Nokomis

Let me tell you a story about a Religion i was introduce to, before i became the way i am now. It all started a long time ago, about Six years ago. I was on my way to my new House, that was kinda in the middle of no where. Not many Houses were around and most of them were Abounded. Only some People were living in the Houses that were not Abounded by People. i came to this place, Because the House was Cheap, around 2,900 Dollars or so. The House was Small and only had one Bedroom and one Bathroom and a small Kitchen. With a decent Size Living room, no upstairs or Basement though. And the House, was a Ground level Home with not much room. But, It was Perfect place for me though. I was Living on my own and did not really have much money at the time, to buy a bigger place.
When i came to my new House, i Drove up to the driveway with the moving Truck and Started to take out the Boxes from the Truck and Move them inside. As, i was busy moving the Boxes inside my New Home, one of my new Nighbors came to my House, while i was unboxing everything. I stopped unpacking for a bit, to see what they wanted from me. 
"Hello, i seen you was moving into the Neighborhood and i wanted to intruduce myself to you. The names Samantha."
"My name is Melody. And its a pleasure meeting you Samantha."
"Melody, Before i go, i want to tell you. if you need anything, i will be next door. Just come knock, if you want to chat or Hang out." 
"Thanks Samantha, i will consder doing that. If I need anything, i will be sure to tell you."
Once Samantha left, i returned back to unpacking everything and once i was done with unpacking the stuff from the moving Truck. I went inside to relax and take a break from a long day of driving and i was thinking, what things would i would see and do in my new Neighborhood. I was also, hoping to find a Church in this Neighborhood. I was one of those Spiritual and Religulous, type of people. I was the type that wanted to learn and explore all type of Religion's and be a part of them. As a kid, i was fascinated by all kind's of Religion and Spiritual practice. And i wanted to learn, everything there was about it. 
"Maybe Samantha knows any good Church's around here, i should ask her about it later" I thought to myself. 
The Sun was then starting to set and the sounds of the Birds were quieting down and the Crickets started to chirp. I was starting to feel sleep wash over me and i knew it was a good time to stop and head to Bed. 
when the next day, rolled around i had some plans in store. i was going to ask Samantha if there was a Church in this Neighborhood. The last place, i lived at had a Church. I Went to Samantha's House and knocked on her Door and when she opened it, she was wearing a white Dress with a Crescent Moon Necklace. 
"Hey, Samantha? i came to ask you a question. Do you know any good church's around here?" 
When i said that, Samantha's face perked up with a smile and her eyes widen, with a  Expression on her face of pure joy. 
"I do Know of a Church, around this Neighborhood"
"Can you tell me. what this Church is called? if you don't mind me asking"
"It's called the Church of the Moon."
"I never heard of that church, before."
"Its because, this Church is a secret one and it's not known by many people."
"Can you tell me, how i can get in?"
"A Member of the church has to let you in and you have to take a oath.  I happen to be a member, of the Church myself." 
"Can you let me Join, Samantha? I would love to learn about your guy's Church."
"Alright, but be sure to follow me and i can take you there. The Priest may allow you to join us."
I followed Samantha to where ever she was taking me. We was walking through this Dirt Road, through what seemed like the Woods.  And while we was walking, i was looking all around me. Seeing broken Trees, that had fallen down and rocks that looked like people, when under the Sun's shadows. After awhile, the Sun was starting to set and the Moon was starting to rise.  Samantha then Tugged me on the shoulder to wake me from my daze and announce our arrival. 
"Alright, we are here" 
As i looked up, i could see a big Church like Building, with a Bell on top of it and Vines with Flowers, growing all around the Building. The Building, was a shade of white and had sliver Doors, with Crescent Moon's painted on the doors. There was a few other People at the Building. Wearing Masks and white Clothes. They were around a Tall Woman, Wearing a white Mask. It looked like they were playing. Samantha then Waved her hand and called for the woman. When she got closer. 
I seen she was wearing a white dress with gold lining on the edges of her Dress and her Mask had a smile on it with feminine features. when she seen me, she seemed angered. I could not tell with the Mask in front of her face, but it looked that way. She then went up to Samantha and when she spoke. She had this Voice, a voice. That i can only describe, as the voice of a Angel. 
"Samantha, i told you to only bring new members with my consent! this is not, what i wanted to happen."
"Mother Eleanor, before you.. you get mad at me. You must know, this lady here. Wants to join our Church."
"Oh, really? well, then young lady introduce yourself."
"My name is Melody and i would like to join you. I am a very open person, to learning new things and would like to try to be a part of this Church."
"Very well, I See greatness in you and i can help you unlock this greatness, within you." 
