Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 9

Kyros

It had been nearly two weeks since my encounter with the mysterious princess of Tenebris that no one but me knew exists, and I couldn't shake the memory. I found myself staring at the shimmering border that separated our worlds, my mind replaying our conversation, her laughter echoing in my ears.

I'd even neglected my training, much to Atlas's dismay, my thoughts consumed by her. Who was she? Why had she crossed the border? And why did I feel such a powerful connection to her, a creature of shadows in my world of eternal sunlight?

I had made Atlas promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone, especially not our father. King Phoenix was not known for his leniency, and I shuddered to think of the punishment he might inflict if he learned that Cyrus, the heir to the Tenebrian throne, had nearly killed one of his own sons.

And Raedon? I scoffed inwardly. My other brother was far too eager to curry favor with our father, far too quick to exploit any weakness. No, Raedon couldn't be trusted with such a dangerous secret. My mother seemed to have noticed something, her attempts to find me a bride had halted completely.

Of all my brothers, I was the closest one to her, she confided in me everything. Yet despite this, I did not feel safe confiding in her about Estella. Something nagged in my mind that I needed to be careful who I spoke to about it.

The only person I felt safe confiding in was Kaelen. My youngest brother, with his gentle spirit and unwavering loyalty, was like a reflection of myself. We shared the same easy smile, the same mischievous glint in our eyes, the same deep connection to our mother, Celeste Trevino, and her fiery lineage. Kaelen, I knew, would understand. The only thing that was a barrier between us was the fact that Kaelen shared our father’s human traits. He had the same arched ears and lack of canines.

The thought always nagged my brain. Why was I the only one to be born with my mothers fae features? I was told when I was little it was because I bore her flame, but Kaelen was born with the flame and yet he does not look fae or does he act like it. Even his skin is darker like our fathers. I truly was the odd one out.

Raedon definitely acts fae but does not look the part. His cruelty is almost animalistic. The encounter with Estella in the ravine, her snarls and bared teeth stuck with me. It was a gesture I had seen my mother make countless times, each time my father had called her fae instincts savage and unbecoming of a Queen.

I had behaved like that on numerous occasions, mainly when dealing with Raedon. My father said it was because I was feral. I always fought against those instincts that made me different, shoving them far far down.

I strode purposefully towards the breeding pits, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was pulling me there, an invisible thread tugging at my soul. I had been visiting Cara daily, sometimes twice a day, ever since my encounter with Estella.

The Wrioron had been acting strangely, her usual playful energy replaced by a brooding silence. I wondered if she sensed something, some lingering trace of the Tenebrian magic that had briefly touched our world.

"Kyros! Wait up!" Kaelen's voice echoed across the training grounds, and I turned to see my brother sprinting towards me, his dark hair flying in the wind.

"I'm busy, Kae," I called back, my voice tight with urgency. "Is it important?" I couldn't explain it, but I felt an almost desperate need to reach the border.

Kaelen skidded to a halt beside me, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "It's... it's Raedon," he stammered, his eyes wide with alarm as he searched the sky.

Even at twelve, Kaelen was a whirlwind of energy, his lean frame and bright eyes a reflection of my own youthful exuberance.

At the sound of Raedon's name, I stopped abruptly, my brow furrowing. A knot of apprehension tightened in my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that my troublesome brother had somehow managed to entangle himself in yet another precarious situation.

“What about Raedon?” I asked, my voice sharp with concern. “What's he done now?”

“He's noticed your sudden increased interest in the border,” Kaelen explained, his brow furrowed with concern. “He asked me to follow you.”

I suppressed a groan. Raedon, the ever-meddlesome younger brother, was like a thorn in my side. I couldn't understand why he couldn't just mind his own business. It was as if he had a compulsion to know everything, to control every situation, to insert himself into every aspect of my life.

Just last week, he had barged into my chambers, demanding to know why I was spending so much time away from court, accusing me of neglecting my duties as a prince.

"Just tell him I've been checking on Cara," I said with a sigh. "Tell him she's sick, or something." I glanced at Kaelen, a wave of gratitude washing over me. I was so grateful that he was nothing like Raedon. He was loyal, trustworthy, and genuinely cared about my well-being.

"Is she sick?" Kaelen asked, his voice filled with concern. He tilted his head; his brow creased with worry.

“No,” I said, but the lie felt heavy on my tongue. “Actually,” I admitted, “I don't know. She's been acting strangely for the past week or so. Something has bothered her.” I quickened my pace, my worry for Cara growing with every step. I couldn't shake the feeling that her unusual behavior was somehow connected to Estella, to the lingering presence of Tenebrian magic in our world.

