The Goddess Series: The Goddess’ Secret Love

Chapter 2

‘Whatever happened to that drawing of the city you made? I like it.’ Nyla said, watching me draw a meadow as I flicked between drawing and watching my children. ‘It is somewhere in my books. I have so many from the centuries in the library. It would take so long to find it.’ I mustered sheepishly, feeling dejected that I wouldn’t be able to find it for Nyla unless I spent my days looking for it, but there are thousands of sketchbooks…it could be anywhere.

‘That is a shame. You will have to go through them all one day. It is the watercolour one of blue, pink, and purples.’ She said, and I knew what she was talking about but I couldn’t remember which book it would be in. ‘One day.’ I said, and continued drawing. I finished the last flower and held my drawing out in front of me.

A weeping willow, hung over a lake with lilies and lotuses, a field of different flowers on the lakeshore and a trail leading to a bridge to get to the willow. ‘Beautiful. I love it. How will you colour it?’ Nyla asked, and I didn’t know yet. ‘I haven’t gotten that far, I was merely focused on drawing it.’ I chuckled, and she shook her head. ‘Always have been more of a sketcher than a drawer.’ She said softly, her voice hinting at humour and playfulness. ‘Oh, Nyla. Sometimes that’s alright. It is still art, and all art is beautiful.’ I said, playfully getting angry. She laughed but didn’t say anything further.

I spent the rest of the morning watching my children, the silver ball flicking through different scenarios at the flick of my wrist. ‘Wait. Go back.’ Nyla said, and I did, looking for what she saw. ‘There!’ She said, nodding her snout. I looked and there she was, the woman from my dreams. Soft blue eyes that show pain instead of happiness, what would be silky blonde hair is muddy and dark with something rusty, blood maybe, and pale, emaciated skin that clings to her body like a wrap.

‘What…’ I said, watching her as she was whipped. She made no noise, no face, her blue eyes blank and staring off into nowhere. “You wolfless slut! Touching MY mate?!” A she-wolf screeched, but the girl only shook her head. “He raped me…I didn’t want it…I swear, please, believe me!” She raspingly screamed, but the brunette she-wolf only smiled and whipped her again. ‘We cannot.’ Nyla said, but she was the one, The True Prophet. I could feel it. ‘She’s the one, Nyla, I feel it.’ I said, and Nyla sighed. ‘You vowed.’ Was all she said, and cut herself off.

I watched with a heavy heart as she was whipped and then chained to a wall in a dark basement, wearing only a thin chemise. “Please…” she whispered, but they enclosed her in darkness, their laughter echoing to her in the darkness. “I…I didn’t…” she said to the darkness, finally weeping silently, her tears falling like a river, despite the darkness around her, I could see her clearly. “I can’t grant you a wolf…that goes against my vow, child. But, I can grant you powers, my powers, dear one. I feel your innocence, I feel your gentility, I’ve looked at your short life. You were once loved, I am sorry for your pain.” I softly spoke, her head on a swivel.

“Who…who is that?” She whispered, her voice portraying her fear. “My name is Selene.” I said, wondering if she would remember the stories through her years of abuse. “Selene…Oh my…Your Grace…” she stumbled, and I softly smiled. “Fear not, just call me Selene. I can help you but you must wait until the morning.” I said, and she sniffed. “Great things will come, I will watch over you, they will not return until then, but have no fear, it will be different.” I said, and that was all I was allowed to say.

She shook her head, took a deep breath, and clenched her fists. It was 3am when she was being whipped. Time had already passed and in her land, it was sunrise. I couldn’t tell her that, she had to wait. I knew what was coming, I looked at her future, she is The One, and she will go on to do amazing things. She may be damaged, but with healing, she will be alright. She’s strong. Even without a wolf.

“How long do I have to wait?” She asked, and I felt sad, “I cannot tell you, child. Just have faith and trust in me.” I said, and she immediately held her head up high, “I will always trust in you.” She said, and I smiled. I know. I thought to myself, and cut our link but continued to watch over her.

‘You kept your vow.’ Nyla said, approaching from beyond the block. ‘As much as I wanted to give her a wolf for protection, she wouldn’t be able to handle the first shift or any shift. She’s much to fragile from starvation and abuse. Her bones are damaged, she wouldn’t be able to handle a shift, it would, unfortunately, kill her, more than it would aid her.’ I told her, and she nodded. ‘I am glad you realized this.’ She said, sitting down, her tail softly swaying from side to side.

‘What bothers you?’ I asked, and she huffed. ‘I worry for this child. What if they don’t help her and make matters worse? The future can always change.’ She said, her voice showing her anxiety. ‘I’ve looked at all of their futures. She will be alright. Have faith, Nyla. Her loneliness won’t be a lasting one.’ I said, watching as the girl, Lina, hummed a soft melody. ‘That’s a nice song.’ Nyla said, her tail softly wagging. ‘We know this one, don’t we?’ She said, her tail no longer wagging. I listened further and gasped. It couldn’t be.

‘I didn’t know she had children…’ Nyla said, ‘She looks exactly like her. The First One.’ She added, and I nodded, ‘She would sing this melody for her mate, I wasn’t aware they had pups. I never saw any.’ I said, and Nyla shook her head. ‘Neither have I, how could that be?’ She asked, and I shrugged, looking at Lina further. The First One had blonde hair as well, but her wolf was chestnut. I wonder if Lina had had a wolf, if she would have been chestnut as well. ‘This is…quite the discovery.’ Nyla said, her voice in awe, her tail wagging.

I nodded, watching and listening as Lina hummed, I couldn’t remember the name of the song but I remember the melody dearly. I hummed it to sleep on occasion. “Lina…where did you learn that song?” I asked her, curiosity getting the best of me. “I don’t know. I’ve always known it, I haven’t actually physically heard it anywhere, I have just always know it.” She said, and it further confirmed my suspicions of reincarnation. How this could happen, I don’t know. Only The Elders could do that, maybe this was a test, to see if this one would not repeat history. I cut off our link again, sitting on my bed and brought my knees to my chest.

‘They’re there.’ Nyla said. ‘So it begins.’ I said back, watching eagerly.