Daughter of the Moon

This story doesn't belong to any fandom so you don't need to know any tv show to understand it. But if there anything you don't understand, please ask me for more information.

The plot of this story is not mine; there is a song called "Son of the Moon" (in French and Spanish at least) by a group from Spain called Mecano, I just follow the lyrics. "Son of the Moon" don't belong to me and I don't intend to make any money with it. There are no intentions to infringe the rights of the legal owners.

Notes:

1 - The Mapuche are an indigenous people who live in southern Chile and Argentina . The 1992 Chilean census indicates that there are 928,500 Mapuche living in Chile, plus numerous others in Argentina. The traditional Mapuche lifestyle is agricultural, but many Mapuche have moved to cities like Santiago (the capital of Chile), or Temuco, which is a center of commerce for the 9th region. The name Mapuche is composed of two words -- "mapu", which means "land", and "che", which means people. Their language is called "Mapudungun", and is composed of "mapu" and "dungun", which means "talk", or "speech". Like many natives, Mapuches don't consider themselves Chilean. At one time they used the word Huinca to refer to Chileans, but I'm not sure if it's used now.

2 - A machi is the Mapuche version of a shaman. Male machis have always been unusual so at this point 80% of machis are women. There is more than one way to inherit the power but the most accepted way is from a deceased machi of the maternal line, since it's a feminine power. Machis have several roles and usually are good-oriented shamans; these are the Machis of the Moon. But there are others whose intentions aren't evil but tend to be unpredectible and ambigous; these are Machis of the Sun. On the other hand, Kalkus are witches and they are simply evil.

This information about the Machis was taken from the site of Universidad de Chile. The article was written for the Revista Chilena de Antropología (Chilean Magazine of Antropology) by Ana Mariella Bacigalupo.

4 - Millaray means Flower of Gold, Kuyenray means Flower of the Moon, Catrileo means Broken River, Curiman means Black Condor, Lincoman means Army of Condors.

These Mapuche's names where taken from an article written by Jorge Calbucura.

4 - A ruca is the cabin that countryside Mapuches use to live.

By Claudia Aranda.

Lucía was in love.

Deeply.

Unfortunately the source of her happiness wasn't aware of her feelings or if he did know, he didn't care.

Why should he? Lucía was pretty but nothing more. She wanted to be beautiful, smart, rich! but she knew that wouldn't happen. She wanted her dream to become real but she wasn't sure what else to do. Direct confrontation hadn't worked. Nor had help from their mutual friends. There was only one more thing to try.

Her mother had warned her not to mess with spirits and the forces of nature. They always wanted something back and paying their price usually had terrible consequences. Her mother had told her the story of the young woman who got the man she wanted but she had to give her firstborn to the woman who helped her, and she never could get over it. But Lucía didn't care. If this woman wanted her firstborn, she would give the child to her. It wasn't a child that she wanted. She wanted Pablo Curiman.

Pablo. His dark skin had an even tone, his eyes were almost black, like grapes. His smile was soft and sweet. Even Chilean women found him attractive and he had lots of girlfiends. Sometimes more than one at the same time. None of the woman complained; all of them seemed to know that he wasn't committed to anybody so you accepted what he was ready to give, or you walked away from him. Very few women walked away from Pablo.

But Lucía didn't want just a couple of weeks of happiness. She wanted him beside her their whole lives. That's the reason why, ignoring the warnings that her mother had gave her since childhood about the forces of nature and witchcraft, Lucía was travelling to see a machi, a woman who was said to be a Machi of the Sun or even a Kalku but Lucía had heard only good things about her, and everybody knew how competitive machis were. So everything that was said surely only was an attempt to isolate her. Lucía was bringing with her: a package or gourmet cookies, a couple of cans of tuna and a jar of mayonaisse. She smiled to herself; a machi that wanted those things as an initial offering couldn't be that bad.

Finally, Lucía was in front of the door of the machi's house. A house instead of a ruca? For a fleeting moment she felt her resolve failing. Was her mother right? Maybe, but her mother was also a woman who thought that no man was the answer to the meaning of life. Lucía snorted, her mother was a modern woman who wanted Lucía to study and become an independent woman, but Lucía knew that she was connected with her Mapuche's roots; this was the right thing to do. She knocked on the door and waited.

