Blood Rite: MATE

Chapter Sixteen ~ Digging into the Darkness

"Soteria!" Tia demanded. She was agitated and wanted answers. "Soteria please! I know you can hear me! Enough with the games and come talk to me damn it!"

"Is that really how you should be talking to a goddess?" Tala asked looking wide eyed at her aunt.

"Witches never seem to have any respect." A soft voice teased. Branches moved out of the way as Soteria walked up to them. Wearing a modest flowing white robe. Her light brown curls held up with the help of a golden laurel wreath crown.

"We just don't like being toyed with." Tia stated bluntly. "What's going on with Tala?! What aren't you telling me?"

"I told you, you needed to be prepared for Tala and her new powers. What part of that is a secret?"

"This is more than just normal lycan stuff! What's going on with her?"

"I don't know why you're in such a huff about it. I never said to be prepared for her lycan side to show. She has a pack for that. That's on you for assuming. Do you not remember why you put a spell on her in the first place?" Soteria asked. She tried to keep things light but it was obvious her patience was running thin. "Because even as a pup she had a strong aura and power that we haven't even seen in an adult alpha. It radiated off of her. Not even I could protect her without your help."

"So what's that mean exactly?" Tia asked trying to piece everything together.

"It means it's time for Tala to sink into the darkness and find the answers she seeks." She turned to Tala who had been standing there trying to absorb what was being said. "Tala, are you ready to start digging?"

Soteria took Tala deeper into the forest. Soon they had come to a waterfall. Centaurs, satyrs and magical creatures of all kinds were scattered all over the place. Enjoying them selves. Tala looked around in amazement seeing the fairies that were no bigger than a hummingbird, playing around on the lily pads. She followed Soteria into a cave behind the waterfall. There were more nymphs there. A giant fountain like bath was set up in the middle of the cave. The nymphs were pouring all sorts of different colored liquids into it. It smelt amazing. A sweetly exotic aroma. Hints of things that she couldn't place but smelt like flowers and citrus.

"I need you to go through there and get cleaned up first. The girls will help you." Soteria pointed to a tunnel to the far left side and the nymphs grabbed Tala and escorted her through it. It led to what looked like a home. The girls pointed to the bathroom.

"You need to be washed of any mud or dirt. We need to ensure that you are able to soak in everything with out any blockage." The red haired nymph told her.

"It's okay. You just need to take a quick shower." The brunette one assured her after seeing Talas worry. "It just helps you reach the broken links in your mind. We have a special mixture to make it as pleasant and calming as possible. It's what you saw us adding to the bath."

As Tala was busy Tia took the opportunity to talk to Soteria privately.

"What's really going on Sotty? She may not be my blood but I love her and I'm really worried for her."

"As you should be!" She scolded.

"Why?" Tia asked taken back.

"Twins born under a golden eclipse and you have to ask me?! I thought you were the one who studied the old scriptures? Or were you too busy studying something else or someone else." She teased.

Tia was one of the only witches who was able to learn the old lycan scriptures. It's there she met the young Alpha Zeev. Their fathers were dear friends and both worked as leaders of the supernatural counsel at the time. Which is why Tia was allowed to study at the compound. At the time they wanted to integrate the Witch and Lycan community.

Zeev and his father had spent their summer with Tia and her family in a hidden Louisiana bayou. Her family had been a part of the human world for the last few centuries. They all kept to themselves but had a bit of fun with the tourists from time to time. The ones who were crazy enough to seek out the dark voodoo magic of the bayou.

A young Zeev was smitten with the passionate and caring Chthonia Adira. It was puppy love at first sight.

When Tia spent the school year with Zeev's family at the compound, she was able to fit in nicely. Even making a best friend. They had decided to allow Tia to continue to learn there. Her life was perfect. A sweet boyfriend, an awesome bestie and tons of great friends.

