The Golden Goddess

Shooting Stars

Lorcan

“So you’re off to save an entire realm?” Raiden shoved his elbow against mine, lifting his beer to his lips as he tried to hide his smirk.

“Well, I couldn’t let you upstage me once again,” I replied, leaning forward on the kitchen island and staring out at my family and friends who were all mingling and drinking together to celebrate our birthday. “You already stole my thunder at the academy and then you go and defeat our families’ greatest enemy? I can’t let that one go.”

He chuckled, nodding his head. “Just don’t go getting yourself killed on some ploy to be everyone’s hero. I am all about the drama-free life now and I don’t fancy trekking to another realm to save your ass. You’re kind of my favourite triplet.”

I scoffed, knowing that was a lie. “Shall I tell Ilaria you said that?”

“Don’t you dare!” he replied, his silver eyes widening in genuine fear.

“I have no intention of getting myself killed,” I smiled and he nodded his head.

“Good. Because you will drag our name through the mud if you do,” he teased, ruffling my thick, black hair in jest. I knew he was joking, but I couldn’t help it when my smile faded and the intensity of letting everyone down became overbearing.

“I’m joking!” He quickly added when he saw the look on my face.

“I know,” I plastered on a fake smile and stood upright, downing the rest of my beer. “You know me, Raid. I’ll save their realm, just so I can come back here and rub it in your face. You’re too smug with your life right now.”

“You’re right,” he smirked, glancing over at Sienna who was speaking to Ilaria by the fridge. “I am.”

My eyes followed his gaze and my protectiveness and concern for my sister and my other family members swelled in my chest. My mum hadn’t stopped fussing and my dad was still furious at my decision to leave. All my grandparents were beside themselves, trying to talk me out of this and coming up with a number of different plans to help the realm instead of sending me. But my mind was made up.

“Keep an eye on her, won’t you?” I lowered my voice as Raiden frowned in confusion until I nodded my head towards Ilaria. “She acts tough but she is going to fall apart when both Neve and I are gone. She needs something to keep her busy or she is going to spin out. You know what she’s like.”

He threw his bulky arm over my shoulder with reassurance, “Don’t worry. I’m already working on it. She’ll be fine. The last thing you need to be worrying about is everyone here.”

Ilaria and Sienna made their way over to us just as he finished his sentence. Ilaria’s pink eyes locked with mine and she gave me a smirk. “Time?”

“Time,” I agreed.

She turned, searching the room for Leif, but he appeared out of thin air next to me, making us all jump. “Looking for me?”

“Jesus, Leif!” I groaned, reining Typhon back in when we realised we weren't about to be attacked.

“Come on, let’s go before we miss it!” Ilaria grabbed both our hands as Sienna looked puzzled at our sudden departure from our own birthday celebrations.

“Don’t worry. It’s a triplet thing,” Raiden shrugged, pulling her into his chest as we slipped out the back door and into the deserted palace grounds. I shifted into Typhon, letting Leif climb onto our back as we sprinted through the woodland that connected the palace to the Blood Moon Pack. Ilaria zoomed along beside us, darting in and out of the trees with proficiency.

As soon as we reached our spot, we stopped and Leif handed me back my clothes when I shifted into my human form. I didn’t bother with my top and just pulled up my jeans before joining my siblings in the long, dancing grass by the side of the picturesque lake. This was our tradition. Since we turned six years old and begged our parents to let us stay up to see the shooting stars that seemed to pass over the sky in all their glory every night on our birthday. Over time, it became our special moment. A slice of wonder to cherish that only belonged to us.

“Circle of truth,” Ilaria broke the silence and Leif and I smiled. The three of us lay on our backs, creating a circle with our heads close together as we stared up at the twinkling night’s sky. Wherever we were, or whatever we were doing, if one of us demanded a circle of truth, we all would lie like this on the ground, staring at the sky and would have to answer each other honestly about anything. Even Typhon remained silent and let me have these moments with my siblings whenever they happened.

“Are you scared?” Ilaria asked as we all kept our eyes locked on the black canvas and searched the skies for our phenomenon.

“Not scared,” I answered truthfully, “Just… anxious. What if I’m not enough to save their realm? I don’t even know what I am supposed to do or what I am even fighting.”

