As they entered, Arthur's eyes fell upon his granddaughter, Selena, and he felt a pang of emotion. He had missed out on so much of her growth, and the realization filled him with regret.
He had always been a busy man, focused on building his business empire, but now he wished he had spent more time with his family. Especially Jonathan, he tried. But that boy appreciated a firm touch, not a soft touch. She looked a little like Amelia, but she at least had the same connected earlobes and smile as him. His heart warmed.
His thoughts then turned to McKenna, the girl he had thought was his granddaughter. She was unreachable, and at first, Arthur attributed her lack of ability to being a Lowrie, a family trait.
So she wasn't a Kinsman. One of Amelia's own older brothers had no ability either, nor did his sons. He felt protective of her, too. But the truth was shocking: McKenna was not related to them at all.
The memory of the blowout during the meeting after her first blood ceremony still lingered. Jonathan had defended McKenna, saying she wasn't ready yet to control her gift, while Amelia had argued that she should be able to reach into her own granddaughter's mind. He and Jonathan both argued that perhaps, like Park Gulduk, McKenna was just unreadable. The disagreement had been so intense that Jonathan and Amelia hadn't spoken to each other for a year.
It was rough between him and Amelia for a month until he apologized for getting into the middle of her world and doubting her. He did not grow up in the world Amelia did; what would he know about all this? All he could do was just be a good grandfather. He sent gifts and called, so the relationship would not wither.
He knew how painful estrangement could be for a child. He had it happen to him. But the truth about McKenna's identity had changed everything. Arthur had loved McKenna like a granddaughter, but now she was gone, and he would never see her again. He could not cut off his heart so easily; he had people monitoring her until he knew she was safe.
Amelia had confirmed the truth, and Arthur was still grappling with the emotional fallout. He was grateful to have Selena, his true granddaughter, by his side, but the wound of losing McKenna still lingered. Normally, one could not cut off their hearts like that. Poor Jonathan; he loved McKenna regardless of her faults.
He kicked himself hard when he heard about Selena. Just looking at her, he saw the traits of the family. McKenna was a beautiful child. But this was their blood. She had Amelia's eyes. She also had that marking on her wrist. He had seen that in calligraphy, Noe Jin-ae hung. Saju was always right. Amelia was, too. At least the future stuff. Selena, the poor girl, was hurt by his obstinacy. he should have encouraged his son instead of arguing with her about it and regretting it.
Eun Ho shook Selena's shoulder. "I reacted the same way; she can read me like a book, too. It's a family trait and very unnerving to people who do not know. You have an ability like this dormant inside of you. I am sorry we had to keep it secret from you until we got here. It is a very dangerous skill to have."
Selena's brow wrinkled. She had always had déjà vu; that's why she had rejected loop experiments and assignments. It became clearer after her cancer treatment. The dreams were mundane, mostly. She was rattled.
"Let's go. She makes you a cup of tea, and, yes, it will be exactly how you prefer it. Your favorite cookies will be there. Just look for the card." Eun Ho encouraged her.
She will meet Saju, her mother, next week, and the rite will finally be completed. But first, she had to receive the gift. It was like cutting the umbilical cord and freeing her from the maternal block. It was called an "untangling of the knot" that, if not done, would cause brain tumors. Amelia had records. But all she needed was the seal that the former great Saju gave her. She can be trusted; Jonathan should have trusted her last time.
Selena sat down in front of the card. She opened it. In it was written, 'You can't save everyone. The predetermined always finds a way to happen.' Amelia grabbed the card and threw it in the fireplace. "Remember that well," Amelia said.
"Mmmm." Selena sipped the tea, and it was eerily perfect. Amelia smiled. She took the shortbread, and it was divine. Her eyelashes fluttered in pleasure as drool flooded her mouth.
"There are menstrual items upstairs, my dear," Amelia said, matter-of-factly. Selena did a spit-take. It wasn't that she was ashamed; it was because she even knew that. She was feeling crampy and hadn't checked due to the flurry of activity. Grandma had set her in a wooden chair.
"Tonight is also your moon, Selena. Saju was correct... You are ready, right? Is it not bothering you now?" Amelia asked. Looking at her. Selena nodded.
Eun Ho looked at Amelia, curious about what she saw. She sighed. But she was not supposed to know. Her son would warn her about threats to her life or Jon's on the day of danger.
