Chapter 5: The Calling

A loud clang of a single bell ruptures Maryn awake, her heart beats fast and nervous, a low and deep ache thumps her chest unknowingly getting up from bed and walking away from her bedroom. Thazar stirs and feels his bedside empty of his wife. He gets up and follows his wife in a hurry, he reaches for her shoulder as she stood motionless at the front door.

“My love?” he asks with a warry voice.

She turns her head, eyes wide open with shining beams of light coming from them, her tears freely falling from her face and a widespread of worry on it. She tries to speak, a stutter forms from her lips, and in a weak whisper like a mouse’s squeak she says, “Help me”.

Thazar is taken aback that his wife is possessed by one of the gods. He stood speechless, worried, and heartbroken watching his wife fight the god that has taken her body. He nods as she returns to face the door to open it. He covers her shoulders with a random jacket he found on the sofa, most likely one of their kids’, and follows her out the door. He locks the house and walks towards his wife, looking back he silently prays his family stays safe.

Maryn walks barefoot on the crisp cold night with her husband following not too far from her. He keeps his distance in case danger comes at her from a distance. Each step on the brittle leaves and small cut branches filled the silence around them, not a single sound from any animal gave Thazar discomfort. He loved his wife so much that this is not much of a feat. He promised his life to her as she did with him when they mated. He was hers and she was his’. His worry about her well-being brought fear to him. A fear that he never felt in any battle he’s been to. It wasn’t the same fear as when she first gave birth, it wasn’t the same fear as when he realized that he has more than one life to protect, no. Maryn was different, for him. She was the ray of hope in his lifeless routine, the rain in his drought, the very being that kept him anchored to life. Mating to wolves was more than just promising each other’s lives to one another. It was becoming the entirety of their mate to complete them, it was feeling, knowing, and understanding everything that their mate has to go through. In thoughts, emotions, and struggles do they evolve into the greatest they can be for each other.

The further they walked the colder the night felt. A couple of high columns come to view, bracketing two large cobblestone doors covered in sigils of the gods. A bright light blue glowed between the floor and the doors, as soon as Maryn stepped on the cool surface, she shivered as it felt like ice. Sounds of several loud brassy locks unhinge, and a sudden gust of wind blows Maryn a small step back. The bright light gleams half of the forest and slightly blinds Thazar as he stands behind one of the trees, hiding from whoever his wife was to meet. Maryn walks continuously to the doorway, Thazar runs to the door before it could close only catching in by a pinch. His eyes widen to the holy place he had sneaked into.

Pristine pearl walls and floors glisten white glow on each pearl, as the Pool of Vision’s waters reflects from the moon’s glow from the transparent ceiling. In the open space, Thazar had nowhere to hide so took his place right next to Maryn. He stood his ground, courageous and very much on the edge. Whatever his wife had to face, he was going to be there beside her whether the gods wanted him or not. Maryn slowly gains her consciousness as her fingers twitch for the touch of Thazar’s hand. Slowly he reaches for his hand intertwining her fingers to his. Thazar feels her hand and instinctively holds her, he pulls her into a reassuring embrace. Tears flood her eyes and worry etched on her face as she realizes that they’ve been called by Frey.

“It’s going to be alright my love. I’m right here with you.” He places his forehead on hers with both eyes closed. He kisses her head and looks intensely at her eyes.

“We’re going to be alright, okay?” With a shaky voice Maryn replies. “Okay.”

Suddenly a deep female voice interrupts the couple.

“I do pray that you shall be in no harm’s way Maryn. I admire your gallantries Thazar.” A beautiful giant woman appears from an archway beside the throne across the Pool of Visions.  A woman at least 8 feet tall, beautiful golden strands of hair falling loosely on her sides while wearing the fanciest silk satin made emerald green dress that exuded tamed power and gentleness. She walked ever so slowly toward the throne but did not sit on it.

“I am Vor, I am Frey’s sister. Do not fear me for I am with you,” her voice reverberated comfort and her smile gleamed calmness. She was able to pacify the jumping nerves of the couple as she continues to speak leaving no room for Thazar and Maryn to answer.

