"Wait, What?!" I exclaimed. "You're saying Orion, my father, apparently would die if he ever knew? So what? He doesn't even know I'm his daughter or Leo for that matter." Darkin's face remained straight, which I wasn't sure how that was even possible. "You're just like him, you know. Before everything, he had such a strong will. I'm sure even now, Orion deep down sees that." I squinted. "What do you mean?" He touched my hand. "All will be revealed in time, Luna, I promise." He turned around, looking at the trees. "You can't just drop a huge bomb on me like that, then say, oh yeah, all will be revealed within time. What does that even mean?!" I screamed. Darkin turned around, then had a worried expression on his face.
"Luna, calm down," Darkin said. I laughed through the tears. "When does telling somebody to calm down ever work?" I stomped my foot, and I could feel the energy starting to come off of me. "Luna, you could hurt someone. You're losing control of your abilities. Please, calm down." I knew he was right; I could feel the emotions coming off of me. "Deep breaths." I took a deep breath in and out multiple times, and my powers started to go back to normal. "That's it, Luna, keep going." I kept going in and out until I felt completely calm. "I promise I will tell you, but when the time is right!
You're not ready to know, not now. But I do want to help you, so I will train you to use your powers properly. Your emotion-based power and your power to see others' memories, I can help you, but only if you let me." Darkin said. "I'd like that very much." And so, I remained in the forest so that Darkin could help me learn to use my abilities.
The forest had started to become like a second home. My powers, the way I viewed the world, and my personality. That fear that once clanged to me like a leech had started to peel away. I felt like I was finally starting to accept my new life of having powers. This would be the rest of my life, and for the first time, I knew I'd be ok. Of course, I was scared for Leo and what might happen to him, but somehow I knew I'd be ok, somehow it was like everything would be ok.
Each night, since I was at my strongest, Darkin would train me. He taught me control, how to use my abilities properly, and about our family. My powers that were once wild and overwhelming finally became apart of me like something I couldn't live without. Darkin was patient yet strong; he really understood me. "Darkin, why don't you come back with me?" I asked one day after training. I was going to go back to Orion once Darkin taught me to properly manage my abilities. He smiled but put his head down.
"My dear Luna, I so wish I could, but I can not." I was confused. "But why Darkin? I'm sure Orion would love to see you!" He chuckled. "Let's just get back to training." He stood up. I felt like I hit a nerve, so I left it alone. "You don't need to set the forest on fire to make your presence known," Darkin said, smirking. He reminded me a lot of Orion in a way, but more free. Orion was always bound by something; I never was sure what, but I could feel it coming off of him.
Like a virus. I couldn't focus on that now, though I had to focus on my abilities so that I could help Leo. With help from Darkin, I was learning more than I ever had. I knew with his help, I'd be able to manage my abilities but also become stronger than I ever thought possible. There were still times when I could feel time evaporating and my memories slipping away, but Darkin helped me fight off the orb and get rid of it completely. "You have to fight with emotion, Luna! It is quite literally your power.
Use your love, joy, anger, everything you have to defeat its evil." Darkin would say to me. And that's what I did. I would use all the emotions I felt to push it away until eventually it was gone. I could still feel it in me, but I knew it would leave within time. And now, two weeks after Darkin agreed to train me, I knew I was ready to return to Orion a stronger woman and to save Leo from whoever was keeping him. My last night in the forest, Darkin and I sat on the grass around the fire in silence. "Thank you," I said, breaking the silence. "No, don't thank me. I don't deserve it." Darkin responded. "What do you mean?" He shook his head. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
He changed the topic. "I trust you will be returning to Orion?" Darkin asked. "Yes, he needs me, and I need to save Leo." He nodded. "Do me a favor, don't mention me at all." He stood up. "Why wouldn't you want Orion to know your ok?" I asked. "You said all will be revealed within time, but I still have all the same questions I did when I first found you. I want to know at least why you don't want your brother to know your ok!" I said. "BECAUSE,"
Darkin said. He rarely ever lost his cool. Darkin sighed heavily. "Orion doesn't remember I exist." I was confused. "He doesn't remember you exist? What do you mean?" He smiled. "You are not ready to know the full truth, Luna. Here is where I leave you. Tomorrow, you will return to Orion and tell him nothing about me. I don't know how severe the consequences will be if he remembers. Be well, dear Luna, and remember that your uncle loves you." He turned away with a sad look in his eyes and started to walk away.