CHAPTER 1

I knew I would pass out if I continued like this. My head pounded and my eyes hurt, a situation from the sleepless nights I've been experiencing. I sighed as I looked down at my left arm covered in thick ink, the cause of it all, a punishment I was branded with from an effect of the wolfsbane three years ago. Every night was a different kind of torture. Each heated wave was more intense than the other. I was never going to move on from this. Never. How could I?

I wiped the warm tears with anger as I hastily tore at my worn out gown and dipped into the public bath tub i had filled with cold water in urgency. This, was my short term remedy. It was how I cooled the angry ink that burnt into my skin every morning. Three years, the memory was still fresh in my head. It was difficult, at first, I forgot how to even breathe and Viola wasn't here. I was at the weakest I could ever be and Arlene was at the highest. She made a name for herself over the years and of course, she gave birth to a handsome pulp, a clear line of succession.

"Get changed. The Luna requests your presence."

I almost jumped out of my skin at the peak of Paula's voice. It was too early for the day's activities to start. I directed my eyes at her and unlike the anger and sadness she usually fired at my soul, Paula's eyes held nothing but pity for me today. I watched her walk away with that same arrogance I've always known her for. I closed my eyes and relaxed into the tub, moaning as the burns continued to subside. I would have stayed there until first light, but the mental image of Arlene's angry face had me trying to work against the time I had deliberately wasted.

I quickly squeezed the water from my thick hair and stepped out of the bath. I wore my neatest gown hurriedly, the thick material sticking to my damp skin. I was walking towards the main palace in no time. The sky was still dark and the air was particularly cool this morning. My teeth involuntarily clattered as the cold air pierced my skull through my very much wet strands. I rubbed my palms on my shoulders, for friction as I increased my steps. It was best to get it done and over with.

I already knew it was going to be a bad day. I wondered what it was today - which one was it? More punishment or hard labor? She did this occasionally, request my presence and have me dealt with. What struck my heart was the anger in her eyes everytime she gazed into mine. The Arlene I knew was gone.

"Luna. Violetta has made an appearance." Henry, Arlene's stationed guard announced. His evil eyes looked at me with a particular satisfying glint and his lips curled faintly.

"It's too late for you now. If only you let me have you when I desired you. Tsk tsk. I would have protected you." He whispered as his calloused hand came up to caress my cheeks.

I took in his haggard look and frowned. What was that supposed to mean? "Get your filty hands off me!" I threw his hand away from my cheeks in disgust. "Don't you ever touch me again!"

The only thing I was apparently good for was bedding. All the male wanted to do was have me beneath them and the more I resisted, the angrier they got. I still remember the day I was cornered and beat up until I couldn't move. I didn't believe that somehow I would find someone else, a mercy from above but I just couldn't do it, spread my legs for a man I wasn't meant for. I would rather die untouched.

I walked into the grand doors and the sharp minty scent filled my nostrils immediately. I closed my eyes in pain. Papa. He always bathed with his special mint oil and soap.

"It does much to the body. I now know why papa enjoyed using it much."

Arlene had a strange look in her face as she sized me up with her eyes through the mirror. With a flick of her hand, the maids curtsed and left the chamber. I squeezed my hands together as she stepped down from the small stool and turned around. The air around us was thick with tension and unspoken words.

"I just don't know why you had to kill them. We were happy."

My lips woobled, my heart churned in pain. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying with all my might to imprison the tears that threatened to escape. It didn't stop a lone tear from rolling down my cheeks.

"I will...never forgive you, Violetta. But you're still my sister."

I gasped out from the pressure of her words and staggered backwards, the memories flashing in my head. I could still smell the metallic blood, still feel the weight of the dagger I had clasped so tightly but no, I wasn't the one. During the first moons, I maintained my stance. I couldn't have done it. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be. I didn't kill them. It couldn't have been me.