The Goddess of Romulus

Delphine tasted the dust again.

She groaned as she tried to get up on her feet, only for her grip to slip and find herself tasting the dust once more. She had tried to be careful this time, made sure to watch out for any leg placed out, and she had succeeded, only to have them push her from behind.

“Loser,” one said. Delphine decided to ignore them; if she went ahead and paid them any attention, they would only pester her more. She got on her feet, refusing to look at them, and went on her way.

It has been like this ever since she didn’t turn on her sixteenth birthday. Delphine had woken up that day with a joy-filled heart, she had been so happy to finally see her wolf, finally have a chance to prove herself to the whole pack. For the first time since her mother passed away, Delphine was filled with smiles. Her wolf would have earned her some type of respect, the older girls would finally consider letting her join their friend group, Delphine had hoped. Except, the night came and Delphine still found herself in her human form.

The looks had come, the murmurs had risen, the scornful look was now harsher and Delphine found herself going from the grass, down to the dirty mud as the pack turned her into their slave.

“She stinks so bad” Delphine heard the same voice say as she walked away. She held back the tears that burned at the corners of her eyes. If there was anything she wouldn’t do, it was to let them see her cry, she might go through all the pain, but that was one satisfaction she didn’t plan to give them.

Delphine hurried in her steps, heading for the shed. She had been kicked out of her room after the elders had given her the grace of two weeks to reveal her wolf. Delphine had trained hard, working twice as much, pushing herself to the edge, anything to get her to turn, but when nothing happened, they got fed up. It had been nearly two years since her sixteenth birthday and she was getting closer to being eighteen, still no wolf. At one point, she had others questioning if she was really a werewolf, Delphine would not question that; she knew who she was.

“Hey! You!” Delphine groaned when she heard the voice, it was of one she despised the most. Though the others made her life miserable, Rachel Gilbert took the crown. Red-haired, tall, and with an annoyingly perfect body, that was Rachel. She was the only daughter of the pack Alpha, assistant commander of the warriors and Delphine’s queen bully. “Where the hell have you been?”

Delphine’s head was bent low, she muttered some inaudible words, not looking at Rachel. Rachel hated that, hated when Delphine stared into her eyes, she always saw it as a sign of Delphine challenging her.

“Didn’t you hear me, you swine? What got in your throat?”

“I said I’ve been serving lunch to the other warriors,” Delphine spoke louder this time. “Do you need my help with anything?”

Delphine didn’t have to look up to know Rachel was eyeing her. “Did the slap I gave you earlier affect some part of your brain?” Delphine was quiet, this angered Rachel, who stumped her feet on the ground like a child. “Answer me when I talk to you!”

“N-no, it didn’t. My ear works just fine. Do you need my help with anything?” she asked again. “If you’re hungry, I’ll get your food.”

“Shut up, I’ll tell you when I’m ready to eat. " Delphine resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Not like she was trying to, but it seemed nothing could please Rachel, she was always trying to find offense at the littlest thing. “Go get me my food, I’m hungry.”

“Okay,” Delphine said and turned to walk away.

“Wait!” Rachel ordered. “I suppose you need another slap before you remember to add a title whenever you address me?”

“Sorry, I forgot. Okay…Miss Rachel,” she said in between grit teeth. Delphine was already fed up with Rachel’s behavior and she was close to losing it. But she couldn’t do anything, hurting a hair on Rachel’s skin could bring the worst punishment she didn’t want to imagine.

“Good.” She eyed her. “Now, hurry away, you stink!” Delphine frowned at the last word, turning slowly, she began walking away. She didn’t stink, she knew that because her nose functioned well, but since she didn’t yet bear the scent of her wolf, they always said that.

