(Made by me (Xbilliex) :3)
The Hidden Truth is a story written by Xbilliex. The protagonist of the story is Arya Ryder, but there are POVs from other characters as well. The story is about Arya discovering who she really is, as well as her uncovering the truth, which has been kept hidden from her for so long.
Enjoy ^_^
Prologue - The Dream (Arya's POV) (Ryder Residence)[]
It had been a matter of weeks since I left college. A part of me was sad to leave but a part of me was overjoyed because my two years of hard work had finally paid off. I had officially finished a course in drama.
Next, I was looking towards university. I planned to study at Wikiana University for a degree in performing arts.
But anyway, I'll deal with university later.
Currently, it was nighttime. It had been moments since my regular nightly adrenaline rush. I was sat in the living room with Dad, enjoying the warmth that the fireplace provided. Dad was watching a documentary about the Wikian gods and goddesses.
"Erlend is the Wikian god of space, water and spiders. He is part of the Primal Trio, who are the most powerful of the immortals-" The TV blared whilst depicting a golden statue of the godly form of the god Erlend.
"Are you okay Dad?"
"Yep. I'm okay sweetie." Dad turned to face me and smiled. I could sense more sadness in his emerald green eyes, as well as the smile, than happiness.
"Dad, you might as well just tell the truth. I know you're not okay."
Dad let out a sigh before telling me how he really felt.
"I'm sad because of how fast time flies. You've grown into a beautiful, intelligent young woman. I still remember holding your tiny little body in my arms." By this point, tears rolled down his cheeks.
I hugged Dad gently. He was the only person I ever really had. The only person I could ever really trust. Ever since my mother, whoever she is, left me as an infant, Dad has been my mother too. He always made sure that my needs were satisfied and that I was happy. I would repay him with obedience, doing everything as I was told (even when I was a teenager, because I felt guilt everytime I rebelled against Dad).
Luckily, if my plan of enrolling into Wikiana University is successful, I was not going to suffer the pain of leaving Dad as I was going to continue living at home whilst attending university.
The hours went by rapidly. I continued to sit with Dad, until I started yawning. It was a signal for me to get to bed.
"Goodnight Dad."
"Goodnight angel."
After saying goodnight to Dad, I proceeded to leave the living room, go upstairs towards my room and climb into my bed.
I opened my eyes to find that I was sleeping on a tree stump, in the middle of an enchanted forest.
In the far distance, there was a light green glow. This glow was the only source of light in this forest, besides the moon and the miniscule stars in the sky.
I wonder what this green glow is. Where was it coming from? Was I not alone?
Using the stump as a support, I managed to stand up. This gave me a chance to finally take in what was going on so far.
I was wearing a leather jacket, a black hoodie, jeans, leather boots and a necklace with a silver crescent shaped moon charm. On my back was a quiver, full of silver arrows that glistened in the light of the mysterious green glow.
Hidden behind the tree stump was a silver longbow. A few fallen leaves and some broken branches scarcely covered it. I picked it up.
It had been five minutes since I woke up when suddenly, I could hear the galloping of two horses. A cold breeze that hit me prompted to me to turn around.
My suspicions were confirmed when I saw that the breeze came from two silver mare. Mounted on one of the silver mares was a young, blonde haired girl. She was wearing the exact same outfit as me. She was even carrying a silver longbow and a quiver full of silver arrows on her back like me. The only differences in appearance between me and this girl was our faces, our hair colours and our hairstyles.
The girl's hair colour was a darker shade of blonde, where as mine was close to being white-blonde. Her hair was also in a braid. I just left my hair unstyled and allowed for it to flow.
"Did you get lost?" the young girl asked me. She had a sweet voice.
"Yes."
"We should probably be getting back to the others. Hop on."
Wait, others?
I decided to go with the girl, to see what she meant by others. I mounted onto the spare horse and we rided towards the green glow. The cold breeze of the night sailed past me as my horse went from trotting to galloping. Eventually, the girl's horse also started galloping.
Branches on the ground constantly crunched beneath me and the horse. It sounded like there was nothing but a thousand potato chips on the ground.
I estimated that around half an hour had passed. Our horses were still galloping. We had been travelling straight towards the green glow.
"Do you think we're getting any closer to the other people that you speak of?" I ask the girl. She doesn't turn to face me.
