Page 20 of Scars and Burns

“Mother, what is the Goddess’s Prophecy”

She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You’ve never asked me about the Goddess’s Prophecy before. Why is that?”

I think for a second. I don’t really know why I’ve never asked her about it before. I’ve always been irrelevant. I know my Mother loves me but she’s had so much on her plate since coming here. Why would I riddle her with questions about a prophecy that has nothing to do with me?

“I don’t know. I never thought I had anything to do with it. Nor it with me. I suppose it never crossed my mind to ask, to wonder, or even care.”

She looks at me, “How is your Goddess mark?”

Umm, okay. Why would my Mother be asking me about that?

“It’s fine. I suppose.”

When my goddess mark first revealed itself it was on my right wrist. A single crescent moon. Nothing special really. However, as I’ve grown and developed it has transformed into two crescent moons back to back.

“Why do you ask?”

She turns from me. Walking back into my room toward my bed. My breath catches as she looks down at the cub still fast asleep.

Careful not to disturb them. She sits down and looks up at me and says, “You healed life today.”

I walk into the room stunned. Pondering on what my Mother just said. It’s not possible. Only the most powerful magic wielders canheal. I’ve seen my Mother do it in her garden. Not only has she healed life but she’s nourished it. Growing and developing each plant. I’ve tried for years to do what she does. I haven’t ever even been able to expand the life that is already there, let alone heal life. Also the lynx wasn’t injured when I found it.

“No… no, I didn’t heal anything. The cub was lost and alone. Scared perhaps but not physically injured. I’ve never possessed such power. I’ve tried Mom. I really have but I can’t do what you do. But I didn’t try to heal the cub. I didn’t have to heal them.”

She motions for me to sit beside her. I do. Also careful not to disturb the little ball of fur that’s made its way to the middle of the gigantic bed.

My Mother takes my hands in hers. Looking at me with the most light I have ever seen in her eyes. “You did so much more than heal an external wound.”

Shaking my head, “Mother, I don’t understand. What are you…”

“You healed its soul.” She says cutting me off. I just stare at her.

“Is that even possible?” I ask.

She nods and hums, “For you it is. One’s soul can be wounded and injured just as much as their bodies. If anything the soul is more precious. For a soul can be broken, shattered, and torn while the body keeps going. A wound no one else can see.”

“I don’t understand. I’ve never possessed such power before. Why now?” I ask, looking down to my Goddess mark and… it’sgone!

What?!

How can this be? My mark it’s gone but my Mom just said I had new abilities. Searching my arms and legs. I freeze when I find it. It’s poking out of the collar of my ‘V’ neck tunic. Its lines are solid and as black as my hair. But that’s not what shocked me. My mark has always been a solid line and dark. It’s the addition of a full moon. It’s a complete goddess mark. Its location is slightly exposed. The top ofit is clear on my sternum where anyone would no doubt see it. On full display with any neckline. But the bottom is dipping in between my breasts. Far lower than anyone should look.

I exhale, “Mother, I don’t understand.”

She places a hand on the side of my cheek. I lean into it.

“You do my little light. For your soul has been torn since that night. I know you do not sleep well. I know you prefer to be alone which is why you spend most of your time in the forests. But being alone and feeling alone are two separate things. You fear the darkness that has taken root in your soul after you made your first kill. The release you felt when death came. You embraced it. Wanting that release for yourself more times than you can remember.”

I’m looking down at my hands and my eyes shoot straight to hers as she says that. I told my Mother about the release I felt when I was two and ten. I didn’t realize she would remember it all these years later. Nor did I realize she knew my desire for death. Keeping those dark thoughts to myself. My curiosity in it. My need for it some days. My want for it others. But never being brave enough to give it to myself.

“But you never gave in. You followed the light and defied the darkest parts of yourself. And in doing so you saw straight through to this little cub’s soul and saved it. You brought light and life back to them. You healed their soul.”

I am flabbergasted. Not knowing what to say. I just stay silent. My Mother has always had a sort of wisdom to her. She always seems to know something I don’t. Always knowing the right thing to say. Bringing me guidance and being the light I followed through the years. She is the reason I haven’t given into the darkness within me. She’s always understood me. And based on what she’s just said. She’s understood me far more than I realized. Knowing more of me than I even thought I allowed her to. I don’t know who I’d be without her. Idon’t know where I’d be without her. She loves me in a way only a Mother can.

But once again as if she can read my mind. She continues,“You believe no one will love or accept you for it. But one will. One soul will co-exist with your own. Their mark will match yours.You’ll know who when the time is right.”

That can only mean one thing. A mate. A fated mate. Blessed and destined by the Tipple Goddess.

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