“Bitch,” she muttered once Rachel was out of earshot. “One day, I will slap you so hard and leave pretty scratch marks on that smooth skin of yours,” she said the last part mimicking Rachel’s voice. She arrived at the kitchen, where the chefs were still dishing out food. “Hey, Maria, I’m back again.” Maria was the head chef and the only one who was really nice to Rachel. Maria’s mate had died two years ago after sustaining a machete wound to his chest; he had lost too much blood before he was brought back to the pack; a few hours later, he was pronounced dead. “The Gorilla has requested for her food.”

Maria chuckled. “Oh, don’t call her that. These walls have ears, you don’t want someone to hear now, do you?”

“Honestly?” Delphine sighed. “I don’t really care, if they hear me or not, they can do their worst, but they can’t kill me.”

“Don’t speak like that child. Have you eaten?” Delphine shook her head. “You must be hungry. Once you hand Rachel her meal, come back and get something to eat.”

“Thank you, Maria, but I won’t be able to come back immediately.”

“Why?”

“Rachel said I’m not allowed to have anything, till I’m done with,” she scrunched up her nose, “watching her clothes and I’m afraid her underwear might be included.” Maria frowned and shook her head.

“Well, I would not want to put you in any trouble dear, once you are done, be back for your food.”.

“Thank you.” Minutes after, she was already heading back with Rachel’s food in her hands. She didn’t follow the same way she did earlier, because she knew people would be there, ready to trip her.

Rachel sat with the other warriors, they were all gathered around the head table, which was only meant for warriors. She had been there earlier to serve the other guys and had barely made it out of there without being harassed, she hated that she had to go through another experience. Now it wasn’t just Rachel, it was the full gang. “I’ve brought your food,” she said, stopping before their table and placing the food before Rachel.

The table was silent for a while, Delphine bit her lip as snickers went round as they all watched her. She would never understand what was the joke and the reason they laughed. “How old are you now Delphine?” Someone asked, it was the head warrior and soon-to-be Alpha of the pack, Rachel’s brother, Rain. Rain was just as irritating as his sister, and Delphine knew that the only reason she was still in the pack was because he wasn’t yet the Alpha of the pack, but one day, Rain’s father would be gone and Rain would take his place. Delphine shivered at the horrors she knew he would do, she didn’t plan to be around during that moment, staying there would mean signing up for hell.

“I’m seventeen,” she answered.

“Good,” he said. They all watched her, while Rachel was already picking at her food slowly, ignoring everything that was going on around her. “Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Ashamed?” Delphine found herself asking.

“I mean, if I was the one whose wolf hasn’t been out by seventeen?” He made a sound with his mouth. “I would be so ashamed, disgusted in myself. In fact I wouldn’t even be able to live with myself, I would just go ahead and kill myself…you should.”

“I should?”

“You should kill yourself.” Delphine’s head snapped up to look him in the eyes, she wasn’t surprised by what he had just said, she was used to stuff like this, but then something about what he had just said made her very angry and she wanted to explode. “Ok, you’re done here now. You can get out, I don’t want to see your face anymore. Get out!” he shouted when he saw she was still behind him.

“Okay,” she said slowly and walked away. That moment, Delphine decided she couldn’t continue living that way, she knew she had to run away, before she went to bed one day and never woke up. She had never stepped her feet outside the pack, her mother had raised her up and it was the only place she knew, that’s why she was afraid to leave because she really didn’t know the dangers the world held out of the park. “Soon,” she said to herself. “All I need to be is patient.” It also wasn’t really easy to escape, there were warriors who guarded the border and also, magic was used to help prevent enemies from entering the camp.

Delphine had been saving up money which she had been stealing from Rachel’s box. The wizard had agreed to help Delphine escape for a price, and that’s why she was saving up money so she could finally escape.

“I’m done, Maria,” an exhausted Delphine collapsed on the stool by the wall, before Maria. She rested her head back on the wall, her eyes closed. “I’m so tired. Those people are evil, Maria, evil I tell you.”

“Sorry, dear, sorry, it won’t be for long though. One day, your wolf will be out, and then you will get the respect you deserve, okay? I mean, it hasn’t happened yet, but we know it will. Let’s wait for your eighteenth birthday and see.”