When the door opened, Lucía stared open-mouthed for a couple of seconds but she quickly remembered who this woman was. It wouldn't be wise to insult her. Lucía was expecting an old machi but this woman wasn't that old, in her late thirties and older than Lucía, yes, but Lucía herself was only a little more than a teenager. Lucía looked at the woman carefully. She had fair skin, very fair, and although her hair was dark, it wasn't as dark as that of the Mapuche women. Her eyes were light brown. The woman wasn't Mapuche, Lucía realized in shock. She was Chilean, and Chilean women couldn't be machis. Maybe this was a bad idea.

*---*

The witch looked at the young girl at her front door and smiled warmly. "Hello, I'm Araminta Donoso. Don't be afraid. I haven't eaten young girls for a millinea..." She chuckled softly. "... too much fat."

Against her will, Lucía smiled back. She had noticed that the woman hadn't a Mapuche surname either, but her tender voice made her completely forget her fears. Besides, everybody said only good things about her. "Hello. I'm Lucía Millaray. I heard about you from a friend of mine that you helped. Mónica Catrileo."

"Please, come in. I remember Mónica. How is she?"

"Quite fine, thanks, Ms. Donoso. She hadn't been so happy in her whole life. You changed her life."

"Please call me Araminta. We don't need to be formal." The witch closed her eyes for a second. "Mónica... I'm glad she's fine. It takes so little to change a life." She sighed as if she didn't understand the coldness of the world but quickly her smile returned. "Please, Lucía, take a seat."

Lucía looked around her, amazed. The little room was so normal that she almost thought she had mistaken the place.

"Well, dear. What can I do for you? What is your problem that you didn't find help from a teacher or a doctor?"

"Well, I don't know if I should call it a problem, you see... I love someone..."

"Ah... Love. Isn't a wonderful feeling?" Araminta smiled dreamily, remembering the times she had been in love.

"... but he doesn't know that I exist..."

"Poor baby," said the witch sympathetically, then sitting next to Lucía took her hand and looked at her seriously. "Is he worthy of your love, dear?"

"Yes! Oh, yes! His name is Pablo Curiman." Lucía's eyes shone with something that could be passion, although Araminta wasn't sure that someone that young could really understand what passion was. Lucía started to count all the good qualities that Pablo had: he didn't drink, he was well mannered and compassionate, he worked and studied, how in the world he had time for that many girlfiends was a mystery.

Araminta smiled; First Love was so special. Lucía was a little old to be falling in love for the first time, but surely that was because before she had been just infatuated with boys of her age. Pablo was older and that alone made him be wanted by the youngsters. Araminta smiled pleased. She knew Pablo and she had to admit that Lucía has good taste. "Well, dear. What do you exactly want? For what I understand, he'll notice you when you're a couple of years older."

"I don't want to wait."

"I understand, but what does your family think of this? What about your mother?"

"Neither my family nor my mother know. My mother won't be pleased to know that I come here to see you. She's always telling us that witchcraft is wrong. If I tell her about what I feel, I'm sure she'll say that I should accept that Pablo doesn't want me but... she doesn't understand. She has never loved somebody like I love Pablo."

"Are you sure? Your mother was young once, just like you."

"No, she never had the feeling that I have. You don't know her. She's bitter and cold."

"Oh, darling. That's so sad..." With her eyes wet with tears, Araminta hugged the young girl tightly. "Don't worry... We'll find a way." Suddenly she let Lucía go. "But now we have to talk seriously. We can't ignore your family, much less your mother. Do you know that I could be arrested if your mother denounces me to the police?"

Lucía's eyes were huge. "No!"

"Oh, yes," replied Araminta. "I had to leave my old home because of what I am. Chileans think I'm a swindler. Mapuches think I'm a kalku. So, we have to make a pact right now. If I agreed to do what you want, you can't tell anybody for any reason. Understood?"

"Understood. I'm willing to do anything you demand."

"Little child. I might demand hard things for you to do, but be sure that I will demand a reward that maybe you couldn't be able to pay."

"But then... how..."

