Chapter 4

“Only his heart can cure your father Penelope, nothing else.” The old bent wolf with a cloak covering her face revealed to the devastated Penelope and took her leave. She was dumbfounded, what made his heart so special?. Her pack had seen her several times with the handsome stranger in the garden. The seers had sniffed an energy in his blood that could cure her father. He was only a mere human, why would they demand Axel's heart Penelope wondered. Her younger brother Stefan was tensed.

“Why are we hesitating? Let's save father.”

Axel was beside himself with joy . Meeting Penelope was always the highlight of his day. He sneak off to earth again.

As usual, she was sitting in the garden. Axel wondered why she was so obsessed with the garden, and if mother nature had a hidden daughter she was clueless about. But Penelope was not alone, she was with the young man from last time. Happy, he walked up to her. She didn't look up or acknowledge his presence . He was about to speak when the young man from the second time pointed a sword at him. “Is he the one?.” He snarled. Undeterred, Axel tried to talk to Penelope. “Let’s get it, we're running out of time.”

“Stefan!.”

“If you're not willing to do it I'll call the pack — Penelope.”

“Get lost.” She commanded the surprised Axel. Standing up, she pushed him roughly. Hoping he'd run before her pack comes. Axel was confused . He watched Penelope from the corner of his eyes as she advanced toward him looking more hostile than he had ever seen her. “Run away from this village, I never want to see your face again.” She warned him. He was a measly human, he'd be no match for her village if they captured him. She bared her fingers and released her claws, desperate to scare Axel away. Axel took a step back, he wondered what kind of creature she was.

Stefan unsheathed his sword. This was the man, he was certain. He had to save their father. If Penelope was not going to get his heart, he was going to do it. Axel was confused as Penelope ran towards him with bared claws like a mad dog. He watched the young man brandish his sword . He drew his sword and pointed it at Axel.

Axel was furious, he was a god. No mortal could treat him this way. Without thinking, he summoned a strong wind and pushed Penelope. Stefan's sword sliced through her back and came out to her chest. She died instantly with no last words.

The young man was too terrified to speak, but he was still determined to kill Axel. He lunged himself at him with his sword, Axel swiftly grabbed it and pointed it at the young man, and tied his life thread. The man was choking. “We only need your heart to cure our father, that's why Penelope asked you to come.” He fell on his knees beside his sister and wept. Axel felt a pang of betrayal. He felt like a fool. Penelope was never his friend, she only wanted to use him. He never should have trusted a human. Axel's hands shook he watched her lifeless body on the ground .

The young man's life thread he tied had started having an effect on the young man. Stefan could feel air leaving his lungs. He collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. But Axel had no plans of reversing it. It was his fault Penelope was in that situation. Axel fell on his knees and held Penelope close to his chest. “Why did you do this to me?.” He asked her warm corpse. Reversing death was the only thing he could not do as a fate god. The young man was in excruciating pain, but the pain from losing his only sister was more. His parents were going to die of heartache. “Penelope.” Stefan called out with difficulty, his airflow was restricted.

Axel tried to revive her, but it was pointless. She was gone. To his surprise, Penelope's corpse turned into a dog-like creature. He let go of her in dismay. Like he had been hit with a jolt of electricity. Why was Penelope’s body turning into a dog? Though his eyes were blinded by tears, he still managed to make out the figure of his grandfather moving toward him. He could bet he was not happy. He broke out in sweat and shivered, which were all human reflexes. But that was all he could feel in that moment, dread. He quickly released the young man's breath and ran to his grandfather. He fell at his feet in panic.

“I swear I didn't mean to, I'm sorry.” He apologized hoping it'd be able to reverse what he had done. “Do you know what you just did? His grandfather thundered, hoping Axel would realize the gravity of what he had done. It was going to cause him to forfeit his status as a god.

“That's not how you prove your love to someone. “You killed a Luna.”

“I didn't mean to, I swear.”

“It doesn't matter, Axel.” You have stained the earth with her blood. I may be your grandfather, but I'll have to punish you before the sky god does. You shall turn into the creature you killed in a thousand years, and you're banished from the sky until the aggrieved soul comes back to earth and forms a close bond with you. That'd mark forgiveness, and your curse shall be lifted.”

“How am I supposed to do that ? When people reincarnate they have no idea they're carrying a grudge from their past life.” He reminded his grandfather in case he had forgotten. “Figure that out yourself, you should have thought about that before being reckless.” He snapped and walked off, leaving the confused Axel to face his new life. His grandfather may be harsh, but Axel knew the natural consequence of his actions were losing his powers. But that had been averted, because his grandfather punished him himself. He was something worse than a human now, he was the creature Penelope’s corpse had become.

And after a thousand years, Penelope was back. But it didn't matter, his soft side died with her. All he could offer humans now was hate.