Chapter 61: Chapter 61: A Memory Lost

I lie still, watching her, frozen, breath raspy to match my elevated heart rate, but my fears begin to

calm and fade as she slides down her hood with a slow even movement, and illuminates the room

with a magical blue glow of both her hands. Like a mesmerizing smoky orb around each, that

follows and traces with every movement. Hypnotic in nature.

Sierra Santo is a very beautiful woman, with almost milky skin, despite looking exotic. Her dark hair

frames a delicate bone structure, and her eyes, although electrifying blue right now, are almond

shaped under straight thick dark brows, so perfectly symmetrical. She has pouty lips, and an ever-

present youthful charm that completely warms her to you. A face that says, “I can be trusted’ to

match the surrounding atmosphere of serene she always carries.

I sit up, gasping in wonderment at the light show, and reaching out to touch what I can see as she

moves in and sits on the side of my bed with grace. She allows my hand to wander into hers,

seeking out and investigating, before firmly surrounding my small hand in her own fingers and

encompassing me within the warmth. I expected the blue air to be cold, but it's almost like being

submerged in a hot bubble bath, and I giggle at the tickle of it.

"Don't be afraid, Alora... it's magic. Special, gentle, and yet so very beautiful, and kind, when used

the right way. Would you like to do some magic with me while I tell you a story?” Her eyes are still

that dazzling brightest azure, and I look from her hands to her eyes in awe at the vibrance of this

mystical light she’s able to produce. My curiosity killing the last of my fears, and I nod with the

enthusiasm of a child who wants to discover more. Naive courage, because of my innocence.

Of course, I shouldn't be afraid, this is the Luna Santo and I do know her. She comes to the library to

read us stories and plays with us sometimes. well she did, before all the grownups left to fight a

battle. Just like my own mommy and daddy have. and my big brother Jasper. and my grandparents.

and most of the rest of the Whyte pack. I stay with Mommy's friend while they're gone, Aisha

Munro, one of our pack. who is big and round because she says she’s having puppies. Sierra has a

son around my age, but I don't like boys. and I don't like playing with Santos. They're always so

pushy and aggressive when we do. and I prefer my friends from the Whyte pack. We're softer, we

play less rough and tough games than fighting and hunting. They're just stupid.

"How can a wolf do magic?” I ask, blinking trustingly and adjusting to fully see her in this dimness,

leaning up against my headboard and shuffling my butt so I can sit properly. With blue as our light

source, everything it touches between us is shaded in cold hues, which add even more magic to the

atmosphere all around us, and I smile as I watch it envelop my own hand and spread up my arm. It

feels strange, but good, like soft gentle air being blown across the surface of my skin, only warm.

“Well that's a story, and one I would like to tell you. Remember how we used to read at the library,

when you all laid on the floor, and closed your eyes so you could get lost in the pictures your mind

creates? We can do that now if you like, so you can listen and empty your mind from any

distractions. I need you to focus on my words and not my light.” Her voice is so soothing, low, yet

pretty. I've always liked Sierra's voice, it has such a calming quality, like a warm wave washing over

you on a cool day. A husky depth that is a little lower than most femmes, but it's melodic.

"Yes! I love your stories.” I reply in unleashed excitement, hurrying to lie back down in my bed and

eager to hear this one. I bounce, and shuffle, while still holding her hand and wriggle myself down

like a squirming caterpillar into my sheets once more, pushing my head back against my cushion,

sinking in. I don't care why she’s come in through my window and not the door. Or why she came in

the night, I want to be a good girl and listen to her magical adventure story. The one in which a wolf

learns magic. That's crazy, and even I know that wolves can do no such thing!

My mommy used to read me stories in bed, and maybe because she can't be here right now, Sierra

came to do it instead. She's a Queen so she can come home when she chooses, but my mommy is a

warrior, and she has to stay away and protect us from the bad men who came to the mountain to

hurt the wolves. Mommy is really strong, and fast, and such a good fighter for being a farmer wolf,

so she said it was important that she went with them to chase the darkness away.

Sierra tucks me in neatly, pulling my blanket up to my chest, but keeps my one hand in hers snugly

and tightens the grip she has on me. She slides back a little and lays my wrist on her knee which

splays open my palm to disengage hers, so she can touch my hand without holding it properly, and

with gentle strokes begins to circle in the center in a rhythmic motion. The sensation sends both

shivers, and goosebumps, across my skin but it brings back the sleepiness and has the same effect

as rocking me back to sleepiness.

“I learned to do magic as a very small child, much the age you are now. It wasn't easy, but when you

discover a gift inside of you that aches to be set free, nothing can hold it down forever. Open your

mouth, Alora, I have a sweet tasting berry that will help you sleep when I'm done telling my tale.”