"Once we have talked about your... problem, I'll tell you what I want, and you'll have a week to decide. If you agreed to my price, we'll arrange things to make your wish came true. Is that okay with you?"

"I think so."

"Now, dear. Tell me exactly what you want."

"I want Pablo to marry me and be with me til death."

Araminta thought for a moment. "That kind of love is the hardest, child, but it can be done. Nevertheless, it's the one that demands the higher price. For a husband loyal and loving, until your death, you have to give me your first child within a day of its birth. And if you say something about our deal to anybody, the spell would be over."

Lucía thought about it a moment. She could do it. After all if she never saw the baby, she wouldn't be attached to him, or her. "But how can I give you the baby? I mean, if I have a baby and then disappears, the police would ask questions and what I would say to Pablo?"

"Those, dear, are your problems. But remember one thing. If you aren't really sure about what you want, it won't work." Araminta looked at the young girl seriously. "Pablo would love you until your death, but that doesn't mean he couldn't feel betrayed and refuse to be with you even though he would love you deeply. So, go home and think about it. If in a week you don't return, I'll understand that you refuse." Araminta stood up and hurried Lucía out of the house. "Go, baby, go. You have a lot of serious thinking to do. I'll wait for you a week. Now go and think about it."

*---*

That night, Lucía's sleep was restless. She could see Pablo's face, his eyes showing his hurt because of what she did. Her photo in the newspapers and in the tv news while all the country commented about what a bitch she was. But the more terrifying vision was of herself, aging hopelessly in jail. Everytime she woke up terrified but she managed to sleep again.

*---*

A month later Araminta had just finished talking with her sister on the phone, when she heard a knock on her door. It was early morning and she was tired because she had been up all night to do a spell, but she managed to gather strengh and opened the door. Araminta was surprised to see Lucía, waiting with a shy smile. "Lucía, dear. Please come in. I thought you wouldn't return."

"Sorry, I wasn't sure if you would receive me again. I spent lot of time thinking about it but I just saw myself in jail for life."

"Your fears are understandable, dear, but you were to have made a decision. Did you?"

"Yes. I'll give you the baby. I'm not sure how, but I'll do it. I have no doubts."

"Good! Then I can tell you one thing that I didn't tell you before." Araminta smiled sweetly.

"What?" whispered Lucía, slightly worried.

"Once you have delivered the baby to me, no one will have any memory of your pregnancy or the baby."

"That's not possible!"

"This is magic, my little girl. Anything is possible."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Because you had to be really sure that you wanted to do this. The reason you came to me today is because you are ready to do anything."

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Then I would give you a list of instructions that you have to follow to assure Pablo's love. I have to make some preparations too, so we'll meet again in a week to start the part that we have to do together and then we'll wait for the full moon." Araminta was serious again. "This spell demands that you spend a full moon night with Pablo to become pregnant."

"Do have I sex with Pablo before marriage? The Church doesn't like that!"

"That shouldn't be a problem. Catholic marriage is for Catholic followers. We are not." Araminta spoke every word carefully. "Do you understand now? This is your last change to refuse."

There wasn't any hesitation in Lucía's voice. "I will be here."

"Perfect. It's time to go now, dear. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

*---*

For the last week, Lucía had been doing exactly what the witch had said:

-She had to kept pure for the entire week. No man might touch her or the spell wouldn't work.

-Every night she had covered her whole body with the oil that Araminta gave her, which was made with cinnamon leaves.

-She had kept a candle alight all night every night since that day.

Araminta had told her that she had to become a daughter of the moon, or they'd be rejected. The procedures were quite simple and Lucía was glad about it. If the witch had wanted her to do something gross like eating frogs she would have forced herself to do it. Thankfully, that didn't happen. It was incredible too, how good she was feeling, as if a whole new life was put into her body everynight. The last night she knew without a doubt that she was ready. That night was filled with dreams of love and happiness, forever.

*---*

Araminta sighed heavily. Why did she always jump into these situations? Wouldn't her life be a lot easier if she simply stayed aside and watched people living normally? Why did she have that strange tendency to intervene?

