THE AWAKENING OF THE CHOSEN

In the halls of Justice

20 years prior

"Heron, you have abused your power, because of that, life was lost!" Emanuel stated as he looked down at Heron from upon his throne.

"I was trying to protect us all, Emanuel. That abomination that Selene had created-" He began.

" It is no longer a concern of yours!" Emanuel said, cutting him short. "You had absolutely no authority to make the decision you made. And the worst part is, because of you, the Lycans are nearly extinct. Only I have that authority, Heron and I alone."

Heron wrinkled his brow as he looked around the room, his eyes landing on Selene. The hatred he felt made his blood boil.

"I assure you. You accomplished nothing!" Emanuel stated.

"Wait, what are you saying? Does the child live?" Heron now looked at Emanuel in utter disbelief. "It's impossible!" He said with mock arrogance "I thought of everything, on the second sweep I had all the male children eliminated."

"You mean murdered" Maui hissed with venom dripping from her words. Heron was completely unbothered by her; it was Selene's coolness that seemed to disturb his peace.

"How callous of you. Even after Maui consented to the Lycan males, you backtracked and murdered all of the boys." Emanuel could still hear the cries of the mother echoing in the halls.

"Emanuel, I had to be sure. In case someone was unaware of their true bloodline. It happens all the time." Heron tried explaining.

"You really do not understand the ramifications of what you have done. Heron, due to your callous disregard, I find you guilty of all charges brought upon you. Your punishment…

You will be stripped of all of your Godly powers and banished to earth." Emanuel waved his rod at Heron and a surge of power brought him to his knees as his powers were drained.

"No! Emanuel please." He begged as he now felt weak, a feeling foreign to him.

"Selene, is there anything you wish to say to Heron before he is expelled?" Emanuel asked, gazing upon her.

She rose from her throne and walked over to Heron. Taking her hand, she lifted his chin. "Go in peace, Brother."

"This isn't over, Selene." Heron was barely able to cough out because of his lack of strength.

She leaned in closer so only he could hear. "Oh, I know it isn't. You missed one." She whispered just as he reached for her his body was snatched from the halls of justice and fell upon the earth.

He landed in a small pasture surrounded by grazing cattle. From one bent knee, he rose in utter disbelief. His eyes scanned his surroundings, noticing a small farmhouse he headed in this direction. Before one foot could hit the bottom step, the front door swung open, and a rifle was pointed at his chest. “I don’t know what funny business you came here for mutherfucker, but you best get the hell off my property before I light your ass up!” An old man with overalls and a toothpick hanging from his mouth declared. Heron did not know the feeling of fear. He was the God of War. Everyone feared him. He laughed at the man in contempt. How dare he threaten me, he thought. “The sheriff is already on his way. Minnie, is this one of those city boys you've been running around with on them drugs?”

A girl peeked out the door with a very toothy grin at Heron. “No Pa, I don’t know him, but he sure is pretty.” She smiled at Heron, and he knew she wanted him, but he had no desire to know this woman that looked like a bag of bones to him.

“Hey Mister, why are you walking around here with no clothes on?” The toothy girl called Minne by her Pa asked. Heron looked down and realized then that he was naked. The sheriff pulled into the driveway after letting his siren beep twice. “Alright, son!” He said, easing from his car, “Just turn around and put your hands behind your back. We can make this really easy.” Heron made the mistake of lunging at the sheriff and the officer immediately pulled the trigger of his taser. “Ahh” Heron fell to his knees.

“He’s a big one! Son of a b***h!” the officer yelled as Heron tried to fight against the pain piercing through him. Pain, something he had only given to countless people. He took a step forward and grabbed the sheriff. A tussle occurred as the sheriff attempted to reach for his gun and Heron lifted him by his neck and had him dangling from the air with one hand. The Sheriff was a small scrawny man. He was no match for Heron’s brute strength. “You dare to assault me, Heron God of War! With your earthy weapons.” It was then that he heard the loud, explosive noise that had him falling to his knees. “Pa, you shot the pretty man in the ass!”

