Chapter 4

Agatha

I hear the faint shouts. There was a lot of commotion after the arrow pierced me. I felt my body giving out on me, but I couldn’t let this be the end. I was the last of my bloodline. I had to fight. 

“Invesio aversum refoveo,”

I gasped and looked up and saw Liv holding my chest. She was doing a reversal spell on me.

“Liv?” I frown, trying to communicate with her.

“Combustum,” 

I saw the fire that circled around me and her hiding us from the attack. Liv got up and pulled a leather book from her cloak and flipped through pages. I tried to get up, but my chest felt tight.

“Don’t move. You still need to heal. It will take more time because I didn't use all my energy on you.”

“Liv?”

“I know you are confused, but now is not the time.”

I was too confused, but I wanted to see what she was doing. How she was a witch like me? I wanted answers, but my body jerked and I began coughing blood. Something was terribly wrong. I could feel my body about to explode. I could feel a forceful pull of something inside me. Like my soul was being ripped out of my body. It was painful.

“Stay with me Agatha,” I hear Liv shouting.

I wish I had a voice to scream in pain. I hoped a sound would make the pain feel less intense. Liv was holding me and screaming spells. I felt the pull back, but it started again and I jerked my body up. I couldn't take it anymore. My body gave out on its own. I closed my eyes and let whatever course was pulling me take me.

*****

“Agatha?” I heard a faint voice, “Agatha?” the voice called again, “Agatha. Wake up.” the voice was like a melody in my head. "Agatha." I could listen to the voice and relax. It was soothing, "Time to wake up child,"

My eyes pried open, and I looked at a woman who I had never seen before. I got up to my feet and looked around. This place was strange and I think I might have died. This could be the entrance to the afterlife my mother always spoke about. I was about to be reunited with my family. Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't want to be with them yet. I wanted to fight. I wanted to go back.

“Don’t be afraid, child,” her sweet voice spoke as she looked at me. "Wipe your tears. You are not dead."

I wiped my tears and looked at her. The woman was beautiful. I have seen no one as beautiful as herself in my life. Her dress was ocean blue, long and swirling, but there was no wind around. She was taller than any other woman I have seen before. The crown on her face looks to be the one bringing light to the place. Her hair was dark. When she moved, everything about the place seemed to shift or spin.

“Who are you?” I asked and blinked, hearing my voice. “Di-Did you hear me speak?” I asked.

“Yes,” she moved again, and the place shifted, almost making me fall.

I looked down, and it looked as if I was standing at nothing, which made me feel dizzy. We looked to be levitating. I swallowed and watched the shift again. I saw what seemed to be the movement of wolves, but it was blurry to be certain. I blinked and looked up at her. When I held my chest, I had no feeling of my heart beating. 

“Am I dead?” I asked, but I believe I was.

She looked like the gatekeeper. I was seeing things that were not possibly real. I could speak. There was no heart in my chest. Nothing she was going to say was going to make me believe otherwise. If I wasn't dead, then I wouldn't be here. This was a test before she can grant me access.

“You are not dead. I’m afraid this is the only way I could speak to you.”

“Who are you?” I asked. "Are you going to let me pass? Will I see my family?"

"I'm not a gatekeeper, Agatha," she smiled. "I'm Selene,” she moved.

My body was not stumbling or faint anymore. I remember blinking and everything had changed. My feet were not hanging at nothingness. I watched past Selene and I saw a door. It was a glister of silver. There seemed to be a bright light beyond the door. I understood nothing. The door was not there before and she keeps saying she was not the gatekeeper. 

"Follow me," she spun around and walked to the door.

"Wait," I panicked.

She smiled at me, "This is not where the lost souls go, either. Follow me. It will all make sense soon."

I followed her to the door that opened without her touching it. My eyes stopped in wonder at the scene in front of me. The place was strange and yet fitting for a person like her. I couldn't put it into words. It was vast inside, with nothing but a table in the middle. I stepped inside and looked down. It seemed as if I was standing on the moon.

“Selene?” I asked, “The Goddess, Selene?”

“Yes,” she smiled.

I was stunned, but she kept moving and as she did, it was as if the place took form. Walls were built. Pillars and statues of wolves lined on each side, making a hall. I could still see the round table. I looked up, and the ceiling seemed to glow and make golden like dust fall. The walls were glowing with the writing of something I couldn't read.

"You are the moon goddess?" I asked when I was standing at the table.

"Please sit," she nodded, and I did.

I watched her again. Her face shined. She had a glowing face. Her eyes never kept the same shade. Every time I blinked, I saw another color. I stopped blinking faster after seeing the same result. The crown looked like the moon. Her exposed arms were glistered with many silvery-gray symbols. Moons and wolves. I was fascinated because everything twinkled and changed. It reminded me of my wolf. It was like an illusion.

