She could feel him. Everywhere she went, she could feel him. His hand was always on her shoulder, guiding her, comforting her. He wasn’t going to leave her alone in the world. He was going to fulfil his promise, and help her find her true self. All she had to do was…

“That was his plan,” said Queen Thetis, “He had already informed me about it, and told me you would one day ask my permission,”

The Queen of the water faeries was the most magnificent and beautiful of them all. She sat upon her coral throne looking down at Phantasia with sapphire eyes, her hair cascading around her shoulders, entwined with jewels and shells and other precious things. Around her neck she wore a choker, displaying the image of a whale – the creature that represented her spirit. As was always the case, she answered the next question before Phantasia could ask it.

“I did not know Dionysus anticipated his death,” she said, her eyes travelling upwards to the crystal dome, through which the light of the Goddess could be seen, “Although it is not unheard of among our element. Dionysus walked the wheel of life for longer than many, so it is understandable that he chose this opportunity to return to the Goddess. His gift to you is his legacy,”

“I have to go…”

The Queen nodded. “Indeed you do. But, do you know what it is you are searching for?”

“Myself…”

The Queen lent back on her throne and smiled. Like Dionysus, she too had felt the touch of human ‘corruption’.

“Then I will ask Faye to accompany you, in your journey across our world. I will let the other courts know of your coming, and ask them to help you in whatever ways they can. Perhaps I should have seen this earlier, and not kept you here in the palace, but I am as weak to fear as the rest of my kind, and for that I apologise. Dionysus surpassed me in this respect, and I will honour his wishes,”

Phantasia caught a glimmer in those wise, beautiful eyes, and she knew that Queen Thetis was aware she was hiding something. Something that Dionysus’s voice was whispering to her, like distant waves.

World Axis.

Chapter 1
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