“I sure as f**k did! You alright sheriff?” The sheriff held his neck as he pointed his other hand at Heron brandishing his loaded gun. He struggled to call for backup, fearing Heron would come for him although he had a rifle pointed at his back. This is how he landed in the hospital and then jail upon his arrival on earth. Needless to say, Heron had a difficult time adjusting to life on earth. He could not get over the fact that he had the ability of a mere man. He was still stronger than the average man, but this awarded him little as far as work and privilege among humans. He often walked the earth hungry but refused to beg. He especially despised the thought of interacting with humans. So, he began to live among the inhuman. He started experimenting with dark magic and found he had a knack for it. By killing other Inhumans, he finds that he has gained their ability. So, he started taking out the most powerful beings one by one. His thirst for power grew with each kill. He thought of Selene's last parting words, and this was the hatred that fueled him. If a Lycan had survived, he would come into his power around his twentieth birthday. He still would not have his full strength until he and his mate united. Once he was mature, he would be unstoppable. This is why he planned to find him beforehand and drain him of his powers; he then would be the most powerful being that walked the earth. He studied potions and spells and spent years formulating a plan to destroy Selene's Chosen.

He cared for nothing more until he met her. Aphena was his love, she was a great sorceress. The only one that saw him coming and was able to outsmart him. She was as beautiful as any Goddess his eyes had lain upon. She was enchanting and mysterious. She also stole the powers he, by the law of the Inhumans, had illegally obtained. He tracked her for another year and the entire time she haunted his dreams. The only person that could take his mind off Selene.

When he finally met her again, she laughed at him, saying "Finally you have caught up. I expected more of you God of War."

"How do you know who I am?" He asked her.

"That's the problem with you Gods, you think it is only you with insight." She laughed again, sending warmth through him.

"Your powers are impressive," Heron had said, moving closer to her.

"It is not my power you seek Heron." She whispered seductively "your desire changed long ago." She came to him, reaching her finger out and she traced his lips. "Tell me, Heron, that you do not wish to taste my juices on your lips." She stared at him boldly as she ran her fingers down his chest. "When was the last time you felt the warmth of a woman?"

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. From this union, Blaine was born. The first demigod to walk the earth.

9 years after the birth of the Chosen

Maui could see a basin of sorts. She saw legs kicking and water splashing everywhere. It was not a clear vision. She could not see his face; only the water began to boil from the heat exuding from the child. A woman reached in the water and screamed as her hands were scorched from the degree of heat. She stood, backing away, she ran from the room. Moments later she returned, and the child lay still beneath the water. She began to weep, kneeling beside the basin. Suddenly, the child rose. The woman stared at the child, shocked. The child’s back was facing Maui and she needed to see his face. She tried moving around, pulling herself there, but there was a force surrounding him. Selene, only a God or Goddess, could create a force this strong. Maui appeared in front of Selene. She simply had to visualize her to be within her presence.

"What did you do, Selene?" Maui stood in front of her sister waiting for an answer.

"You felt it, did you?" Selene asked, studying her intensely.

"To my core, but how? I don't understand." She held her hand over her heart.

"You will soon, Maui. You are just as connected to the child as I." Selene walked over, standing in front of her.

"It hurts. I feel… pain, sadness." Maui gave her a look of despair, "not like the others, though it's deeper."

"Yes, like that of a mother's love for her child. I know I am sorry. The suffering will not always last," Selene pointed out.

"Still, you have not explained yourself." Maui glared at her.

"So many more would have died all due to Heron's order. I could only interfere so much. I did what was needed to protect the child."

"So, these feelings are real. The Chosen lives, Selene?"

"Of course."

"I demand to know the name of the child!" Maui stepped closer to her. "I have a right to know!"

"And you will Maui you are feeling the pain because my love is turning nine. Unlike others, the gifts will be inherited gradually over time." She reached out, touching her sister's heart. “You gave the gift of fire today, your blood burns through his veins as well as mine.”

Selene looked at Maui. "Please trust me, Maui."

"What other adjustments did you make?" Maui asked.

"If the child received the gift at the age of the others, Heron would possibly discover him too soon. He must learn how to use the gift first.

I have my reasons for everything."

"I feel there is more you are keeping from me." Maui waited for her to deny this.

"There is, I hate it too, but it must be done."

How come I can’t have it?” Mundora stomped her foot. Darla looked at her daughter and tried to hide her annoyance. “Because it is not yours, Mundora. You can’t have whatever you want because you want it. You have dolls of your own. That one is Lilly’s.”

“Why not mother?” She crossed her arms and glared at her mother, always so weak to her. Why didn’t she just take the doll?

“Mundora, did we buy the doll?”

“No.”

“Did you drive to the store to get the doll?”

“No!” She was getting angrier as she listened to her mother's stupid questions.

“Did you pick out a name for the doll, her clothes, her hair color?”

“No!” She stomped her foot again.

“Exactly that is because it is not your doll. It is hers.” Darla grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Not for long, Mundora thought as she watched the daughter of the Omega swinging back and forth, blissfully unaware of the true danger she was in.

