Losing The Light Of The Moon

Lost and Found, Part II

Chapter 32: Lost and Found, Part II

JACE

This whole thing left me intensely overwhelmed—especially all the unknown about my aunts and Mother’s past with this witch, Frieda. The Power of Three were rendered powerless here, which meant Frieda was an incredibly powerful sorceress all her own—worst of all, she wanted my mother and, based on the devious conversation we all heard earlier, Frieda wanted Mother dead. My protectiveness for her went into overdrive at that thought...like Tink had just told her, we just got her back and I sure as hell wasn’t going to take any chances of losing her so quickly...

And then there was this unknown about my aunts and their association with The Chosen. I can’t lie—I was both heartbroken and furious when the insinuations were made. My memories of them and what I know now made it all seem so impossible—but was it possible? The trunks Beast and Tink discovered—were my aunts at one time the enemy and lived here? My heart broke again as that thought hung heavily in my mind...

There was something else that my mind couldn’t help but wonder about—Horacio’s vigilant devotion to Mother. Even though I know their friendship runs deep, it felt like so much more as I watched him. His reaction to Frieda’s taunting, the way he enclosed her in between his and Lorenzo’s bodies when we all surrounded her and my aunts, immediately realizing her intentions to come into this house and calling her out on it, staying as close as possible to her as we made our way here, his hands on her shoulders, comforting her when we found the reflection of my grandmother’s blood on the ground, and the way he was devotedly looking at her and remaining by her side now, but respectfully allowing me to take the lead as we entered Frieda’s bedroom—none of it went unnoticed by me. 

The three of us entered the spacious bedroom coated in thick cobwebs, looking over at the far wall that contained an extensive array of trinkets from what I assume was Frieda’s victories in battle. Jewelry, shreds of material from clothes stained with blood—there were even small bottles of blood hanging from nails—all of them covered in thick dust with strands of thin silk aimlessly blowing up against each other in reaction to our steps as we walked along the long wall that confirmed how much death and devastation Frieda was responsible for...

“I’ll be damned,” I exhaled out in a staggered daze, “You can barely tell there is a wall there! How many years were The Chosen able to terrorize everyone in such a way?”

“Too many,” Soren harshly replied from the doorway, followed by Lorenzo, Aunt Persephone, and Aunt Reina, “Frieda is the only one left of the original five. Your mother disposed of three. Lorenzo and I disposed of one following a very short trial. But somewhere along the way, Frieda protected herself with a spell that rendered us unable to take her life...and believe me, we tried everything.”

“I know that necklace. It doesn’t belong here. It’s Frieda’s,” Mother astutely broke in, gingerly walking towards the wall to a large triangular silver pendant with a centered silhouette of a woman at the top, her hands up in the air with scrolls extending out to reflect what I assumed was magic with quarter moons on either side of her. Beneath it was a large oval crystal that still shimmered slightly beneath the dust.

Horacio looked over at me with the same apprehensiveness I felt in his expression before I lightly warned her, “Be careful. Frieda could have placed a spell here as well before Raven’s shield was put in place.”

“Which is why I’m right here, Jace,” Raven kindly called out to me from the doorway. Turning, I was met with an adoring gaze as she gave me a slow assuring nod, “I didn’t want it to feel too crowded, but I’m keeping watch. And Nicholas has done as you’ve asked, Auntie. Everyone is reluctantly outside and a good distance from the house.”

“Thank you, Raven,” Mother replied, obviously in deep thought, “That makes me feel somewhat better, though I would still prefer it to be just you and I here.”

“Let’s just find your necklace, Tati,” Horacio purposefully stated, taking two steps closer to her.

“Yes, let’s, Sister,” Aunt Reina stoically agreed, joining Mother by the wall, “And I believe you are right, this was one of her favorites. Though I never realized it was a locket.”

“It wasn’t,” Aunt Persephone quickly corrected, coming up on the other side of Mother, leaning in to take a closer look, “Trust me, I cleaned that necklace for her many times over the years.” 

Suddenly realizing what she said, Aunt Persephone uncomfortably glanced sideways at us before she refocused on the pendant, continuing, “That’s a replica. But as I know Frieda’s was one of a kind, I’m guessing she placed it here as part of this treasure hunt of hers.”

