Moonshadow

by J. D. Gregory

  Curious, Diana moved from behind the tree to inspect the clearing and the ruins within it. A small square building, made from dark stone, stood in the center of six tall pillars, none of which reached their original heights, having been broken at different places. The shadows emanated from the collapsed roof of the square building.

  Someone was inside.

  Diana walked slowly towards the ruins for a closer look, having no earthly idea what she expected to find within.

  Peering through a hole in the wall, Diana stood mesmerized by the sight of a young woman wearing colorful flowing robes, dancing hypnotically between seven statues of white marble. As she spun and pirouetted, the long sleeves of white and pink, and spinning blue skirts embroidered with dazzling white flowers, moved along with her, creating an amazing display of color as she weaved in and out from among the stone images. In the very center, stood an altar of burning wood which had cast the swaying shadows that had first caught Diana’s eye. Once the girl was bathed in its illuminating glow, Diana realized it was Miri.

  Diana’s gaze shifted to the opposite side of the room and she saw Darien and Andrew kneeling in the grass, with their hands clasped in their laps, in quite meditation. She must have stumbled upon some sort of elven religious ceremony.

  With respectful quiet, she continued to watch Miri’s beautiful entrancing dance between the statues. The images appeared to be of three males and four females, each chiseled with the exquisitely regal presence akin to the statues of deities from ancient times. Six stood in a semi-circle facing the lone female statue opposite them. From the crescent moon on her forehead, the downward crook in in her hand, and the chalice held to her breast, Diana knew her to be Udana—the Keeper of the Moon herself.

  Diana had visited religious places in the past, filled with expertly carved statues of saints or other spiritual paragons, but never had her heart been so moved by the divine as it was now, gazing on the sacred beauty and magnificence of Udana. She called to Diana’s spirit and Diana wanted nothing more than to join in Miri’s dancing.

  In the briefest of moments, Miri opened her eyes from within her spinning rhythms, and for a fraction of a second, they locked with Diana’s.

  With a startled yelp, Diana quickly crouched down behind the wall and closed her eyes like a small child, who thinks that by closing out the world, they will remain invisible to those who seek them.

  A few agonizing moments passed before Diana could feel the stares of three very surprised individuals boring holes into the top of her head.

  She slowly lifted her face from out of her hands and then opened her eyes to see Darien, Andrew, and Miri standing in front of her, waiting for her to get up.

  Why did Diana feel so embarrassed? It’s not like she purposefully wandered into the clearing looking for Darien like some clingy stalker. They didn’t own the woods; it was public property.

  “Well now; this is new,” said an amused Andrew as a roguish smile crept to his mouth. “You’re not the vision I expected from the Mother on this fine first day of the week. Is she the answer to your prayer this morning, Darien?”

  Darien looked mortified by Andrew’s comments, though not because they were ludicrous and unfounded. Instead he flushed with embarrassment, as if Andrew had just brought his heart’s desires out into the open for all to see.

  Diana couldn’t help but smile as she stood up from ground and brushed the dirt from her jeans.

  While Andrew looked amused and Darien stood embarrassed, Miri’s perplexed gaze was fixed on Diana as if she’d just fallen out of the sky. Diana could tell that Miri wanted her to explain her presence somehow, but didn’t quite know how to phrase the question. She must be unsure of how much Diana actually knew. Miri quickly turned her inquisitive stare onto Darien.

  “She knows everything,” Darien said in reply to her look of interrogation. “I told her last night.”

  Andrew and Miri—in unison—immediately started speaking their melodious language as if Diana wasn’t there at all.

  Darien cleared his throat. “You are being rude to Miss Selene.”

  The golden-haired twins glanced at Diana and nodded in apology.

  “How did you find this place, Diana?” Miri asked, finally giving voice to her burning question. “The barrier masks the grotto from the outside and repels humans from entering. Even if you did somehow manage to pass through it, you should have lost consciousness.”

