The Saint And The Serpent

Prologue Many years ago, when Frostshire pack was attacked by many enemies and their Alpha died in battle, people say that his grieving Luna, Elowen, pleaded with the moon goddess to help end the war and suffering of her people. She was given a moonstone, a stone capable of granting unimaginable powers. But there was a condition. That she will put a key to protect the powers of the stone from being accessed by just anyone. Being the most beautiful woman in Frostshire, she chose the one thing she believed that she possessed the most. Beauty. Only the most beautiful woman of her bloodline would ever awaken the moonstone's power. After her death, the moonstone slept three hundred years until three days ago. Sarah Rain's POV “P-please don't s-sacrifice me!” I plead with my half sister, Princess Camila, as she drags me upon the floor by the hair, her maids rain blows and kicks upon my back to nix my resistance to her mission. She is one of the five adored princesses of the Elowen bloodline and the one the Moonstone is most likely to grant its powers to tonight. The stone awakened three days ago, a sign that it was ready to choose between the five Elowen princesses: Camila, Aurora, Zuhara, Shiroh and Reira to grant it's powers, even though none of the embellished pampered princesses deserves it. “Twenty years and you still stammer like a fool!” The arrogant princess says in an amused tone. “My beauty will flabbergast the moonstone tonight and my success will erase the disgrace you have brought upon our family,” “I-m I'm your sister!” I remind even if I know that wouldn't move her evil heart. Yes, I am also of queen Elowen's blood, and I would have also been a cherished princess if I wasn't unlucky to be born with a terrible stutter that caused our father to disown me. Our Father, Alpha Ruphas had married the six most beautiful women in Frostshire in hope that they'll bear him the most beautiful daughters capable of enticing the powerful Moonstone to awaken. Unfortunately, my mother, his third wife bore him me, a child with a shameful stutter and no wolf. This caused my father and my sisters to loathe me for disgracing our family's good name. I was only seven years when a collar was placed around my neck.The same kind worn by every member of our pack who fails to phase. From then I was condemned to always serve his noble wives and their beloved daughters. Since it was expected that one of my half sisters will be chosen by the moonstone, everything they wanted was given to them, even slaves to sacrifice to the Moonstone in the hope of appeasing the spirits and increasing their chances of being chosen. Camila picked me to be her sacrifice to the Moonstone tonight. “No sister of mine is a wolfless weakling. Father should have killed you before you could shame our beautiful family. But after the Moonstone chooses me tonight, you will be my sacrifice to celebrate the beginning of my reign." The princess snorts while giving my hair a vicious tug as she enters the hall. The great ceremonial hall is filled to the brim. Thousands of proud werewolf royals fill its towering tiers. Suitors from all powerful packs in frostshire are here. Alphas with mountains of gifts in hopes to claim the woman the moonstone will chose. Because whoever marries the moonstone's chosen princess would inherit more than a beautiful Luna. He will inherit power. And every powerful man in frostshire wants it. Everyone sit according to their rank, each pack occupying its designated column. The most powerful bloodlines have the best seats at the front, their thrones raised above the rest so everyone behind them is forced to look up. And the very front sits my family. My father, Alpha Ruphas, with his six wives arranged beside him like jewels in a crown. They all seem excited for the ceremony except for my mother, who burst into tears as soon as she spots me being dragged in behind princess Camila. Our father just frowns at the sight of me. Since the day I was turned into a slave, he had forbidden my mother from seeing me. I'm glad once I die, she will no longer have to suffer the shame of having given birth to me. Next to them, sits a man I am certain has to be Prince Fenron. The one Alpha prince every one of my sisters would gladly marry with or without the Moonstone's power. He is said to the most powerful prince in existence. The only one with a white wolf, and can wield a silver sword. And his beauty seems no less impressive than his reputation. His long white hair makes him stand out. No wonder every one of my sisters sent him a marriage proposal before this ceremony. It is an honour to get to look at his face before I die. Behind them there are five seats for the Elowen princesses.The first four are already seated, each dressed in an elaborate gown made with more jewelry than fabric. Camila takes her place beside her sisters. While her maids drag me to the other four selected slaves. The entry of the high priest into the podium advertises the point of no return as strife, commotion, dissension all comes to a dead silence as the curtains come down unveiling the mighty magnificent robust crystal, the priesthood prostrates themselves in humility before it's splendor. The jewel emits a red hallo light that is almost blinding to the eye. Each of the princess will be required to stand upon the hallo so that the stone will judge her beauty, it's light will turn to pure white once it makes it's choice and it will grant her it's great powers. Camila's mother, queen Olivia shoots up from her seat even before the priest rise from the floor of the altar, she declares Camila, her beautiful daughter shall go before the moonstone first since she is obviously the prettiest otherwise god forbid the stone chooses another one before her turn. “Prerogative my ass she should wait her turn, we won't let her warthog looks dumpen the moods of the moonstone from the outset, my daughter must precede.” Queen shira, Shiroh's mother retorts. “If this has turned into a competition of grotesqueness then your daughters should indeed go first otherwise if there is any honour in this exercise my Zuhura must be prioritized.” Queen Helot demands furiously as a shouting match breaks out. “Camillah,Camillah,camillah” “Aurora,Aurora,Aurora.” The crowds chant each grouping fiercely against the other. “Can't you f*****g listen to the people and stop trying to force beauty on your daughters this is a farce.” Aurora's mother queen Jedidiah cries out painfully. “Beauty is hereditary, with you it's scarcer than chickens milk, where could your daughter find it?” Camila's mother says to Jedidah. “Today you speak as though your daughter is the most beautiful, rest assured my daughter is the moonstones choice, you will beg her forgiveness on your knees but will not have it.” Jedidiah threatens. “Let's start from the eldest.” Reila's mother shouts. “Yes lets go down by age.” More people support to break the deadlock. “See every pattern you use is in favour of my daughter Camila, she's the oldest and will still be the first, so hate it or love it my daughter is the choosen one, so let's not waste my daughters precious time making her late to assume her duties.” Queen Olivia declares. “Obliged, let's begin. Princesses Camilah goes first.” The priesthood obeys. The heavenly soft instrumental music changes the atmosphere to devine, tuned to match with the harmonic flow of the incoming princess, her maids lifts her veil to reveal her glory and everyone in the hall let's out a gasp. “This is cheating that's no her.” Some protest. “They already had it all arranged.” More bitter convictions of rigging sound but to Camilla's supporters it's all smiles and wonder. “I tell you challenging her is like shooting arrows against the sun. She's my favorite.” Our father remarks proudly. “We had a good run what else can we say?” Backers of the other princesses yield as the angelic Camilla soars to the threshold before the moonstone. Our father, queen Olivia, their officials and all her supporters are uncontrollably ecstatic, cheering and exchanging gifts in celebration. “Let's make this a moment to remember for the rest of our lives.” They commit.