“Perhaps we should proceed with caution here, ladies,” Lorenzo warily urged.

“Definitely,” Soren fearfully concurred, his suspicious gaze scanning the room.

As Aunt Persephone reached up to place her fingers on the locket, Mother swiftly caught her hand mid-air, deliberately stating, “Caution is key, Sister, especially here. That was too easy.”

Turning towards the doorway, she requested, “Raven, could you come shed some light on the stone for me, please?”

“Of course,” Raven politely replied before appearing behind Mother and my aunts. Extending her hand out, Raven sent a small stream of magic towards the stone. As it touched the surface, the entire wall lit up as we heard Frieda’s voice again...

“Such a worthy adversary, Tatiana, but hopefully not as quick as I fear. It’s a shame I couldn’t fulfill everyone’s wish and rid all of you of this place and, in turn, send some of my enemies to the other side. I do love a good fiery explosion! But alas, as you have figured out my puzzle, I will bestow the prize you seek!”

A tremendous weight fell onto my chest as I listened to Frieda’s words—thankful that the outcome of this game was another that was not as she had intended.  

“I’m afraid I must say it again, Auntie,” Raven heavily exhaled out, “I don’t like this—any of it.”

“Neither do I,” Mother uneasily replied, “and I’m sorry that all of you have to endure any of this.”

“We are all sorry,” Aunt Reina sadly stated, her devastated eyes directly on me, “for all of this.”

Suddenly, a light emitted from the stone, wrapping around my mother’s hand so bright, it lit up the stunned faces of all four women, each of whom I dearly loved and would always fiercely protect—three of whom had no powers to protect themselves—and one’s hand—my mother’s hand—was currently encased in some sort of magic from a vengeful enemy, sending a jolt of overwhelming fear through me—a reaction that Horacio, Lorenzo, and Soren appeared to have as well as we all thrust ourselves forward towards them, each of us screaming out her name in a panic.

“Back up, all of you, NOW!” Mother’s voice boomed out in a loud frantic tone I had never heard from her. The flakes of hazel illuminated in her widened brown eyes as the light extended up, spiraling as it continued upwards towards the ceiling. All of us were reluctant and horrified but did as she asked.

My heart stopped when I heard her tone and words. The same all-consuming fear and anguish the day I lost my father in the fire at Crescent Moon devoured my entire being as I watched everything unfold. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. All I could do—was helplessly watch. Watch and pray that I wasn’t going to lose her—please, please don’t let me lose my mother! Not now... so much time has already been stolen from me...please not now! 

Letting out her held breath, Mother apprehensively assured us, “Sorry for my initial reaction, but I couldn’t take any chances. Good news—nothing detrimental thus far. Let’s just hope this is another part of Frieda’s game—a harmless part.”

Several loud relieved breaths expelled in the room before Horacio edgily requested, “Just keep talking to us, Tati. Tell us if anything changes.”

“I really am sorry to be putting all of you through this,” Mother regretfully stated, “I am positive that Frieda’s limitations prohibit any harm coming from this, especially given the fact that nothing has happened yet. I was rather surprised about the pendant, honestly.”

“Soren and I were as well,” Lorenzo irritatingly breathed out, “As many times as we have been in this forest over the years trying to break her hold on it, why would she wait to do something like that now?”

“A question I have been asking myself,” Soren angrily stated, “Had I known this was a possibility, I never would have agreed to this.  Like Tati, I was sure no real harm would be done.”

Aunt Reina’s voice was hopeful as she softly said, “Frieda may have allowed a few torturous moments, but I truly feel if she was going to invoke deadly harm, she would have done it by now.”

“I hope you’re right, Sister,” Persephone breathlessly murmured.

As if on cue, a loud giggle echoed throughout the room, followed by Frieda’s voice laughingly calling out, “Well, hopefully there was a little fun had making all of you second guess my abilities, though I do so wish I could have watched this part of the game! Don’t be too angry, but I may have put that pendant there the day of our last battle, Tatiana, as a harmless key to your treasure, awaiting the day it could be utilized in a bit of play between us. Unfortunately, as you should know, I’m too limited now—only a little visual trick and branch breaking at my disposal here in the forest. Well, that and fun conversations and access to my home when I choose. Nothing more. Again, such a shame, but I’ll see you soon, Tatiana dear! It shouldn’t be too much longer before your prize appears.”

