Chapter 72 The Shrine Of Truths
They left before sunrise. Six wolves total. Mara. Zevran. Kieran. Luna. Riven. And a young scout named Kira who knew the fastest route.
"We travel light. Move fast. No stops except when absolutely necessary," Mara instructed. "The fragment is getting worse. I can feel it. We need to reach the shrine before I lose control completely."
"How bad is it?" Luna asked quietly.
"Bad. Yesterday I almost killed Thaddeus. Just for disagreeing with me. That is not me. That is Oblivion."
"You stopped yourself. That means you still have control."
"For now. But how long before I do not stop? Before I actually kill someone?"
No one answered. They just started running. Through forests. Over hills. Following Kira's lead.
Hours passed. The sun rose. Heat beat down on them. But they did not stop. Did not slow. Just kept running.
"There!" Kira pointed ahead. "The shrine! I can see it!"
A stone structure rose from the forest floor. Ancient. Covered in moss. Glowing faintly with divine energy.
They reached the entrance. Collapsed. Exhausted. Breathing hard.
"Now what?" Zevran asked. "We just walk in and ask for help?"
"That is the plan," Mara said. She stood. Walked toward the entrance. "Moon Goddess! I need your help! Please! The fragment is taking over! I am losing control!"
Silence. Nothing happened.
"Maybe she is not home," Luna joked weakly.
"She is always home. This is her shrine. She hears everything said here." Mara raised her voice. "I know you can hear me! I know you are listening! Please! Help me! I do not want to become a monster! I do not want to hurt people I love!"
Still nothing.
"Maybe you need to go inside," Kieran suggested. "Alone. Face her directly."
"What if she does not want to see me? What if I made her angry by using the fragment?"
"Then you apologize. Explain. Beg if you have to. But you try."
Mara nodded. "Stay here. All of you. If I do not come out in an hour, leave without me."
"We are not leaving you!" Zevran grabbed her arm.
"Yes you are. Because if I do not come out, it means the fragment won. It means I am gone. And you need to run before I kill you."
"Mara—"
"Promise me. Please. Promise you will run if I do not come out."
Zevran looked at the others. They all nodded reluctantly. "Fine. One hour. Then we run. But I hate this plan."
"I hate it too. But it is all we have."
Mara walked into the shrine. The entrance sealed behind her. Trapping her inside.
The interior was beautiful. Lit by glowing crystals. A pool of water in the center. Reflecting the light like a mirror.
"Hello?" Mara called. "Is anyone here?"
A figure appeared above the pool. Glowing. Ethereal. The Moon Goddess herself.
"Mara. You come seeking help."
"Yes. The fragment is taking over. I used its power and now it is stronger. I do not know how to stop it."
"You stop it by not using it. Simple."
"But what if I have no choice? What if people will die if I do not use it?"
"Then they die. Better a few deaths than you becoming the next Oblivion."
"That is cruel."
"That is reality. You made a choice. You absorbed the fragment to save your daughter. That choice has consequences. You must live with them."
"So you will not help me? Will not give me a solution?"
"There is no solution. The fragment is part of you now. You can suppress it. Control it. But you can never remove it. Unless you die. Then it dies with you."
"So my only options are die or become a monster?"
"No. Your options are control yourself or lose control. Die or live. Choose wisely."
"How do I control it? How do I keep it from taking over?"
"You already know. Do not use it. No matter what. No matter who is in danger. You stay weak. You stay powerless. You let others fight. Others die. Others sacrifice. You do nothing."
"That is impossible! I am queen now! I have responsibilities!"
"Then give up the crown. Walk away. Let someone else lead. Someone who is not carrying ultimate evil inside them."
"I cannot just walk away!"
"Why not? You never wanted to be queen. You said so yourself. This is your chance. Give up power. Give up responsibility. Live quietly somewhere far away. Let the fragment sleep."
Mara felt tears streaming down her face. "You are asking me to abandon everyone. Everyone who depends on me. Everyone who believes in me."
"I am asking you to make a choice. Your pride or their lives. Your need to be the hero or their safety. What matters more?"
"That is not fair!"
"Nothing is fair. But that is your choice. Make it now. Before the fragment makes it for you."
Mara fell to her knees. "I do not know what to do. I do not know how to be weak. How to let others fight. How to stand aside when people need help."
"Then learn. Or die. Those are your options."
"Can you at least help me suppress it? Give me more time? Let me prepare someone else to take over before I leave?"
The Moon Goddess was quiet for a long moment. "Very well. I will give you one gift. One blessing. It will strengthen your will. Make it harder for the fragment to take control. But it will not last forever. Maybe a year. Maybe less. Use that time wisely. Choose a successor. Train them. Then disappear. For everyone's sake."
"And if Demetrius attacks before I can leave? If the city needs defending?"
"Let others defend it. Let Isla defend it. Let Zevran defend it. Let anyone but you defend it. Because the moment you use your power, the moment you give in to the fragment, everyone loses."
"That is a lot of pressure."
"You wanted to be queen. This is what that means. Impossible choices. Terrible burdens. Are you sure you want to keep the crown?"
Mara thought about it. Really thought about it. About all the responsibilities. All the expectations. All the danger.
"No. I do not want the crown. I never did. I just wanted to help people. To make a difference. To protect those I love."
"Then you can still do that. Just not as queen. Not as the Moon Wolf. As Mara. As a person. That is enough."
"Is it?"
"It will have to be. Now go. I will give you the blessing. Use your year wisely. Then disappear. For everyone's sake. Including your own."
The goddess raised her hand. White light shot from her fingers. Hit Mara in the chest. The fragment screamed inside her. Recoiled. Was pushed back. Locked down. Made dormant.
"There. It will sleep now. For a while. But remember. One year. Then you must leave. Promise me."
"I promise. One year. Then I disappear."
"Good. Now go. Your mate is about to break down the door. He thinks you are dying."