The Rise of Lunar's Light (The Story Before Mateless)

Celine’s Pov:

“Dammit,” Tim cursed under his breath. He moved towards Alpha Jennings in order to restrain him. William shifted back to his human form, holding his arms out for me to give Anna to him.

“What did Amy do to her?” he asked, studying the veins as they pulsated. “Celine…” Tim’s voice called out in alarm at the mention of Amy. “I fell for her trap,” I confessed. “Celine…” Tim growled. “I know what you are thinking, don’t,” he hissed.

“Celine, we can find another way. Don’t risk your life…” Tim linked, but I cut him off. I needed to do what was necessary to keep Anna alive, the Goddesses plan needed to move forward even if it was with another Priestess.

“At any cost,” I reminded myself, placing my hand just above her heart to find the source of the poison. To my dismay, there was nothing for me to sense. If it wasn’t poison, what was killing her? As Timothy neared us, I flicked my wrist, cutting us off from the rest.

Anna’s breathing became shallower as a cold sweat broke across her skin. Within a second, she turned blue while her heartbeat became almost nonexistent. “Anna?” William cried in alarm, gently shaking her. “Right there,” I shouted with excitement.

“Hold her still. This may hurt her, but it’s the only way,” I exclaimed, eyeing a small black mark just behind her ear. Anna’s screams ripped through the veil as soon as I touched the spot. Her eyes rolled back in their sockets as William’s gaze burned into me.

“Is that the source?” he asked, his voice shook with worry. I could only nod my reply. If the slightest touch caused that much pain, how would I ever heal it? The pain would overload her little body before I could partially heal her. “What is it?” William asked. His voice was soothing. The tension of the situation etched itself on my face as I struggled to explain the direness of it all.

After what seemed like a lifetime, I finally found the words. “Amy, free of her mothers, has taken to ancient and very black magic. Because she knows I draw my strength from the Goddesses themselves, she has infused the child with the darkest of magics,” I sighed. The realization of what I needed to do settled in the pit of my stomach. I would kill Amy for this.

“But first I need Tim,” I stated as I blinked out from my vale and grabbed Tim before anyone, including him, was aware of what happened.

“In the Goddesses’ name Celine, what’s gotten into you?” he hissed with an anger I’d not seen from him in a lifetime. “Amy has learned the magic of the first of the fallen,” I breathed, hoping he understood.

By the expression of shock on his face, I would say he did. “So that’s where she got the ambrosia from,” Tim stated to himself, pacing. “This is both devastating and amazing news,” he continued. Tim’s eyes finally fell to William, realizing for the first time he was still with me.

“Give the child to me for a moment,” the Woman’s voice rang out before she materialized beside me. “This, this could benefit us,” the Girl laughed. Instantly she appeared next to the Woman, flashing her an icy grin. For a moment, a flabbergasted expression crossed the Woman’s face before being replaced by a menacing grin.

“So, it could, and so it shall,” she laughed. Her cold eyes fell on Tim. With a wave of the Girl’s hand, my vale disintegrated, revealing that we were now surrounded by the entire Eclipse elite guard.

“Alpha Jennings, is this any way to greet your Goddesses?” the Girl let out a threatening growl. The guards fell to their knees at the site of the Goddesses. “For give me Goddesses, I did not know you were with these traitors to your name,” Jennings bowed.

“Watch yourself wolf, you speak ill of my child and my chosen wielder of my powers,” the Woman spoke as the black shadows of night crept throughout the hall. “Do you dare claim to know better than we?” The Girl gave another warning growl.

“N… no, of course not, my Goddesses. Look at what the witch has done to my child.” Alpha Jennings stuttered. The Goddess’s eyes fell on William as he stood. “The Priestess has done nothing but try to save her Alpha,” William spoke with such authority any other Alpha would have seen it as a threat.

“Dear Alpha, I ask you to trust us. While Amy has dealt a blow to us, we have a way of correcting it. Although you will not live to see the eventual outcome, it will benefit us,” the Woman grinned, exchanging a curious glance with the Girl.

