Chapter 95 Dilemma

(Jacques POV)

"God, please forgive me of my trespasses." I whisper. I was sent to a Catholic private school during my formative as well as my asolescent years and have adopted the Catholic faith to help me atone for my sins. At the moment, I am trying to figure out how to kill a floating red-eyed Hope and I feel bad just from thinking of it.

I can't do it. I can't be the one who kills Hope. I look at Alexander whose face reflected a man who has lost it all.

The only one who made him make sense in the world is...I actually don't have the words to describe it. Absent? Missing? Gone? She exists physically yet, she isn't the Hope we all knew and have come to cherish. Even for me, Hope was the one person who helped me figure out who I was. I was both bear and wolf. A hybrid...with many insecurities.

I felt sorry for Alexander. He was holding on to the last proof of Hope's existence while I was contemplating her death. This was truly a dilemma.

My dilemma. I was having trouble trying to rationally explain to my own self that killing Hope is the most logical thing to do given our situation. If I couldn't do it, who would?

I don't know. I'm merely trying to justify myself, but in reality, I didn't have the guts to kill Hope. I didn't have the guts to kill anyone. I didn't even kill The Rogue Lord. Hope was the one who ripped his throat out and I basically just did a double tap. I didn't even kill The Being. I only pierced The Rogue Lord's heart with a yellow tip spear. So, how am I suppose to catch a floating Hope whose power is something no one else can match?

"Now this is better. The ones with the golden eyes have always been the more skilled among the children of Aura. The silver eyed ones have never been of any use. Even on this dismal planet, the silver eyed ones play second fiddle to those with the golden eyes." The now red-eyed Hope mocked me in front of all our alliances.

"You will never be able to stop me. I will kill all of those you love and burn this planet to the ground."  Hope clapped her hands together and a shock wave threw all of us to the ground. She soared into the air to the direction of Midnight Moon. "I'm going to have some fun." She said, daring us to follow her. We ignored her while we picked ourselves up from the ground and dusted our clothes off, hoping she wouldn't do what she wanted to do because she didn't have an audience. Usualy, narcissism can be an opportunity for one's downfall.

Alexander approached us once the flying Hope was out of hearing range.

"You all need to come up with a plan." Alexander said to all of us: Maria, Leia, Arthur, Mark ,Yuri and I plus two other wolves I have just met, Lucas and Derrick. "I know we have to kill her, the Moon Goddess said so herself. I won't be able to do it. It has to be you guys." He looks at each us. "And I shouldn't know what the plan is. I might stop you and we can't afford her to go on...causing destruction." He hid his face, not wanting any of us to see his grief. "I love her and right now, there's nothing I want more than to have the old Hope back." He leans on the wall and slumps into a sitting position, burying his face in his hands. Mark crouches beside him and places a hand on his shoulder showing Alexander of his support.

"We need to commune with the Moon Goddes," Maria said. "She's the only one with answers. She'll know how to stop, uhm, Hope."

"I'll do it." Arthur volunteered, anguish in his voice. "I'll commune with the Moon Goddess now, while the Harvest Moon is High in the sky. Leia, I suggest you go help your sister. The Being is on a mission targeting all weres. He knows we are stronger than the humans. Without us in his way, he knows Earth won't stand a chance." Leia bows her head in agreement.

"Maria, you aid Leia." Maria nods and they leave to go to Midnight Moon. "Jacques, you will need to commune with me. That spear you hold is a necessary weapon to defeat The Being....Yes?" I nod my head. He smiles. "Alpha Lucas, Alpha Derrick, help Mark comfort Alpha Alexander." They all looked at Arthur knowing it was impossible, but nodded their heads.

"We will commune here. We can not afford to waste time." Arthur enters the Great Hall of the Fortress. The moon light shone through one of the holes in the roof of the fortress, shining on the black floor, creating a circle. "No need to make a circle with candles. The moon light has already provided. Everything is set up for what we must do."

"Jacques, kneel here please and close your eyes. Block the sounds of our surroundings and focus on your breathing." I do what he says and focus on my breathing. I feel Arthur touch the middle of my head with the tip of his finger. "Jacques, feel the pain in the middle of your head."

"Pain? What pain?" I regretted asking him because as soon as the words came out of my mouth, it felt like someone took a hammer and hit me on the head. It hurt so much! My ears rang, I teared up, and I winced in pain. The pain was so immense I blacked out.

