The Forest Luna

Chapter 8

I see light. I taste the dirt I coughed up. I do not know how long I have been here but my body feels heavy. Like a boulder sitting on a cliff, just waiting for something to push it over. I just want to get out of here and get back to Lucius, to my trees, and to the freedom I had only just gained. I did not know if we were still in the same place the first time I had awoken, but I hoped we were. That way, my wonderful mate could find me with Torins lead.

"Hello my little one," seriously? Henri was so aggravating. To me, his voice was like nails on a chalkboard. Painful and pointless. "I am so glad you're awake. I have some great news for you now that you are aware of your powers."

"What do you want with me Henri? You SOLD me already. I was out of this goddess forsaken place!"

"I know my dear, but not for enough money. I will sell you again and again. You will always come back to me, and that cannot be stopped. You are worth so much, that we will never want for anything again," his voice became such a soft, terrifying whisper. My eyes widened and I felt like he had broken me in half. What about Lucius? My love, my hopes and dreams..

"Henri! She needs some kind of help. I can sense her anguish without the forest," that Mary woman spoke quickly. Like she cared, she was willing to go through with this as well. What made her different than him?

"Oh, let me introduce you to a very special person little one. This is Mary, your birth mother," stabbed. I felt, stabbed. My already wide eyes somehow grew wider. I felt this rush of memories flowing through me.

*FLASHBACK*

There I was, so small. I couldn't have been a year old. A beautiful woman rocking me, singing to me. Her bright green eyes staring at me with adoration, her golden hair falling over her shoulders. A door slammed open, causing me to cry, scaring the woman holding me as well.

"Miss Mary! You've scared her. What is so urgent," she spoke very quickly while holding me tighter.

The woman at the door was very agitated, and seemed to be drunk as well. Her disheveled red hair only went to her ears. When she spoke I stopped crying, like even a child would not want her wrath.

"He left me, for you, of all people. A prestigious warlock, left one of the most feared witches, for a mere fairy servant. We have a child together, and he wants to throw us away. No, ME. I will kill you both," she ran towards us screaming.

"She is the Forest witch!"

"What did you say," she froze in position.

"I am fae, I can feel her power already. She will be the freedom or the death of the world. If you harm her, she will be the reason all of our species will perish. If you give her the proper care-"

"She is MY child, Linetta. You may sing your songbird tunes in her ear, but I am her mother. I will do what I please with her."

"I understand Mary, but if you just listen to me, I can help you. I do not want your partner, I too want freedom. Let me take her, hide her and myself away from his grasp, and maybe he will be yours again. Tell him we died in an accident, you can come see her whenever you want. Please, just let us out of here. I will help her grow, like the blossom she is. She is nearing her birthday, and you have not named her yet. You may be her mother, but I am the one who loves her the most."

"What would you call her," Mary looked quizzically at Linette, searching for something unknown to the fairy.

"She is my light, I was thinking Leann would fit beautifully."

"I don't want to see either of you back here. I will make it look like you were both killed and unrecognizable. Get out of my sight."

We left, I had fallen asleep listening to a song as beautiful as the moon itself, covered in blooming lilies.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

I looked at her face while still laying on the floor. I searched for regret, guilt, anything other than the hatred that was there. She didn't want me back, she wanted money for me. That witchy b***h! I had enough. I began to feel absolute rage. The air felt like it was being sucked out of the room for the words that came out of my mouth next.

"Mother is not a title for a woman like her," the harshness cutting the look on her face to a smirk.

"Linette did a number on you, huh? She sang to you every night, rocking you in the chair she made herself, and loving you because I could not. I tried, but I hated you. You were annoying and always hungry. I tried to starve you, but you wouldn't die. You made him hate me! Your father wanted nothing to do with me after that damn fairy started to serve us!"

"Mary, I suggest you stop. As you said, she is already suffering. Go home, I will handle this," Henri spoke calmly to her, nudging her to a door. She left, cackling like a mad woman. "Little one, I am going to give you a very small plant. One that I know you cannot do much with, just so you'll feel better. If I see you doing anything strange with it, I will take it and watch you suffocate."

He walked away for just a minute, and when he came back he had a small calla lily in hand. He sat it in front of me, and the scent hit my nose. The boulder was starting to roll. I felt so much better already. Henri walked into the next room without a word. I brought the flower onto my lap like it was a small dog, petting the petals like it needed affection.

"Hello, Luna Leann," the flower spoke as silent as a field mouse. I was startled, but glad to finally have company. "Do not speak aloud, use your mind to talk to me. We do not want that beast to hear us. I have missed you quite a bit you know."

I thought hard, focusing my energy on speaking to this curious creature. Only one word at a time would reach her until the flow became steady. "How- do- you- know- me?"

"Good job little sun! You will get better as we converse. Madam Linette kept me in the sun room of your home all those years ago. You loved me so much, you begged her to put me in your room the night you were stolen away. That thief thought it would bring you comfort if I were with you, but he never let you have me," it explained.

"Little sun- is what she- called me. Is there any- way you can help- me out of here," getting better!

"Yes and no. If I was outside I could pass a message, but sadly we are stuck in this place," it said sadly.

Before I could say any more, Henri let out a great scream, and Mary ran in terrified. "Get up! We have to run and we have to run fast," she screamed. Was I supposed to follow her like she wasn't my kidnapper?

"What is going on," I barely got the question out before she was dragging me away. I snatched the lily just before it was out of my reach.

"Lets just say Henri messed up, and if we don't leave, you'll be with someone worse than us," she spoke plainly while pulling me out of the building.

I was going to speak but as I looked behind us, Henri was flung out of the door of that room, and not too far behind was a very large man. His wings were what looked like feathers made of gold, and when he saw me his eyes turned white.

"You cannot hide her Mary, she belongs with us!" His voice boomed. I recognized it, but could not place it. It felt comforting yet scary, like a fathers stern voice would be. I wanted to go to him, to feel that comfort I thought would be waiting for me. So what do I do to get there?