“Oh, Maria,” Delphine said, finally opening her eyes. “I appreciate your kind words, but I doubt I will see my wolf when I turn eighteen. I’m just so tired of hoping, I’ve decided to just accept my face. Also…” Delphine was nervous to speak, she hadn’t told Maria about her decision to leave. “I’ll be leaving very soon.”

Maria’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. “What did you just say?” she asked in a fierce whisper.

Delphine looked around to make sure nobody was near to hear their conversation. She leaned forward to be closer to Maria. “I said, I’m leaving soon.”

“I heard you, Delphy, I mean, I don’t understand what you just said. You know the punishment put on the head of those who are found trying to leave without the Alpha’s permission—Did you get his permission?”

“No no, I plan to escape.”

Maria gasped, her hand covering her open mouth.

“I have some money, I’ve been saving up.”

“Been saving up? Who gave you money? I know they don’t pay you, so where?”

“Well, it’s not really my money, it’s Rachel, but she doesn’t know. I can’t stay here anymore Maria, you don’t know half the things they put me through.”

“I’m sorry you’re going through all this Delphy, if your mother…I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be mentioning your mother, but if she was here, they wouldn’t treat you like this. They only act that way because the Alpha took a liking to your mother.”

“He doesn’t like me. Never did and the only reason my mum refused him was because of his dislike for me.”

Terry, the Alpha of the pack, had also lost his mate in a war. It is written that one is allowed to mate with another unmated woman, if both their mates were dead and he wanted to mate with her mother, but she refused him.

“I don’t care, I don’t like him either. Not him, not his kids, not this pack Maria, this place drives me crazy.’

“Have you made up your mind on this?” Maria asked. “If you have, I won’t stop you or try to change your mind. I suppose it’s for the best, I’d rather have you somewhere safe, than dying slowly in this house.” Delphine nodded. “But how do you plan to leave? It is almost impossible to cross those borders without having the permission of the Alpha pack.”

“I contacted Sighai.” Maria frowned when she heard the name.

“Sighai? What? How did you meet him? Where?”

“Calm down, Maria. He came to visit the Alpha pack yesterday and I ran into him. I told him my problems and he has agreed to meet me. All I need to do is get enough money… By that, I mean Rachel’s money, it’s still kind of my money also, because I worked hard for it. Anyways, she wouldn’t even notice if something went missing, she doesn’t even know the color of her brush. Maria chuckled.

“You’ve made up your mind right?” Maria questioned.

Delphine nodded. “This is something I’ve been pondering over and at a point I started to ask if this was all my whole life would be. I can’t, Maria, I can’t sit down, folding my arms and being their slave. I have suffered a lot and I need to go,”

“I’ll miss you,” Maria said softly. Delphine smiled, moving closer she wrapped her arms around Maria in a tight hug.

“I miss you even more.” She pulled back after a while. “Maybe you could come with me also? I mean, you’re not doing anything important here either, we could leave toge…” But she had to stop, Maria was already shaking her head with a kind smile.

“I can’t come, darling. I can’t leave here.”

“What why? What things are here for you?”

“Nothing much, but this is where I grew up. Here is where I met the man I loved, here is where we married and here is where he died. I can’t leave.” Though she had turned away from Delphine as she spoke, Delphine could hear her choked voice, followed by a sniff. Her eyes widened as she realized her words were why Maria was crying.

“I’m so sorry, Maria, I didn’t mean to be so insensitive.”

“No, you’re not. I’m the one who’s too sensitive. I don’t even know why I’m crying, it’s been four years since I lost Evan.” She used the back of her palms to wipe at her tears angrily. “You know, your mother will be so proud of you.”

Delphine gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you. You know, most times I try not to think about her, because when I do, I remember that she’s gone and will never be back and it’s been two years, but it’s still hard to accept the truth. Anyways,” she brightened up. “I better get going. This is the time Rachel and the guys go to do some training. I’ll leave now, so I can get some money from Rachel’s room before she gets back.”