  “I’m not sure,” Diana replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “I was just going for a walk and ended up here, I swear. I did get a crazy shock or something when I walked in here.”

  “The barrier’s magic is probably weakening,” Darien said in contemplation. “I’ll look the runestones over when I get a chance. For the time being, though, there’s no harm in Miss Selene’s presence here.”

  “You didn’t waste any time, did you, Endymion?” Andrew said with sarcasm. “Are you that eager to have her enthralled?”

  “It was out of my hands,” Darien replied in defense. “We were in a life and death situation and I was forced to use magic.”

  Miri looked to Diana with concern in her eyes. “I apologize if we’re giving you the wrong impression, Diana. We aren’t angry with Endymion for telling you the truth; it’s just that, things could get incredibly complicated for you if say, Terraiyah were to find out you know about us.”

  “It’s a good thing Spitfire had clinicals this morning,” Andrew chimed in. “Otherwise, the Shadowstalkers would be here by noon to give you the ring.”

  Diana’s eyes widened at Andrew’s remarks and with the three of them looking on, her mind reeling. It took a few moments for Diana to register it all—the events of the previous night, the Veil calling to her dreams, her soul-searching walk through the woods, and now, Miri’s mesmerizing dance before the statues.

  “So it’s true,” she finally said with wonder in her voice. “You’re elves.”

  The twins just nodded and then looked at Darien with confusion in their eyes.

  “Yes; it’s true Diana,” Darien said while taking her hand into his. “Are you alright? You’re losing your color.”

  “I’m fine,” Diana replied, though not really believing herself. “I’m just having a little trouble adjusting to my new reality.”

  Diana decided to change the subject.

  “That was a beautiful dance, Miri. Was it religious?”

  “Thank you; yes,” she said with her usual warm smile. “I’m an Alma—what some might call a shrine maiden. It’s our duty to perform the sacred dances that sooth the Mother and bring her back into balance.”

  “I see,” Diana said, though she didn’t see at all. She would have to have Darien explain the whole business to her later.

  “I’m famished,” Andrew said while placing his hands on his stomach. “I hope Marjorie has brunch ready.”

  “Care to join us, Miss Selene?” Darien asked with delight.

  “Sounds wonderful,” she replied and the four of them began making their way out of the hidden grotto and into the woods.

  After a few moments of awkward silence, Diana asked a question she had been pondering. “What’s a Shadowstalker?”

  It was Miri who answered first. “The Shadowstalkers are an elite group of assassins, Diana. They are very dangerous.”

  Andrew chimed in behind his twin. “They specialize in hunting down and eliminating any possible threat to the Naphalei and our civilization.” He grinned at Diana like a mischievous child telling a scary story. “Especially dangerous humans. They hate mankind with a passion and don’t need much of an excuse to kill them.”

  “That’s enough, Anderon,” Darien said firmly. “Why are you trying to scare her? Diana hasn’t done anything to warrant execution; she’s perfectly safe.”

  Regardless of Darien’s assurance, the notion was beyond Diana’s understanding. She had sensed a great deal of prejudice in Darien towards humans the night they had met and had felt Terra’s hatred the first moment they laid
eyes on each other.

  “Why do elves hate humans so much?” she asked them.

  “It’s a long and involved story,” Darien replied, apparently not wishing to go into it.

  “I have all day,” Diana replied with a playful grin. “Do tell.”

  Darien sighed. “Why does any race of people hate another—prejudice and fear.” He shook his head. “Though the Seraphar taught humans the magical arts, our people were always more powerful and adept at them—it’s our nature. Whether out of jealousy or fear, the humans looked for ways to be more powerful than the Naphalei. We reacted in kind, and the results were the great wars of ancient days that shattered the Mother’s peace. You are familiar with the consequences of those early conflicts.”

  “The stuff about Elberon’s Tears and Endymion’s murder?”

  “What didn’t you tell her, Endymion?” Andrew asked through a chuckle.