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(Arthur POV)

Sorry, Jacques. Usually when I commune with someone else, I serve him or her a sleeping draft to help the person empty their mind. Since this was an emergency session and I did not have the decoction with me, I had to use pain. Nothing clears the mind like pain does and when the pain is so intense, you pass out. Just like Jacques right now. He'll have a slight headache after, unfortunately, but such is the price one has to pay for information.

I kneel beside him, close my eyes and whisper the enchantment necessary for us to commune with the Moon Goddess. There were many questions I needed answered, but the most vital question I needed answered now was where is the spirit of Hope? She must be found. Her spirit will help defeat The Being.

I feel myself rising into the night sky, the light from the Harvest Moon was my path to the Moon Goddess. I could already see Jacques waiting with the Moon Goddess as I approached. However, there was someone else beside him in white gown with long black hair. "Ah, Arthur is finally here. Join us." The Moon Goddess announces my presence. Jacques nods and I glance over to the woman beside him. I gasp. It was Hope! And she was smiling!

"Moon Goddess, I was hoping you would be able to guide me in finding Hope. I am truly blessed that she is with you." I bow to the Moon Goddess.

"Hope is communing herself through her wolf, Opal. The Goddess Iris returned Hope to her body, however, in order to conceal Hope, the Goddess Iris placed Hope in the realm of her wolf." I nod in understanding.

"How are we suppose to defeat the being inside Hope's body? It is much too strong for any one of us to fight." I ask the Moon Goddess.

"It relies on the light of the moon to possess. Have it stand within the light of the Harvest Moon. There, Hope can gain back control of her body creating the opportunity for Jacques to pierce Hope's heart with the spear."

"Jacques, Moon Goddess, can not face the inevitable. He is the one fated to pierce her heart." I inform the Moon Goddess of Jacques' hesitancy.

"Why Jacques? Is it the guilt?" The Moon Goddess asks him.

"Yes, Moon Goddess. I don't want to be remembered as the person who killed Hope." He says quickly.

"Have you asked Hope what she feels?" We all look at Hope. "She's the one who needs to commit the ultimate sacrifice. Shouldn't she be the one who's... hesitant?"

"To tell you the truth,I feel more guilty being the vessel of that evil...thing. I should have been more careful." Hope sighs and reaches for Jacques' arm. "Jacques, you need to pierce my heart with the spear. I know it's easier said than done. But if you don't, everyone we love will die since it will continue to use me as his conduit. We need to stop it. You and I." Hope needed to convince Jacques not only was it the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. The respect I had for Hope grew. She was willing to sacrifice her own life.

"You must hurry. The Being travels back to the fortress. It wants the yellow-tip spear." The Moon Goddess tells us and we all look at each other.

Without the spear, all will be lost.

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(Hope POV)

Seeing two of my friends while I communed with the Moon Goddess gave me confidence that all was not lost. I was a little saddened when Alexander did not show up, but I anticipated it knowing he must be wallowing in despair.

You must hurry. The Being travels back to the fortress. It wants the yellow-tip spear." The Moon Goddess tells us and my heart starts racing. Soon, I will have to say my goodbyes. With shaking hands, I take Arthur's and clasp them for the last time.

"Arthur, can you tell my parents and everyone else I wish them happiness. I need them to live happily for me. When they see the moon, know that I'm with them. Tell Alexander, I love him with all of my heart and soul. I will forever cherish what we shared. Tell him to live his life. Can you do that for me?" My voice cracked at the end and I shed a tear. Goodbyes were always difficult. I finally found where I belong and now, I had to say my farewell.

"Of course, dear. I will tell them what you said." He kisses my hands. "We will be forever in your debt. The life we will live will be because of the young lady with the golden eyes named Hope. I will always make sure everyone remembers you." His looked at my eyes and I saw his were filled with tears. I give one last hug to the man I have looked at as a grandfather.

"Go, Arthur and Jacques. Jacques, always remember, TIME is on your side. Make sure the light of the Harvest Moon shines on the body of Hope. Be blessed." The Moon Goddess puts her hands of Arthur and Jacques and they go back to their bodies.

"Hope, do not despair. Blessed are those who sacrifice for the happiness of others. Go now. Remember, for the greater good, daughter of Lupa." She places her hand on top of my head and when I open my eyes, I am at the lake with the waterfall, beside me sits Opal, peering into the lake.

"The Being is on his way to the fortress." I look at the water and I see what it sees. The water served as my eyes.

"I can take control of my body once I am under the light of the Harvest Moon. The Being used its power to possess me, thus I will use it as well to take my body back. Once that happens, the yellow-tip spear will pierce my heart. Opal, it will be the end for me, for us."

"There is always HOPE." Opal tells me.