I was pretty sure I was dreaming, as I found myself standing above an endless crystal, clear body of water, the reflection so crisp that I almost thought I was hovering in the air. The sky was blue, with the occasional wisp of white clouds dotting the sky and nearly boundless as far as the eye could see, the air so startlingly pure that I was fairly certain I was either dead or dreaming. This world, wherever the hell I was, was so bright that I had to be suspended in some kind of comatose state to be experiencing such a thing. I could feel my very presence here, but my body seemed too light, clearly defy the very laws of physics that would dictate I would have been pulled under in the water. That was the only rationale I could come up with to explain why I wasn't surrounded by the tall towers or the campus grounds of Sacred One. Shouldn't I have at least woken up in Xavier's room?

I looked around confused by my surroundings, a sense of curiosity emerging. I clung to it tightly—better that than the panic that would threaten to overwhelm me if I was truly dead. There was nothing, except water, reflecting the brilliance of the clear sky for what looked like miles. There was no land, no people, nothing. Just water and the sky. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I was no longer at Sacred One.

So where the hell was I?

The temperature here was warm, the familiar heat warming my skin, except there was no sun here. I couldn't find one, or maybe it was hidden. I glanced down at myself, outfitted in a short, satin white slip of some sort, my bare legs exposed and my hair cascading down my back. I had no idea what was going on and I was confused as fuck. Was I dead?

Was I high? Man, I hoped I was doped up on something. Maybe I was being treated by a healer? Is this what being healed by a healer felt like? If it was, why the hell would Xavier refuse treatment by one? It was probably a hell of a lot more tolerable than whatever I was doing.

"What the hell?"

A flash of luminescent brightness startled me. I squinted my eyes to shield myself from the intensity of it, my heart racing in anticipatory fear. As soon as it faded to tolerable levels, I lifted my arm down to witness the appearance of a woman before me. Where in the world had she come from?

The woman was beautiful, remarkably so, with an ethereal sense of presence. She wore brilliant, white robes that transcended into a gradient of blue at the bottom, taking the shape of what appeared to be waves, in a beautiful, precise manner of design. Above the waves, was a picture of a long-tailed, large wing-spanned phoenix, as if rising in flight. I found the design fascinating and oddly befitting in the way she carried herself. She had a regal way about her, her demeanor communicating a wisdom that was visible in the way her gaze landed on me, studying me carefully. Her porcelain skin was nearly translucent and contrasted drastically with her dark, shiny hair that fell in a silky sheen down her back like a waterfall. She had a top knot situated on top of her head, her hair styled in a half-up, half-down fashion and it almost hurt to gaze upon her. She seemed to glow, like there was some sort of an effervescent light emanating from her persons.

Immediately, I knew she was not human. How I knew that, I had no idea, and it scared me. Energy radiated off of her being, so much so that I could feel it coursing through my veins. In some strange way, I was reacting to her presence, as if I wanted to draw closer to the pulsating waves of calm energy.

She walked closer—well glided really—and peered at me. Her manner of dress was unusual to me. Apart from her robes, her long kimono sleeves, draped down to the bottom of her silk robes. There was an obi belt cinching her waist and her ensemble reminded me strangely of a kimono.

Her eyes were a brilliant blue color, peering at me inquisitively. Her lips were painted red. I had never seen someone more beautiful, as her approach gave me the opportunity to take in her delicate-boned features more sharply. She had a small face, her chin tapering down, punctuated by her high cheekbones. She gave a smile then. "Hello, young one. I see that you've overextended yourself."

"Who are you?" I asked her suspiciously.

She smiled again. "My name is Luna."

I blinked. There was no way...

"You're the Goddess Luna?" I asked doubtingly. I was talking to a goddess? What the actual fuck? "You're fucking with me, right?" I questioned a little harshly. If this was some kind of weird prank...

She seemed to frown. "Your question puzzles me. I do not normally engage in the human's way of recreation."

I opened my mouth to say something, but I quickly closed it. If this was a joke, it was pretty damn convincing, because Luna didn't appear in the slightest to break out of character. Between the suspensions of physics in this dream-like dimension to the antiquated way of speaking, this woman was really convinced that she was a Goddess.

"Goddess?" Luna questioned, her face turned down in a frown of confusion, as if she was the one at odds with her surroundings. I drew back surprised. Could she read my thoughts? "I am not sure, but an original deity, if that is what you are referring to. I preside over the element of water."

I really must have landed hard on the ground because sure enough, I was meeting with an actual goddess.

A deity, I suppose.

"You're not joking," I said.

"Why would I jest about my identity?" Luna asked.

"Because you're making a very lofty claim," I answered her.

"Because from your world, I am taught as a mythological being?" Luna answered. She smiled then, amused by my very limited scope of understanding. It was clear that I was failing to grasp something—something that I was beginning to sense I should have known to be true. "Humans are not as advanced as the other humanoid species in the Universe, so your understanding of your universe is limited in grasp."

