Kori POV

  “Selene, your guest is here,” Kalia called out weakly.

  The cave was beautiful. Ivy ran up and down the walls, and soft grass blanketed the cave floor. Beautifully carved stone furniture outlined each living area. The seats even looked soft with blue cushions to sit on. The cave was lit by oil lamps and luminescent minerals in the cave walls that looked like stars in the night sky. It felt like a Greek fairy tale just looking at it. In the corner, a young-looking woman with hair as dark as night sat looking into a stone case. Her skin was fair and her eyes shined like silver moonlight. Her gown was a soft blue with silver accents, and she had a matching crescent moon headband that matched my birthmark. When the woman looked at me, my birthmark heated up to the point it burned a hole in the top of my shirt, so it was visible to this woman.

  “My, my, Kalia. You found the girl that the Fates have chosen,” the woman’s voice was gentle and calm, but there was no warmth in her face as turned around to study me. “Well, she is built like a Greek woman based on her curves, but the rest of her doesn’t look like her Greek ancestry.”

  I felt insulted. Did this woman not think I was good enough to be in her presence? Yes, I was the great-granddaughter of Greek immigrants, but I felt more like an American than anything else. Why did any of this matter? I am only here because she called for me. My anxiety was turning into anger at this woman who continued to judge me.

  “Her hair is dark brown and straight in that braid. Where’s the wave and bounce her hair should have? She has blue eyes that seem unsettled and her skin looks like it was cooked by the sun. I don’t see much of my daughter, Endymion, or even Eron in her. The only way I recognize her is the moon on her shoulder,” the young woman finished.

  “Selene, this is Korinne Althea, your last descendant,” Kalia said, nonchalantly as Fe helped her toward a cozy-looking couch.

  I watched Fe freeze as she processed what Selene was saying. “Wait. My best friend is a descendant of a moon goddess?” Felicity's eyes nearly popped out of her face.

  The young woman’s calm expression faded. This woman was Selene, and I am her descendant… My brain wanted to combust with all of the panic and dreadful thoughts that crossed my mind. How was I related to Selene? I thought she just blessed or cursed my family, not that she is my family. I guess that explains the crescent moon birthmark and creepy magic stuff, but what does she want with me now?

  “Who is this Kalia?” Selene motioned to Felicity.

  “She’s my sister,” I answered Selene.

  Selene seemed speechless, but her face turned red with anger. “Why is there a human here? She’s clearly not your blood sister.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  What the hell? Didn't she summon me? "Hey, I didn't ask to be here. Nymphie just showed up causing my stupid birthmark to burn me from the inside."

  "I summoned you, not this human," Selene’s jaw clenched as she eyed Felicity. "The human is not supposed to be here."

  “Fine. We will go. Come on, Felicity,” I said, turning to leave.

  “The human is the only reason Korinne is here, Selene. Just let her be or you will be in trouble,” Kalia cautioned.

  Felicity slowed our pace so we could listen to Kalia. I wasn’t keen on staying. My grandmother over there had insulted Felicity and me enough.

  “Make the human leave,” Selene demanded.

  Kalia continued, “It will mean Korinne dies without an heir.”

  “Who cares about that? I don’t need kids,” I answered.

  “Kori, can you just listen to Kalia?” Fe asked. I wanted to say no, but Felicity had this look in her eyes that reminded me of all the stupid guilt she carried toward. I knew this was her way of trying to make it up to me, so I just stayed quiet. She carried that guilt in her heart for far too long.

  Kalia grabbed Selene’s hands. “There is just too much at stake. Remember what the Fates told you?”

  “So what?” Selene answered.

  Kalia looked at both of us. “The Fates said Korinne would die early, and you with her.”

  Death will happen to both of us… I stopped looking at Kalia though her emotions seemed honest. She could be lying. Felicity and I can walk out of here right now, and go back to Georgia for our beach vacation. Felicity was slowly moving as she listened to Kalia’s words. I know Fe is about to stop and ask what the nymph meant by saying that. The cave entrance felt further away with each passing second. Fe wasn’t going to let me walk away. I cared too much for Felicity to fight her on this. She was concerned for me.

  Felicity whispered to me, “We can’t leave.”

  “Damn it,” I spit out. Walking back toward Selene, I felt my anxiety try to stop me from confronting her. I was standing up against a proclaimed goddess of the moon. I reached her and Kalia. “Listen, Selene. I am here because of Felicity. Because she is crazy worried about everything that comes out of Nymphie’s mouth. In less than a day, you have managed to throw off my entire life. I did not ask for this crescent moon or your intrusion in my life. Felicity is staying with me or I walk and let myself die an early death. Do not try to separate us.”

  Selene stared at me in silence. Kalia was still holding her hand, but Kalia looked somber. It was as if Kalia knew Selene would accept having Fe in her cave. Why was Selene so against having a human in her cave anyway? I am human too! “And you know what? I am human too!”

  Finally, Selene reacted to my words. “Ha. You may appear human dear, but that is not who you are.” Selene waited for me to say something, but I had no idea what she was trying to tell me.

  “I feel human. My DNA says I am human,” I crossed my arms. Selene may be some fancy Greek person, but she looked human enough. She just has a long life and magic powers.

  “My magic made your family seem human,” Selene replied.

  “So? You look human!” I raised my voice at her.

  Selene scoffed. “Did anyone teach you manners?”

  I heard Fe whisper to Kalia, “Why don’t I help you to your bed? That way you can rest.” Kalia agreed, leaving me alone with Selene.

  Great. They left me alone with my ancient grandmother. “You certainly weren’t around to do it, Grandma,” I responded.

  "Ungrateful child! Learn some manners." She huffed.

  I had enough of Selene. We just needed to get to the reason why she turned me into a human lantern in the first place. "Tell me why I have to be here. What's this junk about me dying an early death?"

  Selene kept her arms crossed, thinking about where to begin her explanation. This story transcended a few millennia. She glanced back at the stone case that held her sleeping beloved. It started with how Selene fell in love with a shepherd boy…