In The Beginning, Chapter 35

“Yes, I think it is time I tell you everything.” Theia sighed, resigned. “To begin with, we were not born in the strictest sense of the word. For reasons known only to her, when our mother created us, she did so in pairs, and our twin is our opposite in many ways. She also created us so we would reach maturity much quicker than any of the species we have created.” Theia explained, but she seemed to be having a hard time finding the words.
“When you say your opposite, what do you mean?” I asked tentatively, hoping that getting her to answer a question would give her something else to focus on, so she could decide how to continue.
“The best example is Ares and Hecate. He creates, she destroys, just like mom and dad.” She said with a giggle. “Deo and I were the next twins created, Hecate had accidentally killed off the dinosaurs, she was still learning, and Earth was teeming with possibilities. We had never left our home before, but mother said it was a safe place for us to find our abilities. Deo made hundreds of plants, flowers, fruits, all sorts, while I was working on creating something else. After a few hundred years or so, we were told we had more siblings, Athena and Hestia or as she was calling herself last Gaia, joined us on earth. Gaia saw Deo's flowers and fell in love, and it was not long before she had created insects to aid in the propagation of the plants. And that is how we continued, for thousands of years, the four of us working in harmony to produce life, in all its wonderful variations. It was Gaia’s breakthrough in creating mammals that lead eventually to mine. Again, without warning Ares came, he had checked up on us a few times but never regularly, but this time, he brought another set of twins. Poseidon and Aphrodite, but she prefers Tia, Poseidon fell in love with the oceans, he couldn’t understand why we preferred land, we had tried, we made a few things, mostly we played around with dinosaur DNA to figure out why mother had created them, and for what purpose, and how. Anyway, he took over, went crazy the first few hundred years, always trying out a new idea, being crushed when it failed, and elated when it succeeded. We saw him often then, but as I was getting closer and closer to my goal, with Athena’s help, I must confess, and I became a little obsessed. It was during this time Ares returned, with our last set of siblings, although we didn’t know that at the time. Artemis, or Diana, and Zeus. Diana, was such a sweet inquisitive little thing, always hanging around, asking questions. She did not wait to be invited, she invited herself. Zeus, never seemed to want to be around us, he would go off, make hideous things, poisonous things, and cruel things, he became obsessed over creating the perfect killer. We tried to explain ecosystems, and food chains, he would not listen, he failed more than he succeeded, but still, he wanted more. Artemis became obsessed with hybrid animals, but while her inquisitiveness was innocent, and curious, there was always something darker behind her twin’s ambitions. Anyway, Zeus had been splicing genes for a while without success, and then one day, Diana made it work. I cannot remember the plant, whether it was a flower, or something else, I just remember the aftermath. Zeus exploded, I mean literally, he was drawing the electricity in the air into himself. Then he started growing, until he was enormous. He punched the ground so hard, it broke the crust of the earth, shifting the plates, creating chaos. Volcanos erupted from the ground, spewing lava, the ground shook, and moved, many of our creations were being destroyed. And still, he did not stop. We fought him together, using our powers we subdued him, but by then it was too late. So much damage had been done. The earth still bears the scars of our battles, but that was just the first.” She said sadly.
“So, he threw an epic temper tantrum, because his sister got something before, he did?” I asked incredulously.
“I think our mother made a mistake, creating us the way she did, and leaving us with little guidance. I have been reading the Internet, and there are a lot of interesting ideas about psychology now. It was not something we considered; I do not think we were built that way. I did not set about to create it within humankind, but the practice of introspection is fascinating. And it has made me wonder if Zeus would have been different, with someone to take care of him.” Theia said with a sigh.
“I’m sorry, you are opening up to me, and it’s wonderful. But you have to explain what you mean by reading the Internet?” I asked, a giggle escaping my lips.
“It is a very large collection of data. I am working my way through it; I should be all caught up in a week or so.” She shrugged nonchalantly, maybe it was a lingering effect from when Theia boosted my power, or just my bewilderment at Theia's statement, but I could feel the change in the atmosphere, it would snow soon. I found myself looking up at the grey sky, even though it was early afternoon, the sun was low. I looked back at Theia; she was looking at the sky too. “Perhaps we should head back, you have held up well, but you will be tired when you release your power. Tomorrow we will see if you can manifest your power into something tangible.” She said as she grabbed my hand and walked us towards the house.
“You said Deo is your twin?” I asked softly.
“Yes, it is why I left earth to be with her while she healed.” Theia replied, a sad smile played on her lips.
“How is she your opposite?” I asked softly, and she chuckled.
“Deo is shy, where I am not. When she cries, rather than be renewed, the plants around her become plump with fruit, or wild with flowers teeming with pollen. If I am spring, she is autumn.” Theia hummed, as if pleased with her metaphor.
