Dark Moon

Chapter_11

Keith POV

He urged his son to sit, and there was a long silence as he thought about where to begin. Despite his hope that he'd have a Sigma to pass down the lineage history, he failed to practice what he'd say. When he learned that his son was, in fact, a Sigma, he tried to make a nice format of all the history to teach. With the situation he found his son in, he would at least teach him about his powers.

"Well..." He leaned back in his office chair, " You know that we don't have to bow down to anyone. But that doesn't mean we take advantage of them. Because of our ability to intimidate others into submission, we are seen as being the same level as Alphas, but since we do not disrespect the Alphas, we are seen as still following their orders. However, they do not order us. Most Alphas never challenge us. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, Sigmas either ignore it, or we remind them of our grace."

He leans forward with a smile as he sees the question in his son's eyes. "Sigmas have the ability to command all wolves. Ferals, Rogues, Alphas, The Council. All of them. We were born directly of the Moon-Goddess. We were once seen as her sons and daughters. But that is a talk for another time."

Leaning back, he thinks for a moment, "We have elemental powers too. Our lineage is fire. Other Sigmas are earth, water, air...you get it.

Since you're going to be in a situation that may arouse your anger, I want you to be aware of the power you have and not abuse it. I want you to carry yourself with the honor that comes with being Sigma. We don't flash our extraordinary powers, and we haven't used them in a thousand years. We rarely, if ever, make anyone submit. We carry ourselves with a calm, cool air. No matter how provoked we are made.

On the rare occasion that we have to remind an Alpha of their place to us, we merely make a show of strength without revealing the elemental powers we have. Well...I mean..just a little heat never hurt...but no fire." He smiles with a jovial air.

-------

His laptop was open in his office, the earpiece resting in his ear. He was amazed at how easy it was going to be to crack this case for the Alpha. The part that still had him intrigued was that his son was only 16 and was now mated to this missing werewolf. Who was she? Why was the Alpha so frantic and upset with her missing? He did some digging after his son went to get ready and learned that even the other office staff were upset and very worried about her absence. Mainly wanting to know what they all had to say about this she-wolf.

Can't blame him for being curious about the she-wolf who the moon goddess chose for him.

Nothing of note came up so far until suddenly Cheryline mentioned the Queen of Wolves, and Keith jolted up from his seat. "What in the hell!?" His heart began racing, and he stood to pace out of disbelief and amazement. He had heard that the SSCW was still holding hope. They were always sneaking around, trying to find any trace or watching any possible link. They were good-natured in their devotion, but even the Sigmas were of the idea that the moon goddess would never send her spirit back to this realm. To say the moon goddess was hurt by her people and to say that the Sigmas were devastated was an understatement.

Once Keith calmed, he was swept by the realization he could not tell the Alpha about where she was or who took her. What was he going to do? How was he going to handle this situation?

-----

The moment his son was back at John and Cheryline's house, Keith called.

"Come to my office. Now."

-----

Keith once more directed his son to sit, "Isaac, I know you had a long hard day, but I need to tell you about the Queen of Wolves...it is a part of our history, but it wasn't something I was going to tell you about, for a while, anyway. But what I learned today...you need to know what Cheryline is claiming. The magnitude of it all."

Isaac sat and looked at him, ready to listen. Keith was amused. His son may not have had school today, but he certainly was learning a lot today.

"We were born directly of the Moon-Goddess, remember? We don't have to answer to anyone except her. Sigmas are able to talk with her directly, but only upon the full moon. We, at one point, were able to feel her love and touch directly through what the other werewolves called the Queen. The Moon Goddess herself infused her spirit into a worthy child. From the stories passed on from our family, she was a beautiful creature who had the power to heal and comfort the most broken of wolves. She had the innocence no other wolf had. Us Sigmas fell in love with her. We appointed ourselves to keep her safe and protect her."

His voice trailed off as he recalled the way his father shared the tragedy of her fall.

"There was great peace with the Queen around. We all lived as one. We felt a peace that words really can't describe. But there was still pain around. She could not...or would not heal all. Some called her a lie and a fake. A Sorcerer fed on the pain of those wolves and helped them come up with a way to show others that she was not eternal. You see, the Queen had a long life. She could live for hundreds if not thousands of years since she was infused and truly one with the Moon Goddess herself, but she isn't the Moon Goddess and, therefore, mortal.

With the aid of the Sorcerer, they made magic-infused weapons. Under the cover of a New Moon, they broke into her castle and slaughtered her and other werewolves. The hard part was her body was taken. The Sorcerer wanted her blood and organs. He wanted to use them for his own sickening purpose of longevity.

When the traitors learned this, they were heavy with guilt. But when they were revealed to the others, they were killed for their betrayal. Soon after, unrest and rifts formed among werewolves and lycans, and soon we split into two sects...then packs."

Isaac was quiet. Keith watched him as the silence filled the room. The one thing he could say about his son was he was certainly good at internalizing. Finally, Isaac spoke, "...but how do we know that she is the Queen?"

