The Alien Within

Chapter 47: The Whisper of the Moon

The night settled like a velvet blanket over the village, the soft hum of crickets the only sound that disturbed the silence. After hours of planning, Tessa retreated to the room the locals had prepared for her. As the Representative of the Moon Goddess, her status was revered—her room was more like a shrine, separate from the others, even Adrian.

The room smelled faintly of the blood moon flower, its fragrance wafting through the air, a calming yet strange scent. Tessa lay down on the soft mattress, exhaustion from the day's events weighing heavily on her body. She could feel the energy of the moon tugging at her, almost like a heartbeat echoing in her ears.

As her eyes fluttered shut, the room seemed to dissolve around her, melting into a new, unfamiliar world. Her surroundings became surreal—silvery light bathed the landscape, and the air shimmered with an otherworldly glow. She found herself standing barefoot on the cool, smooth ground, the sky above painted in shades of purple and deep blue.

Then came the voice, soft at first, but unmistakably commanding.

"My baby girl..."

The words were laced with affection, yet they held a power that made the hairs on the back of Tessa's neck stand on end. She whipped around, searching for the source, her breath quickening.

"You have been gone from my grasp for so long," the voice continued, its tone almost sorrowful. "Why do you resist my power? Give up your futile struggle and give in to me. Inherit my legacy as my daughter."

A figure stepped out from the ethereal light, her form shimmering with an unearthly beauty. Tessa froze, her heart pounding in her chest as the woman approached.

She seemed to glide rather than walk, her flawless skin glowing like polished milk under the moonlight. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back like a river of light, and the air around her was fragrant—just like the scent of the blood moon flower.

The woman's face was perfection, a vision of grace and beauty. Her eyes glowed like silver moons themselves, and her lips curled into a gentle smile as she gazed upon Tessa.

Tessa's mouth went dry as she stared at the figure. "Who... who are you?"

The woman laughed softly, the sound like a melody that resonated deep within Tessa's soul. "I am your mother, silly."

The words hit Tessa like a lightning bolt. Her heart raced, confusion swirling in her mind. "Mother?" she whispered, taking a step back.

The Moon Goddess—there was no doubt in Tessa's mind that this was who stood before her—reached out a hand, her fingers delicate and glowing with a faint silver light.

"Why do you fight it, my daughter? You belong to me. You are my chosen one. The power of the moon runs through your veins. Stop resisting and accept your destiny."

Tessa's head spun. "No…" she breathed, taking another step back. Her body felt cold, like the world itself was closing in on her. The silvery light seemed to grow brighter, enveloping her, pulling her closer to the goddess's will.

But just as the cold reached her core, Tessa clenched her fists, forcing herself to break free. "No!" she shouted, the defiance in her voice slicing through the dream.

---

Tessa bolted upright in bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded in her chest as sweat trickled down her forehead. The room was dark, but the cool air and the sound of the village's quiet night settled around her, grounding her back into reality.

A small, panicked yelp escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Suddenly, the flap of her tent burst open, and Adrian was at her side in an instant, his eyes wide, his movements swift. "Tessa!" His voice was sharp, but there was a soft undertone of concern beneath his usual confidence.

Before she could respond, Nyala appeared at the entrance with two of her guards. Their weapons were drawn, their stances battle-ready, as if they were prepared to go to war for their Moon Goddess at a moment's notice.

"What happened?" Nyala demanded, her eyes scanning the room for any threat. The guards' eyes darted around, tense fingers hovering over the hilts of their blades.

Tessa shook her head, still catching her breath, her mind whirling from the remnants of the dream. "It's... it's nothing. A dream."

Adrian's gaze softened, though he didn't move from his position beside her. He knelt down slightly, making sure to keep his eyes level with hers. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly, his usual cocky tone absent, replaced by a calm concern.

Tessa nodded, though her hands trembled slightly. "It was... her."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Her?"

"The Moon Goddess," Tessa whispered, her voice barely audible. "She... she spoke to me. She called me her daughter."

