CHAPTER ONE

An ancient prophecy, handed down through the centuries told of a young Goddess who would one day return to earth, born in earthly form, yet bearing the power of the ancient Gods. Her return would herald the end of times, and she would come into full power in her 33rd year. But first, she must defeat and vanquish the evil Lucero, who was Satan himself. Luna had fourteen days to find the three ancient Emerald Tablets that reveal the Divine secrets of ascension and powerful knowledge to increase each earthly being’s vibrations to evolve into the next level of Earth’s evolving dimensions, and quickly relay it to the world.

Time was running out, for Lucero had already interwoven himself tightly into Society and world affairs and held a strong hold on the Church and governments across the globe. The day of the Spring Equinox and a full moon eclipse was fast approaching, and on this fated day, Lucero was his most powerful. Earth itself had begun to vibrate at a higher rate, bringing those who spiritually evolved from the present third dimension and moving through the fourth into the fifth dimension. Very few humans vibrated at the love vibration; one of total unconditional love for all creatures, big and small.

Lucero must act, and quickly before the inhabitants of earth began to transform into etherical forms. He intended to bring Earth into his own hellish dimension. Ancient legend told of an agreement between Lucero and The Divine Source. That after a Thousand years, if half of the world’s population of humans, vampires, werewolves, and other mythical creatures who kept themselves hidden from humans had not mentally evolved and ascended according to the teachings of the Divine principals, then he would take Earth and all her inhabitants into his own dimensional world. And they had not, remaining barbaric and childish in their thinking, desiring blood lust and violence.

The world, and Lucero had forgotten the Emerald Tablets scattered roughly across the frozen Alaskan tundra, hidden from Lucero for nearly a thousand years. Lucero would stop at nothing to retain his power, seeing Luna as an easy foe. Luna SilverWolf and her younger sister Sybil were raised by faithful followers of the Divine, taught in the ways of the ancient spirituality and connecting to the powerful energy flow of the Divine Creator. The Goddess Diana guided the teaching through the dreams of Luna’s mother, Chantel.

   Chantel was a dutiful wife and mother, often distracted by her very human obsessions in the magical arts. She gathered knowledge of herbs and sacred healing medicines, empowering and teaching her daughters everything she knew. Sybil had rapidly developed a powerful magic that she enjoyed, even though her mother felt the faint tinge of evil upon it. Despite the motherly love she felt for both her daughters, she had favored Luna, for the Goddess had told her that she would bear the one who would free the Earth of Lucero’s oppression. Chantel found no wrong in Luna’s behavior, constantly frowning in frustration upon Sybil’s youthful mischief. And from this favoritism was born a hatred of burning jealousy and resentment between the sisters that tears their family part and threatens to destroy the world.

A face appeared in the heavy mists that swirled and dipped through Luna SilverWolf ’s dream. Immense power flowed though incredibly intense blue eyes that looked deep into Luna's very soul. She stirred fitfully, yet she felt no fear. It was a strangely warm, welcoming feeling that enveloped her. A powerful unconditional love cocooning Luna like a babe in its mother's arms. Luna felt the familiar expanding buoyancy, the direct connection to the Divine Source. A lithe figure in glowing silver rapidly formed from the mists itself. Long golden hair flowed silkily down her shoulders, her flawless skin glimmered moon-white in the shadows that crowded around her.

The Goddess Diana stepped forward and spoke with a firm authoritive voice that was accustomed to being instantly obeyed.

"Luna."

Luna took the hands the Goddess held out to her and stood within her dream.

"You must listen carefully, my child. We had thought your memories would have completely returned to you by now. As they have not, I have no choice but to speed up their full return. It is imperative that you remember fully, time is of the essence now."

Luna looked at her, confusion clouding her thoughts.

"Over two thousand years ago, the time of the Son began and with his death, a new religion arose that sought to control and dominate, but this was not his int nor was it the Divine Force's. There were many who followed the Apostles who followed with pure heart and continued to spread his word throughout the world. But many were falling into the darkness of the evil controlling powers of Lucero, Satan himself."

Diana met Luna’s eyes. "The Divine Force believed in his creations, trusted that they understood the teachings that were now becoming widespread. Lucero approached The Source and offered a deal. That if in two thousand years, half of the world truly worshipped the Source with their hearts and not their mouths, then The Source would win the wager and Lucero would bother Earth no more." She hesitated before continuing. If even one less than the fifty percent failed to worship the Source, then Lucero would win and bring the world and its entire inhabitants into his own dimension known as hell. And now it has come to be. The Source had begun to see that he might very well lose, and he wasn’t yet willing to give up on his creations as he saw so much potential in their rough child-like minds. The Divine laid out a plan after much thought and created three Emerald Tablets written with the magical writing that teaches the speeding up of the vibrational frequencies of the earthly form, as well as Earth herself and the secrets to the direct connection to him. Almost as an afterthought, he included a formula of spells to destroy Lucero. Nearly a thousand years ago, these were hidden in what is now known as Alaska. They remain protected from evil detection by The Divine's own powers. You were chosen over three hundred years ago, and you were sent from the very stars to live among the inhabitants of Earth and guide them towards the Divine. And you did well to spread the word; even though the Church pursued you, you prevailed among the people. After your death, your name was not forgotten, millions worship you still. You chose to fulfill this destiny before you at that time and allowed yourself to be reborn into this body now also, into this family who has trained you the best any Mortal could. Now, it is the time for you to fulfil the Prophecy of the return of the Daughter."

