Dark Moon

Chapter_13

Alpha Schaeffer felt like his pack house and office had become less warm and bright since Inara's presence left the pack. He couldn't pinpoint what it was, but he hadn't thought much about the girl. Granted, he felt something warm fill his wolf when she was in the pack house, like the feeling a child gets when their parent warmly embraces them. He was more clear and level when figuring out pack tasks and issues while she was there.

When it was reported that she was missing he was upset to hear a pack member was kidnapped, but it was his wolf that was most unsettled. It was almost as frantic as if something happened to his mate. He would have thought he'd gone mad, but it seemed everyone within the pack house was having the same turmoil. What was it about this wolfess?

He battled the inner turmoil for some time, the morning of her kidnapping, before reaching out to the Sigma. Now, he just had to wait, and wait, he did. A week, to be precise, before the Sigma got back to him. It felt like ages passed by before his cell phone rang with the Sigma's ringtone.

"What do you have for me, Keith?" The Alpha asked. His tone was calm and even, despite his eagerness to know what had befallen Inara.

"Alpha Schaeffer." Keith greeted, then paused a long while. He had gone over this for days, trying to find a tactful way to address the whole situation. This wasn't a small matter. This was bigger than himself and this pack. His steps had to be measured with care. Now, here he was, the moment of truth. "You need to come to my office. You, alone."

Keith had known Charles Schaeffer since he was a pup. He'd known the family he came from for a long time, too. He was trustworthy. The thing was, he didn't bother to really get to know the other wolves much, as they were of no consequence to him. Nor, really were the Alphas, but to keep life smooth and easy, he made it a point to become close to Alphas enough to have a good rapport.

It wasn't but a half hour before the elevator door opened, letting Alpha Schaeffer come into Keith's office. The Sigma looked up with a smile, seeing the Alpha's concerned eyes. "Charles."

"Keith," Charles replied with a slight hint of impatience.

Keith chuckled, amused, before deciding to throw him a bone, " She's safe."

The Alpha halted in his tracks, brows lowering in a scowl, "So, why did I have to come all the way here?"

"Because she will not be returning home," He continued, not giving the Alpha an opportunity to speak, "She was indeed kidnapped, but that is because, in a twisted way, it was the safest way. There is a lot going on that is above both our heads here. So much so that I had to consult the council of Sigma elders."

Alpha Schaeffer had a lot to say, but it quickly fizzled away from him the moment Keith said it was above his own head, and he had to address his elders with the issue. He made measured steps to Keith's desk and sat down in one of the brown leather chairs. They both let the silence take over.

"Who is this girl?" Alpha Schaeffer finally asked. His tone suggested rhetorical, but Keith knew he really wanted to know. But the Schaeffer family had, had a Sigma in their pack for several generations and knew that if a Sigma was not forthright with details, there was a reason.

Keith's heart went out to him for a moment, "She is safe, be assured." He then rose and went to the front of his large mahogany desk, where he leaned back against it. "You need to go about your business like normal. Don't show any mourning. Don't let others know the affect she has had."

Alpha Schaeffer looked up with confusion and astonishment. How was he supposed to do that? It was like a piece of his heart was taken from him. Everyone in his office who had met her and talked to her felt the same. One even commented that it was like their mate left them. How was that possible? "But...Keith...the pack, and those who were exposed to her...they feel the hole...how..how do we....?"

He looked at Schaeffer thoughtfully for a long moment, then strode over to the large picture window and stared out of it for a moment. "You'll have to set the example. You're going to have to show us the Alpha you are." His tone was nearing that of a command, but he was careful not to cross the line.

Charles Schaeffer stood. He knew that Keith Weiss-Mann was right, even if he didn't understand the whole situation. Wiess-Mann wouldn't misdirect him. The Sigma's could be trusted above all. Especially given that Keith went to the Sigma Council. It was the highest road anyone could take with an issue, and if the council wanted this to be 'erased,' that was that. Even Keith had to follow the direction.

"Fine. There is obviously nothing more I can do," Charles conceded.