"Other humanoid species?" I questioned.

Luna nodded. "Yes. Humans are not the only beings in existence in the Universe. Your kind has not ventured far enough to discover that there are far more advanced organisms out there who have confirmed the deity's existence in this realm."

What?

Luna continued. "We do exist as beings in a different dimension. A few humans have ventured into this realm before. I would think that would be enough to confirm that we are not merely mythological."

"Where am I?" I asked, attempting to keep my nerves calm. I was fairly certain I was about ten seconds away from going into a panic. I had no recollection of how I got here or where I was and thus no idea of how to get back. All of this seemed way too real to be a dream. In fact, the clarity with which I was experiencing all of this didn't seem like some lucid dream. "I don't recognize this place."

"You're in a different dimension, accessed by transcending your subconscious here," Luna spoke. "It is difficult to explain to a human, but there are beings who, when accessing a different part of their brain, can subconsciously take corporeal form in this dimension."

I furrowed my brows, speechless. I knew there was much about the universe that humankind still didn't understand, but this? This was something else. "So I'm not high?"

Luna puzzled over the comment, finding me more amusing than anything else. "I see that your scientific upbringing and mind cannot process what you are hearing. Rest assured, I am telling you the truth. I have brought you here myself. It was quite easy actually. When you passed out, I have greater pull on your subconscious."

"Why did you bring me here?" I questioned.

"I wanted to meet one of my descendants," Luna explained.

"Descendants?" I questioned.

Luna nodded. "You will find out in due time. I wanted to meet the one that I have bestowed my gift too."

I stood there momentarily, as she took me in. She floated closer and smiled again. She stood a few inches shorter than I, as we stood about a foot apart. "I'm impressed by what you have done. Not many can do what you can at such an early stage."

Memories came flashing back of Xavier. "What do you mean?"

"What you have done is considered forbidden in your dimension," Luna explained. "I bestowed the gift of water to you, which comes with an immense amount of power and responsibility. You are able to manipulate water as I can, but what you have done with a life being's blood is something that can be very powerful and very dangerous if mishandled. I was concerned and I thought it best to bring you here to discuss the nature of what kind of ability you possess."

I had questions and I had a lot. Everything she imparted to me I was absorbing like a sponge. "What do you mean I am able to manipulate water as you do? I thought mine is a derivative form of your powers?"

"I no longer hold a physical presence in your dimension. Technically speaking, I do not bodily exist. You beings call it spiritual, but we do not see it that way. Our spirituality exists like any physical form, just in a different form." Luna explained. "It is why some beings in your dimension consider us gods, but we are deities of great power."

My mind was reeling from all of this, as I continued to listen. Luna continued. "However, it is incumbent upon the deities that we pass on our powers to those who we deem worthy, otherwise we might eventually perish as knowledge of our existence becomes scarce. Unfortunately, mortals have limitations when it comes to how much of it they can harness. Over many millennia I have passed on my powers, but not to the extent that I wield it. There are certain requirements that must be assessed to carry on the magnitude of such a gift. You are the only one who has the will and capacity to harness all of it."

The implication of Luna's words were beginning to hit me and I wanted to draw back in disbelief. Instead, I stood still, as I asked my next question. "Okay, but why did you deem me worthy of taking on that mantle?"

This had to be some kind of a joke, but I couldn't seem to find any humor in it. I was content with being normal and while I was sure anyone would kill for an elemental ability, I hadn't asked for any of it—certainly not for the turn my life had taken because of it. What good did an ability like this have when there were others so hungry for it they were willing to go to any lengths to take control of it?

Luna sensed my harrowing disbelief, tinged by the color of my disappointment. "I see that this troubles you."

I paused for a moment, before I shook my head. "We don't have to discuss my feelings about it. I'm—" what could I say that would somehow make my feelings on the matter any better? "—dealing with some stuff at the moment."

"There will always be people who will want what you have," Luna attempted to reassure me, as if sensing my inner turmoil. "It is a consequence of having a powerful ability."

"Yeah, isn't that the truth," I scoffed. "Besides, you never answered my question."

Luna smiled. "I have existed for so long, that weariness of this world is inevitable. We beings, while we watch over your universe, are also ready to move on from this existence. I found you on earth, watching as you struggled with day to day life. Your will, resilience, and your heart are different than others I have encountered. While, I generally bestow my gifts upon children, innocent of life's harsh realities, I decided to bestow it upon you to see what you would do with it and you have proved yourself more times than I could count. You are steadily beginning to develop mastery over the element. I was quite surprised that you were able to manipulate blood as you did."

I didn't argue the point because I hardly felt like I could do much except lift water and let it pathetically splash below as I lost control of it.

"I don't think I'm very good at harnessing it. Just the other day I killed a plant," I remarked.

"But just the other day, you saved someone's life," Luna pointed out.

"How is that possible?" I questioned. "I thought I was only able to manipulate water."

