Chapter 1 - The Prophecy

* * * Morag’s POV * * *

“I’m telling you sister; we have sat hiding in this damn cave for too long. We should be out there fighting, with every other race on this planet,” Jennifer tells me. I know she’s right.

When the world and Gods had gone to war, I had led my clan into hiding. I was a coward. We’ve spent the last ten years hidden away here, only venturing into the cities if we need supplies. Being skilled in the art of magic means we have very little need to leave the cave.

“The Gods know that I have the gift of foresight. What if they abduct me and use my gift to their advantage?” I ask her, it’s a genuine concern.

“Well, why don’t you speak with your damn crystal ball and look into the future. I’m telling you Morag; I’m done hiding. I can’t live like this,” Trudy says.

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve become a paranoid hermit and have led my sisters to a life of misery over the last ten years.

“OK, I will try for a vision. Please place my candles and light them,” I tell them as I draw a pagan symbol on the ground in chalk. I place my crystal ball in the centre of the symbol's star and prepare myself.

They mock the gift at times, but I wish I could show them just how much it takes out of me watching pain and suffering.

“Oh wise spirits, hear me now. The future I wish to see if you will allow, I have great need, Grant this vision to me, with speed,” I begin chanting, hoping that the spirits of the world will bless my request. I aren’t hopeful, I’ve neglected them over the years. But not anymore.

I feel the connection, and my eyes become heavy. I let my eyes close and follow the path the spirits choose. I see the Gods and Goddesses at war. I see the dead bodies, severed limbs and the bloodied living. A scream tears the vision apart and I see the mighty Selene on her knees screaming as tears run down her face.

The vision blurs and then the Gods and Goddesses are sat together within Harlech castle. A truce has been called.

“One is four. Four is one. Chosen and gifted they shall be. Once they unite, all shall be free. Peace on Earth, through the powers they each have been gifted. Wolf is she, wizard is he, hybrid she will be, vampire he shall be, and she shall be human. Four is one and one is four,” I mutter.

My vision again shifts, and I see a warped speed version of the lives of four individuals. I see the will of the Gods. I return to my body and see my sisters looking at me with a curious expression on their faces.

“What did you see sister? What was it that you mumbled?” Jennifer asks.

“I saw the will of the Gods. Four children shall be born, one of each race. Each one will receive a gift from the Gods. Together they shall unite and bring peace to the Earth, a wolf their leader.”

“What do we do?”

“I must go. My daughter is the key.”

“Morag, you don’t have a daughter.”

“Not yet I don’t. I must go to London and meet a man called Arthur. The daughter we birth, will give birth to the witch of the prophecy.” I explain to them.

“Great. So you hole us up for years, only to run away and have your way with a man,” Jennifer grumbles.

“It’s the will of the Gods,” I laugh. “My vision shows that we have a long and happy life. Be prepared to protect the gifted children, for they will be hunted by those who wish for their race to hold power over others.” I tell them.

“I shall come to London with you,” Jennifer states.

“What of me?” Trudy asks.

“Your path lies in France. Your descendants will protect my grandchild,” I tell her.

“Good luck,” she wishes me.

* * * * * * * * * * 50 Years Later * * * * * * * * * *

“Sisters, I thank you for coming so swiftly. We must work together to prevent the details of the prophecy being relayed. It hasn’t brought the joy that I thought it would. There are those who would hunt each child, in the hope of having power over the other races. They seek to murder them,” I tell them.

“But what can we do? Word is already out, and you know how the rumour mill is,” Trudy asks me.

I slowly inhale and release my anxieties with my exhaled breath, “The road will be long, but we must travel far and wide and work on erasing memories of the prophecy, the less people that know of them, the less people that will hunt the children. Only then may they fulfil their destiny,” I say with a heavy heart. I had truly thought the people would rejoice with the knowledge that pain and suffering would come to an end. But instead, those who are power hungry seek to find the children for their own benefit.

“So be it sister. It will be a long hard road, but we must protect them. How is young Delores?” Jennifer asks.

“She is a whirlwind, for certain. I do believe I have aged twenty years already. But she is the greatest joy that life could have given me.” I say with a smile on my face.

“Go with speed. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get on with our lives,” Jennifer says.

“I’ve never told you that I love you and appreciate you. I’m so thankful so have been blessed with sisters such as you.”

“Morag, you sentimental old fool. Be gone now, all will be well.” I watch as my sisters leave my shop.

Yes, it will be a long road indeed to erase the worlds memory of these gifted children. But if I can grant them some years of peace as they grow, it will all be worth it.

* * * Selene’s POV * * *

“Cora, my child, where are you?” I call out for my daughter, among the garden of bouncing lights.

This is the place that the souls of my children wait, they wait patiently for a werewolf to be conceived, a wolf that is the perfect match to bond with them.

Cora has been here for fifty long years and has shown no sign of bonding with a living wolf. She’s not filled with joy like the others. Their orbs of light bounce around my garden, showing their joy at being a part of the world, they are ready to be bonded.

“Cora, there you are. Why are you hiding in this tree? I see your light is weak my child, what’s wrong?” I ask her gently once I have found her.

‘Mother, I was a living God, and now all I am is a ball of light. Where is the joy in that? Where is the joy in never feeling the grass beneath my feet, or tasting the sweetness of the berry wine, or feeling my muscles as they exert themselves. Please, just leave me be,’ her sad voice fills my head.

“You will experience all of that again, only in wolf form.” I tell her.

‘Mother, I promised to guide your chosen. So far, no werewolf has called to me. I sense their aura as soon as they are conceived, and all are destined to be selfish and cruel in some way. That is not the being for me. I will let you know when my decision is made. Now, please just leave me be, to rest here and mourn what is lost to me.’ I withdraw from my daughter; I will try again some other time when she may be more receptive to my company.

I walk away hoping that I didn’t make the wrong decision in asking this of her, I only did so in the hope that it would give her a reason to enjoy life again.

* * * * * * * 19 Years Ago * * * * * * * * *

“Cora, the other Gods grow impatient with me. Is there none who draw your attention and gain your approval?” I ask my daughter, as I sit cradling her spirit in my lap. Her orb of light is dim and swirling slowly. I have brought her to my cliff; the place I come to watch the Earth and keep an eye on my children.

‘Mother, if they are happy to rush their decision then that is their choice. But I’m waiting for the perfect soul to align with mine.’

“I’m sorry I asked this of you. It may have taken me 80 years to see it, but I now realise how incredibly selfish my decision was. I should have allowed you to pass peacefully and on your own terms. I truly thought this would help you find a new spark,” I whisper as a single tear falls from my eyes.

‘Mother, I agree this is the right course of action, I fought and died for peace, I want to do this. I want to bring peace to the entire world, including the realm of the God’s. But please let the bonding decision be my own. I’m sorry that I haven’t been good company all these years, I’ve been too focussed on what I’ve lost. I now realise how selfish that was of me, we both needed each other, and I denied our love to share grief.’

“Don’t apologise …” I’m shocked when she cuts me off, her orb swirling rapidly, and the light intensifies to a blinding beam.

‘What’s that? Do you feel it? She asks me,’ her voice can’t hide her wonder.

“It’s time. You have found the one,” I smile.

‘Goodbye, Mother.’

“Look after her. I will see you again soon, my child. I love you,” I tell her truthfully. I’m overcome with emotion when Cora floods my mind with her loving thoughts.

Her orb disintegrates as her light rapidly travels down to the Earth, to bond with the foetus that has just sparked into existence. The gifted and chosen she-wolf will soon be born.