“Where am I?” she asked out loud.
“This is the battlefield where my chosen fought and many died,” the Great Luna’s voice said from behind her.
Myanin quickly turned and immediately dropped to her knees. Who could stand in the presence of the goddess’s glory? “Why have you brought me here?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“So you can see what true anguish looks like,” the goddess answered. “This is the result of the pain from my faithful one, Perizada. She watched as her beloved friend was killed. As the battle raged around her, she saw the heart of my alpha female ripped from her chest. Her suffering and rage was such that she leveled the forest, leaving it a burnt mess without so much as a thought. And her anger was justified.”
Myanin stared at the blackened earth. She reached down, sunk her fingers into the ash, and fisted it. The ash crunched. She released it and watched the dust fall back to the earth.
“Stand, child,” the Great Luna said, her voice gentle but firm.
Myanin pushed up on shaky legs that felt as if they wouldn’t hold her weight.
“Look at me.”
The djinn raised her head slowly until she was gazing at the Great Luna. It was uncomfortable to look at one so pure, especially with the transgressions that Myanin carried inside of her. The guilt and shame that had begun to thoroughly eat away at her was overwhelming in the face of her Creator.
“There is righteous anger, and then there is anger that is corrupt and unjust,” the goddess said as she held Myanin in her gaze. “Your pain is real. But the anger and the actions you took because of that anger was unjust. And it eats at you because you know it was wrong. And you know what the Order is doing is wrong. You have no peace because you continue to follow the wide path that is full of self-gratification and indignation that you think you have a right to.”
Myanin felt sick. She didn’t understand why she was here. Why did the Great Luna keep coming to her if she was lost?
“Because you are mine, Myanin of the djinn. You have been lost, but I found you. I will always find you. Your heart has not yet hardened to the point that you no longer see right and wrong. Already your eyes are opening to the reality of what your actions have done, not just to others, but to you as well.”
Myanin’s hands trembled as she wiped the tears from her face. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to give me your heart. The one that beats in your chest now beats only for yourself. It cries out for that which does not belong to you. It rages at what you perceive to be unfair treatment. It seeks only to protect your own interests. Give me your heart so I can give you a new one. When you give me your heart, all that is inside of you that does not belong to you or in you will leave. You will be a new creation. ”
Myanin’s breaths came out in sharp pants as she tried to understand what the Great Luna was saying. How could she give her the heart that was inside of her? There was a part of her that wanted to rip it from her chest and beg the goddess to take it because she was so tired of the pain and anger. But she didn’t know how to let it go.
“I will tear you down so I can build you back up.” The Great Luna walked to Myanin and cupped the djinn’s face in her hand. The warmth and peace that flowed into Myanin ripped the breath from her lungs. “I have chosen you to be an instrument to help begin the destruction of the enemy.”
“Why me?” Myanin whispered. “I am nothing. How can you possibly use me after what I’ve done?”
“I can best use those who’ve realized their own helplessness. They have chosen to let go of their selfish ways. They have turned away from the evil that so easily entangles and reached out for the love, mercy, and forgiveness I offer them.
“The only difference is you’ve yet to choose me, your Creator. Only I can fill the emptiness inside of you.” The goddess leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Myanin’s forehead. The djinn felt it all the way to her soul.
“What if I can’t do that? What if I’m too far gone?” Myanin was scared of the answer, but she had to ask.
“If you were too far gone, child of mine, you would not be asking that question. You must take your eyes from the one who keeps your heart captive. He is not yours. You cannot have the one I have for you until you let go of the hate growing inside of you. You need to accept that the plan I have for you is better than anything you could choose for yourself. I love you, and I created you for a purpose. You must accept the consequences of your actions. It will be painful. It will be hard. But it will be worth it.”
“I don’t know if I can do that,” Myanin admitted. She’d already been facing the wretchedness inside her, and she was tired of seeing it. She definitely didn’t want to see anymore.
“I know. But you will. Rest Myanin. You have much before you. You have remained in this place long enough. It’s time for you to move.”
Chapter 9
“As a child, it seems anything and everything is possible. But with every year that passes, you begin to realize the only thing that is truly possible is to choose between right and wrong. Each step following that choice puts you on a path—one that can lead to your destruction or your redemption.” ~Tenia
“How did you sleep?” Tenia asked Myanin the following morning as they sat in the
