Dusk had finally crested over the tips of the mountains. Artemis and I had left the safehouse a half hour before, running further into the woods so I could practice with my powers once again.
I had been a little reluctant to leave as Valen and Von had not returned yet, but Artemis assured me that they were safe. I had shrugged off my worries and followed her into the darkness.
Once we found a small clearing near a trickling stream, we decided to shift from wolf form to human.
"Are you sure we shouldn't practice in wolf first?" I asked her.
"The only time I've been able to use my abilities when I'm human was when Aunt Maddie was killed." Artemis gave me a stern look.
"We'll do both, but we need to know if you can control it in human form as well." I pursed my lips but didn't reply.
She had a point. I couldn't go flying off the handle and using my powers willy-nilly in human form. I could seriously hurt someone.
"So, where do we start?" she questioned. I shrugged.
"I've been able to manipulate the weather, fire, wind, and earth. The only time I've had real control over it was when I was practicing with the others, or when Moonlight was prowling the territory."
"Well, if that's the case, why don't we start slow. Try beginning with the one that feels the easiest to control." She gave me a smile of encouragement, then stepped back to let me concentrate.
I thought for a moment, before deciding that the wind would probably be my best bet. I closed my eyes and listened.
I could hear the faintest rustling of the leaves and the whisper of the air as it passed through the pine branches above.
I took a deep breath and concentrated hard, trying to envision the wind bending to my will. For a few moments, nothing happened, until I heard that soft, celestial voice again.
"Indigo," it whispered. I kept my eyes closed, but shifted my focus to it.
"Indigo, you have to let me in. I can help you. Feel the light surrounding your being. Feel the pull that guides you to the moon."
I clenched my eyelids together tighter, and realized I could feel the familiar wisps of the tendrils connected to my back.
"Good, my child. Now let my light surround you."
I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I clenched my fists and exhaled a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
Suddenly, a warm, euphoric feeling engulfed my body. I shivered at the magnitude of it, and when I opened my eyes, I could see everything much more clearly than I ever had before.
Sienna purred with pride in my mind. I blinked and realized I could not only feel the slight breeze, I could see it.
It was almost translucent, with a sparkling edge that wavered and danced along everything it touched. The light would pass through it and bend as it did, throwing brilliant facets of color in all directions.
I held out my hand toward it, and felt it's cool grasp on my skin. I curled my fist and the breeze stilled, forming a vibrating ball in front of me.
I glanced back at Artemis and registered a look of confusion on her face. I don't think she could see what I was seeing, and I'm sure I looked like a lunatic with my hand raised in the air.
I smiled to myself and uncurled my hand again, before waving it gently toward her.
The breeze followed and swirled around her ankles, before traveling up her body and tangling around her blonde curls. Astonishment replaced her previous expression, as her jaw fell to the floor.
"Are you doing that?" she whispered. I nodded my head and smiled at her.
I felt powerful and peaceful all at once; like I was connected directly to the Moon Goddess above and she was carefully observing me.
"That's right," I heard the voice say.
"I can only speak to you at certain times, but I am with you always."
My heart filled with pure joy at her words, and the wind died down once again. I looked to the small stream, willing myself to feel energy from the moving water.
I felt a small tingle run down my spine as I approached the water. I dipped my hand into it, reveling in it's icy embrace. I lifted both my hands slightly, and sent them to the side, parting the stream down the middle. Artemis let out a squeak of surprise.
"I must be dreaming. This can't be real," she was murmuring to herself. I chuckled.
"Oh, Artemis. This is very real. What should I do next?"
She put a finger to her lips as she thought for a moment.
"Can you form fire?" I
furrowed my brow. I wasn't actually sure if I could make it appear out of thin air. Last time I'd used fire, there had already been a source available to me.
I concentrated hard, imagining flames burning slowly down a dried piece of wood as it turned into nothing but ash.
My mind began to get blurry as smoke invaded my lungs and screams penetrated the air. I put my hands over my ears, trying to block out the horrific noise.
I opened my eyes, but instead of the familiar forest floor, I was met with nothing but blackness. I screamed and shrank down to the ground, tears running down my face.
"Indigo!" I could hear someone shouting in the distance.
It was like I was trying to listen from under water.
"Indigo!"
I snapped my eyes open again and saw Artemis's worried face by mine. I sat up and sniffed.
The acrid smoke that had filled my lungs just moments ago was replaced with the crisp mountain air. I could no longer hear the horrifying screams; only the midnight creatures playing their nightly symphony.
"What the hell was that?" Artemis exclaimed.
I stood up and took a shaky step toward her. She rushed to my side and threw my arm around her shoulder to support my weight.
"I don't know. I was concentrating on creating fire, and suddenly I was engulfed in darkness. I'm not sure that's something I should be messing with." Artemis nodded her head and led me to the stream to get a drink.
We sat in silence for a moment before she spoke.
"Do you think that's why your father used fire in his attack? Or do you think it was just a coincidence?" I shrugged.
"I'm not sure of anything at this point."
She wrapped an arm around me.
"We should get back to practicing," she said after a few moments of silence.
I nodded my head and rose from the ground, intent on getting ahold of my abilities.
***
A few hours later I collapsed into bed, exhausted and drained. The moon had been high in the sky by the time we returned, and King Ruben had been waiting in the seating room. He hadn't admonished us for being gone so long; instead he congratulated us on making progress.
He'd also informed us that Valen, Von, Anton and the group they had assembled would be sleeping in the cave tonight.
My stomach had tightened in fear at the thought. What if something happened to him while I wasn't there?
I turned over and pulled his pillow closer, inhaling his scent. It'd only been a few days since we had discovered we were mates, but I still missed him intensely. My heart ached as I fell asleep.
I awoke in a field, the moon bright and center in the sky above me. Millions of tiny stars brilliantly surrounded it's outline.
I sat up and looked around, realizing I was surrounded by a field of daisies. The light shining down gave them an ethereal, silver color. I touched the petals delicately, entranced by their beauty.
"You've come, my child," I heard from behind me.
I whipped my head around and saw a woman with flowing silver hair and piercing white-gold eyes beaming at me.
She had on an ancient, cream colored dress and a silver chain with a crescent moon that adorned her head. Her red lips parted as she spoke.
"You don't have to be afraid, I called you here."
"Where is here?" I asked.
"Middle Earth, a place between the spiritual and Earthly realms. It's the only place I can bring my children when I need to speak with them."
"Your children? Does that mean you're.." She smiled at me again.
"That's correct, Indigo. I am Selene, the Goddess of the Moon."
Author's Note:
Okay, so the voice isn't bad! Who guessed it? But what's up with the fire? Are you worried for Valen and Von at all?
Let me know what you think in the comments, and please vote!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris