Page 289 of The Daughters of Avalon
The mysteries of life my sword conceals.
“Who are you?” Seren longed to ask, but her voice never emerged through the tightness of her throat.
The Goddess replied. “I am who I am, Seren Pendragon,” she said, with a timbre that echoed throughout eternity. “You are blood of my blood, heart of my heart, soul of my soul.”
A maternal face materialized from a cloud of white—eyes first, shaded the palest amber to mirror the flame of the sword in her hand. Kind and gentle eyes…
Next, she saw a perfect patrician nose. High, beautiful cheeks, like those of a Saracen’s. Lush, full lips, like those of a Nubian Princess. Wings of a Valkyrie. Breasts, high, round and firm. Thighs, long and stout. Hair, flowing like a thousand rivers to the sea… She was every woman at once, and all these things rippled from theaether, forms in a cloud, inconstant, and ephemeral, almost as though if Seren dared to expel a breath, it would all dissipate and never reappear. Therefore, she held her breath.
“Come,” the woman demanded, and Seren knew in her heart that she spoke to the Goddess. Quickly, sensing herself crossing time and space, she knelt at the feet of this exquisite creature, who seemed to embody every woman she had ever met… a heavenly body made of wind and fire andaquavit, all at once, though it hardly seemed possible.
The Goddess materialized fully then, her face furious and terrifying, a maelstrom of every sacred element, glowing and swirling like the eye of a storm.
“Where am I?”
Despite her terrifying visage, there was a benevolent note in the woman’s voice, and her words rang like melody. “Some call it Heaven. Some call it Tween. Others call it the Other Realm. Only someday you’ll know it for what it is… the dominion of the Sylph.”
“Sylph?”
Your true kind.
“Caw, caw!” said the black bird from the dark recesses of Seren’s mind, but it was not here in this place. It was perched on some windowsill in another world, one she no longer inhabited…
We are bound by destiny, to destiny bound,
I to you, and you to me…
Choose me or choose to be free.
As you will it, so mote it be.
“I… choose… you,” Seren heard herself say.
“Caw!” said the black bird.
Art certain, child?
You do not sound certain.
The path you are destined to travel is perilous,
Only truth may light your way.
Wander into shadow and your soul will be the price you pay.
“I am certain,” said Seren, and she felt the woman’s smile like an ember burning through her breast.
Art willing to die for truth?
“I am.”
“Caw!” said the black bird.
Will you shed your blood for love?
“I will.”
“Caw!” said the black bird.
