Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Darkness was the first thing she saw. It was dark, she was cold and scared. She didn't know when she passed out. All she could remember was someone pushing her into the pool then nothing. Strangely, it didn't feel like she was underwater, or had she been pulled out?

She opened her eyes and saw the light. It was bright and comforting. The light seemed to chase the darkness away then she was no longer scared. Looking around, all she could see was water and light emanating from the bottom of the pool. She tried to swim towards the surface only to realize that she couldn't. The fear that previously disappeared gripped her again. Her hands were getting tired of fighting to go to the surface. She panicked, struggling harder but that did nothing but make her weaker.

How hadn't she drowned? She had been underwater for a while. She then felt the air leaving her nostrils and air coming in; she was breathing. She had finally gone crazy. Breathing underwater? What more surprises awaited her in Lunae?

"It is entertaining to see you argue with yourself," an amused voice said.

A beautiful woman clothed in a white flowing dress walked towards Kathy. Her fair skin shone like she had invisible stars all over her body. A crescent was embedded into her forehead like a second skin. The crescent looked oddly similar to Kathy's mark.

She stopped in front of Kathy and smiled warmly at her, flashing her pearly whites. Kathy was going to reply when she realized that she was underwater. How the hell was she still breathing?

"You can talk, you know? I froze the world around us, including the water," the woman spoke.

For confirmation, Kathy felt around with her hands but couldn't touch the water. The water didn't even form ripples.

"How is this possible? How am I even here?" Kathy asked, finally speaking.

"I am the Moon Goddess, I can do anything." The woman smiled. Her words contained no ounce of pride, only the truth.

Kathy blinked twice as if trying to get the invisible water off her eyes. However, blinking could not clear what was before her eyes. She was certainly in the presence of a Greek goddess.

"That's impossible. You sound so–" Kathy dragged, trying to find the right word to describe simplicity.

"Ordinary? Normal? Human?" The goddess tested, smiling knowingly.

Kathy nodded although those were not the words she would have used they could suffice.

"Having been around for centuries, I've picked up a few human characters, especially their languages, accents, and ways of speaking," She explained and Kathy could only stare at her.

"This new world has shown me so much that nothing surprises me anymore," Kathy stated blankly. It surprised her how easy it was for her to agree to the weird and unnatural.

The goddess smiled. Her smile conveyed wisdom, age, and experience.

"And your journey has only just begun. A lot of trials stand in your path. Soon, you will be faced with your biggest adversary yet, but trust in yourself, and your true power would be revealed."

Kathy frowned, not liking the idea of an adversary. "What do you mean?"

"All will be revealed soon, my child. You are more important than you think. Do not tell anyone about our encounter." The goddess placed a finger on Kathy's forehead, creating a warm feeling on that spot.

Kathy gasped at the feeling. "What is that?"

"Creating your connection to the moon, and me."

The goddess' finger left her forehead, leaving that warm tingling sensation. From her forehead, she felt a pull reaching into her head as if searching for something. The pull moved down, passing through every vessel of her body and leaving that same tingling sensation.

She gasped as the feeling overwhelmed her and couldn't help but close her eyes. The pull kept on traveling till it got to her feet then it stopped. All of a sudden, it started again, rushing upward to her head then her forehead at the spot where the goddess touched her and it stopped again.

When she opened her eyes, the goddess was gone. She looked around for the goddess but didn't see her. Ripples forming around her made her realize that the world had been unfrozen. She held her breath and swam to the surface, gasping for air as her head came out of the water.

Hands pulled her out of the water and onto the edge of the pool.

"What did you do that for?" She huffed, glaring at the sisters.

"My apologies, Princess but we had to get you into the pool. That was the only way for this to happen," Helena told her but Kathy wasn't having it.

"For what to happen? Couldn't you have nicely asked me to dive into the pool?" Kathy quizzed. She then felt something prodding into the walls of her mind. Unconsciously, she let down the walls as the pressure increased.

'The mind-bond, Princess.' She heard Lo's voice inside her head and freaked out.

"How are you in my head?" She asked, panicking.

"Calm down, Princess. The connection you just made with the moon also connects you to all of Lunae. As a member of the Royal family, you can communicate with anyone at any time," Lo explained making Kathy relax. That made sense.