“Oh, please be careful. We don’t want the Gorilla catching you,” Maria said, watching Delphine as she walked to the doors. “Be careful.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Like Delphine had said, Rachel was with the guys practicing. Though Delphine found Rachel irritating and annoying, she would admit that Rachel was very dedicated to her training, Delphine had watched them practice before. Everyone in the pack joined the warriors once they turned eighteen, Delphine was among the little few who were never allowed on the training ground.

Rachel’s room was just the way Delphine had left it earlier. Her goal was simple: reach for the little chest under Rachel’s bed, it was where she kept her precious jewels—which Sighai the wizard said he would also collect in place of money. She closed the door behind her properly before proceeding further into the room.

“Let’s see,” Delphine whispered, dropping to her knees as she got to the bed. “Hope she didn’t hide it.” She brought her upper body part down, so she could reach for the box, and it was just when she did this that she heard the approaching steps. Delphine froze. It was impossible for them to have been done with training so fast, and Rachel and Rain took their training to heart, they wouldn’t pause it for the littlest thing. Delphine didn’t question anymore when the steps stopped just behind the door, she quickly rolled under the bed, and just then the door was pushed open.

Delphine crossed her fingers to her chest as she prayed whoever was in the room would leave immediately. She didn’t know who it was yet because no sound had been made. Just then, a voice came, but it wasn’t one of the people who had been in the room, this was a new arrival.

“Hey, have you seen it yet?” It was Rain.

“No, I haven’t,” Rachel said. “I swear I kept it here…fuck!” She cussed. “That stupid girl must have touched it while she arranged my room.”

“I told you to let me keep it, but you refuse. Why don’t you check under the bed,” Rain suggested. “It must have fallen to the floor and rolled over there.”

“You’re right, I’ll check.” Quick strides were heard as Rachel got to the bed. Delphine’s heartbeat knew no control at the moment, she shook in fear knowing she was about to get caught. At this point she had already said her last prayers, she closed her eyes and waited for the worst.

“You blind fool,” Rain said. “Look at it near your mirror, quick get it.”

“Don’t insult me Rain,” Rachel said as she walked away from the bed to Delphine’s delight. “Also, who is going to add the portion to her meal.”

“When she gets dinner, we’ll call her to drop her food and go get something for us. When she’s done, we’ll add it and since it’s just like water, she won’t notice anything.” Delphine didn’t need to hear her name before she knew they were referring to her.

“Oh, this is going to be fun and she has to be around in the meeting with Father later, let’s see if he wouldn’t want to kick her out after she lets out the worst farts every second.” Delphine made a mental note not to eat anything unless it had been gotten directly from Maria.

This wasn’t the first time they had done this. Sometimes Delphine wondered if Rain was truly the son of his father or adopted, because although his father could be mean, he was strong, wise and disciplined, Rain was nothing but childish. “Anyways, let’s go. You’ll give it to Maria to add to her food.”

Delphine rolled her eyes, she knew Maria would never agree to do that. “Sure,” Rain sounded excited. “Wouldn’t be the first time she’s been a good help.” The confident look on Delphine’s face was replaced with a confused look when she heard that. “Also, she said she had something to tell us. Apparently, the pig had said something to her.”

“You sure it’s important. I mean we are talking about Maria after all, she’s all in for the money and sometimes she delivers the most empty message. No need to meet her for that. In fact, we need to get back to training, we can see Maria later.”

Their retreating steps didn’t matter to Delphine anymore, as her brain tried to understand the words that were just uttered. She couldn’t believe it, and didn’t want to believe that Maria, the woman she had called her friend, the closest person she had to a mother figure would betray her.

“W-what…” She couldn’t roll the words out of her tongue. Delphine had been mistreated by lots of people, insulted, beaten, but never did they hurt more than the thorns that pierced her heart from the betrayal. Maria was the only person Delphine had, the only one who ever offered her a smile since her mother died and was always there for comforting hugs.