Until Zeev's mate turned 18 and was now on his radar. . . Out of all of the people in the world, it just had to be her best friend too. Zeev denied it at first because he loved Tia and swore he could fight it but you can never deny a mate bond. Gela tried to fight it as well. No one wanted to hurt her but before long they were tangled up together. Leaving an unexpected Tia to walk in on them mid act. She couldn't even be mad. She knew from her years with the wolves that it was their instincts, their nature but it didn't change her pain.

"You're all just beasts and that's all your ever be!" She spat at them later that day when they tried to apologize.

That night she left the compound for good.

Zeev has tried to reach out over the years which only made Gela jealous and hateful. Tia enjoyed her torment but never opened the letters. Just kept them in a box hidden under a floor board beneath her bed.

Soteria snapped her fingers in front of Tia "Twins, Golden eclipse" she reminded her trying to get her out of her daydream.

"Right, Twins born on the golden eclipse" she tried to remember. "They are pieces to the triad right?"

"Yeah . . . but more importantly . . . Twins . . . born at the peak of the golden eclipse . . . to a wolf in mid transformation." Soteria was trying to get her to remember.

"Birthing a pure black wolf who's powers would be great but dark. He would become the great ruler of the shadows with his twin by his side. The noble golden she-wolf of prophecy. To be born as a pup with golden hair, said to shine so bright it was as if the sun was shinning through her. . . . You were there the night Tala was born. You seen her fur."

"but Talas twin died. So even if she was the Golden she-wolf of prophecy she wouldn't even be able to fulfil it."

"Are you sure about that?"

*Flash back 19 years ago*

"Shaw!" Tamika screamed at his limp, lifeless body. Another contraction was coming. This one was stronger than the last. Screaming out in pain she calls out Shaw's name again. She couldn't do this alone. She couldn't control the tears from all of the pain and sorrow. Emerging from the dark clouds of smoke that surrounded them, Tia appeared. She ran to Mika as soon as she seen her.

"Can you walk?" She asked.

"I think so but the contractions are bad."

"So are your wounds. You can't give birth right now!" Tia panicked. "We need to get you out of here. There's more rogues. I was able to fight off a lot of them but more are coming."

Tamika grabs onto Tias arm as another strong contraction hit. "I don't think I can make it very far." She looks to her mate. Her heart shattered.

"You have to leave him . . . I know it hurts but I can only carry one of you. You don't have to walk far, your fathers waiting for you but we need to hurry. There's a cave a half a mile north. You have to make it." She took one last look at her mate, closed her eyes and let Tia help her get away.

She had lost a lot of blood and was beginning to fade when they had arrived there. Collapsing, Tia did everything she could to catch her. Thankfully Zeev was waiting outside and was there within seconds to catch her. The rain was pouring but with Tami safely in Zeev's arms she knew what she had to do.

"Tia?" Tamika cried. "Please, save them!"

"Of course." Tia promised her.

"I mean it Tia!" She let out another scream as contraction hit. "If you have to choose, choose them!" Tami sobbed. "They are all that's left of us." She sniffles. "Of him." She sobs harder before screaming due to another contraction.

"They're getting closer together! Get her inside. I'll be in to help soon."

Closing her eyes she focused on the storm, she focused on her anger, on her sorrow, and on her pain. The gray clouds became dark as night. Rain pouring harder and faster. Thunder booming and lighting close enough to keep people away.

"How is she doing?" she asked Malcolm when she got inside the cave.

"She's not healing, she needs to turn." He said grimly.

"But she can't, she won't. She'd lose them." Her bottom lip was quivering.

"Would you rather lose all three!" Malcom lashed out.

"You won't be able to convince her." She said smugly. "Mika could pull through this. We've already made it this far. It can't end like this!"

"He already put her to sleep and gave her wolfsbane to make her body force a transformation." Zeev told her. He was at Tala's side holding her hand. His voice was breaking. "I couldn't . . I couldn't stop him. I didn't know what he was doing." He looked at Malcom "All of this. . . Shaw's life . . . All lost for nothing! You got what you wanted after all!"

