126 How is your child ? 

126 How is your child ? 

Miriam 

I sat alone in the temple , the golden rays of the evening sun filtering through the stained glass windows , casting shadows from the windows on the marble floors .

I was on one of the meditation alcoves , staring intently at my phone .

My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the outline of the figure on the screen , holding back tears as I took a deep breath .

I’ve been coming here every day since I arrived to pray for him .

I wanted to mourn him too , to release the anguish in my heart but I couldn’t .

Most of all , his last message to me , two days before he died was a chance to reconcile and confess everything to our daughter but … as usual , I was adamant because I thought I had all the time in the world .

I heard footsteps coming towards the temple and I hastily shoved the phone into my pocket, wiping the tears in my eyes as I composed myself into a 

meditation pose .

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The door finally creaked open and Terra’s aura filled 

126 How is your child ? 

the temple .

I turned to her , flashing her a quiet smile .

Her auburn hair was tied neatly into a braid and her sharp green eyes were filled with concern as she paused returning my smile .

“ Miriam ,” she said gently , closing the door behind her .

“ Are you alright ? You’ve been praying a lot more these days than when you were here .

Is everything fine ? ” she asked .

“ Yes , I’m fine , ” I responded , perhaps a bit too quickly but I managed a faint smile to throw her off .

“ Just felt like praying .

” 

She arched a sceptical brow at me but didn’t press further instead she walked over and sank onto the alcove next to me , resting a hand on my shoulder .

“ Mother Liora just returned from the White Mountains and she’s asking for you .

” 

“ Oh , do you know why ? ” 

“ No idea , ” she shook her head still studying me .

“ Are you sure you’re fine though ? You seem a bit distracted since you came .

You’ve hardly been sleeping and what’s with the hunger strike ? The kitchen said you’ve been returning your plates with food and I can tell 

126 How is your child ? 

you’re grieving .

Is something wrong ? Maybe I can … ” 

“ Terra ,” I cut her short , flashing her an assuring smile .

“ I have a lot on my mind but it’s mostly just business and all .

I’m fine .

Now , I better go to Mother Liora , I don’t want to keep her waiting .

” 

my 

Terra nodded .

I summoned another smile as I rose to 

feet and without another word , I left the temple making my way to the praying room reserved only for a High Priestess .

I wondered why she wanted to see 

me .

As I approached the praying room , I heard loud voices of argument .

I paused , my heart pounding , wondering what they were arguing about .

Taking a deep breath , I pushed open the door and quickly scanned the room .

Mother Liora was sitting serenely on a low dais , her eyes closed in meditation while Superior Priestess Diana – one of the priestesses of the Temple who held authority equal to Mother Liora – stood in front of her , practically shaking with fury .

– 

“ You cannot simply do as you please and claim it as the Moon Goddess’s will and expect us to obey without question , ” she shouted .

126 How is your child ? 

“Diana , it is the will of the goddess , ” Mother Liora said , her eyes still tightly shut .

“ Why are you insinuating that I am lying ? ” 

“ Because … ‘ 

The door to the entrance of the praying room creaked slightly and all eyes turned to me .

Mother Liora’s eyes opened too fixing me with a penetrating gaze that had always made me feel as if my soul was being examined .

“ Miriam , ” she called out .

“ Prepare yourself , we’re 

travelling to the White Mountains tomorrow at dawn .

There is a cleansing ritual that needs to be performed on the Moonsinger and only you , with your Silver mark , can perform this task .

” 

“ Liora ! ” Priestess Diana yelled .

“ Will you seriously take her ? She abandoned this temple , fled from her duties and stayed away for years and now you want her to take on such sacred task ? She has no right ! ” 

The blood drained from my face as the implication of what was happening dawned on me .

I rushed toward Mother Liora , kneeling beside her as I whispered .

“ Mother , you know I can’t do this .

Lyla … I haven’t even told her … ” 

126 How is your child ? 

She raised her hand , silencing me .

“ You saw the signs yourself , Miriam and you reported them to me .

The Dark One has already marked her and his power has taken root inside her .

If we do not act , her powers will never be activated .

So , we need to cleanse her and draw out the poison of his mark and only the one who bears the silver mark can draw away such darkness .

” 

“ How about you , Mother Liora ? You have the silver 

mark too .

