Chapter 49

NATALIE.

The light is emanating… from her.

All silvery and soothing.

Like the moon.

Every time she moved closer, the darkness vanished until she was standing right in front of me, and the whole place was bathed in her light.

“Who are you?” I ask in awe.

“You know who I am, Lyra.”

“My name is…” I falter, unsure of what to call myself.

Lyra was the name my parents gave me, but I have only known it coming from Willow's lips.

“Natalie, yes. I know. I would call you that if you prefer,” she fills in.

“Thank you,” I say quietly. A few moments later, “You are the Moon Goddess,” I state.

“Yes, I am.”

“Why are you here? Why am I here? What do you want?”

“You, my child. I have yearned for you for so long, and I am just now able to reach you,” she answers as she reaches forward to stroke my face.

I step back, confused and a little creeped out by her words, and watch as her hands fall.

“Maybe I should start from the beginning,” she says.

“That would be… preferred.”

She looks down at the reflectiv