"Thank you, so much mother Eleanor."
Mother Eleanor, then handed me a few items. explaining, that these are to be used and worn. The items were a Mask with feminine features, with a Crescent Moon under the right eye, with black lips, a smile and black eye brows on it. She also, gave me a dark red Dress with button's on it and told me all new members, start out with red clothes and move up to white clothes.
I asked her why and she told me It's because, i need to become fully pure first. not to be rude to her, on the first day of being here. I just said, alright. I did not want to ask to much. Because, i felt like if i did. She would kick me out. So, i just stayed quiet. 
After she was done, handing me the items. She told me, i needed to take a oath. Before, i can truly be a part of the Church. I Explained to her, That i would do anything, to be a part of this and to Learn. After i told her that, she called for the children, that were around her, before and they came up to me and started to form a circle around me, with their leader standing outside of it. 
"Do you, Melody. Promise to Never disobey and follow the rules, given and to always Follow the path of the one, true mother. With a open heart? and to always, do what is asked of you?" 
"I Promise and i swear on my heart. That i will follow the rules and only follow the one true mother."
Then after that, mother Eleanor. Made the other members bring out a Bucket of something, that looked like a mixture of Ink and Paint. She told me, to dip my legs and arms in it and let it dry. And That it was Made to not come off and she told me, it was a very special kind of Mixture. She also explained to me, That all children must do this. Saying, it will help the flow of growth. After the initiation, I was let in and I Was handed this Cloak to wear. 
The Cloak was black with a Cresent Moon on it, tying the whole thing together. I was told, that it must be worn, when doing rituals. and to be worn, only at night. She explained to me, the whole process and everything that is going to happen and the work, she wants me to do. She told me, That only the big Rituals, happen on a full Moon. And That they only do Their work, under the Moon. 
After they taught me and shown me the ropes and I was acquainted with everyone. I Was brought inside the Church and when i got inside, i was able to finally see, what the Church looked like from the inside. The Church, looked like any normal Church. But, On the walls, there was Flowers painted in white, sprounded by a grassy plain with a Tree and on the ceiling, painted like the night sky, with stars and a full Moon, with Angel wings and a halo above it. in The Center of the Church, there was a small Table with items on it and behind it, was a Statue of a woman in a cloak, with her head down and her eyes closed, in her hands she was holding a moon. 
While i was looking around mother Eleanor came up to me and explained About this place to me. Sense, she seem to have seen the look on my face, of pure amazement from this Church. She told me all about the Church and how, they do rituals inside the Church and that the Table is meant to be used with their work and that, the Statue is for worship. I Walked with mother Eleanor to where the Table and Statue was and the other members followed behind. 
I moved closer to the Statue and could make out words printed out on the Statue. There was sliver words carved into the statue, spelling out. Our one True Mother Nokomis Night. After awhile of inspecting the Statue, i felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and seen, mother Eleanor beside me. she called for the other members and told them and me, that it's time for each member to begin the cemeorny of offering. I asked them, whats the ceremony and whats it's for. 
They Explained to me, Its where you offer yourself to the true mother. To begin your transformation of growth. They explained to me the steps and the things to do and say. After, the members explained to me, everything. Mother Eleanor announced, it was time to begin. 
I Was brought up to where the Statue was and around me, the other members formed a circle, with the leader standing at the table. the leader grabbed a Candle, and handed a candle to each of the member's and moved to me, with a blade in hand. The blade was one of those grim reaper blades, but with a Cresent Moon carved into it and two triangles on the top and bottom of it, painted sliver and black. Mother Eleanor, Brought the blade to the floor and walked around me in a cirlce, chanting in what seemed like latin, while the members were doing the same. 
When this was going on, i felt a slight breeze, then something entering me. I Don't know, what it was. But, it has this aura about it. after the ceremony was over. The feeling left. Everyone went back to their normal places and were told to leave and come back torrmow. Before, i went to leave myself. I asked Mother Eleanor, about The Feeling, i gotten. 
She explained to me, to not worry about it. That each of the member's, grow to have this feeling and that, it's just a sign of growth.
Days past and the feeling deepened to where, it felt like something inside me was changing. My skin was changing from light pale skin, to really pale. Like i have not slept in days. the rest of me, stayed the same. when mother Eleanor, started to take notice of my changing appearance. Her personality changed from the normal, calm and collective leader to, a bit of a frantic one.  I asked about her change in behavior and she told me. It's just, no one ever gotten close to the true mother before. This is great news, She told me. 
