THE SHIELD AND THE SWORD

Chapter 3 - VISITS & WARNINGS

Asteria And Ruby

Ruby

Looking down at my beautiful daughter, I felt such pride and love. With all I know that she has seen and heard, she still has such a loving heart and a strong will.

I look at her intently, and oh, how much she looks like me. Those long black curls going over her shoulders and those dark blue eyes made me think of the deepest lapis. I know I have to keep her as innocent as I can for as long as possible. However, it’s difficult with the evil surrounding us in his place.

“My sweet girl, turn around and let me braid this beautiful hair, and then you need to head to bed. My birthday girl needs to be well rested for tomorrow we’re not going to have school. I am going to spend the day doing your favorite puzzles, and we will eat your wonderful chocolate cake. I can’t believe you’re going to be eight years old,” I tell Asteria. As I finished braiding her hair and put a tie in the end, we got up and went inside to rest.

After Raymond’s last visit, I can’t help but think about what he had asked me before he left.

Flashback-

I hurt everywhere from where he beat me and forced himself on me again. My only hope is that my sweet girl still doesn’t realize exactly what he is doing to me.

He slowly climbs off of me, and I can hear his pants wrestling where he’s putting his member back in. Squeezing my eyes closed, I tried to pull my dress down to cover myself. His gruff, low voice rings in my ears. “How old is the girl?” “Why are you asking me this?” I ask. “Don’t you worry about it! I will find a use for her so she can pay me back for allowing her to live,” he states.

-end of flashback.

I crawl into bed with a heavy heart, knowing I may not have until her wolf comes from my plan. I will have to talk to Thomas when he comes again on Friday to let him know what was said. Everything in me tells me that that evil bastard is going to do something unforgivable to my daughter if we don’t speed up the plans.

Thomas may put on a good front for everyone else around the pack, but he always tries to help us when he can. Sneaking us extra food in the bags on Fridays, or his kind whispers of how he wishes he could do more.

The first time I found money in a small brown paper bag with our groceries, I was shocked. I looked up and whispered to him, “What is this? What am I going to do with money here?” He quietly whispered, in the faintest of tones, “hide it in the basement in the rafters, for when the time comes, you will need it. Go now and tell no one. Get as strong as you can and keep training. No one else may be paying attention, but I can tell that you and Asteria have been working out. When you are both ready, I will help you escape.”

I know this could be a significant risk to his own life. But I am so thankful that at least one person in this godforsaken place cares just a small amount. I slowly drift off to sleep, knowing tomorrow will be my baby girl’s eighth birthday.

Asteria

I felt like I was floating. I opened my eyes and looked around, and I was in a beautiful field of flowers. I inhale deeply, and it smells so clean and fresh. It was so bright out. It must be mid-day. I thought to myself. Oh no, I can’t be outside at midday. “Calm yourself, sweet girl.” A soothing, melodic voice stated. I whip my head to the side. The most beautiful woman I could ever imagine walking towards me. She is tall with long white hair, silver eyes that look like the moon, and a beautiful, broad smile. “Are you the goddess?” That is all I could get past my lips.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” she said and laughed. “Yes, I am Selene, the moon goddess. You are indeed beautiful, but what stands out about you the most, my child, is your heart. After all, you have been through in your young life, your heart is pure and capable of love. You hold the strength of a warrior in your soul, even in the face of the cruelness of this world; your thoughts are to protect and fight for what's right.” Selene gently took my hand and led me to a bench, and we sat down.

I didn’t know what to say. I felt so tongue-tied. What do you say to a Goddess? What questions do you start with? “Asteria, do you know what your name means and where it came from?” she asked me.