Luna shook her head, frowning at the Goddess.

"Why now?"

The Goddess swept her arm out wide. "You do not see the evil that consumes the Earth?"

"I mean; why did you wait so long to come to me?'' Luna sat back down on the bed. “There is no time for me to complete these tasks. My magic is poor and very ineffective.”

"I had no choice. The Divine said you were not ready. He...we had hoped your intervention would not be necessary." Diana sighed. "Lucero's day of power lies in the full eclipse on the day of the Spring Equinox. And by the rules of that wager, if you have not found the three emerald tablets, and shared them with the world before then, Lucero will triumph, and the world will be lost."

Luna jumped to her feet. "You give me three months to find these tablets and spread their message around the world?!" Luna glared at the Goddess. "How dare you come waltzing in here and tell me I have to do this. Find someone else."

The Goddess glared back. "You are the chosen one. You were created for this. This is your destiny!"

Luna stood up, ignoring the furious eyes that watched her. "And If I refuse?"

The Goddess sighed deeply. "The world is lost, and you with it. You were born a powerful witch. You are the Goddess Aradia. You are the only one who can face Lucero and win. There is no one else." The Goddess reached out a gentle hand and swept the disheveled hair from Luna's eyes.

"My daughter, it is unfair, but the Divine knows what he is doing. A month ago, if you had presented the world with the sacred tablets no one would have believed you, much less listened... in fact many will refuse to acknowledge them, but There are others...many others who believe, who pray for your promised return. Now, they cry out for you. The Freedom Fighters need you. They must have a powerful force to see and follow."

Luna dropped her head into her hands as she dropped on to the bed.

"How am I supposed to do this alone?" Diana sat down next to her.

"You won't be alone. There are several who will arrive soon who will guide and teach you all that you need to know. There are others who will join you as they are just now finding out that you are no longer a legend, but real. Some are...shall we say...Non-human?"

Luna jerked her head up at Diana, eyes round.

"Non-human! What do you mean, non-human?" "You have heard the fairy tales of old times, No? Fairies,

Gnomes..." She hesitated. "vampires and werewolves..."

"Vampires and Werewolves!" Luna interrupted her; her voice shrill. "You’re not serious! Just how stupid do you think I am?" she jumped to her feet.

The Goddess laughed softly. "My darling girl. Three hundred years ago, you lived among them as friends in the forests of Northern Italy. Truly, your memories are slow in returning."

"Slow or not, I only want a normal life. I want to get married and have babies and grow old...fall in love..." Luna's voice trailed off as it dawned on her that if this was all true, then she would never have any of it, ever. The Goddess nodded at her, reading her thoughts clearly.

"There is no one else?" Luna whispered.

Diana shook her head. "There is no one else."

A heaviness settled suffocatingly inside her chest and her throat tightened with unshed tears. Luna turned her face away from the Goddess and looked out the window at the darkened night sky.

"How do I tell my father?"

"We have already spoken. He knows. He has always known, Luna."

The Goddess caught her hand, holding up a thick gold ring, its large ruby stone glowed an eerie fire.

"This is the fabled Aradia Stone, your ring of power. It shall bind you to the Scorpion Lord in this life as it has through every lifetime. You will know him for he wears the mate to this one. Both were forged in the stars of heaven from the same golden talisman of the Divine Source."

 The Goddess slid the ring on to Luna's right index finger and kissed it. "This is to be worn always. It is your divine protection. You will come into power on your 35th year and you will rule this new world as it was meant to be."

Diana rose to her feet with a swift gracefulness. "I must be going, but I will visit very soon. Your memories will quickly return, Luna. I will explain more in time to come.''

"I fear you expect too much of me, Goddess Diana."

"No. I know what you are capable of. You will not fail."

Diana turned sharp eyes on her daughter. "You are the Goddess Aradia. The Age of the Daughter is now at hand. You must slay the enemy with the sword of truth, the Covent of the Gods. And by your hand alone." The Goddess tilted her head for a moment and smiled warmly. Luna touched her forehead with light fingertips.

"I am dreaming." She assured herself. At the sound of delicate laughter, Luna realized she spoken aloud.

"No, my darling, this is no dream. This is a visitation; I am truly here. And I will come again until you are able to see me with your eyes wide open." Diana tapped the space between Luna’s eyes causing the flesh to hum and tingle wildly beneath her fingers.

