Moon Daemon

Chapter Eleven - Blessings

"What time does the sun set today?" I ask Marrok, flopping on his bed after the longest day I've had in a long time.

"Around eight," he says, plopping next to me.

I look over at the clock on my side table, the numbers saying 12:38. I groan.

"Sleep," Marrok whispers. "You have training this evening."

"So much has happened today," I say into a yawn. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep. "

"Would you rather talk about it?" Marrok asks.

I shake my head in the blacked out room. "I'm just processing."

"I know it's a lot," he says, rolling on his side and facing me. "I'm here if you need me."

I throw an arm over my eyes, sinking further into the bed. "What happened to Nova?'

"She's still here," he says. "She's locked in her family house until further notice. She was a little shaken up about being attacked this morning, I didn't feel right banishing her in that state."

I nod, feeling the same way. "Does she have to be banished?" I ask.

Marrok leans up onto one arm, looking down at me. "She lost the Moonmacy."

"I know," I whisper. "But I feel bad."

"Feel bad?"

"She didn't know what type of daemon I was when we fought," I say, my arm moving above my head. "She only declared the Moonmacy because of how much she loves you, I can't fault her for her feelings."

"Esmeray," Marrok whispers.

"I'm not wolf," I say, looking up into his eyes. "I don't understand all the rules and regulations. I know I don't get nearly as jealous as you do either, and I understand she did what she did because of jealousy, but something about sending her out into the world to fend for herself just because of her feelings doesn't sit right with me."

"I guess I can try and understand how you feel," Marrok says. "I'm not programmed that way."

"I understand," I say, reaching up and touching his cheek with my fingertips, feeling the electricity from our bond slip through my body. "I don't know what we can do other than banishment, but I would like to hear the alternatives."

Marrok's eyes shut at my touch, his face completely relaxing. "We could allow her to stay," he says, opening his eyes and looking directly into mine. "If that's what you want. She can remain in the pack, but lose her status and living arrangements. She'll be living on the territory, but not in the house. She can stay as a hunter."

"What does that mean?"

"Hunters stay out of the packhouse. They go through the woods and find resources for the rest of the pack. It's a job, normally reserved for the lowest omegas."

"Omega?" I ask.

"Statusless," he explains. "Omegas are the work force of a pack. Alpha and Luna make the decisions, Beta's are the judge and jury and enforce the rules, Gammas are in charge of making sure the packhouse and those living in it are running efficiently. Hunters are normally put in that position as a punishment for something they did, they are beneath the Omega's that live inside the house and work for the pack. The only thing under hunters would be rogues."

"But she would still have a home?"

"She will still have a pack," he says. "That's more than I believe she deserves, but if that's what you want to do, then I will do it for you."

"Is she going to be able to get to me?" I ask. "In case she wants revenge?"

"No," he says confidently. "Most of the packhouse rarely sees the hunters. We only have a few."

"Are they like guards?" I ask.

"No," he shakes his head. "Guards are the strongest omega wolves we have. Even if she wasn't being punished for the Moonmacy, she still would not cut it as a guard."

"Oh," I whisper, taking it all in.

"If we allow her to stay as a hunter, she will be moved to the outskirts of the territory," he continues. "She will be used to gather food found in the territory for the packhouse. Once a week, one of the guards go to their community and collect what was found and brings it back to the kitchen. Hunter's are not involved with politics, nor are they ever invited to the packhouse."

"That still sounds shitty," I confess.

"She has to be punished," he tells me. "The pack is expecting her to receive consequences for her actions. If we do nothing, there can be our own consequences."

"Our?" I ask.

"You accepted me," Marrok smiles. "You accepted the mate bond. I know you are not ready to be Luna yet, but the others have seen your power and they've accepted you."

"Oh yeah," I whisper.

"Is that something you are willing to talk about?" Marrok asks. My heart thuds in my chest; he is always so patient with me, and never makes me do something that I am not ready for.

"Almost," I say, looking up at him. "Let me start training, start to build my mind and soul, and then we can discuss Luna."

"So you've thought about it," he says with a smirk.

"Every day," I confess.

"That's more than I can ask for," he says, yawning.

I manuever myself so that I am laying on his chest, his arm coming around and grabbing my shoulder, pulling me closer.