“My Goddesses, my trust is always with you,” the Alpha bowed his head in submission. The Goddesses smiled at one another. The expression on their faces caused Tim to send me a worried glance.

“Tim, bite young Anna,” the Girl demanded. Unable to believe my ears, I glanced around the room. We all shared the same expression of horror as Tim did. But none dared to question the Girl or her words.

The Girl sent Timothy a questioning glance, ensuring he understood this was the only way. An expression of guilt claimed his face as he walked over to the dying Anna. He looked unsure of where the best place was to bite the small child.

Tim knew better than any of us. The venom from an Elder’s bite was enough to kill an Alpha. How did the Goddesses expect a small child who was dying from the darkest black magic to survive both?

“A small bite to her wrist should do the trick just fine,” the Woman and Girl instructed. Together, we watched in horror as Tim did what the Goddesses instructed. A blood-curdling scream filled the room as Tim’s teeth sank deep into the young girl’s skin. It was enough to force even the bravest of warriors to slink back with fear.

Blood poured from Anna’s eyes as she convulsed in the Woman’s arms. A gurgling sound erupted from somewhere deep within Anna’s throat as the Woman struggled to keep hold of the child.

Not a soul in the room seemed to breathe as the black veins turned silver for a moment and glowed. As Anna stilled, the Woman whispered something to her, causing the veins to return to their previous disgusting shade.

“Celine,” the Girl’s crass voice rang out. Which nearly made me leap from my skin. “Yes, my Goddesses,” I struggled to breathe out. My heart raced as the Woman walked over to me with the now still, dead looking child.

“My companion has control of Anna; Amelia is calling to her. She believes she’s in complete control of the child. Follow them. Save Anna,” the Woman demanded, placing Anna back on the floor. A moment later, her eyes fluttered open and glowed silver before returning to their normal colour.

“Perhaps it’s best that we return Anna to her room for rest?” the Woman grinned. The Girl shot her a nasty glare. “I might be possessing the child, but I do not require a nap,” she retorted.

“No, but the child is nearing death. Amy will expect her to be brought to her room for rest as Celine tries to heal her,” the Woman reminded the Girl. “Right…” she sighed heavily as I picked Anna’s body up.

Jennings moved closer to me as we returned the child to her room. The Alpha’s worry emanated from him like a dark rain cloud. “Anna will be alright, won’t she?” he asked as his emotions betrayed him. William opened Anna’s door with such force, if Amy was lying in wait, it would convince her I failed to save Anna.

“Make sure she is comfortable, witch. Spare nothing. Heal my child,” Jennings barked, leaving the room. I struggled to suppress a smile, knowing the Woman took control of Jennings temporarily before I laid little Anna down on the bed.

“I think it’s best that we give Celine some space to heal Anna,” Tim said abruptly, startling everyone. One by one, they filtered out of the room, just leaving Tim and I.

“No matter what happens, Celine, remember you are the High Priestess because you are superior to Amelia. I have always known this, as have the Goddesses,” Tim smiled, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You have always been my favorite sister.”

Tim placed a light kiss on my forehead before walking out of the room and gently closed the door behind him. Instantly, the stench of rot filtered in. Amelia, she’d been here the whole time. No wonder Tim said those things to me. He wanted to enrage her. “Amelia, you can come out now. It’s just you and me,” I called to her.

“Awe, I didn’t want to break up such a sweet moment between brother and sister,” she laughed, materializing before me just as the Goddesses did. Suddenly, I felt inadequate. “But I must know, sister, what was it that gave me away?”

“Your stench,” I replied in a matter-of-fact tone. The anger which washed over Amy’s face was more than enough to embolden me. “What have you been up to all these years since I last saw you? You wreak of rot,” I dug at her. The ground shook as her anger billowed out.

Amy’s eyes fell on Anna and the still very black veins on her neck. “So, it would appear that the mighty Priestess of the all-powerful Goddesses has failed. Against me and my insignificant power, of all people,” she scoffed.