“I’m really hating we can’t kill that damn witch!” Soren roared out, his face reddening from his intense fury.

His tone deadly, Horacio muttered under his breath as he stormed over to Mother’s side, “I’m really hating I can’t kill that damn witch.”

Infuriated, I followed to stand on the other side of her, my tone matching his as I exhaled out, “That makes two of us.”

Leaning her head on my arm, Mother quietly murmured, “Again, I’m so sorry.  I hate what all of this has done to everyone. Though, somehow, we shouldn’t be surprised. I should have known better.”

Dipping my head down to tenderly kiss the top of her head, I thankfully whispered out, “All that matters to me is you are alright, and Frieda can cause no harm to anyone here—physically anyway.”

Just then, the light dissipated, leaving two necklaces hanging from Mother’s fingertips. One was a simple necklace of twisted gold and the other was a dainty necklace with a small gold crescent moon pendant with two small diamond star charms hanging from it.

Mother’s loud gasp echoed in the room as she disbelievingly murmured, “Persephone, is that—”

Aunt Persephone’s dark brown eyes were wide and filled with tears as she reverently interrupted, “Father’s necklace. It was here the whole time too...right under my nose.”

I stood stunned and angry, immediately asking, “So, The Chosen killed both my grandparents?”

“They both died by Frieda’s hand, Jace,” Mother reluctantly told me, tears falling down her face as she looked down, a soft smile crossing her face as she lightly grazed the intertwined necklaces with her fingertips before extending her arm out towards Aunt Persephone. 

Aunt Reina came to stand behind my other aunt as she lifted the necklaces up, both smiling as Aunt Reina placed her hand on Aunt Persephone’s shoulder, dropping her chin down to rest on top of it as she adoringly gazed down at the strands of gold.

Clearing her throat, Mother choked out, “Thank you all for helping us retrieve two much beloved treasures, especially knowing what Frieda’s mind games put all of you through. But now, we need some answers, so I will be on my way.”

Heading towards the door at a high pace, I cut Mother off from her exit, dropping my head down directly in front of her face as I curtly told her, “This exhaustive argument ends now, Mother. You aren’t going alone!”

“I’m afraid going alone is our only option, Jace,” Mother defiantly returned in her soft tone, “As you can see, she can cause no physical harm to me. I will meet all of you back at Crescent Moon. Soon, I promise.”

************

JILLIAN

Throwing open the door to his room, Arturo excitedly pulled me in, whisking me up into his arms as he shut it behind him, “You were BRILLIANT, Jillian! Just like we hoped! Amelia’s spell worked!”

Forcing a grin, I confidently told him, “I knew it would.”

I had to fight cringing when he dove in to passionately kiss my lips. Guilt consumed me immediately as Mattias’ face appeared in my mind. I had to hurry up and get both him and his friend out of here!  I would figure out a way to face this pain alone, but knowing he was here while I was with Arturo like this—the pain of knowing what it would do to him if he knew...

His words to me before I left—my eyes, seeing me, the real me—what would he think now? Remembering our last moment together was making it even more difficult to relax and play my necessary role...it was also making it hard to breathe and fight back my tears of shame.

“So, are you ready for Phase Two?” Arturo huskily breathed out against my lips as he laid me down on his bed, hovering over me with an ecstatic grin, “A little twist of the knife at dinner?”

Silently nodding, I took in a deep breath for strength, exhaling out, “I like that it was just you and I in there. Amelia and Kristoff make me nervous. I worry they will make me press too hard with their impatience. Mattias seemed very intuitive. He will see something’s off.”

“Agreed,” Arturo emphatically returned, “I think we will just work on him together for now. Have Lucious as backup if needed.”

Reaching down to lift my shirt, Arturo began devouring my stomach with kisses. Looking down to make sure he was distracted, I moaned softly and arched my back so I could tilt my head away from him, quickly wiping the moisture built up on the corners of my eyes with my hands as I faked the reaction of ecstasy he desired. 

I hated myself—despised, even—but if this is what it took to save Mattias, then it was a price I would pay. Now I just needed to figure out how to earn enough trust with Arturo to find his bag of tricks and the key to the cells below—I had to get Mattias free—and soon!