High Palace, Ninth Heaven
Selena, Moon Goddess, walked through the open doors of the High Palace. It had been centuries since Mother Creator had summoned her.
A summon from Her Holiness was a rare occurrence that sent fear through even the most powerful deities.
It often meant one of two things–you’ve gotten on her bad side, or she’s about to give you a new Order. Orders could be bad or good, but it was better to manage one’s expectations.
Selena spent most of her time at her Lunar Palace, overseeing the race the Holy Mother had sanctioned her to begin as guardians to the human race. That had been thousands of years ago, and it had been her last Order.
She wanted to hope, but she had a sinking feeling this summoning was not about her Order.
When she got in front of the throne, she got to her knees, her white robes spilling on the iridescent marble floor. Holding her hands together in front of her, she bowed deeply. “Mother.”
There was nobody on the throne, but the creator’s presence was all over the room. When her voice came, it was from right in front of Selena. “I have been lenient with you, Selena. I turned a blind eye to your actions 500 years ago because they involved a deity. But now, you’ve crossed a line. You’ve interfered with a mortal’s fate. Her soul is suspended between realms, with nowhere to go.”
Selena swallowed. She had guessed right. This was not about her Order.
“Forgive me, Mother. I was blinded by anger. I will not make the mistake again.”
Light footsteps sounded around her, moving in a circle. “You sent your lower deity lover to the mortal realm for three decades to punish him, but he fell in love with a mortal and locked his spirit for 500 years to be with her again. He went through death to reunite with her, and you were so jealous that you interfered with her fate and took her life before her time. Is this correct?”
Selena’s arms trembled. “Yes, Mother.”
“I gave you the duty of protecting humans, but you’ve broken your vow.”
Selena’s bow deepened. Mother Creator’s voice was calm, but she knew better. A reprimand from Her Holiness was the precedent of much worse things.
“I’ve failed you, Mother. Please forgive me, I’ll never do it again.”
“I’ll think about forgiving you,” the voice came from the throne this time, “after you guide her soul to reincarnation and spend a hundred years in the Purification Hall, reflecting on your actions.”
Terror speared through Selena’s body. “Mother! Please have mercy on me!”
She could not spend a hundred years in the Purification Hall. Alaric was finally coming back to her, after five hundred and sixty years! She had to be here when he came back.
“I have had enough mercy on you. I gave you five hundred years to come back to your senses, but it was not enough. Instead, you fell farther from the right path.”
Selena lifted her head, finally setting her eyes on the figure occupying the throne. “I will do as you say,” she said. “I’ll guide her soul to reincarnation, and I’ll reflect on my mistake. But please allow me a few more years before I have to retreat to the Purification Hall. He will come back in a year’s time. I’ve waited for five hundred and sixty years. Please let me see him first, and then I can go.”
Mother Creator looked at her with an unchanged expression. “I’ve changed my mind. You don’t need to go to the Purification Hall.”
Relief coursed through Selena. She bowed again. “Thank you, Mother.”
“I’ll send you to the mortal realm instead.”
Shock replaced the relief, and Selena lifted her head again. “What?”
Her Holiness got to her feet and walked towards her, her white robes billowing in the breeze circulating in the room. “Spend one hundred years as the humans you envy so much.”
The shock turned to terror. “Mother…”
“After that, you can decide whether you want to remain by my side or reincarnate as a mortal for eternity.”
Selena shook her head. “No. Mother, please. Don’t banish me!”
“You are still to guide the mortal to her reincarnation.”
“Please, Mother! It was just one mortal! Will you banish me to the mortal realm because of one human?”
Mother Creator halted and looked at her. “I’m disappointed in you, Selena. As the guardian of humans, one human life should be as worth to you as a million lives. Did I make a mistake, giving you this Order?”
Selena shook her head again, tears forming in her eyes. “No. I’ve neglected my duties, and I’ve corrupted myself. I’ll take time to reflect on myself, and I’ll not disappoint you again.”
“I’ve made up my mind.” Her Holiness turned away. “Love, longing, hatred, anger, jealousy…you’ve let mortal feelings corrupt your divine nature. I’m giving you a century to feel all of them to your contentment. You’ll be reborn as a human child and go through every possible human experience in a hundred years, unaware of your divine identity. I’m giving you three days to settle your affairs, including the reincarnation.”
“Mother–”
She was gone.
Selena looked around frantically. “Mother!”
Only the breeze whistled through the wide doorway.
No.
This could not be happening.
She had waited so long for Alaric, and now she would miss his return. She never should have sent him to the mortal realm!
She had denied him a mate, but he had fallen for a human woman! He had waited five hundred years for her!
When he came back and she was gone, he would definitely find out what she had done. By the time the hundred years were over, it would be too late. He would hate her forever.
She got to her feet. It was out of her hands. There was nothing she could do to change Mother Creator’s decision.
Alright, she would guide the human’s soul through her reincarnation. She would do her best to give back everything she had in her life–her memories, a healthy body of her age, an even better status in life.
Selena would do right by her, and maybe when she finally saw Alaric again, he would consider that and forgive her.
She could survive a thousand years in the mortal realm, or in the Purification Hall. But she could not survive eternity where he hated her.
END OF BOOK ONE
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