Flashback
The temple of Long Mu,
Qingyuan City,
Guangdong Province, China.
some hours ago,
Nestled within a lush valley, surrounded by majestic mountains and winding rivers, stood the revered Temple of Long Mu. This ancient sanctuary honored the Dragon Mother, Long Mu, revered patron deity of China.
The temple's main structure rose like a phoenix from the earth, its tiered roofs sweeping upward in majestic curves. Glazed tiles shimmered in hues of emerald green, sapphire blue, and golden yellow, reflecting the evening sun's rays.
The temple's entrance, flanked by stone lions, was guarded by two imposing dragon pillars. Intricately carved with scales, flames, and mystical symbols, these pillars seemed to come alive as the sun danced across their surfaces.
Within the temple's heart lay the Inner Sanctum, a sacred space reserved for Long Mu's majestic idol. The room's walls were adorned with murals depicting the Dragon Mother's legendary exploits.
At the sanctum's center stood the resplendent idol of Long Mu, crafted from a single, towering block of luminous jade. The Dragon Mother's serene face gazed downward, her benevolent smile illuminating the space. Her body, coiled in majestic repose, was carved with intricate scales that shimmered like moonlit waters. Five claws, symbolising her five dragon sons, grasped a glowing pearl, representing wisdom and harmony. Her wings, spread wide, seemed to shelter the faithful. A delicate, gemstone-encrusted crown adorned her brow, signifying her celestial sovereignty.
Before the idol, an ornate altar held offerings of incense, rare teas, and precious silks. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and myrrh.
Ancient inscriptions etched into the walls told the story of Long Mu's creation myth:
"From the primordial void,
Long Mu arose,
A dragon of light,
born from chaos.
With five sons,
she balanced the cosmos,
Harmonizing yin and yang,
heaven and earth."
As dusk fell, the temple transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, illuminated by lanterns and candles. The idol's presence seemed to pulse, radiating an otherworldly energy. The majestic idol of Long Mu, the Dragon Mother, gazed serenely upon her worshipers.
Suddenly, without warning, the idol's eyes blazed to life, shining like golden lanterns in the night. The air vibrated with ancient energy as the idol's scales shimmered, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the temple walls.
Attendants and worshipers gasped in awe and terror as the dragon's mighty voice echoed through the halls:
"The time of awakening approaches. Prepare the way for my sons!"
The attendants and worshipers stumbled backward, overwhelmed by the sudden awakening. Incense swirled, and candles flickered as the temple trembled.
An elderly monk, wise and steadfast, stepped forward. "The prophecy unfolds. Long Mu and her sons will unite the realms, bringing balance to the world."
As the idols' energies stabilized, the worshipers regained their composure, sensing the magnitude of the events unfolding and they whispered among themselves:
"The Dragon Mother stirs. Her sons will finally bring harmony to our troubled world."
And in the shadows, a hooded figure watched with keen interest, his heart heavy with the weight of destiny.
***
The Werewolf Realm,
The Underworld.
Sunday, February 13
9:20 AM
Carolina
I sighed as I sank my teeth into my buttered toast while Dad and my brother roared at each other.
"Dad, why can't I just marry Liza?"
"You know too well why you can't marry her!"
"But I love her..."
"And the law states that you can never be king without your mate!"
This isn't the first time this argument has broken out over breakfast... And lunch... and dinner. Always on the same topic.
My older brother and Dad have been on each other's necks ever since my brother returned from his trip to the human world after graduating from human college and claimed to be in love with a blonde bimbo he befriended while on campus. He's been obsessed with a blonde bimbo he met on campus.
I know...
I don't like her but I feel sad for my big bro who's head over heels for Elizabeth Mackenzie.
But as the next in line to the position of Supreme Alpha, any hope of them being together is futile because he can only marry her when he marks his mate.
"But mum?!" he whined.
"You can't break our way of life..."
"Oh, bleep the bond!" he spat, causing gasps to break out in the dining room.
"Every servant should leave the dining this instant!" ordered Dad as calmly as he could.
I chuckled a little as they all dashed out like harassed rabbits. Who would dare disobey the king? Who would dare disobey the king? Father then faced him squarely immediately after they all left, silently convulsing in rage.
"How dare you!" Father roared after recovering from the shock his statement had caused.
"Dad..."
"How dare you defy the great Moon goddess?"
"I..."
"I don't care if it's the new style of maturity but don't you ever in your existence defy the goddess!" he boomed ballistically banging the table at each word and stormed off.
"Mom, what did I say wrong?"
"How will I know when you just insulted the power behind your existence?"
It was just then he realized that he had insulted our parents' marriage.
"Mom I didn't mean..."
She wasn't listening as she dramatically flung out of the room.
"Are you happy now?" one of my baby twin brothers muttered.
"Shut it, Bede." Bane snapped, before turning to Conan. "Bro, are you okay?"
"Of course not!"
"C'mon Bro," I cooed taking him by the arm. "Let's go make things right."
We hurried to the garden where we met Mother pruning some roses. She sensed our presence but didn't turn to acknowledge us.