“I’m sorry for staring,” I stopped myself from blinking. “It's a lot to take it. You are Selene, the Moon Goddess. The one who blessed the humans with the wolf.”

"Many call it a curse," she smiled.

"My father always told me how blessed one has to be to be called by you. Forgive me for not giving you my respects." I got up from the chair.

“There is no need for you to bend the knee.” She laughed melodically, "You give me far too much credit, child."

"But you gave the humans a wolf."

"Yes," she nods, "I did, but that was many moons ago." She waved a hand. "I did not call you here to talk about how and why I did what I did. I summoned you so we can talk about something important."

"Something important?" I asked.

"Yes, you are mated to the next true alpha," she smiled.

"There are true alphas, not alpha?"

"It seemed your mother hid a lot from you." she smiled. "Her mistake needs to be corrected to keep the balance. That is why I gave you a wolf."

“So I was never born with a wolf like what she told me?"

"You always had a wolf. I suspected something would happen after your mother broke a sacred bond with her mate. I could not interfere before."

"Are you going to now? I don't understand." 

"You see that wolf there?" she pointed up.

“What is that?” I looked up.

“That is your wolf,” she smiled.

“My wolf?” I repeated. I was watching the glow of a wolf moving.

“She has been hiding away and waiting for the right moment. Do not blame your mother for this. Light was waiting for you to be ready. She had to protect you.”

"But you said she made a mistake and broke a bond. Now you tell me not to blame her. I do not understand your words."

"I understand Tabita. She tried to delay the inevitable war, but Ophelia always wanted her power. She already knows of you and is waiting."

"My mother tried to stop the war," I frowned. "She never told me." I looked down.

"Because she was trying to protect you, but her mistake made you inherit her magic. She thought you would never gain magic when she never sensed it from your brothers."

"So you mean I'm a mistake, child?" I asked, tears in my eyes, "Is that why she was always cruel to me?"

"No, child. Tabita loved you. The mistake is the bond she broke with her true mate. Your father was not her mate. Your path is about to cross with your mother's true mate. You will understand why she protected you."

“Protect me from what?”

“Everything. Your journey has begun. Depend on your wolf and harness the power to merge. You need to call her back and be one again. The more time she spends apart, the harder it will become.”

“How do I do that?”

“She is a part of you. She needs to find her place along with the magic.”

“Can you not show me? You are the goddess.”

“Only you can pave your path. I only gift you and you will do the rest.”

“What if I can’t merge with my wolf? What will happen?” I asked, "What if I can't do all that you are asking me?"

“Only time will tell. Whatever you do, trust in Shadow. He will be more reasonable that the human.”

“Moon Goddess, I do not understand.” I panicked when everything around me began to vanish.

“Call me Selene, child,” she smiled.

“But?” I cried as I felt something in my chest. A heart beat. "What is happening? Who is Shadow? What am I to do?"

“Trust in the bond. Shadow and Light must align. Light will guide you. Stay strong, Alpha Agatha.” she smiled and disappeared.

*****

I opened my eyes slowly and saw the small fire. I clutched at my chest and felt the beating of my heart. 

"You are alive," Liv ran to me.

"Liv?" I creased my face.

"Sensus fatuor," she whispered, and my mind was linked to hers.

"How are you using magic? What happened?" 

"We have a lot to discuss, but right now, you need to rest. Your wound has not healed."

"Where is everyone?"

"Dead," she looked down.

"Tell me everything," I said.

"We were attacked by hunters. Torgan hunters. They killed them all. I couldn't save them whilst trying to save you. Something happened to you and I could not sense your soul for the past two days."

"I was asleep for two days?" I asked.

"No Agatha. You soul was gone. I have been trying to get it back. I had almost given up," she sniffed. "I thought you were gone, too."

"How are you able to use magic, Liv?"

"Because I'm a witch like you." she wiped her tears.

"Everyone scented a wolf on you Liv," 

"You need to rest."

"Tell me," I demanded.

"Your Alpha command doesn't work on me." 

"Tell me the truth Liv," I tried to sit, but she pushed me down.

"I'm from the coven of Sisters of Eternity, like your mother." Liv whispered. something and her face changed to that of an older woman, much like my mother's age. "Everything was a glamour. An illusion." I stared at her. "I can go back to the younger face if you prefer that."

"Is-" I swallowed, "Is my mother really dead?" I asked and Liv nodded.

It seemed a lot of things were possible. Many things I didn't know could be real. My mind stopped. I had met the Goddess. I was without a soul for two days, but when I was with her, it seemed as if we had talked briefly. It could be all illusions and spells. Maybe this was all the beginning of my madness. 

"Agatha? Agatha?" Liv shook me, but my eyes closed.