"Yes. I have a feeling we'll be reunited with the rest of the group very shortly."
I was getting pretty fed up now.
Five minutes later....
Our horses were not galloping anymore. They had gone back to trotting. I was about to give up on this whole journey when...
"You should close your eyes so your eyes don't get damaged from the glow and brace yourself as we're nearly with the others." advised the young girl, to me.
"But my horse-"
"Don't worry, I'll guide you. And I'll also tell you when you can open your eyes."
"Okay." I replied. Now, I just had to play the waiting game, once more.
"You can open your eyes now." The girl instructed. Before I did so, I unmounted my horse. Then I opened my eyes, to a major surprise.
I could not believe what I was observing. Thousands upon thousands of females, all of different ages, stood together. They was all wearing what I was wearing, a leather jacket, a black hoodie, jeans, leather boots and a silver crescent shaped moon charm. They all wore quivers on their backs, packed with silver arrows and they were all equipped with silver longbows.
The only differences between us all were our faces, our ages, our hair colours and our hairstyles.
And that's when the source of the mysterious green glow appeared.
Initially, I covered my eyes as I thought that the glow was going to blind me. However, strangely, it didn't.
That's when I realised that the glow was fading.
"She's coming." One of the girls in front of me whispered to another girl.
She?
'She' turned out to be a woman in a blue cloak, brown dress and brown boots. But unlike me, the girl and the several other females, this woman was clutching a golden longbow.
She must be of some importance.
"Comrades, you may hunt.,."
There was a sudden moment of silence. My eyes were fixated on the woman with the golden longbow.
"Now!"
Immediately, everyone ran and rushed into different directions. However, I wanted to get close to the woman. Slowly, I walked up to the woman, who had her back to me. She was watching everyone spiral off into different directions within the forest.
"Excuse me, ma'a-" I attempted to make conversation with the woman, when I was interrupted by her. Her voice was silent and eerie. Like a whisper.
"Arya..."
Chapter I - Interview (Lana Aberforth's POV) (Wikiana University)[]
Note: Lana Aberforth is a lecturer of science at Wikiana University. However, there is more to this lecturer than meets the eye.
This POV is set three weeks after the prologue.
Morning time at the University. Another hectic day ahead of me. However, I wasn't going to lecture today. I was put in charge of interviewing those who were applying to study here.
I walked down the corridor. Lockers almost lined the walls entirely. I remember when I was new to the University and the lockers made me think that this place was a high school rather than a University.
The glass cabinets that displayed the trophies, medals and certificates that those in the University have won, past and present, glimmered in the sunlight from outside.
Outside, in the outdoor sitting area, the marble fountain that depicted the Primal Trio, the most powerful of the Wikian gods and goddesses, spouted geysers of water repeatedly. It was a rather beautiful sight to look at, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to view beautiful things.
I ran up three sets of staircases until I finally reached the door to the room that I needed to be in. A spare dance studio.
The room opposite to the dance studio was where the applicants lounged. They'd remain in that room until it was time for their interview.
I opened the door to the studio to find two students that I recognised, Evelyn and Brandon, two outspoken performing arts students. They've been studying here for two years now. One more year and they'll be graduating.
"Oh, hey Miss Aberforth."
Evelyn was sitting in my chair and Brandon was sitting in the chair where the applicant would sit during their interview.
"What are you two doing here?" I asked them. I could see that Evelyn was holding a phone.
"Our classes have finished for today so we've just goofing around for a bit." Brandon replied.
"I have a suggestion for you two. Why don't you go and goof around in the Halls of Residence?" I asked the two of them.
"Why can't we goof around in here?" Evelyn asked me.
"Because I'm using this studio to interview those who are applying to study here." I replied.
Both students rose from the seats. They proceeded to leave, but before they did...
"Miss, if you interview anyone who wants to study performing arts, please accept them. We need more people for our latest project."
"I'll see." I assured them.
"Okay Miss. Thank you."
Once Evelyn and Brandon had left, I sat at my seat. It had been tucked underneath a wooden desk. On the desk was a plastic cup full of cold water, a 100 page notebook and a pen.
I placed both of my arms on the desk, took a sip of the water and yawned. That's when one of the University's receptionists opened the door.
"Miss Aberforth, are you ready to interview the applicants?"
