Cursed By The Moonlight - Chapter 71

Zion was still thinking about what Halia said. He was watching Amaris, who was talking to Maxine and Zoila. He wondered if she would really bring death and destruction to Terra.

Amaris’ powers were overwhelming. He remembered what Athanasia said a few days ago.

“Her powers were overwhelming and strong. It could bring death to everyone if she were not able to control it.”

“What do you mean?” Zion asked.

“Two of her ten forms possessed a destructive power. The nine-tailed fox was one of them. The other form which I had never known, but Selene told me about it.” Athanasia continued.

“Is that the reason the Gods were afraid of her?” Zion asked again.

Athanasia looked at him intently.

“Possibly. Amaris’ powers surpassed her parents’ powers. Selene was one of the powerful titans, and Phelan wasn’t an ordinary demon prince. My brother was the only one who could transform and imitate any creature. And Amaris had both of her parents’ powers aside from her own powers.” The demon princess continued.

Athanasia suggested going to Mirrikh. Not only her, but all of those who knew about Amaris, told them to go to the red planet. Zion wasn’t convinced they would find something there, but it was his Luna’s decision that mattered. If she wanted to go there, then he would gladly agree.

“Love, let’s talk to Azalea. She said something about the crystallum.” Amaris said.

Zion didn’t notice that Amaris was already in front of him. It’s good that she didn’t ask why he was in a daze, so he just nodded.

Amaris pulled him so they could sit on the couch. Azalea was already sitting quietly, waiting for them. Cole and the others joined in to listen to the little girl.

“Azalea, tell them what you told me earlier about the crystallum.” Amaris started.

The girl nodded then looked at the creatures’ faces before telling them what she said to Amaris.

“I am the tenere of the crystallum of the child of the moon’s hydria and loculus.” Azalea said.

“Loculus? Do you mean coffin?” Maxine asked.

Azalea nodded and continued.

“The hydria was a small jar for the anima, and the loculus was used for the body. When the body died, the anima left and traveled to Terra. The Gods tried to take the anima, but they couldn’t find it. It wasn’t missing or got lost. It was taken by the Libera and sealed in the hydria. When it was given to Lorelle, the crystallum was given to my father. He was instructed to meet Lorelle after fifty years to unseal the hydria.” She paused.

“How about the loculus? Did they say something about when it should be opened?” Azalea asked.

Azalea nodded.

“The loculus should be unlocked fifty years after the hydria was opened, and the anima should be taken back to the original corpus.” Azalea answered.

“What if the anima couldn’t come back on time?” Cole asked this time.

“The body will deteriorate and will be gone forever.” The girl answered.

Amaris was shocked by what she heard. Deteriorate? Meaning her body will rot if her anima won’t come back to its original body. But what about the body she was using right now? She thought to herself.

“They said my body is in Tartarus. Is it true?” Amaris asked.

Azalea looked at her and nodded.

“Do you know where it was in Tartarus?” Zion asked Azalea.

“Yes. It’s in the lowest part of the underworld.”

“I thought Altum was the lowest part of the underworld?” Zoila got confused.

Azalea shook her head. She couldn’t believe that the creatures in front of her, who were older than her, didn’t know anything about the world beneath them.

“There are two parts of the underworld. The first one is the nine layers, while the second is Tartarus. The name was originally used for the deepest region of the world, where the gods locked up their enemies.” Azalea explained.

“Why would they keep her body in Tartarus? It’s a place for punishment, and in her case, she couldn’t be punished since she’s still alive.” Zoila asked.

Azalea took a deep breath before responding.

“Tartarus is the deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. It is the place where souls were judged after death and where the wicked received divine punishment. But remember, her anima is here in Terra, so how could they punish her?”

Amaris felt sad about her body and soul being separated just because she was born a hybrid. She wanted to go to the Sky God and the Demon God to ask them the real reason why they wanted her dead.

Zion sensed her sadness. He held on to her hand to at least lessen her worries. He knew what she went through and what she would go through was not easy. Everything that had happened and what would happen could make someone give up, but she’s a strong woman and would not back down without a fight.

“Why would her body deteriorate? She’s a half-goddess and half-demon. She’s immortal. I can’t understand.” Maxine commented.

“She was cursed a hundred years ago. Her anima was made immortal before she was born by Phelan, but not her body. The corpus will only be immortal if the anima returns. If not, it is just a corpse.” Azalea explained.

“So I really need to go to Tartarus? How can we go there? Do you think we have time? We have to go to the Elven Clan territory then to the Atlantean. The other two protrea were in those territories. Once we find them, we will go to Mirrikh to meet the Prorocisté.” Amaris continuously asked.

Azalea picked something inside her bag. It was a small booklet, and it looked old, and some pages were torn on the sides.

“We still have time if we can finish everything in ten days. We have to be in Tartarus fifteen days from now.” Azalea answered.

“What? That was fast. We’re still unsure if we can find the remaining protrea in ten days. Are you saying fifteen days from now, the body will vanish?” Zion asked, pissed.

Azalea nodded but looked at her little booklet again.

“We have to make sure. The enemy won’t stop capturing the anima. You need your original body to fight them.” Azalea said while looking at Amaris.

Amaris sighed. She wanted to see her body, but she wondered what would happen to her body now.

“So how do we go there? Have you already seen Tartarus? Tell us more about the underworld.”

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Readers Guide:

Loculus – coffin

Hydria – small jar or container

Prorocisté – the oracle who wrote the Book of Malum