06 Magic and Science

Desiree

TWO WEEKS LATER

Adam gave me a day off, which I decided to spend at the Moon park and relax. As horrible as the place may seem, it held some precious memories of me and my parents. Memories I was doing all that I could to hold on to and never let go. On my way out of the gate, I saw a recruitment queue that had the Bloods lined up separately from the Moons. The sign read, 'Engineers needed'.

I knew King Kingston had been trying to build weapons and technology that could change the fate of our environment. He had spent a lot and risked a lot, but the results so far had been underwhelming. The Moons knew it would be difficult for him to succeed because we lived in a magic world, and in our world, magic and science went together. There was no way his machines and inventions could work without magic powering them or helping them to operate.

Alpha Kingston was trying hard to beat this oddity because witches were no longer at our disposal. After reading my mother's letters, I understood why. Because the witches were no longer at our disposal, we had to depend heavily on science to survive. Some of the attempts were successful, but others weren't.

Werewolves did not have magic except for certain bloodlines like my mother's. My mother's family had very selective magic. It had skipped my mother, and she hoped I would inherit it. It was the only magic available to the Moons, and just like the name of our pack implies, the magic was amplified or dampened by the moon.

I learned the Bloods had magic once, but it was dark, so they found a way to make it dormant until it was expelled. Although people mocked King Kingston when he said he would build a megacity on our lands when they took over, he had surprised everyone and succeeded. My mother told me the Bloods attacked us because our land was the only place that wasn't scorched and covered with the ash atmosphere. This was possible because of the moon magic wielded by my grandfather, the Alpha of the Moon pack. Although he wasn't as strong as the one before him, he was strong enough to keep the Ash at bay which made the sunshine and the crops grow. The fact that our land wasn't scorched made it a target. We had withstood and won so many attacks from packs that tried to take over our lands that it weakened our defences and made us vulnerable. When the Bloods attacked us, we weren't at our best capacity, and that was why they won, but King Kingston was wise enough to kill all the moons that could rise against him to keep the Moons subdued. What was happening was the result of his actions. Most of the pack members had forgotten their strength.

After watching the engineers line up at the greater gate to get a tally and sit for the engineers' exams, I walked away.

When I got to the park, I became sad. No matter how strong technology was, it couldn't compete with magic. The ash was slowly spreading over our lands, and the once green earth in some places had turned grey and desolate because the sun could not shine upon it. The wicked Blood members had moved the Moon members to the damaged parts of the land and taken over the fertile and clean parts. I wondered why they didn't just kill us all. The ash and poor nutrition was the reason why most Moon members had been falling ill and dying lately. It is also the cause of my mother's illness. I sat at the bench and wished I could speed the hands of time, get my wolf and see maybe I would inherit the moon magic so I could use it to liberate my people and heal our lands.

I sat on the bench and just stared at the rusted contraption that looked like a swing but didn't run because there was no magic to power it.

Someone came to sit next to me, and to my surprise, it was Adam. I wanted to gasp, but I held my peace.

"Calm down, Desiree. I gave you the day off so we could hang out," he said, laughing. He was wearing a grey hoody this time around, and it was over his head.

"Please, your highness, you will get me in trouble. If anyone sees you here with me, I could lose my life," I pointed out, and he nodded.

"Don't worry, Desiree, no one would see us," he said.

"The ash can poison your system," I said, reminding him of the difference in the atmosphere.

He took a deep breath and sighed.

"Desiree, one thing the Bloods never tell Moons is that our territory was scorched beyond recognition before we heard of the Moon lands and decided to take it over so we could survive. I had breathed ash air for fifteen years before we came to conquer this place. The richness of the lands and cleanliness of the air was what made the Bloods determined to win the pack war," he said and kept silent. He had passed his message and made his point. We sat on the bench, apart from each other, and admired the scenery quietly. After an hour, Adam got up, said goodbye, and left. I wanted to visit my mother, and a part of me had come to that park hoping she might come to eat there, but I did not see her and I did not want to see Rob. I knew I would have to visit her eventually.

I resumed work the next day, and I noticed a lot of preparations were going on. I had learned that King Kingston was throwing an engagement party for his son Adam, and his beta's daughter, Lola. The work was much, and we were not allowed to rest. I had to pick up some chores and serve Adam at the same time. Lola was with him throughout, beaming. Soon her friends came to get her ready for the party. I was leaving with the food when Adam spoke to me.

"Desiree, look nice at the party," he ordered, and I knew that wouldn't be wise.

"Your highness, please, I do not want to get into trouble here. I will be wearing my uniform." I told him, and he shook his head.

"All the workers would be wearing their clothes and dressed nice," he said to me, and I shook my head.

"They are all Bloods. I am the only royal staff that is a Moon, and it is only Level eight, nine and ten staff that are allowed to attend. The rest of the staff would be serving. I know you have promoted me, but I do not want to annoy anyone," I pleaded, and he shook his head.

"What nonsense. I will send you something to wear. You better look nice. My food taster cannot look shabby at my party." he said, and I was afraid. I could not argue with him, but I knew I would get in trouble.

"I will send you something in the shade of blue to make you feel better," he said, and my stomach churned because I did not know what kind of dress he would be sending.

"Go and get ready. I will send the clothes to your room, and my best friend Kyle will come and get you," he said.

"Please send it to the lower service quarters," I told him, and he frowned.

"What are you doing in that place. I told them to give you a better room fit for level ten staff," he said, and I shook my head.

"They did, Your highness. It is a beautiful room," I lied because it was a Blood level six-room that I was given, "It is just that I spend most of my time in the lower service quarters with my kind," I tried to explain.

"What do you mean by your kind?" he asked, a bit angry, and I got scared. I did not want to reply, so I did not annoy him any more than I already had, but I had to.

"I do not want to break any rules or get in trouble. No matter how high you promote me, your highness, I am still a Moon and Moons are regarded as lesser wolves. I do not want to offend anyone, so I spend most of my free hours in the lower service quarters and retire to sleep in the blood quarters." I said, and his eyes widened.

"You mean there is a blood quarter? I thought the quarters were according to levels. What about the level nine and ten Moons, where do they stay?" he asked me, and I realised I had just given him the information he wasn't supposed to have, I was already in it. I couldn't back down now.

"They stay in the lower service quarters where all the moons stay," I said, and he nodded.

"I will check the place out myself," he said, and I shook my head.

"Please, your highness, Don't go there. Please don't," I begged, knowing I will be blamed for this. I was the only moon he was interacting with, and if he did not know what was going on all these years, that meant he had never visited the place.

"Very well, Desiree. I understand your fears. I will have them fix up the lower service quarters and move you back to the place," he said, and I thanked him. The place needed renovation. I just hoped he had the power to pull off that kind of stunt.