Broken Halves

Chapter Thirteen

POV: Cole

            Reaching out, I grasp the thin material that acts as a door for my room here under the arena. Walking into my temporary living quarters, I am shocked to see none other than the Moon Goddess herself sitting on my battered mattress. Startled, I kneel the moment I regain my composure.

            Bowing my head in respect, I speak; "Forgive me Goddess; I was unaware of your presence here." I grimace as a drop of the dead man's blood rolls off my chest and onto the concrete floor. Refusing eye contact, I once again apologize for my state.

            "Look up Alpha." Her voice is tender but commanding all at the same time. With my heart heavy with shame, I follow my Goddess' command. Looking up into her crystal clear blue eyes, I am shocked to see no ill will shining back at me.

"I am proud to call you my brethren Cole." She says, sensing my inner confusion. "It is Alphas like you that I am glad are under my command. Your heart is pure, your mind intelligent, and you possess the determination and grit of a true warrior; stand Alpha."

            Heading her order, I change position and continue to listen to her words. "As you have been informed your opponent holds the record for the longest time alive here at this arena." The Moon Goddess pauses and folds her hands together on her lap. "Your quest will end here if you complete it Alpha." Standing up from the mattress, the Moon Goddess clasps her hands swiftly behind her back. "In order to return to the realm of the living you must last longer than he did Cole."

            I watch her as the words register in my mind. Our Goddess is deserving of her title and everything about her screams it. From her pure white flowing attire to the confidence that oozes from her every pore. She is the physical embodiment of strength and justice; if I can ever be a quarter of the ruler she has been, than my people will live as they deserve. Our Goddess loves us, and she takes pride in being granted with the task to look after her creatures. But, it is us that should be eternally thankful. Our Goddess is faithful to her kind and a truly remarkable Queen.

            "My beloved Moon Goddess," I begin bringing her attention back to me. "How long did Alpha Gabriel last?" She smiles, as if reminiscing about the slayed Alpha. "Gabriel was strong. He defied the status quo every time he could; he was never anyone's doormat." The Moon Goddess raises a hand to run lightly over her heart.

"Gabriel was a unique one, but he had a pure soul. He was the first of the Alpha's to immigrate to the new lands and leave the holy continent behind. Nonetheless he was always the first to speak in my defense at the annual Alpha summits at the time." I internally frown at the look of love that crosses over the Goddess' face. She speaks of the past Alpha as if she knew him, intimately.

            "It seems as if he deserved a proper death M'lady." I cut in, not wanting to hear how good the man I just murdered in cold blood was. The Moon Goddess nods, agreeing with my statement. "I told him not to fight here. I told him, but the man was a stubborn one. He lasted a little over three years Alpha."

            Her words hit me in the gut causing me to intake a sharp breath. Three years. Three years of waking up and slaying a man only to go to bed covered in his blood and repeat the cycle the next morning. An endless amount of Alphas would be dead by my hands. It'd be my hands ripping them away from their rights to a peaceful afterlife.

            As if sensing my thoughts, the Moon Goddess speaks once again. "I will not try to justify what my men are doing in here Cole, but I can assure you they are here by choice. As barbaric as it may seem, these men crave the bloodshed. My wolves are human but a beast lives among all of them. You know this Alpha, one lives inside you." I lower my gaze to stare at the puddle of blood that is beginning to pool at my feet. "The quest to return to the realm of the living is not an easy one. It couldn't be." She says before turning her own gaze away from me.

            Gritting my teeth, I nod at her. "It is my duty to return to my people, they need me. My mate and my brother, they all need me." The Moon Goddess smiles, "Good choice Alpha. It is your destiny to compete and return to your family. However, be warned. If you lose and it is your blood that entertains the crowd, know, that not only is your chances at returning gone, but so is your chance at living here in this realm with your family. Here you are a soul. When one's soul is killed, nothing remains."

            Looking her dead in the eye, I harden my voice before responding, "Then I will not lose." The Moon Goddess smiles a true smile at me before making her way towards my makeshift door. "Oh. Alpha, before I take my leave, congratulations." Slipping out of the doorway, she leaves me with only one thought; that just maybe, there is more to my kind's beloved goddess than I had originally known. She said so herself, a beast lives among every one of her creatures. After all, she is one of us. Without her, there would be no us. In order to create a beast, a beast must be acknowledged and understood. Whereas my Goddess is pure and strong, fair and just, confident and kind, a beast lives among her as well—and I just witnessed it.

Question of the day: What's your opinion on The Moon Goddess?

FOLLOW

VOTE

SHARE

COMMENT