The granite halls hadn't had anyone's footsteps echoing through them in years. The walls begging to have their ornately etched surfaces touched. Soft, warm light slowly drifting in through the intricately designed stained glass windows letting the image of angels, flowers, and gardens stain the floor with their bright colours. A stark contrast to the monochrome which they laid cast upon.

Outside of the sturdy walls of the beautiful building, birds were chirping and rabbits were looking for treats among the foliage by the small lake.

That's where She was. Dark hair cascading down her back and over her shoulder, completely unphased and unaware to my presence. Never expecting her beautiful, hallowed island to be discovered. Especially not by me. I was hardly anyone worthy of being in the proximity of Her divinity. I couldn't help but take in the breathtaking moment before me of her at peace and calm, enjoying all of Her favorite things she had brought to Her sacred land while knowing the moment She noticed me, it's all come crashing to a close.

As I carefully approached Her, trying not to be too close when she inevitably noticed me, She smiled at the small rabbit that had coming nosing up to her knee as She sat in the grass. Her slender fingers offering it a piece of hay before booping its nose with it.



CRUNCH



That's all it took. One small miscalculation and my foot landed perfectly on top of a twig with a loud crunch and Her head spun to face me faster than I could have anticipated.

"Avalyn?" Her ever so familiar, melodic tone rang out. The slightest tinge of anger souring her surprised tone.

"Hello my Lady."

The Goddess before me stood and came towards me before I could have found the time to react. "What in the great beyond are you doing here?! No one is supposed to know about this place. No. One." My Goddess' voice was clipped with growing frustration. The obvious shock at my rather sudden appearance had clearly already been replaced.

"My beautiful Lady, Nyvera-" I started only to be quickly cut off before I could even start.

"Do NOT try to soothe me with flattery! You OWE me an explanation Avalyn!" My eyes carefully met hers, worry tinged with the slightest bit of remorse visible to her antiquated gaze. The Goddess, Nyvera's gaze softened the slightest amount. "...Fine. Lets go inside and I'll find you sustenance while you explain the predicament."



As I sat at the table watching the ethereal beauty before me prepare food and drinks I couldn't help but chew at the corner of my lip. A slightly strained noise coming out of me as I attempted to clear my throat. How was I going to explain that this was far from intentional and just a lucky, coincidental side effect of one of my gifts. Or maybe this was a completely new thing I can do. I hadn't even known this was possible for me to do before now and I'm just as surprised as she is? I idly looked around the room to try to find something to distract myself with or maybe just make approaching the topic easier. As I did I noticed a crescent moon shaped mirror hanging on the wall, letting my silver eyed reflection stare back at me. I had to admit, I was looking a bit rough. A scrape was gracing my upper cheek, red and irritated. Dried blood lightly caked to the center. My long braid that was over my shoulder, thanks to me fidgeting with it, was mussed and stray hairs sticking out in random places from the top of my dark nearly black roots to my slowly fading blue ends.

The sound of Nyvera clearing her throat to get my attention broke my gaze away from the mirror and back to her. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I wondered how long she'd been staring at me staring at myself. "Did you forget that you were supposed to give me an explanation that quick Little Moth?" I quickly shook my head.

"No my Lady. I just... I don't know how to explain what happened when it doesn't even make sense to me." I frowned looking away. I could feel her gaze soften as the energy surrounding the room went from slight annoyance to more concerned. We sat in silence for a few long moments. The soft sounds of her occasionally chewing or sipping her drink was the only thing to break the near deafening silence. "...I got chased by him..." I started. Her eyes narrowed slightly but she stayed quiet, waiting for me to continue.

"We'd gotten into a fight at the house again. I tried to lock myself in my room and hide but he just wouldn't stop banging on the door..." I could feel my chest tightening like I was there all over again. My anxiety spiking a bit with the recollection but quickly reminding myself that I was with Her and safe.



"Get out here! You're going to tell me why the f--- it's broken Ava!" He growled through the door. I scrambled to the bed and got my bedroom window open before carefully going to my closet and tucking myself into it before closing the door. Oh how much I wished the stupid doors weren't the slatted accordion style that they were. The only good part was that there was no latch for him to hear close and give me away, not that he would have been able to anyway. His fists sounded like they were going to go through the door with how hard he'd been banging on it. I held my breath and tried to focus on not being found, not being here, not being seen. As I did though, I noticed it had at some point fallen silent. Not that I could tell with my heart beating in my ears. I'd slowly started to let out the breath I was holding just as my body had started to disappear only to quickly take in a deep breath again at the sound of the door being broken down. I closed my eyes tightly, silently praying to Nyvera to keep me hidden from the man who'd been using me as the receptacle for all of his negative thoughts, feelings and general 'bad day' energy for the last four years. Jake.