The Goddess stepped back into the moonlight flooding in from the window and melted into the swirling mist that instantly arose, leaving behind the trailing scent of wild mountain rose.

Luna awoke early the next morning, unsettled by the dream she had the night before. She met her younger sister in the hall on the way to the kitchen.

"You look like hell."

Sybil told her snidely, bull dozing into Luna's shoulder as they passed each other. Luna rolled her eyes and continued into the kitchen where her father sat drinking his morning coffee.

Ben looked up as she reached for the coffee pot. He noticed the pale lavender shadows beneath her eyes, her normally golden ivory skin was pale and stricken. The full curve of her mouth was drawn tight, and Luna's long golden red hair was bunched up in an uncharacteristic knot on top of her head. Luna looked as if she had rolled right out of bed and headed straight for the kitchen, which is what she did when she was upset over something. Ben eyed her for a moment before remarking casually.

 "You look like hell."

Luna stopped the cup halfway to her lips and looked over the rim at her father.

 "So, I've been told." She muttered before swallowing a mouthful of scalding hot coffee.

"Cream will cool that down a little." Ben told her, sliding the creamer towards her. She looked at it, then down at the black liquid in her cup, and shook her head. "Might as well slap it on my thighs, that’s where it will end up anyways."

 Her father laughed, turning his head quickly to hide his grin. Luna plopped down in the hard-wooden chair and pressed her forehead to the cool tabletop.

"She came to you last night, too?" Ben asked, setting his cup down. Luna lifted her head and met his faded blue eyes.

"She told you?"

He nodded, running a hand through thick white hair, eyes bright blue and lively, despite the deeply etched tired lines in his weathered face. "Your mother and I always knew, even years before you were born. She came to us and told us what you were meant to become. We did our best fulfill her requests in our raising you. It was an honor beyond anything I could have ever asked for, my love."

She poured more coffee in to her cup and leaned back. "So, you think this waiting to the last minute, then expecting me to rush out and save the world is okay?''

He shook his head. "It is my understanding that they had to wait until the time was right or no one would have listened to the message you will bring them."

"Papa, no one person can save the world, least of all, me."

Ben smiled lovingly at his daughter. "It is your destiny."

"I am no Goddess! I don't want this!" Luna wailed. Sybil walked in and tossed her glass into the sink.

Ben sighed. "You are our only hope, Luna. Please try to understand that. You are the only thing standing between us and this evil. Perhaps it is easier to think of yourself as a warrior; one who fights for the justice we are so desperately lacking in this world."

"The Goddess Luna is finally going to save the world?!" Sybil snorted in mock laughter. She turned from the sink and slowly raked her grey eyes up and down Luna's body, her glossed lips curling into a sneer. "The scarecrow is a Goddess now. I thought Goddesses were beautiful and had brains. What happened Luny tune? Aradia reborn as a deformed ugly bitch with no brain?"

Luna dropped her head, attempting to ignore Sybil's blatant pushing. She was looking fora fight as she was every day.

Luna just wasn't in the mood to deal with her today of all days.

"That’s enough!" Ben's voice was sharp with warning.

Sybil glanced at him, shrugging her shoulders. "That’s right! Take her side like you always do! The little Goddess is always right." Sybil burst out, jealousy thick in her voice.

"That’s not true! We loved you both the same!" Ben protested, hurt that he might have failed to be a good parent.

Sybil threw her head back with a sharp bark of laughter, her dark streaked blonde hair falling loose from its combs. 

"Bull-crap! You’re a selfish old man, you never cared about anybody but that skinny bitch over there! You never cared about Mamma. It was always Luna this, Luna that...."

Luna interrupted Sybil's tirade "You don't speak to Papa like that! You can talk to me anyway you want, but he doesn’t deserve this." Sybil turned cold grey eyes on her older sister, hatred twisted the pretty face as she spoke scornfully.

 "You don't tell me how to talk to my own father!" She slammed her juice glass down hard on the stone counter and it shattered in her hands, blood began running down her fingers on to the floor. "All my life you were the perfect one, well, I'm tired of it!"

Luna jumped to her feet and rushed to her sister with a dish towel. Sybil jerked back from her. "Don't you touch me! This is your fault! You made me cut myself!"

Luna stood back, a bewildered expression on her face as Sybil hit her hard in the face with her bloodied fist. Luna fell back against the counter in shock. Ben jumped to his feet and Sybil shoved him out of her way as she ran around th table to the door, knocking the old man to the floor. For a moment, she looked as if she wanted to run to him, then she threw the towel at Luna. 

"I hate you! I hate you both! I never want to see either of you ever again. I pray you both die in a fiery car crash!" Sybil screamed and ran outside.

Luna rushed to her father and helped him to his feet. They both sat in stunned silence, unable to wrap their minds around what had just happened. While it was true that Sybil had always harbored an intense jealousy and resentment against her, Luna couldn't help but feel that somehow, she had done something horrific to her as a child to make Sybil hate her so much.