"I am not sure how much that school of yours has taught you, but those with elemental powers can sometimes harness peripheral ones," Luna pointed out. "For example, those with fire, can sometimes harness lightening, or those with air can control weather phenomenon like tornadoes."

"I can control blood?" I asked surprised.

Luna nodded. "To some extent, you exhibit abilities to control all states of matter as long as they have some trace of water. Water is the source of all life and it is also what allows beings to heal. Part of what you performed on Xavier was a healing ritual. Your manipulation of blood allows you to tap into your secondary ability to heal, but with it comes a danger. If uncontrolled, it can also bring pain."

"How do you know this?" I asked her.

"I was with you at the time you did so. You do not possess the capability yet of managing on your own, without my assistance. I can sense when my children are using my ability," Luna explained.

Things began to click into place. "Is that why suddenly I know of things that I didn't know before? I've never practiced any of these movements, but when I manipulate water, I suddenly know how."

Luna nodded, her inquisitive eyes imparting a warm tenderness. "Those with the water elemental ability have some spiritual connection to me. I provide them with the inherent knowledge and will manifest myself when called if assistance is required. The ability to harness the element is instinctual. It is part of who you are, so when called upon, your primal instincts will kick in. It is the same way your body exercises a newfound sharpness in your spatial awareness, vision and hearing when in dire positions. When you were trapped within that facility, I was there to help guide you, since you are still learning how to harness it."

"And my healing ability?" I prodded, my curiosity pushing at me.

Luna chuckled a laugh. "Your ability to heal takes an immense amount of energy, which was what happened when you healed Xavier. It is inevitable that your mortal body collapsed from exhaustion."

As I pieced together the bits of information imparted to me, I was coming to acknowledge that I knew little about what I was. "I was embodying you? Do you do that with everybody?"

Luna smiled. "No. But you will understand in due time."

Another cryptic response. I didn't push it. If Luna didn't want me to know just yet, then there had to be a reason and frankly, I wasn't sure if I wanted to know anything more until I processed what I had heard. I was a woman of rationale thought and science. I found myself suspended in disbelief that I was talking to a deity in my subconscious, but so far everything she said was making a hell of a lot of sense. I could feel it strangely in my bones that she was telling the truth.

"Controlling and manipulating a person's life force is dangerous. Do not attempt to do so often until you gain more experience," Luna warned, her face going solemn. "Your ability to manipulate blood can also result in great pain. Just as you were able to extract water from the plant, you can also extract all traces of blood and water, from one's being. That art is forbidden and is considered dark."

"The United Federation would take advantage of it," I voiced.

Luna gave me a nod, her expression growing more serious. "The United Federation understands very little about those with elemental abilities and their powers. They assume that those with elemental powers only have such, but failed to recognize that those with elemental abilities have a greater capacity for more, provided they are in tune with their element and can harness such tremendous energy effectively. Every individual gifted with such is aware to keep their secondary abilities a secret," Luna explained.

Her explanation was meant as a warning. I needed to be more careful in the future. Hell, if the blood manipulation was enough to render me into another dimension, then I must really have knocked myself out.

Luna continued. "I must go. Your friends are calling for you and you do not belong in this dimension..."

Luna flashed away in a brilliant array of lights, as I was suddenly transported out of the dimension, left reeling with numerous questions. I felt my consciousness returning, as I slowly opened my eyes.

My vision began to clear, as I took in my surroundings, a sense of awareness beginning to make itself known. I was also suddenly aware of the soreness that began to radiate from my body, to the point of near pain, from the extreme exhaustion of utilizing my ability as I had earlier. Healing Xavier and manipulating his blood with such precision, had taken both a mental and physical toll out of me and even now, my heart was racing at an uncontrollable pace.

An agonizing pressure began to build in my chest, until something sharp pierced it. It was so alarming that I instinctively lifted a hand to rub against my chest, as if it would calm my racing heart, dismantling the phantom pain. I gasped a breath, but as soon as the pain had appeared, the chest pain evaporated almost immediately.

I turned my head, examining my surroundings. Xavier sat some distance away, as he peered at me, a deep frown etched on his face. His expression remained hard as he examined me. I was still in the suite, but must have been carried to a bed. All three of the men were in the room, situated in various spots in the room.

"And she's awake," Ian said almost immediately.

I cleared the grogginess from my head and immediately my throat felt dry. I needed water. I licked my lips, shoving a hand through my long locks, pushing it aside. I sat up, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, ready to leave. "What time is it? How long was I out?"

"You were out for a couple of hours," Xavier answered finally, the deep baritone of his voice washing over me. He sat on one of his desk chairs, looking curiously at me. He was regarding me with a look that was remarkably absent of the usual distrust I had come to know. Instead, in its place was a guarded gratitude for saving his life and a newfound look of curiosity. If I wasn't careful, I had a feeling he would make it his mission to ensure that he knew what I was hiding.

"You didn't bring me to a holo-med bay?" I asked him somewhat annoyed. I looked out the window, noting the evening sun.