Chapter 8: sliver of the Moon

Falls of Glory by BrunuhVille

Esther woke to the sound of thunder and Delilah’s whimpering. She looked around the dark room with her wolf’s eyes. Her side of the room was cluttered with clothes, magazines, and jewelry she’d made. Sketchbooks, notebooks, and hair scrunchies covered the top of her dresser. It was a mess and she liked it, so typical teenage girl, so normal.

Her sister’s side of their room was clean and organized, bookshelves neatly ordered, star charts and moon images, instead of movie and travel posters over her bed. The top of her sister’s dresser was clear except for a gray backpack and a single sketchbook. Her hair scrunchies tucked away in a drawer, as always.

Through the door to their meditation room Essie could see two shelves. Her bowls sat on the salted shelf, made of sage wood. They were very typical Oracle’s tools; bowls made of malachite, marble, and quartz. Several soft bags held wooden and bone runes, a brass censer, incense, oils, and candles. She knew Del’s tools were in her backpack, their velvet bags wrapped in her clothes. Most had been their Mother’s and great-grandmother’s, items of great value and power that had been in their family for generations untold. There was a rare enameled silver bowl, a silver backed mirror, the onyx and obsidian bowls, the amber runes, a labradorite cabochon called the Tide stone, and a blue tourmaline censer.

Truthfully, her sister only needed the reflective surface of water and a light source. Delilah could scry with anything, anywhere, at any time of day or night. Their Nonna Naomi said the Moon never closed Her eye for Del, and the Tides were always waiting. It was a blessing and a curse, because sometimes Delilah could not resist the pull of the Moon’s Tides and Esther feared that one day her sister would get lost on them.

The flashing strobe of the storm cast her sister’s shadow in a frantic dance along the floor and walls of their meditation room. Her whimpers, a soft song of fear accompanyed the heavy, growling drums of the thunderstorm. Sighing, Esther pushed her covers away. Delilah saw things in the flashes of lightning and falling rain that would drive most adult oracles insane. The worst and darkest secrets of not just the Moon’s children, but of all that shared this world. She saw much that was hidden, much Esther wished would remain hidden from her gentle sister. Her sister’s sketchbooks were filled with the horrors of the living and the damned.

Del was standing in front of the large western facing window watching the storm. Her eyes wide as tears ran down her face. Essie slipped her hand into her sister’s and immediately felt the pull of the Tides, fell into the vision that held her twin so tightly. It was a nightmare.

Everything was burning in the pouring rain. Wolves, familiar and strangers, were dead everywhere, torrential of falling water washing the blood-stained grass clean. Their father and Alpha Isaac... Everyone they knew was dead as their territory burned. A giant vortex churned from the clouds devouring the destruction. Essie felt a tug, she flew, slamming into her own body.

She and Del were running through the forest, a voice was calling to Del as she dragged her sister through the woods. Essie clutched the Benjmin-Naphtal’s ceremonial knife in her hand as they ran through the freezing rain. Wolves were chasing them. She had no idea where Del was taking them in the storm. Leaping over a log, a giant brown wolf tackled them from the side and she fell onto her sister as they rolled on the muddy ground. Del screamed followed by Essie’s outcry. In the lightning flashes, Essie could see the silver blade sticking out of Del’s chest. Her sister died in her arms. Essie heard her voice shout her sister’s name over and over...

Then their Nonna’s voice called them back...

Light surrounded them and they were back in their meditation room. The lights were on and their protectors were surrounding them. Their Nonna, their great-grandmother Naomi, was standing with her hands on each of their shoulders. Essie collapsed against their father as Alpha Isaac held Del, before she slumped on the floor. She leaned against the giant Alpha’s chest, sobbing.

“They’re coming, it’s too late to flee, they’re coming for us, they’re going to kill everyone.”