Keith smiled, "We don't yet...we need to figure out how the SSCW knows." Keith looked at the clock on his desk.

"Do you think it is too late to call them?" He smiled with a twinkle in his eye.

Isaac looked bewildered as his father placed a call.

Director of SSCW

Caller ID was a blessing in some ways, but in this case, he would rather not answer it. He could not ignore it. He was aware of the grace SSCW was granted by the Sigmas. Still, today just was not a good day and Allen would have rather gone to bed and rest after everything that had happened today.

"..Hello, Councilmen Keith," he said drearily.

"Oh, Allen, is that how you greet an old friend?" The sarcasm and chipper tone were like nails on a chalkboard to Allen.

"Look, I'm sorry your son is involved. I am also sorry Cheryline doesn't understand how entwined Sigmas are....she's a narrowminded learner...but she is one of our best." he pleaded.

"No no, that is fine, Allen. I am not calling about that mess. I am calling because I want to understand what makes you think this Inara girl is the Queen." Allen hears Keith's chair creak as he leans back.

"Well, have you seen her wolf? But, also she healed the Alpha's son when he was ill with a bad fever and cough. Then there is her aura. She seems to have a calming effect on those around her. We're pretty damn sure, councilmen."

Silence fell over the phone, and for a moment, Allen thought the line dropped.

"...perhaps we should find out for certain in four days. I will ask the moon goddess."

"Keith, what are you going to tell the other Sigmas? We don't need this getting out before she is ready and strong enough to be revealed."

"Leave it to me, Allen. We have to know for certain, already you should be thankful I don't reveal you and turn you in after all this."

Allen felt a hot, cold flash run over him. He is right. "Keith, one of my fraction told me the Sorcerer's apprentice became active again...I had to do something."

Inara POV

When Inara finally awoke, she noticed that her wrists were healed except for some faint scars. She wondered if they'd go away too. Surely, they would.

"Good morning, Inara." Cheryline's voice caught her off guard, and she looked to see her sitting in the corner of the room. "Today, we plan to teach you the history of your predecessor, Amethia. So, take a shower, enjoy breakfast, and then we will take you to the library where your lessons will begin."

She rose and left, leaving Inara alone.

Her eyes looked to the thin glass window where the sun came in at an angle. She looked at the sunbeam on the warm wood floors. Perhaps it was about a 20-degree angle? She thought to herself. With a sigh, she slid to her feet and walked to the bathroom that was connected to her room. When she came back out, there was a tray with a southwest omelet.

"Nicely played, Cheryl..."

She sat and spread the sour cream and guacamole over the top and took her time eating. Her mind ran through yesterday with Isaac telling her to stay. Was he part of this scheme? He had to be, why else would she let him come and go...and why would he be okay with all of this? But then Alexis reminded her how angry he was about her injury.

Inara would go with it, for now, gather as much information and silently plan how to get out of this. It was all she could do; fighting wasn't going to get her anywhere, that was obvious. This would be the best course of action, and besides, she might actually learn some useful combat. They did say she'd have to be strong enough so as to stand against those who really do want her dead, right?

-------

Keith POV

At 9 am sharp, Keith was on the phone calling the Sigma elders to make a formal inquiry to make contact with the Moon Goddess.

"Sigma headquarters," a young female voice answered.

"Drake Colin office, please."

A click sound, then ringing again, resumed.

"Drake Colin office!" a chipper female voice answered.

"Keith Wiess-Mann," he said.

"Hold one moment, councilman."

Keith leaned back in his chair and looked over the land outside his window. His mind started to wonder, but he was soon snapped back as the croaky voice of Drake answered. "Keith! You almost ready t'finally retire'n' be part of t'elders!?"

"Ha! You know I'm easily a decade or two from that, Drake."

"Well, then why you botherin' t'call." He sounded almost genuinely irritated.

"I need to talk to the Moon Goddess." He said plainly.

A choking cough came blasting through the receiver, making Keith move it from his ears until it stopped, "We haven't bothered her in years!"

"I wouldn't be making this request if it was potentially vital, Drake." Keith's tone was lowered with seriousness.

"What is it about?" Drake's tone meets Keith's.

He straightened in his chair, and his hand ran through his thick salt and pepper hair. Tongue out, pressing to his top lip in thought.

"Well!" Drake's patience snapped at the silence.

"...her spirit might be back..." Keith finally said.

Silence filled both receivers.

"Keith," Drake warned.

"Look, I wouldn't be asking for this if I didn't think there was a chance. I need---we need to know if this is true, and there is only one source that can verify if this is truth or not." Keith pleaded.

There was a long silence before Drake finally spoke again, "I will bring it up at the meeting at 11, but I cannot promise anything."

"Thank you, Drake. I will wait for your call back this afternoon."

Drake merely grunted.

"Bye, old friend." Keith hung up and then slumped back in his seat.

"I hope I did the right thing..."