But what was meant to be said would be told. It was the weakness of the gift. Just like you couldn't fight predetermined events. Like the drop of her own veil. When her vision stopped. Jonah's sight would stop, but she was going to be prolific. She was the heir.
"Yes, I feel better," Selena said, looking at her grandparents with a sense of trepidation. Her grandfather's sympathetic gaze only added to her anxiety. Amelia's sudden clap broke the tension, and a housekeeper entered with a tray bearing a white dress and a headdress. Jonah's eyes widened, remembering his own ceremony.
Selena wasn't worried, though. A.A, the presence in her mind, would protect her. She was handed a cup of bitter liquid to drink. A short while later as she looked at her mother, she felt a sense of surrealism wash over her. What was happening?
Eun Ho took Selena's hand, leading her away to prepare. The ritual bath, the braiding of her hair, and the application of the headdress all seemed to blend together in a haze. She knew this feeling; she was intoxicated. Eun Ho drew the "ruins" on Selena's face with Kohl, the ancient symbols seeming to hold secrets Selena couldn't quite grasp.
As they made their way to the special greenhouse, the sound of chanting and the flickering of candles filled the air. Jonathan, Jonah, and Arthur sat by the bonfire, their faces illuminated by the flames. Amelia commented on the clear sky, the crescent moon hanging low on the horizon.
Selena's heart pounded as Amelia handed her a bitter green drink. The taste was unpleasant, but Selena used it to steel herself for what was to come. Amelia cut her hand open, letting the blood flow, and passed the knife to Eun Ho. Eun Ho followed suit, cutting her palm and letting out a grunt as the blood flowed.
As they grasped Selena's hands, guiding her into the pool, Amelia began to chant in Gaelic. The words were repetitive and hypnotic. They seemed to weave a spell around Selena. Her pupils dilated, and she saw a tree with deep roots. A figure emerged from the shadows - the goddess Dônn. She started to talk, but it was like screeching in a loop. But Selena couldn't make out her words.
Amelia's chanting grew louder, more insistent. "Bidh ar màthair Dônn, a' blasad ar fuil agus tha fios againn. Gur e do chlann a th' annainn agus mar sin. Is dòcha gun lean sinn oirnn a' faighinn do stiùireadh agus a' dìon na beatha a tha againn. Treòraich màthair sinn. Slaod am brat air falbh agus seall dhi an fhìrinn caochlaideach. Faiceamaid a' Bhan-dia."
Selena gasped, her eyes wide with wonder, as the visions unfolded before her. "It's endless, the tree, the knots are... they are... It's beautiful," she exclaimed. Her words could not describe the wonders she saw. "Three lives... So many lives." She saw multiple paths stretching out before her, each one filled with possibilities and consequences.
But as quickly as the beauty appeared, it was replaced by horrors. Disasters, death, and fleeing filled her mind, and Selena shrieked in misery. "No, I do not want to see it, no, please!" she cried out, her voice filled with despair. She shrieked loudly; the visions were violent, and the asteroid. Everything, again. She shook.
A.A., the presence in her mind, panicked, unable to do anything to alleviate Selena's suffering.
Amelia's eyes widened as she watched her granddaughter's reaction. "Look," she said, her voice filled with awe. In the pool, triskelions had formed in the blood, twisting and curling in a mesmerizing dance. Jonathan and Jonah watched in amazement as Eun Ho seemed stunned, her eyes fixed on the symbols. But as quickly as they appeared, the triskelions disappeared, leaving behind only tears dripping from Selena's eyes.
Amelia rushed to comfort her granddaughter. "It's alright, Selena. The gift shows the good and the bad," she said softly.
But Selena was beyond comfort. She looked around wildly, her eyes fixed on the black fog that had begun to whip around her mother, Jonah, and her father. "The fog, the fog, the fog. No," she whispered, her voice filled with fear.
And with that, Selena fainted, her body limp in the water. Jonathan rushed to her side, walking down the steps into the pool to pick her up. Arthur brought a quilt to wrap around her, while Eun Ho looked at her hand in amazement, finding it healed.
Amelia smiled, showing Eun Ho her own hands. "That is the power of the golden heir. I wonder how her gifts will grow," she said, her voice filled with pride. "Your grandmother's plans were impeccable."