"Yes." I reply.
"Okay, shall I inform them that you're ready to see them now?"
"Yes." I reply again.
"Okay, I'm on it." She gave a little smile, before leaving. I smiled back.
The first applicant to sit down was a young dark-skinned male. He had raven black hair and chocolate brown eyes.
"What is your name?" I asked the applicant.
"My name is Adrian Canlera." He replied.
I continued to ask questions. I made note of Adrian's responses to these questions in the notebook.
After interviewing several applicants, I was finally ready to go home. This was the only thing I had been asked to do today and I had done it, so I was free to leave.
I rose out of my chair and prepared to exit the studio when the door opened. The same receptionist from earlier re-entered.
"Miss Aberforth, you cannot leave yet."
"And why not?" I asked, folding my arms.
"Because there's one applicant left to interview." She replied.
"Bring them in." I commanded. I walked back to my chair, sat down and opened the notebook.
The receptionist opened the door for the applicant. A beautiful girl with silver-blonde hair entered the room. She was wearing a pink blouse, denim jeans and pink trainers.
However, what was most significant about the girl was her eyes. Her eye colour was not brown or blue or green, it was silver.
Silver eyes, like the goddess Billie.
"What is your name?" I asked as soon as the girl sat down.
"My name is Arya Ryder." The girl replied. I could not stop staring at her eyes. Luckily, she didn't look creeped out or uncomfortable by my staring.
When I finally managed to stop staring, I quickly scribbled down Arya's name on a new, blank page in the notebook.
The interview concluded after five minutes.
"Thank you for attending the interview, Miss Ryder. I will contact you within the next 24 hours, informing you as to whether you've been accepted into the University or rejected." I shook Arya's hand firmly.
"Okay." Arya replied simply, smiling.
Her silver eyes twinkled in the light.
Chapter II - Admiration (Mr Ryder's POV) (Wikiana Museum)[]
Mr Ryder's POV is set hours after the interview at the University.
Arya had officially applied to study at Wikiana University. When I found out, I became the proudest man alive. I decided to take Arya to the museum as a little way of celebrating, as I know that Arya wasn't one for alcohol-fuelled parties.
We were currently standing around a statue of the goddess Katarina. I looked at the statue whilst Arya read the golden plaque that was in front of the statue.
The statue depicted Katarina as a young, angry woman that was clutching an axe.
"Goddess of psychopathy, ice and deception and patroness of psychopaths. I wonder if she mothered any children because there's thousands of deceptive people and psychopaths." Arya commented.
And she's also your half-sibling, Arya. The goddess of psychopathy, deception and ice is your half-sibling.
We walked over towards the statue depicting the god Aerys, after viewing Katarina's statue. From what I know, Aerys is the only immortal son of my former lover, Billie. He is the god of energy, philosophy and storms.
Another half-sibling that Arya doesn't know she has.
"God of storms, energy and philosophy. Wouldn't want to anger him." Arya giggled. I giggled with her.
The next statue was that of Billie's husband, Tyrion. I didn't feel guilty, when I looked at the statue of my ex-lover's spouse, for having a fling with his wife and I didn't regret it because my beautiful daughter was the result of it.
His statue portrayed Tyrion as a man holding a goblet of wine, with a lion by his side. Left to be exact.
"God of the day, pleasure and food. If he controls food, then I automatically like him." Arya smiled. I didn't smile with her, because awkwardness overwhelmed me. Luckily, Arya didn't notice me not smiling. She was too busy staring at the statue.
After a few minutes, we had reached the final statue in the row of statues. Billie's. Her statue was the biggest in the row. Unlike the other statues in the row, which were made of marble, Billie's was made of silver.
Arya didn't speak at all. She was fascinated by the statue, which depicted Billie drawing back her golden longbow, with a wolf by her right side. I knew that the longbow was gold and not silver, as I had seen it with my own eyes. The statue didn't show Billie to be wearing her human outfit: a jacket, dress and boots, but a floor length robe, a moon necklace and high heels.
Arya, this is your mother. Your mother is the goddess of the night, archery and ice cream.
Chapter III - An Unexpected Visit (Arya's POV) (Wikiana Museum)[]
Me and Dad conversed about the different gods and goddesses, especially Billie. I had felt a sense of pride when I was looking at the statue of the goddess of archery, the night and ice cream. I don't know why.