It seemed to her that the harder she tried to make things right with Sybil, the worse it got, as if her very attempts were fueling the fires of jealous hatred. Luna felt like a dog chasing its tail, running breathlessly in circles, no closer to making Sybil love her than she was in the beginning. Helpless fury welled up inside Luna, flooding her senses until she raged in angry bitterness at her sister, and she stalked into Sybil's bedroom and spent the entire day packing up everything Sybil owned, even the clothing strung out across the floor in different piles. Luna had intended to burn everything in the burn barrel out back but couldn't bring herself to go through with it and instead carried the boxes out to the old shed.

As she carried the last box, the bottom fell out and the contents landed at Luna's feet. Their mother's old photo album caught her eye, half buried in the rick rack Sybil liked to collect. Luna sat down on the edge of Sybil's bed and opened the warped, worn cover. A hard knot rose in Luna's chest as she poured over old photos of her and Sybil as children, Pictures of their mother holding Sybil, staring lovingly into her daughter's eyes so much like her own.

Luna's throat constricted with hot tears and the knot in her chest grew larger. She held her breath as a sharp exquisite pain lanced through her soul, twisting with the finesse of a dull blade. Enormous pressure built and radiated through her veins, pulsing in painful rhyme with every heartbeat, swarming her senses with remorse and guilt. The emotional turmoil roiled within Luna as she began shaking violently, unable to attempt any control. She wanted her mother more than anything at that moment, desperate for the comfort of her arms, her soft voice.

Luna stared at the fading photograph of her mother, taken when she was still healthy and vibrant. Tears blurred the gentle beauty of her face and warm love light that glowed from her grey eyes as she gazed at the camera. Luna was startled by the shrill raw cry of pain from a wounded animal and half rose from the bed. When it came again, she realized it was coming from her. Luna dropped the photo as she gasped for breath, her hands pushing against the pressure in her chest. She couldn't breathe.

The pain was overwhelming her completely, and it felt as though her very heart was being ripped out of her. Ben heard her wounded cry from across the old house and rushed to Sybil's room. He stood transfixed in the doorway, taking in the tormented sobbing of his daughter and saw his wife's photo lying between her bare feet. Ben moved with a swiftness that belied his old age and swooped Luna into his embrace. He knelt on his old, battered knees as he gathered her shaking body close to his chest. Luna was all he had left now. It broke his heart to see her falling into the abyss of pain that had taken him years to escape.   

SYBIL SILVERWOLF SHOVED open the wide glass door to the small-town bar several blocks away from her father's house and stalked inside. Waving the bartender over, as she sat down, ordering a Jack Daniels and looked around the darkened room. Horrible classical music played on a loop. There were barely a dozen people in the small bar. Sybil noticed that several men were staring at her from a table across the room, and she rolled her eyes. The bartender, Luke placed her drink in front of her, his eyes glued to her breasts. Sybil followed his watery blue eyes and yanked her scoop neck cotton blouse down to reveal the swells of her large breasts.

 She smiled coyly at the blonde, ruddy faced man and pretended to ignore him. She felt suddenly elated, as she always did when men stared at her, panting like dogs. Busy sneaking glances at the bartender to see her effect on him, Sybil failed to notice the four men approaching her at the bar until they took seats on each side of her. There was an ominous presence of chilling depravity that she failed to notice.

"Buy you a drink?" The dark haired handsome young man on her right asked, his brown eyes on her breasts. She laughed, turning towards him, sending a flickering glance at Luke before answering. "Of course, just let me finish this one." She tossed the entire drink back with a flick of her wrist. He raised his heavy eyebrows and pointed to her empty glass.

"You from around here?"

She giggled. "Just down the street. How about you?"

"Just passing through with my buddies here." He spoke to her breasts. Sybil arched her back, pushing her breasts out. Luke filled the glasses and began washing glasses as Sybil flirted with the strangers, moving to the far end of the bar, watching her with concern. The young man told her his name was Borgin. She stared intently into his brown eyes and felt herself swooning.

After three Jack Daniel shots, she got up to go to the restroom, wobbling unsteady on her feet. Halfway across the room, the alcohol hit her hard and she staggered slightly. The four men looked at each other and shared a knowing smile. Returning, she plopped herself down on the bar stool and picked up her new drink. Sybil held it up to the dim light, squinting her eyes at it. A Vodka Martini. She hated Martinis.

But it was free, she shrugged her shoulder and took a big swallow. Her thoughts turned to Luna and her father, a momentary flash of guilt and remorse flitted through her inebriated brain before it was gone, replaced by sudden fury. It was all their fault. She looked down at her clumsily bandaged hand.

 They made her the way she was. Before she knew what she was doing, she was deep in conversation with Borgin, complaining about her horrid sister and insipid father. The four companions perked up out of their boredom of her whining complaints when she complained of Luna being Aradia.

