Chapter 6 Blessed Be
Chapter Six
Blessed Be
NYX
White puffs of clouds pass by. I reach up to try to grab them, smiling as they slip through my fingers.
Being so high in the sky with the Earth realm so far below is something that still brings me comfort.
Most days I’m thankful to have been saved as an infant by Queen Gaia and King Ourahnus and brought here, even if I am being used as an experiment.
They’re aware of the witch and demon blood that runs thick through my veins, even thicker than the celestial blood I was born with, but even so, they want to believe there is hope for me.
For most of my years, they’ve taught me about celestial laws and the ways of the Realm of Light but now begins my training to wield my power as a witch.
They hope the darkness I have within can be blinded by light from my celestial and witch power, until darkness is forced out of me like it never existed.
I believe the darkness cannot be avoided, unlike the clouds here in the Realm of Light that part ways and slip through my fingers, never wanting to be felt against my skin.
Darkness makes itself known because it wants to be felt.
It wants to reign. It demands attention.
It makes sure I feel it slithering beneath my skin whether I want it there or not.
“Are you Nyx?” A sweet voice asks. A woman steps into the meadow with long, white hair glistening as rays of sunlight shower over her.
I’m not sure whether it’s the beauty of her alone or the path of bright pink and purple wildflowers that come alive and sprout before my eyes as she comes toward me that leaves me breathless.
Gods is she beautiful. Her stunning blue eyes shimmer as she stops before me and extends her hand.
Hesitating, I smile and shake it nervously.
The feel of her soft skin against mine makes my heart race.
“You must be Hekate. I’m delighted to finally meet you. Gaia raved about your power and your ability to teach. What an honor it is to be in your presence.” Clasping my hands together in front of me, I smile as I fully take her in.
Her white, flowing dress is elegant and feminine, highlighting all her best features, yet still modest enough to fit in here where we all wear white robes.
The obsidian amulet around her neck is wrapped in golden wire, and there are colors within the crystal that swirl and change by the second.
The crown of thorns and roses across her forehead appears to be made of pure gold and is adorned with a crescent moon followed by a full moon, and then a waning crescent with radiant blue jewels outlining each of them.
She looks much more exquisite than I ever imagined the Queen of the witch covens would be.
She steps toward me and bows her head. “Please. It is truly an honor to meet you, Nyx. Your power is like nothing I have felt before. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to train you.” Opening her palms, she smiles as she summons her glowing blue power, never taking her eyes off me.
My wings have a touch of this same witch given power, glowing with a soft blue light in the darkness.
There’s never a dark day here in the Heavens, though, so the glimmer of light enshrouding me is only visible when I visit the Earth Realm.
Most agree my wings are beautiful, despite what else they might think of me.
Everyone besides the deities here believe I am evil or cursed because of the darkness that runs through my veins.
Why the fearless rulers of this realm trust me to be here, I will never understand.
I’m glad they do. I hope to stay here and earn the others’ trust, too.
In the celestials’ eyes, beyond the rulers here, if I did not have my stunning white wings, I’d be nothing more than another demon for them to vanquish—another thing to protect the mortals from. They wouldn’t hesitate in killing me even for a second.
Hekate’s blue light glimmers so bright that it’s impossible to look directly into but much harder to look away from.
It’s magnificent. Her magic pulsates out around us as she invokes a circle of light, creating a dome of privacy just for her and I.
The color blue has never looked so beautiful, but still, it does not compare to the beauty of her eyes.
The sun vanishes as if someone plucked it from the sky, and a full moon the color of crimson takes its place.
I huff out a quiet laugh as I take in the beauty of the darkness she conjured while barely having enough time to blink.
“How did you…?”
“Being a skilled witch takes years of practice, Nyx. It will not be easy at first, but I promise if you stick with me, it will be worth it.” She sits in the grass a few feet from me and gestures for me to do the same.
