27.

**Daya **



Monster...

My body suddenly jerked, my eyelids quickly fluttering open as I felt the lack of air inside my lungs, the violent thump inside my chest ringing in my ears like an ominous beat.

Rapidly blinking a few times, I then finally made myself aware of my surroundings, ultimately noticing I was back in that same room I lastly changed my clothes in before all those so horrible events...

Monster...

That same whisper reached my ears, all that warm, sticky blood once again coating my entire body, a shrill scream escaping my lips as I widely watched it leak and drip from my trembling palms all over the bed.

“Hey! Hey, Daya calm down! It’s alright, you’re alright,” My brother’s soothing, unmistakable voice reached my ears, feeling his body heat wrap around me like a protective shield as his arms quickly circled around my waist, only now noticing there was no blood anymore. Just the dark colored sheets starkly contrasting the pure white robe covering my still trembling body.

Warm rivulets trailed down my cheeks, the forever scarring memory of all those innocent beings, so gruesomely torn apart flashing before my mind’s eye, piece by piece shattering my soul apart, the harsh, unbearable pain completely consuming me, rapidly pushing me right towards the edge of my sanity, feeling so desperate to end it all...

To just make it stop...

Make it stop...

Swallowing my tears I peered up at my brother’s pained expression, watching those bright blue gems stare right back into mine, letting out a trembling sigh as I voiced out the dark thoughts now plaguing my mind,

“If they manage to destroy my soul, will I end up in Underworld to face eternal torture...Or will I be scattered into oblivion?”

“Because this...” I let out another shaky breath, tightly gripping the fluffy robe right over my chest,
“This already feels like eternal torture...”

“No, don’t say that,” He hurriedly scolded, seemingly hurt that I would even dare think such dark things, his hold on my body only tightening as he softly assured,

“No harm will befall upon you...Your father would never allow it. I’m sure he is already working for a way to safely remove that wretched beast inside of you...He cares for you, I’ve seen it.
He cares for you, more than mother or I ever did...”

A short moment of complete silence followed, his warm hand gently coaxing me to rest my temple against his hard chest, listening how he took a sharp intake of breath, seemingly struggling to hold himself strong as he quietly said,

“And for that I’m truly, deeply sorry.
For all these human years, I am deeply sorry for shutting you off. For pushing you away...For all those moments when you needed me the most, yet I so selfishly pushed you away, so blindly believing every vicious lie mother said to me...”

A small, stray tear made its way down my cheek, briefly remembering every single moment of cold solitude spent in that wretched house, feeling his palms gently cup my face, his brightly glowing eyes once again meeting mine as he so helplessly begged,
“Will you ever forgive me?”

I blinked a few times, my lips parting as I felt so lost for words, more tears trailing down my cheeks as I could only stare up at his sorrow-filled, so sincere expression, small sobs forcefully making their way past my lips, right before I wordlessly wrapped my arms around his neck, allowing myself to bask in his comforting warmth and scent as I cried and cried all over again, letting all my emotions simply flow right through me.

Resting my head against his chest as we simply laid in a comfortable silence I listened to his slow yet powerful heartbeat, his mere presence giving me a strong sense of safety, letting out a small sigh as my gaze casually landed on his arm securely wrapped around me, reminiscing how he so fiercely tried to protect me from Hades’ claws, that fateful day when I almost lost my life due to mother’s cunning ways.

Claws...

My gaze slowly trailed right over his pale, slender fingers, the beautiful wolf-like creature that took Rem’s place that damned day now flashing before my mind’s eye, one single sentence escaping my lips,

“You can turn into a beast...”

“How is that even possible?” I found myself asking, lifting myself into a sitting position so that I could face him, watching how his azure gems trailed somewhere on the dark sheets, seemingly in deep thought.

“It’s because I am cursed...” He quietly answered only a few moments later, my brows furrowing in utter confusion as I could only stare, hoping he would explain himself further.

“As you already know, I was born after mother’s “indiscretion” with a human,” I only nodded, already way too curious to even dare interrupt him, watching him blow out a tired sigh, his gaze once again finding mine as he then proceeded to explain,

“What you don’t know -and weren’t even supposed to know until recently- was that the Holy Moon punished her for that. For the child that was to be the fruit of their forbidden love was bound to be cursed right at birth.”

