Curse Of The Goddess

CHAPTER ONE

Have you ever wondered if you existed in a parallel universe? And the other you, had a complete life that wasn't upside down?

The power to do anything and know everything. Even the secrets you feel lurking around you. There's just no place that feels like home for you.

All that, was how I felt. A soon to be eighteen years old girl who knew nothing about her life. Except for the fact that she loved pets and was absurdly obsessed with nature. I always told myself, that if I were to be anything, I would be a female version of Dr. Strange.

Because then, I'll have the power to do strange magical things; like shooting myself out of this world to a place where there was no such thing as a secret. But I guess that would make me have more secrets.

Grieving was a bitter phase. But it's worst when you are grieving for someone or people who you had never met. It was a cold sensation that had you stuck in a space between crying and laughing. Between feeling guilty and sad.

Another frustrating thing is when you're seeking help, but the only help you need is setting your mental prison free. Yearning for the truth but not was kept in the seed of secrets. Until you believe your whole life itself is a fruit of lies.

I had always known I wasn't normal. Normal people don't dream about seeing themselves covered in flowers and living underwater. They don't move to different houses every year and most of all, they don't live their lives running. That wasn't normal. Nothing in my life was normal. My memory was a paragon of confusion. I was one to seek help and not find. Normal people don't do and see the things I do.

I gritted my teeth, blinking the tears that threatened to fall down my face, as my eyes darted to the picture of grandma and me at my graduation. This should be a moment where I smile. A moment where I sighed and say ' everything is alright and perfect ' but who was I kidding nothing in my life was perfect. Every moment of my life was like walking on eggshell. Like a painting waiting to get destroyed by the splash of water. Distorted.

They said crying was the best thing healer, the best comforter but I had always tried my hardest not to cry. My family was not complete, it was nothing like a cherry family that laughed and went on trips. No, it was not. That picture wasn't supposed to be just me and grandma in there. My father was supposed to be there and so was my mom. The woman I killed.

If I wasn't born, then she would still be alive. Living a purpose-driven life or doing whatever she was doing. But no I had to come and I came with death. I was a jinx. A jinx that had a sad life with a grandmother that wanted to keep me looked up in a tall castle-like Repunzel. If possible. It for your good Luna she would say, I try to believe. I try hard. But it's impossible to believe that which is not convicted within you.

I only had one option. To live.

I remember the first time I tried asking my grandma about my parent. It was not a memorable moment. Grandma scolded me, she told me to stop thinking about it. That my life was precious and if I wanted to stay alive, I shouldn't complain, overall it all ended in one statement. It is for your safety.

After that day, I never dared question why we always moved. I even feared the answer I would get. I feared the truth of the secret of my life.

I sighed, thinking was exhausting. I had work in ten minutes and sitting at the dining table, watching grandma make breakfast was boring. I needed coffee and not food. Food was tiring. To me anyways. Everything was exhausting. I sighed again, placing my head between my palms.

" Another sigh Luna, what's wrong?" came grandma's voice.

I jerked my head up, startled out of my thoughts.

" Nothing. When are we leaving ?"

" Soon, I'll tell you when, let's talk about your birthday, it's tomorrow honey, aren't you excited?" She exclaimed happily.

" Grandma, it's just gonna be another boring birthday and I'll be working anyways."

" No you won't, skip it."

" No, why should I? "

" We have what to talk about." She simply replied.

" I can't take it anymore grandma!"

" What dear?"

" The guilt. I'm sorry I'm saying this you told not to talk about it but... I just can't live like it didn't happen. I see you grandma. You miss and it's all because," I paused to wipe the tears that escaped my eyes ".. because of me."

She turned towards me, bringing the food with her to the table.

" I've told you many times, it's not your fault sweetie."

" Then whose is it? Why do I feel it is my fault? Why can't I live like other people? Why do we always have to move? Why can't I live a normal life?"

" Know what? Why don't you take your breakfast, run along to work, and tomorrow we'll talk about it, I've got a gift for you."

