Chapter 16: Conversations with the Moon Goddess

(PoV: Sophie)

"Ana?"

I softly call her name as I open the creaky wooden door to the room.

"Hi, sis!" Ana speaks in a hushed tone, due to her frail condition.

I approach her and sit on her bed, looking at her face, so sad and worn. My heart tightens and bleeds for not being able to do anything for my beloved little sister.

Tears well up in my eyes, but I don't allow myself to cry in front of her. I have to be strong, show her that there is hope, that one day we will leave this place, with her cured, and have a better life together.

With these thoughts, I gently stroke her beautiful golden-brown hair, and she gives me a weak and tired smile.

"How are you feeling today, Ana?" I ask, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible.

"A little better... Cough-cough," she covers her mouth due to a coughing fit.

It takes a few seconds for her coughing fit to subside. I look at her hands, and they are stained with blood. My eyes widen, and I can no longer hold back my tears.

Oh, my poor sister. Her condition is worsening day by day, and all I can do is wait for that wretched man to help us.

"Stay calm, Sophie! Don't cry! You know my time is running out," she tries to reassure me, but it only makes me more anxious.

I can't lose my little sister! She's all I have in this world.

I get up from the bed and pace back and forth, my hands on my head.

No! No! No!

He will save her, he will save her, he has to save her! He... he promised me he would save her if I served him.

"Ana, we have to have hope! He will cure you, I know he will!" I speak with confidence.

"Okay! I believe in you, Sophie! Sophie?"

"Yes?"

"I'm hungry... I'm sorry, I know you're very busy and the food..."

"No! Look, I managed to steal this bread from the kitchen without Scarlet seeing."

I give her the bread, and Ana takes it, almost dropping it due to her weakness.

My sister looks at me, and in her eyes, I no longer recognize the cheerful, affectionate, and gentle sister from before this unknown illness struck her.

With tears streaming down my face, I rush out of my sister's room towards the laboratory.

He has to save her!

(PoV: Lina)

"Why did I cast a spell that prevented her from transforming," he says matter-of-factly.

I widen my eyes and stop breathing for a few seconds, trying to comprehend his words.

"What? Why?" I stand up and shout. "Why did you do that?"

"So she wouldn't run away!" he says sternly, showing no reaction.

"Why can't I feel or communicate with my mate?" I ask, afraid of the answer.

"Because of the spell, Lina, you're mine!" He grabs my shoulders and tightens his grip. "UNDERSTAND..."

The laboratory door is hurried opened, and Sophie appears with red and swollen eyes.

Deniel releases my shoulders and turns angrily towards Sophie.

"How dare you appear uninvited!?" he shouts, and I sense fear for my friend.

Sophie kneels on the floor, and immense sadness fills me as I witness her pitiful state.

"You have to help her, sir! You promised, and since I started our agreement, she's only gotten worse. Ana thinks she's running out of time, and you promised to cure her!" I speak, my voice choked with tears.

So that's why she's here! Holy moon, poor Sophi.

"What does she have now?" Deniel asks collous. Damned sorcerer!

"She started coughing blood, sir!"

"When will you help her, Deniel?" I join the conversation, sadness weighing in my voice and my being, overwhelmed by all this information thrown at me at once.

Deniel doesn't respond to me, only goes to a drawer and puts on plastic gloves.

"Bring her in, I will start preparing for your sister's treatment."

"I'll help you, Sophie," I approach her but I'm interrupted.

"No! You will find something to distract yourself. Let Sophie bring her sister," he orders, leaving me irritated.

"Why? Why? Ah! Moon goddess, why?"

"Obey, girl," he snaps his fingers, and I sense as if my body is engulfed in flames, my skin melting, "Or something much worse than that will happen! Now go, Sophia, and bring your sister!"

With anger etched on my face, I leave the laboratory, but I can still hear him:

"Hatred doesn't suit you, my Lina!" I hear his laughter.

Ugh! I sense like tearing off his head and feeding it to the wolf devourers.

Damn it! I have to show them more respect. They are my brothers!

What a shitty life I have!

First, I lost my parents and had to survive alone in the world!

Second, as time passed, people who hate me emerged and did many cruel things to me.

Third, I found my mate, and three days later, we were separated and prevented from feeling each other.

Fourth, I discovered that I've been deceived my whole life.

I found out that I have no parents, that I was born from an artificial womb in some laboratory.

Tears, endless tears flow from my eyes, tears of pain, sadness...

These tears come from deep within my soul, but do I even have a soul?

I'm not normal, I'm an aberration. Do aberrations have souls?

After wandering aimlessly through the castle for so long, I end up in a garden of withered and dead flowers.

I look at the moon and, indignant, I can't hold back anymore, and I cry out with all my might, crying.

"Why? Why? Ah! Moon goddess, why?

I fall to my knees on the ground, my sadness is so profound that I have an immense desire to die.

With no more tears to shed, I lie on my back and gaze at the large shining moon in the sky. Its brightness is so intense...

Wait, it's not supposed to shine like that. This brightness is too strong, and it hurts my eyes. It's getting closer.

I close my eyes, and in less than three seconds, I hear a sweet, velvety voice.

"Lina, my daughter! Get up!"

I don't open my eyes or move. Have I finally gone completely mad?

"Get up, Lina!" I hear the voice again.

Be brave, Lina, don't be a coward! Don't be a coward...

I repeat it several times until I gather the courage to open my eyes. And when I do, the first thing I see is a silver hand extended to me.

"Trust me, Lina!"

I look at the woman, and my jaw drops. I look around to see if I

find something else, but my jaw is hiding from me because it's still wide open.

Yeah! I've definitely gone crazy!

The woman extending her hand to me is entirely silver and emits a radiant silver light. It resembles the light emitted by the moon. Her face is angelic, and in her eyes, I see nothing but affection, compassion, sweetness, and other good qualities.

I take her hand, and it's so soft it feels like I'm holding cotton.

"Lina!"

"Wh... who are you?"

"I am the moon goddess. I came to tell you some things, my daughter."

I know it sounds crazy, but this feels too real. I sense like I'm indeed talking to her.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not your daughter, I'm nobody's daughter..." the moon goddess places her index finger on my lips.

"Shhh! My daughter, you are indeed my daughter. I raised you, even if it wasn't in the traditional way. I raised you with a purpose."

"What purpose?"

"Soon, my child, you will know!"

Once again, that brightness blinds me. Instinctively, I close my eyes, because I surely enjoy being able to see. And when I open them, the moon goddess is gone.

I look up at the sky, and there she is in her large, round form, illuminating the darkness with her light.

"Thank you, moon goddess," I whisper my gratitude.

"Lina, Lina, Lina!" I hear Scarllet singing my name, "What are you doing here? Let me guess, talking to the moon goddess, right?" She teases, laughing at me, and I don't respond. She stops smiling," It's time for our queen to go to sleep. Follow me; I'll take you to your room!

She turns her back and heads towards the castle entrance. I follow her to my room without saying a word.

"Take these clothes. You need a bath."

I was so distracted that I didn't even notice her holding the bag. I take the bag from her hand and go to the bathroom.

Upon entering the small, dirty room, I undress and step into the shower. I turn on the water, and with each drop that falls on my body, I sense myself relaxing. Without realizing it, I let out a joyful moan, finally feeling clean and momentaril forgetting about my problems.