MasukI give up. I can’t take it anymore Pa, they hate me… so I hate them too. I hate them all. I won’t play with them anymore.Star. My little star… the world may be cruel. Life may be hard. Death might make you cry. But never let the actions of another change who you are. Never let the darkness steal the light in your heart, and even if the world beats you down… get up and fight… because only the stronger werewolf lives. So… get up my little star! The fight is not over yet. Wake up!WAKE UP—Lillia gasped hard as her eyes shot open in the darkness. Her claws grasped frantically, raw panic setting in almost instantly as mouthfuls of water gushed into her lungs. She was still beneath the raging river. Amelia! Realization snapped brutally with the weight on her chest as the hand that had been holding Amelia suddenly grasped water and the panic exploded. “AMELIA—” Lillia’s hands flew to her throat before she resumed grasping and kicking, twisting frantically beneath the raging current a
“RUN!” Lillia grabbed Amelia’s wrist instantly and bolted just as a large decayed structure landed a few feet away and sent them flying. More and more structures shattered apart overhead while black cracks spread through the sky like rot devouring flesh. Rivers hanging in the air curdled dark and thick before crashing downward in torrents of blackened water.Beneath them, the grounds shook, shifting wildly as it reacted frantically to Amelia’s fear. And behind them came the shrieks. “LOOK OUT!” Lillia lunged, quickly snatching Amelia’s wrist just as one of the shadows burst from the collapsing ground beside them. Its limbs unfolded wrong, bending in direction bones never should. She almost sighed from the near miss, but almost at that same time, a jagged structure already corrupted by decay appeared just above their heads before Lillia could notice or even react. Her breath hitched so violently a burning wave surged through her chest. But as she mentally prepared for collusion, g
The girl froze, her head shooting up instantly with a wide pair of mismatched eyes.“Lillia?” Her voice cracked. And for a second, disbelief flooded her face, followed almost instantly by fear as she watched Lillia. Then suddenly, she scrambled to her feet.“Lillia!” She bolted up to her feet and broke into a run.The moment she crashed into Lillia, the force nearly sent both of them back into the water. Amelia clung to her desperately, fingers bunching tightly into Lillia’s wet clothes like she feared letting go would make her disappear.“You came…” Her voice shook uncontrollably against Lillia’s shoulders. “You really came.” But in that instant, she pulled back, her expression growing apologetic as her eyes fell on Lillia’s neck. “Are you alright?” She reached and touched Lillia’s neck softly with tears pooling in her eyes. It almost seemed as though she had something to say, but how to say it was the problem. “I am so sorry. I would never—”“I’m alright. And it’s not your fault.”
The space twisted with her descent, folding and unfolding in violently fluid strokes as though some unseen hands were painting over reality faster than she could comprehend. Structures appeared and vanished in rapid succession beneath her, too fast, too chaotic, and almost too intentional to be random. She had guessed it was trying to bring her down… but it was at the same time doing a terrible job, because at this rate she would only end up dying from this fall. Wait… she was already dead. Was it possible to die again—Lillia! Fenris' voice cut in sharply through her thoughts as a jagged slab of rock appeared, suspended mid-air, and Lillia instantly lunged for it. She stretched desperately and clawed into it, wincing at the sudden jolt of pain that ran through her arms as momentum slammed into her shoulders, nearly tearing her grip free. But ignoring the pain, she held on, teeth gritting, muscles screaming in protest as her body swung violently beneath the slab. There was still a
The darkness was so sudden that the acrid taste of decay coated the back of her throat, and with it came a suffocating wave of dread. It worked? Lillia tried to look at her hands and body, but she couldn’t see anything. Yet, she could feel it… smell it, and the fact that her body remembered this place meant it had worked. She was back at that place. Lillia turned sharply in full circle, looking at the unending darkness as memories flashed violently through her mind. And although the frightening pressure she had felt and the eyes that had appeared with it were not present, there was the lingering feeling of dread that clung to the back of her mind whenever she remembered what had happened on her first visit. The thought that she could be attacked at any moment swelled the dread. But Anubis had masked their scent, so they should be safe for now… perhaps. Fenris rose in response, her senses sharpening as they expanded from within, assessing the darkened space. I don’t sense any t
That day had begun beautifully. After a few days of rain, the sun was warm to her skin. She could still smell the moist earth as she buried her feet into the loose soil and tilted her head backwards to feel the warm rays on her face. That day, her father had been busy with the elders, and she had no one to play with. So, after snuggling up by the fireplace, surrounded by books, she made up her mind to make friends. Just then, a string of voices drifted from afar into her ears, and her gaze shifted immediately in the direction. They were children like her. She could hear their laughter, screams… the bubbly excitement that came from warmth and carefree happiness in seeing the sun after many days of wetness. Friends… she whispered as her little heart swelled, still, it thumped in the anxious anticipation of being accepted. But she did not allow that to remain as she brushed her thoughts to the back of her mind with determination. Then, she clutched her favourite book tightly to her c
“Right.” Lillia nodded in agreement. “Then, we must find Sharee.” Her head turned to the door at once, her voice ringing out firmly.“Caelum!”“Yes, my Lady.” A voice answered almost instantly from outside her bedroom door. “Please come.”The moment she spoke, the door was pushed open, and Caelum
When Selene finally came, her expression alone tightened the air in the room. “Forgive me, Lillia. I have news.” She spoke breathlessly, still panting as she shut the door quickly behind her and hurried toward the sofa where the women sat waiting in tense silence. Lillia reached for her immediate
Since I sent word, I haven’t heard back. It has been silent, very silent. I also heard there was an increase in security.” Selene looked at Lillia seriously. “It is very suspicious.” “No doubt about that. Why would they suddenly increase security? What exactly are they guarding against?” “Lady M
By evening, Lillia’s waist and shoulders ached in ways she had not known possible. Selene had moved from posture, to walking drills, to balancing with a goblet filled to the brim, spilling more times than she could count. Then, they moved to turning without letting her hem drag, and finally to sit