My lips parted in utter shock, that sickening pain only returning inside of me, mourning for my brother’s suffering, that deep rooted loathing for mother only increasing.

“I was born under the Crescent Moon, cursed with a second being living in the same body...A second spirit.

An animal spirit, present in my body and soul as well, perfectly coexisting with my godly spirit,” His warm hand found mine, placing it right over his strongly beating heart, his bright blue eyes now glowing like two fluorescent gems as he so intensely gazed right into mine, feeling the beast within practically reaching to me, calling to my soul.

“I am the reason the lycan race even exists, as every human child born at the exact same moment, under the same Crescent Moon as I inherited my curse as well, their souls dividing in two halves; one beast and one human,” His voice gradually changed as he spoke, seemingly almost unrecognizable, a low, highly authoritative vibe underlining it, making me aware that the beast had definitely surfaced.

“Y-you’re the First Alpha...” I lightly stuttered, faintly reminiscing some passages from a grimoire I accidentally stumbled upon while secretly roaming in mother’s vast collection of knowledges about every being living under Apollo’s Sun and her Holy Moon.

“But how-”

“No one ever knew how the First Alpha was created...Mother made sure of that,” He quickly answered, clearly already knowing what I was about to ask, yet another question rising inside my mind as the words kept coming back to me, gradually remembering every bit of information I have gathered from those passages.

“But the-”

“Mother named me Rem...But I was given another name by the Holy Moon. Invictus,” He once again answered my unfinished question, this time rendering me completely speechless, for a single moment simply staring back at him.

“B-but why didn’t you tell me?” I finally managed to speak, hurt that he would keep hidden from me such a big part of him, of his eternal life.

“Mother and I decided that it would be better keep this burden of knowledge off your shoulders...And she didn’t trust you to keep your lips sealed either,” A deep frown marred his beautiful features as he exposed the second reason, obviously remorseful for his choice in blindly following mother’s every command.

Oh Rem...

I blew out a tired sigh, once again wrapping my arms around his neck, hearing him also let out a relieved exhale as his arms went around me, giving me another comforting embrace.

“Come, my wolf wants to arise, and he is also eager to properly meet you,” My eyes widened in utter surprise as I watched him pull back and get up from the bed, nervously fumbling with the robe’s large sleeves as I quickly remembered what I’ve done to those innocent people, my entire body lightly trembling as I felt so afraid of accidentally stumbling into other beings also inhabiting this house, forced to face their judging glares or worse, punishments.

What if I’ll once again stumble into the Archangel of Death?

I instantly tensed at the thought, only to feel Rem’s hands gingerly cup my own, those glowing gems deeply boring into mine as he ever so calmly reassured,
“Don’t worry, I will let no one harm you. Ever.”

Giving him a small nod I then finally allowed him to help me get up from the bed, graced with a warm smile as he gave me one last glance before guiding me straight towards the door, his large palm never leaving my own as we together walked through the maze-like house, quickly finding a back exit.

Stepping outside into the cool night air I took a generous intake of breath, feeling my brother’s warm hand slip away from my grasp as he ever so calmly advanced straight towards the same small conglomeration of trees I’ve tried to escape through only a few hours ago, silently beckoning me to follow him.

Feeling a cold chill creeping up my spine at the sight of that very same spot I willed myself to move and hastily walked right behind him, careful not to take a second glance as the painful memory kept trying to resurface.

Instead, my gaze fixated onto his gracefully moving form, curiously watching how he only took a few steps further before finally stopping, his hands skillfully moving to undo his shirt buttons as he then turned around, carefully removing it.

“If you would please hold these for me,” His thin lips formed a small smile as he then proceeded to hand me his every clothing article,
“It wouldn’t be wise to ruin them since I currently have only a few,”

He playfully rolled his eyes and I found myself escaping a small giggle, patiently gathering them over my arm.

Completely bare and ready, his eyelids then fluttered closed, his beastly spirit’s raw power permeating through the air like scorching heat as it swiftly came forth, my lips parting in utter amazement as I watched his godly form gracefully morph into that same beautiful white wolf.

“Beautiful...” I whispered in awe, those glowing blue eyes gazing right back into mine with such intensity, their warmth and candor practically calling to my soul. And without even hesitating I took a step closer, my hands quickly burying in its thick white furr, sighing in pure contentment as I carelessly dropped to my knees, sliding my arms around its thick strong neck.