She said she had something to tell us.

Delphine remembered Rain’s words from earlier, she wondered if Maria was going to tell them about her plan to escape. She didn’t think Maria would be so cruel. She shook her head, refusing to let it cloud her thoughts. She got out from the bed, reaching for the box, she opened it and inside was just what she needed—jewels. She planned to sell them and then use the money to pay the wizard.

“I guess this one will do,” she said as she held on to three precious stones. “I guess I should drop one back, this is rather too much…I mean, she does have more, and those boyfriends of hers will buy her even more, so why bother.” She shrugged, looking back to the door, she raised the big flap at her waist side, which revealed a pocket. There, she placed the stones. Her plan was to hurry to the jeweler's shop where she could sell the item and get money.

Delphine adjusted the hoodie on her head, then hurried out of the room. From everything she had just heard, Delphine knew she couldn’t wait anymore. By tomorrow or if she wasn’t lucky, this night, they were going to come for her, she had to leave now, this night.

She ran back to the shed where she slept, not looking back to the people who called her, luckily, they didn’t chase after her and let her go her way. Delphine kicked the doors open as she arrived, she hurried to the little mat that served as her bed, pushing it aside to reveal the little hole she had dug there, that’s where Delphine kept her money. She placed in the ones she had just collected, then placed her mat in the right position before she sat to wait, once it was nightfall, she would be on her way.

~~~

It was going to rain, you could smell it in the air. The wind blew gently on the wisps of midnight black hair which danced around Delphine’s face, she brushed them away quickly, but gave up once they came back to her face. Delphine was still wearing her hoodie from earlier, on her shoulders, she carried a bag which had her clothes and money.

“What exactly did you say you wanted to have?” Sighai asked. Sighai was one of the oldest men in the pack, some said he was ninety-one years old, but to Delphine, he looked like he was in his late sixties. He was dressed in black. Everything, from his hair, to his hat, his nails and his long coat which touched the floor. He reminded Delphine about the older version of a character she had seen in the movie Harry Potter. “You said you have been here before, when?”

“I need help to get across the border. I’m Delphine. I came to you about two weeks ago, but I wasn’t with the complete money, you told me I should go till it’s complete.”

“Speak in low tones, I can hear you just fine. Remove your hoodie, let me see your face clearly.” Delphine did as she was told. The man gave low hums as he studied Betty’s face. “I remember you,” he said. “What did you say you wanted?” He questioned.

“I said I need help crossing the border. I want to leave, I can’t stay here anymore.”

“Did you bring the money?” he asked. “If you’re not with the money, then I can’t help you.”

Delphine rolled her eyes. “Yes Sighai, I brought you your money and it’s complete,” she said while handing him the package she had brought along with her. “You can check it yourself,” she added when he raised a look at the package.

After going through it for a while, he looked back at her with a small smile. “It’s complete. You know, I wonder, but I’ll not ask where you got the money from.” Delphine nodded. It was better that way, she didn’t need her conscience judging her.

“So, will you break the magic that revolves around the border for me?”

He shook his head. “No, you misunderstand.” Standing up. “I can’t break the magic that revolves around the border, now that would alert the Alpha.”

Delphine let out a frustrated groan, throwing her hands in the air. “Then what do you want me to do? I can’t stay here anymore, I have to live now!”

“Calm down,” Sighai said with a chuckle. “I said I couldn’t break the magic. I didn’t say, I could not help you get across.”

Delphine’s eyes lit up with the words. “Ok.”

“Wait here,” Sighai said. “I just need to prepare something real quick, you’ll need it.” He stood up from his chair and turned to walk away. “Don’t touch anything,” he added as he walked into the room. Delphine did as instructed, keeping her hands on her lap, as she waited patiently, though from the looks of it, she was slowly losing her patience as she tapped impatiently on her lap..

