Chapter 119 - The Blessed Luna

Shelby's POV

Time isn't a friend to anyone. Time waits for no one. No matter what is going on, time keeps moving on. The dust on everything showed that even with the Fates gone, time went on. No one person is important when it comes to time.

"So, you finally came back." My mom said looking around the room.

"How long have you known?" I didn't bother looking at her.

"I came here not long after the boys were born. On the night they were born, Zeus broke into Tartania. He stole the souls of Apollo and Artemis. He kidnapped Gaia and the Fates. I came here to see if they could tell me anything. When I got here the doors were locked, I don't just pop in here. I ended up having to call your father, to help break the door down. We came in and didn't see any sign of them."

"How can women who can see the future get kidnapped?" I was confused and becoming irritated.

"Easy ... they wanted to go with them and this was a part of something they already knew about."

"So, that means, they knew we would come for them eventually. Then, they probably have left some clue as to find them."

"Nothing. We have all searched for 6 years."

"Then, I guess they knew I would figure out what needs to be done and do it."

"Shelby, you better think long and hard about what you do before you do it. You have Alex to think about now."

I grimaced when she said Alex. The image of my nightmare popped into my head. I hit him. I made him bleed. I went against my own son, husband, and family. I can't be forced to join them. I can't be brainwashed or have my mind wiped clean. I'm not sure exactly what they did to me to get me on their side, but I will make sure it doesn't happen. I looked around the room. It broke my heart to see such a beautiful place be destroyed, probably in a fit of rage. I pulled one of the many strings going all over the room. As it snapped back into place the dust flew off. The vibration from that string vibrated all the other strings. The dust started to form an image in the air. It was the Fates. The image of Clotho pointed to the loom, to a broken piece of the arm on the ground. I looked at my mother and she was staring at me. I picked up the broken arm and wiped away the dust, on the other side were words written in Greek. I gave it to my mother to read to me.

"Give them what they want, so you don't lose what you need." She said in a confused tone.

"I know exactly what it means. I know what I have to do. I need to get back home." I hugged her and went home.

I popped up in my office. I sat down, not letting anyone know I was back yet. I just wanted to be alone and think for a few moments, without any interruptions. I was going through so many emotions right now. Anger, because of the things that had been done and are still to come by those cowards. Sadness, because of my friends and great grandmother being kidnapped. Rage, because I was ready to end them once and for all. But, at the pit of all the fury ... was love. The love of my husband and son, the love of my family and friends, and my love for all of them. I had to protect that love the most.

After about an hour, I let my presence be known. I told everyone about the Fates, but left out the part about what I need to do. I don't want anyone to worry, not now anyhow. My nightmares were after the boys were grown, although I may need to put my plan into motion before then. We all made our way to the kitchen and had dinner. I was distracted as I looked at everyone. The smiles on the boys faces. Their sweet precious giggles. The way each of us conversed with each other. The love in the couples eyes for each other. The joys that we held in our eyes and on our faces for our children. How could I not protect these people? Blood or not, they were my family. I was the one who needed to protect them, even if that meant sacrificing myself.

We got up and cleared the table. I went with Jenna upstairs, Alex and RJ with us. As we got to the Beta floor and was about to say goodnight, RJ demanded my attention.

"Auntie Shellie, can I ask you something?" Yes, James and Jonas have approved and taught him to call me Auntie Shellie, it's the cutest thing to hear in his tiny voice.

"What is it, RJ?"

"Come here. I want to whisper in your ear."

"You can say it where we all can hear you." Jenna said sweetly.

"No, mama, this is grown people business." His look on his sweet innocent face was so serious.

Jenna made an "O" face, held up her hands in defeat, and stepped away. I got down on my knees to his level and the words he said shook me to my core.

"Who's the man that will steal you from us. The man that made you kill us?" His tiny voice broke a little.

I looked at him to see a small tear slip down his chubby little cheek. I was speechless. I knew his gift was sight, but I never thought about him seeing something like that, at least not so soon. I was shocked and mortified. That poor baby.

"When did you see that?" I asked him curiously.

"It happened when you left, Auntie Shellie. I saw the man in the woods, and then I saw him in my mind with you."

"You saw the man in the woods?"

"Yes, he was watching us. He was smiling like the bad people do in the movies."

"He is a bad person. Don't ever go near him or let any of you friends go near him. You tell one of the grown ups if you see him again. Auntie Shellie will take care of the bad man. Nothing bad is ever going to happen to you." I hugged him tightly.

He kissed my cheek and headed off to bed with Jenna. I took Alex up to his room to helped him get ready for bed. A story later, after he was asleep, I went to my room. Thomas wasn't in here yet, so I sat on the couch and looked out into the room. My mind going a mile a minute. So, he is brave enough to let a child see him but not an adult. He is trying to draw me out. He is toying with me.

'I'm ready to do what we have to do to save our pups and packs. We will train harder and become stronger. We must fight with them to fight against them.' Annabella said with conviction.

I nodded my head in my own agreement. We will protect them. I will give it everything I have in me to do what needs to be done, even if that means joining Apollo and becoming the enemy.