Keith turned around, "If there is anything else I can do for you, let me know." He then closed the distance and offered his hand to Charles.

Charles looked at Keith's hand for a moment, then gave a weak smile before grasping his hand in a firm handshake, "I will, thank you."

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Isaac POV

His dad, to the protest of his mother, pulled him out of school completely. There was a lot for Isaac to process, and his dad wanted him to cope some before sending him down to the southern continent to the Temple of the Sun. There was a lot he did not tell his father. He still couldn't believe what he saw when he met the Goddess. When he saw her he could not deny that it was like he saw Inara. He knew it was not his Inara, but it was undeniable that the Goddess once more sent her spirit to walk the world once more. But when they touched, he saw more than his mind could wrap around.

The Goddess showed him the dance between him and her---well, not him, really....like a part of him? Isaac was confused. Then there were the things that he was told by Mr. McGrafferty. What was all that? But the Moon Goddess seemed to verify things, and dots were connecting, and it was making his stomach sick. He was still his father and mother's child, but it seemed like there was more. A high purpose to it all.

He rose from lying on his bed, breaking himself from the confusion and mysteries that tried to haunt him. His steps took him to his desk where the airplane tickets were that would carry him one by one to Cusco, Peru. With a sigh, Isaac began to pack. It procrastinated enough.

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Inara POV

She hadn't seen Isaac in days. There was no way to communicate with him; she wasn't allowed a phone, she wasn't allowed to write letters. It was, apparently, too risky. The day after Isaac had left, there was what could only be described as panic among her captors. It settled down after 4 days, and then lessons with Inara began.

Inara was taken to a room on her first day. It was like a museum and she felt a calling within her as she looked over the glass cases that held what was Maria's things, the first moon goddess among them. She looked over an old tattered book, the cover seeming to be wanting to come away from the binding along the spine.

"Want to see it?"

The voice caught her off guard and she jumped a little. She looked to a bald man with warm eyes, his attire reminding her of Buddhist monks. Dense cloth of red with a yellow cloth of his shoulder. "Oh...umm, wouldn't I ruin it?"

"Not with these.." He said, handing her a pair of gloves and a mask.

She took them hesitantly. As she put them on, he unlocked the case, "Just keep the book in the case, but you may flip through and read it. Some of the ink faded quite a bit, but it is mostly legible." He said to her.

Inara flipped through the pages slowly. She felt like a hole was slowly being filled. Like she was coming to understand more and more. She didn't even know she had this space in her until she was in this room. Was she and Maria really the same being? Was she really a part of the Moon Goddess? Inara closed the book before finishing it. She became frustrated and annoyed. "This can't be real..." She uttered. "You guys can't have me believe all this. None of this makes sense...I am just a half-blood, not who you think I am." She felt her skin crawling with fear and uncertainty.

The man gently closed the case and locked it, not saying a word.

Cheryline came into the doorway, "Something get too familiar for you?"

She looked over to Cheryline, "Why do you guys believe I am the Moon Goddess, reborn?"

"It isn't that we just believe it. You are. Simple as that."

Inara stormed past Cheryline, but the short woman grabbed her arm, "You can run, but you can't hide from who you are."

"...and what if I am her...what does it even mean?" Inara growled.

"A lot," Cheryline said, then let her arm go.

Inara stood there for a moment as she thought over things. She was stuck here in this ancient castle. If she went along, what would it hurt? She'd learn more about the Moon Goddess. She'd learn about the history that apparently isn't being taught in school. But for how long does she have to be here? Inara looked over out of the corner of her eyes. "Okay, I see all of Maria's things...what was the point of it?"

The bald man walked over, "This is the past. We learn from the past." He then waved the two girls to move, "Come..time to talk about the fall."

Cheryline looked to Inara, "You go with Elder Able. You won't be seeing me for some time, months maybe. But everyone will care for you, and you're safe."

Inara merely sighed, "Okay." She then heard Elder Able huff impatiently and left Cheryline to catch up with him.