" That's what you always say, but we end up talking about your cooking experiences as a child." I deadpanned.

" I promise, this time will be different."

She spoke that in a tone that brought hope I had locked up for a long time to become alive. I refused to be fooled again. But a voice inside told me that I could hope. Hope to be set free. And maybe, just maybe,

The secret would unfold.

The morning was bright, flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, and our house was surrounded by flowers, my grandma loved them, and I also loved them. The drive to work was a quiet one because I had no one to converse with, everyone was minding their business, either on the phone, talking to friends or family. I worked at a pet shop, during the day, then at a bar down the street at night, it sounds stressful but it's not, I loved pets so it's a great advantage working there and the bar is just well ....a bar. We needed the money so I had to help grandma.

I arrived at my workplace and my boss Mr. Douglas was already there, a great worker I was ..... NOT the open sign was already displayed so I walked in, he was writing on a paper, when I came in he looked up instantaneously with a face that says

"Is this the time you're supposed to be at work Luna?" oh that tone was anything but friendly and I knew I had to apologize immediately,

"Sorry boss, I slept in, " I said with a face, I hope is convincing to him.

" Luna I Know you work a lot but you need to understand that you have to be here on time," he said with a very agitated tone I mumbled a little

"Yes sir" not sure if he heard me. He stood up from his desk with his car key and I knew he was going out for the day.

"Okay, I have a very important family meeting, so I won't be around today, take care of things here Luna"

" Yes sir " I answered this time with a dramatic salute he looked at me and shoke his head, wondering at my silliness.

I took my hair up in a ponytail, getting ready for cleanup and feeding the animals when suddenly I heard a clanging sound outside but I didn't see anything that fell, only a few passersby, I shrugged it off as nothing and went back inside, but yet again that same sound still came this time I did a full search round the shop but still couldn't find anything .... Well that was strange... By the time I was done with feeding and cleaning I was exhausted so I got to rest on my desk to wait for anyone with a request or needing service

I was thirsty after everything so I got up and went to the little fridge to get water, it was really too cold but I was so thirsty to mind, as my hand went into the fridge, suddenly it became really hot, my eyes were wide with surprise, I yanked my hand out immediately and it was back to normal, I put my hand back inside and the temperature became hot again, I repeated this many times until I became speechless and...... Scared, first it was the unknown clanging sound now this, I couldn't drink the water again I rushed back to my desk and sat down to take a breath, then I searched my bag for my cellphone to call my best friend, Amelia, I needed company right now or I was gonna go insane. In the third ring came Amelia's voice

" Hey Luna what's up, " her ever concerned tone asked

"Uhmmm melia? Are you busy now?" I asked speedily and paranoid.

"Just a few things to do and I'll be free"

" Could you please come over to the shop"

"Yeah I could, need me to grab anything from grandma?"

"No Melia, just please come to the shop"

"Okay Luna stop freaking out and tell me what's wrong, you sound off"

"I'll tell you, once you get here, okay, Melia please I just need company right now"

"Okay I'll be on my way, be there in half an hour "

This was hitting me as Deja Vu, like all those horror movies I loved watching at night, maybe it has gotten to my head, I should stop watching those.

Thirty minutes has been up and that was when I heard the opening of the shop and in walked Amelia with beautiful dark skin and her hair in a french braid with skin tight jeans and a white t-shirt, I must be having a face full of terror because the first thing she did was coming around the desk I was sitting to hug me, full tight hug. I put my hands around her, Amelia and I have been best since we were three years old, grandma seem to know so much about her family, maybe Amelia's parents knew my parents, I don't know, we were separated for some time, but her family decided to move to this town with us, so we could see each other more often, to cut the story short, Amelia is my soul sister.

" Come on girl, spill it, I don't know what got you this scared but it has to be something serious to get you this way ."

She said grabbing my chin and forcing my eyes to meet hers while stroking my hair, I took a deep breath and explained everything that happened, maybe it was not something to be freaking over ... Right?