Clearly, she believed she’d won. “Poor child, she was such a lovely girl. Too bad those so-called Goddesses chose her; she would have been the most striking Luna.”

I turned my eyes back to Anna and the Girl and smiled. While the Goddess inhabited her, she would withstand all my healing magic. Amelia peered at me with confusion written on her face as purple flames engulfed my hand. For dramatic flair, I allowed some flames to slowly etch their way to Anna’s body to pull the dark magic out of her.

Anna’s back arched as a horrific scream tore from deep within her. While I hated to hurt something so small and innocent, there was no other way. This was Amy’s fault. Amelia’s eyes flashed to mine, her eyes filled with complete and utter shock. “You are seriously going to risk killing the girl?” she asked, gaping at me. Amused, I flashed her a wide grin.

“There is no risk to her,” I laughed. “I am the High Priestess, holder of the Goddesses’ power. Have you forgotten healing magic is my gift, my strength? You’ve been away far too long, dear sister,” I taunted. As my words sunk in, black shadows oozed from Amy like billowing smoke. “You will fail,” she spat, lunging towards me.

As her hand grabbed hold of me, I closed my eyes and pictured the great hall where everyone was likely gathered. In an instant, Amy and I crashed to the ground as cries of surprise erupted. “Amy,” Tim spat at our sudden appearance.

I glanced at the arm I used to summon the Goddesses moon fire with. The tendrils of flame were still holding on to the black magic which invaded Anna. Snapping my wrist to call the flames to me, poor Anna’s screams filled the pack house.

Instantly glass shattered and rain down from the skylights above. Thankfully, the dark magic tried to consume the power of the Goddesses and followed the flames back to me, cleansing Anna.

“Do you know what the problem with both dark and black magic is, Amelia?” I asked as the black tendrils tried to invade my body. “It always seeks power,” I laughed, holding my hand up, showing Amelia her failure.

“Anna is safe. Once I dispense with you, I will finish healing her, allowing her to live the life the Goddesses meant for her,” I taunted.

“Oh, but dear sister, that is where you are wrong,” Amy cackled, pulling out a small amber coloured stone. “That pathetic excuse of a warrior, Lyra, failed to shatter it all,” she grinned triumphantly as she popped the tiny shard into her mouth.

The sky darkened as the ground shook. Lightning crashed outside as a torrent of wind raced to envelop Amelia. With her arms stretched upward and laughing like a maniac, she awaited the power she believed the ambrosia promised. To my surprise, the mess of black magic still danced in my hand. It was not racing back to Amelia.

A streak of black fog raced through the windows as it engulfed Amy. “Dear sister, you will regret the fact you never joined me. Oh, how I have waited so long to kill you,” she yelled with joy in her voice. “Now my only dilemma is, do I kill you first and make our dear brother watch, or do I kill him first? Oh, the choices and possibilities,” she cackled as black smoke finished absorbing into her.

“Behold and tremble at the Goddess I have become,” she gloated. Not wanting to wait a moment longer, I forced the black tendrils, still attempting to enter my body into a whip, and snapped it at Amy. With such a satisfying crack, it wrapped itself around Amelia before it pierced her body, although it now held a slight purple hue to it. “Gah, what in the…” Amy cried out in surprise.

“I just thought you’d like your magic back now,” I shrugged. The room quaked slightly with Amy’s anger. “You dare mock me, mortal?” she hissed.

I tried to maintain the appearance that I was unafraid, when in reality, I was scared to death. She really ascended to a goddess, a dark one perhaps, but still one nonetheless. “I promise your death will be a slow and pain filled one.”

Amy screamed, launching black shadows which surrounded her towards me. Before I could move, they wrapped themselves around me. The shadows constricted as if I was their prey. I remained still, hoping to lure Amy into a false state of security.

To my horror, the shadows evolved into chains which were covered in deadly nightshade and wrapped around my wrists and legs. The stench of the flowers brought me to my knees as the remaining shadows dispersed.