“Well, my mother told me I was named after the Greek goddess of innocence and justice. She said she always wanted me to know right from wrong because the world can be so dark.” “That's right, sweet girl,” Selene said. “Although Asteria wasn’t a Goddess, she was incredibly powerful, and she did have all those attributes. She was a fierce warrior and tolerated no cruelty within her village. She would use her sword and battle even the strongest men to protect the weak. What most didn’t know was in her heart. You, my dear girl, have a great destiny ahead of you. It will be hard, and you will face many trials. However, you must always keep the love in your heart. Even as a goddess, I experience every emotion you do. I feel anger, fear, and love. Sometimes I feel them all at once. As the mother of shifters, I can be mad and feel rage but still love. Being the goddess comes with a great many responsibilities and a great many choices that I sometimes don’t like to make. We have limited time here. I have much to tell you. Usually, your wolf would come to you in consciousness on your 12th birthday, then on your 16th birthday physically so you could shift. However, things have happened, and time is short. To fulfill your destiny, I need to rush your timeline. Do you understand, sweet girl?” “I think so, Selene. When will I meet my wolf?” I ask.

“It’s now after midnight, Selene states. You won’t get to see her just yet physically. She will guide you and give you both knowledge and strength when you need them. Listen to her when she guides you. Now listen to what I tell you, sweet girl, because it’s imperative. When you awake, go straight to your mother and whisper because both hearing within the pack is very good. Tell her everything that has happened here because this is not a dream. Explain to your mother this warning. She has to execute her plan. Tell her that what she saw in her dream was not a dream but a premonition that I blessed her with. That on the night of the next full moon, all will be lost if her plan is not executed.”

I felt scared, and my hands started to shake. I could feel tears welling in my eyes. “I promise to as soon as I wake up. I will tell her everything.” I say. “OK, dear Asteria, and remember you have Akira with you now. You’re not alone.”

I immediately jerked awake and saw that the sun hadn’t risen yet. I was still shaking. I knew it wasn’t a dream. “Akira, are you there?” I ask in my head. “Yes, Asteria, I am with you. I am a part of you now, and you are a part of me. Let’s talk to Mother and tell her everything Selene has told us.”

Climbing out of bed, I went down the hall, used the restroom, and did my morning routine. As the sun was still not up, I knew Mama was still in bed. I went into her room, sat on the side of the bed, and gently started stroking her hair to wake her. “Mama, I have something important to tell you. Please wake up so we can talk.”

As she turned to me and opened her eyes. I could see tears. Did she have a nightmare? “OK, sweet girl, give me a few minutes, and I’ll meet you downstairs in the kitchen.” I went to my room and got dressed.

Ruby

With a short reprieve from Raymond's visits, I thought I would be able to sleep peacefully last night. However, that was not the case. As I do many nights, I had a nightmare.

However, this was different. Yes, he did attack me, but he didn’t force himself on me this time. Once he started beating me, he didn’t stop. Both Raymond and two enforcers were in the living room of our cabin. They were holding me while Raymond was dragging Asteria down the stairs by her hair and trying to take her outside when I struggled and started screaming, which is when his beating started.

I couldn’t do anything with two Warriors holding my arms while he relentlessly beat me and then grabbed my head, twisted, and snapped my neck. I saw myself drop to the floor dead with my beautiful daughter, screaming, dropping to her knees, the look on her face a pure horror.

Then I saw Raymond drag her out of the house and throw her at a man’s feet standing next to a big black SUV. Was he throwing my daughter away? Giving her to some other cruel alpha because she had alpha blood? Why did he ask about her age? Oh my God, this is the worst nightmare I have ever had!

I don’t know why my mind conjured such images and thoughts. Although I would never put something so cold past Raymond, he has no heart. He’s never cared for me or my beautiful daughter. No, I have never called her his.

Coming out of my deep thoughts, I finished in the bathroom, dressed, and headed to the kitchen. I have to put a brave face on as today is my beautiful girl's birthday.

I get two glasses out of the cabinet and pour us each what little juice is left inside of the fridge. She is sitting at the table since she seems so anxious to talk. “Is this about a game you want to play for your birthday, sweet girl?” I asked. The look on her face became serious and determined. Now I’m a little worried.

Asteria

When my mother sat down, I could tell something was bothering her. But I knew I had to tell her everything while it was fresh in my mind. “Akira, please help me ensure I don’t miss any details when I explain this to Mama,” I thought in my mind. “Of course, I’m always here to help,” Akira replies. I look into my mother’s eyes and take a deep breath. “Mom, a lot happened last night after you went to sleep, and I will try to explain everything to you as clearly as I can.” I gently smile and ask. “Can you smell anything different about me?”