"Hmm ...." She paused thinking, trying to come up with a reasonable assumption or theory of what happened, maybe enough to reassure me that I wasn't running insane.

"Hey ..." I said bringing her out of her thoughts "it's okay, right, may .. maybe I just scared for nothing, yeah I think it's nothing serious, I've got to take a breath," I said placing my hands in front of my chest and breath in and out trying to calm down

" Yeah maybe, know what, just look out for anything weird that happens today, we'll see if it's something serious or not" she suggested.

I nodded to it, silently praying that nothing weird happens again.

"Well I'm gonna go to college now, seriously Luna I wish you were there with me, it's boring without you" she whined, I let out a light giggle

"You know why I'm doing this Melia, and besides I need a break from school don't you think, " I said sarcastically

"Yeah miss break from school .." she laughed out, standing from the sitting position, "come here," she said opening her arms and waiting for a hug, I leaned in and we wrapped in a warm embrace.

" And I'll meet you tomorrow, Jason and I, so keep up popcorn and pizza okay "

She whispered in my ears and we both burst into a fit of laughter

" Yes ma," I said faking seriousness, Jason was Amelia's boyfriend and my only make friend, I needed no one else but these two.

"Okay bye" she greeted moving for the exit, I replied and waved her goodbye before going back to work.

****🙀****

It was time for me to close the pet shop, and start moving for my night shift at the bar, I said goodbyes to the animals and called my boss to tell him that I was closing up, he sounded tired on the phone so not much was said. I closed the shop and then stepped out for the bar, the night breeze was a bit chilly but aside from that it was good, the streetlights gave me a morning to the night and let me not forget, the moon too. I was walking with a modified pace on the sidewalk, I still had an hour before my shift, I just felt guilty about going to the pet shop late so I decided to go to the bar early, I normally went home to grandma before going for the bar, today just had to be different, great, it's called loyalty and conscience, so much for that.

I was was wrapped up in my thoughts that I never noticed the light blinking above my head , I looked around and noticed I was the only one walking on the street at the moment not a surprise since this was a small town after all but what left me speechless was the fact that the other street lights were not having the blinking action as this one blinking above me, I was getting scared but decided to ignore it and Continue walking , when I got to the next street light , I stood there for some seconds to see if it would blink like the other one , I almost let out a sigh of relief , but then it started blinking rapidly and then I turned to the former street light and gasped when I noticed it wasn't blinking again , I looked up at the current one and it was still blinking with more more intense speed and velocity that I had a feeling it was going to explode any moment , I quickly stepped out of it and that was when it exploded with a loud crash , immediately I turned and started running like my life depended on it , which it did.

By the time I arrived at the bar, I was panting heartily and was on a high paranoia, when I was trying to fix my hair since it was disheveled due to the run, I heard footsteps behind me and so I acted on instinct and turned to see who was coming but I saw no one, but I could still hear the thumping of shoes till it suddenly stopped in front of me, but I could still see no one, I shrugged it off to turn back when I felt a pull at my left arm like someone was holding it, I gasped, terrified, I tried pulling my hand back when I heard a voice that I think belonged to a male, a young male, although I couldn't see, I knew.

" You have to know, you have to hide, they are coming!"

The voice said, more like whispered and after that, I no longer felt the pull at my hand and then I knew whoever was here had gone, I pulled my hands to my chest as I did a glance around my environment if I could see anyone but all I could see were a few bikes and cars and hear the faint sound of music from the bar, I took a step back and quickly ran into the bar with these thoughts in my head, what is happening to me? And mostly who are "they"?

After my night shift at the bar, I went home to find grandma sleeping on the couch in the living room, maybe she was waiting for me to come home, she always does this every time I have a night shift, which is every day. I had told her many times not to, but grandma is so stubborn she doesn't back down, I wonder what I would have done without her. So I took a blanket and covered her, then kissed her on the forehead before going to my room.