Sighai finally showed up. “Ok, I’m back.” He was holding a scroll in his hand. He proceeded to his desk and took a seat there, looking Delphine straight in the eye. This made her feel a little bit uncomfortable, but she waited for him to speak. “This is a scroll, you are going to need it when you get there…you might not, but it will help.”

“What’s the scroll for?”

“A disappearing spell. Usually this would work with you voicing the words, but I don’t think you’ll pronounce the words correctly.” She eyed him, but he ignored her. “When you get there, you’ll open the first scroll, this blue one.” He handed it over to her already outstretched hand. “This will be the spell that enables you to go through safely.”

“Thank you,” she told him, admiring the drawn designs. “So...” She looked up at him. “What’s the second scroll for?”

“It’s a disappearing spell. Once you are caught, or surrounded, just open the scroll and the spell I’ve written inside will do its work. You will be well protected from the eyes of the warriors.”

“Wow, really?” Delphine was amazed. “All I have to do is open the scroll and the rest is done.” She collected the second scroll which he was already handing to her, doing this she also handed him his money. “Thank you for this Sighai.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Now, you better leave. I have guests coming over, and if you don’t want people to see you, you best leave.” Delphine didn’t wait to be told twice before she was already up. “Don’t lose the scrolls, Delphine.”

“Sure,” she told him, waving as she walked away. “Later, Sighai.”

~~

Delphine held tight to her bag as she hurried through the woods. Everywhere was quiet, combined with the fact that it was dark and she was alone, the whistling sound of the wind didn’t help either and the rattle of the leaves shaking in their branches. She held her bag even tighter, the scroll was in there and she didn’t want to lose it.

Just when she thought she couldn’t walk anymore, she finally arrived at the border. She brought down her bag and searched for the first scroll. “Break it…” She muttered as she did as Sighai had required. She opened the scroll and waited. She wasn’t sure what she should be expecting to feel or hear to let her know that the scroll had done what it was supposed to do. Just then, the paper in her hands got hot, really hot, Delphine had to let go of them. Right then, she watched as they caught on fire and slowly burned to ashes. “I didn’t see that coming…I guess it worked then.” She took a step past the border, and when nothing happened, she took another step.

“Delphine!” Someone shouted her name. She knew that voice, it belonged to someone that she hated the most, Rachel. “You bitch!” Delphine flinched at the hate that spat from the word.

They weren’t just one, two or three, it looked like she had brought a quarter of the warriors along with her. The second scroll came to Delphine’s mind quickly, she had never wanted to praise Sighai more at that moment. She reached for her bag, zipping it open quickly. She waited, just so she could see Rachel and do what she had always wanted to do.

They were in view now, she knew the faces of those behind Rachel, all those who had bullied her. But she didn’t have time for all of them, Sighai did tell her the magic would wear off. “You do not know the punishment waiting for you back home,” Rachel started. “What were you thinking, that you could run away from us?”

“I was hoping, but you guys do have a big problem.” They had a lost look on their faces, surprised to see Delphine talking back to them. “All of you,” she said to them, “are nothing but weak, spineless buffoons.”

“Are you talking back to me?” Rachel thundered.

“Yes!” she retorted. “And what are you going to do about it?” Delphine gave them a sweet smile. “I’m not your puppet or your slave anymore.” She broke the seal on the scroll and opened it; slowly, she disappeared.

“W-where did she go to?” one of the warriors asked. “I think she has her hands in dark magic. We must leave.” But nobody paid attention to him.

This was the moment Delphine had been waiting for, she never thought she would ever get it. Though she had imagined the scenario too many times in her head, she never thought it would ever happen in reality. Still protected by Sighai’s invisibility spell, she rushed to Rachel. Raising her hands high, she brought them down in flash speed, hard against Rachel’s cheeks. The cheeks that omitted Rachel’s lips, brought a smile to Delphine’s face. After that, she walked away, she had a journey of no destination before her.