I turned to face Dad. He couldn't stop smiling at both me and the statue.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sweetie. I just love how much you've been admiring that statue." Dad replied.
Oh Dad...
Suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard my name being called...
"Arya. Arya."
I glanced around my surroundings, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
It took me around three minutes to finally track down the voice. It came from the entrance. And the voice belonged to...
"Ms Aberforth?"
Ms Aberforth, from Wikiana University. She stood there, dressed in casual attire. She wasn't carrying anything.
I found it strange to see Ms Aberforth in casual attire, rather than a blazer, blouse and pants.
"Arya, I need to speak to you, urgently."
"Right now?" I asked her.
"Yes." Ms Abeforth replied.
"Okay, I'm just going to speak to my dad first though."
I walked back to Dad.
"Dad, this is Ms Aberforth from Wikiana University. She is the person who interviewed me yesterday. I need to speak to her, so I was wondering if you could excuse us."
Dad gave a simple nod. As soon as he had nodded, I walked with Ms Aberforth to a space where we could chat, in private.
Chapter IV - The Truth Exposed (Arya's POV) (Wikiana Museum)[]
We eventually stopped at a corner, near the reception.
"So, what do you want to speak to me about?" I ask Ms Aberforth. She pushed the glasses that she was wearing further up the bridge of her nose.
"I have to explain something to you." She replied. I prepared to listen to her.
"Usually, we'd send a letter to your home address, telling you as to whether you've got a place in the University or not. But this time around, I wanted to tell you in person."
Why was I an exception?
"So did I get a place at the University?" I asked. Moments after I glanced upon Ms Aberforth, I could already tell what her response was going to be.
"I'm sad to say that you didn't get a place."
My heart felt like it was being repeatedly stung by bees. Or deadly wasps. The feeling of rejection was overwhelmingly horrible, but I have to keep my head held high.
"I hate breaking bad news to people. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," I reassure Ms Aberforth. She grimaces sadly at me. Assuming that this was the end of the conversation, I prepared to walk away and return to my father, when Ms Aberforth stopped me.
"Was there anything else you wanted to say to me, Ms Aberforth?"
"In fact, yes. I have to explain everything. I have to tell you the reason as to why you didn't get the place at the University."
So, there was a reason, huh? Hope this reason's good enough.
"You're a demigoddess. A child of the goddess Billie."
Wait, is this some kind of joke?
"Excuse me?" I ask, finding this to be amusing.
"You're a daughter of the goddess Billie, the goddess of the night, archery and ice cream. Since you sound like you don't believe it, I'm going to prove it to you. Your eye colour. I know that you're not wearing contacts. You have silver eyes. You have Billie's silver eyes. Only those who are Billie's children have silver eyes for an eye colour."
"But I'm pretty sure that there must be other gods and goddesses that have silver eyes. I mean, they can apparently change to different forms." I was trying to disprove this. I couldn't possibly be the daughter of a goddess, let alone the goddess of the night, archery and ice cream.
"No. Billie has been the only goddess confirmed in Wikian history to have had silver eyes." She replied, trying her best to back up her point. "You have to believe me. Do you have regular adrenaline rushes at night?"
"Yes." I reply.
"Have you had a dream recently, about women and girls, wearing nothing but a jacket, hoodie, jeans, boots and a crescent moon necklace?"
"Yes."
"Did they hold silver longbows?"
"Yes."
"Those people who you saw in that dream actually exist, Arya. They are the Midnight Archers. The Midnight Archers are a group of female archers, who worship Billie. They like to hunt at night, as well as obviously worship Billie. Most of them are demigods, Billie's daughters. You're going to join the Midnight Archers, Arya. It's destined of you."
I grasped the bridge of my nose with the index finger and the thumb of my right hand, and let out a small sigh.
"What I'm saying is true, Arya. I'm a demigoddess as well. I'm not a daughter of Billie, but I am a daughter of another god. But the identity of who my parent is doesn't matter. You're a demigoddess and you can refuse to believe it as much as you want, but it's true."
"Then there's only one person who can decide whether this is true or not." I declare. I make my way back to my dad. At first, he smiled at me, but as soon as he realised just how I was feeling, his smile towards me died.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"Dad, there's something that I have to ask you. Is my mother the goddess Billie?" I ask him, folding my arms in the process.