She looks at me curiously, and then I see her nostrils flare as she smells deeply. Her eyes go wide, and she asks. “Did you get your wolf?” “Well, yes and no,” I stated. “Her name is Akira, and although she is lycanthropy, she is not a wolf. Akira was the very first female lycan Selene created and is very powerful.” Her eyes go even wider. I think Mom is in shock. I have to giggle. Then I remembered everything Selene told me.

I take a deep breath and straighten my back. “Asteria, I’m here with you, sweet girl. Just take your time and explain to your mother,” Akira says to me. I reach out and grab Mom‘s hand and explain to her about meeting Akira and talking with Selene, and then I tell her the warning that she gave us. When I got to the part Where Selene told me to tell Mama that what she saw in her dream wasn’t a dream, it was a premonition that she blessed her with, and that we must heed her warning, for it will happen, and all will be lost.

Suddenly, Mother burst into tears and was shaking all over. I jumped up and ran around the table, putting my arms around her neck. “Mama, we will be OK,” I said. “We have each other. You have your wolf, and I have Akira. If we listen to Selene, everything will be OK.”

We were holding onto each other, and after a few minutes, Mother calmed down and took a deep breath. She tilted her head back and looked at me intensely. “How was I lucky enough to have such a wonderful, brave daughter?” I giggled. “You made me that way.” “OK, then,” she said, sighing. She stood and began to move around the kitchen, making us breakfast and telling me that we had a birthday to celebrate and plans to make. After we ate breakfast, we cleaned up, and Mama brought out the deck of cards that Thomas had snuck over to us a few years ago. We began to play Go Fish.

In the middle of our second hand, mama leaned close to my head and whispered. “Tomorrow, when Thomas comes, you don’t have to go to your room and hide like usual. I think it’s best if we both very quietly talk to him and explain to him what we know. He is the only person we can trust and has known about our plan for years. With the new knowledge we have, we have to speed our plans up.”

“OK, I’ll stay right with you.” We finished our game and decided to eat cake since we still couldn’t go outside till after dark. We sat while she told me the stories about the gods and goddesses again. My favorite was about the blessings and gifts of all the different species. Sometimes, I wondered if there were other shifters, as I had only seen the wolves here and Mom’s wolf. “Are there dragons? Witches? Vampires even?” She smiled gently at me. “Yes, dear girl, there are.” “What are they like?” I ask her. “Well, Asteria, I haven’t met many other species,” she stated. “I will tell you this. Whether animal or person, no matter the species, there is good and bad everywhere. Judge individuals based on their actions, not as a species, not because someone looks different or because they have different gifts than you. Base them on actions and how they treat others. If they respect what’s right and wrong, then that tells you what their character is.” “OK, I’ll never forget,” I state.

“Asteria,” Akira chimes in my head. “Yes, Akira, I answer. “Mother's wolf is very strong. I know by looking through your memories and speaking to her that she’s been training you. But I have discussed with her your training needs to be more advanced. Now that you have me with you, from now on, we will work to get stronger.” “Why is that Akira?” I asked. It is to protect you and others. But also because when you shift, your body and mind need to be strong. Remember, I am a lycan. We will be stronger than wolves. I will explain more when the time comes. Just know I am with you, and we will be fierce to fulfill our destiny.” “OK, Akira.”

Mother leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Were you talking to Akira?” “Yes,” I whisper back. “She says we need to train harder after today so I can be strong to fulfill my destiny. I will protect you and many others.”

Mom gets a slow smile. We put the cards away and then eat the wonderful cake. Once the sun sets and all seems quiet, we sit on the porch and look at the moon. It is a Halfmoon. I look at Mom and ask, “How long until the full moon?” I know she can see the twinkle in my eye. I’m excited. I don’t know what the plan is, but I know that things will change.

Mom looks down at me, strokes my hair a few times, and states, “In a few weeks, dear girl.” I don’t miss the look of concern in her eyes. However, Akira sends a sense of warmth and well-being over me. I know that everything will be OK as long as we follow Selene’s will and stick to the plan.