A Witch in the Condemned Luna's Body

Naevira's POV: My vision blurred, and the noise of the world faded from my ears. I looked around at the crowd surrounding me. What were they saying?... And more importantly, why were their faces filled with such hatred? "Arghhh!" A rock slammed into my head, and I collapsed to the ground. "Kill her!" someone yelled from the furious mob. Two large men roughly hauled me back to my feet, forcing me to continue towards my doom. "She's a disgrace!" another roared, spitting on me. "You unfaithful w***e!" Oh, yeah... I'd almost forgotten for a moment. I had been caught in bed with a guard. "Please, stop!" I begged for my life as the two men tied me to an iron pole surrounded by heaps of wood. "Please, I am innocen…" My words died in my throat when I caught a glimpse of my husband standing a few steps away. Our gazes met, but all I saw was a cold, lifeless stare, as though I were a complete stranger. "Tiberius, please..." An old woman's hand struck my face before I could finish pleading. "Do not mention the Lord's name with those filthy lips of yours," Mildred barked, gripping my black hair. "Elder Mildred, I am with child!" "That bastard seed in your womb does not belong to our Wizard Lord!" "Kill her!" the mob roared even louder. A burning torch was handed to Mildred. We both stole glances at Tiberius. He remained silent for a moment, allowing the chaos to die down, and then... "No..." He raised his hand in agreement, and Mildred turned towards me. "No!... Spare me until I give birth to my baby, please!" My screams pierced the air as I struggled to break free. "Tiberius, I was framed!" Still nothing. "I swear on the Grand Witch of Creation, I'm innocent!" "Burn her!" More stones were hurled at me, and with a dark grin, Elder Mildred set the pyre ablaze. "Let this serve as an example to all of you that no one is beyond punishment— not even the Head Witch!" she roared, sending fear into the hearts of those who had gathered to witness my execution. My screams echoed through the air as the flames rose around me, devouring my body. "Mother Witch!... Please hear my cries of injustice…” ~ My eyes slowly drifted open to a dark, empty confinement. Slowly, I tried to stand, but I noticed my hands were bound in chains. Leaning against the wall for support, I felt every inch of my body ache. Placing my hands on my stomach, I felt nothing. "My baby..." Shock swept over me like a violent storm. "My baby!... My baby!" My cries echoed through the pitch-black room as I realised I could no longer feel my baby bump. 'How long have I been unconscious?' Panic surged through me as I looked around the empty cell and struggled to my feet. Then flashes of the inferno tore through the darkness. "Arghhh!!!" Their voices rang in my head once again. 'Kill her... Kill her... Burn her...' They killed my baby. But wait… 'How am I still alive?!' "She's awake," I heard a deep voice say as approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor. Not one… Two people. They stopped outside the bars. One held a burning brazier, casting light into the hallway and my cell, while the other fumbled with a ring of keys before unlocking the door. Clink! Without a word, he walked towards me and pulled me out of the cell. "Who are you?... What do you want from me?!" I struggled against the grip of the unfamiliar guard. "Hey!" the other barked angrily, bringing the brazier close to my face. I flinched at the sight of the flames. "Please... let me go!" "Be quiet!" They violently dragged me through the hallway. As the corridor grew brighter, I noticed my skin, though covered in bruises, looked much paler than usual. I was also wearing a white dress that was badly torn and stained with dirt. Just before we entered a brightly lit chamber, my eyes caught a glimpse of my reflection… I froze. A younger face stared back at me. Hazel eyes. Crimson-red hair. "What is happening?..." I couldn't recognise the stranger staring back at me. Before I had time to process what I had seen, I was dragged into a grand hall and thrown onto the floor. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I pushed myself into a kneeling position and took in my surroundings. Then my nose caught the scent of something repulsive… And yet, strangely familiar. 'Werewolves!' As my fearful eyes swept across the unfamiliar faces surrounding me, I noticed they all shared something in common with those who had burned me alive. I knew that look all too well. Hatred. "Lynara." An aged voice drew my attention away from the crowd. I looked towards a frail old man standing before a panel of elders who appeared to be around the same age as him. "Now that you have regained consciousness, your judgment shall be passed," his voice echoed throughout the hall. 'Judgment?!' 'What judgment?... Am I being tried twice? Is this a dream... or hell?' I couldn't utter a word, yet my eyes brimmed with confusion. "Your crimes are many," he declared, sending murmurs rippling through the hall. "Silence!" someone shouted. The old man waited for the hall to quieten before speaking again. "Your crimes shall now be presented before this grand court." He turned towards the seated council. After receiving a nod of approval, he faced me once more. "First, you indulged in a secret affair with the outcast rogue known as Moryan." 'What nonsense is he talking about? ...And who is Moryan?' "Second, you conspired with him and his pack of unruly rogues to attack our pack on the very day of your wedding to the Alpha, resulting in the deaths of innocent pack members." His face twisted with anger and disgust. "Third, you helped the criminal outcast steal half of the Silver Blade Nobility Crest. Lastly, you attempted to flee with him to escape your punishment." "What?!" The word escaped my lips before I could stop it. "Your punishment shall be death!" The crowd erupted in agreement. "Behead the traitor!" "Kill the Luna!" 'Not again...' 'Not again!' My head throbbed violently, as though it were about to split apart. 'Why am I reliving another trial?' "Behead her!" Their chants only grew louder. I clutched my ears, desperately trying to block them out, but the accusations only became louder... And louder... And louder... "Stop!!!" My scream shook the hall. I looked around wildly, "Stop it! All of you!" "I am not a werewolf! I am a witch!" "I am Naevira, Head Witch and wife of…" The words caught in my throat. I couldn't finish the sentence. Before I could speak again, the guard standing beside me struck me across the face. "Kill her!" the crowd roared even louder. One of the elders rose from the council and walked over to the man presiding over my trial. "How dare you!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at me. "As if the suffering you caused us wasn't enough, you still have the audacity to speak of those vile demons in our presence?!" 'Vile demons, they say... I'll show them what a real demon looks like.' I brought my chained wrists together, attempting to cast a spell. Nothing happened. "What..." The whisper barely left my lips. "If it were up to me, I would have you beheaded this very instant!" another elder spat. "You should be grateful the Alpha has ordered us to keep you alive until that wretched outcast lover of yours is found." He glared at me with undisguised contempt. "But until then, you will spend the rest of your miserable days as the Alpha's slave!... Take her away!" "Vile w***e!" "Wolfless b***h!" The insults kept coming again and again... Each one hitting harder than any stone ever thrown at me.