“May my brother show you mercy for you are disobedient. I confess I cannot predict your punishment but I shall leave you a small blessing” She raises her arms and folds them to form a cup with her hands and faces her palms towards them.

“‘May time be your ally, love pursued, and hearts be changed.’ I shall leave you both now. I fear my brother shall arrive any moment now. Goodbye.”

Thazar and Maryn watch Vor leave walking to the archway she entered from. They hold each other a little closer and tighter, continuously soothing Maryn by rubbing her back.

“Sh-she blessed us,” Maryn says.

“She seems unordinary, came in talked a lot, and left. Reminded me of Cora” Thazar jokes. She smiles as he tries to lighten the mood after meeting one of the gods before them.

“I guess our legends are wrong then” she chuckles.

“Yeah. On the bright side, she blessed us. That’s got to be something good for us.” He says as she nods affirming that they will be in no harm’s way.

A few minutes later, clacks of a cane echo from the halls to the Chamber of Visions. A man of the same height as Vor slowly appears from the opposite archway where Vor went. A man in a long bright amber-colored robe with intricate sigils embroidered on it, under it was a snowy white dress shirt with a hint of shimmering permanently frozen snowflakes on the collar, along with the same elegant dress pants cover his long frame. His strides were determined and confident, they oozed power and instilled fear in every creature that he passed by. He walks to the throne and sits on it, he leans his head to his left arm resting his chin over his knuckles.

“Maryn and Thazar Celes of the Willows pack. Do you know why you are here?” Shiver climbs on the spine of Maryn and Thazar feels like the ground swallows his feet. Finally, Maryn finds her voice and speaks to the god.

“Y-yes our Lord Frey. I was disobedient to the only law of Yord.” Frey closes his eyes, nods, and straightens his posture, both arms settle on the throne’s armrests.

“Death is your immediate punishment however I am knowledgeable of the blessing my sister gave you.”

The couple looks at each other afraid that the blessing might be taken away from them. Thazar holds her hand tighter and squeezes it three times discreetly telling her he loves her. She smiles ever so gently and stood with utmost fearless hearts and prepares herself to receive whatever punishment was to be given to her.

“I see. On the rise of the full moon, you must bid farewell and return here with the pure human.”

Maryn faces her husband and whispers,

“that’s 3 days from now,” cold sweat forms at the back of her neck, again Thazar squeezes her hand while facing Frey.

“What happens when we return here?” Thazar’s deep authoritative voice matched the stern look being given by the frightening god.

“Mani shall receive her.” Thazar was confused by what that meant but he didn’t let the god see it. Maryn breathes deeply and accepts the punishment.

“I shall be taken by Mani by the rise of the full moon.” Her shaky voice did not hide her fear, and the tears freely escaping her eyes showed immensely how she truly felt.

Frey stands and a flash of light blinds the couple, the next thing they see is their home in front of them.

Maryn’s knees fold as she cries her heart out, Thazar holds her close kneeling beside her. This is it, he thought. The days, hours, and minutes with his wife we’re counted. No amount of affections would be enough to comfort his wife knowing her impending death.

“It’s going to be alright my love. You did the right thing helping that girl.” She continues to scream her cries as she lets it all out before she faces her children in the morning. Little did the couple know their children heard her cries and his words. Cora, Larkin, and Emilio were in Salma’s room, they were talking about what pranks to do to Adrianne and what questions were good to ask her when they heard their mother and father leave the house. The three thought it was just their parents eating a midnight snack without them, so they quietly tiptoed their way to where they heard their parents. Curiosity got the best of them as they tried to follow them out, but as soon as Emilio stepped on the threshold a heavy fear and weight of terror dawned on all of them. A sting of a high-pitched sound disturbed all the Celes siblings waking Enoch along. It was then followed by the most haunting voice that rang in their ears that stayed in their minds forever.

“Go no further or I shall take all of you.”