Helena pulled Kathy up. "We have to go prepare for the ceremony."

The next few hours went by fast. After they left the pool, Lo and Helena help Kathy pick her clothes which consisted of a long white dress that trailed behind her, and to her embarrassment, even picked her undergarments.

Kathy wasn't allowed to see anyone after she got back from the pool. It was some sort of tradition. She could only be seen by those who accompanied her to the pool.

She pulled on the last piece of clothing which was a silver armband and looked into the mirror. Her face was bare of makeup but she still glowed. She had always been beautiful but she started glowing after she came out of that water. Her lips were thicker and rosier and her black hair had more shine to it, much like those horses. The crystals in her blue eyes sparkled more.

Surely, she was going to grab more attention due to her latest physical upgrade.

Kathy sighed, massaging her forehead slowly. She was overthinking things.

'It is time, Precious. We are waiting in the throne room,' Her father said through the mind-bond.

Father! She yelled through the bond, excited to hear his voice after almost a whole day.

His chuckle rippled through her head.

'Too loud, Precious. Sensitive hearing, remember,' he answered.

Oops, sorry, she replied with an embarrassed laugh.

With a deep breath, she opened the door and exited the room. The coldness of the ground against her feet reminded her that she was barefoot. She was instructed earlier to not put on any footwear. Something about connecting with nature.

The closer she got, the more she could feel her powers pulsing through her veins, burning like molten lava. The goddess' words haunted her thoughts. Who would be her greatest adversary?

Standing in front of the double doors, she tried to picture what the ceremony would be like. Helena and Lo refused to tell her when she asked earlier. They said the Oracle would tell her what to do when it was time.

She gripped the handles and pushed open the doors. Everyone's eyes fell on her immediately and the mild chatter ceased. Every member of the council and all of the royals were present in that room. She could also see the Oracle, Cynthia, and some other persons. April was there too. However, Gabriel was missing. Strangely, she missed having him around.

'Walk to the throne, Precious,' her father instructed her and she realized that she had been standing by the door staring at everyone.

She walked toward the throne where the Oracle stood. She noticed that the roof of the throne area was see-through. The red glow from the moon upon the throne reminded her of her first day in Lunae. That day, two moons shone upon the throne. Currently, one moon was missing from the pair.

"We are gathered here today to witness the rise of another new moon." The Oracle's voice rang throughout the now quiet room.

"For centuries, the goddess has continued to bless us. She gifts us with powers to defend ourselves from enemies, grants us long and peaceful lives away from supernatural enemies." She paused, her white eyes fell on Kathy.

"Our Lunas have always led our people on the right path. Today, the Luna Princess would perform the ceremony of the new moon."

As soon as the Oracle finished talking, Kathy expected to feel anger coming from everyone in the room. To her greatest surprise, all she could feel was acceptance accompanied by a little bit of concern from everyone. Everyone but one person –Councilman Kale– glared at her silently.

She could easily pick out his emotions from the multitude, his hatred was impossible to miss. She wondered if he could be the adversary the goddess spoke about. Sure he hated her, but to what extent?

"Your hand, Princess." The Oracle's voice brought her back to reality.

Kathy stretched forth her hand. Upon seeing the small knife in the hands of the Oracle, Kathy withdrew her hand at lightning speed.

"Oh, hell no!" She exclaimed. "You are not cutting my palm!"

"It is part of the process. Your blood is important," the Oracle stated calmly, still reaching for Kathy's hand.

"No!" Kathy yelled without thinking and numerous gasps of surprise were heard. One voice louder than the rest of them; Kale.

"Is this who you all want to rule this great kingdom? This little girl who has no respect for customs and traditions," Kale spat, his eyes burning invisible holes into Kathy from how hard he glared at her.

Kathy gasped at the animosity he emitted. At first, she thought he only disliked her but hatred was something else

"Councilman, there is no need for you to cause a ruckus. My daughter is new to this world and needs time to adjust," Aerial said, obviously trying to stay calm.

"Face the facts, Aerial! Your daughter is just not fit for this world. She has to be sent back to wherever she came from before she ruins us all!"

With a deep growl, Aerial lunged at Kale, pinning him to the wall with his hand wrapped around Kale's neck.