The Banished Luna

Chapter 15

By the time Georgia arrived at the Wisdom House, should could feel the slippery residue of her lovemaking session running down her inner thigh. Her nethers were still throbbing, and her thoughts were anything but pious.

The spakona raised a delicate white eyebrow at her arrival, but greeted her as usual.

"Prepare the herbs." She croaked, nodding towards the shelf of jars. It had taken weeks, but eventally the Omega became familiar enough with which herbs were used for the Wisdom House's various rituals, though their preparation was still a mystery.

Georgia dropped a small curtsey and crossed to the shelves to gather the necessary ingredients.

"There will be only three tonight." Sigrit spoke plainly. "The pupils are away at utiseta. We will keep the fire and remain open to the will of the Goddess." She adjusted the shawl around her shoulders and settled deeper into her seat. Darkness filled the corners of the room. It seemed darker without the presence of the usual crowd of murmurring students.

From her place by the fire, Kara smiled at Georgia as she pulled jars from the shelves. Her grin was cold and cruel, and unsettling, like a cat watching it's prey enjoying its final moments of ignorant bliss.

Her expression didn't escape the notice of the old woman. If she suspected Kara's ill-intent, she didn't let on.

"We will hold a special ritual. Three women to represent the three aspects of the Goddess." She pulled an ancient key from deep within her robes. "Kara, fetch the Amantia tincture"

The malice melted away from the blonde woman's face and her eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, Spakona" With the key, she opened a small, unassuming chest in a forgotten corner of the room, and placed the tiny clay vessel in her grandmother's outstretched hand.

"The mead, child," She continued, sending Kara to yet another cabinet to return with a glass bottle filled with a liquid that shined amber in the firelight. Kara filled three small cups with a few ounces of mead, and placed the tray deferentially before the wise woman.

Georgia watched on with curiosity as she stood by with the requested herbs. Sigrit carefully added a few drops from the little clay flask into each cup, while speaking phrases in a language Georgia didn't reconize. The words sounded ancient, and chthonic - like something that belonged in deep, magical places.

When she finished, Sigrit motioned for Georgia to add the herbs to the fire. The old woman continued to speak, and the words turned into a chant.

"Svá hjalpi þér

hollar véttir,

Idun ok Frigg ok Elli

ok fleiri goð,

sem þú feldir mér."

Georgia's mind started to swim as the herb-laden smoke from the fire worked on her consciousness. She was used to the feeling by now, but her mind still fought against letting go and slipping into the altered state.

I dont want to go there. Geneva's voice sounded far away. I'm scared I won't come back...I'm scared...

But Geneva's protests were drowned out by Sigrit's chant, and, as if in a trance, Georgia sat by the fire with the two other women.

Sigrit lifted a cup to Georgia's lips. The cool liquid was sweet, but had a bitter aftertaste. Nevertheless, she allowed the older woman to keep lifting the cup until it was empty. Almost instantly, the room started to spin. The only anchor to reality was the soft pressure of a gnarled hand on her brow, but once it was gone, everything melted into darkness.

I opened my eyes, blinking repeatedly, trying to focus on something. No matter how I tried, though, the shapes around me remained blurry. Was I still in the Wisdom House?

Two shapes slowly came into focus - it was Kara and the Spakona, I think? No, not them. Two women, in robes of silvery white. They looked very similar, except one was eldery, older than the earth, and the other looked barely sixteen.

"Mother, maiden, Crone. Three in one." They said, and I heard my voice speaking with theirs.

From the shadows came three wolves: Geneva, Kuura, Silfruna. I'd never met the Spakona's wolf, but I knew her. I knew them all, deeply, intimately.

Geneva cowered before us, tail tucked, unwilling to meet our gaze. She was afraid.

Kuura also turned her gaze away, but not with fear. She was ashamed, angry.

Silfruna was the only wolf who held her head up in our presence. She was proud, but reverent.

My first instinct was to comfort the fearful wolf. She was me. Was she? Was I myself?

"You come before your Goddess." Our voices spoke out. "You are here, but divided."

Silfruna was the first to speak. "They are suffering and seek your mercy."

"They are not ready to receive my guidance." Our voices said in unison. "That one is filled with pain and fear, torn from herself by trauma. That one is lost to vengeance and rage, and is on a path to destruction."

Wait, no! I'm finally happy! I have Avi, and I'll be his mate. Whatever it is, I'm ready! I looked down at Geneva again. She was shaking in fear, and looked skinny and malnourished. She doesn't look like that when I shift...

Kuura refused to speak on her own behalf, stubbornly continuing to look away. Even when the young Goddess knelt down to lay a tender hand on her head, the white wolf remained unyeilding. The Maiden sadly returned to us.

Silfruna watched her companions and hung her head, "I understand. I will do what I can."

"I will be watching and aiding you, dear one. They are lost, but not beyond saving"

Together, we approached Silfruna, and with a single form, kissed her soft, wiskered cheek. "You have my blessing. Help your lost daughters in my name."

What do you mean, I'm lost? Aren't I where you want me to be? Didn't everything that's happened to me lead me to my fated mate at last? Isn't this your will?

The wolves before me melted into the blur of my surroundings, and everything around me started to darken.

Wait! I still have questions!

When Georgia opened her eyes, it was morning and she was in her own bed. Wisdom House robes still on, and Avi's dried semen still flaking away from her thighs.