"Seriously? Your sister believes she is the Goddess Aradia?" Borgin laughed loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is she a nut case or something?"

Sybil laughed too. "I think so. We were taught all our lives since childhood to be ready from the coming of the evil one and his dominion. My sister is so into this, she thinks she’s going to save the world!" Borgin slid a hand lightly across Sybil's knee.

"You really believe that crap?"

She giggled. The martini was making her woozy. "It's supposed to be true. The Goddess Diana visited her last night, she said and told her she had get ready to save the world. Can you imagine Luna of all people saving the world?!" Sybil cackled, amusing herself.

"And when is Luna supposed to save the world, Sybil?'' Borgin's voice was teasing, but his eyes were deadly serious.

Sybil couldn't keep her thoughts together and struggled to remember, speaking slowly as she became distracted by his hand that now moved slowly to caress her inner thigh beneath her short skirt. "I think she said she had a few months or something like that. Why? It doesn't matter anyway..." He cut off her words as his mouth took hers.

 Sybil froze momentarily then responded with heated passion, just as he had known she would. Sybil felt her brain was melting, thoughts were sliding together and disappearing rapidly. She felt his mouth on her breast, sharp pain as he bit her.

She realized they were in a vehicle, then nothing more. Sybil awoke to find herself beneath him as he grunted wildly before blacking out again. Several times she awoke to find herself with each one of her captors, thrusting savagely into her as if she were nothing more than a rag doll. In a brief moment of clarity, Sybil realized she was being raped repeatedly, but then the darkness fell across her mind and she blacked out.

Chapter Two

Luna walked into the living room where Ben sat watching the evening news. She pulled the rocking chair up close before the fireplace and stared absently into the leaping flames. The sounds of screaming and gunshots from the television drew her eyes to the shocking scenes flashing across the screen. thousands of people stood screaming at each other, rushing them with rocks, bottles and bats.

 The police in riot gear fell beneath the oncoming horde, firing shots that did little to slow them down. As members of the flash mob surged onward, they trampled their own wounded to death. Irrational fear, anger and brutality gripped the mob, taking down everything in its path. The rioters turned their attentions to innocent bystanders, forcing them to strip naked as the basic natures of brutality wiped out the humanity of the rioters. Those that sought ultimate power set free rein to their depravity. Luna felt her stomach lurch at the sight, forcing her eyes to watch the horrifying scenes. The news caster came on, flashing scenes of the exact scenarios from around the world. People were revolting against governments that had come under the total control of one man and his legion, Lucero Scarcelli.

Governments weakened by depletion of food and medical programs, mismanaged budgets and wealthy government officials lining their pockets. Masses of population suffering loss of jobs, homes, lives, began to rise and fight back with violence, for it was the only voice the leaders heard. Governments around the world had begun to list the offenders and sent in their elite forces to eliminate those who could incite others to fight back. Civil unrest was rapidly leading to civil war in every country around the planet.

The news switched to the revelation that several volcanoes were now active and hundreds activating each day around the world. Deadly earthquakes were on the rise, becoming more frequent. One had just swallowed the entire city of Johannesburg in South Africa. And the sea had taken the Island of Fiji. Luna sat back in shock. It was true! The earth was trying to cleanse itself of humanities desecration.

 How was she to stop this? Was she supposed to stop this?

Luna looked to her father in panic, but he appeared as frightened as she was. Returning to her bedroom, Luna tried to meditate, to calm herself enough to figure out a plan of action. She felt trapped, with no way to find out what she was up against, and the old resentments began to rise like bile in her heart.

 She blamed The Goddess Diana and The Divine Source for putting her in this position without any knowledge or guidance. Looking out the window at the warm fall day, Luna began to relax until she noticed something was wrong.

It was mid-January, and everything looked dead. The sky was purplish, and a new planet hovered close to the moon. It was barely visible in the pale purple haze that faded into dark blue, but it was there. Why had the news not reported it? What about NASA and all those little space interest groups not telling the world? Luna scowled at the sight, pulling back from the window. She ran into the living room and found her father where she had left him.

"Have you seen the sky, Papa?"

"Yes. The world is changing." he said, stretching out on the recliner. 

"Changing! There’s a new planet out there hovering near the moon! Why hasn't Nasa or any of those groups reported it?"

"All the media is controlled now. They can only report what they are told to, Like Russia. Those little groups have been disbanded and outlawed several months ago, where have you been?" He answered, keeping his eyes closed. Luna sat down hard on the sofa. "Obviously not up on world events...How could I have not known?'' she was speaking to herself, but Ben answered.

 "Too caught up in taking care of us and dealing with your sister, I suppose."

She frowned at him, but he remained relaxed with his eyes closed. No, she had just assumed that it would be as it had always been, each day pretty much like the ones before it. She had been living with her head in the sand, oblivious to the radical changes going on around her.

