Chapter Four - Selene

 As soon as the pain had receded, Lucy felt a strange warmth envelop her as she seemed to float above her body and look down on the scene below her. 

The sight of her blood-soaked body, the cascade crimson liquid that had splattered against the walls after the first incision now pumped out in slow spurts and pooled on the floor beneath her, didn’t fill her with any sort of emotion. The only sadness she felt was when she gazed at the still-swollen belly and thought of the life that her pups would never get to live.

Frederick was bent over her lifeless body, sobs wracking his body as he wailed loudly, clearly not hearing the sound of approaching footsteps.

“Ugh. Did you have to do it so messily? Goddess…no wonder this place is so disgusting…” Cassandra sneered.

Frederick looked up at her with hatred burning in his eyes as she tiptoed through the blood on the floor and smiled happily down at Lucy’s lifeless body.

“Perfect. Now I won’t have to worry about any nasty little surprises from her or her little brats.” She paused as a faint sadness crossed her face and she reached out to brush her fingers over Lucy’s pale skin.

“It’s nothing personal Lucy…you were just collateral damage. That’s all.” She continued in a whisper as she allowed her fingers to linger for a moment before withdrawing them rapidly as if she had been burnt and that familiar arrogance settled back onto her face.

“Clean this up Frederick” She barked as she turned on her heel and left through the door which she had entered.    

Lucy watched the scene blankly as the room seemed to fade and waver before a blinding flash of pure white light surrounded her and she suddenly found herself in the middle of a clearing staring at a large white wolf.

It whined at her and nudged her hand urging her to follow and Lucy did as she was asked, putting one foot in front of the other as if in a trance until they came to a beautiful waterfall that cascaded down sheer cliffs of white stone.

The wolf that had guided her here padded in front a few steps and was joined almost instantly by a large black wolf, and together they prodded her forward, through a large ornate door carved into the very cliffside itself.

The ceiling of the winding corridors seemed as though it were made from starlight, vast ornate columns carved into the cliffside soared above her, and yet Lucy could not bring herself to feel any sort of emotion at all as she was led past this incredible architecture.

Eventually, they emerged into a vast cavern with a glimmering pool of azure water at the far end, encircling a gargantuan throne carved intricately from the glistening white rock that lay inside this cavern.

An ethereal woman rose from the throne, opening her arms wide as her silver hair shimmered in the light of the starlit ceiling. The wolves padded gently to her side and turned, sitting next to her and staring at Lucy expectantly.

“Welcome, my dear Lucy, I am so sorry that this happened to you. I’m sure you must be in shock. Please, come and sit with me for a while. I have a proposition for you.” The woman's enchanting voice called.

Lucy continued forward and as she came close enough, the woman wrapped her arms around her tightly and pulled her to her chest. 

Instantly Lucy inhaled deeply, the feeling almost burning her lungs as she felt a tingling spread throughout her body. She gasped for air against the woman's chest, sucking the air in as if she had been drowning and the woman chuckled lightly as she stroked her back.

“You are home now, Lucy.” She said, pulling back and gazing down at Lucy who stared up at her with a quizzical expression. 

Her emotions had returned like a violent wave cascading over her and creating a tsunami inside of her. Rage, shock, horror grief…it all burnt inside of her and most of all..confusion.

“Home? What do you mean home?” 

“Well…not in the living sense of the word, but this is where all my children return when they die. Forgive me..I have not introduced myself..I am Selene.” The woman said in a soft musical voice.

Lucy gasped and instantly sank to her knees in reverence, baring her neck without a second thought.

“There’s no need for that, child.” Selene chuckled as she gazed fondly down at her, “please stand. I want to offer you something.”

Lucy blinked up at her as she stood slowly.

“Offer me? I don’t understand…”

“Your life was snatched from you in the cruelest of ways. Your pups should have lived long and healthy lives and whilst I can’t say too much, fate had great things in store for them.” Selene said sadly, as a tear trickled down her face. The gargantuan wolves at her side whined in unison and nudged her insistently as she stroked their fur absentmindedly.

“Now I do not interfere often, Lucy, but I could not just stand by and do nothing. Now, I want you to understand that I can only offer this once, how you proceed with things this time is entirely up to you but I want to give you the chance to right the wrongs against you and reclaim your pups and intended future.”

Lucy blinked at her in shock.

“You’re saying I can go back?” She breathed in awe as Selene nodded benignly at her.

“Yes, although you will remember your past life, you will be unable to speak of it to anyone. You must alter the course of your destiny yourself.” Selene said as she reached for Lucy’s hand and pulled her towards the pool of shimmering water.

They stood at the edge of the water staring down into the depths. There was no end to the pool that Lucy could see and she looked up at the Goddess hesitantly.

“My pups…”Lucy’s voice wavered as her bottom lip trembled, “Their souls..they..”

Selene pulled her into an embrace, from one mother to another, 

“I will keep their souls safe, child. If you can overcome the dangers in this life, then I will return them to you gladly. They are not lost.” 

Lucy sobbed into her chest gratefully, overcome with emotion.

“Come now, dry your tears. Your second chance is waiting for you.” Selene said softly as she gestured towards the water and below the surface hues of many colors swirled.

“All you need to do is take a leap of faith, Lucy,” Selene said softly as she gently moved her back and nudged her toward the water.

Lucy took one last look at Selene and suddenly appreciated how blessed she was to be given this second chance and, with a deep breath, she stepped off the ledge and into the swirling depths below.