The Moon Goddess

Chapter Eight

Cole walked slightly behind me, wanting to give me space, but even as he tried, I could still feel his lingering gaze on the back of my head. He didn't say anything, we just walked in silence. The only times he spoke was when he indicated where to turn to get to town. 

Truthfully, I was amazed he lived so far away. It didn't seem possible he could get to school on time or anywhere if he slept in. Which he constantly told me he did. I shrugged it off and ignored the curiosity in my mind. 

The Moon Goddess's words still echoed in my mind. I was still hesitant to believe that scene had happened. My mind wasn't able to comprehend her explanation because to me, it wasn't real, it never was and it would never be.

I was born human, in a normal family. Yes, my parents had struggled greatly to have a child but that didn't mean I was some kind of phenomenon child that was set on this world with another purpose than to live a normal life. 

It didn't make sense to me. 

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind as I kept on walking. From afar, I could begin to see the library's roof. I knew it was the library because it a two-story building with a stone balcony on the top floor. It was the only building like that in all of the town. 

I picked up my pace and ran forward, wanting to get somewhere I could recognize and head home. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon and my mother must have been furious by now. 

Behind me, I could hear Cole walk faster as he kept up with me and by the time we got to the library entrance, I stopped and turned to him. "I know my way home, Cole. You don't have to take me, you can tell your family I got home safely," I said with a shrug and turned away. 

Before I could take a step forward, Cole placed a hand on my shoulder, freezing me in place. I turned to him and was shocked to see the pain in his eyes and desperation as he shook his head. "No, I cannot let you go on your own. You heard my aunt, I have to take you home and talk to your mother."

I raised an eyebrow as I stared at him for a moment. "Cole, I am fine but I need some space. Today I have gone through so much that I can't even make out what's real and not. It's just... strange." Cole nodded his head and I could tell he was fighting an internal battle. 

His eyes shut tightly and then he shook his head before turning to look at me. "I can't. I'm sorry,  I am not going home until I talk to your mother. That is final." My eyes widened when I heard the coldness in his voice. I had never heard him talk like that, to anyone. His eyes had even darkened slightly and the urge to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing correctly was almost too hard to ignore.

My heart began to race as nervousness filled me. Cole must have noticed my change in the mood because he quickly sighed and shook his head in defeat. His eyes returned to their normal shade and then he spoke, "I wish I could explain everything but it is not my place. As much as I want to tell you, I can't. You cannot believe to imagine what I am feeling in the position I'm in."

I tilted my head in confusion as I looked at him. My nerves were gone, replaced with wariness. "Why? What is there to explain? Who is supposed to explain what to me? And... are you in some kind of trouble with your family? Do they hurt you in some way or do they belittle you? I could talk to my mom, we could always give you a place to stay. My mother loves you, I am sure she would never say no, especially if you're in trouble."

The chuckle that left Cole's mouth took me by surprise. Apparently, I had misjudged the situation. "No Eve, it's nothing like that. You would not understand if I don't explain everything to you."

I took his hand in mine and led him to a bench nearby, "then explain. Why can't you?"

He sighed as he looked at our hands. He stiffened and quickly pulled away. "Abraham is supposed to tell you everything. He insisted."

Confusion filled me then, who was he talking about? "Who is Abraham?" I asked in a soft whisper. 

"My cousin. The one you saw a couple of minutes ago," he said, and as soon as he said that, my heart began to race as I remembered. Abraham, so that is his name, I thought to myself and a slight shiver ran down my spine.

"And why would he be the one to tell me. I don't even know him," I said with a shrug. 

He chuckled and nodded his head, "I told him you would say that but, he has the last word. I'm sorry. He'll probably go see you tomorrow to talk, I don't think he'll wait for much to see you." I raised an eyebrow but he didn't elaborate. 

Instead, he got up and held out his hand for me to take. "There is a lot you don't know about me, Evangeline. But I have always considered you my best friend, I just want you to be patient and understand why I had to keep a secret." 

I nodded my head but didn't take his hand. Uncomfortably, he placed his hand back into his jacket. I got up and led the way to my house. I didn't say anything the rest of the way but I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I was sure I already knew why he had always been so secretive. 

A couple of minutes later, we reached my house. From where I was standing, I could see my mother pacing in the living room, her gaze fixed on the clock in the living room. "Let me talk to her, I'll tell her I convinced you to go on a hike with me and a friend of mine and that my friend got hurt and we had to take him to the hospital."

