mark of the moon child

The Grotto of Truth

"What is that?"

"The Grotto Of Truth is hidden in a cave along the coast. You step into its waters and it shows you any truth you seek, as long as you are pure of heart."

"How do we get there?"

"I can show you the way, but-"

"But what? I need to know what is going on with me. The dreams are only getting stronger and more real." Elle tried to angle herself more towards him, though found difficulty doing so because of her wound. Jay frowned. He hadn't been quick enough, he thought again.

"If your heart isn't entirely pure, the waters will engulf you."

"So if she's pure, she finds out the truth, if not, she drowns." Mia clarified.

"Yes."

"No," Mia said as she walked away from the bed, crossed her arms, then turned back again. "It's too dangerous. Enough has happened already."

"Mia, I need to know. It'll be fine, right Jay?"

"I agree with your cousin."

"What?" Elle said, surprised by his sudden change of heart. "You're the one who brought this up!"

"And I'm regretting it. It's too much of a risk. I'll be quicker next time. It won't happen again.'

"Next time?" Mia did not like the sound of that.

"Jay you can't control what happens in my dreams and you can't just take them every night for the rest of my life."

"Hold on," Mia tried.

"What I can do is protect you from getting hurt again." Jay countered.

"I can protect myself. What I need is the truth-"

"Hey!" Mia exclaimed. When she had both their attention, she continued. "What does she need protection from?"

"I don't need-"

"From the dark shadows, or creatures as she likes to call them, that roam her dreams."

"You can get into her dreams?"

"Yes, I can."

"They already got her side, could it be worse?"

"I won't let it be."

"This is ridiculous." Elle said as she pressed the button by her bed. "I can protect myself. I don't need a babysitter. What I need is for you to bring me to The Grotto of Truth. As far as I know, I haven't done anything so bad for me to drown." She began to sit up and move to the side of the bed.

"Elle, get back in bed." Mia said rushing back towards her.

"I've told you, it's too dange-" He started.

"Elle! Get back in bed right now." Mia's mother said as she opened the door to Elle's room.

"Aunt Nina, I'm fine, I want to discharge myself. I'll be more comfortable in bed at your house."

"Elle, now." Nina said as she helped her lay back down. There was an edge to her voice that surprised Elle. "I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation." And when Elle only gave her a confused stare, she continued. "Your dreams have gotten so severe that they have caused hallucinations while awake, during which you were almost hit by a truck. You regularly wake up gasping for air, and this time you woke up with a wound large enough to be life-threatening if untreated. This is serious. They aren't just bad dreams anymore, Elle. Now I promised your mother I'd keep you safe so you are going to stay in this bed until I say otherwise."

Elle looked at Mia, pleading, though she said nothing. She turned to look at Jay, but he looked down frowning and crossed his arms.

"What are you looking at?" Nina asked.

"Nothing." Elle said, sounding defeated. Jay winced internally. When Nina finished tucking her in, she turned to her daughter to kiss her cheek before leaving the room again, promising to be back soon with food.

"I'm sorry, Elle." Mia said.

"It's for the best." Jay added.

"I just wanted to know the truth. To figure out who I am." Elle felt tears come to her eyes as the discouraged and lost feelings from her childhood up to now took over. "I'm tired. I'm just.. I'm so tired." She ended in a whisper before giving in to the exhaustion.

"I'll be back in the morning." Mia looked back towards her before stepping out of the room. Elle lay down on the opposite side of her wound, turning her back to Jay. Jay simply looked at her, then crawled out the window.

Elle waited a moment to make sure she was really alone. She slowly curled her legs up, as to not pull her stitches, and began to cry. She was so tired. Not only from the recent rollercoaster that was her life, but from the constant questions, being so close to a single answer to then be ripped away from it. Of feeling crazy and alone. Everything just felt so heavy while her entire body felt completely empty.

He watched her, perched from a tree outside her window, as she brought her knees closer to her chest, her hands up to her head, her body struggling not to shake from her crying.

Why did everything in him ache so much for her? All he wanted to do was to sit behind her, take her into his arms, pull her close to his chest, and lift any burden she bared. But why? Where he comes from they believe in love the way humans do, but there is legend of a truest love, of an Eternal. That when you meet that person, before you even speak a first word to them, you feel a connection that no one can explain. He couldn't explain why he felt the need to console her, to make her happy, to protect her. And that worried him.

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Okay next chapter is actually a longer one.. I did it! Haha. Okay I combined two shorter chapters that I wrote a while back.. whatever same thing right? 

In the next chapter you get a look into Elle's past. Hope you like it!