  Darien scowled at him before continuing. “Udana’s sacrifice brought mercy, but the flood waters were still needed to purify the Mother. A remnant of our races was spared—I’m sure you know one of the many human versions of the story.”

  “Everyone knows about Noah’s Ark,” Diana replied. It was one of the few stories from the Bible that she actually knew.

  “After the flood,” Miri continued the story. “Madaera’s body was changed and she lost much of her connection to her soul. As a result, humans gradually lost their ability to touch the Veil.”

  “Human’s used to touch the Veil?” Diana asked with wonder. “They used to be magical too?”

  “Indeed,” Darien replied with a nod. “Over time, human lifespans decreased until they barely lived to be a hundred and their magic became virtually nonexistent.”

  “They became just like any other animal,” Andrew interrupted.

  “What a dismal thought,” Diana said with a frown.

  “The Naphalei saw it as Elberon’s justice,” Miri said, sounding as if she didn’t quite agree with the statement. “They thought they had surpassed the Secondborn in the eyes of the Father.” Miri shook her head at the ridiculous notion. “It’s that type of thinking that has split our people on humanity for thousands of years.”

  “So, not all of you hate humans and want to kill them?” Diana asked sarcastically, “That’s nice.”

  “In those days,” Darien continued. “The majority wanted nothing to do with humans. They just wanted to rebuild their kingdoms in isolation and keep to themselves.” His tone suggested he agreed with the notion.

  Andrew chuckled at Darien’s words. “That’s all well and good, Endymion. But we all know that philosophy only lasts until some group of taintrats thinks it’s a good idea to rule the humans as their gods.”

  “I have to agree with Andrew on that one,” Diana said with a shrug. “And I just bet all the famous gods I know and love from mythology were just magical elven tyrants; am I right?”

  “Absolutely,” Darien replied with an approving smile.

  “Where was God—or Elberon—in all of this?”

  “Watching, I suppose,” Darien replied. His struggles with faith were evident by his tone.

  Miri’s mouth twisted like a disapproving grandmother. “Endymion, the Father has his reasons for keeping his distance. The Mother’s pain grieves him too much; would you rather he seek to ease her suffering again, just so people like you can feel better?”

  Darien sighed at Miri’s words and shook his head. “That is my point Miraena. The hand of Elberon rarely moves, and when it does, it’s only to separate his children from each other.”

  “How so?” Diana asked, curious.

  Darien shrugged, apparently not knowing what to believe himself. “The legends say that our people and humanity can never truly coexist, and that Elberon and Madaera continually struggle to keep them apart.”

  “Meh,” Andrew interrupted with obvious disbelief. “Rubbish that irksome old Almar tell younglings to keep them from going out in human lands and getting ‘corrupted.’”

  Miri shot her brother a playful scowl.

  “Really, dina’ssia?” Andrew replied with sardonic sarcasm. “Continents separating, civilizations crumbling—do you really think that the Mother and Father go to such trouble just to keep us from ‘debasing’ each other?”

  “No—that’s ridiculous,” Miri replied firmly. “But there’s always some kernel of truth sleeping in a pile of dirt.”

  “Of course it’s ridiculous,” Diana said, astounded they were even having the conversation. “We’ve been interacting for over a week and nothing cataclysmic has happened yet.”

  “That depends on your point of view, Diana.” Darien replied with a tone that was just a bit too serious. “One could argue that we were almost struck by a car last night because Elberon decreed our relationship to be unnatural.”

  “Like I said—ridiculous.” Diana almost laughed at Darien’s ludicrous logic. “So that’s why elves hate humans? They’re afraid of divine retribution?”

  “Genocides have been committed for far less,” Andrew said nonchalantly.

  Darien started to disagree with him, but really couldn’t. “Regardless, there is quite a bit more involved—mostly political—but that notion, however ridiculous it truly is, has always been at the heart of our fears and prejudices.”

  “The conclaves aren’t really lacking issues to motivate their fears,” Miri said through a troubled laugh. “Not after this past century.”

  “What do you mean?” Diana asked, curious.