“You are enough. They sought you out for a reason, bro. The universe has a bigger plan for us all and this is yours. Never doubt yourself,” Leif answered with heartfelt conviction, and the corner of my lip flirted with a smile. Even though he was the prankster, he had his moments when they counted.

“Will you both be okay? Without me?” I asked carefully. There was a short silence as they both contemplated what that might look like. We had never been apart. Not for our twenty-one years on this Earth. We slept in the same cot as babies. We shared a room until it got too weird. We had attended the supernatural academy together, always at each other’s sides. We didn’t know life without each other.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Ilaria was the first to speak her truth. I swallowed my feeling of guilt at leaving them behind. “But… maybe this will be good for us. Give us each some time to figure out who we are and what we want as individuals.”

Both Leif and I sat bolt upright and glanced down at her. Her white hair was flayed across the green grass and her pink eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she narrowed them in annoyance. “What? Lie down! You can’t break the circle!”

“I just can’t believe I heard those words from your mouth!” Leif gasped as we both returned to our positions. “Oh, I get it! She just wants you out of her way so she can get randy with Ronnie!”

“You are such a sh*t stirrer!” She screamed, punching Leif in the arm with her vampire strength. “That is not the reason at all! I am just trying to be optimistic here. Looking for the silver lining in this sh*tty situation. Sienna is working on getting me into the SIA so I have that to focus on!”

“Exactly!” I chuckled, “When have you ever been optimistic, sis? Maybe I shouldn’t go. I am terrified my absence now is going to change you into a happy-go-lucky girly girl!”

“If I throw a stick, will you leave sooner?” Ilaria snapped, folding her arms over her chest as Leif and I burst into laughter. We loved winding her up. It was just too easy.

“Okay! Okay, I’m sorry. I appreciate your attempt at letting me go without any guilt,” I added, searching for her hand in the grass and giving it a squeeze. “What about you, Leif?”

“Me? What about me? More p***y for me with you gone. I’m delighted,” he smirked.

I rolled my eyes, sensing his emotional walls were up. Many people believed Leif was just a free-spirited and carefree person who never took anything seriously. But I knew him better than that. His humour and sarcasm were a way of protecting himself against his true feelings. Against showing his vulnerability.

“Circle of truth!” Ilaria hissed, also seeing through his bullsh*t.

He sighed heavily, “I don’t want you to go, bro. You’re my right arm. I’m useless without you.”

“You’ll be fine, Leif.”

“I’ll be bored.”

“What, with all the extra p***y?” I chuckled.

“If I have to be totally honest. I’m a little jealous. I’ve always been curious about other realms. I want to travel and learn things from other magical beings. The ones here aren’t up to my standards,” he laughed. “I mean just look at this!”

He held up a green stone above our heads as Ilaria and I both studied it with suspicion. “What am I looking at, Leif? It just looks like a rock to me?” Ilaria questioned.

“Can’t you feel it? Its energy! Its power! It’s beautiful!” he gushed, rotating it in his fingers.

“Nope, I’m with Ilaria on this one. What is it supposed to be?”

“I stole it from that moody viking, Rafe.”

“You what?” I growled.

“Chill out. I’ll return it before he even notices. I felt its presence from his pocket, sucking me in. I had to take a look. I think this is what they will use to get you back to the other realm. If this is the kind of magic they have there… I need to see it! To feel it!”

He was off now, with stars dancing in his multi-coloured eyes. When he got this way about magic, there was no getting through to him. He became transfixed.

“You better give that back, Leif. I’m serious,” I growled, allowing Typhon’s power to radiate from me.

“I will! I only wanted a look.”

“Guys! It's starting!” Ilaria suddenly interrupted us, pointing her finger up to the sky. A flurry of dazzling bright lights glided across the inky black background above our heads. We all fell silent, mesmerised by their enchanting beauty. We each took each other's hands like we always did.

“Happy birthday. I love you both,” I whispered the words I had said to them at six years old, when we had first seen the display and waited for them to each say their parts.

“To the stars…” Leif whispered.

“And beyond,” Ilaria added.