"Should we move up to the pillows?" I whisper, breathing in his fresh rain scent.

"In a minute," he says, his eyes closed.

We stayed there for a while, before both of us fell asleep, feet hanging off the bed, wrapped in each others arms.

When I woke up, the candles were still flickering, but most of them were running down to the nub. I look at the window and notice no light coming from outside.

"s**t," I mumble, unraveling myself from Marrok, who woke in the process.

"f**k, sorry," he says, rubbing his eyes. "I forgot to set an alarm."

I look over at the clock and see that it says 8:15.

"It's fine," I say, standing from the bed and walking to my suitcase. "We had a really long night into day, our bodies needed it."

"What about eating?"

"I'll eat after I talk to Raziel," I say. "Umm," hesitation. "Would you maybe come with me?"

"To training?" he asks, sitting up.

"Until I get more comfortable with Raziel," I mumble.

"Sure," he smiles, standing as well. "I would love to see what kind of things you can do."

"It would make me feel better as well," I tell him, grabbing clothes for training and turning towards him and blushing.

"Still not ready?" he asks, smiling, before turning away from me.

"Thank you," I mumble, quickly dressing as he walks to his dresser and grabs different clothes.

Once dressed, we leave his room and make our way down to the training facility that the packhouse offered. I immediately see Raziel standing on the other side of the room, looking at different training tools the wolves use.

"Raziel," I say, as we approach. "Sorry for being late."

"No worries," he says smiling. "I know it was a long day for you. Wolf-friend! Good to see you here."

"It's Marrok," he says, narrowing his eyes.

"Relax Cujo," Raziel grins. "I know your name."

Marrok lets out a small growl and Raziel lifts his hands in surrender.

"Are you ready?" Raziel asks, turning his attention to me.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask.

"I want you to attack me," he says, turning and taking his jacket off and dropping it to the ground.

"Attack you?" I ask, looking up at him shocked.

"I can't start training you properly until I know where you stand," he shrugs. "I promise you won't hurt me."

"How do you know that?" I basically shriek.

"Just trust me," he says, walking to the middle of the training grounds. "I want to see all of your power. Do not hold back."

I look over at Marrok quizzically, who just shrugs, before walking over to the light switch and turning them down so that it's darker in the room.

"I don't normally attack unprovoked," I tell him.

"Okay," he shrugs, lifting his hands in the air and gathering light around him. I barely have enough time to jump out of the way before it crashes directly into me, falling over.

"What the f**k?" I scream at him.

"Provoked enough?" he asks, grinning. "Or do you need more?"

"How is this training?" Marrok says.

"Train for the unexpected," Raziel says, forming another ball of light and launching it at Marrok.

My eyes widen at the sudden attack, and I throw all of my energy into the shadows around me to protect him.The lights are dim, but they're still effecting my shadows enough to weaken them.

"Raziel!" I yell, leaping to my feet, gathering shadows around me. The power whips my hair around and I feel the energy of the darkness surging through my body.

"There she is," he smiles, allowing himself to transform into his Angel form.

I throw what shadows I can at him, watching as he swings his sword at them, breaking them apart instantly. I gather enough to hide myself, disappearing from the room. I watch as he looks around for a little bit, but then he closes his eyes. I'm about to launch another attack at him when his eyes snap open and his head turns and faces me directly. He lifts his sword and he summons more light, throwing it at me even though I am hidden. The light smacks into the shadows surrounding me and throws me into the air.

I land ten feet from where I was standing, smacking the ground with a large 'thud'.

"How?" I ask.

"You're going to have to do better than that," he smirks.

I wasn't use to another being seeing me when I was concealed, and aside from Aerith, no one has been able to. I look at his smug grin and feel myself starting to get angry.

"Are you even trying?" Raziel asks, grabbing his sword and pointing it at me.

I feel my blood start to boil, and I wonder what I can do to get an advantage over him. He can see my shadows with his light, even though it's barely lit in the room.

But what if it wasn't?

I gather shadows around me again, but instead of launching them at Raziel himself, I throw them upwards, into the lights above the training facility, knocking them all out simultaneously.

The room is pitch black, and I breathe in the energy around me. I close my eyes, searching for him in the darkness. When I sense his presence, I feel him moving, about to summon light. I grab the shadows around him, tightening them around his arms and legs so he can't move.

