Chapter Sixty-three: Water

I see myself in the water, my reflection shimmering back at me on the small waves against the lakes shores. I look up but the world seems distorted. I look up to try and make out where I am on the lake but it seems never-ending.

I look back into the water and I see a figure next to me. I look up, to see who it is but I see no one next to me. Looking back down into the water I still see the person standing there. They seem to be encased in light and I’m unable to see who it is.

“Hello Daughter.” I understand right away that it is the Moon Goddess. I still can’t see her in the water properly but I can make out her features and remember it looking very similar to when I last saw her.

“We’re in one of my many realms.” She says melodically. “I can’t spend too much time here, it’s already a risk just speaking with you.”

I think carefully. I suspect that it’s not safe because of Fedori, so I decide to ask what’s been bothering me for a while.

“Are you able to help me understand my powers? How do I unlock my full potential?”

She takes a few moments to think back a response. “Your powers are part of you, but you must remember that so is Athena. To get to your full potential, you will need to channel your wolf when you try and control your powers.”

“Are you able to tell me what powers I have?”

“Oh child. You know you are a child borne of two Gods. I cannot tell you every power you have. You will need to figure that out on yourself.”

I knit my brows together. I had assumed she knew everything about me.

“I do not have much time Aliana. I must leave you here. I am watching, along with Solaris. I will leave you with a bit more knowledge though. When you start to break through with your powers, you will start to attract attention. This attention will no doubt bring Nuria to you. However, you should know, that others will also follow, including Erebus. As soon as you start unlocking your powers, and becoming more powerful, he will be able to locate you.”

Before she leaves, I tell her about meeting Fedori. “He’s spoken to me already. He seemed to pull me into a place full of darkness.”

She gasps ever so slightly, silently nearly, but I hear it. “He must have found some of your blood. That was his darkness realm, very similar to where we are now in a place of my creation, he took you to a place of his. I’m surprised, I was not able to see this. It seems he has found a way to manipulate his space to hide it well. Be wary Aliana, he is thousands of years old. He has lots of experience and will not be easy to take out.”

I bow my head to her and feel her warmth engulf me before I plunge back into dreams of my own.

I woke up the next morning early, replaying everything Selene said to me. I rub my eyes, a bit frazzled. Turns out I’ve not woken early enough as Lukas had already left the bed, probably to head to training.

I waste no time getting ready, choosing a simple white top with a black skirt. I start heading down the stairs, where I spot Jorge who notices me and bows his head politely.

“Good morning Jorge. Are you able to prepare a small lunch for me to take out today? I won’t be back until later today.”

“Of course Luna. Beef or pork?”

“Beef today please.”

He bows his head. “Of course Luna. I’ll go prepare it now.” He smiles and walks off. I roll my eyes slightly wishing he would just call me Aliana but he’s all about respect. I smile remembering that he used to call me Miss Aliana even before I took the Luna title.

I go through to the dining room after him and pick up an apple from the fruit bowl, wanting to have a small pick me up before leaving for the day. I start to chomp on it and by the time I was done, Jorge returned with a small picnic basket full of lunch snacks for me.

“Thank you Jorge, I appreciate it!”

He picks the basket up off of the tray he was carrying and passes it over to me. “My pleasure Luna. Please, leave the apple core on the tray and I’ll take it away.”

I place the core on the tray, Jorge quickly turning back towards the kitchen but not before bowing. I start to make my way out of the pack house. I don’t see anyone about so I just start heading over towards the lake on my own.

I get to the shore of the lake and immediately feel at peace. I take a deep breath and sit down a few meters away from the strolling waves. I place my picnic basket down and take my shoes off, letting my feet feel the sand beneath. I walk towards the water until it starts brushing against my toes.

Instead of feeling cold, it feels rather pleasant. As I wade further into the water, going up to my knees, the water continues to splash lightly against my skin. I place my hands into the water, circling them around, trying to get a feel of the currents roaming near the shore. I remember what Athena said about understanding all of the water, rather than certain parts. I take a deep breath and try and feel all of the water.

Surprisingly, I feel a strong pull. I close my eyes and go with the pull, which is taking me down to the depths of the lake. I don’t move but I can feel the current, swirling and pulling down to the bottom. I feel the sand at the bottom of the lake become restless as I concentrate on the current, taking me around the edges of the lake, up against the cliff and to the shores on each of the corners. I feel the tiny ripples of water on each wave.

