THE HALF-BLOOD LUNA

Chapter 3

ARIA POV

The sunlight rays hit the windows, and I was forced to open my eyes. I was in a room that looked so beautiful and luxurious. I was on a canopy bed, a soft cream color. The bed was so comfy that I wanted to lie down again. It also had a bathroom. I climbed out of bed and went to the window. There was a balcony, and there was a garden in front of it. I couldn't wait to explore the views, then I looked at the mirror and saw that my clothes had been changed to silk nightwear.

At that moment, I heard a knock on my door.

“Who is there?” I asked as I opened the door

“Good morning, miss. I am Selene, this is Sara, and this is Vexa. We are the maids assigned to you,” Selene said

“maids? Come in, but what are you here for?” I asked

“We are here to bathe and prepare you. Breakfast will be here any minute,” Sara said

“I don't need anyone to bathe me”.

i said

“But we did last night, although you were half asleep, and this is an order I am afraid.” Selene looked softhearted and nurturing, with kind eyes and a gentle voice. She was brunette. Sara looked quiet, pale, and beautiful, with an emotional, expressionless face, while Vexa had dark hair and a playful grin, bold and sarcastic, dramatic.

Selene and Sara looked like they were in their mid-forties, while Vexa looked so young I could swear she was around my age.

“Alright then, since you already saw my nakedness, no point in hiding”. i said

We stepped into the bathroom, and I was stripped naked and put into the bathtub. The water was warm, and the soap had a nice fragrance. Sara washed my lower body, then Selene washed my upper body, and then Vexa washed my hair. I felt so relaxed, I had never been treated this way back at home.

“Your hair is so beautiful. I have never seen someone like you in my entire life; you are so beautiful”. Vexa commented

“Vexa quite”. Selene cautioned

“Please leave her be, I could use some company,” I said

“Oh, thank you,” she giggled

“So what is this place?” I asked

“It's a castle, wolves, alpha…..

“You are too blunt, Sara. Miss, I don't think it is our position to explain to you. We are just maids”. Selene said, cutting Sara off

“Please call me by my name, Aria”. I declared

“So what is that mark on your right chest?” Vexa asked

“Oh, I don't know, it was there when I was born, and I grew up with it. It is a crescent shape; I like it anyway”.i said

“So why do you all have a British accent? Are you from England? Because I have always wanted to learn the British accent and now I am surrounded by it, I could learn” I said

“What do you mean by British?” Vexa asked,

“like the British? from England? Ring a bell?” I asked

“No, not really,” she replied

“You're kidding? " Okay, just give me your phone” I said

“What phone?” she asked, confused

“Is this a prank? like a phone used for making calls and all that,” I said

“We don't have any of those here; your world must be so cool,” she said

“You guys are far from the outside world, so where are you from?” I asked

“I'm from here,” she said

“What school?” I asked

“What….

“Vexa, enough talking, or you will get us all in trouble,” Selene warned

After bathing, they dressed me up in a nice gown with a corset and did my hair. Then I sat at my table for breakfast. I had warm honey bread, fresh raspberries, spiced tea, soft cheese, eggs with herbs, and smoked meat. It was very nice.

Later, I met with Talia, and together we went to the throne room

“Oh dear, did you sleep well?” Olenna asked

“I did, thank you,” I replied

I saw Lucien seated in his throne, but he wasn't really paying attention, and then Nikolai was by his side.

“I found out your origin. You are Nyra Stormclaw. I don't know much about your parents, but they are dead, and you had a brother who is also dead, but I know of your grandmother, Eldrith. She was powerful, so powerful, but I don't know if she is dead or not” Olenna explained

And I just stood there shocked, my real family was once here in this world but dead, this was too much to process, but then the doors burst open, and a female came in.

“Your grace,” she bowed and greeted Lucien, whom they call the alpha

“The veiled one.” She bowed to Olenna

She looked beautiful, with round boobs and dark hair; she was attractive, and I felt a little jealous.

She was wearing a warrior-like uniform, just like Talia's, but different, and black boots.

“Where is she? The human girl, is she the one?” she asked, pointing at me

“Kira, give it rest,” Nikolai said

“Oh my world, you mean I came all the way down here just to see this fragile thing? She looks like a puppet, a toy. This is so f*****g pathetic. I should have just gone to the training grounds,” Kira said

“What…….?” I stammered; I was so shaken by the insults that it reminded me of Hannah and Violet. I ran away from there just to face another level b***h of a bully.

