Chapter Twenty
The next Quarter for us to visit was the 'Creental's Quitrem', also known as the 'Darkness Quarter'. This was where those who had a darker personality tended to live and sell their wares. It had the strangest of items found as well; cursed stones, skulls in jars, poisons to put on knives and arrows, and potions that could make a wailing spirit haunt your every step. This was the most violent Quarter, full of back alleys and dark passageways where many gang fights took place.
The archway was just like the others, only this one had blood smeared on it, with green goop flowing over the top into small puddles at the bottom. Its name was carved at the top, and darts had been placed in the largest cracks between the stones, dripping their poisons and warning all those who entered how dangerous this Quarter was. More than a few high-ranking officials had mysteriously disappeared in there.
The center of the Quarter had a statue on top of a black fountain filled with blood. The statue was of a skull with a knife imbedded into it, the red flowing out of the mouth and eyes of the skull. The fountain was in the center where the larger and only slightly brighter and cleaner alleys met together in a large circular area. The layout of the Quarter was very scatterbrained and informal, but it was the perfect home for cutthroats and thieves.
If you looked closely enough, there was a hidden pattern in the city's layouts. If you followed one of the main alleys away from the fountain, you'd always be face with a turn of left or right, which would then both turn their opposite directions to meet up again on the other side of blocks and buildings. All the alleyways were connected in some manner, though some were harder to see than others.
The walkways that had lights were lit with sickly green torches of flame, and the small canal of water that flowed through the Quarter was made of blood. Small bridges connected over the river to reach other homes and shops. There were stairwells that led to the further underground part of the Quarter, where another map of streets and alleys were laid out for those that preferred more privacy.
In this Quarter, the nine leaders consisted of one rogue, one poison specialist, one weapon specialist, one cutthroat, one gang leader, one apothecary, one dark sorcerer, one witch, and one dark warlock. These leaders were chosen to best represent the nature of the Quarter, and to help make the place live up to their standards. Of all the Quarters, this one had the happiest yet most cautious leaders, preferring dirty alleys to clean marble streets.
I stepped out of that arch, taking a breath of the fresh air in the Main Hall. The place didn't scare me, quite the contrary. I was completely intrigued with the Quarter, and I almost felt at home among all that blood and dark magic, which was surprising. I'd never casted dark magic, and I'd never been so very fond of pain and blood. Puzzled, I shrugged my furry shoulders and followed Nyvern into a Quarter that was the exact opposite of 'Creental's Quitrem'.
Nyvern shook out his fur a little and bent a little further down to my level, saying quietly in my ear "The Darkness Quarter and The Holy Quarter have always been neighbors, and have surprisingly kept good standards with the other, negotiating certain points occasionally." Looking at the archway entrance for the 'Selenca's Quitrem', one was filled with a certain sense of awe. The arch itself was of the whitest and purest marble in existence.
Carved into the arch were runes that spoke of prayers and blessing, granting refuge and shelter to all who entered this Quarter. Moons of all different shape, color, size, and detail were carved and painted onto the wall, and I didn't quite understand why. Stepping under the archway, the first thing you noticed about the Quarter was the beauty and serenity one felt in its presence.
The Quarter was lined with white walkways, where lush grasses filled with wildflowers of every kind were planted. In the center of the Quarter was a small clear lake, with lily pads and swan-shaped boats floating on its crystal-like surface. There was a small island in the center of the small lake, and on that island was the center of attention for the Holy Quarter; the Temple of the Moon Goddess.
The temple was dedicated to the Moon Goddess Hecate, also the goddess of justice and revealer of secrets. She was the mother of all werewolves, and all her children loved her dearly. She was also, in a sense, the werewolves' lover. All werewolves felt a certain pull towards sexuality as well as the strength and the ability to run free under the full moon. That's why many werewolves mated together when they met, just for the simple feeling of it. The passion, power, and lust were undeniable. One of the most important morals a werewolf lived by was to give into all their feelings.
The temple was made of white marble as well, and in order to get to it you had to cross over that part of the small lake on a large white stone bridge supported by beautiful columns. Just before the entrance doors of the temple, there was a large stone creation that made up the flooring, which was a tribute to Hecate in the shape of a moon, with words of love and devotion written around its outer edges.
To the left and right of the main temple were small gazebos made of tall columns and filled with plant life. Inside, a small spring flowed through each of them, giving the soothing sound of running water to those who wished to seek peace in its moonflower-filled structure. It was often used as a place to pray, and also for those who sought answers to find them on their own. However, most people seemed to prefer the main temple itself.
