Of all the legends of the Quileute, this is one of the most feared. That of the old God-Tree and what is sealed within. Long ago, when the Earth was new, the goddess that the Quileute worship, Hekate, descended to earth often to be with her people. It was during one of her holy visits that she was defiled by an enemy named Helios, an angelic demigod who dealt in shadows. When Hekate fled in shame, the dark angel preyed on the Quiuete people, killing their men and raping their women. Most of the children of these unions were stillborn but those that survived were some creature like a great shadowy demon horse. Nightmares. The pain and torment of her people were too much for Hekate to bear. She felt she was to blame. So she allowed her daughter Midoriko to return to the earth to vanquish her father with a weapon forged for sealing the black angel. Through her blood and her soul, the seal was made, and only through both, could it ever be broken again. However, within the soul of Midoriko was a dark spirit called Circe. The enemy of all Quiluete, her one desire to free Helios and take his power for her own.

Xxx

Kimiko Hikawa, the time is now." Kaori said. "You must do your duty as a Miko. This plague, this yurei, will consume all of Forks. Unless you preform the ritual."

"Yes, Mother." Kimi said. "But remember, I do this to protect my family."

"I do not care what your motives are, Kimi." Kaori said. "Just do as I say."

"Ashes to Ashes

Spirit to Spirit

Take her Soul

Banish this Evil."

Kaori incanted the spell swirling the dark water that contained the yurei into a goblet.

"By the authority of the miko's soul, I purify you!"

Kimiko drank the dark liquid.

A dark voice gripped her throat. "You call us evil, a demon. Do you not know to whom you speak?! Due to your insolence we grant you three curses—one from each face you have dishonored. The curse of the separation borne by the mother. The curse of subjugation borne by the daughter. And the curse of death borne by this family."

"Please! How can we break the curse?!" Kaori demanded.

"Only one curse can you break,

The way can only bring heartache

Bring together jewel, robe, and one thing more

The thing that we are searching for

What cannot be taken but freely give

What is it for which you humans live

Search with final hour

Trust in the Greatest of All Powers."