CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER FIVE 

SAPPHIRE 

My eyes fluttered open, awakened by a song carried faithfully by the wind. The melody sounded so familiar, yet so strange, like I had only heard it once in passing. 

Like it was made for the ears of another. 

It wasn’t cold as I had remembered, the wind.  This time it held a warmth I had only felt in the arms of my father. 

The goddess had blessed us with a full moon tonight. The light from the moon reflected on the surface of the river I stood in, the cool water rushing past my feet. 

Then I felt a presence behind me, but I was not overcome with fear. 

Within me, I knew who it was. 

I turned to face him, his silver fur glowing beneath the moonlight as his crimson eyes gazed at mine. 

He walked towards me slowly, my heart racing like I had just run a thousand miles.

He stopped some steps away from me, and his eyes held a longing I had never seen. 

No one had ever looked at me that way before. 

And then his voice reached my ears, “I have searched for you for so long.” 

A small gasp left my lips as I opened my eyes, my heart pounding against my chest. 

What just happened? 

I looked around me, and all I saw was a worn-out sack and some spears, the light from the sun peeking in through the crack of the tent. 

The moon was no longer in sight, nor those beautiful crimson eyes… did I just have a dream? 

In the twenty years I had lived, I had never dreamt. Anytime I succumbed to the bosom of sleep, I dwelled in darkness, floating in nothingness till I opened my eyes at the break of dawn. 

It was known to all that the goddess spoke to her creations in different ways, and dreaming was a sign that you had a connection with the goddess. 

Another reason people said I was specially cursed by the goddess. 

But… how did I even get here? The last thing I remembered was the silver wolf and - 

My eyes widened in fear as it all came back to me, how I almost died. 

I tried to stand up from the ground, but immediately I tried to take a step, a throbbing pain in my back and my knee consumed me as I fell to the ground. 

I held back my tears as I held my knee tightly. It was then I realized there were bandages wrapped around it, also around my breasts and torso beneath the gown made from sackcloth I was wearing. 

Who dressed me up? Who brought me here? Was it the silver wolf? 

Ignoring the pain, I took a deep breath, as I tried to stand up again, slowly this time. 

How I got here did not matter right now. I couldn’t stay here. If I did, my fate would be no better than a human during the full moon hunt, laying in wait to be slaughtered. 

As I was about to leave the tent, a soldier walked in. 

My knees gave way beneath me, kneeling before him, my eyes rooted to the ground. 

My shoulders trembled as he stood there, silent. 

Was he thinking of how to dispose of me? Subject me to worse than Hakil did to that human?? 

“You tried to flee.” He finally spoke, his voice firm. 

“I’m s-sorry my lord, p-please spare m-me, please.” I begged, my voice shaking. 

“I would have put your head on a stake for that… but thank the goddess for her mercy.” He sighed and left the tent.

I lifted my eyes from the ground when I could no longer hear his footsteps. 

Was I forgiven? That was highly unlikely. Forgiveness was not a trait the royal family possessed, they believed in giving out punishments - deserved or not. 

So why was I spared? Or did one of the soldiers want me as a sex slave? That was highly likely. 

Before that would befall me, I needed to escape - and swiftly. 

I got up off the floor, hissing from the shooting pain as I stood and limped out of the tent. 

Everyone had something to occupy their attention. The soldiers were overseeing the tasks carried out by the slaves- this was my chance. 

“Sapphire!” A voice called out my name, stopping me in my tracks. 

There was only one person who knew my name in this camp. I turned to face him, giving him a tight smile as he approached. 

“The goddess must truly favor you… how did you survive it?”

“I don’t know, it could only be the goddess’ doing.” I said, giving him a small smile as I remembered the silver wolf. 

He was the one that saved me, but why? And why did I dream of him of all things?  Was the goddess trying to show me something? 

“You have to be more alert next time, why didn’t you bow?” He asked, his brow furrowed.

“I didn’t know royalty was approaching.” I said quietly, my eyes flickering around briefly, trying to find an escape route, before turning back to him. 

“How is that possible…” He paused, and then his eyes narrowed at me, “are you not a werewolf?”

“I am… I think.” I said, my tone laced with uncertainty. 

“You think?” He questioned, his brow raised. 

“I can’t shift.” I sighed. 

“So you’re human?” He asked in curiosity. 

“No, I’m not, I can sense the aura of every living creation… I don’t think a human is capable of that.” I replied, a hint of sadness in my heart. That was the only thing that distinguished me from a human, the only thing I was capable of. 

“No, they are not,” He agreed,” but if you can sense the aura, then how could you not sense the blood of a royal?”

I pondered on his question. Why didn’t I sense it? That had never been a problem for me, it was the only thing I could do. 

So how was I not able to feel it? The blood of a royal was so strong that even non-werewolves could sense them approaching. 

So why couldn’t I?

I looked around, and my eyes met with the soldier that I saw when I woke up. He was staring at me intently. 

There was no way I could escape now without being caught. I needed to exercise patience. 

“Trying to escape in your condition is foolish.” He stated in a matter-of-fact tone. 

I turned to face him, my eyes gaping slightly in shock. 

How did he know? Was I that obvious? 

Was the soldier also aware of it? Is that why he was watching me? 

“The only way you can escape is if you end up in the palace.” He said. 

“The palace?” I asked. 

“Hm, if you end up in the mines, you wouldn’t last a day.” He spoke with certainty. And he wasn’t wrong.

I wouldn’t stand a chance. 

“So how do I end up in the palace?” I inquired. 

“Do exactly as I say, understood?” He said, his voice firm, “That’s the only way you’ll survive this.”

I nodded, and as I was about to speak, the voice of a soldier cut me off, “Line up!!” 

Bujok immediately held my hand and dragged me to the center of the camp, “Stay close to me and pay attention, always.” 

“Okay.” I responded quietly. 

And as we got to the center, my eyes widened, catching the sight of him. 

It was Hakil. 

His severed head impaled on the fence.