The light from the sun illuminated the room giving it a serene look perfect for having time alone. Music sounded distant in her ears and all she could see is darkness and emptiness.
Inside her as she closed her eyes, oblivious of her surroundings. It felt like she was been thrown into a bottomless pit where she kept falling.
Suddenly, a light emerged from the end and her face was lined with smiles. Finally, it was here. But why does it still feel like she's in the darkness?
The song had begun to echo like it was a dirge made for someone and when she turned her head, she was whirled by what felt like the wind into another dimension where she stood in the middle of the forest. Her forehead was laced with beads of perspiration. The air was misty and her throat sore.
"Hello?" She managed to call but there was silence t first.
"Who's there?" She heard shuffling footsteps, almost like the owner was trying so hard to walk unnoticed or unheard.
"I know you're somewhere hiding! Whoever you are, you can't scare me. My name is Lyne and I am the Luna." Covering her mouth she wondered if she always say that word confidently.
Soon, in the dark, two red eyes surface staring at her. Her heart skipped beats a hundred times as she watched the bulging eyes move closer. They had a catlike profile. As it moved closer, she heard a soft voice call her name.
"Lyne? Lyne?"
She opened her eyes and saw Zeidan standing over her, towel in hand. Her heart clutched seeing how handsome he is. She hoped that everything she thought had happened was just a dream. However, they weren't as she heard her sister's voice filling the room.
"Doing the husband's work already, I can see." Korba scoffed as she sat at the edge of the bed, watching her.
"I'm sorry if I'm being a little forward..."
"You're marrying her for a contract," her annoying voice filled her head and Lyne shut her eyes tightly, cursing under her breath.
"Remember your place and help her remember hers too."
There was silence for a while and Lyne wondered what Zeidan was going to say.
His next outburst shocked her.
"Whether I'm marrying for a contract or not doesn't matter. She's human with blood flowing through her and humans are expected to be treated delicately with care. I'm only doing my job." He rose, smiled curtly at her, and left the room leaving both Korba and her speechless.
"Lucky you. Someone thinks you deserved to be valued for once."
She walked back out of the room and Charles walked in seconds after.
"Hey," he called, trying hard to conceal his concerned looks.
"How're you doing, freak?"
"I'm doing well," she smiled a bit. She was only going to put up with their attitude for a short time before going into a different world.
"What happened?" He threw in the question, causing Lyne to glance at him, memories of the previous day flashing through her eyes.
"I went to confront Dad."
Charles whistled and jogged towards her sister, his eyes widened.
"Tell me about it. You confronted the old Alpha?"
"He already made up his mind. I'll be marrying Zeidan." Her last sentence sounded like a life imprisonment verdict passed to a prisoner accused wrongly.
"So much for being a freak, freak," he folded his arms akimbo, face thoughtful.
Together, they were both lost in their thoughts. Lyne unaware of what the future holds for her and Charles thinking of his next meeting with his old acquaintance. His gaze darkened.
They all stood in a straight line on the field. Their faces were straight and focused on the vastness of the place. Their pupils dilating and their breathing palpitating.
On a high rock opposite the whole Royal siblings (except Lyne), Azrael lay already in his wolf form. His eyes not leaving Charles, the eldest, Reb, Diana, Olivia, Tara, Frank, Korba, and the twins, George and Georgina.
"When you hear the whistle, you must run with all your might. You must be one with the wind and sky not forgetting that nature must be your best friend. Let the air breathe on your first, and let the sun suck up your fury. You are and must forever be the best hunters in your clan. As it stands, you all are nowhere near the best but you have proven to be good."
He continued to talk while the siblings in their white sheets wrapped around them looked forward.
On the first floor, Lyne resumed her position as an audience. Always watching them shift as usual.
Sometimes she would see the nakedness of those who would throw away their sheets before shifting totally and have a good laugh herself. It was always a good sight to behold, but she dared not tease anyone of them about it.
"Look at that freak. She's watching us now, obviously jealous of us." George a redhead whispered into Charles' ears and they both peeked up at her. They held back their laughter for fear of facing Azrael's wrath.
"At the count of three, you all will go out there..."
"Enough with the same preaching, old man. We are used to it." Reb muttered, taking her fingers through her brownish blonde hair.
The drum gave a loud sound and they all ran five feet, some six before throwing off their sheets and shifting into big wolves, their claws hitting the floor and gathering dust behind them. All of them going to bring home the best meat.
The breeze blew Lyne's hair as she watched them leave. Her face expressionless like she was deep in thought but it lasted for a few seconds as she burst out laughing.
Zeidan came out of a corridor and saw her from afar wondering what was making her laugh. Whatever it is, she looked beautiful with her smile.