A low rumble vibrated in its throat, feeling its warm muzzle gently rub against my cheek, its hot breath lightly tickling my ear.

I let out a small smile, closing my eyes as I felt his soul touch my own, his beastly spirit connecting with my own.

Snap!

The sudden sound of a small twig snapping, followed by a light shuffle of leaves reached my ears, instantly interrupting our peaceful moment, my eyelids quickly fluttering open, frantically scanning around the area.

“Meliae?” I weakly called, feeling Rem’s wolf form quickly slipping from my grasp as it swiftly turned around and without even wasting another moment it bolted further away in the darkened sea of trees, leaving me sitting there all by myself.

“Busteeed!”

I let out a small shriek, like a scaredy cat tumbling over the leaf-mixed soil, my powerful heart wildly pounding inside my chest as I quickly turned around, only to notice Archangel Michael’s daughter standing right in front of me, a small grin plastered all over her somewhat childish features.

“What were you doing out here anyway?” Her brow rose, stretching a hand for me to take as I struggled to form a coherent sentence, but before I could even reach her a loud growl startled the living soul out of both of us, watching her stumble and fall right on her bum, eyes wide as she cried out,

“Holy bajeezus!”

Comforting warmth quickly enveloped me, feeling my brother’s powerful presence right behind me, another dangerous growl rumbling deep inside its throat.

Oh no...

“Rem,” I breathed, watching Archangel Michael’s daughter stare wide-eyed at the fairy-tale like beast standing above my shoulder, her body frozen in place in that same sitting position on the dampened ground.

Suddenly noticing its large paws step right next to me, its body quickly adopting an aggressive stance as it let out another menacing growl I hastily scrambled up to my feet, attempting to stop him from scaring her any further as I called out,

“Rem!”

Nevertheless, it didn’t hinder him at all as he simply ignored me, stepping even closer as he also bared his teeth this time, snapping his jaws as he snarled at her, her body still locked in that same spot, not even daring to make a single sound, let alone move.

“Rem, stop it!” I cried out, quickly moving right in front of him as I truly feared that he actually might try to hurt her, my desperate attempt once again proving itself futile as he so stubbornly tried to move past me and snarl at her yet again, his own words ringing in my head as I furiously wracked my brain for a way to stop him before committing a great mistake.
Burying my hands in its soft fur a single name went past my lips in a gentle whisper, for a fleeting moment everything else seemingly forgotten.

“Invictus...”

My breath stilled, frozen in anticipation, feeling furr swiftly turn into flesh, those bright blue eyes boring deep right into mine as I once again found myself looking at his godly beautiful features.

“Whoa...That was some seriously fucked-up shit!” My features quickly contorted into a frown as I heard Archangel Michael’s child incredulously exclaim, turning around as I remembered she was still with us, only to watch her bounce up and down like a little rabbit as she excitedly shouted,

“Do it again!”

Wait what?

I blinked a few times, turning to give my brother a quick confused glance before averting my attention back to her,
“Y-you’re not afraid?”

“Are you kidding me? That was the sickest thing I’ve ever seen so far,” She practically shouted out, for some foreign reason overly-excited, my brow raising as I could only stare at her, completely failing to understand her peculiar reactions.

“O-oh I mean in a good way,” She then rushed to explain,
“Well I know I should be freaking out or something but believe me, ever since I’ve met your precious da-dah and his “bro gang” a lot of batshit crazy things have been happening, so trust me when I tell you that I really don’t get scared that easily,” She finished with a small laugh, quickly recovering as she then seemed to briefly remember something,
“Oh and by the way, Luc also told us about that little thingy inside of you messing with people’s heads,” My eyes almost instantly widened, instinctually taking a step back in apprehension, only to have her raising her hands up in a surrendering manner, gently coaxing,
“Hey hey, it’s okay,
I know it wasn’t your fault, and I can promise you that we will find a way to safely take it out,” I watched her quickly advance, once again taking me by surprise as she -without any other warnings- wrapped her slender arms around me, almost failing to hear that last sentence escaping her lips,

“Even if I’ll have to literally shove Raphael’s grace straight up his ass.”

My brows furrowed in utter confusion, mentally wondering why would she say such thing but before I could even conjure the courage to ask she had already beat me to it as she rather so loudly exclaimed,

“Whoa, what is that?”