Damon and Talia agreed that Marcy's situation was urgent, and it should be handled as soon as possible, so the duo headed to the house where Marcy was.
As preparation for damage control, Damon told his warriors who guarded the perimeter that they will be testing new light fixtures in the house and if there is a flash not to panic. Damon hoped that will be enough to conceal any unusual glow that Talia might produce.
After numerous warnings to Talia that if anything seems off she should stop, Damon stood at the door of Marcy's room and observed Talia who was standing by the window and looking at the bed where Marcy was lying.
Talia was confident that she can help Marcy, but now that she was facing her, Talia realized that she had no idea how to go about it.
Talia decided to think about what she knew.
Damon told her that she repelled rogues, and healed him, but Talia had no recollections of those events. She remembered the incident in the lake and glowing Meg in the car, and on those two occasions, Talia followed her instincts.
The trouble was that there were no instincts on how to heal Marcy.
What was she missing?
When Damon taught Talia about the Alpha aura, he said to think of it as a manifestation of her will. Talia didn't think that her aura and so-called abilities were different.
'Is that it?', Talia wondered. 'I need to want for Marcy to get better?'
But the problem was that Talia didn't have kind of feelings toward Marcy.
In the Red Moon pack, Marcy beat Talia twice and said many mean words. Now Marcy was in the Dark Howlers pack with an intention to become Damon's Luna and Marcy spoke to Talia like she was a disposable mistress.
Marcy was Talia's bully, a woman who was coveting Damon. How can Talia wish for such a woman to get better? Wouldn't it be best if Marcy stays that way and never wakes up?
Talia lowered her head while wondering if she was a bad person. If she wishes bad things to happen to people, didn't she become a bully?
Talia shook her head while trying to dispel the dark thoughts. She hated bullies the most; they hurt the ones who are weak and vulnerable, and Talia refused to lower herself to that level.
"Don't beat yourself over it.", Damon's deep voice came from behind Talia. He could feel her fluctuating emotions and he knew that Talia was struggling with the concept of helping someone who hurt her more than once. "Do how much you can, and remember that doing nothing is an option. Marcy's condition is the consequence of her actions. It's not your responsibility to help her."
"I'm not doing this for Marcy.", Talia responded. "I want to do it for us." This was the truth. "As your mate, I get to share your glory and your hardships."
Damon beamed at Talia's words that warmed his soul.
After saying those words, Talia realized that this might be something she could work with. If her desire to accomplish something is the trigger to her powers, maybe she shouldn't think about healing Marcy, but about her and Damon.
Talia looked out the window to see the Moon that was in the first quarter.
She remembered stories of how the Moon Goddess lives there and is watching over all werewolves like they were her children.
Did Talia believe in the Moon Goddess? Talia was not sure. If the Moon Goddess was real, why did she allow Talia to live in that attic for a decade and to be bullied? Is that what a mother would do? Or did the Moon Goddess abandon her?
But this was not the time to question her fate. Talia chose to believe that she can fix this situation and if that included talking to the Moon Goddess, so be it.
"If you are up there, help me make things right…", Talia said while looking at the half-circle that illuminated the dark sky speckled with stars. "Marcy committed a sin by rejecting her mate, and this is her punishment. I don't have the right to decide how big Marcy's offense is, but I know that if she doesn't wake up, people I cherish will be harmed. They are good people and don't deserve to suffer because of something Marcy did. Help me wake her up. She needs to be awake in order to fix her wrongs…"
Damon smiled while listening to the small woman who was talking to the Moon with her hand extended that way like she was trying to reach for it.
If he could, he would capture the Moon and all the stars and give them to Talia. Maybe as a wedding gift.
Damon's eyebrows shoot up when Talia's hand that was bathed in the moon rays started glowing. Less than a second later, Talia's whole body was glowing, and that glow stretched lazily toward the bed where Marcy was.
Damon's jaw fell slack open as he watched Marcy being enveloped in the pulsating light, and it all came from Talia whose silver eyes shone and the ethereal outer glow made her appear like a Goddess who descended to Earth. Breathtaking.
Through his infatuation, Damon was frantically focusing on Talia, ready to catch her if her legs show signs of giving in. He had no idea how much energy Talia exerted to accomplish this, but he was determined to not let her fall.
Damon was not sure if it lasted a second or an hour before the light subsided, and he swiftly moved to support Talia who swayed.
"Are you OK?", Damon asked Talia when she leaned into him.
Talia gave him a weak smile. Her head was buzzing, and she turned to look at Marcy.
"Did it work?"
Damon released the breath he was holding, and he focused on Marcy for a few moments before responding, "You did it, kitten. Her heartbeat is much stronger." He didn't know more than that. "I will call Travis to check on her. Let's go to the next room and wait there." Damon wanted Talia to lay down and rest.
"Here is fine.", Talia responded. She wanted to keep an eye on Marcy. Talia was not sure what she did and if the effect is permanent or temporary.
Was it possible that the Moon Goddess helped her improve Marcy's condition? Or was that Talia's doing?
Talia wished to understand her ability and test its limits, but that will need to wait. She acknowledged overall weakness, pleased that she was not at the point where she needed to sleep.
Talia gestured toward a small table that had two chairs next to it. "We can sit there. Can you hold me?"
Damon chuckled at her silly request. "I wouldn't let go of you, kitten, even if you ask me."
He sat on one of the chairs with Talia on his lap, and he cradled her in his arms.
Talia leaned on Damon and allowed his addictive scent to fill her system.
Damon was immensely relieved that Talia was in good spirits. She was awake and talking and he wondered if that had anything to do with the Moon, or maybe her powers were increasing… or maybe those two were related. Old folks say that werewolves are more powerful when the full moon is out. Sure, the moon was not full, but half of it was still better than nothing.
