Shadow Moon Series Book 4

The pool shimmered with a soft light, the liquid inside swirling gently in the dark basin. It looked like water, but if you reached out to touch it, your fingers would pass through nothing but air.

A trio of hooded figures leaned over the edge, their attention riveted on the shifting scenes within the pool. The room around them was shrouded in darkness, a setting they found comforting.

It took them back to the beginning, when it was just them, and nothing else.

Another figure, also cloaked, emerged from the shadows, his gaze fixed on the group before him, watching them work. He yearned to be like them, to wield such immense power—the power to create life and snuff it out just as quickly.

The air was cold, filling his lungs with each deep breath he took.

Their human forms were frail, but the sensations they offered were exhilarating. Goosebumps prickled his skin as a chill crept up under his cloak, causing him to shiver momentarily, savoring the sensation.

He hadn’t yet experienced the real world, but from what he’d seen so far, it seemed incredible.

“These creatures are monstrous. Look at what they do to each other,” a deep voice echoed from one of the hooded figures.

The man’s gaze shifted back to the three gods, his daydreaming interrupted as he refocused on their discussion.

The other gods had crafted this plan, placing him at the center. The rest had been too afraid to confront the mighty trio, but he wasn’t.

They might be powerful, but he knew they were all the same deep down.

The fact that they couldn’t be killed was also a comfort—if the three rejected his proposal, their fury wouldn’t be fatal. It would be painful, sure, but with immortality came a certain freedom, and a few thousand years of their wrath was a small price to pay for the bigger picture.

“Could we be responsible for their actions?” the figure on the right asked, defending the creatures they had created.

“No,” the first speaker retorted. “Their choices are their own. We merely gave them the options.”

“What did you think would happen?” the third and final cloaked figure chimed in.

The man moved closer to the group and the pool, eager to see what they were observing. From the fleeting glimpses he’d caught, humans were cruel to each other, but he’d also seen their capacity for kindness, which was why he’d proposed this plan.

If one human could show kindness to others, why couldn’t the rest?

“To be honest, not much,” the first figure confessed, leaning in closer to watch the scenes unfolding in the pool. “Perhaps your previous meddling forced them to behave this way.”

A chuckle escaped the figure as he looked up at the one who’d spoken. “I won’t take the blame for them. My creations are perfect. How the humans react to them is their choice. Maybe if you hadn’t made them so weak and fearful, all of this could have been avoided.”

Lightning flashed from the black opening of the hood as the figure turned to face him. The bolts illuminated the room, revealing more detail to the man in the back.

For years, none of the gods had seen the Mighty Three, and if they had, their features were hidden by black cloaks, their faces replaced by an endless void.

“Do you dare insult my power?” a bolt of lightning shot from the hood, narrowly missing the first figure as it whizzed past his head and crashed into the wall behind him.

Sparks flew in all directions upon impact. The man in the back ducked to avoid the flying embers before straightening up.

He quickly turned back to the group, curious to see how Bellon would react to Jupiter’s attack, but was disappointed to see the God of Darkness merely laughing louder.

“Easy, brother. I was merely stating a fact, not belittling your incredible power,” Bellon said.

The bright flashes slowly faded from beneath the hood, leaving the same dark void as the others.

“If your tantrum is over, can we get back to our mission?” Neptune interjected.

The two hooded figures nodded before turning back to the basin. Images flickered on the surface for a few seconds before Jupiter waved his hand and a new set of scenes appeared.

“This is pointless. What we’re looking for might not be here. Maybe we need to lower our expectations.”

Jupiter’s words sparked a flicker of anger in the man in the back. They truly didn’t believe that a single human could be good.

If they chose wrong, the entire plan could fail, leading to a war even greater than the first and the end of all creatures as they knew it.

“If I may interject,” the man interrupted.

All three hoods swiveled toward him as if noticing him for the first time.

“And what could you, a lesser being, possibly know about this?” Bellon sneered, emphasizing the word ‘being’ as he refused to acknowledge those beneath him as gods.

Swallowing his anger at Bellon’s words, the man took a small step forward, staring directly into the darkness of his hood. “I’ve been observing these humans for some time and agree they can be cruel. But I’ve also seen their kindness, especially in one who I believe would be perfect.”

“And who is this human?” Neptune asked.

Summoning courage from somewhere deep within, the man risked eternal torture as he moved closer to the group, choosing to stand near Neptune, away from Bellon.

Stopping just inches from the stone basin, the man asked, “May I?”

With a nod of approval from Neptune, he reached out a finger, tracing it over the warm surface. The image shifted to one he desired, of the woman he’d been watching for some time.

The three gods leaned in closer, intrigued by what he had to show. A small village materialized, huts arranged in a circle with towering trees providing cover.

People could be seen going about their daily tasks—tending to a fire in the center, performing chores, children chasing each other around—and one individual in particular.

The man focused on her, and the pool followed suit, zooming in on her. She had long blond hair that fell down her back and a smile that lit up her face.

She was talking to someone off-screen, but it was clear she was kind, her smile widening, her hazel eyes crinkling at the corners.

“And who is this?” Jupiter asked, looking up from the image to the man.

Tearing his gaze away from her, he met the black void. “Her name is Nix, and I believe she’s the one we’ve been searching for. I’ve been watching her for a while now.”

“From the looks of her, I can see why,” Bellon chuckled.

The man clenched his fist at his side, biting back the words he wanted to hurl at the arrogant god. “Yes, she’s beautiful, I won’t deny that, but there’s more to her than just her looks.”

Bellon tried to rattle the man with a playful jab. “And that would be?”

He was hoping the man would stumble under the pressure. But, much to his disappointment, the man confidently explained his choice.

“She’s a beacon of kindness and generosity. From what I’ve observed, she despises violence. Whenever a dispute arises, she’s the one who steps in and encourages dialogue. When a neighboring village was under attack, she opened her doors to them, even when her own leader wouldn’t.”

Bellon was quick to dismiss the man’s words. “That doesn’t prove anything.”

Jupiter, however, was more open-minded. “Let’s not be too hasty to judge her, brother. What’s your take, Neptune?”

Neptune turned his gaze back to the human woman. He studied her quietly for a few moments before responding to his brother.

“We’ll keep an eye on her over the next few days. If she proves to be the person you believe she is, we’ll proceed.”

The man exhaled the breath he’d been holding in anticipation of their response. He had faith in his choice.

If she proved successful, he might even move up the ranks, inching closer to the power he craved.

Jupiter made the final call. “It’s settled then. Nix will be our champion. The first of her kind.”

He locked eyes with the man. “And you will be the one to train her.”

The man was taken aback by Jupiter’s declaration. His mouth fell open in surprise.

“You… You want me to train her?” he stuttered.

Jupiter, cloaked in darkness, moved away from the basin and past Bellon to stand beside the man. The man felt the weight of Jupiter’s gaze as he looked up at the towering God.

His instincts screamed at him to back away from the powerful being, but he stood his ground as Jupiter’s arm extended to rest on his shoulder.

“You, Deimos, will be the mentor to the first witch, Nix.”