“That's why you've been checking in on her so much?” Kaelen asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

I nodded; my gaze fixed on the path ahead. “That and I am double checking the border, making sure nothing has slipped through that would have her on edge,”

“Let me know if I can do anything to help,” Kaelen offered, his voice filled with genuine concern.

I smiled gratefully and clapped my brother on the shoulder. “Actually Kae,” I said, “There is something you can do for me,” I said. My brothers eyes lighted up with the eagerness to help me. “Keep practicing your flames, I’ll come by later to help you with some moves,” I said. He beamed up at me, wrapping his arms around my torso.

“Thank you!” he said, his smile bright. “I can’t wait!” He had been hounding me for days to help him train. Ever since his fire emerged a few years ago he has struggled with maintaining a simple flame for a extended period of time.

I turned towards the path leading to the breeding pits, leaving Kaelen to head back towards the castle. I always appreciated my younger brother's sensitivity, his ability to sense when I needed space, when I needed to be alone with my thoughts. It was a quality I valued more than he probably realized.

I finished my final safety check, securing the gate to the breeding pits with a satisfying clang. I turned to head back to the castle, when a faint rustling sound, like dry leaves skittering across parched earth, caught my attention. It seemed to be coming from the other side of the border, from the depths of the forbidden forest.

Cara, perched atop a large boulder in the center of the pit, reacted instantly. Her head snapped up, her nostrils flared, and her forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air. But instead of the usual hiss of warning, she remained silent, her amber eyes fixed on the shadowy tree line with an intensity that made me uneasy.

Psst.

The sound, barely audible above the whisper of the wind, sent a shiver down my spine. It was coming from the forest, from the heart of darkness.

I froze, my senses on high alert. Curiosity overcoming my caution, I moved towards the shimmering boundary, my gaze scanning the dense foliage for the source of the sound. Cara watched me intently, her body tense, her tail twitching nervously. I reached the edge of Eloria, the heat of the desert giving way to a sudden coolness that sent a shiver down my spine.

Two hands, pale and slender, shot out from the shadows, grabbing the front of my tunic. I gasped, my instincts screaming at me to fight back, but before I could react, I was yanked forward, my body tumbling through the shimmering barrier and into the suffocating embrace of darkness.

"s**t!" I cursed as I landed hard against the rough bark of a tree. The world went black, a suffocating darkness that pressed in on me from all sides. I instinctively threw out my arms, my hands grasping at empty air.

I stumbled forward, my feet catching on roots and rocks, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never experienced true darkness before, not like this. It was disorienting, claustrophobic, a sensory deprivation that made me feel vulnerable and exposed.

Despite being mere feet from the border, the familiar light of Eloria was completely extinguished. Panic clawed at my throat, and I took a deep breath, summoning the fire within me. A small flame flickered to life in my palm, casting a dim, dancing light that barely penetrated the oppressive darkness.

"Eep!" a familiar voice squealed.

I whirled around, my heart leaping into my throat. In the flickering light of my flame, I saw Estella, her eyes wide with surprise, her hands raised to shield her face from the sudden brightness. She scrambled backward, her back pressing against a tree across from me.

She was dressed in simple clothes, her white hair pulled back from her face, her purple eyes shining with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. She looked different here, in her own world, more at ease, more... wild.

"Little bird?" I breathed, relief flooding through me. I hadn't realized how much I had missed seeing her, hearing her voice. "You scared the s**t out of me!" I chuckled, the tension draining from my shoulders.

"Sorry!" Estella said, shielding her eyes from the light with her hand. "I thought it would be funny." She peeked at me through her fingers, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Can you make that go away?" she asked, gesturing towards the flame.

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the tiny ball of fire. I didn't want to extinguish it. It was my only source of light, my lifeline in this unfamiliar darkness.

"I won't be able to see without it," I said, my voice betraying my unease.

Estella stepped closer, her silhouette barely visible in the dim light. "You won't need it," she assured me, her voice soft and reassuring. "Just trust me." She extended a hand towards me, her palm open in invitation. "I'll show you."

I looked at her hand, then back at her face. I could barely make out her features in the shadows, but her eyes, those mesmerizing purple eyes, shone with a gentle luminescence. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and slowly extinguished the flame.

The world plunged into darkness, a velvety blackness that enveloped me completely. For a moment, I felt a wave of panic, a sense of disorientation. Then, I felt Estella's hand slip into mine, her fingers interlacing with mine. Her touch was warm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the cool, damp air of the forest. I felt a tingling sensation where our skin touched, a spark of connection that sent a shiver down my spine.