“I guess that makes sense, she is the goddess of the harvest.” I agreed, trying to figure out what was true and what wasn’t from the many religions was giving me a headache.
“Yes, Zeus’s idea of a joke no doubt.” Theia huffed angrily. We walked the rest of the way in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I could tell today brought up a lot of things for Theia, and I wanted her to have time to compose herself. I walked inside holding the door open for her as I kicked the snow off my boots. Like a bloodhound, I saw Daniel’s head peep out of the office, but seeing Theia coming in after me, he returned to whatever he was doing. I led us both into the living room as Annie, Kathy’s second came to retrieve my wet things, but Theia waved her hands, and all my things were dry. Annie however, who had lost all colour in her face at the mere sight of Theia, squealed in fear and fled with the now dry clothing. I sighed exasperated, I led Theia to the couch, deciding it might be better to have this conversation over a cup of tea, or cocoa. She took the same seat as before and looked at me expectantly.
“Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee? Cocoa?” I asked.
“No, dear, we must release your powers, or you will burn out. You must build up your tolerance slowly. Too much at once is what got you into trouble last time.” She explained, and with a jerk of understanding I went and sat beside her. Until she had said, I’d forgotten, it didn’t feel strenuous at all. She took my hands in hers. “Take a deep breath, and imagine letting it go back inside you, picture your fists releasing something you have been holding onto very tightly, your fingers will ache when you try to move them, but you have to move them so you can let go.” As she guided me, I found the energy slowly retreating, any additional boost to my senses faded, and the heat I had been taking for granted left. I shivered violently, and gasped, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting me so hard I slumped against the pillows heavily. I should have known what was going to happen next, but I had underestimated his abilities once again. If I'd had the energy, I would’ve jumped out of my skin with how fast Daniel was hovering over me clearly concerned.
“What happened?” He asked me, while seemingly checking my pulse, temperature, and breathing, his hands everywhere at once, making me a little flustered.
“She maintained her power for longer than I thought possible after all she has been through. And then released it faster than anyone I have ever trained.” Theia said with a proud smile. “Releasing it is the hardest part, your powers are like fuel to your spark, but the bigger the fire, the more oxygen it needs to sustain it. It will suffocate chasing the last of the oxygen without thought. You must reduce the flame before it uses all the fuel it can find to burn hotter and brighter, even if it is for a shorter period. Do you understand?” Theia asked me pointedly.
“I understand.” I nodded, my eyes feeling heavy.
“She must rest, have plenty of fluids and a hearty meal tonight Alpha.” I could feel Daniel’s anger, simmering below the surface, while his wolf side was incensed, Theia had just questioned his ability to take care of me, intentionally or not.
“I will make sure she has all she needs.” He replied stiffly.
“I owe you an apology, and an explanation. I have been testing you, to see how you react, and how you treat Charlie. I do not question my mother often, but I questioned the wisdom of this match. We are not like Lycan women, she cannot live caged by your possessiveness. I saw the first Lycans. In the beginning, like animals, Lycans had a heat cycle, but rather than mate for life, as we had intended, we saw males driven insane by the pheromones of the females, mating many, some by force, some of the women were also losing their minds with need, so most mated with any male that wanted them. The men fought and killed their rivals, they were like ravenous beasts, and I would not have that for my niece.” Theia said severely, but I had felt Daniel’s disgust at what the first Lycans had done. “But you did not react like those men, I saw many that treated their mates like property, even after we blessed them, so your women would not go into the heat so intensely. I also saw women destroyed mentally, when her mate in a fit of rage, would kill another wolf, for looking at her, helping her because she tripped, even giving her something small as a piece of fruit. I would punish them of course, after I caught one Lycan forcing his mate to watch him impregnate other she wolves after she failed to give him a male pup, I created the pain that any wolf feels if they cheat.” Something in Daniel’s expression amused her, and I heard her tinkling laugh. “You know nothing of your own histories Alpha, but I cannot lay their sins at your feet. You run your pack with care, and you treat her well.” Theia looked at me and realising I was still awake chuckled to herself. Daniel followed her eyes and looked at me with so much love I felt my cheeks blush a little.
“I told you, you would be fine.” He teased; his forehead pressed against mine for a moment. “I’m getting you a glass of water and you are drinking the whole thing before you can have cocoa.” He ordered, kissing my forehead and standing to go to the kitchen. “I really do want what is best for her, and I understand after everything you told me, why you would wonder if I can make her happy. But that is all I want to do, every day, I try to make her happy. I might not be able to make it all day every day, but I will never stop trying.” He said as he left us alone.
“I believe I am starting to like your young Alpha.” Theia giggled to me, before shimmering away, leaving me to be pampered by my mate.