“Celine?” Tim’s frightened voice echoed from somewhere off in the distance. The sound of shifting bones rang out around me as my breathing became labored and difficult. “Pathetic mutts, do you really believe that you can defeat me? Do you not see your Goddesses’ chosen, broken and bloody on the floor?” she laughed. “No,” I stated hoarsely, “I will not be beaten so easily,” I moaned. I was completely unsure if Amy even heard me.

Tim raced between Amelia and me, growling menacingly. “Please brother, you are no longer a threat,” she scoffed. “Although I’ve always wondered just how strong you truly are,” she continued. Tim’s low growl increased, warning her to get back.

“Celine, please fight this,” Tim’s voice invaded my mind as I faded in and out. “Think, Celine,” I scolded myself as I realized my life essence was fading away.

“Please, you need to reconsider,” my voice cried out to a silhouette of a woman. Although I know I was not the one who spoke those words. “No, Celine, I will not come between you and your mate. My decision is final,” she snapped, turning around. My heart skipped a beat when her emerald green eyes came into focus.

They seem to hold both hurt and pity. “Celine, I can’t thank you enough for all your understanding these past few years. You are truly stronger than you know.” Her voice rang out as she faded. Her last words, you are truly stronger than you know, kept repeating in the now black space I found myself lost in.

“Get up Celine, we need you,” a male’s voice rang out from within the darkness, filling me with strength. No, Amelia will not win this easily.

The sounds of magic being cast and yelps of the wolves which it hit, surrounded me as air rushed into my lungs. I felt my heartbeat again. No, Amy, you will not beat me. I’ve yet to live my life with my mate and I need to see the Goddesses plan to fruition. I groaned, standing up.

“No! You were dead,” Amy screamed before more night shade attempted to wrap around my neck. “If you had killed me, I’d still be dead. You know the laws of your mothers,” I laughed as purple flames engulfed my body, melting her restraints off.

For a moment, worry crossed Amelia’s face before it was quickly replaced with anger. “Cute trick, but calling on my mothers’ parlor tricks will not be enough to beat me,” she growled. Suddenly, the shadows she conjured raced towards me. “You are truly stronger than you know…” the words whispered in the wind as it surrounded me, fanning my flames.

I turned my eyes skywards, and I let go of all the fear and doubt which plagued me since I became High Priestess. Something deep within snapped. The ground shook as whatever snapped raced towards Amelia, knocking her slightly off balance. The flames which surrounded me shifted from their purple hue to almost a crimson red and fanned out, forcing the wolves out of the room.

“I’ll never let you win, Amy,” I whispered to her as she attempted to regain her footing. “I have always been and will always be stronger than you,” I growled, as our eyes locked.

The flames which surrounded me raced to envelop Amelia. “I can’t die,” she laughed. “Perhaps not, but you still feel pain, you still bleed,” I reminded her as the flames licked angrily at her skin. She shrieked in pain as patches of her skin melted off, turning to ash as they fell off.

Allowing my fear to turn to rage, the flames burned hotter. As the flames licked her skin, it blistered as the blood beneath boiled. As they popped, blood poured from her wounds. After an eternity, she finally fell to her knees. “You will not win,” she screamed, attempting to cast her shadows my way once more.

As soon as they left her body, the heat disintegrated them. “You worthless bitch,” she spat, forcing herself to her knees. She cast her eyes down to her hands, which were little more than bones. The flames had eaten her skin away from a part of her jaw, leaving a gaping hole where her cheek should have been. Her once stunning face was nothing more than a scarred, tattered mess.

“I will let you have this one, Celine, but do not think I am so easily beaten. Next time I will end you all,” she grinned. Amelia raised her hand and snapped her boney fingers before she vanished.

Exhausted, I fell to the ground as the flames raced back to me. Tim wrapped his arms around me, helping me back to my feet. “Celine, are you alright? I thought she killed you,” Tim said. Our eyes met before shock claimed his face. “Celine, your eyes are no longer silver. Now they have a slight tinge of green in them.”