I don’t hesitate. I immediately sit, crossing my legs in front of me. Here with her I’ve never felt more like myself or more alive, and I’ve also never felt so… free.
“Does the blood moon have special significance to our power?” I keep my eyes pinned to her.
I don’t think I could look away even if I tried. Hekate is like a bright star in a night sky, a flaming torch at the end of a dark and suffocating tunnel, the one who will lead me where I belong. She is the brightest star I’ve ever seen.
After summoning black candles in a circle around us, she waves her hand and brings them to life.
The blue shield around us grows brighter and brighter as thorns and roses climb up the walls and close us in, creating a perfect garden of privacy.
Only the curved arch at the top is left open to allow the red glow of the moon to shine down upon us.
She doesn’t look at me as she speaks, busy setting up for our lesson.
“Every element and celestial object is one we worship. They all hold a power within which we can wield to make us stronger and fiercer. Some can help us heal others or even raise the dead if we have the ability within us.” Her lips turn up at the corners as she summons two golden cups in her hands.
“The selini aimatos in particular is important for opening portals to new and higher levels of consciousness. It is also great for blood magic.” As she smiles her eyes flash with excitement and candlelight flickers across her features.
“Blood magic,” I breathe in a hushed whisper, afraid for the punishment of even speaking of the dark magic might bring.
“It is forbidden.” It has been for centuries, and I enjoy my place in the realm here, though others surely wouldn’t mind my absence.
I do not want to be forced to leave or worse if the others were to find out about my use of dark magic.
“What we do in the shadows is between you and I, Nyx. The Gods and Goddesses of the realms cannot even see us now.” Her steely eyes pierce into mine as I smooth out the wrinkles in my robe and readjust my legs beneath me.
The witch laughs and my eyes dart back to her. The sound is like music to my ears, a whisper in the wind that calls to my soul. I can’t help but smile though fear runs rampant in my mind.
“Fear not, my dear.. Magic is neither good nor bad. It is neither dark nor light. The one who wields it chooses which side they are on. Blood magic has many great purposes for a witch.”
“What great purposes could dark magic have?” As I gaze up at the moon, I feel a familiar sense of churning within my soul, like the darkness within me is ready to combust and set the world ablaze.
I grit my teeth, fisting my dress and praying to whichever God might still care for me to push the darkness down deep, to never let it make its way to the surface.
Darkness guide me. Gods save me.
My question hangs in the air as she retrieves a small, elegant dagger from the front of her dress.
“It can be used to form everlasting bonds between our people. On the other hand, it can be used to break bonds, weakening our enemies. I have seen it wielded to create love and to create life.” Glancing at me, her eyes soften as she sends waves of energy my way, pushing thoughts into my mind of my mother and how I was born.
I don’t want to remember. She was a fool for accepting a blood bond with a dark God, the very bond which brought me into existence.
She was a powerful witch who let a celestial impregnate her and then allowed dark blood to run through the both of us, a bond and a scar on my soul that I too will forever bear.
The same dark god she bound herself to eventually killed her.
The celestials could have slaughtered me for being what I am, and I would not have blamed them.
No one else exists like me. No one ever should.
“The main purpose for bringing forth the blood moon is to harness ancestral power. To open doors which are normally hidden. Simply ask for that which you desire and open your vein as an offering to her. You shall receive what you wish for.” Shadows dance across her face and there is not so much as a glimmer of a lie hiding there.
What she says is true. I can feel it. The power shining down upon both of us feels electric and alive.
The moon is a radiating sphere of magic waiting for us to make an offer.
I can learn to use my darkness for good.
I have so much power within me, if only I could learn to use it.
Hekate is a blessing sent to me by the gods and goddesses themselves.
Dark power and maybe even darkness itself is not something I should fear.
As Hekate said, it is the one who wields the power who ultimately chooses which side they are on. I choose light, always.
“What shall we ask for tonight? What shall we offer her?” I swallow nervously.