Page 44 of The Marked Princess

“Although the couple claimed John as their own, the villagers knew the child was different. They feared him, feared what he might become. He was an outcast from birth, shunned by the other children his age and ignored by his elders.”

The people on the street shifted, changing, as the boy grew into a young man. The longing in the boy's eyes was replaced with disdain. The villagers still seemed to give him a wide berth, but they could no longer ignore his presence. Tall and darkly handsome, with piercing silvery blue eyes, his very aura drew you in, forced you to give him a second and third look.

“When he came of age, he left the village and entered the university in Antos, where he'd managed to obtain a full scholarship due to his incredible intelligence and charm. Unlike the villagers he grew up with, his peers at the university flocked to him, vying for his approval.”

“During his time there, his ideas grew more radical. He saw the filth and corruption that had long been a part of Antos' hierarchy, and he ached for a revolution. His silver tongue drew him many followers. His most loyal follower was a young Antoski duke named Darius, and upon graduation, he invited John to stay with him at his estate and begin his revolution there.”

“Although they'd garnered a great many followers, the revolution struggled to make an impact. Frustrated by his failures, John turned to the ancient magics for aide, at which time he discovered the power hidden within his mother's robes, the only thing he had of hers.”

Their surroundings darkened, until all Josselyn could see was the young man, John, as he stood in the glow of a full moon, holding a flask of something that bubbled and smoked. Pouring the liquid down his throat, he let out a cry as he doubled over, arms wrapped around his shaking body.

“He used the celestial robes to create an elixer that would draw power from the moon, giving him incredible strength of both mind and body. His charisma increased tenfold, his honeyed tones hypnotizing those who lacked the strength to resist, and he and Darius easily took control of Antos' throne away from its weak-minded king. Casting off the name John, he instead became known as Bade, the name bestowed upon him by his goddess mother. He lead the Antos' army into battle with its four surrounding kingdoms, convinced that only someone as powerful as he deserved to rule over all of Lehi.”

The man disappeared, and Josselyn blinked, finding herself once again sitting at the woman's table, as the woman watched her with sad eyes.

“What happened then?” Josselyn asked. “He couldn't have been too successful, seeing as how we still have five distinct kingdoms.”

The woman sighed, drawing her hands back and folding them into her lap as she turned her gaze to look out the window.

“He was too strong, holding more power than any one mortal ever should, and his mind had become twisted, infected by the darkness contained in his mother's ruined robes. Something had to be done.”

She turned her face back toward Josselyn, looking far older than she had moments before. “It was then that Luxeos, goddess of the sun, came down from the heavens to intervene on the people's behalf. From each of the four kingdoms under attack, she chose a young woman who possessed great inner strength. Tearing off a strip of her own celestial robes, she used its power to create a celestial beast within each of the four women that would resonate with their own particular abilities. These women, known as the Shendri, led their kingdoms in the war against Bade and the Antoski. The Shendri pushed Bade's army back into Antos, where they eventually surrendered. Bade himself fled, with the Shendri chasing him, all the way into the Endless Mountains, where he disappeared and was never seen again.”

She paused, closing her eyes for a moment as regret colored her features. “The Shendri returned to their respective kingdoms, and their celestial beasts were passed down through their first born daughters, who received them within the womb. The beasts remained in hibernation within their carriers, inactive, until a time when their power might once again be needed.”

The woman paused, placing a hand on Josselyn's forearm and tapping her finger on the claw marks there.

“These marks are the same as the ones your ancestor bore on her forearm, over two hundred years ago. You must have a very strong spirit. The marks don't appear on every descendant who carries the beast. Only those who are strong enough to release it.”

Josselyn studied the marks on her arm, tracing each jagged line with the tip of her finger. “Why do you think I was able to release my celestial beast? Was it because I was in danger, or... do you think it's something else, something more... complicated?”

“That's a good question, my dear. I wish I had an answer for you, but I'm afraid I'm at just as much of a loss as you,” the woman replied.

Josselyn leaned forward, studying the woman before her. “You said that in order to know who you are, I would need to hear this story.”

The woman nodded, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she gave Josselyn an expectant look.

“And have you discerned your answer?”

Josselyn stared into the woman's golden eyes, and gasped as they brightened even further, the outline of a sun appearing around each pupil.

“You're... Luxeos!” She whispered, looking at the woman in awe. “You're the goddess of the sun.”

Luxeos smiled sadly. “In name only, I'm afraid. I can no longer return to the sun, not since I used part of my robes in the creation of the Shendri.” She perked up. “I've managed to retain a good deal of power, however, as you've already seen. So long as I stay within the bounds of this magical hideaway that I've created here,” she added, gesturing to the room around them. “The barrier creates a greenhouse effect, of sorts, providing me with access to the sun's undiluted rays, pure nourishment straight from the source. When I leave here, as I did when I went to help you, my power begins to dwindle.” She shrugged. “Which means I'm either stuck here as a goddess, or I can travel the land as a mortal.”

Josselyn shook her head in disbelief. “I can't believe I'm sitting down with a real, live goddess. And you... trapped in this one, tiny glen when you used to watch over all of Lehi? It doesn't seem fair.”

“The choice was mine to make. No one forced it on me. I have no regrets for myself, only regret that I couldn't do anything to help Lunares' child. She was my other half, my sister in the sky. But never mind about all that. I see in your eyes that you have a question, a request to make of me? I'm listening.”

Josselyn felt her cheeks heat at being read so easily. “Oh, well, if you're asking, there is something I could use your help with, seeing as how you're basically the ultimate authority on these celestial beasts that we have...”

Luxeos smiled. “You need a little help controlling Kella?”

“Kella?” Josselyn placed a hand on her chest. “Is that what this hellcat is called?”

Luxeos chuckled. “She is a bit wild, isn't she? A born warrior.”

“She's beautiful and strong.” Josselyn frowned. “I'm not sure I'm a very good match for her. For all of my training, I haven't been able to save anyone, not even myself. If it weren't for Kella, I wouldn't even be here.”