Araminta sighed again; she had asked herself those questions hundreds of times without an answer yet. She had even asked one of her sisters that was older and wiser, but she had told her that they couldn't betray their true nature. Things have to be the way they should be and that was all.

Relieved that her sister surely would approve what she was about to do, Araminta started to prepare the spell. There were components to the spell itself, but there were clothes and places to be prepared too. The full moon would be in eight days from that day and there were lots of things that had to be done. Araminta stopped whining and started working.

*---*

A week later Lucía was in the witch's house again. The first two days were rather entertaining because the spell could only be done on the night of the full moon so while they waited, Araminta had been teaching her some little spells to recover from high fever, broken bones and headaches. Finally the evening of the second day, Araminta told Lucía they were going to find some flowers. Both women went to a nearby field that had several spot of Dedalitos de Oro. That particular flower could be from a light yellow to a deep orange, and they spent an hour collecting enough yellow flowers for the spell.

The night was coming and they headed toward a low hill near the witch's house. Lucía was carrying the flowers while Araminta brought the rest of the things. When they finally reached the top, it was almost night. The stars sparkled brightly but soon they would be darkened by the beautiful full moon expected for that night.

Araminta conducted Lucía toward the place. There was a huge fig tree in the center of the hilltop. Its lower branches had been cut to allow a small but comfortable spot under it. The place was already ready with white blankets and candles. "Dear, spread the salt around the tree making a circle, and once that's ready spread the flowers the same way. I'll light the candles. The moon will appear soon."

When those tasks were done Lucía changed into a traditional Mapuche dress. The black chamal was wrapped around her body leaving only her left shoulder out and was secured over the right shoulder with a pin. The trarihue was adjusted over the chamal and around her waist like a belt. Her hair was covered with the traditional black handkerchief that was attached to her head with a trarilonko decorated with silver coins and several strips of brilliant colors. Finally over her shoulders Araminta put a beautiful black iculla with its border embroidery in light green wool. When the trapelacucha was secured on the chamal upon her chest. Lucía was feeling more moved than ever in her life. Even though many Mapuche women still used the traditional dress, very few used one totally black like this. For the first time in her life, Lucía felt beautiful.

Araminta looked proudly at their work. Lucía looked beautiful. "Ok, dear. Now we can start."

They knelt one in front of the other and both prayed at the same time, "Without God and Holy Mary." Araminta raised her arms toward the moon that had appeared already and pleaded, "Give us your blessing, Mother."

As if in answer, both figures were bathed in the moonlight. "Hurry, dear. Go under the fig tree."

Quickly Lucía did what she was told and knelt upon the blankets.

The witch started to spread salt in a circle around her. "Hear our plea, Mother. Bring to us the man who'll give us what we want." Then Araminta took a bunch of white flowers and threw them into the air above her head. Instead of falling to the ground, the flowers kept floating over the witch, which made her smile, pleased. The witch looked directly at Lucía and announced, "You will have your man, dark skin." Araminta stepped out of the circle of salt and the flowers turned into mist. Inside the circle a figure slowly started to form.

Lucía couldn't breathe. The figure was complete now. A naked man walked toward Lucía. Her eyes sparkled with passion when Pablo stretched out next to her on the blankets.

Out of sight, Araminta vanished in a rain of white flowers. Of course when Pablo's lips touched hers, Lucía wasn't thinking about the witch anymore.

*---*

Lucía wasn't sure if what she remembered had been real or a beautiful dream induced by the witch. She was on the blankets with Pablo next to her. They looked at each other and no word was needed; they dressed and walked away toward the witch's house. She was in the doorway, waiting for them. When they were almost there, Araminta made a gesture and Pablo stopped walking. Lucía approached the witch, looked at her lover, and then asked, "Is he all right? Why can he be here with me?"

"He's all right, but under a spell until you two leave my house. We don't want him feeling used. Right?"

"No. Of course, you're right... but what now?"

"Now, you go home and start to prepare yourself for the baby. The pregnancy will be shorter than a normal one. The last day of December you have to return here so I can help you to deliver the baby. Only when I have the baby you can marry Pablo, and then you can continue with your lives." Araminta was serious again. "Remember no one would see the baby for any reason. Do you understand?"

"Yes," replied Lucía distractedly.

