The Last of the True Luna

Chapter 3

"What's this all about, Nana? Did you hire an entire movie set for my birthday? You didn’t have to do all this," I said, chuckling awkwardly as I sat beside her on the velvet couch. The room was dimly lit, yet everything shimmered with a strange, otherworldly glow—too elaborate for a simple birthday.

She just laughed softly, the lines around her eyes crinkling with warmth. Her hand came up to gently caress my cheek, her touch grounding yet oddly fragile.

"I didn’t want you to find out like this," she said, voice quiet but firm, "And I especially don’t want you making a rash decision out of fear or confusion."

Her words hit me like a slow-moving train—soft, but with weight. My smile faltered. “I don’t understand, Nana.”

I really didn’t. The room, the energy, her serious tone—it was all too much. It felt like something bigger was creeping in, something I couldn’t quite see.

“Listen to me very carefully, Lilla. I’m going to tell you everything. Everything you need to know.” She squeezed my hand, her grip tighter than usual, her eyes pleading for my attention and trust.

Before I could respond, she placed a heavy, ancient-looking book on the table. The hardbound cover was dark with age and engraved with cryptic symbols. In its center was a small circular gem, dulled by dust.

Then, to my horror, Nana took out a small silver dagger and sliced her wrist.

“Nana! Why would you do that?!” I gasped, heart thundering in my chest.

Her blood trickled onto the gem, and almost instantly, the book absorbed it like a sponge. A soft golden glow began to pulse from the cover, and with a faint click, the book opened on its own. Dust billowed up, and then—

A tree. A giant tree made of light and illusion shimmered above the pages. It projected upward like a hologram. I could hear birds chirping and laughter—real laughter—echoing from the vision.

"Many years ago," Nana began, her voice now deepened with sorrow, "all races lived together in harmony. Vampires, wolves, witches... even humans. We shared the world equally. We lived in peace. There was balance—give and take, always."

She looked at me, pain clouding her eyes.

"Then the Human King and the Witch Queen made a terrible mistake. One decision that cracked the harmony forever.”

“What did they do?” I whispered, but before she could answer—

BAM!

The double doors slammed open, and Callisto—the King of Vampires—stood there, blood smeared down his arms, his dark coat dripping crimson.

“Callisto!” Nana shouted, standing protectively in front of me.

“You’re early!” she hissed at him. “This is not what we agreed upon!”

He strolled into the room, arrogant and assured. “I heard the Alpha King left his post to deal with rogue wolves. That makes this a very convenient time for me, don’t you think?” His eyes locked on mine. Crimson. Hungry. Endless.

My chest constricted. I couldn’t move.

“Run, Lilla!” Nana screamed, her voice full of command and magic. “Every witch in this estate will protect you! GO!”

She threw fire—real fire—from her palms, launching it at Callisto. Magic circles lit up under her feet. The air pulsed with power.

But Callisto merely smirked and dodged effortlessly, dancing through her attacks with inhuman grace.

My body refused to move. My legs trembled and backed away instinctively, but I couldn’t turn to run.

Then—hands.

Someone grabbed me from behind.

“Lady Lilla! We must go!” It was Frank, the butler who had led me here earlier. His voice shook, but he held my wrist tightly and pulled me from the chaos.

Magic runes lit the hallway floors as we ran. Witches and vampire guards clashed all around us. I didn’t know who to trust, who was friend or foe. My entire world had flipped.

“This way, Frank!” someone called, and we followed their voice, leaping over rubble, dodging spells.

Frank turned to me as we neared the edge of the estate. “Listen, Lady Lilla. You must flee to the human realm. Hide yourself there until someone from the White Witches comes to find you.”

“White what? Who are they? I—what’s happening?!” I sobbed, overwhelmed.

““The White Witches will protect you, Lady Lilla,” he said, pushing branches aside as we entered the forest. “The White Witches will serve as your guardians.”

He glanced back at me, breathless but resolute. “You’ll know them when you meet them. They smell like sunlight and lavender. The Dark Witches, those who’ve twisted their gifts with dark magic... they reek of sulfur and rot.”

We reached an ancient tree ringed by stones. A portal shimmered faintly inside.

“You’re the only one who can cross realms without a relic,” he said. “Go now. We’ll hold them off.”

“But I don’t even know who I am!” I cried.

“You’re the future, Lady Lilla,” Frank whispered before pushing me forward. “Take care.”

I stumbled through the shimmer. The noise of battle behind me vanished, replaced by crickets and wind rustling in the farm. I was in my world again. The human world.

My knees gave out. I collapsed on the earth, numb, trembling.

“Lilla?! What are you doing on the ground? Where’s your grandmother?” a familiar voice called out. Juliet.

I blinked and looked up. Her face was blurry through my tears, but she was real. She dropped beside me.

“What happened? Are you hurt?” she asked, pulling me into her arms. “It’s okay… I’m here. You’re safe.”

I clung to her and cried until my tears dried. She didn’t say much—just held me until the storm in my chest calmed.

After a while, she helped me up. “Let’s get you inside,” she said softly, leading me into my farmhouse.

“Can you stay the night?” I mumbled, barely audible.

“Of course. I already told Mom I’d sleep over for your birthday.”

She tucked me in, even pulled the blanket over me like Nana used to. She sat at the edge of the bed.

“Want to talk about it?” she asked.

I stared at the ceiling.

“Do you believe in witches? Or wolves? Vampires?” I asked suddenly.

She burst out laughing. “What? Lilla, those are stories.”

“What if they weren’t?”

“Well… if they were real… I wouldn’t mind a werewolf boyfriend.” She grinned, wiggling her brows. “Can you imagine? All muscles and primal instincts? Mmm!”

Despite myself, I chuckled. “I’m serious.”

“Okay, okay,” she said, calming down. “Why? You scared me earlier.”

I rolled over to face her. “What would you do if I had to go far, far away?”

Her smile faltered. “You’re leaving?”

I nodded, tears threatening again.

She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I can’t go with you. But promise you’ll stay in touch?”

“I promise,” I whispered, voice breaking.

“Then let’s make tonight count. Come on—get up! We’re not sleeping!” She yanked the blanket off me with a mischievous laugh. “I brought pizza!”

“What? I’m the birthday girl! I shouldn’t be the one reheating it!” I protested, dragging myself to the kitchen.

She was still laughing when I left the room.

As the microwave hummed and the scent of pepperoni filled the air, I leaned on the counter, trying to steady my thoughts.

'Where do I go from here?' I thought, staring out the window into the night.

The stars offered no answers. Just silent witness to a girl who had lost everything—her family, her home, her truth—and gained a destiny she never asked for.