***

Aurelia

I stood in the middle of Heroux village in chaos. Despair reached every hidden corner. Spinning on my heels, I stared with wide eyes at the destruction around me as pack houses glowed with deadly fires raging up into the gloomy skies, wolves howled and whimpered as they tried to protect their home from the black swirl of shadows that rampaged through the once beautiful lands. Women and children ran in all directions, screaming in fear. And then I saw them. Approaching through the mist. Their eyes black as charcoal and locked on me. Wanting me. Calling to me without a single word from their lips.

My feet stayed rooted in the dirt as my golden hair blew across my face. I would not run. I would not hide. I lifted my hands in front of me, a bright glow illuminating them, but they continued on their quest towards me. Suddenly, the white wolf dove between us. His strong, powerful stature acted as a shield. He threw his enormous head back and howled up to the moon, the most majestically fierce roar I’ve ever heard. The Shadows of the Cursed glared at me ahead of vanishing before my eyes. He turned. Those gold eyes connected with mine. And I knew. He’s coming.

I awoke with a start, sitting up violently in my bed as the silk cover fell from my chest. My frantic breathing did nothing to calm my heart as my golden eyes searched the daylight from my window. They’ve found him. The saviour is coming. Climbing from the bed, I raced to my oval windows and looked out across the realm. It was midday here and the sun sparkled over the Heroux lands, showcasing all its splendour. Hope poured from my soul and I smiled as the flowers bloomed just a little bit brighter and the waters in the stream shimmered as the crystals on the rocks dazzled once more. Pack members paused and admired the slight change in nature as they went about their day.

A knock on my door had me spinning around and placing my hands behind my back as I smiled widely with glee, knowing exactly who it would be.

My father strolled in, his eyes drifting over me and then past my shoulder as he studied the beautiful sight below.

“You had a vision?” His voice was merely a whisper, as he didn’t dare to hope until he heard the words from my lips. He turned, his black hair brushing against the royal robe placed around his large shoulders as his brown eyes found mine. I nodded slowly.

“He’s coming, father. Rafandra must have found him and he agreed. He is coming and we finally have hope.”

His dark eyes turned glassy with emotion as I watched the tension in his shoulders relax just a little. A small smile played at the corner of his lips as I projected my own happiness and hope into his aura.

“You saw it?”

“He helps us,” I nodded again and reached for his hands. “I saw it.”

With a deep inhale that made his entire chest lift dramatically, he closed his eyes and relished in the relief. “Then it will all be over soon. We must prepare.”

He dived into action, turning on his heels to make his way to the door. “There is much to do! We must make sure he is welcomed and shown the utmost respect. I shall get his chambers prepared and organise a feast in his honour.”

“Let me help,” I pleaded, taking rapid steps after him. He paused and turned to stare into my begging eyes. I had spent years dreaming of this wolf, yet I had never seen him in his human form. To say I was intrigued was an understatement. I had to know who he was. I had to see him in the flesh to believe he wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I had to be allowed to the celebrations. I would do anything.

“Aurelia, there is nothing I need you to do except—” he started, but I grabbed his strong forearms hidden beneath thick, dark hair.

“Let me bless their journey home at least,” I quickly added. “I can light the protection pillars through the cursed lands.”

“That will take a lot of your energy, darling.”

“But it is my way of welcoming him. Of showing respect. Please, father.”

“Okay. As long as you are sure.”

“I am,” I smiled. “And then, may I attend the feast? To meet the saviour in person?”

“I think it is best we leave that for another day. You will be exhausted after—”

“Please! I will rest. I will only attend for a short time. I promise,” I begged. I don’t think I have ever begged my father for anything before. Not like this. I could see the falter in his resolve.

“You can attend only if you regain your energy, but Aurelia, the entire pack will be there. You must know your position—”

“Yes, father,” I nodded eagerly, immensely pleased that he was giving me a chance to see the saviour the moment he arrived.

He left my room to start organising what I was sure would be the greatest feast this pack had ever known and I moved back to my window to search the horizon. My skin tingled with anticipation and glowed with a bronzed shimmer at the excitement that flooded through my veins. I didn’t care what this white wolf looked like in human form or who he was. As long as he was willing to help my people. To help my father. He was already a saviour in my eyes.