A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 41

‘Beware the Silver Saintess, her hair as silken thread. With her consort mate of power, the people wept and bled.’

‘And beware the Siren’s call, his eyes as gold as ore. With whispers of manipulation, they’ll hold you in their thrall.’

‘And if you breathe despite this, a devil still awaits.’

‘Because forever lives another….”

‘…The deathless angel mate.’

The words of Allison’s recited passage repeated through my head, echoing like a bad dream. An impossible dream. How could she be…?

But there was no mistaking it. With the confirmation of who she was, I realised why she looked so familiar. I’d seen a painting of her inside Ashwood’s Moon Goddess temple.

They’d depicted her with sapphire-like eyes and shadowy wings.

So… did that mean she really was…?

“…I… I’m sorry, I’m not sure I’m following “I stuttered out, struggling to wrap my head around the new information. “Did you say… great-great-grandmother? …How are you alive?”

Myra just laughed though and moved a hand to cup her cheek. But despite this abashed outward demeanour, I thought I caught something in her eye. A look of… sadness. As if she’d seen many things in her lifetime.

“I’ve been asking myself that question for a long time…,” she said. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions and I’m happy to explain everything I can. First things first though….” She then tugged on my hand gently, indicating for me to follow. “Come inside. and have some tea. You look tired.”

And, stunned, I followed mutely behind her, unable to do anything else.

This was a so-called Devil of the Mist? The way Allison had spoken, I’d assumed my entire family were bloodthirsty savages, the worst of the worst.

However, Myra seemed so sweet, so… normal. Well, except for the fact she was claiming to be over a hundred years old.

That bit felt a bit… surreal.

She walked us through the front door and into a living room, a cosy vibe about it. I’d assumed this place was maybe an apartment complex but it seemed more open and… homey.

“Make yourself comfortable,” she said before walking into the next room.

I could hear as she began brewing tea, just as she said she would, and I was left to stare at my surroundings. I looked around at the old furniture, but it was a set of portraits on the wall that drew my attention the most.

“My parents,” she answered a few minutes later, returning with two cups. “The last generation to live here. After my children were born, things got a little… busy. The family business wasn’t as important in the grand scheme of running a pack.”

“And what business is that?” I asked, taking the tea from her.

“This used to be an orphanage,” she explained. “Though… I imagine we ran it a little differently than the human one you lived at briefly.”

“So that really was you then? All those years ago?” I asked. “You were the one who tried to adopt me?”

Her expression became forlorn and she looked away.

“…I did everything I could…,” she said quietly, her voice sounding distant. “When they refused to listen to me, I began trying to get my hands on some forged human documents. However… when you’re being hunted by even your own kind, it’s not easy to find friends willing to help you. When I inevitably gave up on official methods, I decided to try and steal you away instead… only I was too late. Someone had adopted you and miraculously it was as if all trace of you had vanished.”

My father. So, he really had been responsible for covering it up at the orphanage too. I’d had a feeling the censored-out folder was his doing. The large ‘donation’ made sense now.

asked, looking back to meet my eyes.

answer, recalling the upbringing I’d experienced, and immediately felt uncomfortable. It

was adopted by a

were you happy? Did they treat you

Not really….

clear that she felt guilty for not being able to find me. She was looking at me as if she needed me to tell her that I’d had a great life, that I’d been completely fine despite losing

I just smiled, hoping I

okay,” I answered. “Pretty average. Nothing you need to worry

*CLAPP*

Myra abruptly clapped loudly in front

“Why did yo-.”

as if I were a child. “Not under my roof.” But then her features quickly softened, a small sigh leaving her. “Please don’t feel like you need to lie for my sake, Rheyna. You don’t need to sway me with reassurance. I’m tougher than

do you mean?” I asked, still stunned in place.

It’s

gave me a

planned to lie about my upbringing, sure, but I hadn’t intended to try and ‘influence’ her. Not intentionally. Did this mean I was doing

at it, I’ll give you that,” she then pointed out, her head tilting a little. “Had I not been on guard, you might have actually fooled me. That would have made you the

then turned sad once more, a pain showing in her eyes. Perhaps

she’d said, I imagined that list

she was

mean?” I asked, curiously.

my ability and what made us ‘devils’. Hell, even an explanation for how I was

“But whenever a child is born, the universe sort of… flips a coin. A fifty per cent chance that the eldest will manifest with one ability or the other. The second eldest child will then inherit the remaining one. That is if they even show signs at all. Merely having the potential inside isn’t always enough to harness it. Some of the children never show any

like you?” I asked. “Would I also

“No, my circumstance is a little… unique. At most, those who take after me. remain looking youthful for a bit longer… but, unlike me, they do eventually pass on…

said that. I could feel the weight of her

have loved ones, and yet to always be left

must be

me more,” I said, pressing for answers. “I want to know everything about what we are and why I’m like this.

crease forming between her brows. “No.

what

but we

spoke like someone

spread, due to fear from small -minded people, do not make you a devil,” she said, still frowning. “What we did here… we made history. Amazing strides of equality that revolutionised our kind’s archaic ways of life. But as with all greedy people in power who’d prefer what only benefits them… they chose to rely on rumours and half-truths to weaponise their agenda. Our abilities that they feared so much gave us a position to dictate change in our world unquestionably, unable to be defeated in battle nor denied… so they resorted to methods belonging to cowards. An effect that rippled through the generations until it resulted

asked. “These abilities weren’t used to

tea down and held

the original werewolves, the embodiment of Thea’s power. Or… that is true for you at least. I am not a direct descendent… more like

to me,” I said honestly.

more as her smile returned. “I had the same reaction when I was your age.”

sofa and patted the space next to her, indicating for me

taking a deep

she proceeded to say only made me more convinced I was losing my mind. That perhaps I was asleep and this was some wild, made-up

the beginning of our history, werewolf kind was birthed by the revival of five children, each imbued with a piece of the now dead Goddess Thea, Selene’s mother,” she explained. “One child held the ability of strength, another with foresight; one with perception manipulation, another with influential reverence… and one with youthful longevity. These are the five abilities that made up the original lineages, of which, only three had initially survived into modern history. The other two had been lost after being reclaimed by Thea in her

I still was, she waved her hand. “That one is

“How is it that you’re able to remain ageless if you’re not from

seemed to be met with some

well, you see…,” she said slowly.