There was an awkward silence between us, which lasted for a while, before Dad finally replied:
"Yes sweetie, your mother is Billie."
Chapter V - Continued Scepticism (Arya's POV) (Wikiana Museum)[]
This chapter is just a continuation of the previous chapter.
"I told you so, Arya. It will take some time to take in this information, but after a few weeks or days even, you'll come to terms with who you really are."
"But what does this have to do with me being rejected from studying at the University?" I ask Ms Aberforth, loud enough for Dad to hear me.
"Wait, you was reject-"
"Not now Dad, I'll talk to you later."
"Arya, you being a demigoddess makes you much more powerful than those attending the University." She replied.
"So you're telling me that I'm too powerful for university?"
"Basically, yes."
I just didn't know what to say or feel after that. All I could do was look at the tiled floor. I just didn't know whether to believe it or not.
"Here, take this," Ms Aberforth handed me a slip of paper. "Read this when you get back to your house."
"What's this for?"
"You'll find out, when you read it."
I put the slip in my pocket, not reading what was on the slip. Lana eventually left and I turned to my father, who looked depressed.
"Shall we go home now?" I asked him. "I need a cup of coffee to clear my head."
"Yeah, sure. Let's go." Dad replied.
Chapter VI - Coming To Terms (Mr Ryder's POV) (Ryder Residence)[]
This POV is set a week after the events at the Museum.
It took a week for Arya to finally come to terms with what was revealed.
Despite what had happened in the Museum, I vowed to just resume living a normal life. Unfortunately, things were not going to be the same for Arya.
But at least she finally understood why I had to keep it a secret for so long.
Currently, I felt really generous and happy. Arya needed cheering up and I knew just what to do: order pizza of course.
The house phone lay on the TV stand. I rose from my seat on the sofa, picked up the house phone, sat back down and called the number to the pizza shop, which was just a few streets away from our house.
"Hello, I would like to make an order please. One pizza with chicken, peppers and onions and one plain margherita. And can I have a can of Pepsi as well please? Thank you."
I hung up, as soon as I finished making my order.
20 minutes later...
The two pizzas that I had ordered had arrived, as well as the can of Pepsi. I had taken the two pizzas and the can from the person who delivered the order to our house, paid them and took it inside.
"Arya!" I shouted, summoning Arya. Suddenly, I could hear her running down the stairs.
"What's up, Dad?"
"I've ordered a pizza and a can of Pepsi for you, your favourite. I figured you need cheering up after everything that has happened."
"Thanks." Arya gave me a simple smile, before taking her pizza and Pepsi. She sat in the chair she usually sits in.
I took the pizza that I had ordered for myself, the one with chicken, peppers and onions, before sitting down and beginning to eat the pizza.
"Dad, there's something I want to know. How did you meet Billie?" Arya asked me. I sat back and prepared to tell Arya the story of how I met her mother.
"Well, it all started a few months after I left college, so I was about your age now. I had no clue as to what I wanted to in life, so I did whatever my heart desired. I got a part-time job at a bookstore, putting books in an alphabetical order. I liked my job at first, as it was simple and I was getting paid to do a simple job. But after months of it, it got boring. But one day, this was to change.
A young, brunette woman, who looked around the same age as me, walked into the bookstore one day. She was very beautiful, not like most girls I had seen. As you're probably guessing from what I'm saying, I fell in love with the woman at first sight.
I got to know her and I went on dates with her. And we got a little passionate one night and suddenly, Billie was pregnant with you.
It was not until during the pregnancy when Billie revealed that she was a goddess. I wondered if she meant the Wikiana goddess. That's when I realised the truth. That goddess who I was talking about was right in front of me, and I had gotten her pregnant. I had gotten a goddess pregnant. And that goddess was married too, something that I worried about back then.
In private, she showed me some of her powers. I was astonished. I wondered whether our child would have any power. Billie told me that our child would be a demigod upon birth.
Months later, you were born. Your mother left me to raise you by myself. Over the years, I grew to realise that I didn't need to worry anymore. I didn't regret falling in love with a married goddess, because my beautiful daughter, who makes me proud everyday, was the result of it."
Arya smiled once more. I felt some closure in me now that I had told Arya how me and Billie met.
I wouldn't change my little girl for the world.