I barely peeked open my eyes to see that the door to our bedroom was now on the floor, pieces of wood that had broken off in the process scattered around the carpet from the force of it being broken. The tall, slightly muscled blonde moved to the bed when he noticed the window was open and the drapes moving slightly with the breeze gently coming in. That seemed to be the only gentle thing in that moment though. "That stupid b----. Thinks she can just run away from me? I don't think so!" He growled to himself and went to turn towards the door. Just as I thought he would leave, he glanced to the closet.

'No. No. NO.' My chest felt tight as I mentally screamed for him to just leave and that I wasn't there. Instead, Jake started to walk towards the slatted door and I prayed that my invisibility would hold up. He ripped open the door and looked up and around. Just as I thought he'd finally leave he must have seen my slight movement and reached towards me. I screamed, regaining my visibility and tried to make a break for the window. I jumped off the wooden dresser I'd been perched on only for him to catch my ankle and my face crashed into the floor. I could already feel the burn from the carpet as I was yanked back. I kicked my other foot out, making contact with his hip. He growled in pain as he gripped his hip, letting me go. I scrambled back to my feet and jumped onto the bed, a crunch beneath my feet making me quickly lurch out the window. My side scraping the window frame on the way out and my palms and knees getting scratched from the pebbles and rocks that lined the walkway of the house. I rushed to get to my feet and started running as fast as I could into town. I could hear Jake screaming at me as I ran but I knew he wouldn't go out the window and would buy me time to try to lose him.

I ran for blocks, jumped a few fences and eventually hugged a corner so tight I scraped my face against the wall to get into a tight alley. As my back hugged the wall I finally started to relax. I didn't know how long I'd been running but it felt like a short eternity. I couldn't hear my heart beating in my ears anymore and I could finally actually feel my sweat cooling me off now that I felt like I could breathe freely again. A soft breeze was making it's way through the alley and I could hear the birds arguing in the park that was at the other end. "Thank the Gods." I sighed quietly.

I started to carefully make my way down the narrow alley, knowing that if I could make it to the park I'd be even more safe since Jake never saw a point to being at parks. For any reason. Not for leisure, fun, or community. Not even to look for me. I was about half the way down the narrow opening when I felt my phone vibrate and then start to ring. My heart sank, breathing stopped. I carefully pulled it from my pocket and looked at the caller ID. It was one of Jake's 'nicer' friends. "Crap." As the word left my mouth I could hear quick footsteps which made me drop my phone and start moving faster. "I can't be here. Nyvera! Please! I need to be safe. I can't keep doing this." I whimpered, my eyes closing tightly as I tried to fight the tears that were starting to sting my eyes, threatening to fall.

As I continued to move and plead under my breath, it felt like a soft hand touched my shoulder and in that moment the feel of the rough brick on my back was gone. A small whimper left my lips and I slowly opened my eyes.

After I finished my recollection I looked up to meet my Goddess' eyes and I saw that her eyes looked nearly black. I subconsciously tried to make my body smaller in my chair when I felt a streak of wet going down my cheek. I slowly reached up to wipe the tear away I didn't know I'd shed. Nyvera's hand moved over to me to wipe it away instead. "My precious little moth..." The look in her eyes softened as her eyes slowly returned to normal. "Maybe I drew you to me as much as you drew yourself here ." She said softly before taking a sip of her tea. "Rest. You know you're under my protection. I wish I could have done more to protect you though..."

I jumped up from my seat, the chair clattering to the floor behind me. "My Lady! Please don't feel bad that you didn't do more. You rescued me! Gods only know what would have happened if your energy hadn't scooped me up! Jake could have found me and I don't know if I...", my voice trailed off not wanting to know what would have happened if I hadn't gotten out this time. She nodded slightly, knowing I've ended up in worse positions than I was in currently.

She slowly stood and glanced at the chair behind me before looking at me. I scrambled to right it again and mouthed an apology. "...You can stay for now Avalyn but, I don't know what is going to come of this. I will protect you for as long as I'm able though."

"Aren't you an all powerful Goddess though? What do you mean 'as long as you're able'? I get I can't stay forever but..."

"Oh, sweet Little Moth. The things you're going to learn..." Nyvera turned away and started to walk out of the make shift kitchen area. "This is not simply my decision to make, but please, make yourself at home until we know more."

I stared after Her long after She was gone before finally deciding to leave the room and find somewhere comfortable to rest... and maybe a shower. I wasn't against bathing in the lake but, I didn't think it was the right move.