Tamika began groaning, her body twisting and shaking.

"Mika!" Zeev shouted. "Mika stay with us!"

"Maybe they'll make it through the transformation!" Tia said rushing to her side. Her healing powers didn't work on supernatural beings but by the gods, she was going to try. She put her hands against Tamikas belly and did everything she could do to think warm loving thoughts. For her love of Tamika who was her sister more than a friend. She felt as her powers flowed through her and into Tamika. She wasn't sure if it was working on the Twins but she continued giving it all she had.

It didn't take longer after that for Tamika to transform into her wolf.

"How is she doing?" Tia asked as Zeev checked the wolves heart beat.

"She's got a strong heart and she's healing. Slowly but definitely faster now." Zeev pauses and getting a tad choked up. "How are the babies?"

Tia stopped trying to heal and began pushing on her tummy and felt no movement. It didn't even feel like there were two babies in there. Frantically she pushed harder until finally she felt a soft kick, and then harder ones.

The wolf began yelping. Stirring awake from its sedation.

"Looks like it's time to have some babies or I guess puppies. I don't really know what to expect but you got this mamas!" Tia told the wolf as she petted her. Truth is they had no idea what would come out. Once pregnant you can no longer shift. The risk of the baby's life is too high and a wolfs instincts to protect their young is very strong.

It wasn't long after that the wolf gave birth to a golden pup. Her coat was so bright it lit up the dark cave. It was so bright it seemed to light up the sky and the storm was beginning to fade.

"Tia!" Zeev yelled trying to get her attention. She couldn't look away from the pup "Tia! You need to do something. We can't risk the rogues finding us." Blinking she realizes the clouds were rolling away and the rain had stopped.

She ran outside, mustering all the heartache she could and unleashed another storm. It was harder this time, as if something was blocking it. Tia looked over her shoulder towards the cave at the pup. 'It couldn't be' she shook her head. Turning her head back around to concentrate."

*Present*

"Even then you knew . . . and what of the other pup?" Soteria asked.

"He was stillborn." Tia answered.

"And you know this because you helped birth him?" Soteria asked with her eyebrow c****d.

"Well, no. I was maintaining the storm. I came in shortly after. He was so cold. Malcom had him wrapped up in a blanket. I touched him for a moment before he took off with him."

"What happened after that?"

"Zeev helped us get to safety. We all promised to never speak of it again. Tamika and everyone died or so we were to tell everyone. I even cast a memory spell on Zeev, per his request. So know one could find out."

"So it's possible that the legendary wolves were born. One who was a golden wolf radiating like the sun. Born just as prophecy fore told. The other who was supposed to be as dark and cold as night, came out dark and cold and no one thought anything of it?" Soteria asked cryptically.

Their conversation was interrupted with the bustling of foot steps. The giggling of Tala and the wood nymphs soon followed. Emerging she looked like a goddess her self dressed in a long white silk robe with flowers braided into her aburn hair.

"We're ready!" One of the nymphs exclaimed with excitement.

Soteria gives Tia one last long look before turning her attention to Tala and the girls.

"Then let's begin!" She exclaimed and clapped her hands. Soon a few people came in. Their faces and bodies were slightly covered in scales.

"They're dragons." The red headed nymph, Kissiae whispered to her. "Not many know of their existence. They can look human, dragon or a little of both. Depending on their preference."

"When they are like this they can perform like a human while tapping into their dragons powers." Meliae the brunette nymph explained quietly.

Three dragon women stood in the shape of a triangle around the bath after the wood nymphs had led her into it.

"We're going to chant together. Tia come stand on the opposite side of me." Soteria instructed and Tia did as she was told standing on the opposite side of the bath. "Great, now ladies, help Tala soak in the water while we chant. Ready?" They all nodded.

They began chanting in Latin but Tala could understand what they were saying. She recognized it from the darkness.

"Let light be your guide through the darkness." She whispered. Her body tensed before her mind let go. Drifting deep into the dark depths of her mind.