"This is important, Lucía. Do you understand? Nobody. Your mother. Your friends. Not even Pablo."

"I understand."

"Good. Then go and enjoy your life with Pablo, because it will be like this until the end."

"Goodbye, Araminta. Thank you."

"Goodbye, child. Be careful." Araminta watched the couple leave. Love was so beautiful. No matter how many times she saw it, it was like the first time.

*---*

Lucía was afraid when she arrived home. She had spent several days away from home and now was returning with a stranger. Her mother surely would kill her. Only the reassuring squeeze of Pablo's hand gave her courage enough to knock on the door.

The door opened and her mother greeted them with a huge smile. "Pablo, Lucía! I'm so happy you're finally here. Pablo, I'm Isabel, Lucía's mother. I was talking with Angélica about the wedding. Come on, Lucía, you haven't met Pablo's mother yet."

"Lucía, this is Mrs. Angélica Lincoman, Pablo's mother. Angélica, this is my daughter Lucía." Both women hugged tightly, then Pablo hugged his mother. Everybody was happy as if everything had always been like this.

Lucía listened the two older women talking about the wedding, flowers and parties. Who would be invited and who wouldn't. Nobody questioned Lucía's decision to wait until February and the conversation turned to grandchildren. Like almost all the mothers in the world, Angélica and Isabel wanted them too.

To herself, Lucía thought that they didn't know how close that dreamed grandchild was, but she had to remember that her baby wouldn't be with her long. Nevertheless the thought didn't upset her. Pablo was next to her, holding her hand, and their mothers were talking like best friends while their fathers were trying to become invisible, thinking how much the wedding would cost.

Everything was perfect.

*---*

A month later, Lucía noted that her belly was incredibly huge but no one seemed concerned about it. Pablo talked about the things he would teach to his first son, while the two future grandmothers assured him that it would be a girl.

Everyone was happy and delighted with the idea of raising this little baby. Lucía just sighed. She knew she had to give the baby to the witch but it seemed harder with every week.

*---*

It was December 31. Everybody was ready to celebrate the new year, so Lucía could easily leave her home to go to the witch's. She wanted to keep this baby but she knew that the consequences of betraying the witch were worse than going to jail. It was surprising how easily she could find a way to reach the witch's house, but she tried not to think about it. Once the witch had the baby, her life would be perfect forever.

*---*

Lucía and Araminta climbed the hill again, and the baby was delivered under the fig tree. Once again the moon was full.

The baby was born easily and her strong lungs filled the night breeze with her cries. Lucía looked surprised at the baby. She and Pablo had dark skin and dark eyes; how could this baby have fair skin and light eyes? Lucía remembered the verses of a song:

But Lucía couldn't watch the baby longer, for Araminta took the baby in her arms and presented her to the moon, then she started to rock the baby in her arms. Lucía felt a pang of jealousy. "What will her name be?"

"Kuyenray," answered the witch. "It means Flower of the Moon. She's a daughter of the Moon like me. My little flower. My little daughter."

They were surrounded by the moonlight in a scene that should be of peaceful calm but, instead, a cry of rage made them jump. Both women turned to see Pablo. His eyes were red and huge. He was looking at the baby. "This baby has fair skin!" Enraged, Pablo shouted, "Fair skin! Light eyes!" He turned toward Lucía. "This is not my child! You betrayed me! I loved you so much and you betrayed me!"

Neither women saw the knife in his hands until it was late. Before Araminta could do anything she was stabbed in the stomach and she dropped to the ground with the baby still in her hands. Lucía tried to run, but she was quickly caught and stabbed several times, while Pablo sobbed again and again, "I loved you! Why do you did this to me!"

Finally Lucía was released and she fell to the ground while life left her body slowly.

Pablo was crying now, but he heard the baby. He took her from the dead witch's arms and started to climb the nearby hill.

*---*

Araminta sat on the ground and growled at her dress covered with blood. She looked around and saw Lucía several feet away, thrown on the ground, trying to cover the worst wound with her hands. "Araminta, help me!"

Araminta walked toward Lucía and noted that her wounds were very serious. The girl would die soon. Araminta looked around for her baby. Where Pablo had gone?

