The Dormant: The 5 Goddesses

Episode 2: The Fairy Godmothers

~Selene~

"A f*****g vampire!" Aine's voice pierced the air. "Shhh," I mustered, gently rocking the little treasure in my arms. Aine's anger persisted. "I wanted to stop Bastet before she did this. Why wouldn't you? Why would you let her? There could be other ways..." Her voice trailed off, defeated.

Taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I replied, "It was already done. If I didn't go through with it, Bastet would have done it anyway, and now she would be gone." Memories of past tragedies resurfaced, and I couldn't contain my anger. "Do you remember when he died? The disasters, the plagues, so many children lost, including yours, mine, and humans. There was a disbalance, darkness. It took you, Morrigan, Triton, Sun and me to reestablish order, but it came at a great cost." The weight of those events on my family haunted me and made my blood boil in anger.

"Morrigan has gone to live in solitude, rejecting Triton. Triton just up and disappeared into an ocean, and your children are so scared of other creatures that they created their own realm," I continued, my voice growing louder with each word.

Aine put her hand up, stopping me mid-sentence. "Don't lecture me, Selene. What about your wolves thinking they are the strongest? They don't respect other magical beings, and they don't even respect you or your laws," she argued.

Sadly, I admitted, "Yes, and my children don't respect me anymore." The child in my arms began to stir and pout, just starting to cry. "Shhh, baby girl. Shhh, my goddess," I cooed, trying to comfort her.

Aine's eyes widened as she remembered why she was there in the first place. She walked to my side and looked down at the baby. "Her eyes," she gasped. "I know," I quickly replied.

"We can't let anything hurt her," Aine said with a worried expression.

"Yes, we can't let anything happen to this gemstone," I said, shifting the baby in my arms. "And when her time comes, I'll present her to her true mate, making her the strongest feline ever to be born. Her mate's spirit will help her learn, grow, and rule her people," I said, adopting an almost infantilizing tone, as if singing.

Aine asked with a glare, "What are you going to do?"

¨Well, she can't live amongst my werewolves, just one of them being disobedient and she's dead. I am placing her in a human home inside the borders of a pack, in the new world. That way, she gets protected by the werewolves without knowing the precious little feline living beneath their own noses. At the right time, everything will be revealed, but for now, she needs a better childhood than the one Lilith just stole.¨ For the time being, she will be protected. I reviewed my plan inside myself. My sister just stared at me as if I became demented.

"You're telling me she could be killed by your wolves if they find out about her? You're placing her in the weakest race there is, humans? Tell me what happens when her scent is picked up for being too close to the pack? She definitely smells magical to me. To add insult to injury, you're stating her true mate-bond is with one of your children—the same magicals who won't hesitate to kill her if they find her living in their area. Tell me, Selene, in this grandiose scheme of yours, what happens when he finds out what she is?" Aine's frustration seemed ready to burst.

¨Well remember, felines are dormant and almost gone. My children would not know what kind of magic they are scenting. Already her true mate-bond has been foreseen and the wolf that was chosen for it. This would be his destiny. He would become my enforcer, my king Alpha.¨ I repeated this same thing numerous times since I decided to help Bastet.

Aine rolled her eyes, expressing her skepticism. "I knew you would need me, Selene," she said.

She gestured for me to pass the child to her and asked, "What's her name?" "Catalina," I said, handing the bundle to the Fae queen. Aine shrugged, "Well, she is a cat, so it makes sense, but we do need something a bit less exotic if you're sending her north." She lifted the child and began dancing with her. "Catalina, let's give you another name, shall we?" she said, gently holding the golden-haired child a few feet above the ground, while dancing. "You shall be... Charlotte. Yes, Charlotte soothes you, my sweet, beautiful goddaughter."

Aine continued to speak with a mix of affection and sadness, ¨Charlotte, last descendent of the pure felines, the fire carrier, and the vessel of Bastet, mother of felines, blood of royals, you should bring balance to the magic realm. You've been given the gift of a powerful essence and unimaginable knowledge by your mother, Bastet. The gift of a typical boring childhood followed by being unable to find your own love by your aunt Selene.¨ She grinned at me as I rolled my eyes at her.