My shoulders slumped to the ground

“Kira, stop, that was so rude,” Talia defended

“Oh, she speaks? " Poor brat, what a crybaby,” she mocked

“Nyra, just ignore her. Come with me, I will show you around.” Talia said, and I followed her.

We went to the castle, and I saw people around

“Don't mind Kira, she can be awful at times,” Talia said

“As long as I don't see her again”. I muttered

“Oh dear, she comes here often and stays at times. She has her own room” Talia responded

“She sounds important,” I said quietly

“To the alpha, I guess,” she responded

“ Anyway, in the main castle, we have the north wing, which is quiet. There are different rooms, some for private council-like meetings, war maps, and so on; also, important weapons are kept there.

And then the east wing for guests, nobles’, formal dining halls, ballrooms, and the library; then the west wing is for the maids, servants’ quarters, training access; it is just for low-rank wolves, and lastly the south wing we use it generally for storage, it is guarded, we store food and drinks, and stuff”. Talia explained

“So Wolves?” I was still confused

“Don't worry,” Talia said

“But I saw that guy, was that a costume, and I was sure of those who attacked me; they looked real and they spoke,” I told her

“With time, you will get to understand. We still don't know your purpose of being here, so just be careful and don't wander around,” she said

“Okay,” I agreed

“We should head back,” she suggested

“Sure,” as we walked back to the main castle, I saw a building that was separated from the castle. It was big and wide, and a bit inside, it looked private

“What is that place?” I asked curious

“This is the black keep; you can't go there. That is where the alpha stays” she replied

After the walk, I went back inside, and the day dragged on slowly. They didn't have clocks around here, so I wasn't really sure what time it was, but it was already dark.

The maids came in to bathe me and prepare me for dinner, and afterwards I was asked to come to the dining hall for dinner.

I arrived there, and Talia, Lucien, and Nicolai, with Kira and some other nobles, were already seated. I swallowed and then sat beside Talia. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the room was, with golden candlelight spilled from crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the polished, long-stretched oak table, and then a massive fireplace crackled at the far end of the hall, filling the air with warmth and the rich aroma of freshly prepared food.

A servant placed a plate before me, thick slices of herb-roasted venison rested beside buttery potatoes, and glazed carrots.

A basket of freshly baked bread sat in the center of the table, accompanied by honey and soft white cheese, and then I was given spiced berry wine for a drink.

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until the aroma hit my nostrils. I noticed that Olenna wasn't present I decided to ask Talia

“Where is Olenna? " I whispered

“Oh, she is at the moonshine; she lives there also,” she replied

I kept my gaze on my plate and decided to stay calm. Soon, they were all talking, and laughter echoed through the hall. I felt like an outsider, although I was enjoying my food, but having Kira sitting across from me made me feel self-conscious and discomfited.

Across the table, Kira was telling a story that had all of the nobles hanging on her every word.

“Remember when Lucien broke his arm trying to jump the eastern tower?” she said with a laugh

“I was ten,” Lucien said flatly

“And reckless,” Kira replied. The nobles laughed again; they were so smitten by her, and I could tell she had a strong influence around the castle.

I quietly stepped onto the balcony to escape the noise of the dining hall. The cool night air was a welcome relief.

“Enjoying the view?”

I turned to find Kira standing in the doorway with a glass of wine in her hand

“It is beautiful”. I replied as she joined me at the railing

“It is; I’ve spent most of my life here”

I nodded, unsure of what to say

“Lucien and I used to come here when we were children,” she continued

“We’d sneak out after lessons to watch the moonrise”. There was a hint of pride in her voice.

“That sounds nice,” I responded

Her gaze shifted to me

“I see you are just a powerless human, and we met on the wrong foot. I thought you were a threat, but that doesn't make us friends,” she said

“Is that an apology?” I asked

“I don't apologize,” she said

“Kira.” Lucien's deep voice cut through the door as he opened it, and we both turned. He stood with his expression unreadable, and I noticed Kira straightened

“The council meeting is starting,” he said

“I know”

“Then you should be there,” he said. Kira left, and our eyes locked, and I stiffened. The corner of his mouth twitched, and then he walked away.

“Miss, I was asked to escort you back to your chambers,” An elderly man said

“Sure”.