Howls of Apollo

Quindecim

She didn’t know what to expect when she arrived. Her only focus the whole way was to brace herself for the onslaught of emotions as soon as she lays her eyes on the land her grandfather raised his pack in. It took her all night to get to the pack land and by now she’d be more than willing to curl up in a nearby tree and sleep the world away, but as the barren horizon stood before her, the exhaustion was replaced with gut-wrenching pain. Too persistent to ignore.

It’s empty. Was her first thought.

What’d she expect? To see the place bustling with activity? Like the way it used to every day before that day?

She let her eyes roam the land. Taking in the way it is now. The buildings were taken down, swept clean almost like no structure ever stood there. It was part of the clean up after the council was noted about what happened. It was necessary but she felt like everything she knew was taken from her. Nothing’s left and for the first time since that day, she felt lost.

At least then she had another pack to run to. At least then there were people who stood by her, never mind they were just strangers then, but she felt their presence. She can’t help thinking how different this time around is.  She ran away from a mate who doesn’t want her, no pack is safe with her, and she’s standing all alone in the same waste land she did ten years ago.

She walked further, letting her feet lead her. With the silence that greeted her, she willed her senses to stand alert, knowing there’s always something lurking in the shadows.

The familiar path came into view and before she knew it, she’s standing in front of a very familiar grave. The same grave her grandfather ordered her to hide in during the attack. Only her grandfather and her were the only ones able to come inside, and she was told it was so because it has been enchanted to only let the blood of whoever is buried there to be granted access. Not only that, it wasn’t visible for anyone to see aside from a blood relative. It was a family secret and she will make sure it will remain that way.

Stepping inside, she sees it’s still as she remembered it. Her mother’s tomb right on the center and her grandmother’s on the left. Back then it was only just the two, but now another has taken its place on the other side. Her grandfather’s.

As her blood has given her the right, she was able to bury his body where she wished. There was no other place she thought he would wish to be buried on so she immediately brought him here.

At the time, her mind refused to accept what happened. She couldn’t believe how the formidable Alpha Gideon could fall to anyone, and to see him take his place next to his wife and daughter made the picture very much real to Skaia.

It took her so long to come back. Every time she thought of doing so, she’d feel her knees buckle and she’d back out. Now that she has no choice but to be here, she can’t help but sob out ‘why?’

Why did they attack? Why the pack? Why did they take everyone out? Why did her grandfather lose? Why can’t Apollo see she’s hurting as well? Why is she alone?

With every question, her body shook with unsung sobs. She couldn’t take it anymore, she crumbled to the ground. Eyes blurring with tears and ears ringing from the pressure of holding her breath in.

She wonders if she can ever overcome whatever the future brings if she feels as broken as she does now. Skaia curled up into a ball at the foot of the three tombs as the vulnerability consumed her, not minding the moss and dirt that lay before her.

She cried ten years of hurt and let her heart mourn for the people she lost and the future she fears she’ll never see.

She woke up to see night has fallen. She must have fallen asleep to her own weeping. She noticed the grave was lit and looked up to see moon sitting high on the sky, casting a light through the glass roof onto the tombs. Her cheeks felt soft from the stream of tears and she wiped a shaking hand to rid of the wetness they left behind on their wake.

“I take it that was much needed?” A soft whimsical voice rang out.

Her head immediately snapped to the direction the voice came from.

Skaia’s eyes narrowed at the shadow perched on the far side of the wall, away from the glow of the moon. She can make out a form enough to tell her the shadow was a woman but she was too in the dark to make out her face.

“Who are you?” She asked through a scratchy voice. She fished inside of her to check for any apprehension towards the person but she found none, confusing her.

“My child, have you forgotten?” The voice rang out again before the shadow came into the light and she was faced with an ethereal face similar to hers, the only difference was her eyes were the lightest of grey while hers were the lightest of brown. The one trait her father would say time and time again was the only thing she got from him. The rest, he said, was all her mothers.

Her mother. This woman was her mother.

“Mama?” She whispered.

The softest of smiles graced the woman’s face and she flitted across the room towards Skaia. Who, not for a moment, missed how her mother glided over the cement like they were clouds and speculation hit her she wasn’t at all living.

Yet, she didn’t back away when she came to a stop in front of her.

“You’ve been through so much my Sky, my heart aches for you.” Her mother chimed. Her eyes holding so much sadness it made Skaia’s throat feel like it was filled with cotton.

“How are you here?” She croaked, still a little overwhelmed to see her mother in front of her.

The woman sighed. “If you’re thinking this is some ploy to trick you, I’m telling you now, no warlock will ever have the ability to do what I’m doing.” She said sternly yet gently.

She wasn’t even thinking about this encounter being an enchantment, but that statement alone gave her the impression her mother must know what’s been happening in her life.

“You know about Alistair then.” She said with a sigh.

“Alistair has been causing far too many problems since the years passed.” Her mother mumbled.

“Do you know him? Did you know I would become a healer?” She asked hastily.

Her mother looked at her sympathetically.

“I need answers mama.” Skaia said desperately. “What happened at the pack that day? Grandpa fell!” She exclaimed, tears prickling her eyes once more.

“Calm down my Sky.” Her mother cooed, placing a gentle hand to her cheek, and a wave of calmness washed over her.

“I will explain everything my child, but before I do, I want to tell you I am very, very sorry for everything that has happened and will happen to you.” She said, her voice leaking with what she can distinguish as regret and sadness.

Skaia nodded stiffly. Thinking there really isn’t much to hesitate on.

“In order to make sense of everything, I need to start from the beginning.” She started, only continuing when Skaia nodded again.