Essie threw herself at her sister, selfishly dragging her away from Alpha Isaac. “You’re not dead, Del, you’re not going to die. I won’t let it happen. I won’t let them hurt you.” Her voice high and hysterical as the twins clutched each other, trembling. Too distraught to notice the adults had quickly left the room.

Alpha Isaac looked haunted as he spoke in a low growl, “The patrols aren’t responding.”

“Which ones?” Nonna asked as she dug through Del’s gray backpack, then she stuffed Essie’s bowls between clothes in her black backpack.

Jude looked horrified at his dead mate’s grandmother, “All of them.”

‘All Females and Pups to the bunkers or the tunnels to flee. We are under attack.’ Alpha Isaac’s voice boomed through the pack link.

“It’s too late, the rain will wash our blood from the grass by morning,” Del’s young tremulous voice floated into the room, sending shivers down his spine. Her eyes were wide and luminous, like the deepest blue sapphires ringed with silver, watery jewels set in the black silk fringe of her lashes. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Isaac.”

Delilah had not called him uncle since she was small, Alpha Isaac felt his heart clench. He loved the twins like his own since his mate was murdered and his pup died a week later, followed by his nephew and mother the next year. Del’s calm gentleness had kept his wolf from going mad, while Esther’s exuberant love of life had pushed him close to something like happiness. He knew it was an illusion, but he had enjoyed being their protector while it lasted.

He looked in her eyes, “Deli, I regret nothing. You warned us it was coming, we should have left last night. I thought we’d have more time.”

“We should have had more time,” Essie snarled, yanking a hoodie on and securing her backpack, “Someone told them you were sending us away tomorrow.”

Her father narrowed his eyes at her, “Are you sure Essie?” His eldest glanced at her Nonna before giving him a curt nod. He turned to his youngest, “Del, how many and where are they coming from?”

Del sat dazed, staring toward the bedroom window, she seeming so much younger than her 12 years as her sister forced a hoodie over her head. Her voice, a child like whisper, “They are all around us, papa. More than all of us together, four clawed hands reaching for each beating heart here.”

Nonna spoke suddenly, “My son says there are less than a hundred warriors to the northwest. He is behind their line with three other servants. The girls need to get to them. I will lure them the other way.”

The ancient Oracle turns to Delilah, placing her hands on either side of her face.“Listen my precious snowflake. I love you. I am so proud of the oracle you are and will become, but you have to go now and I have to stay. Remember, follow the Moon, listen to Her voice, look to Her Eye, stand at Her Gate. It will be your duty guide Her Servants, you cannot save them all, but remember even when all hope is lost...”

Del shakes her head, her tears wetting her great-grandmother’s fingers, “No, Nonna. I don’t want to leave you.”

Nonna kissed her forehead. “Del... Del... Hush child, listen. When all hope is lost, the Tides will show you another way. I have taught you all I know. The Goddess has decided that tonight I go home. I am honored to go, if I can save you both. I always knew I would die so you both could live,” Nonna said gently.

Turning, Nonna put her hands on Esther’s shoulders, “Esther, tonight you will face a choice. One will grieve you, the other will relieve you. Do not regret either. I love you to the Moon and back , my little leaf. Let the wind take you where it will. Now, take your sister and go.” She kissed Essie’s forehead too.

Esther nodded bravely. “I love you, Nonna, say hi to mom for me. Come on, sis.”

Delilah was hugging their father, as they hurried to the door. Essie grabbed Alpha Isaac into a hug. She murmured to him, “Stay close, we can still make it out as a family.”

He kissed the top of her head, “Esther, you run and don’t look back. Keep Deliliah moving, don’t let her get caught in the lightning. She must run, she can’t stop for one of her visions.” He pressed the ceremonial knife of the Benjmin-Naphtal pack into her hand. “Use it on any wolf that gets in your way.”

“Yes, Uncle Isaac.”

He stood ahead of them, their father stood behind them, through the pack link, they could feel wolves fighting and dying. Nonna pulled their hoods up and held the door.

