Awakened: Reckoning of the Moon & Sun

The Memories/Rebuilding of Strength

    He’d been hunting through the night well into the morning in search of meats, nuts, fruit, and water for the soon-to-be birth of his twins.

    After gathering his things together, he took his bag from the ground and started back for home when something...or more somethings caught his eye from a side glance.

    Turning, around he noticed a bud surface from the ground in shimmering due, as it gradually progressed into a quickly budding bloom, his eyes widened. It was a moonflower! “What-” His words were immediately cut off by yet another bud emerging from the ground. However, unlike the last of a pure moon white, this flower was a sunflower, its petals not that of a usual yellow. No, this flower was hued in colors of burning orange, as well as hues of blue, and purple. 

    It was barely a moment after he’d witnessed the beautiful blooms that he realized he was gradually becoming surrounded by them. “What...what’s happening?!” He exclaimed in bewilderment. Then as if the whole world went silent, the only thing he could hear was her voice, screaming his name in agony. She needed him.

    “Christooooph!!!” 

    Stunned with realization, he finally realized what was happening. Both fear and excitement took him over as he took in the reality of what was going on at that moment. 

    “It’s happening!” He whispered breathlessly. The thought screamed loudly in his mind. ‘I’m about to become a father!’

****************************************

    “I’m about to become a father!” He whispered in a repetition of the memory. “I’m about...to…” His words trailed off as he felt his eyes fluttering into consciousness. He had suddenly awakened into realization; that day was no longer present in his life, but a past. He was in the now….where things were suddenly not so simple. “I am...a father,” He muttered.

    As Christoph admitted this to himself he pushed back from his chair, coming to notice that he’d fallen asleep against his desk; something that he’d unfortunately found was starting to become the norm since awakening. This was only one of a few side-effects Christoph had experienced since he had been suddenly taken from his coma. Among the worst of them was the spectacle that he’d been staring at since he realized that he’d been asleep in the first place. His hand. 

    Attempting to swallow the lump in his throat, Christoph attempted with all of his might to stop the severe trembling in his hand that would inevitably lead to the numbness in his fingertips. This new twitch made it significantly harder to cast or use his power.

    When he’d first opened his eyes, Christoph was relieved at first. He even considered himself renewed with a sense of determination to finish what he had started. It was only a few days after, that Christoph had begun developing sleeping spells along with these visions. Or at least that was what he’d considered them at first. However, he quickly realized that they were not visions, but long-forgotten memories of his past. Or at least as far back as his love with Alariyana. 

    He tried to push at least a static of power through his fingers, and barely a spark came through. He sighed in resignation and frustration. At this point he felt as if he was losing everything; his mind, his powers, and those weren’t on the top of the list of his worries. 

    “What are you doing?” He hissed in anger at himself. “What are you trying to tell me?!” Christoph growled, as he gradually began to feel as though his body and mind were betraying him. 

    No sooner did this angst fill him, it immediately faded away when a flash entered his mind. It caught him off guard at first, like a slap to the face, the force of the memory pushing itself into his thoughts for a prolonged moment.

    There they were...two infants, eyes different in hue...one as the moonlit sky, while the other was as deep-burning as embers in a fire; one’s hair full and curly, held the hue of the night sky and its stars while the other’s embodied a summer’s dusk. Golden brown skin sitting in the arms of the one he loved…..

    “Sire?” 

    When Christoph heard his title called, the dream fell away. It wasn’t until he came out of it that he noticed the tears running down his fiery eye. His upper lips twitched in anger at the interruption, but his expression was otherwise stoic. 

    Fortunately, his back was facing Kane when he entered the room. He wiped away the tear. “What is it, Kane?”

    “I’ve only come into to check on you, master. See how you’re coming along,” Kane replied, entering into Christoph’s chambers.

    Pressing his fingers into his eyes, and rubbing them, Christoph sighed. “I’d be better if my daughter was here,” He said and then turned around slightly to glare at Kane. 

    “Well, I only stay stagnant by your word, my liege-not because I want to-”

    “Had you done your job in the first place!” Christoph growled in interference. He pulled back on his anger, and closed his eyes, realizing that it was not just on Kane that the fault lay. In fact, it was barely on Kane at all in comparison to him. “I am not strong enough to go after them yet,” He said, unable to stop himself from wondering how Abigail...and even Mun were faring.