"Very good," I can hear him say. Suddenly, his hands start to glow, dispersing my shadows hold on him, and he breaks free. I watch as the glowing gets brighter, and suddenly his wings are radiating a light all the way around his body.

I back myself up deeper into the shadows, readying myself for an attack.

"I see you are already very strong," he calls, and I realize he can't see me. "Unfortunately, you're limited."

He throws another light to the side of the room I was at originally, and I back up further into the darkness. I can see the outline of Marrok off to the side, who is also looking around for me.

"If you need complete darkness in order to win tough battles, you have a very short time line in order for you do anything," Raziel says, throwing another light attack in the room. "What happens if you're attacked during the day?"

Another attack, this one closer to me.

"What happens if the moon decides to be your enemy?"

Another light ball flies across the room, close enough to me to light up the room around my leg, giving up my position.

"What happens if you fight a light daemon?" he asks, launching a final attack directly at me. I throw my shadows up and engulf his light, swinging it around me and throwing it back at him.

He lifts a hand as the light approaches him, closing his fingers into a fist quickly, and demolishing the attack.

"There are no light daemons," I grumble.

"Oh they're aren't?" he asks. I stand in awe as his entire body starts to radiate light throughout the room, brightening the entirety of its walls. I am completely exposed now.

"I thought you were an angel?" I gasp.

"What do you think angels are, Rae?" he asks, lifting his sword and pointing it at me.

"I don't understand," I say, dropping my hands and walking closer to him.

"Light daemons ARE angels," he says, also dropping his sword.

"What?" Marrok and I exclaim together.

"You didn't know?" Raziel asks, confused.

"What do you mean?" I ask. "I thought there were daemons that could control light."

"We are," he says.

"But you have wings!" I exclaim.

"Yes," he nods. "Do you not use your powers to fly?"

"I mean, I do," I whisper. "But you have actual wings."

"Jealous?" he smiles.

"Be serious," I tell him.

"Look," he explains. "Angels and daemons are very similar beings. We both have powers of manipulation. The only difference between us is what we control. Angels ONLY control light. We also carry heavenly swords. Daemons mostly have elemental manipulation powers, except shadow daemons. You are most like us angels, because you can use your power to control just about anything."

"I don't understand," I admit.

He sighs, walking closer to me. "Angels are daemons too. Angels are sun daemons. You are a moon daemon."

My eyes widen at his words.

"We are both heavens warriors," he says. "You fight for the moon, we fight for the sun."

"Then where did you all go?" I ask. "I haven't seen another angel ever."

"The sun goddess protects us," he says. "I live in her Kingdom."

"Heaven?" I ask.

"That's what everyone tends to call it," he smiles.

"What about Hekate?" I ask. "Why didn't she bring me to her Kingdom?"

"Because Hekate isn't the only Moon Goddess," he says. "She is, however, the only one who doesn't want revenge for the creation of Vilark."

"Vilark?" Marrok asks.

"Vilark gained his power by consuming the blood of a shadow daemon," he says. Marrok's eyes widen, but my face remains stable. "But you already knew this?"

"I heard something like that before," I confess.

"The Moon Goddesses felt directly responsible for the chaos that erupted in the world, and one in particular, Nikini, convinced the others that it would be better if the entire world was full of nothing but supernatural, so that something like this would never happen again," he explains.

"Nikini?" Marrok asks.

"The Full Moon Goddess," I whisper. "I read about her."

"Yes," Raziel nods. "So Nikini tried to convince the other moon goddesses to allow Vilark to destroy the human race, but Ontia and Hekate were against it, so they fought back."

"Ontia?" I ask.

"The Sun Goddess," he says. "Goddess of Day."

"So what happened?" Marrok asks.

"We defeated Vilark, but the damage was already done, the humans found out how he gained his powers, and with that, the long war started. Ontia took us all up to her Kingdom where we could live peacefully for the rest of time," he says. "Nikini and the others were so furious, they stopped allowing their children, or shadow daemons, to exist. Except Hekate; hence, where you come from."

"Hekate created me?" I ask.

"Not particularly," he says, scratching his head. "Goddesses cannot bear children, but they can bless them."

"Hekate blessed me? Why?" I ask.

"Ah," he smirks. "That's what I'm here to teach you."