Lienna.
My eyes widened in surprise as I stared at the lady who introduced herself as Selene. Even with the disappearance of the moon goddess, it was mind-boggling to see that there were still people who were still serving her and believing in her return, however small those people might be.
“It’s an honor to meet you as well, Selene,” I said, my voice warm. “I would introduce myself, but it seems you already know my name.”
The smile on her face grew wider, and her eyes sparkled with a warm light. “Indeed I do,” she said, her voice filled with reverence. “The shifter kings spoke a great deal about you. I am truly honored to be in the presence of the vessel of the moon goddess. It feels as though I am standing in front of her.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Selene’s gaze seemed to see right through me, to the very essence of my being. It was both unnerving and exhilarating, like being seen for the first time.
“Could you please stretch out your hands?” Selene asked, her voice gentle but filled with an undercurrent of urgency. “I would like to hold them.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I stretched out my hands, feeling my heart race with a mix of emotions. Selene’s hands enveloped mine, warm and soft, like a gentle embrace. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and I felt a strange energy emanating from her, seeping into my body.
Selene studied my hands for a moment, her eyes closed in concentration. Then, she opened them, and they lit up with awe. “Indeed, the moon goddess resides in you,” she said, her voice soft yet filled with reverence.
I caught myself at the edge of smiling, but instead, I frowned. “Yes, she resides in me. But unfortunately, I’ve been unable to utilize her powers, and this might prove detrimental.”
Selene let out a soft sigh, a shadow crossing her eyes. “Well, there are many factors that can contribute to that. But before we explore those, I’d like to ask: do you know why the moon goddess disappeared from the realm?”
I shook my head. “Not much. All I know is that she used all her powers to end the war that was ravaging the shifter beings years ago.”
Selene’s expression turned grim, her eyes clouding over. “We have much to discuss, but first, we need to be alone.” She directed her gaze to the shifter kings, who were standing behind us.
You’re free to leave.” Caspian said, dismissing us with a wave of his hand. We bowed our heads and walked out of the council room, into the courtyard, and then the gardens. The walk should have been relaxing, but I was eager to hear what Selene had to say.
We found a secluded seat in the garden, away from the crowd, and Selene sat down, motioning for me to join her. I did, waiting for her to speak.
Clearing her throat, Selene leaned forward, her gaze straight ahead. “Though the moon goddess was a powerful entity, most of the time she wouldn’t assume a normal appearance and walk amongst us on this planet.”
“Really?” I said, finding this revelation shocking.
“Yes,” Selene said, a wistful smile on her face. “It is believed she loved this world a lot and would stay for extended periods of time, instead of the sky, which was always lonely.”
She paused, glancing at me with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“But, you know… Been an otherworldly being, she possessed a beauty no one had ever seen, and it made thousands of men fall for her, the shifter beings included.”
Selene’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if sharing a secret.
“She didn’t have any relations with the supernatural shifters in the realm because, according to myths and legends, they were more like her siblings or even direct descendants of the great immortal god who made them all. But human beings were a whole different story. She didn’t bear any relations with them, so she spent more time with them.”
I listened, entranced, as Selene continued the story.
“One day, one of them caught her eye, and she grew closer to that one. They fell in love, and the man hoped they could continue their relationship, but she knew it was impossible. Not only was she an immortal and he a mortal, but it was also an abomination at the time. Such a union couldn’t lead to disastrous consequences, as it was unheard of.”
Selene’s expression turned somber, her eyes clouding over.
“She tried to end things and part peacefully, but her human lover would have none of it and kept insisting they find a way to be together.”
I felt my heart hurt as I listened to the story, sensing the tragedy that was about to unfold.
“I’m guessing that didn’t go well…” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Selene shook her head, her expression turning remorseful.
“It didn’t. Her human tried to force himself on her, hoping that would keep her from leaving. He was surprised and disappointed to find out she was not who he thought she was, and she still didn’t want to stay regardless.”
She let out a sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the story.
“When the shifter kings came to take her away to protect her, he thought they kidnapped her and swore revenge.”
I muttered, shocked, “That’s why the war happened.”
“Yes,” Selene said, her eyes darkening. “He wanted her back. Besides, constantly being with her had allowed him to know some secrets, which he used to his advantage. He learned how to create his own magic that rendered all shifters useless.”
She muttered the next words, her voice laced with distaste. “Shadow magic.”
“Shadow magic?” I repeated, confused. I had never heard of such a thing.
Selene nodded, her expression grim. “Yes. It sounds harmless, doesn’t it? Well, it was not as it is believed to be a direct nemesis of the moon.”
I frowned, unsure what she meant. When I saw the confusion on my face, Selene offered to explain.
“You see, the moon we’re familiar with, the one that shines at night, gets its light from the reflection of the sun, doesn’t it?”
I nodded, following her logic.
“So, what happens when something blocks that light from reaching the moon?” Selene asked, her eyes locked on mine.
I thought for a moment before responding. “It… Casts a shadow.”
My voice broke as realization set in. Selene’s expression turned grave.
“Not only that,” she continued. “The real moon has only one part of its surface lit up all the time, and that’s the part we always see. But the other part… it’s covered in its shadow.”
My mouth hung open in shock as the implications sank in.
“Being able to use that power proved detrimental,” Selene said, her voice heavy with sorrow. “The more it possessed and killed, the more powerful it grew. Eventually, no supernatural being could handle it, and it gave humans an edge.”
I felt a chin run down my spine as I grasped the true nature of the shadow magic and just how dangerous it could be.
“To dispel it, the moon goddess had to exhaust all of her powers and sacrifice herself so she could destroy the power,” Selene revealed, her voice trembling with tears. “But it also caused her to disappear, as there was nothing left to sustain her.”
My heart broke at the story, but I still wanted to clear something up. “But, she’s in me now,” I said, trying to find some hope in the situation.
Selene nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. “She is, but she is still weak and not at all ready to fight. And you’re the key to change all that. The shifter kings believe it’s the same power Veronica is wielding at the moment, and that is truly dangerous.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine at the mention of Veronica’s name. Selene’s expression turned grave, and she continued.
“The shifter kings think Veronica’s power is growing by the day, and if we don’t act fast, she’ll become unstoppable. But with the moon goddess’s power inside you, we have a chance to defeat her.”
Selene turned to look at me, her gaze intense. “You being human gives you unique opportunities to be with the most powerful supernaturals in the realm at the moment and gather the strength you might possibly need.”
Then, a tiny smile appeared on her face. “And I’m here to speed up that process.”
I felt some relief at her words, but I was still filled with fear of the future. So much rested on my shoulders, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready.
Still, she wasn’t done talking. “How did you meet the moon goddess?” she asked me, her curiosity getting the better of her.
I made to reply, “Through a dream.”
Selene nodded thoughtfully. “Then, you’ll have to go back to her and ask her to give you permission to utilize her powers.”
I worried, “But… How will I do that? She has never appeared to me in my dreams before.”
To that, Selene smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with confidence. “That’s why I’m here.”