    “I can go after her, sire. Surely, you think I am capable enough to find Abigail-”    

    “No, Kane,” Christoph stared expressionlessly at him. “I do not think anything...I know that you are not capable of finding nor capturing my daughter. It was only by luck that your obsession with her benefited you. I assure you that she will not let it happen again. Neither will my grandchildren. You’d be assuredly walking into your grave.”

    Christoph turned back around, his stare facing the window now, and the rain that had been steadily coming down. It’d been like this for days. He wondered if it were the same for the world outside of the shield of the encampment. Somehow, Christoph had a feeling that it was, and could not help but wonder...if it was Alariyana weeping from the news that she undoubtedly knew by this time.

    “Well, what will you have me do while we wait for your orders, sire.” Kane asked with a hint of frustration below the surface of his inquiry.

    “Stay posted, Kane,” Christoph replied. “If the children of the moon know that their All Luna is awake, then surely they are aware that I am as well. Make sure that the compound is locked down tight.” He said. “Right now, we cannot afford an attack from them.”

    “As you wish, my liege,” Kane replied. 

    Christoph could sense that he was still standing there, and immediately got annoyed. “Is there something else...Kane?” He irritatedly asked. Kane did not speak and this only proved to aggravate Christoph even more. “Well? Speak!”

    “I only wonder, sire, if...well if you have lost your nerve,” Kane said. “If that is the case then-”

    Before Kane could finish the rest of his sentence, Christoph had him by the neck, forcing him to choke the rest of his words back down.

    “Make no mistake, Kane,” Christoph said. “I may not be at full strength, but even now I’d kill you without barely exerting my power.” He warned. “Do not question my strength again.”

    “Yes! Yes...si...sire!” Kane strained through choked-up words. 

    Christoph released him. “Now go...do as I ask. I will be checking the perimeter and I’d prefer not to see not even a chink in the protective shield. Get as many cusps of the Gemini, and Pisces as you can. Use the cancers to boost the powers of the shields to ensure they are not easily broken through.”

    “Yes sire,” Kane nodded and rushed off to do as he was told.

    Christoph watched him leave, before he turned around, willing his door closed as he looked at his hand. Again it started to shake violently again. Shaking his head, he walked off…….

                                        *********************************************************

    When she watched him walk away, she pulled out of the vision, thinking about what she had just seen of her father. 

    “What did you see, Abigail?” 

    When she heard her name being called, she came back to currents and realized that everyone was staring at her. “Nothing...nothing, he’s weak,” She finally said in an undertone. “We will not be seeing him any time soon. And I would not try and head him off by attacking the encampment. He’s gotten some of the most powerful cusps to handle the protection barriers.” She said. It was obvious that she didn’t want to talk about the entirety of what she had seen.

    “Cusps?” Sholt asked.

    “Those born at the point of transition from one sign to the next. They’re born between each the end and beginning of a sign.” Kazmiyah said, her gaze staying on her aunt as she spoke. There was something on her mind.

    “I take it that means they’re a little stronger,” Rojer said.

     “In some cases...we’re a lot stronger,” Kazmiyah’s lip turned up in slight amusement.

    “I think you’re an exception of sorts, Kaz,” Magdalyn replied. 

    “Point taken,” Kazmiyah accepted the light-hearted back and forth before she returned her attention to her aunt, who seemed to be burdened in mind. 

    “Well, regardless of strength, they are at a weak point right now,” Warren replied.

    “Does not mean that they will not be prepared for us when we get there. One thing I’ve learned about from dealing with Christoph is not to underestimate him.” Falcon replied.

    “Oh, we won’t, Alpha, Alvaro,” The Crescent wolf reassured. “We’re not going to go in blind,” He said. “We’re going to use this time wisely, and prepare ourselves appropriately for what is to come. For too long Crescent has become bombarded with attack, after attack after attack. We cannot continue to stand like this.” Warren said it was shortly after these words that his gaze dropped as well as his countenance. “I...have been lacking in my duties as your chief over the past few years. There is no excuse justifiable enough for this. I apologize, and from here on, things will be changing,” Warren reassured. “Regardless, of what comes, the Crescent will retain its honor and its ferocity!” He smiled pridefully. “We will not be caught without guard again and we will not allow anyone to trespass on us again!” 

    The great Alpha’s words produced a wave of excitement and simultaneous pride throughout all of the clan leaders as well as the Crescent pack and the Navarre. Everyone howled in agreement and support of the Crescent King.