“Back during the times of Kings and Queens, healers were sought after for their abilities. There was always one in every royal family, providing them protection in exchange for their service. When the monarchy fell, the healers were left out in the open, vulnerable to anyone. They started being hunted. Abused for their gifts and drained until there was nothing left.” Skaia listened intently. Her mother moved to settle on the foot of her tomb, under the moon’s glare.

“Unable to stand the suffering of their kin, the healers refused to procreate in fear of their off springs and descendants suffering the same fate their fellow healers went through. That was why the last healer died over a millennia ago. Or so they thought.” Skaia raised a brow at that sentence, but her mother flitted to her next words.

“Shortly after, once significant event took place.”

“The falling star” Skaia stated, having heard of the story before. It was a controversial debate whether the story held any truth to it or not.  

Her mother nodded. “Yes, people refused to believe that. Settling it as a tale rather than a part of history, but it is true.”

“The star fell onto one of the northern packs and as it turned out, the star emerged as a woman, and the alpha of that pack soon discovered she was mate. It was unheard of and curiosity grew even more when rumors spread of superior genetics because of the star. Despite no proof of truth to these rumors, alphas and warlocks alike stormed into the alpha’s pack, ill-intended.” Despite having her eyes on her, Skaia’s mother had a far-off look in her eyes, almost like she was reliving that day.

“Desperate to spare her mate’s pack, the star walked out and gave the impression of a weak timid woman. The alpha was more than willing to fight whoever would dare rip her from him.” Skaia’s chest tightened at that, her mind wandering back to Apollo telling her he’d do the exact opposite of what the alpha did. Whether her mother noticed the shift in her, she didn’t mention it, continuing her story.

“But the star didn’t want bloodshed, so she faced them with all the vulnerability she could muster. It was a shot to the moon, but they were all convinced and instead gave the alpha smug looks about having such a fragile Luna. Yet, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth and they were only easily fooled.” Her mother’s tone took on a more grave tone. Something about it made Skaia straighten in attention.

“Every alpha that followed, descending from the star and the alpha were of superior strength and mind. And only one was aware of this truth. The only one who wasn’t fooled by the star’s appearance that day, Alistair.”

“He was closest to the pair, as he served as warlock to the pack. He was even there when the star fell onto pack lands.” Skaia’s eyes widened in surprise at this information.

“He played the dutiful servant to the alpha and his Luna. But Alistair was consumed in his curiosity of the star’s abilities and the fact her genes were able to give such strong descendants. He became obsessed. It wasn’t until he murdered the alpha to get to the star that he was caught and was to be executed but escaped. He’s been alive for so many years now, I don’t even want to begin to think about what he’s done to do so.” Her mother said with a sad tone in her voice.

“He’d been after me.” She said lowly.

“I know child.” Her mother’s instant response.

She mulled over her mother’s story until a thought struck her.

“What pack did the star fell onto?” The silence from her mother made her stomach churn.

“Mama” She said, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath to steady her rapidly beating heart. “What pack did the star fell onto?” She asked through gritted teeth, her voice barely above a whisper. She was dreading the answer and her mother’s long silence was only dragging out her misery.

“It was Forti Polaris.” The answer chimed in her head like a church bell.

Her breath hitched in her throat as her mother’s words confirmed the speculation in her head.

The star was the alpha’s mate. The alpha of Forti Polaris. Apollo is the current alpha. He’s a descendant of the star.

It stuck her all at once. Alistair’s obsession with the pack.

It wasn’t her he was after, he was using her to get to him. He’s been doing so from the beginning: the capture, their encounter in the woods, and the attack on Clara Solis. He’s been coming at her to indirectly attack Apollo and like a pawn, she played to his game.

“He’s after Apollo.” She stated.

From her mother’s silence, she got her answer.

“What about grandpa’s pack? Can you answer what happened that day? Is who I’m thinking who did it, the one who did?” She asked in the same desperate tone earlier.

Her mother looked at her sadly. “Alistair came knowing exactly what he was looking for. He came with a pack he allied with, blindsiding your grandfather. What he didn’t expect was not getting what he came here for.”

She couldn’t stop the tears from falling anymore and she let them. “He was looking for me. Why?” She croaked.

“I’m afraid that is a question I cannot answer for now my Sky. That will unravel on its own.”

More tears fell at her words.

“Apollo is my mate. He doesn’t want me because I bring threat to his pack.” She couldn’t help but ramble to the one person she would expect she would had the circumstances been different. Even so, she was glad she was still able to do so nonetheless.

“But knowing what I just did, it isn’t just me mama and it’s so unfair he seems to be taking it all out on me!” She exclaimed somewhat childishly.

Her mother brought another comforting hand to her face. “Then go back and face him. You have your answers now. Your grandfather raised you to be a warrior and you are nothing short of it my Sky. Inside and out.” Her mother said firmly yet softly, the words reaching her heart.

“You must be strong my Sky. Things will only get hard from here on out.” She said, her eyes portraying how serious she is.

“Now go, face your mate and show him exactly who a Luna of Virorum Fortium is made out of.” She said, beginning to pull away.

“Wait! I can’t leave you here.” She said, pertaining to the grave left behind.

Her mother merely smiled at her. “Don’t worry my Sky, we are where you take us. Just another one of those things you need to figure out.” She replied cheekily with a wink, letting Skaia laugh before she faded away.

It felt like a thorn was picked off her chest. Even the cloud in her head has faded. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind and she knew she couldn’t put off the inevitable. She needs to face Apollo sooner rather than later.