Adrian's eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, his ever-present confidence faltered. He straightened up, glancing towards Nyala and her guards. "Stand down," he ordered, his voice firm but respectful. "Everything's under control."

Nyala hesitated, her loyalty to Tessa evident in her unwillingness to leave. But after a moment, she gave a nod, signaling for the guards to lower their weapons. "We'll be right outside if you need us," she said softly before stepping out.

Adrian turned his full attention back to Tessa, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Tell me everything."

Tessa exhaled slowly, recounting the dream—the silvery world, the voice, the appearance of the Moon Goddess, and her strange words about Tessa inheriting her legacy.

Adrian listened in silence, his expression unreadable as he pieced together the implications. Though he didn't say it aloud, Tessa could see the wheels turning in his mind. He was putting something together, but whatever it was, he wasn't ready to share it yet.

When she finished, Adrian leaned back slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he tried to diffuse the tension. "Well, at least she called you silly."

Tessa chuckled weakly, though the unease still clung to her like a shadow. Adrian's light tone helped, but the dream had shaken her more than she cared to admit.

Adrian's smirk softened, and he reached out, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "Get some sleep," he said quietly. "We've got a long day ahead of us."

Tessa nodded, though sleep was the last thing on her mind. The echo of the Moon Goddess's voice still lingered in her ears, a haunting reminder of the power she had yet to fully understand.

As Adrian stood to leave, he paused at the doorway, glancing back at her with an expression that was both protective and thoughtful.

"Whatever happens, you're not facing this alone, Tessa," he said softly. "We'll figure this out."

And with that, he slipped out the doorway, leaving Tessa alone with her thoughts, the weight of her dream pressing down on her as she tried to find peace in the darkness.

As Adrian moved past the doorway, about to move further, he hesitated, turned and his hand gripped the fabric of the entrance flap.

The faint moonlight cast soft shadows on his face, highlighting the tension in his expression. Tessa could sense the shift in his energy, the hesitation that lingered in the air.

"Adrian?" Her voice was soft, but there was a vulnerability in it that made him enter and stand at the doorway.

His eyes locked with hers, and for a fleeting moment, the confident façade he always wore seemed to crack. There was something in his gaze—an intensity, a storm of emotions he rarely allowed to surface. His jaw clenched, and for a second, it looked like he wanted to say something more, to stay by her side.

Tessa's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen him like this—so torn, so human. Her chest tightened, an unfamiliar warmth blooming inside her. Despite everything, despite the danger they were facing, the confusion of her dream, and the weight of their mission, there was something unspoken between them—something that neither of them was ready to confront.

Adrian took a step toward her, his hand hovering near her shoulder again, but this time he didn't touch her. His fingers curled into a fist, as if he were physically restraining himself. He swallowed, his voice coming out quieter than usual, laced with a rawness that Tessa wasn't used to hearing from him.

"I don't... want to leave," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. The usual playfulness was gone, replaced by something deeper. "But I have to. You need to rest. And if I stay..."

Tessa's breath caught. She didn't move, didn't dare break the fragile moment between them.

"And if you stay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his, waiting for the answer she already knew but needed him to say.

Adrian's gaze softened, his shoulders tensing as though fighting an invisible battle. His lips parted, but he bit back whatever words threatened to spill out. Instead, he inhaled deeply, his fingers loosening before he finally stepped back.

"If I stay," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "I might not be able to leave at all."

The weight of his words hung in the air, the tension between them electric. Tessa could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage, and for a brief, intense moment, the world outside—the mission, the danger, the goddess—faded into the background.

But Adrian broke the moment before it could go any further. With one last lingering glance, he turned and slipped out of the tent, the cool night air rushing in behind him.

Tessa sat in the silence that followed, her mind swirling with the complexity of her emotions. She had faced countless battles, unimaginable dangers—but nothing had prepared her for this, for the quiet war waging inside her heart.

She exhaled shakily, lying back down, trying to force herself into the realm of sleep. But as her eyes closed, she couldn't shake the feeling that something between them had changed. And whatever it was, it was only just beginning.