    When the meeting was called into order, Abigail rushed out of the meeting hall, her mind overtaken with what she’d seen when she connected with her father. There was a demeanor within him that she had never seen before; confusion, sadness, fear...guilt.

    “Aunt Abigail?” 

    Abigail jumped when she heard her name being called. She turned around to see those Indigo eyes staring deeply within hers. Before Abigal could feign that she was alright, she took account of who she was talking to. She found amusement in the idea that her niece read people so easily.

    “I am fine, Miyah,” Abigail replied. “I do wish...that I could I speak with…” Abigail hesitated because she did not know whether it would even be acceptable to call this twin that she’d never met her sister, nor this goddess moon her mother. “Your grandmother, and-”

    “You mean your mother and your sister?” Kazmiyah interceded. “Because that’s what they are!” 

    “Okay, okay,” Abigail chuckled as she found her niece’s compassion admirable, and cute. “I just...I think it’d be best to talk to them as soon as possible. Something’s...not right.”

    “With Christoph,” Kazmiyah realized. When Abigail did not immediately respond she knew her answer. “Should we call Aurora, and Jeriko back-”

    “No, no,” Abigail quickly shut the idea down. “They need to find their way back on their own time.”

    “But what if their own time isn’t in time?” Kazmiyah asked.

    Abigail saw the worry in her niece’s demeanor. As she watched Kazmiyah, the story of her tragic past came to mind. The girl needed stability in such a world so full of instability. “Everything will be fine, Kazmiyah,” Abigail said softly, touching her hand to her niece’s shoulder. “You are no longer alone,” She smiled. “I am not going anywhere-neither Aurora, Jeriko, or Mags...or him,” She said to Kazmiyah. 

    Kazmiyah was initially confused at first until she saw her aunt’s gaze move past her. When she turned around, she saw Falcon standing there speaking with her father, both betas, and deltas of the Crescent and Navarre pack. It was while she was looking at him that his penetrating gaze subtly slipped her way. He did not break away from her stare until she wordlessly okayed to him that she was alright. He then nodded and returned his attention to the conversation at hand.

    “He’s a good one, you know.” Kazmiyah looked at Abigail. “Reminds me of my Rorick,” Abigail smiled. 

    “He’s...um, yeah,” Kazmiyah agreed. “He’s...I like him,”    

    Abigail chuckled. “You also remind me of me...unable to say the word that you truly wish to use,” Her brows raised. Kazmiyah shifted her gaze. “Love is a powerful thing, Kazmiyah Moon. It can be dangerous...it can scary...it can be marvelous and...lifesaving,” Her head fell to the side, a hint of sympathy against her lips. “What I see...the potential that I see in he and you...is great. Take advantage of it, love,” She smiled. “I will see you later,” She hugged Kazmiyah.

    After she left the meeting, Abigail quickly teleported to the mansion close to the town’s edge. A place that she thought she’d never find use in visiting. However, there was a person that she had intended to speak to but that she had not seen at the meeting surprisingly. 

    When she reached the front door of the manor, she lifted her hand to knock against the door when it immediately opened. 

    Where Abigail’s gaze was to the ground in thought, she finally looked up to see the crimson-eyed vampire standing there in front of her.

    “Well, well. To what do I owe this...riveting pleasure, my goddess moon?”

    “You weren’t at the meeting tonight,” Abigail remarked.

    “Ah, you noticed,” The platinum-haired vampire replied as he garishly stepped closer to her.

    Abigail, for a moment, felt reluctance, but only for a moment before she moved past it and shifted the subject. “I’m...surprised you don’t have a lackey opening the doors for you,” She said, still slightly bitter about his past transgressions against her daughter.

    “Normally, I would,” Varick openly admitted. “But I’d never leave a goddess to be waited on by a mere lackey.”

    “You consider yourself the best?” Abigail sardonically asked.

    Varick simply shrugged. “I could, uh...show you,” He grinned, his incisors elongated.

    Abigail leered. “Not even in your controlling dreams, Varick Jefferson-White,” Abigail said before moving past him and into his domain. “I need to speak with you,” She said as she looked around, taking in the decor of the beautiful manor as well as though moving around casually.

    Varick admired her from the back before he half-chuckled with amusement. “Well, I am...at your disposal, my goddess moon.”