Her voice is hushed, as though she’s telling me secrets, and I obediently open my mouth as she

pops a small, round, semi soft object, in my mouth, and I automatically begin to chew. The juicy

little thing explodes with the first squish between my teeth, like a delicious fruit bomb of sticky

sweet nectar, leaving a beautiful residue of raspberries, strawberries, and other wild berries, that

seem to mingle in my mouth and coat my tongue as though I just drank a whole glass of squeezed

berry juice.

"What was that? Can I have another?” I ask while opening one eye to look her way, it was so tasty I

could eat a whole bowl of whatever that was. She's leaning over my hand, looking at me, and shakes

her head with a soft smile on her pretty face.

"Hush now and listen. Close your eyes. No, one is more than enough, for you see, one little berry

has the power to make tonight fade away further than a forgotten dream, where no one will know

where to look to find it. It's a very special berry, only found in crevices of magical places, in

whimsical woods, and with my help it has a little added spice.” Sierra picks up a strand of my hair

and twirls it with her free hand, never breaking contact of the first and I settle back down into my

dark blankness as I shut my eyes once more, to focus only on her voice.

The night air is still and quiet, and for once, I can't even hear the owls in the trees or the leaves

rustling on the wind outside my window. There are no other noises around us, not even the ones of

the house creaking, or the Munro's coughing in their sleep, which is a little odd, but maybe I usually

sleep through the night and don't know the world sometimes falls silent.

“My story may not make sense sweetest child, but one day it will, and when you remember it,

remember this night and this moment... all will fall into place. You'll know why I came,” Sierra Santo

brushes a hand across my forehead gently, a simple yet affectionate touch of a mother, and I nod,

not willing to interrupt her anymore, so eager for this story to begin even if I don't grasp what she

means. I love tales about witches, and magic, and brave hero's, and hope this is going to be a good

one. I can already tell as she’s playing with my hair, like we've started a great adventure.

I feel her sag and sigh against my thigh before her voice fills the air, still hushed, yet clear and true.

“Once upon a time, there was a special girl called Danya, who lived near some very beautiful

mountains in a land filled with immortals. She was only small, barely a girl. She was unusual though,

as before her no other of her kind had been borne that had ever survived beyond the womb. They

say the fates blessed her very creation with a purpose in mind. That she was of two breeds united,

who had lived on the land side by side for centuries; her mother a light walking wolf, fell in love with

a dark creature who could never face the sun, a vampire. By their union they created a child of two

worlds who could walk in either sun or moon and harness the best of both. You see these two

breeds; they were once allies, co-existing together. One in night, and one in light, protecting the

lairs of each, so other immortals and human hunters would never hurt them at their weakest, but a

terrible king pulled them apart in the worst of ways. He believed the breeds uniting, creating a new

kind, would overpower all of the immortals, outbreeding his wolves, and this girl with her special

gifts, could show them the way. See, she was not just any hybrid child, she had powers unlike any

we had seen before, and she wanted only unity among her people. That was her fated purpose.”

I gasp a little, and cover my mouth right away, so as not to disturb her, and utter only a breathless

WOW as I become immersed in this tale. My little heart picking up speed with the wonder of it.

Sierra smiles softly and continues.

“The Alpha king was enraged with the audacity of the girl, that she should one day rise up and

derail him, taking his wolf kingdom away. So, he did what he thought would save his rule, and he

slaughtered the girl Danya, when she was merely a child. Her mother too, who tried to protect her,

was laid down in a pool of blood. The King, he was a liar, he blamed the dark creatures for the

deaths of their own, and ignited anger in the wolf packs, to seek vengeance for the bloodshed of an

innocent, while he denied the act himself.”

“He killed the little girl and her mommy?” I blurt out my outrage, unable to contain my angry shock,

inhaling hard, and opening an eye to blink at Sierra. Sierra gently moves her hand over my face and

closes my eyes once more with her delicate fingertips, pushing me back to quiet, and continues on. I

try so hard to keep my eyes closed this time, the excitement bubbling within my veins.

“Now the dark walker, he was not just any creature...but he was what they call an original, much like

the Alpha of the wolves was. An ancient; beings who were the first in line of our kinds and created

many purebloods. Danya’s mother had lain with the King of Vampires, probably why her child took

hold and came to fruition, as ancients are the purest of our kind. His broken heart and need to

avenge his love, and his child, drove him to sheer madness, and he swore to avenge her death by

slaying all wolves he deemed responsible in their demise. The Kings, they met in battle, and what

were once allies and peaceable unions became bloodshed and death, and it spilled onto every land

until both were forced to find refuge in parts of the world where the other did not stray. Those born

of mixed breed, who came after, in the years following where unions were made in secret from

those who didn't want the wars, were hunted down, and slaughtered by both kinds for treason.

Unions were forbidden between the two breeds. So those who were born of light and dark, they

fled, and hid, and always kept their secret about who they really were, in any way they could. Danya

was not the last.”