Filial lunar bonds
1023 Words
True to her words, the medium came back as promised, She waltzed in at night from seemingly nowhere.
One minute, Clare was sitted in the dining room enjoying a plate of pies she had made with her mum and Aunt Lilith, the next, chants of various elements herald the arrival of the Oracle led in by her dad.
The older woman came in dressed the exact way she was when she left, and clutching a dagger this time.
Clare discreetly moved closer to Julia when she saw the sharp, heavy looking metal in the hands of a woman she was not sure was one hundred percent in possession of her faculties.
Clare had thought over and over how she would feel when it was finally time. Her upgrade in status would not necessarily make the pack members like her any better. They would still hate that she had those things handed over to her on a platter of gold but they would only be scared to show it because she would be bigger and stronger.
But she guessed no one was obligated to like her so it did not really matter. She had not done anything wrong to anyone so if they disliked her, it 'their' problem not hers.
Just because she didn't want to be surrounded by a fake crowd during such an important event, she had begged her parents not to tell any member of the pack yet until she was ready to reveal it.
Which was why she was now seated in her aunt Lilith's dining room instead of the pack house.
The medium looked straight at her with piercing eyes "Follow me," is all she said before she turned around and exited through the backdoor.
"Drama queen." Aunt Lilith mouthed rolling her eyes at the Oracle's back before nudging Clare along.
The backyard was brightly lit by the full moon up in the sky. There were sounds of wolves howling in the distance and generally a feel in the air that had Clare's heart racing overtime.
The medium led them to the open clearing at the back of Aunt Lilith's house. She walked for a bit and stopped in the middle of the yard and began to sing a song, a sad and woeful song, in a strange tongue.
Clare's eyes widened as right there in their presence, a tree began to grow out of the ground, a large Oak tree.
"And she brought her home too." Someone whispered behind her but Clare was too fascinated by the sight to check.
The chants continued until the Oak tree was full grown and then stopped abruptly.
"Come, my dears." The woman called out to them. "Let us begin."
Clare and her parents stepped forward leaving her aunty behind to only observe.
When they were at the foot of the tree, Clare was asked to kneel backing the tree. And her parents stood in front of her, facing the tree. She held her hands outstretched and they each took it in their own hands.
A new chant began. This time, it was not slow and soulful like the earlier one but fast and upbeat making Clare's heart beat in rhythm to the song.
The medium approached them in that position with her dagger, she took their palms and raised the dagger, bringing it down with a deep s***h. She made cuts on all their holding palms and let their blood trickle into a small wooden bowl, swirl and mix, all the while chanting her song.
Clare's stomach tied in knots and settled heavily beneath her belly button and goosebumps rose all over her skin as she felt the whole atmosphere was charged.
She looked up at her parents who had their eyes smiling back at her but seemed to be frozen in place.
She looked beyond them to the medium and noticed that her eyes had changed to the whitest iris amongst the blackest sclera.
Clare watched the medium standing at a spot as her voice rose higher and higher spewing those words but this time, she could make them out, as if time stopped and then slowed.
The song was no longer fast but a lullaby, the atmosphere was no longer electrifying but soothing, Clare was drawn to listen to the words of the song.
"Raise your eyes and look into the Stars; My Body, My Being, is always Watching.
Out of Love I bore you, and out of Love I watch and embrace all that you are.
Raise your eyes and look into the Stars; I embrace you, hold you, always Watching."
Clare raised her eyes to the the skies, the moon was up in all her glory and did seem to be shining down directly on her, watching her.
She could almost see the mother of the moon with her crown of stars and the crescent moon smiling down and singing this song to her.
"Raise your eyes and look into the Stars; they are my Light reflecting back to you.
In the Darkness Hope shines, patiently, from life unto life.
Raise your eyes and look into the Stars; Harmony and Balance burn and decay – to which shall you hold onto?"
Clare was enthralled by it all. The brightness of the night lit by the lunar phase and the gentle breeze that blew. It was like she was the only being alive.
Like she was the night itself.
She got up from her position and made her way towards the medium. The liquid in the bowl bubbled from an invisible fire.
'Drink' A voice said from afar, Clare obeyed. She took the bowl and downed it in a go.
Clare felt the liquid burn down her throat, all the way to her stomach. Voices whispered in her ears.
"The shedding of blood.... Blood, live, fire, shift.... Aradia."
Everything was changing, she could tell. Nothing moved but the night was alive, glowing. Clare was glowing.
"I am the Night that Breathes, and you, My Children, are My faces that shine from My dreams."
Those were the last words Clare heard before the darkness swallowed her light.
"Clare?! Clare?!!"
- Writer