I open my eyes, feeling a rush grip around my wrists, as if I were pulling on some reins. I outstretch my palms, and place them upwards. I then sway my right hand, as if I were dancing with an invisible element in my hand.

As I do this, my breath catches as I see water in front of me raise from the lakes surface. I watch as a ribbon of water rises and dances above the surface, matching the rhythm my hand is making. I continue to work, trying to increase the amount of water being used by my hand. I involve my left hand, finding that a second ribbon of water now joins the peculiar dance. I start to enjoy myself, and so I start moving my whole body, graciously dancing with the water up to my knees, my ribbons of water floating decorously above the water, becoming larger and gleaming against the daytime sky.

I flick my wrist outward and find that the water sprays everywhere, as if a short rain just started, which makes me giggle. I decide to waste no time and bring up the water again with my wrists, finding that I can do this more easily.

This time, instead of moving my wrists, I stop them, causing the water to stop mid-air. I stay in this position for a minute, finding that it is quickly tiring, and feels as if I’m holding the water up with my strength, rather than just my mind. I struggle to keep it up for much longer and end up dropping it all back into the water, my arms feeling strained. I try and do this a few more times before deciding to take a quick rest and walk back to where my shoes and the picnic basket were left.

I think about what Selene said to me in my dreams and decide to consult Athena. “What do you think the Moon Goddess meant about me channelling my wolf when trying to use my powers?”

She contemplates for a few moments. “I’m not too sure. She likes to hide things doesn’t she? I also found it weird that she didn’t confirm exactly what powers you had.”

I concur with her, unable to understand why the Moon Goddess couldn’t tell me what my powers were. I know I can manipulate water but what else was there?

I decide to eat the sandwiches that Jorge made for me this morning and I can tell he’s went over the top. He’s made a beef salad baguette for me, and has included some small cookies which look fresh and homemade, probably something Miranda had made this morning. I sit thinking whilst eating the food and decide I want to try something.

“Athena, do you want to try something with me?”

She’s already read my mind and I can tell she seems a bit apprehensive of my idea, but I know she wants to try.

I finish off the food and tuck the basket back behind my shoes. I stand up and go close to the water, but I don’t go in this time.

I sit down on the sand and cross my legs. I straighten my back, and place my hands on my knees, palm downwards.

When I usually shift into my wolf form, I think about shifting and allowing Athena to take over, breaking my bones and changing my shape into a form of a wolf.

Instead, this time I try and bring Athena forth, without envisioning becoming a wolf. I try to push the mental barrier, which feels like there are two sides, a wall in between which we can put up at any point to block the other out. Instead, I try and lower the wall, forcing our minds to collide, becoming one with each other.

I feel an overwhelming headache come on, and I place my head in my hands as the pain becomes intolerable. I feel my sight go dark as if I’m about to pass out, so I close my eyes as if to try and block it…..but then I notice that Athena and I are thinking together, as one. I open my eyes and look down to see my skin has a slight white glimmer on it, as if it’s shining. The headache starts to subside, more of a tingling sensation.

“What’s happening?” Athena and I both say together. How strange this feels.

We try to get up, and I feel Athena and I both trying to control our human body at the same time. We’re quite uncoordinated, unable to move together whilst we share our mind.

“Let’s go hands first, then legs.” We say, then agree with myself as Athena and I both share our mind simultaneously.

We manage to get up, very shakily, and walk towards the water. We look in and we both gawk in surprise at our reflection.

We see our long brunette hair is now silver, shimmering, very much like the Moon Goddesses when we saw her before. Our eyes were golden, with what looked like a flame burning for pupils, similar to the Sun Gods eyes. Our body was encased by a white glow. I just stare into the water, unable to grasp exactly what’s going on.

I stare into the water for what seems like forever. I finally snap out of the trance I’m in when I hear a swoop behind me. Athena and I turn to see a black circle, a few meters high. We look at the circle curiously unsure of what it was. We get into a defensive stance, hoping that it’s not Fedori, as we’re not even near ready to face him.

Instead however, a woman, tall and dark with chasm like eyes and braided black hair steps through the portal. As soon as she steps onto the sand, the opening behind her closes, a dust cloud raising behind her.

“So. You’re the one who’s going to help me defeat my Father?”

We instantly knew who she was.

Nuria.