 She hated television and avoided it as much as possible. She never read the newspapers because Luna couldn't bear anymore articles of tortured and abused children. She had effectively cut herself off from the outside world and now, when it was most important, she was at loss with what was going on outside her own front door.

That night, Luna spent hours poring over the internet trying to educate herself on the world events, although much had already been removed by order of the government, she still felt that she had come away a little more up to date than she was before.

 It didn’t take long for her to see that the Goddess had been right; the world was in total chaos. She watched one video clip after another of soldiers confronting masses of people, crowds ransacking stores, murdering the owners and store clerks.

Military tanks awkwardly cruising the narrow suburb streets, soldiers going home to home taking people, entire families into custody. FEMA camps held thousands behind barbed wire fences, the dirty bewildered faces of the children tore her heart and the terror on their parent’s faces as they huddled together staring at the camera.

 Luna felt her soul twist, and something snapped deep inside; she knew what she had to do. She knew now that if she had the power to save these people she had to. 

When Luna saw the masses of guerrilla freedom fighters chanting the name Aradia as they circled a huge bonfire in the middle of a darkened field, their rifles held above their heads, hope burning feverishly in their battle worn eyes. That night, Luna researched until she found the written history Diana had explained to her.

LUNA STOOD IN HER MOTHER Chantel’s rose garden, holding a blood red rose in her trembling hands. Lifting the velvety petals to her face, she inhaled deeply, her eyes tightly closed. Unaware of the tears that now dampened her pale cheeks. The feelings of loss were overwhelming, as if she had hole inside of her soul that would never heal.

 There, a hollowness bloomed, echoing the memories of long ago, razor sharp yearning that shredded her heart, ripping her life in a thousand different directions. Her tears were her own, she did her best to hide her torment from her father.

She would do anything to protect him from the pain Sybil had burned into their souls. A hopeless helplessness consumed them both. They could clearly seethe deadly path Sybil had chosen to follow and the ultimate outcome of those actions yet could do nothing to stop its potentially fatal outcome. Even being the Goddess Aradia wasn’t enough to save her sister. Luna was torn, unwilling to accept she had lost her sister and was totally helpless to prevent it.

"Luna."

Luna turned, crushing the delicate flower in her tight grip. The Goddess stepped towards her; eyes veiled as she watched Luna. 

"Your pain is strong. It called to me from the realms of the stars, my poor child." Diana touched Luna’s cheek with whisper soft fingertips, feather light and fleeting. Luna smiled slightly, but her eyes remained tormented. She had lost her connection to the Divine Source in her pain. 

"When one is so deeply buried within the painful emotions of their mental state, they often lose their connection to the Divine, Luna. You must seek the Divine during these trying times. Hopelessness creates a foundation of loss of faith."

"I just don’t understand. Why does Sybil hate me so much?"

"It is only appearing as hatred, my dear. All things happen as they should. We all follow the course of our own destinies, and many times we hurt those along the way that we love deeply yet are too blind to see clearly." Diana responded, seating herself on the bench.

Luna moved closer and sat down beside the Goddess. She stared down at the crumpled rose in her hands, saddened at the torn bruised petals that lay twisted forlornly in her palm. Luna bit her lower lip as she looked up into the Goddesses’ bright blue eyes.

 "I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to do what I am supposed to do. I just keep getting more and more confused."

The Goddess nodded understandingly, covering Luna’s hand with her own.

"Time will ease your pain, Luna. You must reconnect to the Divine. then you find yourself guided effortlessly in the direction you must go."

"I wish my mother were here." Luna’s voice caught on a ragged sob. “I miss her so much.”

Diana gathered Luna into her arms and held her as she cried. Luna cried for her mother, for Sybil and her father’s pain. And for herself. She knew it was selfish, but her emotions were highly strung, and she felt the need to ground herself in her own pitying tears.

 As the tears subsided, she sat back and looked at the Goddess, her soul felt lighter, and she knew she could now face whatever may come. Rubbing the tender rose petals between her fingers she sat in silence with Diana, pulling strength from the powerful Goddess.

“I have seen the world in chaos...I know what I must do.” Luna spoke in a whispered voice, almost as if she were talking to herself.

Diana looked at her in surprise before quickly veiling her eyes and a small warm smile appeared. 

“I am glad you have accepted your destiny, my dear. It is exceedingly difficult to object to a direct command of the Divine, much less defy it.”

Luna said nothing, staring hard at the crumpled rose in her hand as the Goddess continued.

 “Luna, sometimes it is extremely hard to accept that the Divine knows what he is doing. He has everything planned, choosing only the best to fulfil these plans. While you may think you are not capable, he knows you are. Trust that.”

Luna nodded. “I know that now. I just don’t know where to begin...what I should do.”

“Train. It is all important your powers are at their peak performance, Luna. I can guarantee Sybil’s will be.”