  “It’s your technology, Diana,” Miri replied with a certain amount of seriousness. “It’s developed at an alarming—and suspicious—rate, and most of it seems to have been designed so we can’t use it.”

  “You can’t use human technology?”

  “Nope,” Andrew said, shaking his head. “And I imagine you have absolutely no idea how annoying that is. Do you know how hard it is to make plans—with anyone—when you don’t have one of those mobile phones? My social calendar has taken quite a hit this past decade, let me tell you.”

  “But why?” Diana asked, confused about the whole idea of not being able to use modern devices.

  “It’s the computer chips,” Darien replied. “Our bodies constantly have powerful energies flowing through them. Whenever we come into close contact with an electronic device—.”

  “It explodes,” Diana interrupted with playfully narrowed eyes. “I knew you fried my phone.”

  Darien’s mouth twisted with a sheepish grin “I replaced it, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah; after you blamed me for it and embarrassed me in front of the professor.”

  Miri’s look of grandmotherly disapproval returned. “Endymion, really?”

  “I was startled,” he said in defense.

  Diana chuckled at their banter and her mind stirred with reflection. That was the reason why the Shepherds’ house felt like a portal to yesteryear—they couldn’t use modern technology.

  “What makes computers so scary?” Diana asked, still confused on the matter. “We have Tumblr and XBOX, so what? You guys have magic powers.”

  “It’s not that simple, Diana, “Darien continued. “Your society is so interlaced with its electronics that we are at a disadvantage that we’ve never known before. Our ability to watch and control humanity has been significantly weakened.”

  “Watch and control humanity?” Diana repeated incredulously, shocked by such a notion.

  “It isn’t as terrible as it sounds, I assure you,” Darien replied with a calming gesture.

  “No—it really is,” Andrew interrupted and Darien scowled.

  “It’s probably somewhere in between,” Miri said with the calming voice of reason. “We live here under the Watcher Mandate. As we go about our duties or business, we are charged with blending in with human society and reporting on their development and whether or not they are becoming a threat to our way of life.”

  Diana thought it over a moment.

  “So, you’re a part of some
sort of elven National Security Agency?”

  Darien nodded. “In a manner of speaking, yes. We simply watch and report.”

  Diana arched an eyebrow at him. “What you’re basically saying, is that elves hate humans because they see us as forsaken animals that could one day ruin your way of life.”

  Andrew smirked. “I told you it was as bad as it sounded.”

  “What a closed minded and cynical view of the world,” Diana declared. “Human beings may be a lot of things, but we are people—just like you. We have hopes and dreams; we create beautiful works of art.”

  Darien’s brow furrowed but quickly softened when she said, “We can be loved and show love in return.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “It doesn’t take an affinity for magic and a long life to make a person worthy to live in this world. Just because we might not live up to the idyllic elven lifestyle, it doesn’t mean that our society and culture isn’t as good as yours.”

  Diana was now steaming with anger. “And to think that our culture could infiltrate and overtake yours—it’s such a backward philosophy. Don’t you think that both of our peoples would be better off if we knew and learned from each other?”

  There must not be a Cultural Pluralism class in elven universities.

  “Forgive me, but I must interject,” Darien said, crossing his own arms. “I understand your indignation—I do. However, all you truly know is what you have seen in your short eighteen years. You’ve only read about human history from books written by humans. We have personally witnessed your peoples’ modern capacity for war and devastation—for no other reason save one nation felt they were better than the other, or one group of people feared the other and blamed them for their misfortunes. In the last century, we have seen mankind’s capacity for evil and destruction reach its zenith. You will have to forgive us for being wary. Humans greatly fear what they don’t understand and can’t control.”

  Diana continued to fume. “And your people don’t fear humans because you can’t understand and control our technology?”

  Darien was silenced for a moment by her sudden—and accurate—appraisal. “There may be many enlightened humans in the world—you are one of them—but the majority would immediately fear and seek to destroy us. You can’t deny this.”