The Darkness Within

30 - Reverence and the Night

"Goddess of Darkness," the witch whispered around Ciara's hand, any semblance of anger now gone.

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The witch trembled under her hand, obviously cowed by Ciara's strength and power. Ciara was still angry and didn't feel inclined to let Arytha go anytime soon.

"Ciara," Lucienne said, and Ciara could see and feel the female place a hand on the shoulder of the arm with which she had the witch's throat in. "It's okay, let her go."

"I hope you learn some respect and self-control, witchling," Ciara growled, using the witches' term for their young to emphasize how unbecoming the female's actions had been despite her undoubtedly having a few years on Ciara herself.

"Tala," she called after a heated moment in which she observed the witch beneath her and decided to follow Lucienne's request. Her wolf was immediately at her side. With her free hand, she touched the wolf's side and changed her back into her true form, ignoring the increased shaking of Arytha beneath her hand. "Watch her," she told the wolf as she stepped off the witch and the wolf did indeed do that, sticking her muzzle near the witch's face and pulling back her lips to expose teeth as big as Ciara's fingers in a warning.

Satisfied with her wolf's display and the witch's complete submission, she turned to her power-bound. She wasn't sure what prompted it, but a moment later she pulled the taller female into her and downwards so that she could breathe in the Goddess's scent near her neck, nuzzling her nose there as well. She knew it would leave her scent all over the female by doing so and that among supernatural letting anyone near your neck was reserved for those closest to you. However, Lucienne made no movement or sound to stop her. In fact, the Goddess practically melted in her arms and exposed her neck more to Ciara. She brushed her nose over the female's neck once more, letting Lucienne's scent calm her anger and reassuring herself that the female was indeed fine and left unscathed from the insults.

When Ciara realized what she was doing, her anger calming enough to stop the violent swirling of wind and the thick feeling of power in the room lessening, she pulled back with embarrassment written all over her face. However, she was happy to discover that she was able to maintain control of her powers enough to continue seeing the world around her and silently observed the lavish Light Goddess's chambers.

Still growling lightly and feeling oddly protective of the seven-hundred-year-old Goddess, she pulled Lucienne back to the couch they had previously been sitting on, her arm wrapped around Lucienne as she took the seat beside the female. Only then did she call off Tala, the wolf backing up just enough for Ciara to see Arytha and for Arytha to see them. The moment that the wolf backed off, the witch threw herself to the ground, folding her legs beneath her and pressing her forehead to the ground in submission to her long lost, and undeniably angry, Goddess of Darkness.

"Ciara has expressed her distaste for your behavior but I must speak as well and say that your actions were inexcusable," Lucienne said and Ciara could feel a swirling of emotions within the female, foremost being shame of an origin unknown to Ciara. "You had no right to accuse me of the things you did. I have lived my life for all supernatural, and have barely taken a day of rest since I came into my power at the age of five. I have taken a few lovers over the centuries," Ciara felt something twist inside her at that, "mostly a way to destress, but I have never left my duties unattended. Even if I had a human lover, that in no way would make her a slut," Lucienne said the word with such distaste that the witch on the floor visibly flinched. "I have minimal resources at my fingers since most species only worry about themselves. In addition to that, the demons have some way of remaining undetected even from the very best. When the demons kidnaped my very own power-bound and used Nullira to cut our connection, I did my best to complete my duties despite the creeping insanity that the extended separation started. I gladly assume those duties for the betterment of the world even as only a few select others aid me. If you accuse me of such a thing again I will not stop Ciara from taking your killing blow. I could feel that she wanted to, even now she wants to, and next time she will." The last of Lucienne's words had a growl to them, holding as much power as Ciara's own had, and Ciara could see Arytha's body trembling with absolute fear.