"Araminta! Help me!"

"There is nothing I can do for you. It's not allowed for me to give life."

"What?!" Lucía panicked. "What are you saying?"

"Don't worry. There won't be more pain. You'll die soon."

"No... That's not possible. I have to marry Pablo." Lucía's voice was losing its strength quickly.

"I'm afraid that won't happen."

"But you promised me!"

"I granted your wish: Pablo's love until the moment you die. That your life might be this short because of the spell was beyond my knowledge."

"Would it have mattered if you had known?"

"No, of course not."

"Why did you do this to me? You helped other people!"

"They didn't have anything that I wanted. Their wishes didn't hurt anybody, but you were perfect. Stupid enough to come to me, asking for love." The witch laughed. "No one can be forced to love anyone."

"You are a monster!"

"I'm not the only one, dear. Pablo's soul was trapped inside him. The one who made love with you wasn't the real Pablo, but you didn't realize it because you didn't care for him. The only thing that mattered to you was to possess him like a trophy."

"No, I love him!"

"Real love doesn't need magic, fool child. If you had loved Pablo with all your heart, you would never have done that to him. You should have listened to your mother."

But Pablo hadn't been the only one following Lucía. When she heard the cries, Isabel knew something bad had happened. She had climbed the hill as fast as possible, but she couldn't keep her daughter from being stabbed to death. She ran toward the two figures in the moolight. Her daugher was resting on her side on the ground, badly hurt. Isabel knelt next to Lucía and embraced her daughter tenderly. "My poor baby. What happened to you?"

Lucía could only look at her mother and mutter softly, "I'm sorry."

Isabel looked at Araminta. "You are a kalku! Don't let her die. Help my baby, please!"

"There's no hope for her."

"If you don't help her, I'll tell the police! They'll arrest you!"

"No, dear, you won't. When she dies the spell will be broken and no one, not even you, will remember anything about this. Pablo will be free of the spell and never will know what happened here. Lucky boy, there is real love and happiness in his future. Tomorrow you'll discover that she has died in her sleep. Poor girl... but it has happened before." The witch smiled. "Now I have to retreive my daughter. Goodbye, Isabel. Be glad to know that your other kids will heed your warnings."

The witch turned around and left while Isabel sobbed and rocked her daughter in her arms.

*---*

As if in a trance, Pablo climbed the hill but near the top, he couldn't walk anymore. He knelt on the ground and looked at the sky while he cried bitterly with the baby in his arms. Suddenly the moon bathed him in its white light. Pablo stopped crying, left the baby on the ground, stood up and left without looking back.

*---*

Araminta descended the hill with Kuyenray in her arms. A little girl! Her daughter!

When she arrived at her house, the witch saw several cars and a little crowd of women waiting for her. One of the women stepped forward and extended her arms to receive the baby. Araminta put her daughter in the arms of her sister. "She's Kuyenray."

Delighted, the women admired the baby and congratulated Araminta. Finally all of them turned toward the witch who was rocking the baby in her arms. With her eyes wet with emotion, Wesa commented, "She has your eyes, Kanetsidohi."

End.

Son of the Moon

Fool, if you don't understand.

a legend tells

that a gypsy girl

prayed to the moon until dawn.

Crying, she prayed

at the break of day

to marry a gypsy man.

You'll have your man, dark skin,

the full moon said from the sky,

but in return I want

the firstborn child

you bear to him.

If she would sacrifices her own child

so she wouldn't be alone,

she couldn't love him very much.

Moon, you want to be a mother

From cinnamon father was born a child

white as the back of an ermine

with eyes of gray

instead of olive.

The albino child of the moon.

Coarse are his features

this is the son of a peasant

and I won't shut up.

Moon, you want to be a mother

The gypsy, believing himself dishonored,

went to his woman, a knife in his hand.

Whose child is this?!

you've cheated on me

and he stabbed her to death,

then he went to the hill

with the boy in his arms,

and there abandoned him.

Moon, you want to be a mother

And on nights when the moon is full

it's because the boy is happy.

And if the boy cries,

the moon will wane

to make him a cradle.

And if the boy cries,

the moon will wane

to make him a cradle...