I have decided that I am not going to work tomorrow, or should I say today, since its already two in the morning, I want grandma and me to talk, because my birthday is today. What a birthday it feels more like a sad day, I was curious to know what she wanted to tell me.

With that in mind, I got ready for bed, then lay under my duvet as I let my eyes close to sleep.

*****🌝*****

Today, I slept in late, cause my bones were aching and also because I was exhausted from what happened yesterday. When I woke up, I turned to check the time on my alarm clock and saw that it was 1: 45 pm, geez Luna you know how to wake early, NOT.

I dragged myself out of bed and freshened up. I decided to go with a blue t-shirt and black shorts, I never bothered to wear shoes cause 1: I had nowhere to go today, 2; I loved walking bare feet, I'm at home for heaven's sake. I went downstairs to grandma sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in her left hand, she was in a dress and her grey hairs hung around her in a bob, she was really beautiful. My footsteps must have distracted her from her thoughts, because immediately I stepped into the living room, her head was up and then she gave me a smile.

"Good morning grandma " I greeted as I went over to give her a hug from her neck and a peck on her cheek

" Oh good morning my Lun, and a happy birthday to you". When she said that I remembered it was my birthday today, I had forgotten.

" Don't tell me you forgot ?" Grandma said with a hint of amusement, it's quite normal for me to forget my birthday

"Grandma ...." I whined " who cares about birthdays when I have you to keep me young "

" You're an adult now, so behave"

" No, I'm not, people just made that up to make them appear responsible "

" Okay Luna how was your sleep, she asked still smiling while sipping her coffee

" It was fine mama, thanks for waiting up for me. I would have to give you a massage, I know your body aches," I said jokingly at which she let out a laugh, which was my aim all along. She seemed so quiet, was out 'talk' to be that serious that it got her so disturbed.

" Why are you not going to work today Luna dear ?" Grandma questioned

"Well since it's my birthday today I figured that we should have our talk and I also really wanna spend some time with you"

That wasn't a lie, except I left out what happened yesterday and that I was tired, I turned to sit by her side on the couch, I wanted to know what was the matter so I asked quite directly....

"So grandma what is it you wanna talk about"

Grandma turned to me with a sad smile

" Go and eat something Luna, I'll order a cake for you and I will tell you everything "

" I'm not hungry but no worries, forget the cake I'll just order pizza after our talk"

I told her sincerely, I was curious to the point that food was not on my mind just now.

" Promise me, you'll be safe Luna always be safe dear " Grandma said but I did not like the way this talk was going

" Grandma please don't say things like that!, Okay and tell me what you want to already, I really wanna know"

I said, puzzled and confused out of my mind,

, grandma let out a sigh and then looked me straight in the eye

" Remember when I told you about your parents, that was not the full story, the full story is ............"

After grandma finished telling me everything, I realized that all my life was a string of lies and that I had hidden powers that were handed over to me from my dad's side. Well that explains the weird happening yesterday, also we had mortal enemies who are seeking to capture me, and this so-called enemy is the reason I can't be with my parents. The more time I spend not discovering and learning how to control my powers then I can't defend myself, because they are coming to capture me. Thinking about it right now, makes me remember the voice I heard and the warning it said, could it be a coincidence? I still can't wrap my hands around it?

Grandma sensed my confusion through my obvious silence and then she hugged me, patting my head gently, and said...

" It's okay to be confused right now Luna, it's okay to be scared, I know this is hard to take in but you are a strong girl, I say this because I know you, you are the one chosen to restore the lost glory of the astral society, don't be afraid of your powers and gifts, with time, they will be born, you just have to remember..........."

Before grandma got to finish her sentence, we heard a loud crash from the roof, grandma and I looked up at the same time to see a very hideous creature or should I say beast, its entire skin was dark and teeth long and arranged like those of a shark. it had claws, sharp long claws, its face was like that of a bull at the same it had the body of a lizard, a big lizard, with a long spiky tail.

