CHAPTER 5: DEPTHS OF DARKNESS

RAYA'S POV

Before me, a golden light pulsed—warm, yet unsettling. It wrapped around me, pulling me in. All around stretched a vast, dark blue void—endless and heavy with silence. My mind was blank. I drifted, drawn toward the light.

A faint voice whispered, "Raya" it called softly,

"Raya dear," it said, now louder. I forced my mouth open. "Yes, who are you? And where am I?" I questioned, my brows knitting in confusion.

"I am Selene, goddess of the moon and shifters, you've been brought here to receive a second chance," she declared, her voice resonating with divine authority.

"A second chance?" I replied, what would I need a second chance for, I hardly remember a thing about myself,

"Yes, a chance to return to Earth and damn the lives of those who ruined yours," she proclaimed, her tone dripping with promise and something darker.

'Those who ruined yours' I mulled, the words tugging at a vague feeling. Suddenly my mind blanked then in a distorted blur, my life played,

I broke out in a sweat, my breathing uneven; it all came back to me: Draco, Melissa, betrayal, the taunting words rang in my mind. I was pulled out of my brooding by the divine figure which emerged from the light,

A glowing feminine body I assumed belonged to goddess Selene, she was breathtaking, the definition of ethereal, her silky white hair extended to her waist, flowing effortlessly as she glided,

She wore a shimmering gown, a gold crown adorning her head, and a sheer cape billowing behind her. She exuded power, its force overwhelming.

"Do you accept my offer?" She asked, gesturing with an outstretched hand,

I hesitated, then thought back to the pain I felt and without a second more, I responded, "Yes", my determination unmistakable,

"Good. Now come" she instructed, her voice booming through the void. I wiggled my feet, gradually I reached her,

She placed her hand upon my forehead, her eyes clouded over as she whispered an incantation, "Your destiny is to save the shifter race and earn your revenge. But understand this, it will come at the price of a life you may be unwilling to part with" She declared, her voice echoing with power.

"I understand!" I replied, glossing over her last statement, nothing was more important than avenging my pup and myself. For that, I was willing to give up anything,

"You will return as Hera" She intoned, her words heavy with fate.

In an instant, it felt like a floor gave way beneath me, and a strong force pulled me under; the last thing I saw was goddess Selene's silver eyes peering down at me.

As the falling sensation engulfed me, memories flooded my mind but they weren't mine. Snippets of a young girl playing with a little boy who resembled Draco, and then she was grown, surrounded by humans. Then she lay on a bed, sickly pale and beside her a woman handed a vial containing a red liquid for her to drink. The memories kept on rolling,

My body thumped on a soft surface. I was stuck, unable to move and unable to speak, panic set in and I struggled to breathe, when suddenly as if waking up from a nightmare my eyes shot open,

I jerked, desperately sucking in air. I sat up gasping, clutching at the duvet of the bed I lay on, I inhaled deep breaths to calm myself,

After a few minutes, I looked up. Studying the room I noticed its similarities with mine before I died,

Everything was covered in white and gold, with polished floors, a fireplace, and walls adorned with tapestries. The modern lamps added a touch of refinement.

I rolled off the bed, my legs a bit wobbly, I took tentative steps to the full-length mirror,

The woman in the reflection looked mid-twenties, as I stared, her bits of memory made further sense,

Her black hair cascaded down to her knees, her eyes cloudy grey; she was slim with thick thighs and a bit tall for a lady.

I whipped around, eager to confirm I was really back, I had only a short gown on, but I didn’t care. I silently pushed open the door, careful not to make a noise,

I tip-toed out, the hallways were just the same but in a different part of the mansion, I took the stairs down,

While rounding the corner to a familiar hallway, I bumped into a hard surface, "Oh, Hera, you're awake!" The voice exclaimed; a shiver ran down my spine, and I recognized that voice. It was Draco,

Instinctively, I pulled away; my heart raced, fear seeping into my bones.

"I must have startled you", he grinned, "Follow me, let's go meet Mum and Dad", those titles didn't seem right,

He draped his hands over my shoulder and pulled me along,

I tensed but followed him silently, not daring to protest, we strode into the spacious sitting room, and on its lavish cushion sat Draco's mum and dad discussing,

"Mum, Dad. Hera is finally awake; it worked!" He announced, what worked? I thought,

Their attention turned to us, both their faces brightening up with wide smiles mixed with pleasant surprise, Draco's mum rushed and embraced me,

I stood rigid in her arms, my breath held, "oh darling, you had us all worried; I'm glad you're alright now," she rejoiced.

She pulled back, studying me, her brows furrowed, I had to say something so I didn't raise any suspicion, "I'm good now, don't worry" I replied awkwardly,

"Come sit" she gestured, to the space where she had sat before, they were all so welcoming, a stark contrast to how they had treated me before, slowly the reality that I wasn't Raya anymore began to dawn on me,

"Sit here with your father and Draco, and I'll make something special for you to eat," she squealed, hurrying out of the room. Even Draco seemed like a changed person—smiling and happy to see me, a side of him I had rarely experienced.

As I sat there, Hera’s fragmented memories swirled, leaving me confused. Draco was an only child, so why were they calling themselves her parents? My mind scrambled for answers but found none.

A voice whispered, Revenge. I bit my lip, bitterness spreading through me. As I listened to their conversation and answered their questions, I swore to make them suffer double what I had endured, until the anger in my heart subsided.