A bright light emanated from the corridor, coupled with speckles of golden dust and smoke. After a while, it subsided and a man with a black hat and grey coat emerged. He removed his hat and entered the guest room where Zeidan kept his belongings.He moved to where he kept his boxes of clothes and started searching through them. After a long moment of cursing and moving about, hands on his waist, he sighed in despair."Where the hell did I keep this thing?" His frustrated voice held in hushed tones like a confused woman who doesn't know where she kept her baby.Lyne walked in carrying a basket full of trash. She was cleaning everywhere. He was startled."Mr. Wikh?" She called at the man who looked at her mischievously as if he had done something bad."Are you ok?"Dropping the basket, she searched around for the trash bin while Wikh stuttered looking for the right word to explain why he was searching for his master's bag."I was looking for my medicine," he managed to say."You're on
It was night already and Lyne lay on her bed sulking and sobbing softly. Her room gave off a feminine impression with the red and pink fabrics covering everywhere. Cosmetics and deodorants fill the dresser and a rack of beautiful dresses lay on a brown wooden rod placed above on the other side of the room. Candles surround everywhere giving the room a beautiful scent.On her bed, a big pink net covered the bed, leaving only a slight space open at the front. It made it look like she was under a tent.With her knees under her chin, she cried hard. She knew she would be a second choice yet again and she wasn't ready to dive into it again."Lyne?" She heard a deep but warm voice call. It was calming and assuring. She didn't get out of her bed. She didn't want to see his face for fear that she might forgive him instantly. His face was too good-looking.She sniffled."Are you okay?" She heard him call again. After a minute of silence, he spoke up."I was wondering if we could talk before th
It is almost morning and Luana stands at the gate that guards the vampire city. She was now wearing her fighting gear of black pants, boot heels, and a brown leather jacket. Her hair was worn up.Before her, several men stood with glowing cat eyes and fangs out. Their faces have the tribal identification Werecats are known with, stripes.She grabbed two long swords from her back, one on each hand, and swirled them."Let's say we strike a deal, cats. You get outta here and I'll spare your lives or we do this the hard way." Her mouth twitched and her eyes were expressionless giving out an air of confidence."The only deal we shall strike, Luana," she heard a voice call out from behind the men and her face looked frightened. He walked up to her front and tilted his hat like a cowboy. "Is about the treasure.""Shelbrooke?" Her voice was shaky as she saw the man with a deep-cut scar running diagonally across his face."Long time no see, my Lady." He smirked. "I've waited this day for a lon
Lyne looked up at Zeidan. She wasn't ready for the marriage yet as she hasn't fully prepared. Looking at her father with a plea in her eyes, she was shocked to hear him say so at such short notice.Styx raised a brow. "I was not aware you would be interested this much. You must want her badly."A flush colored Lyne's face, but then it occurred to her that all the wedding arrangements only fall on one reason, to get an army. "I don't even know how to prepare for this. I'm worried sick about this. How do I tell my people?" "You need not worry about a huge ceremony. I'll ensure I give her the best celebration once we get to Vampire city. What matters is I fulfill my part of the agreement." He gave her hand a slight squeeze. "My city is in trouble. Please, let me marry her tonight.""You have my consent." She could hear her siblings mumble behind her. Part of her was jumping in excitement as she would now be free from their teases and bullying. Zeidan observed her from the corner of his
The moon descended in its glorious form, and all other sky objects were beclouded. The jungle roared only with the melodious beats that follows the rhythm of Lyne's heart as she stared at herself in the mirror in the room where she sits to dress up.Outside on the lawn, the wedding ceremony is going on. By the right-hand side close to the palace, the royal siblings all sit in their beautiful clothing while their father sits on the throne, his face holding a sly smile like a fox that has just caught its prey.On the other side, some guards stood there, watching the whole activity. Beside them, the drummers sat. In the front of the palace itself, there is an entrance temporarily made, covered by a thick golden curtain that indicates where the bride will come in. While a red carpet of six feet length is spread in front of the entrance, Zeidan stands at the other end, expecting his bride. Beside him Akeila stands, holding a scroll in hand."We welcome you all to this glorious..." Akeila s
A sigh escaped Zeidan's lips as he stepped backward. His hand bled as he held the knife hardly by the tip and looked down at his new bride who looked ignorant of everything going on.Poor Lyne. He thought.Everyone has stopped walking around."What was that for?""What was what for? You kissed me." Lyne thought he was talking to her since his eyes are still locked with hers."I wonder how much freaky magic you can do." Charles' voice made Lyne turn towards him. "So many powers but you can't even fight your people."Lyne looked at Zeidan and her face caught blood dripping down his hands as he held it. That was when it dawned on her that Charles had thrown it at them while they were kissing. She covered her mouth in shock, tears rolling down her cheeks for two reasons. He just risked his life to save hers and he looked like he cared for her."You even had to settle for less all because you need an army to fight your little war. How cheap of you." Everyone including the Alpha is quiet,
Luana's eyes shot open as she rose from the bed sharply, hands clutched to her chest. Her breathing was ragged. Checking the skies, she realized it was morning already. The sun wearing a full robe as it lazily sucks up the wetness of the ground.Rolling out of the bed, she parted the curtains in her room, allowing the reflection of the sun inside. She sighed before going to take her bath and get ready for the day.As she moved to take her bath, she passed by a long mirror and stopped to check herself."Wow," she smiled satisfactorily at her reflection as if she has just won a medal."I can't wait for Zeidan to come and place a crown on my head."Puffing her chest and straightening her back, she gave a fake wave and acted like a Queen."My Lady." She heard someone call but she ignored it and continued what she was doing."My Lady, we need your attention."More silence. Chloe was beginning to get uncomfortable as she watched Luana display in front of the mirror ignoring her calls."We n
"What's the problem now, Gorge?" Shelbrooke called out as he sat down in his office, cleaning his knife with a piece of cloth.Gorge walked in hesitatingly."We have about four hundred and eighty soldiers right now."Silence enveloped the room, same as the stench of cigarettes and coffee. Gorge cleared his throat and continued."Four hundred and eighty-foot soldiers, two hundred archers, and twenty warriors.""And your strategy?" Shelbrooke blew air on the knife now sparkling clean."We...um...our strategy...""Speak up!" His voice startled Gorge, causing him to jump."You have a problem with English now? You speak French now?" "No, your highness. Our strategy is in place. Our foot soldiers are taking over the whole entrance of the city and around the walls. Our archers will be on mountains and warriors will go in to take the Onyx...""Our father's heritage," Shelbrooke muttered, licking his lips. "With the Onyx, not only will our technology improve, our lives will also improve. We'