The Lycan's Curse

The Dark Side of the Moon

“Get up, child. I do not like groveling. Why are you here?”

I shivered as I got up. I was scared; I didn’t have my powers back then. I was an 18-year-old who had a wolf that wouldn’t talk, wouldn’t shift, wouldn’t do a damn thing. I knew she was there though; I could feel the presence in my head. I stood up and tried to keep my voice from quavering, “We followed the trail from the suicide of Hinauri in Hawaii to the shapeshifting forms of the Aztec moon god. The silence brought us here as you were banished to chase Amaterasu in silence…”

I trailed off at the murderous look that crossed the god’s face; for the first time since he had appeared, he looked inhuman.

“You know nothing, you ignorant human.”

My temper flashed, “You asked me a question and I answered it. I know I know nothing, that’s why I’m here.”

He snorted and I’ll be damned if his smile didn’t catch my eye, “I see why they chose you, you’re less likely to kill yourself. Besides that, you want to know why your animal won’t talk to you. I can’t tell you because I don’t know. What I do know, is that your animal is a source of power. I can give you the ability to tap into that power and use it how you see fit. For a price.”

I raised an eyebrow, “What kind of price?”

“Your soul, for one and those that brought you here. I won’t damn you, if that’s what you’re thinking. You cut all ties to your mother goddess and turn your back on her mates,” he spat the word as if it were a piece of rotten fruit.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I’ll do it for sure but, my uncle has one out there and my dad already has my mom sooo…”

“I will make the exception for your father so long as he renounces Selene.”

“Fat chance. I’ll figure it out myself, thanks.”

I turned to walk away. I got as far as the stone pillars before I walked right into Tsukuyomi. I stumbled and lost my balance, falling towards the concrete. My arm was yanked with a nonexistent touch, and I was back against his chest, this time with his arms wrapped around me. I started blushing furiously, stop being such a teenager, Ash, he’s a god and he’s scary and he wants your soul. I shoved him away and looked him in the eye. His gorgeous face had a knowing look on it and he began to speak again,

“You know, I could make you do what I want regardless.”

“You won’t.”

“No, I won’t but, I would like to make you do things…”

“STOP! I’m not listening anymore! I’m not going to give you my soul, nor is my uncle and dad. I’m going home!” I turned to walk down the steps only to see my family coming up.

“You do not have that choice, Ashari. Your uncle and I will make our own choices and we will agree to Lord Tsukuyomi’s terms.”

It felt like my heart dropped into my stomach. I had to talk to family out of this madness; my uncle was so young and I didn’t want to know what the ‘exception’ to my dad would be. My dad and his brother were very close though they were years apart. “Dad, you don’t know what he wants, lets just forget about it. I’ll deal with it somehow.”

“No, Ashari, you won’t.”

The way he said that with such a finality made me wonder if my dad knew more than he was letting on. My uncle stood there in silence, staring at the scene before him. He had just returned from touring the world and was finally home to settle down. I would not let them ruin anything on behalf of myself or so I thought.

“Ashari, I command you to be quiet and stand still!”

My mouth dropped in horror; my father never used his alpha voice on me. I stood helpless as I watched my father kneel before the dark lord of the moon and began to recite the vows of devotion that Tsukuyomi dictated. My uncle was next, the dangerous god had a look of bemusement on his face, bringing about that inhuman look. My uncle knelt before him and began say the same words my dad had spoken until the god spoke,

“I took 40 years off your brother’s lifespan, you wolves live to be about 200 barring death of injury. I’ll make you a deal, I’ll take 20 years off your brother and add it to you.”

I snarled in response, frozen in place due to my dad’s stupid command. My dad also began to yell, saying that this was not what he agreed to. He took a step towards Tsukuyomi and there was a flash of silver light, and my father flew backwards into the wooden shrine, shattering it.

“FOOLS! Who do you think I am? I am not my wife nor my brother Susanoo, who would occasionally bless humans! This offer is for Fernando, and him only. Nobody else,” he looked in my direction, “You are not strong enough to contain me yet, wolf child, so I will make you mine before you do. Now, choose!” He looked down at my kneeling uncle, dark energy swirling around him and the god, while the inhuman look on Tsukuyomi’s face grew until his smile was too wide for a human’s mouth.

“I pledge my soul to the lord of the moon; I renounce the Mother and give up her blessings. I take this vow to aid my niece, the silent wolf, and I take the 20 years from my brother onto myself.”

I couldn’t scream out loud, but I would never forget what I saw. The dark energy encompassed my uncle and swirled around him. It was only a few seconds but, it seemed like forever. He lay limp on the ground; his beard and his hair growing streaks of silver, the silver of Tsukuyomi’s eyes. The god turned his gaze to me, and I couldn’t move, still bound by my dad’s order. I felt a sense of dread now; please, this wasn’t happening. He walked closer and closer and held my gaze until he was standing right in front of me. He tilted my head up as if he were going to kiss me; my tears were running down my face now. He touched one of them with his hand and looked at it in wonder before his mouth came down upon my marking spot. All I could feel was the ice running through my veins and the darkness that surrounded me. Cold and dark, just like the moon.