” 

“ But I am old and feeble .

I will not last through the first few minutes of the cleansing .

You will need to connect yourself to her for the cleansing to take place .

The Dark one’s power is nothing to joke about and needs someone with strength to fight it .

” 

“ Are you ignoring me , Liora ,” priestess Diana cursed out loud again .

“ If that’s the case , let Jemimah perform the cleansing ritual .

She’s trained her entire life as a Silver Wolf .

She’s more qualified and refined than Miriam who hasn’t done anything for years now .

” 

Mother Liora’s gaze turned cold .

“ Jemimah may have trained all her life as a Silver wolf , but without the mark , attempting to perform the cleansing will kill her .

” Her voice dropped into a whisper .

“ But if you 

126 How is your child ? 

think I’m bluffing , you’re welcome to take her to the White Mountains yourself and have her perform the cleansing .

” 

“ You’ve always played favourites with her , Liora .

You’re too blind to see her fault .

” Priestess Diana complained .

“ Don’t we all have favourites ? ” Mother Liora retorted .

“ Even the goddess has favourites that’s why she chooses one out of all the people born as Sigma Wolves to bestow the silver mark .

Deal with it , Diana .

I’ve told you several times that we can only have one 

high priestess for each season .

Mine reign is coming to an end , and soon she’ll take over .

I don’t want to talk about this again ! ” 

Priestess Diana’s face turned red with fury .

She glared at me and huffed angrily before storming out of the praying room .

One by one , the other priestesses began to leave too .

As soon as it was just me and Mother Liora , I opened my mouth to talk but she cut me short .

“ Mother … ” 

“ Leave too , Miriam , ” she said quietly .

“ It’s time for my devotion .

We’ll meet in front of the gates by 5 am 

tomorrow .

Don’t be late .

” 

17:58 

6/9 

126 How is your child ? 

I nodded rising to my feet slowly my mind racing .

As I came out of the praying room , I jumped with fright when I saw Jemimah leaning on the wall , a quiet 

expression on her face .

“ gods ! ” I shouted holding my chest .

“ You scared me , Jemimah .

Are you waiting to see Mother ? She’s doing her devotion , maybe you should come back later , ” I 

said .

She pushed away from the wall and came to me, 

slipping both hands inside the pockets of her robe .

Her grey eyes bore into mine as she stopped in front of me .

We stared at each other for a moment before she 

spoke .

“ You’ve been back for a while now – the second time 

precisely but we haven’t had the chance to meet or catch up with each other .

” 

I nodded warily , narrowing my eyes at her .

We weren’t friends when I was here .

Jemimah hated me and she didn’t hide it .

Still , I was hoping all the growing may have made her nicer than she was before .

“ There hasn’t been much time , ” I replied .

17:58 

126 How is your child ? 

“ I see , ” she nodded , tilting her head , as a faint smirk played at the corners of her lips .

“ How is your child ? ” she asked casually like it was a normal question .

“ Did you ever replace it ? ” 

The question stole my breath away .

I stared at Jemimah , unable to form words but I mustered a smile , stuttering .

“ W – what ? ” I whispered .

“ You heard me ,” she said , her smirk widening .

“ I’m curious .

Did you ever replace the child you left the temple for ? The one whose pregnancy you carried for nine months outside the temple .

The one you gave up everything for .

Did you later replace it ? ” 

My hands clenched into fists at my sides , my mind was reeling .

How did Jemimah know ? Who else knows ? And why was she bringing it up now ? 

“ I … I don’t know what you’re talking about , ” I tried to sound confident .

She chuckled softly , stepping closer .

“ I knew you were going to deny it and it’s such a pity that you’re denying your child after sacrificing your position as a Moon Devotee for it .

You left this place , this life and yet here you are , being called to perform the most sacred of 

126 How is your child ? 

rituals .

What a twist of fate .

” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about , Jemimah .

I left because I was suddenly overwhelmed … ” 

“ Or you were suffering from Postpartum depression ,” she furnished smiling at me .

That’s what the humans call it right ? Anyways , I don’t know why you came back but I was doing much better without you here and I’m not supposed to spell everything out for you .

” 

She paused , running her index finger at the side of my 

cheeks .

“ Good luck tomorrow , Miriam , but this would be the 

last time .

” 

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