Luna dropped her eyes to the rose bush swaying gently in the breeze in front of her.

“That’s what I am afraid of...I don’t think I can fight against her, Goddess.” Luna met her eyes as the tears fell down her cheeks.

“You must be prepared. I am sorry to say this, but it must be said; Sybil will not hesitate to use her powers against you and your father. You must accept this.”

“I will not kill her! I can’t... I love her, Diana.” Luna brushed at the tears in angry frustration. “And if she tries to kill your father? What will you do? Think hard, Luna. The truth is there inside you. You are not alone, though you feel you are.”

Luna stared at her, eyes wide, as a thousand different thoughts ran though her head, stopping on Sybil’s treatment of their father earlier. She knew then without question Sybil would kill Ben and herself without batting an eye. The Goddess Diana looked at her with sympathy, lightly touching her the top of her hand.

"Luna, my dear. I must go, I hear Him calling me now. You don’t mind, do you? But I will return very soon. We have not left you to your own devices, my dear, one comes now that will protect and guide you through this."

Luna shook her head and rose to her feet, accepting the light kiss the Goddess brushed across her cheeks. The Goddess Diana vanished with in the rapidly rising mist as twilight fell, leaving behind her the trailing scent of roses. 

Luna awoke as she rolled over, tumbling off the bed hitting the floor hard. She lay staring up at the shadowy ceiling in the semi darkness of her bedroom. An odd, snuffled scratching noise came from outside beneath the high curtain-less window. Luna sat bolt upright, her blood thickening in fear as her connection to the Divine broke. Scrambling to her bare feet, Luna ran down the darkened hallway, grabbing the baseball bat from the umbrella stand as she yanked the front door open. 

Luna was off the porch, running across the wet grass towards the side of the house, the bat held high on her shoulder, ready to swing. The frosty grass was slippery and cold as she ran, sliding, nearly losing her balance as she gained speed.

Expecting to see a man beneath her window as she rounded the corner of the house, stunned, Luna stopped short at the sight of the massively huge wolf almost as tall as she was. Startled, it turned glowing yellow-gold eyes to her. In the pale moonlight, his fur shone silver and glistening black.

 Luna shook off her surprise and advanced on the wolf menacingly, bat ready. The wolf turned to face her fully and promptly sat down. He lifted an extremely heavy paw and licked it tenderly, his golden eyes riveted on her.

Whimpering softly, he continued to watch her. Luna stood uncertain; she did not know what to do. She stood ready, her feet wide apart and bat ready. It was apparent he was in pain. Her mind racing, getting nowhere. Suddenly she remembered what Diana had just said in her dream. This was her guide? A Wolf? 

The wolf began to walk towards Luna slowly, limping heavily. She began to backup, moving slowly, afraid she would slip on the wet grass. He stopped several feet away, holding his foot up, never taking his eyes from her.

Fear gripped her, shivering deep within the shadows of her tormented soul. Luna struggled to swallow, then realized she had been holding her breath. Exhaling nosily, Luna felt the building’s wall touch her back. 

With nowhere to go, Luna stood stock-still as the creature came up to her and rubbed his forehead on her bare leg. Fear curled out of her belly, flashing through her and she realized she was sweating.

Her eyes met his, falling deep within the yellowed depths. She felt as if she were being mesmerized, until she saw the pain swimming in the gentleness of his gaze. She dropped the bat and lifted his paw with both hands, sucking in her breath at the deep bloody gash across his massive paw. 

Luna's heart melted immediately; she was suddenly overcome with a powerful need to take care of the wolf. She picked up the bat, looking down on him as he lifted the mangled paw to lick it once more.

"Come on, Old Boy. Let's get that cleaned up."

She had lost her mind, she was sure.

Luna thought as she ran to the house and held the door open for him as he labored heavily up the porch steps. Luna quickly cleaned his paw, bandaged it and fed him, trying to not awaken her elderly father who lay sleeping at the other end of the old house. He followed her on silent feet into the living room, watching Luna spread a thick rug in front of the fireplace. After settling the wolf down on the rug in front of the fire, Luna fell into bed herself, falling sleep almost immediately, and her previous fear all but forgotten. 

Sometime in the night, Luna awoke to find the wolf snuggled up beside her in the bed, snoring softly. Luna grinned, gently pulling the covers up over him as he slept.

Luna’s mind kept turning over the dream from the night before and as she did so, memories of her mother’s voice explaining in detail the legends and prophecy. She had known early in childhood that it was to be her destiny to fulfill the prophecy, yet she had only half accepted it, until now. 

She thought with sudden pain of how her mother so wanted to be there at her side when the end of times arrived. It was never to be.

Sybil had ripped the sweet gentle life from their mother’s delicate body in a fit of jealous rage. It was hard to not believe that Sybil’s furious confrontation had caused their mother’s fatal heart attack that night. All because she had wanted to go to the movies and Chantel had simply wanted her youngest daughter to spend a few hours with her instead.