I looked at grandma and saw a trace of recognition on her face, wait, did she know this creature too... I never got the chance to ask because it grabbed my hands and dragged me to her room, I got really confused, everything was happening so fast, I could hear the snarls and growls of that creature which meant it was already in the house and it was getting closer to our room

" Grandma what's happening, what is that thing? I asked

" There's no time Luna, we have to leave, they can't find you"

She said going to her cupboard to look for something, looks like she found it because I saw her holding a book then she walked over to me and placed it on my palms.

"Take this, it is the book that will support you, it is called 'The Astral Mind', that creature there is a Bectu, no matter what you do, donnot look into its eyes and stay away from its tail, we have to leave now "

I held the book so strong that I'm sure my hands were red already, all this was happening at once, I didn't understand anything, grandma grabbed my hands ... again and dragged me out of the room, that was a bad idea, because we came to face the creature ... Bektu.

"Close your eyes" grandma instructed, so I did, but the shock was that I could still see even with my eyes closed, I let out a gasp, and then I saw grandma with a sword, Where did she get it from? At that moment, I saw a different person in my grandma because one minute she was standing beside me and the next minute, she was going fir the Bektu, I knew she was struggling with her eyes closed because when she did a little backflip to get closer to the Bektu she staggered a little, she was good though at this, for someone with her eyes closed she fought well, but I couldn't just stand there. I had to do something, but before I could, I saw the Bektu tail going towards my grandma's back aiming for a strike, No that couldn't happen.

" No grandma get down" I screamed, but it was already too late, the tail strikes her back pierced deep into, and grandma let a gasp of pain falling to her knees, I screamed and ran to her, taking her head to keep on my lap, I kept the book beside me and then opened my eyes, I couldn't even keep her safe, I was supposed to be all-powerful but I can't even protect grandma, I was useless, I was crying, what an embarrassment I was, grandma was already so pale, the poison must have spread quickly.

========.

" Grandma ... Stay with me, are they any treatment to this, tell me please, I can't lose you too"

I said crying, she raised her right hand to touch my cheek, she smiled sadly and said

" You are just your mother, you are your mother's daughter, you are the one to bring back the astral glory, you are stronger than you think, always remember that " I held her hands on my cheek

" I don't wanna be strong without you grandma, I want you to be here to remind me "

She smiled " you have to Luna ...." And then she was gone, at that moment everything shattered inside me I knew I had lost grandma, I brought her body close to me and hugged her I couldn't even find the strength to cry anymore, I almost forgot about the bektu until I heard a snarl, I turned to see the, where was it all this time, that was a question for later, right now I was pissed that when it came at me I raised my hands to block it and was surprised when a blast of fire came out from my hands and hit the bektu, immediately it turned to ashes, I looked at my hands in wonder, but that only lasted for a minute because two bektus rose from the ashes oh talk about a phoenix ... NO ...

They were bigger than the last , what the heck , I had to run so I kissed grandma forehead and laid her on the floor picked up the book and started running , the bektus were chasing after me with so much speed one even let out fire from it's month and I dodged but ended up falling , I yelped and continued running , a curtain got caught up with fire , I ran to the back door , opened it and came to face the woods , I began running into the woods , faster especially after hearing the bektus growls coming closer , I didn't even know where I was going , I tripped and fell but I still held the book close to my chest and immediately stood up and continued running , I could see the house fully consumed with fire and I couldn't help but break to the thought that grandma was inside there , burning with the house,my lungs couldn't take the running anymore and so I collapsed to the ground with the book still held tight , but then suddenly the two bektus were blasted off by fire but that was not from me ... I didn't have the strength to think cause I knew I was slowly losing consciousness , I was fighting not to but I was really failing , my hair was disheveled all over the ground , my eyes were drifting to fall shut but not before seeing a figure standing above me , the last I saw was the most beautiful green eyes I had ever seen in my life and then I succumbed to sleep.