“The Goddess guide you,” she whispered.

The door opened and the storm rushed in as they run out into the tempest. Noona slamed and bolts the door as she says a prayer to the Goddess. After tonight, only one of her great-granddaughters would be left to talk to the Moon, if she survived... If...

Delilah would be the strongest Delphi in a thousand years... If she survived this night...

Alpha Isaac killed any wolf that came across his path, his warriors and she-wolves were clearing the way for them. Two sets of juvenile she-wolves fled with groups of warriors in opposite directions, drawing the Des Rues wolves away from their escape path. The entire remnant of the Benjmin-Naphtal pack were sacrificing themselves to stop the apostates from capturing the Moon’s chosen ones. Their father kept all from their back. Their grandfather, the Wanderer Eliazar, was just ahead, but he and his fellow servants were fighting and greatly outnumbered. Alpha Isaac charged into the battle without glancing back.

‘Jude, go around, before they spot you, get to the Eye. They are waiting for the twins. Goodbye, son of my soul.’ Eliazar linked to him.

They ran around the warring wolves and deeper into the forest, lightning and wind destroyed the trees around them as the arrogance of the exiled royal wolves destroyed their pack. There was a roar and a twisting vortex dropped out of the sky, sweeping away battling wolves and buildings. Jude held his daughters close as he struggled to get them away from the tornado. They skirted the destruction and death as they hurried to the Northwest, where help waited.

“Shift to your wolves,” he shouted over the winds.

Both girls stripped and dropped into identical dark brown wolves. Picking up their packs in their teeth, they ran after their father’s lighter brown wolf. A group of four wolves tackled them. Delilah fought as hard as she could, but the wolf bit her foreleg breaking it. Forcing her to shift back as he shook her by the back of the neck. Suddenly, hot blood drenched her and his weight was gone. Essie was dragging her to her feet. Del grabbed the backpack containing their mother’s tools and slung it over her good shoulder as she cradled her broken arm.

‘Flee, my loves!’ They ran away from their embattled father.

Esther pulled her one way, but Delilah shouted in her ear over the roar of the tornado, “No, we must go this way.”

Lightning flashed, creating weird shadows in the torrents of rain that beat on their bare skin. They were running blindly through the storm, but Del seemed to know where they were going. They jumped a log, then suddenly Essie turned and shove Del away from her as a wolf tried to tackle them both. Sobbing in pain, Del pushed herself up from the mud, she had landed on her broken arm. Howls and thunder echoed around them.

A warform was laying on top of Essie, it was dead. Delilah shoved it off her sister. The silver ceremonial blade of the Benjmin-Nephtal buried in it’s heart. Essie was laying with her eyes open, staring at nothing. Her breaths were a strange catching rasp. Del could feel her sister dying. She knelt down and lifted her with her good arm. Blood ran from a long, wide gash on Essie’s head, Del could see the pale broken bone of her sister’s skull in the lightning, fractured like an eggshell. Blood oozing though her wet hair as it hung around the wound.

Delilah screamed out into the tempest. “NO! Please, no! Please Goddess, I’ll do anything. I promise I will serve you forever, just don’t take her yet. PLEASE!... Please... please... I’ll do anything... Give up anything...” Del couldn’t make herself move, all she could do was hold her sister and wait for her last heartbeat, her last breath.

Then the faintest glimmer of the Moon pooled around her. Delilah looked up, through an opening in the clouds, the faintest sliver of the Moon shown down on them, like the gleam off a silver ring.

She begged her Goddess to hear her, “Please don’t take her yet. I promise I will serve you, just don’t take her yet... please...”

Delilah heard her mother’s voice speak the decision of the Goddess, ‘SHE has heard you. Take your sister to my pool. Get in the water with her and rinse her hair. Let yourself sink into her Eye. Run, my daughter, hurry.’