 Afterwards, Sybil had fallen quickly into the dark void of evil, her hatred of Luna as strong as Luna’s love for her. Luna continued to struggle with the rage and anger she felt towards her sister. Those emotions always severed the link between her and the Divine Force.

Every day now, she had to struggle to stay tuned to universal unconditional love to remain linked into the energy flow. Luna began breathing in slow deep breaths, allowing loving emotions for all things to bring back her centered higher self. A warm emotion of love and blissful joy flowed in through the top of her head, spreading down through her entire body. 

Activating her chakras, filling her with an expanding buoyancy as she literally radiated a deep golden light from Her entire body. Now relaxed, she fell back asleep feeling safe for the first time in her life. Luna woke to find the bed empty beside her. 

She lay quietly for a few moments to center herself and strengthen her energy connection. A warm, tranquil love filled her, and she found herself smiling up at the ceiling.

Then she heard her father’s voice and another’s voice coming from the kitchen. Luna frowned as she rolled over to see the clock on the bedside table. Five thirty am. Visitors so early? Moreover, where was the wolf guide? She wondered as she pulled on a flimsy worn out blue terry robe. Luna froze as she stepped through the arched entry into the kitchen. 

Her father, Ben held a mug of black coffee in his hand as he sat at the table talking to the wolf. Luna stared at the animal as clear concise English issued effortlessly from his muzzle.

"Luna! Did you know about him? His name is Drakkarr, the Goddess Diana sent him to be your guide."

Ben waved a knarled hand towards Drakkarr. Luna nodded dumbly, the coffee pot in her hand as she stared at the wolf.

"I brought him in last night, Papa" She said, eyeing the wolf warily as she poured a cup of coffee for herself. "But she forgot to mention that he speaks."

Drakkarr swung his amused gaze between them. "I am here. It’s impolite to speak of me as if I am not present in the room."

Luna had started to sit down and ended up falling backward into the hard-cherry wood chair, gripping the edge of the table for support. She stared speechless at the wolf, who now jumped up into the chair across from her and sat staring back at her. Drakkarr grinned a wolfish smile at her as Ben placed a grilled beefsteak cut into small pieces in front of him.

Drakkarr ate each bite slowly and delicately, savoring every morsel. "I feel I must tell you both about myself. As you know, I have been sent here by the Goddess Diana and The Divine to aid Luna in fulfilling her destiny as the Divine Force has fore planned it. I was...well, you will find this difficult to accept as my species have remained elusive for millennia, but I was once a vampire." He stopped at Luna’s audible gasp before quickly continuing. 

"I am a vampire transformed into this werewolf ’s body by a jealous witch-" The wolf, Drakkarr hesitated momentarily glancing between the two. "Sybil SilverWolf. This curse can only be lifted at either Sybil’s or my own death. In this form, I am best able to protect you both." Drakkarr looked between them, a faraway look in his sad eyes. “It happened about a year ago, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I had thought her wholly human...she was not.”

Luna and her father stared at Drakkarr in stunned silence. That had been right after Sybil had fled the night of Chantel’s death. Ben dropped his greying head as tears ran freely down his weathered cheeks. The old man lifted faded blue eyes now darkened with pain and deep sorrow.

 "I am sorry..." Ben’s voice broke and he stood, briefly gripping Luna’s shoulder in tender affection before stepping outside to gather his tormented thoughts.

Luna said nothing as she watched her father quietly pull the door closed behind him. Drakkarr could see the raw torment in her eyes as she tried to control emotions over her sister that were spinning violently in her head. Sybil was far deadlier than she had ever allowed herself to believe.

 And she had the gall to come back two months ago, and now Luna wondered why. Luna wanted to run. She felt a sudden gripping nausea sweep over her as she trembled from its impact. Suddenly vampires and werewolves did not seem as shocking as Luna’s mind numbed at the knowledge that Sybil had become exactly what they had feared. The enemy.

Drakkarr could feel the tremendous pain and guilt that waved through her, his empathic abilities caused him to suffer the very anguish as those he connected with. He saw with great clarity that Luna’s emotional turmoil was more than he could handle alone, and he would need Father Leone after all. Without him, Drakkarr feared Luna would never be able to hold the Divine connection long enough to complete her mission in her present mental state.

He let his thoughts linger on his friend. They had known each other for many years, they were much alike in many ways. The high priest of the Goddess Diana was a man of honor and faith. Even though Miguel had suffered greatly in his life, his devotion to Diana and the Divine Source was his rock in the shipwreck of life. 

There was a calm tranquility that pervaded his very presence. His selfless unconditional love had drawn many followers who respected and loved him with a loyalty that shocked Drakkarr at times. He would be the rock Luna so desperately needed now. Drakkarr jumped to his feet, limply slightly as he loped towards the forest that lay beyond the fenced backyard, in search of the gnome he had met the night before.