Light and the Night Sky

Hecate

Closing her eyes, Daphne pinched the bridge here nose. Of course, the Goddess Hecate. Rebirth. She had died. “Yes, you have a lot to explain. Please fill me in.”

So, she did. Hecate spoke for what felt like hours, but assured her that time passed differently here. Wherever here was. To Daphne, it looked like a small forest, there was a wooden table that they sat at and drank tea. She could taste it, and couldn’t at the same time. Like it was the memory of taste.

When Hecate was finished speaking, Daphne set the ancient mug down and met her constantly shifting eyes. “I will recap, to make sure that I understand everything you told me. I didn’t die but it is like I died.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t see the difference.”

“Your soul never passed through the eternal gates; I summoned you here directly when you touched the ceil.” She waved slowly at Daphne. “The body you are in, is yours. You were not born again.”

“I can’t go back?”

She shook her head slowly. “There is no back, only forward.”

“Ok.” Daphne decided to unpack the feelings for that later. “The land you brought me to is called Morvanna, and the man with sorry fae with copper eyes is the lord of that land called Lirael.”

“Court Morvanna, land Morven. Lord is High Fae Lord.” Daphne could tell that speaking in English was wearing on the Goddess so she would have to rap this up quickly.

“The people I saw last night were Fae, not human. From the lore.”

“Yes. Strong Fae.”

“Those Fae have heightened senses, strengths and magic. Some can shapeshift. Like the rest of that isn’t enough, they are immortal.”

“Yes, blessed.”

“You brought me, a human, here to be your emissary called the Sheild that Guards the Relms of Men.” She phrased it like that hoping she would see the ridiculousness of the situation.

“Yes.” There was some level of hesitance there, that told Daphne that she was not telling the whole truth. She would have to touch on that later however.

“Why didn’t you make someone from this realm your emissary?”

“Later.” It was not the first time the Goddess had said this, if she did not want to explain she would state later.

“Ok, well I am locked in their dungeon right now and I can’t even speak to them to explain any of this.”

Hecate smiled then grabbed her hands. “Language will come, soon.” Standing she tugged on Daphne’s hands. “I train you now, and every night.”

“What do you mean by that?” Hecate showed her what she meant. Until the sun began to set, Hecate showed her how to summon light. It was surreal, the young woman could feel it coursing through her veins and pulsing out. It cascaded down her sandy red hair, hair that now reached her waist.

She could gather it into a ball around her and shield herself. Daphne could protect herself. It wasn’t strong yet, nor all that large but it was more than what she had before.

Hecate held a small hand up and shook her head. “For now, no training after sunset.”

Daphne lowered the wall and nodded. She would likely not get answer for that question so she didn’t ask it, she had gotten enough for today. If the Goddess is to be believed, Daphne will be back tomorrow to train. If she survived until tomorrow.

“Tomorrow then.”

Pleased, Hecate reached forward and touched Daphne with one finger on the forehead. “Tomorrow.”

With a jolt, Daphne snapped back to her body which was unfortunately hovering a foot above the ground from her last position. With a rush, she fell to the ground just barely catching herself. She crouched, listening for any evidence that she was in imminent danger. Daphne could only hear her heart beating quickly in her chest.

A sharp clang from the door startled her to her feet, she could hear nothing from beyond the room yet there was someone there. Heightened senses were an understatement. Daphne stood straight, facing the door trying to keep herself calm.

They had not hurt her, instead the let her sleep. She had to find a way to survive long enough to get an escape from these lands and go.. well go where? This was not her world, not her time. She was forever stuck out of place. Fighting back the knot in her throat, she steeled her resolved and looked at the fae before her.

She will survive this,

He waved her through the door, and she followed. Up the stairs they went until they were walking through long beautiful hallways. They were just as beautiful in the day time as they were at night. The stone was cold but radiating an air of welcome, it had stood the test of time and won.

She was led to a different hall than before, smaller. This one has a long table full of food, there were fae eating. Many almost looking hungover. Today they did not look as captivating, Hecate had explained it was due to the energy being bound from the mid-winter solstice and its ceremony. It had a stronger effect on humans than fae, so the feeling would fade.

Daphne stopped at the edge of the table and curtsied again; it might be wrong but it was the only thing she could think to do. It brought a round of laughter from the fae, one man stood up. He had long blond hair pulled back into a braid, but blue eyes. He looked similar to the man with the scar from last night, a family member? Who knew how old he was?

The man walked up to her and grabbed her wrist tightly, babbling at her. He looked excited but she couldn’t understand anything he said. Except she could, just one word. Light.

Light? Why could I understand light now? Why was he rambling about light? She looked down and he kept shaking her hand at her and she understood. He wanted her to show her the light. Was that not normal?

Slowly, she nodded. Pulling her had back, Daphne pushed all of her feelings into her hands and they began to glow. It wasn’t as bright as yesterday, but it was enough.

The man looked at her hands with curiosity and joy.

This is how she had to survive.