I squeezed her hand gently, a silent acknowledgment of my trust, my willingness to follow her into the unknown.

Estella's hand tightened in mine, and I felt her pull me gently forward, guiding me through the labyrinth of trees and undergrowth. Her touch was a lifeline in the darkness, her presence a beacon guiding me through the unknown.

"Careful," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. "There's a root here."

I stumbled slightly, and she squeezed my hand reassuringly. "And a low-hanging branch just ahead."

I marveled at her ability to navigate this lightless world. How could she see in this impenetrable darkness? I strained my eyes, trying to pierce the gloom, but all I saw were shifting shadows and indistinct shapes.

"How can you see?" I whispered, my voice filled with wonder.

Her answering chuckle sent sparks skittering across my heart.

Then, gradually, my eyes began to adjust. I noticed faint glimmers of light scattered across the forest floor, like tiny stars fallen to earth. As we walked further, the glimmers grew brighter, revealing a carpet of luminous moss that pulsed with an ethereal green light. The moss illuminated the path, casting an otherworldly glow on the gnarled roots and moss-covered rocks.

I looked around in awe. The forest was alive with a beauty I had never imagined. Towering trees reached towards the sky, their branches intertwined in a delicate dance of shadows and light. Strange, luminous flowers bloomed in the undergrowth, their petals unfurling like iridescent jewels. The air was filled with the sounds of unseen creatures, their chirps and croaks creating a symphony of the night.

A soft giggle in front of me drew my attention back to Estella. She stood bathed in a shaft of moonlight that filtered through the leaves, her white hair shimmering like spun silver, her purple eyes sparkling with amusement. My breath caught in my throat. She was breathtaking, an ethereal vision in this magical realm. She was healed. Her face was whole, her body standing strong.

"Stunning," I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. I wasn't just referring to the ethereal beauty of the forest around us, with its luminous moss and whispering leaves. No, it was Estella who truly took my breath away.

The moonlight filtering through the canopy above painted her in a silvery glow, highlighting the delicate curve of her cheekbones, the playful glint in her purple eyes, the soft curve of her lips. She was captivating, a vision of otherworldly beauty that made my heart ache. I had found her beautiful all those days ago when she was flushed and bleeding, but this version of her... she was absolutely breathtaking.

"See?" she said, her smile widening as she caught the wonder in my eyes. "Tenebris isn't so bad."

"It's... incredible," I managed to say, my voice still thick with awe.

Estella's smile deepened, and she took a step closer, her hand reaching out to touch my arm. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down my spine, a spark of connection that ignited a fire within me.

I wasn't sure what had changed, but in this moment, surrounded by the magic of Tenebris, Estella seemed different. The fear and vulnerability I had witnessed in Eloria were gone, replaced by a playful confidence, a radiant energy that drew me in. She was no longer just a frightened princess, a stranger from a forbidden land. She was Estella, a captivating young woman who was slowly stealing my heart.

I mentally counted the days since our first encounter, a sudden realization dawning on me.

"Happy birthday, Estella," I said, my voice filled with warmth.

Estella's eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting in a soft "oh." "You remembered?" she asked, her voice hushed with wonder.

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. "How could I forget?" I murmured, my gaze holding hers. The fact that I had remembered, that this day held significance for me, seemed to create an invisible thread between us, drawing us closer, weaving our destinies together.

We found a secluded clearing bathed in moonlight, the soft glow illuminating the moss-covered ground and the gnarled branches of ancient trees. Estella leaned against the trunk of a massive oak, and I settled beside her, our knees brushing, our shoulders almost touching. A comfortable silence settled between us, punctuated only by the chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl.

Estella spoke of her sisters, of Astra's fiery spirit and Thallia's gentle nature. She described the vibrant gardens of the palace, the towering trees of the forest, and the creatures that roamed its shadowy depths. I, in turn, spoke of my brothers, of Atlas's stoic responsibility and Kaelen's unwavering loyalty. I painted a picture of the Day realm, with its endless skies and scorching sands, its fierce warriors and proud traditions.

We spoke of our families, our dreams, our fears, our hopes for the future. Hours slipped by unnoticed, the moon tracing its path across the sky as our conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and unspoken desires.

I found myself captivated by Estella's every word, her voice a soothing melody in the quiet night. I had never felt so comfortable, so at ease with another person. It was as if we had known each other forever, our souls connected by an invisible thread.