¨I, Aine the Fae God, give you the gift of protection, from now on and until you are 18, you will smell human.¨ I cut in as I heard Aine's blessing. ¨Don't mess with her eyes, please.¨

She rolled her own eyes at me and continued. ¨As I was saying before, been rudely interrupted by your aunt Selene. You will no longer smell like any kind of magic. Until your eighteen birthday, you could lose yourself in any crowd, and only a pure feline would be attracted by you. They would only need to look into your eyes. As a bonus, without sounding cliché, my little beauty. I give you the gift of grace so you could catch any fellow your heart desires, must it be your betrothal or any other one you choose.¨

¨Really!¨ I shot up, giving her a disagreeing glance. ¨I know what you are trying to do, sister.¨ Aine smiled a mischievous smile at me and blew on the child's face, making little Charlotte sneeze.

¨As for my second gift Brigit, please come out.¨ She motioned to the woods, and a nymph stepped out from behind a tree. She was blue-haired with a Greek nose and yellow eyes. Her features reminded me of an owl. Brigit gracefully bowed at us. Aine nodded at her and spoke.

¨She would be your shadow and follow you everywhere. Her blood would give you extra cloaking and protection, making sure no one can find you, not a vampire or wolf, until the time is right. Now go and live my little one.¨ She finished and passed the little bundle into my hands.

The child was settling back down, and I could feel her purr. ¨Yes, you are happy, aren't you, Bastet.¨ I said while looking at Charlotte. I rushed back to look at Aine. Neither my sister nor Brigit were longer there.

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I closed my eyes, and finally, I heard a prayer from a human who believed in me. After hearing her plea, I knew she was the perfect choice. Apparating outside a beautiful home, I was greeted by the comforting smell of a chestnut wood-burning in the chimney. I explored the peaceful settings, taking in the marble kitchen, the living room, and the mahogany wood floor. My attention was drawn to a blue door on the second floor. Behind it, a man held a woman who was crying while clutching a stuffed teddy bear. The room was a nursery, prepared for a child who never came.

"Death in the womb," I heard the woman say. "Like the others, he was gone before he could live." She wept while collapsing into the man's arms. "I can't have your children, John. My body is not meant to carry a baby. Would you leave me now?" Her voice was filled with desperation. "No, Sara, never. I am here for you, in sickness and health, through whatever struggles there may be," he reassured her, gently making soothing circles on her back with his palm.

The doorbell rang, and he reluctantly stood up. "You deserve happiness, sweetie," he said before leaving the room. He made his way downstairs, and the sound of his footsteps grew heavier as he opened the front door. "Sara!" he called out from the entrance. "Come now!"

Sara slowly composed herself, wiping away her tears and fixing a strand of hair that fell across her eyes. With a determined spirit, she brushed the tears away from her face and joined her mate at the front door.

As the door closed behind the man, he gently held Catalina, who was crying relentlessly. "Probably the baby of a meth addict. Who in their right mind would leave a baby naked in the middle of the night? Some people are just... I am calling the police," he said in frustration as he handed the kitten to Sara.

"Oh my god, you little thing, you're freezing to death," she said with concern, rushing to the fireplace to grab a quilt and wrap the baby in it. "There, there, isn't this better," she cooed, rocking Catalina in an attempt to soothe her. Sara began to sing a lullaby.

"Smile though your heart is aching. Smile even though it's breaking." Catalina opened her eyes and started to yawn. Sara gasped at the sight of the child's eyes and continued her song. "When there's a cloud in the sky, you'll get by..." Catalina began to doze off.

I knelt down and gently touched the woman's hand, whispering, "Charlotte." She continued singing. "...If you smile through your fears and sorrows..." A tear trickled down her cheek. I murmured while placing a hand on her belly, "Your dreams will come true, Sara." "...Smile and maybe tomorrow..."

Catalina closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. " The sun will come in shining through if you just smile. ¨Sara whispered with a smile. "Sleep, Baby Charlotte." The man entered the room and saw his mate lovingly rocking the baby. "They say there's a massive pile-up on Route 10," he said. She looked tenderly up at him and at that moment, but the gravity of the situation made him kneel beside his family. He was now a protector, and she was a mother. With that, I turned around and disappeared, knowing that Charlotte was in the right hands.