It was three days later when Alpha Loren and Darla lay cuddling in bed that he was mind linked the horrible news. ‘Alpha, they found a pup floating in the river!’

‘Dear Goddess, who’s it?”

‘Laura the cook and she is completely devastated, especially since she says the pup was such a good swimmer.’

‘I am on my way.’

“What is it dear?” Darla said, touching his shoulder.

“Laura the Omega, who works in the kitchen on the weekend. They found her pup floating in the river.”

“Goddess, wait for me love, I’m coming with you. I don’t understand why wolves are natural-born swimmers.” Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought of the pain Laura must be experiencing. They hurried and dressed. “Let me tell Mundora to stay put. I don't want her to see this.”

“Okay Dear, I will meet you there.” Alpha Loren went out the door and Darla made her way to Mundora's room. “Mun, your father and I will be back in a few minutes and stay here in your room until we return.”

“Okay, mommy.” She said, smiling as Darla closed the door. She was so grateful she was not in Laura’s shoes at that moment. She headed down the stairs and out of the packhouse. It seemed the whole pack had gathered around the grieving mother. “Oh, Luna you came,” Laura said, reaching for her. She hugged her with the body of her lifeless child between them. "How did this happen, Laura?” Darla asked.

“I don’t know. I told her she could play outside while I prepared dinner for the pack. I called her in, and she ate with the rest of the kids and when I brought her dessert, she was gone. Luna. I sent James to go find her. It isn’t like Lilly to wander off. She loves dessert too, so it just doesn't make sense. And oh, Goddess, she is such a strong swimmer. Why, why did they take my baby?” Darla could say nothing. There were no words of comfort during a time like this.

“Who was the last to see Lilly?” Alpha Loren asked the crowd of grieving wolves. Everyone felt the pain when one of their own was lost. The entire pack grieved. Howls and cries filled the night air.

“I saw her Alpha playing with some other kids.” A boy named Irvan spoke up.

“It was us Alpha.” A group of kids said, stepping forward, but we all went inside for dessert. We thought Lilly had come too.” The Alpha felt uneasy about the whole situation. Wolf pups did not just drown. Something didn’t smell right to him. They were excellent swimmers. They started at a young age. "Are all of the other pups accounted for?”

“After a few brief moments, the pack concluded that all the other children were accounted for. “Very well, I want everyone to go home and stay inside tonight.” He mind linked to his Beta “Make sure border control is on high alert. I want to make sure no one has slipped in or out of our territory.

“I am so sorry Laura; we will get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I want you to prepare for tomorrow. We will give your pup a proper burial. When you are ready, of course, they will take her body and she will be handled with the utmost respect and care.” Her lips trampled and she knelt over Lilly’s body crying.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Her mate sniffed.

Alpha Loren touched Luna's shoulder. She was on her knees across from Laura with Lilly still in her arms combing her fingers through her hair.

‘Such a beautiful girl, Loren, who would do something like this?’

‘I don’t know dear, but I promise I will get to the bottom of it.’

She sent another one of the Omega’s to watch after Mundora because she insisted on going with Loren to talk to each member and to make the arrangements herself for the burial. By the time they came home later that night, they were both exhausted.

"Do you think we did the right thing, Loren, by involving Vladimir?" Darla asked.

"We will know if it takes. Until then, no need to worry."

Loren went straight to his room after thanking the Omega for watching Mundora. He stripped and headed for the shower, tossing the clothes in the hamper. Something caught his eye.

Darla was exhausted but after tonight she needed a few minutes just to hold her pup. She froze because as she walked in Mundora took her blanket and quickly covered something. “Yes, mommy.” She said, trying to sound innocent, but Darla was no fool, she knew the child was up to something. “What are you hiding, Mun?” Luna asked. The thought entered her mind, but she quickly shoved it away, impossible.

“Nothing.”

She pushed Mundora to the side and snatched the blanket. Her stomach dropped. “No oh Goddess no! What did you do?” She screamed, grabbing the child by the shoulders. “What did you do?”

“I’m sorry mommy! I’m sorry, but I told you I wanted it. It's your fault you should have given it to me!” As tears ran down her face she kept saying “I’m sorry mommy! I’m sorry.” Darla backed away from her until she bumped into the door and covered her mouth in an attempt to cease her own cries. ‘Loren, we have a problem.’ She stared at her daughter as she cried, rubbing her fingers through the doll's hair that was once Lilly’s. Mundora was huffing, trying to stop her own cries. “I told you to give it to me mommy.” She said, kissing the doll.