She then explained to me, that a blood moon is coming up and it will be the day, that mother is meant to come down from above and show us, her wisdom. That when that time comes, the person. that is picked by the true mother, will become one with her. after that, we did our usual work and went on our way. Days past and the blood moon, was nearing closer and the feeling, was getting stronger. 
Each day, we did the usual. Worship and ceremonial work. When the day of the blood moon, came around. Mother Eleanor, called for me. She told me to get ready, for the ceremony and pointed me to where, the dressing room was. telling me to change into my ceremonial outfit and return to her, when i was finished. Going in the direction, i was pointed to.
I put on the same dress and mask, she gave me before and slipped on my boots. After i was done with getting ready. I walking out of the door and torwards, the other members. Mother Eleanor, then walked up to me. Handing me a cup of tea, saying to drink this. Explaining to me, that it will help me, grow even more. I took, the cup from her hand and started to drink it. As i was drinking it, i felt dizzy and felt, everything going dark. I then Dropped the cup, i was holding and blacked out. 
When i woke up. I was in a dark room, lit up only by Candles. Mirrors littered the walls and assortment of tools and the same sythe from before laying next to a wall. I Tried to Move, but i felt my arms and legs tied down. I tried to make a sound and call for help. But, my Mouth was muffled by something. Looking around, i seen the same members from before, move closer to me. When they got closer to me, i could see a twisted grin on all of their faces. Next thing, i know. Their leader, walks through the door and into the room, with a book in hand. she moved to the table, i was tied to and beckon for the members to start the ceremony. 
"let us begin, The ceremony"
Each of the members started to grab tools and injected me, with some kind of liquid. and painted symbols all over me. then they moved to my face and legs. They removed my Shoes and Mask, laying them down on a Table beside me and did the same with my face and legs. After their work was finished, their leader walked over to me and started to open her, book she had in her hand. She then spoke in latin and started to chant, with each of the members following behind. 
As she kept chanting, this same Feeling returned and at the corner of my eye, I could make out a silhouette of a woman, surrounded by shadow. Moving closer and closer to me. This thing, then entered my body and i once again blacked out. 
When i awoken. I felt a new feeling, something darker. i looked in the Mirror, that adorn the walls and saw, that my whole body was transformed. My once short black hair, was now long and my dark red Dress was now torned, my teeth were sharp and pointed. My eyes, were no longer their shade of black, they normally was. My Eyes were pitch black, like that of a demon's and my piples were a shade of purple. My ears that were small, were now pointed and my head was adorn with horns. My feet and hands, were now transformed into claws, like a demon would have. My skin was now a dark grey, as well. As i was examining my new body, mother Eleanor Spoke. 
"It seems your shocked by your new form. Don't worry, it will be over soon and you won't feel a thing. After all, the true mother, has picked you as her host."
Once she said that, i started to panic and tried to break free. All the while, my mind started to go blank, i felt my sanity leaving me. My body then slumped back onto the table, and my face changed into this blank and emotionless expression. Mother Eleanor, then removed the gag that was covering my mouth and spoke out, once more. 
"Welcome back, our dear mother."
My Mouth then started to move on it's own. But the voice, that was coming from my mouth. Was not my own Voice. It had a sinister, yet sweet tone of voice. 
"It's good to be back, my Children. now take off these Binds on my new Body."
The member's did what the Creature asked and the thing, then made my Body sit up on it's own. Even though, i was frozen and could not even control, my own body. The member's then Started to speak to this thing, that controlled my body. About Wisdom and truth. They told it, they want to gain the truth of all things and wisdom from it. The creature then spoke through me, again. 
"I am losing energy to control this mortal. I must retreat back into this body, you have given me. Before i go, i will tell you a bit of wisdom."
This thing, then told each of them. The wisdom, they asked for. But, i could not hear what was being said. This creature was making me, unable to hear. So, i couldn't be able to hear. The thing was making sure, i was unable to hear and won't be able to listen in, to the conversation at all. 
I then felt the creature, losing control over my body. As i was starting to regain control over my body. My mind was starting to break. I couldn't hold back anymore. Once the thing, return to being silent and i once again, had control over my body. My mind snapped from what little sanity, i had left. 
Jumping off the Table, i was on. I lunged at the members and swiped at them with my claws, ripping their chest in the process. Their leader ran out of the room in fear. My shadowy form then, reverted back to my normal self. After I lost my energy to be able to control it any longer. 
I quickly then threw my mask, and boots back on. I also, grabed the sythe from the wall and ran after their leader. When i ran back into the area of the Church, where the statue was. Their leader was hiding behind the statue, cowering in fear. I snuck up to her and swung my sythe at her head, decapitating her in the process. 
The last thing she heard was.
"Game Over"