"You know..." she started. "When I first met your dad we didn't have much in common, we used to argue every time. I was scared on our wedding day but during his vow, he gave me a white rose. He told me that we were just like the rose, sweet and full of thorns but together, with a lot of patience, love, and a little faith, we could make it blossom."
"I'm sorry I didn't..."
"It's okay, darling!" she beamed, turning towards us.
"I know you've waited for your mate for so long but I want you to just exercise more patience," she said, taking his face in her palms.
"How long do I have to wait?" he grudgingly admitted, with a sigh, and removed my mother's hands from his face before carrying a watering can to shower the roses.
"Just trust me it would be sooner..."
Mom was then interrupted by a groan from my brother who clutched his chest.
"Son, son what's wrong?!" cried Mother.
"My chest...it hurts!" he moaned, before passing out.
I sensed my mom's mind-linking dad who rushed in a soon enough flagged with the Supreme Beta Lucius and Supreme Gamma Ivan as she shook my brother's lifeless body.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM!"
"I don't know...we were just talking suddenly he started clutching his chest and he passed out." Bede sobbed.
"He was fine not long ago," Father murmured as he knelt down to inspect his body.
"He's still alive!" he announced, standing up. "Take him to his room and summon the doctor."
"Are you sure he's okay?"
"Don't worry, Pudding. He'll be fine." Father cooed as some servants carried him out to his room.
***
At the same time,
In an ancient temple,
China.
Omniscient
An aged bald shaman is deep in mediation, in a circle of candles, surrounded by hundreds of initiates who were meditating alongside him. Suddenly, a great gust of wind barreled into the room, blowing out the hall's only source of light. The startled new initiates started tittering over the strange occurrence.
"Master, this isn't ordinary." a student said, near him.
"What is going on?"
Lazily, their wizened master opened his eyes and stood up causing a hush to fall over the hall but before he could open his mouth to speak the room was reverberated with 5 earsplitting peals of thunder causing the weak ones to clutch their neighbors in fear.
"Master what was that?"
"That...was just mother nature announcing her arrival." He said, before slowly getting to his feet and editing the the hall.
They all agreed in whispers, all agreeing on the confirmation of a great one by Mother Nature but question on everyone's mind was: "Who?"
***
Still in my church,
By the lavatory,
10:17 AM.
Angeline
"Thank goodness it's almost closing time." I grunted softly as I led the kids to pee.
The kids were tough to handle but I've kind of fallen head over heels with two of the foreign kids, Ari and Benjiro Long, over the last couple of hours. We bonded so well Jiro even gave me a nickname.
"Big Aunty, what's wrong?" Jiro asked, taking my left hand.
"Yeah, why are you sad?" Ari said, taking my other hand.
"Oh nothing...I'm really going to miss you guys when you go back to America."
"Me too!"
"Me three!"
The church has only three restrooms so I let the others enter so Ari and Ben could keep me company and tell me more about their family.
I was just about to ask them about their cold uncle when I heard a twig snap behind me. Alarmed, I turned back to find myself face to face with three well-built ninja assailants armed to the teeth with their guns pointed at me.
"Run kids! Get out of here!" I shrieked, blocking them from the attackers view. The others scurried away but only Jiro and Ari refused to move.
"Ben, Ari, why are you guys still here?" I whispered "Go, you guys can make it without me!"
"What about you, Angie?" Jiro asked , clutching me tightly.
"Forget me, go!"
"There's no need for drama, Miss!" said the blue masked ninja who seemed to be their leader. "Step aside we're only here for the kids..."
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." said one of them, who had a large X on his right breast, as he inched forward, causing the kids to squeal as they hid behind me.
"Shut it, Agent Ten!" hissed the other one, holding Agent X back.
"You can have them...over my dead body!" I said, defiantly puffing my chest.
"Have it your way. I'll give you till the count of three to change your mind..." he warned.
"One!"
"Ben, Ari, please go!" I whispered "Your grandpa would never forgive me if something happens to you..."
"Two!"
"No, big aunty, we're not leaving you..." Ari sobbed.
"C'mon, this is your last chance!" drawled Agent X. "We won't hurt you..."
"They're lying!" Ben cried.
"I know... they'll kill me either way, that's why you guys should go..."
"Then, let's go together!" Ari cried, and with that they hugged my sides even tighter.
I felt so touched I couldn't dam the tears coursing down my cheeks as they cocked their guns at us.
"Three!"
At the last second, I placed myself in front of the children as over a thousand tiny darts pierced my chest and neck as they opened fire on me.
"Sleeping darts!" I thought dizzily as I tried to steady myself but I fell to my knees. I tried to hang on, holding onto Ben and Ari but my head began to spin and everywhere had started to turn dark.
"No! Don't! Leave them alone!" I wheezed as they pried the kids off me and kicked me away.
"Ben, Ari...I'm sorry!" I croaked as I crawled towards them, my arms getting heavier by the second.
They kept on screaming my name as I fought to keep my eyes open still everything was getting dim.
"Big aunty..."
My lids were getting heavier.
"Big aunty..."
I felt my body embrace Mother Earth.
"Big aunty...!"