The moonbeam moved lighting their path as Del half-dragged, half-carried Essie. Beyond the circle of light the storm still raged. Delilah was amazed that she was only a dozen feet from their mother’s pool surrounded by the overwhelming scent of storm-crushed flowers. Her heart broke more, these were the flowers their father’s love had planted in memory of their mother. They were forever destroyed.

Delilah knew almost everyone else was dead, but she didn’t care as long as she could save Esther. She let her pack drop from her shoulder. Carefully, she lowered her sister into the small round pool, rinsing the blood from her hair as the sliver of the Moon shone down on them. Suddenly, the water bubbled and glowed white around Esther and she sank deeper than the pool was. Abandoning her backpack on the pool’s edge, Del dove into the waters, swimming through the glowing bubbles and currents, after her sister. Seizing her hand just as Esther had seized Delilah’s hand the day they were cut from their mother’s womb. She vowed she would not let go.

Naomi rushed back through the pack house and waited in the twin’s meditation room, sealing herself in. The pounding on the doors began and the walls and ceiling. Wolves were trying to break into this safe room. It would take them at least an hour. Through the escape tunnel door in the floor, she dragged the twins’ bedding across the room and down the hole. The old she-wolf struggled to pull the bundle behind her, it trailed her great-granddaughters’ scents to the end where another safe room awaited. She bolted the heavy metal door behind her. She waited again, listening to the roaring winds of nature’s wrath, feeling the trembling of the raped earth above.

The sister of her Goddess was pouring out her wrath on this place so the Moon’s Chosen Ones could escape in the chaos. Eventually all was still. The old she-wolf opened the hidden hatch and climbed out into the dying storm. Exhausted after dragging the heavy bedding through the woods, she dumped it in the river at the base of the falls. The blankets were carried away in the tumult of raging waters while she was waiting for them to catch her. She could feel the enemy in the tunnel following the false trail she laid. She felt a movement in the moonlight and smiled. Her girls were safe, the legacy of the Naphtal would continue another generation.

Wolves surrounded the ancient oracle, snarling and growling, but none dared approach where she knelt next to the river. A scarred, russet wolf shifted to stand before her.

“Hello Beta Lothaire of Des Rues. Sorry about your mother and mate and pup, but the Moon’s justice will be. Your father’s family cannot change their fates, you can only delay it,” she said calmly. The storm had passed, leaving an eerie calm in the pre-dawn air.

He growled, “We will rule this land, witch! Now, where are the oracles?”

She smiled, “The Moon Herself has taken them to safety.”

Her heart beat slower with every passing moment, the pain of overexertion fading. She knew that soon it would give one last beat. The lidded eye of the Moon peered through the breaking clouds, a silver sliver of a smile sinking toward the west, beckoning Her servant home.

Lothaire seized Naomi by the throat, “Where are they? They are not down river. We have killed the Servants who came for them, and captured the pretenders. The twin oracles did not escape over land. Where have you hidden them?”

The elder oracle of the Benjmin-Naphtal sighed her last, “Your alpha and his illegitimate heirs cannot touch them. The Moon opened Her gates and the Oracles are under Her Eye.” Her head lolled to the side as her heart stopped, he stared down at her in shock. She was dead.

He lowered her back to the muddy river bank, he hated the Moon and all those who served Her, but he was not fool enough to desecrate one of her oracles, even in death.

“Search every inch of the territory, find the twin oracles,” Lothaire shouted. Once again they had lost the thing they sought.

A young tattooed wolf pulled a silver ceremonial dagger from a corpse. After he picked up a black backpack, and carefully, he placed the blade in the outer pocket. Shifting to fur, he followed the scent of moonlight to the edge of a small round pool. A gray backpack rest on the edge, no sign of the ones who carried these. An old wolf staggered out of the brush, bearing identical marks, badly injured but determined. He picked up the gray bag with a nod, and together, two Servants of the Moon ran into the waning storm and vanished from sight and scent.