husband. However I don’t know anything about your mother’s side. We don’t learn anything about what happens outside of Glimmerbrook. Titus made certain of that, because he thought it was for the best.”
“Do you know anything about the Marlowes?”
“Jacob Marlowe disappeared centuries ago. He was another Seer, one who worked closely with Titus, and no one truly knows what happened to him. There are theories. With Titus that normally means death.”
“He was related, in some way, to my mother.”
“For Jacob to be related to your mother he must have survived whatever Titus did to him.”
“If what Mother said is right it seems he might still be alive now.”
“That’s something I’ll need to talk to Mother about. She’ll know more than I do.”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters.”
“None of this is getting us any closer to what needs to be done. Anne is my focus – nothing else. Breaking the bond, from what you said, may not be possible. Transitioning it is something I’m apparently not ready for. It feels like you aren’t helping in any way.”
“Who you are will have an effect.”
“How will it have an effect?”
“You have strength, Dante, but you weren’t taught how to use it. If we had the time to change that, or to adapt the ritual for you to make use of, then we’d be in a better position. As it is we’re days away, so transitioning to you… it might kill you, and Anne.”
“I don’t know if I’m related to an Ember, but your mother might.”
Celeste nodded. “Being related will give you a connection to the magic of the bloodline.”
“Logically, isn’t everyone in some way connected to every bloodline.”
“Unfortunately it’s not that simple. Some Embers didn’t have soul magic.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Back when magic first swept Glimmerbrook, there were three sisters, and each of them was gifted with a different skill. The eldest of them was the soul mage. It’s only if you’re related to her that you’re going to have the kind of magic we need.”
“You’re related to her?”
“She was the one who passed the name on, the same way Mother did. Mother expected it to be me, although I think it’s going to be my brother instead, because I’ve never connected with the Embers the way he has.”
“What happens if I’m not related?”
“Everything becomes more complicated, Dante.”
“Hence you believing it would be better for me to leave Glimmerbrook, the same way Anne does, after you’ve unravelled our bond.”
“Protecting you from Titus is important to her. It’s a sign she cares, even if it’s not the way you want her to.”
“I made the journey here thinking I’d be able to help.”
“Your dreams?”
Dante studied Celeste. “Could they have been wrong?”
“What I know about Seeing is limited, however I don’t think they’re wrong, as such. It’s much more complicated than right and wrong.”
“All the dreams I had made it seem like convincing her to leave would be easy. She wanted to go.”
“The choice to leave isn’t an easy one, because Anne knows one thing for certain – Titus won’t just let it happen.”
“Some of the dreams…” Dante closed his eyes. “I knew about the bond between the two of them, how Titus can use it against both of us, and I made the decision it didn’t matter.”
“Do you still feel the same way?”
“Yes, but I know Anne won’t. She doesn’t want anything to happen to me, which is why she’s trying to convince me to leave, and that… Celeste, I need you to be honest with me. Should I go?”
“Not yet. Give us some time. There might be another option.”
“If there isn’t?”
“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it, Dante.” Their eyes met. “I want Anne to have hope, to see there’s a chance of something else, and you’re it. Maybe it won’t work out, but we have to try.”
“Sorry for what I said before.”
“Don’t be. I get it. Nothing about this is easy.”