I wasn't in the mood to object even if the story sounded more elaborate than I would have liked. I sighed and headed for the door. 

"I'm home," I said as I walked into the house. My mother didn't respond and I headed to the living room where she was looking at me with mixed expressions on her face. Cole walked in after me and smiled charmingly at my mother. 

"Hello Mrs. Patterson, I apologize for the time. After spending hours in the library with Evangeline I got bored and convinced her to go on a hike with me and a friend. We must have lost track of time and we rushed back to be here on time and my friend got hurt and-" before he could continue, my mother raised her hand and stopped him midsentence. I saw Cole gulp nervously and I turned away to hide the smile on my face. 

"Cole, I think it would be best if you left. Thank you for accompanying Evangeline home. I appreciate you stepping up for my daughter but right now I must speak with her." My mother's words weren't mean nor hostile, but you could hear the tightness in her voice as she struggled to keep her temper in check. 

I looked at Cole and nodded my head reassuringly. I'll be fine, I mouthed. Even though he understood what I had tried to tell him, he was hesitant to leave. 

"I'll walk you to the door," I said quickly as I sidestepped him and opened the door for him. The sun had almost completely set and I feared Cole wouldn't get home on time before it got dark. 

"I'll come to see you tomorrow, okay? Just... try to keep yourself alive," he said half-joking as he glanced at my angry mother behind me. 

I nodded my head and pulled him into a hug. 

The action took him by surprise since he still thought I was mad at him. But there was something I needed to tell him before he left. Something my mother couldn't hear. 

"I know what you are, Cole," I whispered in his ear before pulling away. I looked at him enough to see the color fade from his cheeks and the confusion on his face. "Goodbye Cole," I said as I began to close the door.

"Wait. What do you mean?" he asked quickly and I only shrugged. 

"Just what I said. See you," I said and then closed the door. 

Through the window, I saw Cole stand there frozen with shock as he stared at the door in front of him. His fists were closed into fists. After a couple of moments, he turned away but not before our eyes met briefly. 

Quickly, I turned away and faced my mother. She was now sitting on a couch, staring at me with a blank expression. Somehow that was worse than seeing her angry with me. 

"Mother, I am sorry. I did intend on being back on time. I am sorry for worrying you. I know things are dangerous right now but I wasn't alone. Cole was with me," I started to explain but my words didn't have an effect on her. She didn't even look at me. 

"Mom?" I whispered softly as I walked closer to her. I sat down next to her and gently took her hand in mine. "Are you okay?" 

To my surprise, my mother began to cry and she quickly placed a hand in front of her lips to keep a sob from escaping. Worry filled me as I watched her, confused as to what was happening. 

"I am sorry," I said quickly and hugged her tightly. She kept on crying for a moment and then sniffled a couple of times as she regained her composure. 

"I was worried about you and I cannot stay mad at you because I am beyond relieved you are alright and safe. It would have been too much if I had received two bad news in just a few hours," she said, her voice sounded hoarse and strained. 

"Why? What happened, mother?" I asked nervously.

My mother turned to look at me with teary eyes as she held both of my hands between hers. "An officer was here when I got home from work. He was waiting for one of us to show up. He told me he had news from the war and was sent here to inform the people of our town. It seems the troop your father was in is missing. They do not know where they are or if they are even alive. But he made it clear that the priority is to win the war, they are not looking for the missing troops right now."

My head began to spin as dizziness filled me. Everything was changing very fast, I feared I wouldn't be able to keep up. 

 "So that means..." my voice was small and frightened and I couldn't finish the sentence. If I did, all of this would become real. 

"Yes, your father is missing and he may never come back," she whispered and tears fell from my eyes as I recalled all the memories I had with my father. All the last moments I had spent with him before the war. None were enough. I missed my father. 

My eyes widened as a sudden thought crossed my mind. If the Moon Goddess could intervene in my procreation, then maybe, she could save my father as well. A determination was all I felt at that moment, as soon as I could, my mother wouldn't like me disappearing like that but it was the only way. If I told her about the goddess she would think I was mad and send me off to a boarding school or a psychiatric institution. No, that wouldn't be good. As soon as she was asleep I would search for the witch the Moon Goddess had mentioned and with her help, I would know what to do to become the successor of the goddess and save my family from breaking apart.