Viraai: (Book 2) Determination

| 5 | The First Ones.

“Alyna!” We hear a girl shout before she laughs loudly, making us turn to see a girl with pure white hair and eyebrows, similar to the appearance of the goddess, shove another girl backward, the girl having deep red hair and bright blue eyes.

“It was but a joke Selana. Do lighten up.” The girl responds as she laughs along with the white-haired girl, Selana.

“Could you two stop your bickering, it’s rather annoying.” A man lets out as he carefully moves a chest piece on the board he is playing.

“I implore you to lighten up as well, dear Verkos.” The same girl lets out as she walks over to the man and peeps over to the game he is playing.

“Yes and maybe you would be able to finally beat me.” The man opposite him says as he moves a piece on the board and smiles at his opponent.

“Must you insist on cheating Stano?” The man, Verkos, lets out impatiently, an annoyed expression resting on his face as Stano laughs at his brother’s misfortune. They two of them, Stano and Verkos both resembled Miles and Nate... one of them having dark, almost pitch black hair with grey eyes and the other having chocolate brown hair and sea green eyes.

“Must you insist on being a sore loser?” Stano responds, being the one with grey eyes and black hair.

“I hope you are all playing nice…” The sound of the goddess Selene sound in the room and they all focus their attention to her as she walks into the room with 2 more girls, twins with short brown hair and red eyes, and a tall man with bleached blonde hair and purple eyes.

“Yes of course mother. I am making sure everyone is behaving accordingly.” A deep male voice says amongst the group. They all turn to look at a tall dark-skinned man, his her think with black curls and his eyes gold.

“Thank you. Ailo.” The past self of Selene responds as the 2 girls walk past them and they begin conversing amongst themselves.

“My children… the first Werewolves this world has ever seen…” Selene says softly as she walks close to them and admires them, glancing at her past self. “Each and every one of them different from the other and unique in their own way.” She explains as the 10 of them converse amongst themselves, but there are only 9 in total, one is missing.

“My firstborn; Stano Merrani; my second, Deimos Achidan, third; Verkos Revolaire, Alyna Vremud, Selana Nikola, Ailo Fazani, Marchiallis Detanos, Ryla Verdo, Xerlia Gorosta and…” She pauses and takes a deep breath.

“Where is Aia?” Stano questions as she looks around the room.

“Where she usually is…” Marchiallis lets up, his long red hair falling onto his back as he takes a deep breath and glances out to an opening that seems to lead to a wide balcony.

“I will go to her.” The past self of the moon goddess says as she sighs softly and turns to walk to the balcony, walking through the group as they all follow behind her.

The goddess walks out to the wide balcony where the sun shines down, making the light brown floor appear as if it is glowing. On the edge of the balcony is seated a girl, staring out into the scenery carefully. As they approach her, they all stare at her in confusion and curiosity, glancing at a few times to Mackenzie who is equally confused as the rest of them.

“Aia, my darling...” The past goddess lets out and the girl slowly turns around to face her mother and that is when shocked and astonishment hits everyone at once.

She is the spitting image of Mackenzie.

“Mother.” Aia answers and Mackenzie steps forward and stares at her doppelganger, failing to believe her eyes. They look exactly the same. They have the same facial features, same piercing electric blue eyes, same body structure, same everything. But what is the most interesting thing is that just like Mackenzie, Aia too has pitch black hair... with blue highlights at the end.

“Mudo vela shana?” (Are you alright?) The goddess asks in Viraanian as she takes a step forward and stares at her daughter worriedly.

“I’m fine, mother.” Aia forces out, without turning her head. Even her voice, it is exactly like Mackenzie’s except Aia spoke with a thick Viraanian accent.

“You know I can always tell when you are lying to me,” Selene says and Aia sighs to herself and shakes her head as she remains seated on the edge.

“Does it really matter if I tell you or not?” Aia responds monotonously as she continues to stare out into the vast scenery.

“Of course it matters. You’re my last born. You’re very precious to me...” The moon goddess lets out softly as she takes a step forward but Aia still remains silent.

“Please talk to me, my child.” She insists as she keeps her eyes on Aia.

“I am just tired...” Aia says and turns to face her mother, taking a deep breath as she back at Selene.

“Would you like someone to escort you to your quarters?” Selene asks and her daughter frowns deeply at her mother and shakes her head, looking away from her for a moment before she stands up from the edge takes a few steps towards her mother.

“Novir. Vela dronivir comprendo...” (No, you don’t understand.) Aia snaps and they all stare at her in shock. Her behaviour too is exactly like Mackenzie’s when she became angry. The same tone of voice, same expressions... it is mindblowing.

“Aia...” Selene says slowly but Aia is not done speaking.

“Novir... Malior... Rem fadozi kes pako bruvet asa kelo rem si dro sidor kes abomivet.” (No... mother... I’m tired of being treated as if I’m some sort of abomination.) Aia lets out angrily and frowns at her mother.

“Mihi nivir tureh...” (That's not true.) Selene shakes her head but it only seems to infuriate Aia more.

“You are not an abomination...” Her mother continues, speaking softly and sighing at her daughter, watching as she takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

“You know it is true, mother... I am not like them.” Aia says quietly and in her eyes, you can see fear... fear of her own self and what she is capable of doing. As they speak the rest of Selene’s children step out onto the balcony, watching the goddess Selene and Aia talk back and forth with each other.

“And that does not have to be a bad thing, my child...” The goddess says as she approaches Aia. “All of you are unique and special in your own ways and-“

“I know that. But why... why am I the only one that is not able to control it? Why me?” Aia shakes her head and feels tears in her eyes.

“Maybe instead of having another one of your ridiculous episodes why don’t you just-“

“Ridiculous episodes?” Aia snaps angrily, snarling at her elder brother Stano and taking a step forward as every one of them tenses.

“Easy sister...” Ailo says and he reaches for Aia’s arm and tugs her back, helping her calm down.

“That is exactly what I am talking about... none of you understand... None of you do...” Aia says and snatches her arm from her brother, stepping away from them as thunder begins to rumble in the sky, knowing exactly what it meant.

“Aia, please... just try to relax...” Alyna says and stands next to her mother.

“No. Just, stay away from me... I will figure this out on my own.” Aia says as she feels tears burn in her eyes and she backs away from her family.

“Aia-“ Selene is about to say but Aia has already made up her mind.

“Vor budo kes da valo.” She says out loud before everyone steps back from her and she shifts into her large jet black wolf, a replica of Mackenzie’s Wolf, except Aia’s is more vicious and almost twice the size.

“Aia, please...” The goddess begs her daughter but Aia’s wolf stares at her without saying anything before she turns around and jumps onto the edge of the balcony before she does what no one is expecting...

She jumps off.