Inside the temple, there weren't any tiles or stones laid down to walk on for the ground floor. It was all fresh green grass, with moonflowers scattered around here and there. Werewolves were scattered around the room as well, sitting on the low white stone walls and benches, or gathering around the fountain sculpted in the image of Hecate standing in a pool of water. As I looked at her sculpted form, I felt confused. I felt sure that I had seen her somewhere before, in a dream perhaps. I discarded the thought, too preoccupied at that moment.
The place was beautiful, and on the other side of the small temple was a ramp of white stone and marble, curving in a spiral up to the second floor where people sat to watch those below, talk with friends, neighbors, priests, and priestesses, and to pray in groups or as a lone figure. The entire place was too precious for even the most sacred elf to step foot into; this temple was for those who served and loved Hecate.
I sat quietly on the thick siding of the fountain, trailing my hands in the cool clear water as I quieted my soul and listened. I could suddenly feel the presence of Hecate, and my power was flowing out of me into the water to make it glow a crystalline white. I felt almost as though I was in a dream, and I didn't really realize what I was doing. Feeling as though my movements were caused by someone else, I relaxed back and kept my mind clear.
I kept my eyes shut as I felt Hecate's form appear and survey the temple and its inhabitants. Most of the werewolves had seen the white glow and had turned in confusion, only to see their goddess standing before them in the glowing water and surveying her beautiful children with all the love and adoration in the world.
Hecate seemed to reach deep down into every werewolf's soul, and finally she looked down at me. I slowly opened my eyes and stared up at her, my love for my goddess finally complete as I realized how precious she was as our mother. As I stared at her, it suddenly clicked in my mind.
"It was you." I whispered to her. "You're the white elf maiden who's been protecting me in my dreams, who gave me the light and taught me its power. It was always you, mother." I whispered, watching her with amazement and love. She smiled down at me, nodding her head slowly as she pushed back a strand of my hair. For a moment, she changed to look just like the white elf maiden, and then changed back into our dear mother Hecate, still smiling calmly.
She held my face in her gentle hands and whispered quietly to me, "You shall now always be my child and lover forever. Make me proud daughter, and watch out for your brothers and sisters. We are a family, and we protect and love one another with no hate or greed. Thank you for calling me here child; my children needed me."
She trailed her hands down my cheeks and neck, placing them gently but firmly on my shoulders until she pulled back, stepping back into the statue's form and taking up its original pose, making the statue glow blue momentarily before she vanished. The glow slowly dissipated from the water, and I began to open my eyes and make sense of what I had just done. I small gasp escaped me as I saw all in the temple were staring at me with strange eyes.
After a moment, the werewolves began to walk towards me bit by bit, until they were surrounding me as we all stood together in one massive group, our bodies twined together as one as we howled up to the sky, showing Hecate our love. The last remnants of my sudden spiritual connection with Hecate were still fading, and I felt her approval. I felt he smiling as she watched us. The werewolves pulled back again and went back to their business, often glancing around at one another and then back at the statue of Hecate.
Nyvern led me back outside, amazement filling his every glance, though I wasn't paying attention. I took a deep breath as I surveyed the rest of the Quarter. Around the lake, white stone and marble building with tall columns and soft edges were places at strategic points, some of them being shops and places of worship, while others were simple homes. They all fit together as one, with dirt paths leading from place to place.
Nyvern pointed up, and the same crystal shaft that was in the Naturalist's Quarter was here as well, only this crystal was in varying shades of purple and blue, casting a nightly light over the Quarter and making you feel as though the goddess was close to you. As we were walking out, we passed a small orphanage and I felt a pang of grief.
"No werewolf should ever have to live alone like that, without a family." I whispered to myself. Nyvern stopped and brushed the hair back out of my face, just as our mother goddess had done to me.
"They're never alone, so long as they love our mother Hecate. And they make their own families out of those around them, families their own age and size. They are still happy here, and they still have hope. They're simply young, which makes them vulnerable. We all watch out for them, because we're all one large family of our own you know." He muttered quietly to me, playing with my hair. I smiled and hugged him for a long moment before we began to walk on again.
Nyvern once again told me who the nine leaders of this Quarter were. One orphanage matron, one priest, one priestess, one writer, one poet, one gardener, one paladin, one common child, and Hecate herself served as the nine leaders. While Hecate was usually never around in physical form, you could always feel her spirit flowing through you, so you knew she was there. A physical appearance was very rare indeed.